yasinovel Chapter 115 The Magician Roger
Chapter 115 The Magician Roger
Chapter 115 The Magician Roger
As Colin walked away, Xia Tong headed towards the stairs leading underground.
Walking through the corridor leading to the side room, the warm yellow firelight came into view, and the air was filled with the heavy smell of coke, rust, and old sweat.
Xia Tong walked inside and was greeted by a crowded and chaotic space that was orderly despite the disorder.
The walls, floors, and corners were piled with all sorts of weapons.
There were broken straight swords, chipped giant axes, and many unfinished products whose names I didn't know.
The orange-red charcoal embers occasionally burst into a spark or two, illuminating the dust floating in the air.
At the center of the scene is that huge, hunched figure.
He is a mixed race.
It has rough, gray-green skin covered in scales, and its body is as large as an upright wild beast.
His long, messy white hair hung down, obscuring his cloudy, sorrowful, and always bloodshot eyes.
Seeing Xiu Gu like this, Xia Tong couldn't help but sigh softly.
He stepped forward and softly called out, "Senior Xiu Gu."
Hearing Xia Tong's shout, the strong, powerful hands that were wielding the giant hammer slowly stopped.
He looked up at Xia Tong, his voice hoarse: "New here? I've never seen you before."
"What do you want to fight? I don't negotiate prices here."
Then, the blacksmith Xiu Gu pointed to a price list on the right wall.
The text details how many forging stones and runes are needed for each level of weapon enhancement.
There are different consumption standards for ordinary weapons and colorless weapons.
Xia Tong estimated the amount of forging stones and runes in her backpack and said, "I want to upgrade this ordinary Lion Greatsword to level 4."
"This Claw Mark Holy Mark has been upgraded to level 3."
As she spoke, Xia Tong took out the forging stones and runes she needed.
A total of 2880 runes, 24 level 1 forging stones, and two level 2 forging stones.
The amount of runes spent was actually not much.
However, the level 2 forging stone was a real headache for Xia Tong.
He only has three stones in his possession so far. Level 1 forging stones are relatively easy to obtain; you can get them by killing some ordinary Grik soldiers.
Xia Tong currently has more than a dozen level-one forging stones left over, but only three level-two forging stones.
Otherwise, the Claw Mark Holy Mark could have been upgraded to level 4 in one go.
"Kid, come back in two days to pick it up."
Xiu Gu took the materials, said nothing more, and turned back to continue swinging the hammer.
Two days later, the brand-new weapon was retrieved.
Xia Tong returned to the main hall of the Round Table Hall.
Then, on the large balcony on the first floor of the round table hall, he saw a familiar figure.
He was wearing a huge, soft-made wide-brimmed hat.
The brim of his hat was very wide, with an irregular wave shape, which hung down naturally, covering half of his forehead and adding a touch of mystery.
He also wore a short shawl with delicate tassels over his shoulders, which gave him a very gentlemanly look.
Xia Tong went up to the balcony, and the other person heard her footsteps and turned around.
He politely removed his signature pointed hat, revealing short, slightly curly brown hair, and bowed slightly in greeting.
"————Oh, hello."
"Looks like you're one of the new fading ones here too?"
His voice was gentle yet magnetic: "I am Roger."
"Although I'm a useless mage, I'm still trying my best to repair the magic ring."
"Hello, my name is Xia Tong."
Xia Tong returned the greeting, saying, "I am a new fading one, currently active near Ningmgford."
"Oh, I was just planning to go to Stoneville City recently, I heard about that Golden King," said Roger, who was guarding the place.
"Really?" Xia Tong smiled.
Roger then continued, "I also tried to break through near the Tongcheng Tunnel."
"But that ominous demon, Malkitt, is blocking my way. If I force my way through, I'll be seriously injured. Then I won't be able to continue exploring Stoneville."
"If we have the chance, we can fight side by side."
"That would be my honor," Xia Tong said politely.
"Okay, then you take this."
As he spoke, Roger took out a stone plaque engraved with runes from his bag and handed it to Xia Tong: "This is my summoning talisman."
"As long as you inject magic into it, I will be summoned to come and help if I am in the vicinity."
Roger looked at the staff on Xia Tong's back and said with a smile, "I see you also use magic, perhaps we can exchange ideas in this area."
"We will meet again when we have the chance."
After saying that, Xia Tong put away the summoning talisman and left the round table hall.
Back in the dilapidated house in Stormhill.
Xia Tong greeted Rodelica and said she was going to visit her neighbor, Bernal.
Then, riding Torret, with his back to Stoneville, he followed the path east of the dilapidated house into the dense woods.
As they rode along, several oblivious Kaidan mercenaries appeared on the road.
They were all slain by Xia Tong's skillful use of the Radiant Stone Great Demon Gravel, without even a chance to get close.
About several tens of minutes later.
Finally, a wide-open clearing appeared in front of us.
On the open ground, a dilapidated wooden hut stood all alone—Xi Zhanzhe's hut.
This cabin is even more dilapidated than Rodrika's original one.
Clearly, the owner didn't care about these things; as long as it could provide shelter from the wind and rain, it was fine, but it was far from comfortable.
-
Xia Tong dismounted and slowly walked into the house.
The sound of footsteps seemed to have attracted the attention of the people inside the house.
"Oh? Another guest?"
A deep voice rang out.
Xia Tong looked up.
This is an extremely imposing man, completely opposite to Roger's refined and elegant mage image.
He wore a heavy suit of silver armor, which was engraved with countless lifelike images of wild animals—lions, wolves, and bears.
He was also wearing a dark blue printed cloak with gold embroidery, which highlighted his extraordinary status.
"Faded One, what are you doing here?"
Seeing Xia Tong looking somewhat dazed, he asked another question, his deep eyes fixed on her.
"Hello, Senior Bernal."
Xia Tong bowed and said, "I heard Rodrika mention you, so I came here specifically to visit and ask for your advice."
"Oh? Rodrika?"
Upon hearing this name, Bernal's cold expression softened considerably: "And what is your relationship with Rodrika?"
"My name is Xia Tong. I once saw Ms. Rodrika in trouble because her companion was being tortured by limb-splitting, so I helped her out a few times. Therefore, we are good friends."
"I see."
Bernal sighed: "It's good that there are still kind-hearted faders like you in this dirty, chaotic borderland."
Xia Tong couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.
Because he helped Rodrika with his own selfish motives; the Legion of Bones needed Rodrika, who would later become a Spirit Trainer, to strengthen it.
This is also the main reason why he helped Rodrigo.
"I've heard you're a warrior with exceptional skills."
Xia Tong changed the subject.
"Exceptional skills? Hahaha!"
Upon hearing Xia Tong's words, Bernal couldn't help but laugh heartily, then shook his head: "I'm just an ordinary Faded One, like you."
"7
After laughing, he suddenly became serious and looked at Xia Tong: "Can I ask you something?"
"Will you stay in the border region and keep fighting?"
Even if the Golden Law is broken beyond repair—would you still continue to believe in the guidance of blessings?
This is a very pointed question.
Xia Tong hesitated for a moment, then said honestly, "I—although the blessing will guide those who have faded."
"But I can't believe in it forever without any reason."
"I have my own judgment," Xia Tong added.
Bernal narrowed his eyes and gave him a deep look: "You really are a strange person."
"I asked other people who had faded before, and they all said they would believe in the guidance of the blessing without reservation, like moths to a flame."
"Alright, let's get down to business."
Bernal stood up and dusted himself off: "Since you've come to ask me for advice, let me tell you about the combat techniques I know."
"I only know how to use a sword, and I've poured all my energy into combat skills."
"I want to pass on my combat skills to you, to a faded individual with self-awareness."
"So-called combat skills are the proof of a soldier's fighting with weapons, defeat and death, and the most vivid heroic stories."
That's why I'm so fond of combat techniques.
"That conveyed and gave meaning to defeat and death."
Bernal possessed a wide range of combat skills.
Xia Tong was dazzled by the variety of techniques, such as kicking, endurance, quick steps, piercing, and spinning slashes.
After much deliberation, and considering my own fighting style, I finally decided to...
He chose three combat skills: Storm Foot, Storm Blade, and Whirlwind Slash.
Stormblade can unleash storm blades forward, making it an excellent ranged attack.
Although Xia Tong knows magic, it is obviously more efficient and smoother to use a melee weapon to release Storm Blade than to switch between melee attacks and staffs.
Perhaps in a crisis, this is truly the difference between being injured and not being injured.
As for Stormfoot.
This move is incredibly helpful when you're surrounded.
Imagine being surrounded by enemies and using a Storm Step to instantly disrupt their movements.
Then follow up with a spinning slash.
These two combat skills combined are an absolute monster-clearing weapon.
Of course, these three combat skills are not cheap.
In total, it cost Xia Tong over 3200 Runes.
Even though this was after Bernal had given Xia Tong a discount because he liked her.
Feeling the emptiness of runic energy within her body, Xia Tong couldn't help but sigh. She was penniless again.
There were no ready-made scrolls for teaching combat skills; Bernal personally provided instruction.
Outside the wooden house.
Bernal stood in the wind, letting the gale whip his cloak behind him, but he remained as still as a rock rooted to the ground.
"Watch."
Bernal did not make any unnecessary charging movements.
He simply and seemingly casually lifted his right foot.
"boom!"
A deafening roar, like a muffled thunderclap, exploded on the flat ground.
-
The moment he stomped down, a visible gray-white shockwave erupted and spread outwards from his boots.
The rubble and weeds on the ground were instantly blown away.
Even Xia Tong, who was standing a few meters away, felt a strong pushing force coming towards her and had to squint her eyes.
"This is not just stomping your feet."
Bernal said in a deep voice, "You must carefully feel the flow of energy within me, causing the earth to resonate with it."
Time flies.
Nearly two weeks passed, and Xia Tong stayed temporarily in the dilapidated house of the warrior trainees, learning combat skills from Bernal.
The time for parting has come.
Bernal looked at Xia Tong, who was covered in sweat, and nodded: "Your combat skills are barely usable, but there is still a long way to go before you have truly mastered them."
"Hone your skills in battle."
With that, Bernal waved his hand, indicating that Xia Tong could leave.
However, Xia Tong stopped in her tracks.
He gazed into Bernal's eyes and asked, "Senior Bernal, the question you asked me the other day—"
What is your own answer?
Bernal was stunned for a moment.
He never expected Xia Tong to ask that question, which struck a nerve.
After a long silence, he looked at the huge golden tree in the distance, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
In the end, he said, "I don't know."
"That's why I ask this question to every person I meet who has faded away."
"Most of them said they would steadfastly follow the guidance of the blessing."
"but----"
Bernal's voice became somewhat hoarse: "After following the guidance of the blessing, what if one loses too much to bear, or discovers that the end of the guidance is nothingness—what then?"
In fact, Xia Tong didn't have a real answer either.
He said goodbye and rode away on Toretto.