Chapter 211: The ascension ritual of Lachshir
Cheng Tian, whose attention had been entirely on Prince Allen, couldn't help but turn his gaze when he heard a strangely familiar rapid chant nearby. He then saw the elf Ivan holding a steel spear, pointing his sword at the spellcaster.
Almost instantly, Cheng Tian found Ivan's corresponding profession and ability system in his mind.
The Arcanist, a unique profession of the A-rank Bracer "Cruznard" from The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky series, combined military strategy, arcanism, and Taoist magic. While possessing considerable close-combat abilities, he also understood various auxiliary and offensive spells.
In the dwarf-elf duo, the seemingly slender Ivan actually held a flexible position, serving as both a vanguard and a support, rather than a pure back-row spellcaster.
The "Frosty Light on Iron Armor" he had just chanted rapidly corresponded to his professional skill—Arcane Steel Lv4, which could release an effect that increased his or others' additional physical damage reduction while granting them a protective shield with 1 point of absolute health, theoretically capable of withstanding any single instance of damage.
This meant that as long as he had mana and the skill was off cooldown, he could instantly equip anyone with a knight's armor that didn't interfere with existing gear, playing a crucial core role in strategies against certain tricky, high-damage bosses.
However, Ivan had never explained the true effect of this skill to anyone, and the skill itself had an information-hiding effect unique to Arcanists. Thus, even those who had been buffed by Arcane Steel didn't know its specific effects, only perceiving it as a decent damage-absorbing shield.
Even Cheng Tian only knew the original ability and was completely unaware of any additional effects the skill might gain when leveled up... But seeing Luo Meiling completely unharmed after being struck by lightning, Cheng Tian, who knew that some abilities in the Trails in the Sky system could grant absolute health shields, began to speculate.
If the elf was an Arcanist, then this dwarf probably wasn't a warrior, was he?
Just as Cheng Tian was thinking this, Ironbeard directly demonstrated his combat role with his actions.
His previously empty hand now held a dwarf musket.
Due to its difficult reloading and background setting, this weapon was in the same category as crossbows and therefore not forbidden.
Immediately after, the dwarf pressed his hand to the ground. Accompanying a rising cloud of smoke, a sturdy, well-fed brown bear appeared out of thin air. It first roared, then retreated to the dwarf Ironbeard's side, baring its teeth at the greatsword knights fiercely hacking at the cheval de frise, looking as if it was ready to charge out at any moment.
"Good, Misha."
Ironbeard soothed the bear's head and then, using his summoned creature as cover, began precise sniping.
Although Dwarf Ironbeard had not yet completed his class change, in his original world, he was a hunter who lived by hunting. After entering the instance, he also coincidentally obtained a summoning skill.
But strictly speaking, this brown bear, summoned by a skill, should actually be a "Bear Spirit."
Yes, that's right, it was the special summoned unit held by the Druid from the Radiant faction in Dota 2.
The Bear Spirit not only had higher health than Ironbeard, stronger defensive capabilities, and the ability to be re-summoned upon death, but it also had a characteristic that would make many players drool—it came with 6 universal inventory slots!
Furthermore, the Bear Spirit's inventory also functioned as equipment slots. Some universal equipment only needed to be placed in the Bear Spirit's inventory to be equipped and take effect, though there were some restrictions.
Looking at the large-rumped bear, Cheng Tian was still wondering if it was a Dota 2 Druid's bear, a Diablo 2 Druid's bear, or a Beast Master's bear... It couldn't possibly be every hunter's pet dream—a Druid who actively transformed into a bear to get scratched, could it?
"Thanks."
After thanking the elf, Luo Meiling decisively retreated, preparing to find an opportunity to directly possess an enemy unit as a host. Using her main body was too dangerous.
However, this so-called long-range exchange was more of a probing. Both Cheng Tian's side and the opposing side still held considerable reserves, the reason being simple: they both planned to unleash their firepower on the opposing leader.
As the greatsword knights completely dismantled the cheval de frise, there was no longer any obstacle between the two sides.
The light of torches, the shouts of battle, and the blare of charging horns instantly filled the battlefield shrouded by the night sky.
Cheng Tian, riding his ox and charging along, felt a bit troubled as Prince Allen grew closer.
It was nighttime, so his mental stat bonus was gone, and the Shadow Serpent Steps couldn't be 100% effective. Also, after Arthur's repeated admonishments, Cheng Tian was hesitant to use his indiscriminately effective Solar Fist.
After sufficient rest, Cheng Tian's mana bar was full, but the main target this time was Prince Allen himself. Cheng Tian felt that probably only the Blade of Blessing would have enough damage to penetrate the iron armor he was wearing.
However, just as Arthur, leading the charge, was about to engage Allen in close combat, Arthur noticed Allen's gaze. It barely lingered on him for more than half a second, instead bypassing him directly and staring intently at the left-rear, which was the Orange Knight's position.
"Give me my gem!!!"
Prince Allen, staring fixedly at Cheng Tian, almost roared these words.
And the next second, a blinding light, so intense that Arthur thought Cheng Tian had broken his promise and indiscriminately flashed everyone again, erupted simultaneously from Cheng Tian's brow and Allen's crown.
But the light came and went quickly, and it wasn't as blinding as the Solar Fist, which almost made people go blind. However, when the light dissipated, Arthur and the others found that Prince Allen, along with his horse, had vanished.
"Orange Knight!?"
Hearing Percival's shout behind him, Arthur finally turned around and found that Cheng Tian, riding his ox, was also gone... A familiar altar, a familiar overcast sky. The moment the light dissipated and his vision returned to normal, Cheng Tian knew where he was.
This was the independent altar space where their team had previously challenged and defeated the Sun God Kukulkan.
Besides Cheng Tian himself and his armored ox, there was also Prince Allen, riding a black magical warhorse, staring at him with a gaze so greedy it was almost uncontrollable.
[You have entered the independent space "Solar Altar."]
[Aoko, Sun God Gem Shard holding amount 5%.]
[Allen, Sun God Gem Shard holding amount 10%.]
[Lachshir's Ascension Ritual in progress—]
[Only the victor can leave this place!]
[Fight to the death!]
Cheng Tian let out a long breath, revealing his long and short twin swords.
Seeing this, Allen first paused slightly, then showed an even more cruel expression and said,
"So it was you who killed my chief, I originally thought if you were sensible enough to hand over the gem, I might spare your life, but now—"
"Spare your mother! You're the next Louis XVI!!!"
Cheng Tian violently interrupted Prince Allen's speech without hesitation, raising his twin swords and initiating a death charge amidst the other party's suddenly twisted and distorted expression!