AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chapter 186: Loading Template — Holy Grail Knight
The appearance of these two women was both unexpected and within reason.
Although they were assigned to different teams to carry out different missions in the last instance, in terms of stealth rating, they were indeed at the same stage as Cheng Tian.
Even though Cheng Tian's overall strength had made a qualitative leap compared to before the first monthly trial, being assigned to the same faction this time was still normal. It was just that Cheng Tian might be at 199, while they were around 110. In summary, they could all be considered to be in the hundred-plus range.
Facing Luo Meiling's undisguised disgust, Cheng Tian returned a fanged smile, which startled the girl into taking half a step back, bumping into Eve's front buffer behind her. Feeling the softness and elasticity, Luo Meiling immediately became even more annoyed.
If it weren't for the wrong location, she would have long since grabbed it, aiming to refine the buffer to an uneven size.
However, although the girl attributed her resentment towards the buffer, mixed with the anger of being blacklisted, to Cheng Tian, she did not cause a direct scene. Instead, she turned her head and gave a proud "hmph," then deliberately ignored Cheng Tian.
"All foreign mercenaries have arrived, haven't they?"
Just then, a man with thick eyebrows, sharp features, a dense beard, and reddish-brown hair, standing closest to the sand table, spoke up.
Hearing this, Cheng Tian also shifted his gaze, quickly scanning the tent.
Perhaps due to a distant spawn point, Cheng Tian realized he was probably the last player to enter the tent.
After just a quick scan, Cheng Tian basically confirmed that there were as many as 10 players belonging to the Knights of the Round Table this time, which was the number of players that two to two and a half regular mission teams should have.
It seemed that Prince Allen's faction of the Evil Roman Empire should also have a similar number of players. It truly looked like it was configured for a Legion War.
The main reason Cheng Tian could identify the players at a glance was that these players generally belonged to the type who were too lazy to spend money on glamorizing their equipment, following the principle of using whatever had good stats. Their attire style emphasized a mix-and-match look, and even with the 'foreign mercenary' identity as a cover, it couldn't hide this peculiar taste—
Cheng Mouren, who would wear bare-legged boxer briefs over dragon scale breastplates at home, commented thus.
However, the moment Cheng Tian's eyes met those of the man who was clearly the main speaker for the tent, and even the entire camp, a brain-effect similar to NEWTYPE telepathy appeared.
As the leader of the Knights of the Round Table, also bearing the responsibility of expelling the Evil Roman Empire, protecting Britannia, and searching for the Holy Grail, 'Arthur,' who had not yet been officially crowned King but was already internally designated, was truly astonished.
Because he never expected to find another Knight also pursuing the Holy Grail among these foreign mercenaries who could be hired for money!?
[Detecting your first entry into a 'Knights of the Round Table' related instance—]
['Game Expert' is activating—]
[You have successfully loaded the native protagonist template from the blueprint of 'Warhammer: Vermintide 2' — 'Holy Grail Knight / Markus Kruber'.]
[Holy Grail Knight: Native-level protagonist template. The template blueprint is one of the core protagonists of 'Warhammer: Vermintide 2', 'Markus Kruber'. As the only living heir of Follicard de Mandred, Markus was chosen by the Lady of the Lake as one of the most valuable candidates in the Old World of Warhammer, and she personally guided him on a righteous path of slaughter. If he can survive while completing various 'Holy Grail Missions' personally issued by the Lady, then she will bestow upon him the divine power within the Holy Grail.
When you choose to load the 'Holy Grail Knight' template—
You will simultaneously gain the template-exclusive armament 'Palando's Sable Sword and Shield'.
You will simultaneously gain the template-exclusive skills 'The Holy Grail Guides the Way Ahead', 'Blessed Blade', 'Bretonnian Bulwark', 'Knightly Virtues'.
Loading and unloading this character template each have a 30-minute cooldown.]
[Due to the high compatibility of your loaded 'Holy Grail Knight' template with the current blueprint instance scene, you may trigger some special plots that others cannot.]
This was the new template that Cheng Tian's talent directly loaded onto his body when he made eye contact with Arthur.
Since the Lady of the Lake in the Old World of Warhammer was entirely inspired by 'Arthurian Legend,' the Lady of the Lake essentially corresponded to the Lady of the Lake, and their Holy Grails were naturally highly compatible.
However, as the one being loaded, Cheng Mouren's expression was quite subtle—
Could he fulfill the virtues expected of a Holy Grail Knight? Why did he feel like he was about to break his vows at any moment?
Although the Lady of the Lake herself seemed to be the most unreliable existence... After completing a telepathic gaze with Arthur, Cheng Tian nonchalantly shifted his gaze, while also glancing at the three additional side quests that had suddenly appeared for him.
These were all independent side quests derived from the template skill 'The Holy Grail Guides the Way Ahead'.
[The Holy Grail Guides the Way Ahead (Virtue of Responsibility): Template skill, composite skill. The Lady of the Lake will randomly bestow 2 'Holy Grail Missions' upon the Knight for the Holy Grail Knight and his team to complete. For each Holy Grail Mission completed, the Lady will bestow corresponding divine blessings upon all members of that team until the end of the main quest.
Under the enhancement of the Virtue of Responsibility, your number of Holy Grail Missions has increased to 3.]
[Holy Grail Mission (Side Quest): Collect Red Resonating Orb, 0/1. Upon completion, all damage for you (including all your servants, summoned units) and your team +10%.
Collect Green Resonating Orb, 0/1. Upon completion, you (including the above) and your team will gain 2 points of additional health regeneration per second.
Kill Evil Roman Empire soldiers, 0/100. Upon completion, you (excluding the above) and your team will all receive a bottle of 'Potion of Strength'.]
Arthur gave a meaningful look to Lancelot, who was princely handsome with magnificent golden long hair and had been mistaken by countless players back then for the true protagonist, and to Percival, the burly axe-wielding man with a Leon-style middle part, who in legends was the one who truly found the Holy Grail.
Thus, these two Knights, completely different in style but utterly devoted to Arthur, also sensed a subtle kindred aura from Cheng Tian.
As the one in legend truly qualified to hold the Holy Grail, Percival had the most straightforward and simple personality. Unlike Arthur and Lancelot, who held back their desire to inquire, after confirming the kindred aura on Cheng Tian, he immediately took a step forward, his large hand parting the crowd, and abruptly gripped Cheng Tian's shoulders, who was looking at his panel, then loudly declared.
"Sir, you must be the Orange Knight! I have long admired your name!
With your help, the enemy legion's chief dual-sword Knight Balford will surely be captured easily!"
"Huh?"
Cheng Tian pointed to himself with a blank expression, looking like Benbo'er Ba ordered by the Nine-Headed Worm to "go deal with Tang Monk and his disciples."
At the same time, the 'Legendary +1' indicator on Cheng Tian's panel was glowing brightly.