Chapter 122: Buying Monsters For The Ancient Ruins (part 2)

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Buying Monsters For The Ancient Ruins (part 2)

[Cryptblade Sentinel]

[Level: 40]

[Race: Undead]

[Classification: Normal Monster]

[Required Soul Points: 20 for 5 units]

Description:

The Cryptblade Sentinel is an undead warrior bound to the remains of an ancient order that once guarded the royal tombs of a fallen civilization. Its body is covered in weathered black armor, decorated with faded engravings and symbols of a forgotten kingdom. Beneath its closed helmet lies a skull with cold blue flames burning in its eye sockets, while its right hand wields a long, blackened sword that has absorbed the death energy of countless battles.

Skills:

[Cryptblade Cleave

The Cryptblade Sentinel gathers death energy along its sword before unleashing a powerful horizontal slash. The attack releases a dark crescent of energy capable of cutting through shields, damaging multiple enemies, and leaving lingering death energy in the wounds it inflicts.]

[Eternal Guard

The Sentinel reinforces its armor and body with death energy, temporarily increasing its physical defense and resistance to ordinary physical attacks. While this skill is active, the Sentinel becomes considerably harder to stagger or knock down.]

[Phantom Formation

The Sentinel synchronizes its movements with nearby undead allies, improving their defensive coordination and allowing them to respond more effectively to attacks from multiple directions. When several Cryptblade Sentinels activate this skill together, they can establish an exceptionally difficult defensive formation.]

Ragnar nodded as he finished reading.

"Not bad. They’re essentially armored frontliners who can also coordinate with one another. A group of five could hold a corridor against a considerably larger party, provided the adventurers couldn’t overwhelm them with magic."

He imagined a narrow passage inside the ruins, its walls covered in ancient carvings and broken statues. Adventurers would advance expecting to find treasure, only to discover five armored undead standing motionless before a sealed doorway.

It was a decent way to welcome intruders.

However, Ragnar wasn’t ready to make a decision yet. He wanted to see what other options the system offered.

He moved to the next entry.

[Hollowgrave Arcanist]

[Level: 40]

[Race: Undead]

[Classification: Normal Monster]

[Required Soul Points: 20 for 5 units]

[Description:

The Hollowgrave Arcanist is a skeletal spellcaster whose soul has been bound to an ancient focus of magic. Its thin bones are wrapped in layers of faded ceremonial robes, and a cracked mask covers the upper portion of its skull. Unlike ordinary skeletal mages, its body floats slightly above the ground, allowing it to move without making a sound. A collection of small magical crystals is embedded along its spine, glowing faintly whenever it gathers energy to cast a spell.]

[Gravebolt

The Arcanist launches a concentrated projectile of death energy toward a target. Upon impact, the projectile inflicts magical damage and briefly interferes with the target’s ability to circulate mana, making it more difficult to cast spells immediately afterward.]

[Withering Field

The Arcanist spreads a field of death energy across a designated area. Living creatures caught within the field experience gradual exhaustion, reduced physical stamina, and a growing sense of heaviness in their limbs. The effect becomes more pronounced the longer they remain inside it.]

[Spectral Barrier

The Arcanist creates a translucent barrier of condensed magical energy around itself or a nearby undead ally. The barrier absorbs a portion of incoming damage before dispersing, providing protection for vulnerable spellcasters or allowing front-line monsters to survive powerful attacks.]

Ragnar’s eyes brightened.

"Another good one."

A party that relied on Guardians to hold the front line would have to deal with spells attacking from behind the monsters. Mages would need to prioritize their targets carefully, while melee fighters might have to leave their defensive positions to reach the Arcanists.

Of course, their relatively fragile bodies would also create a weakness. A sufficiently fast adventurer might be able to break through the front line and eliminate them before they could cast many spells.

That weakness was manageable, however. Ragnar could eventually pair them with tougher monsters.

[Veilstalker Wraith]

[Level: 40]

[Race: Undead]

[Classification: Normal Monster]

[Required Soul Points: 20 for 5 units]

Description:

The Veilstalker Wraith is a predatory spirit formed from the lingering hatred of assassins who died without completing their final missions. Its body resembles a humanoid silhouette wrapped in layers of dark, translucent cloth, with wisps of black mist trailing from its limbs. Two dim violet lights burn beneath its hood, and a pair of curved spectral blades extend from its hands.

[Veilstep

The Veilstalker briefly transforms into a shadowy mist and reappears a short distance away. This ability allows it to evade incoming attacks, cross small gaps, or reposition itself around an enemy’s defenses. It cannot pass through every solid barrier, and repeated use consumes its stored death energy.]

[Soul Rend

The Wraith strikes with its spectral blades, tearing at both the target’s physical body and its vital energy. The attack inflicts additional damage against enemies who are already weakened, and repeated hits can leave a target feeling increasingly exhausted.]

[Umbral Shroud

The Veilstalker cloaks itself in a layer of dark mist that conceals its presence and makes its movements harder to track. The shroud becomes less effective when exposed to powerful illumination or abilities that reveal hidden creatures.]

Ragnar leaned forward slightly.

"An assassin-type undead monster. I’m eating good with this list."

He opened the final entry that had caught his attention.

[Sepulcher Knight]

[Level: 40]

[Race: Undead]

[Classification: Normal Monster]

[Required Soul Points: 20 for 5 units]

[Description:

The Sepulcher Knight is an undead warrior who once served as the commander of the royal tomb’s elite guard. Unlike the ordinary soldiers under its command, it retains a greater portion of its former intelligence and combat instincts. Its body is protected by ornate black-and-silver armor, with a tattered royal cloak hanging from its shoulders. Faint crimson light shines through the narrow gaps in its helmet, and its enormous greatsword is covered in ancient runes that absorb the death energy surrounding it.]

[Sepulcher Great Cleave

The Commander gathers death energy along its greatsword before delivering a devastating cleaving strike. The attack can damage multiple enemies in front of it and is especially effective against opponents attempting to hold a defensive line.]

[Commander’s Authority

The Commander releases a pulse of death energy that strengthens nearby undead allies, improving their physical power and resistance to disruption for a limited time. The effect is more effective on undead creatures that remain close to the Commander.]