Chapter 137 - 103: Troop Explosion, Tier 1 Full Level

Chapter 137: Chapter 103: Troop Explosion, Tier 1 Full Level

Meanwhile, a hoarse voice sounded from beneath Hei’s faceplate, "My Lord, I have come to report that I have successfully broken through to Tier Two."

Shen Xing already knew about the breakthrough from the system notifications. He nodded and said, "Very good. You have not disappointed me."

"Now, I shall grant you the gift of evolution."

With those words, he opened the Talent Interface, sacrificed 100 points of Agility, and activated [Sacrificial Evolution].

HUMMM...

A familiar red light descended, enveloping both man and horse.

In the light, Hei’s appearance didn’t change much, but the gray-black aura of death around him grew much stronger.

Not only that, but the black crescent moon behind him rose automatically and began to slowly rotate in the air.

Shen Xing noticed that this crescent moon seemed to have become somewhat fuller.

Before, it was just a slender crescent, like a thin hook hanging overhead.

Now, it was almost a half-moon, its edges tinged with a gray-black fog.

Before he could get a better look, a system notification appeared.

[Advancement successful! Your Soldier Type ’Hei’ has successfully advanced to Boss★★!]

[For this breakthrough: All Attributes +10%, Extra Agility +100]

[Skills Activated: Shield of the Death Moon, Full Moon Evil Light Slash]

...

’The names of these two skills sound so cool!’

Shen Xing praised inwardly, then, as usual, he checked the new Skills.

[Shield of the Death Moon: Condense the Power of Death to apply a Black Moon Shield to oneself, absorbing ranged attacks and Magic Damage. The absorption limit cannot exceed 30% of the user’s maximum damage threshold.

While the shield is active, Spirit Resistance +30%, Stagger Resistance +30%.

When the shield reaches its absorption limit, it will shatter, dealing damage equal to the total amount absorbed to enemies within 5 meters.

Duration: 25 seconds

Cooldown: 75 seconds]

(Note: Under the Black Moon’s protection, life and death cycle. To draw near is to die; to be repelled is to live.)

...

[Full Moon Evil Light Slash: An advanced Skill of Evil Light Slash.

Charge for 1-3 seconds to condense the original fan-shaped attack into an expanding, ring-shaped blade of light, dealing high cutting damage to enemies within 50-150 meters.

For every second charged, damage increases by 30%. At maximum charge, it gains a 30% Armor Piercing effect.]

(Note: The full moon’s blade hangs silent in the sky; as its cold light passes, ten thousand souls are startled.)

...

’These two skills... it’s not just the names that are cool, the actual effects are awesome too.’

Shen Xing glanced at Hei beside him, feeling a bit envious. It seemed like Hei was getting all the good stuff.

After all, while Hellish Roar’s skills were also cool and absurdly powerful, he paid the price of going bald.

Shen Xing, as the Lord, was of course also imposing and handsome, but the fact that he couldn’t stand up greatly diminished that aura.

But this guy, Hei, not only looked cool and had a cool name, but his damn Skill Effects were cool too. It was simply unfair!

’Oh, wait, Hei has his flaws too.’

Shen Xing had seen his body under the armor; it was so corroded by the Power of Death that he had almost withered into a husk.

’Sure enough, nothing in this world is truly perfect.’

Shen Xing felt a bit better about it.

Then, his expression turned serious, and he ordered, "Hei, today you will lead the Black Moon Knight Order to explore the area east of the territory."

"If you encounter any special areas, mark them down."

"Hellish Roar, you and Blood Roar will lead the Beastman Legion to the northern mountains. Investigate the magma cavern there and bring back more Hellfire Seeds."

"Likewise, if you encounter a powerful enemy, do not fight head-on. Remember to return to the territory for help immediately."

He took out two Horse Lanterns and handed one to each of them.

The two commanders accepted them and said solemnly, "As you command, Lord!"

With that, they turned and went to organize their respective exploration teams.

After they left, Shen Xing went to the foot of the city wall and found Black Arrow, who was on patrol.

As one of the few Elite units among the Skeleton Archers, Black Arrow’s combat power was quite high.

However, because it was a skeleton with low intelligence, it could only execute simple commands, making it unsuitable for important tasks.

But for defending the city and fighting, it was more than enough.

CLACK...

A pale white skeleton leaped down from the city wall several meters high, its entire frame rattling from the impact.

Black Arrow strode forward on its bony legs and came before its Lord, the Soul Fire in its eye sockets flickering as if awaiting instructions.

"Here, take this and go absorb it."

Shen Xing took out the [Mourning Black Bone] and handed it over.

Black Arrow extended a bony claw and cradled the pitch-black bone.

Upon feeling the power contained within it, the flames in its eye sockets flared violently. Its jawbone clacked open and shut, making it seem extremely excited.

It turned around, seemingly wanting to bow in thanks to its Lord, just like the Beastmen.

But its skeletal frame got stuck halfway through the bow, creating a somewhat awkward scene.

Shen Xing gave a helpless smile and waved his hand. "That’s enough. Go on and absorb it."

Black Arrow nodded, then happily ran off, clutching the bone in its arms.

Next, Shen Xing wheeled himself to an open space on the west side of the territory.

Before him lay a large Burial Ground.

The ink-black soil emanated a black vapor, and pale white skeletons lay half-buried within it. Among them were large skeletons that did not appear to be human.

The Skeleton Archer Nest, now upgraded to Ordinary Three-Star, had not only greatly increased in size but also seemed to contain the bones of other creatures.

[Consume Soul Stone x600, Vinar Silver Coins x600, and Dusk Fire x600 to recruit Skeleton Archers (Ordinary Three-Star) x30?]

...

’Recruiting a single Ordinary Three-Star skeleton requires double the materials of a Two-Star one, but it’s still worth it.’

’After all, 10 Soul Stones and 10 Silver Coins aren’t enough to advance a skeleton by even a single star.’

Shen Xing selected "Confirm" without hesitation.

The next moment, the vast Burial Ground before him began to tremble violently.

The scattered skeletons on the ground floated up automatically, reassembling in mid-air into humanoid figures.

As Soul Fire ignited in their eye sockets, thirty deathly-white Skeleton Archers, each holding a Longbow, stepped forward.

[DING! You now have over 30 ’Skeleton Archer’ Soldier Types. Activating 30-Man Bonds: All Skeleton Archers’ initial Agility +15.]

[DING! You now have over 50 ’Skeleton Archer’ Soldier Types. Activating 50-Man Bonds: All Skeleton Archers gain Armor Piercing +15% and Range +15%.]

...

’15% Armor Piercing and Range... This 50-man Bond is quite strong.’

Shen Xing nodded, then distributed Soul Stones to these Skeleton Archers and sent them aside to absorb them.

After all, only by raising their Levels could they be more effective at killing enemies on the battlefield (and serve as better cannon fodder).

Afterward, he remained in the territory, commanding his Soldier Types to fend off monsters from the Fog while absorbing Soul Stones to level himself up.

He had a feeling that he would reach the level cap of Level 9 today.

「Two or three hours passed in the blink of an eye.」

During this time, Black Arrow officially broke through to Tier Two, its combat power soaring.

The number of Tier Two, Extraordinary Level Soldier Types in his territory had officially reached five!

Moreover, the Extraordinary units in Shen Xing’s territory weren’t ordinary ones.

Every one of them had a Potential starting at Elite Three-Star, and some were even Boss Three-Star.

This quality of Soldier Types was a rare sight among all the Novice Lords in the world.

More importantly, every one of his Extraordinary units was a monstrous existence in its own right.

Needless to say, Hellish Roar and Hei, as mutated Soldier Types who had each fused with new powers, could be called invincible within their Tier without exaggeration.

Zhaji and Black Arrow, as Agile Type units, had also undergone [Sacrificial Evolution] multiple times, their combat power far surpassing others of the same Tier.

Then there was Reina... As a Heroic Unit, if she were to ever fight seriously, she would probably be the most terrifyingly destructive force in the entire territory.

But who knew what had gotten into her; she was only willing to fight with her sword, making her performance comparable to that of an ordinary Boss.

As Shen Xing contemplated these things, he silently continued to absorb Soul Stones.

CRACK... CRUNCH!

One Soul Stone after another lost its luster in his hand, then disintegrated into dust.

Shen Xing could feel faint streams of warmth flowing through his meridians as his physical attributes steadily improved.

About half an hour later, an even more powerful surge of warmth erupted within his body.

[DING! You have successfully reached Level 9 (current Tier limit reached).]

[Attribute increases for this level up: Power +7, Spirit +5, Agility +0, Constitution +6]

...