Chapter 76: Harvest

Chapter 76: Harvest



"It's him!"

The sight of the Black Armor Giant, over three meters tall, caused Taro Da Wu to exclaim in surprise, "He's the one who killed Foster's younger son!"

Earlier, Karl's face was hidden under a cloak, but now his distinctive features were clearly visible.

There was no mistaking his identity.

"Is it him?"

Dena and the others' eyes lit up with surprise, joy, and hope.

Regardless of who he was or why he was here, their survival now depended on this person.

Of course, they wanted him to win.

"Enchanted Artifact!"

The armor that suddenly appeared on Karl also caught Robert's attention, and his eyes gleamed with greed.

Enchanted armor was rare, and one that could change size at will was even more uncommon.

How wonderful it would be if it were in his possession!

"Hua..."

As Karl swung his sword, a thick wall of earth suddenly rose between him and Robert.

"Boom!"

The wall of earth exploded, and the shattered dirt didn't fall to the ground but transformed into earthen snakes, wrapping around Karl's body.

At the same time, a ring on Robert's finger flashed wildly.

Gravity Protection!

"Boom!"

The invisible force struck again, causing Karl to hesitate, and the earthen snakes tightly bound his legs.

Seizing the opportunity, Robert retreated.

The powerful mental strength of an Apprentice Wizard allowed him to accurately analyze the changing situation and respond with spells in time.

Therefore, approaching a calm and prepared Apprentice Wizard was no easy task.

"Hmph!"

Karl snorted.

Combat Technique - Blossom!

The raging battle aura surged again, and the immense power instantly tore apart the bindings on his body, followed by a swift flash as he moved closer to Robert.

This time, he was even closer to Robert.

Hmm?

A strange sensation upon landing caused Karl's expression under the helmet to change slightly, and he instinctively exerted more force.

"Too late!"

Robert smiled faintly.

Wizard Trap - Swamp!

The ground beneath Karl's feet was a pre-arranged wizard trap, and once triggered, it was like sinking into a swamp, making it difficult to move.

This was a higher-level trap than mud, and even a Grand Knight would struggle to escape quickly if trapped in it.

Robert raised his hand again, and two rings flashed simultaneously.

Summon Thorns!

Titan Hammer!

Instantly, more than a dozen thick vines, covered in thorns, sprouted from the ground, trapping Karl in place.

If not for his armor, the thorns on the vines would have pierced his flesh and devoured his blood.

At the same time, invisible forces converged in the air, and a giant hammer materialized, slamming down on his position.

It's over!

Despair spread across Dena and the others' faces.

Robert's abilities seemed endless, and they doubted even a Grand Knight could match him.

Although the Black Armor Giant was powerful, he was being led by the nose, without any chance to fight back.

Escape?

Da Wu's eyes darted around, searching for an escape route.

"Crack!"

Trapped by the swamp and vines, Karl stood with his sword raised, his expression beneath the helmet solemn and dignified.

A layer of white light seemed to radiate from within him, forming a solid figure slightly larger than himself.

Combat Technique - Guardian!

"Boom!"

The giant hammer descended from above, striking Karl.

The terrifying force caused the earth to tremble, and dust flew up, enveloping the area, obscuring everything within.

"Whoosh..."

A gentle breeze blew, and the dust gradually dissipated.

A figure, kneeling on one knee, came into view, and under everyone's gaze, he slowly rose, supporting himself with his sword.

"Is...is he okay?"

"He withstood it!"

Da Wu's face was filled with astonishment, then joy, and he shouted loudly, "He's fine!"

The previous attack could have easily turned a Knight who had activated his battle aura into a pile of meat paste.

Even a Grand Knight might not have been able to withstand it.

But now...

Dena's face glowed with excitement, her grip tightening on her sword hilt.

"Titan Hammer?"

Karl looked down at the gloomy Robert, "Not bad."

Indeed, the power of the Titan Hammer was comparable to a Grand Knight-level attack, perhaps even stronger.

However,

The martial art Guardian Bracelet that Karl practiced was a gift from the Spider Goddess to the warriors of the City of Forgotten Souls.

This martial art was particularly adept at defense.

Moreover, Karl's physical attributes were not weak, and he had activated a secret technique, further protected by his armor and Steel Body.

It was as if he had stacked multiple buffs.

In terms of defense,

Even a typical Grand Knight couldn't compare to him!

"Whoosh..."

In a flash, Karl reappeared before Robert, his arm trembling as his broadsword grew in size.

"Crack..."

The broadsword, which was already large compared to an ordinary person, now resembled a short sword in his giant hands.

And now!

The broadsword expanded to nearly three meters, resembling a door panel, and its weight increased with its size.

Enchanted Artifact!

The immense weight brought with it devastating power.

"Bang!"

This time,

The wall of earth summoned by Robert barely had any effect, as the giant sword smashed through it.

"Boom!"

Just as Karl's body was about to be torn apart by the gigantic force, a giant hand appeared, gripping the giant sword tightly.

"Hmm?" Karl's eyes narrowed.

"Do you think I'm afraid of getting close?" Robert twisted his neck, and his body began to mutate.

His skin started to turn a cold, hard gray, as if it were covered in countless tiny stones.

Not just the skin!

His muscles and bones also seemed to change, becoming rigid and cold, as if they were replaced by rocks.

Even his eyes gradually lost the softness they should have had as a human, becoming sharp and harsh, glowing with a chilling light.

His physique expanded like a balloon, even taller than Karl, who stood over three meters tall.

Wizardry—Stone Golem (Incomplete)!

Gazing at his opponent, Karl's expression turned serious.

"Flesh Modification?"

"Bloodline Wizard!"

There were different types of wizards, like Adolf, who practiced the most traditional natural school of magic.

In other words, an Elemental Wizard!

There were also Shadow Wizards, Nightmare Wizards, Bloodline Wizards, and more...

However, compared to the natural school, there were very few wizards from other schools, and they were even rarer in the Gandor Kingdom.

They were legendary beings.

Unexpectedly,

Robert was a Bloodline Wizard!

These types of wizards excelled in bodily modifications and bloodline evolution, often living alongside various other creatures.

The Purity Elixir, the Spider Maid, and such methods were likely also his doing.

"Not bad."

After transforming into a Stone Golem, Robert's mental fluctuations also became cold, and his voice was muffled.

"I need experience and knowledge in flesh modification. Anyone who stands in my way will die!"

"You too!"

"Boom!"

He punched with one hand, and the air was blasted with a dull, booming sound.

Karl drew his sword to block, retreating several steps.

What immense strength!

In his enlarged state, Robert's physical attributes were around 3.3 to 3.4, comparable to a Grand Knight. At this moment, Robert's strength was likely at 4, placing him in the upper echelon of Grand Knights.

Not all wizards were unskilled in close combat.

Bloodline Wizards,

excelled in close-quarters combat!

"Die!"

With a low, angry roar, Robert charged with his fists, his terrifying strength and massive size making him seem like a motionless small mountain.

As he swung his fists, layers of earth and stones covered his body, and in an instant, he was clad in a rocky armor.

Rock Armor!

Zero-Ring Spell—Control Rock.

The Stone Golem's skin was already hard, and with this rocky armor, he was impervious to any weapon.

However, in close-quarters combat, having strong power and solid defense didn't guarantee dominance.

Robert's wizardry was formidable, but he was clearly unskilled in combat techniques and couldn't fully utilize his strength.

This,

was undoubtedly a significant flaw.

After retreating several steps, Karl's expression relaxed. Although his opponent's attack was fierce, it wasn't as terrifying as he had imagined.

"Boom!"

The two clashed in mid-air again.

A howling gust of energy erupted from the point of contact, sweeping across the area and lifting the ground beneath their feet.

Combat Technique—Eagle Assault!

Karl's figure flickered, and his heavy broadsword was wildly swung from all directions, chopping at Robert.

He wasn't just a knight with exceptional physical attributes; he was also a martial arts master with proficient combat skills.

The combat techniques bestowed by the gods were no ordinary skills.

Combat Technique—Sacred Judgment!

Karl leaped into the air, his giant sword gleaming with a cold, harsh light. Then, he descended, swinging his sword and spinning it again, creating a circle of bright sword shadows without the blade visible.

Battle aura and energy erupted within his body, instantly unleashing two intersecting sword lights, resembling a cross descending from the heavens.

The sword intent was fierce, domineering, sacred, and majestic.

It was like executing divine justice!

This was the killing move of the Guardian Bracelet.

As the sword shadows danced in a circle, their power increased, and the battle aura intensified, causing the ground to churn with dust, forming a whirlwind.

A fierce wind rose, and the waves of energy swept everything from all directions into the vortex, leaving nothing untouched.

At the core of the vortex, Robert's vision was obstructed, and his senses were limited. He only felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him.

Dangerous!

He might die!

"Ah!"

Amidst the roar, he flung his hands forward.

At the same time,

the rings on his fingers flashed wildly, and he unleashed various spells and enchanted artifacts without regard for his own life.

Ring Star Sword!

Summon Thorns!

Titan Hammer!

Gravity Protection!

Earth Spikes!

Summon Rock!

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently.

Robert's body trembled, and the rocks covering him fell to the ground, while cracks appeared all over the Stone Golem's body.

Karl also suffered, as being hit by so many spells was painful, even with his incredible defense.

"Pff!"

He coughed up blood but didn't stop. Instead, he lunged forward, and his giant sword ignited with flames.

Flame Mark!

"Boom!"

Intense flames surged, and the high temperature seeped through the cracks in the Stone Golem's body, burning its internal organs.

"What a pity!"

As Karl swung his sword, he coldly huffed,

"The Stone Golem you transformed into isn't complete. Otherwise, only a Legendary Knight could defeat you.

"Pfft!"

Robert coughed up fresh blood, white smoke rising from his throat, and the scent of burnt internal organs filled his body.

Nonsense!

The true Stone Golem stood at an impressive height of seven to eight meters and weighed several dozen tons. A single flap of its wings could stir up a fierce gale.

This was a mythical construct, and if one could fully transform into a Stone Golem, it would be a First-Level Spell.

Robert's eyes widened in realization.

"Crack!"

The giant sword pierced the Stone Golem's skin, following the crack to penetrate its body, and the sword tip emerged from its back.

Robert lowered his head, his eyes filled with despair.

"No!"

"I... I haven't become a full-fledged wizard yet..."

"I..."

His body slowly shrank, and he clung to Karl's arm with a death grip, his eyes pleading for life.

The fear of death made him forget his dignity as a wizard apprentice.

"Don't!"

"Don't... kill me..."

Karl shook his head, and the giant sword suddenly shifted.

"So many girls and weavers died because of you, and you didn't seem to show mercy when they were dying either."

"Pfft!"

The body fell to the ground.

Karl took a deep breath, quickly removed the ring from Robert's hand, and searched his body, making sure nothing was left behind.

"Let's go!"

He turned and signaled to Dana and the others:

"Let's get out of here first!"

Without Robert's command, the Spider Maidens in the field became visibly confused, and they were no match for Karl.

The group of injured prisoners broke through the interception and disappeared into the darkness.

Fragment of the Divine Domain.

"Yes!"

Even with the invisible force calming his emotions, Karl's expression still couldn't hide his excitement as he stared intently at the loot on the table.

Four rings!

Four enchanted items!

This was an incredible stroke of fortune!

Each ring had a unique design, but they all bore the same name engraved on the inner circle.

Rio!

It was unclear if it was a surname or a given name, but it was definitely someone's title.

"Rio?"

Karl pondered:

"Hiber seems to have mentioned this name. A hundred years ago, there was an advanced wizard apprentice in the Gandor Kingdom who was skilled in crafting enchanted items."

If he were still alive today, he would undoubtedly be a full-fledged wizard, but the chances of that were slim.

Meditation and cultivating wizardry required a significant amount of time. If one's focus was divided between crafting and cultivation, it would be challenging to enhance their spiritual power, making it difficult to become a full-fledged wizard.

Karl took a moment to compose himself and then picked up the rings from the table one by one.

The ruby-encrusted ring had the Summon Thorns spell, a summoning-type Zero-Ring Spell.

When activated, it summoned over ten bloodthirsty thorns that could not only drain an enemy's flesh and blood but also trap them.

It could turn a knight into a dried-up corpse in an instant.

It could be used three times a day.

The sapphire-encrusted ring had the Ring Star Sword spell, a star-shining Zero-Ring Spell.

Upon activation, starlight would gather around the caster, forming six long swords with a degree of automatic tracking.

The Ring Star Sword was non-physical, allowing it to ignore defenses to a certain extent. Even a heavily armored knight would be pierced by it.

However, its physical existence would weaken its killing power.

This ring showed signs of damage, and although it could be used four times a day, it might not last long.

The yellow jade ring had the Gravity Protection spell, a gravity-type Zero-Ring Spell.

When activated, it could alter the gravity in a specific area, providing defense or trapping enemies.

Its power was comparable to a secondary Force Field Spell cast by an Apprentice High Mage, but it was more flexible and versatile.

The number of times it could be cast depended on the situation.

The last ring, encrusted with a crystal, had the Titan Hammer spell, an offensive-type spell.

This spell was incredibly powerful, capable of overwhelming even a Grand Knight. However, it required a certain amount of preparation time, and once locked onto a target, the caster couldn't change the direction of the attack.

This was also why Robert would first immobilize his target with a spell before summoning the Titan Hammer.

It could be used up to three times a day.

It also showed signs of damage.

Most enchanted items became damaged due to forced activation beyond their daily usage limit.

While they could still be used, it would cause irreversible damage, rendering them unusable over time.

In reality, most enchanted items had a 'durability' limit and couldn't be used an infinite number of times.

"Hmm?"

Karl slightly raised his eyebrows as he put on the crystal ring.

With a slight wave of his arm, the air in front of him rippled like a pond, and two books and a potion appeared out of thin air.

"This ring even has Void Storage capabilities, a Second-Level Spell and above!"

"No!"

Karl shook his head, removed the ring for a closer look, and his expression turned thoughtful:

"It's probably not the ring's ability, but the crystal itself that has a certain storage space."

Crafting an enchanted item with Void Storage capabilities was definitely beyond the capabilities of a wizard apprentice.

Even a full-fledged wizard might not be able to do it!

However, if the item itself had a certain amount of space, turning it into an enchanted item would be much simpler.

Just like the broadsword he always carried.

The crystal's storage space wasn't large, only containing two books and a porcelain bottle, but it was undoubtedly a valuable item, which was why Robert carried it with him.

Upon closer inspection, the two books were titled "Full Stone Golem Analysis" and "Detailed Earth Magic."

Two paths to becoming a full-fledged wizard!

Each contains seven magical techniques!

After reading, Karl almost wanted to burst out laughing, struggling to contain his excitement.

"Full Stone Golem Analysis" follows the path of a bloodline wizard, with hints of construct magic.

Practicing this art requires gradually transforming one's body into a stone golem, until a stone golem technique is formed within the spiritual sea, completing the evolution from spirit to flesh.

If successful, one can become a full-fledged wizard.

I can also transform into a stone golem at will.

This technique has some drawbacks. As the cultivation time increases, one gradually loses human emotions, and since it's a whole-body modification, transformation into other life forms is impossible.

But there are advantages.

It can significantly extend one's lifespan!

Ordinary full wizards live around two hundred years, but as a stone golem, due to reduced life force consumption, one can live four to five hundred years.

"Wait a minute!"

Karl shook his head.

"This doesn't seem like the orthodox path of a bloodline wizard."

"A stone golem isn't a living being; it's a mechanical lifeform crafted by a wizard."

"True bloodline wizards can transform into various species at will, but the Stone Golem Technique is more like a side path."

Actually,

Karl was overthinking.

Bloodline wizards require the flesh and blood of legendary creatures, but such creatures are scarce in the entire Gandor Kingdom.

So, the orthodox path of a bloodline wizard is not feasible here.

The Stone Golem Technique doesn't need to go that far; one only needs to craft a Stone Core to get started.

"Flesh Modification!"

Flipping to a specific page, Karl's eyes paused.

He finally understood why Robert was so popular in Signo City; bloodline wizards can make minor changes to their bodies.

For instance,

they can enlarge or elongate specific body parts.

"Hehe..."

Smiling lightly, Karl picked up the other book.

"Detailed Earth Magic" documented four magical techniques: Zero-Ring Spell Control Rock, Earth Spike, Gigantic Breath Technique, and a One-Ring Spell Earthquake.

Additionally, there's a Trick Mud Fusion.

Combining the three Zero-Ring Spells with the Trick results in a One-Ring Spell Earthquake, a complete heritage.

But...

"Where's the meditation technique?"

Karl frowned.

Not only is there no meditation technique in the Earth Magic heritage, but the Stone Golem Technique also lacks the crucial Stone Core crafting method.

While one can cultivate without a meditation technique, the chances of becoming a full-fledged wizard are extremely low.

Almost impossible.

The same goes for the Stone Core.

Without it, certain bloodline wizard techniques cannot be cultivated, and the ultimate Stone Golem cannot be achieved.

"Could it be that the so-called Saint's Secret, the Unspoken Word, and oral traditions are prevalent here?"

Sighing, Karl put down the book.

"Humans are insatiable, always wanting more."

"With enchanted items, they want magic, and with magic, they desire a complete heritage."

Shaking his head, he picked up the last bottle.

The bottle contained granular substances, the size of rice grains, transparent like ice crystals, rattling as he shook it.

"This should be Rice Essence, a drug to aid in meditation, which can replace the Wisdom Light."

Karl wasn't surprised by the contents of the bottle.

Of course,

He also wasn't overly excited.

He still had plenty of Soul Powder, and he wouldn't lack auxiliary potions before becoming a full-fledged wizard.

However, as his resistance to drugs increased, he would need to switch to other drugs to maintain his cultivation progress.

...

Karl now had a total of five enchanted items, all of which were rings, enough to fill one hand.

If he didn't wear them,

He might not be able to use them when needed.

Wearing them,

With so many rings on his hand, their origins might be identifiable.

After much thought, he put on a pair of loose gloves to conceal the rings.

"Have you heard?"

"The Apothecary Robert is from Cologne, and the disappearance of the Lap Factory's female workers is related to him."

"I heard that last night, many of our skilled members died, and Commander Goff was severely injured. But they managed to escape from the factory's base and immediately called upon the City Guard to raid the factory."

"Were there casualties?"

"Of course, many died, and they were all prominent figures!"

Karl laid back in his soft chair, closing his eyes for a nap, while his colleagues whispered around him.

"I also heard that a mysterious person came to their aid; otherwise, the Commander wouldn't have escaped."

"A mysterious person?"

"Shh, the boss is coming."

"Silence!"

Dana's voice rang out:

"Who's willing to join the raid on Robert's manor today?"

Hmm? Karl opened his eyes:

"I'll go!"

Robert's manor likely has wizardry books, and if he can get his hands on them, his future cultivation will be much easier.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end