Chapter 838 The Game Just Got Easier

The gameplay, which used to lean towards linear progression, has now opened up into a vast world. On top of that, the content of the game is arguably the richest of any Soulslike title ever made.

While Elden Ring has been brutally challenging for many players, more and more people are slowly discovering the extensive content the game has to offer.

Simultaneously, thanks to the open-world elements, some particularly clever players have quickly figured out how to make their experience in the game much easier.

On SharkTV, streamer Ash was among the very first to broadcast Elden Ring.

However, unlike skilled players who were already dominating and reaching places like Sky City and the snowy mountains, he, being clumsy with his hands, had only just reached the Volcano Manor area.

It reminded him of a line from a hero called Windrunner in his favorite game, Dota: "I am the bane of clumsy players."

This Soulslike game is the bane of noobs like him.

Even though he followed online guides and got a powerful early-game weapon for mages, the Meteorite Staff, which had an S-rank Intelligence scaling, along with the special spell Rock Sling.

Compared to his previous experience, Lucas had actually made some balance adjustments in Elden Ring.

The bug where Rock Sling could be used to get past fog walls was gone. Furthermore, the aggro and AI mechanics for summoning ashes had also been balanced. While sorcery did become much simpler, it still required a degree of player skill.

Naturally, Ash, who was inherently unsuited for these Soulslike games, had at one point considered giving up on them entirely.

But today was completely different.

As soon as he started streaming, viewers, drawn by the news, flooded the chat with messages.

"Ash is here, Ash is here! Everyone, start ordering takeout!"

"Ash is here! Ash is dead!"

"Excited! Last night the Full Moon Queen set a record for the boss fight. Today, based on Ash's progress, he should be heading to the Royal Capital, right? I wonder how long the Dragon-Armored Tree Sentinel will stump Ash."

"At least two hours, minimum."

"Two hours? Do you guys underestimate Ash that much? Be bolder, double it!"

Seeing all the comments, Ash didn't sigh dejectedly like before, nor did he put on a face like he was heading into battle. Instead, he cheerfully started the game.

"I'm telling you all! Today you're going to see a different me! I studied up all last night!"

The audience chuckled: "Ash, studying won't help. If studying worked, wouldn't everyone be a top graduate?"

"Yeah, with your skill level, Ash, studying won't make a difference!"

"I, for one, don't believe Ash can handle a Soulslike game."

"Don't worry, it won't be long before Ash is drawing runes with his fingers and asking viewers for help."

Before long, Ash entered the game.

He started as a Knight, as any player familiar with Dark Souls knows, the Knight is one of the easiest classes to start with.

But after playing for a while, especially after hearing about the Meteorite Staff in Caelid's ruins, he had switched his stats to an Intelligence build mid-game.

Even though he was a Knight, Vigor and Endurance were still important, so he didn't start a new character.

By the time he reached the Volcano area, he was already around level 70.

"Let me show you how this game is actually played!" Ash confidently ran towards a marker on the map.

There was a Minor Erdtree, and beneath it, a Putrid Avatar.

Unlike the other Erdtree Avatars wielding large hammers, this Putrid Avatar had a snake-like form, identical to the hidden monster in the secret basement of Stormveil Castle.

If he tried to fight it head-on, he would be no match. But the crucial point was that this boss didn't have a time limit.

Also, unlike the regular Erdtree Avatars that could summon countless golden arrows for ranged attacks, this Putrid Avatar had no such moves.

Furthermore, being in the Volcano region, the area around this Erdtree was filled with various stones.

As any self-respecting Soulslike player knows, there are two important adages: "Lots of hair means weak to fire; large body means weak to doors."

Ash quietly moved to a spot between two rocks and began casting the Rock Sling spell.

The chat was speechless: "Holy crap, the sneaky fog wall trick is here!"

"To be honest, isn't this skipping class?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's as sneaky as Sekiro's Genichiro getting stuck on tombstones and stairs in Bloodborne!"

"Speaking of sneaky, Isshin the Sword Saint, who got stuck in fog walls during speedruns, has something to say!"

With little effort, Ash defeated the boss and coughed lightly. "Stop complaining, everyone. Honestly, I really couldn't beat this boss directly. But from now on, I won't use these cheap tricks anymore. I'll fight bosses honorably! I'll still summon NPCs and ashes, but I won't ask viewers for help."

The chat, which had been lively, quieted down upon hearing Ash's words.

Because up to this point, there were very few bosses he had actually beaten honorably. Now he dared to make such a bold declaration?

"Heh heh..."

Seeing the chat, Ash smiled slightly.

He quietly put on the Intelligence-boosting helmet from the Raya Lucarian Academy. At a Site of Grace, he opened his Flask of Wondrous Physick and added the newly acquired Cerulean Tear.

Then, he swapped out three spell slots and teleported back to the Grand Library of the Academy. Using the only respec item available, he reset his stats and allocated all his points to Intelligence and FP.

Instantly, the chat exploded: "Holy crap, what is Ash thinking?"

"He's not scared of dying, is he?"

"With that Vigor and Endurance, he won't even be able to wear armor!"

However, some observant viewers seemed to have an idea of what was happening.

"OMG, could it be... that move?"

"Glass Cannon!?"

While everyone was discussing, Ash had equipped a special sorcery: Comet Azur.

Of course, veteran Soulslike players knew it by a more familiar name: Stars of Ruin.

At this point, Ash had reached a side gate of the Royal Capital, guarded by a Dragon-Armored Tree Sentinel.

Compared to the Tree Sentinels in the starting area, this Dragon-Armored Tree Sentinel was much more formidable. Its axe had become a Great Dragonbone Axe, and in its second phase, it gained lightning abilities. Its horse no longer just used charge attacks and flying kicks, but could also spit two large fireballs.

Facing the Dragon-Armored Tree Sentinel, Ash, from a distance, quietly summoned his pack of three wolves.

Then, he drank his Physick and pressed the lock-on button.

Afterward, he let out a great shout.

"Death Star Beam!"

Blue magical energy, like a beam of light, instantly pierced the Dragon-Armored Tree Sentinel.

Its health plummeted as if a dam had burst.

In Elden Ring, Stars of Ruin has no time limit, but its FP cost is incredibly high. Even with full FP, you can only cast it for a few seconds.

However, the Azure Tear Ash had just acquired had a special effect: it made magic consumption zero for a certain period.

So, under the bewildered gazes of countless viewers, the beam didn't stop. Furthermore, Stars of Ruin itself had a certain stagger effect, so the Dragon-Armored Tree Sentinel couldn't just ignore it and could only stagger towards him.

After ten seconds, while it didn't quite kill the Dragon-Armored Tree Sentinel instantly, the boss was left with only a sliver of health.

After several rolls to create distance and a bit of stamina recovery, he seized an opening and finished it off with two Rock Slings.

"Ah, it didn't die instantly. This must be because my level isn't high enough. Don't worry, I'll go back and train for a while. Then I'll put my Intelligence up to 70 and reinforce the staff dropped by the Full Moon Queen." Ash said triumphantly.

"WTF! This isn't the show I wanted to see!"

"No, isn't this too broken? How can mages be so invincible?"

"The streamer's playstyle is too violent!"

The chat was stunned. This was not what they had expected!

In reality, Ash wasn't the only one who had found a way to make the game easier.

Players who didn't choose the mage class had also discovered ways to simplify the game.

In a lake near Caria Manor, after defeating a scarab beetle, players could obtain an Ash of War called Hoarfrost Stomp. Equipping it instantly gave players a taste of true power.

Warriors who disdained using magic and embodying the "cold leg" playstyle, after defeating a Night's Cavalry near Castle Morne in the Weeping Peninsula, obtained an Ash of War called Barricade Shield. Paired with a spear, it brought back the feeling of playing Monster Hunter with a Gunlance.

Shield up, spear poke, who can stop me!?

The once difficult game had suddenly become simple.

(End of this chapter)