Chapter 578 - 577: The End of the Test

Chapter 578: Chapter 577: The End of the Test

The piece of Chain Armor protecting his knee was sliced clean through.

The edges of the cut were a strange, grayish-black color, like ash left behind by a fire.

Dark red blood welled up from the wound, and a wave of intense, tingling pain made goosebumps erupt across Colin’s skin.

If the Greave on his calf hadn’t slightly deflected the enemy’s blade, his leg would have been hacked clean off!

As he willed his Armor to bring the straw of his Potion Bag to his lips, Colin scanned the area.

All five members of the team were wounded. Their injuries were similar to his—a single, vicious slash. The Ghost had vanished, reappearing at Ale’s side.

Colin pieced together what had just happened.

’The Ghost must have teleported to each of us in an instant,’ he thought, ’striking each person once. That’s the only way it could have wounded the entire party at once.’

’The Magic must also enchant the blade with extra Damage. Otherwise, there’s no way a single Sword Strike could have wounded us this badly.’

After drinking the Potion, Colin felt a warmth spread from the injury. The gash began to heal at a visible rate. The wound’s surface quickly scabbed over, staunching the flow of blood.

The Potion’s effects wore off quickly. One dose wasn’t enough to heal the wound completely; a bloody gash remained above Colin’s knee.

But there was no time to drink another Potion.

Colin quickly drew [Burning Blood] from his waist and charged toward Ale.

From the earlier Magic attack, a gruesome wound had opened on Ale’s left shoulder. Through the tear in her clothes, he could faintly see a few severed scales at the edge of the gash.

The Ghost swung its Long Sword again at the opponent before it.

Kase, who was not far off, drank a [Healing Potion] and raised his right hand. An eerie blue Shield immediately appeared at Ale’s side.

At the same time, ethereal blue shadows swirled around the Ghost’s Long Sword—the Half-Orc’s ancestors were doing everything they could to interfere with the attack.

In the next instant, however, the Shield shattered under the Ghost’s Long Sword, and the blade slashed precisely across Ale’s other shoulder.

Her [Dragon Patterned Robe] and [Protective Cloak] offered no protection against the blow, and in an instant, another hideous wound opened on her shoulder.

Even as she was struck, she continued reciting her Spell, desperately maintaining the distant [Wall of Fire].

The Long Sword in the Ghost’s hand flashed silver. [Counterspell] activated again, interrupting the Half-Elf’s Magic.

Nearby, Colin had found his angle.

He commanded the abdominal plate of his Armor to contract slowly. A lethal chill surged from the Armor, blasting toward his foe.

Where the chill hit the ground, a layer of frost instantly formed on the stone bricks.

Even wearing Magic Armor and his Winter Wolf Necklace, Colin felt a hint of the cold himself.

"Is this [Dragon’s Breath]?" the Ghost muttered, then launched itself high into the air, narrowly avoiding the lethal, freezing wind.

But for all its agility, it couldn’t completely evade the encroaching chill. A thin layer of frost immediately coated its translucent body.

Before it landed, the Ghost landed a backhanded slash, carving another wound into Ale’s shoulder.

Just then, a soft blue light began to pulse around Ale, and her wounds started to heal rapidly.

Colin glanced over.

Orelia’s [Dawn Messenger] Leaf Hammer emitted a faint glimmer, enhancing the effect of her Divine Healing Spells.

She held her Holy Emblem high. Wisps of white smoke began to rise from her tightly clenched fist, and where her skin touched the emblem, visible burns began to appear.

This meant the Tiefling was force-casting a High Tier Divine Healing Spell.

Just as Orelia was about to continue Casting, the Ghost turned to look at her, a puzzled expression on its face.

Seizing the opportunity, Colin began Casting again. He used Rising Tier Spellcasting, channeling the energy of a Tier Four Magic to cast [Tasha’s Hideous Laughter]. Beside him, Ale also began to chant a Spell.

With three Magic spells being cast at once, the Ghost hesitated for a moment.

In that single moment, it lost its chance.

Just then, a silver light flashed.

Dorn teleported above the Ghost, plunging his Dagger straight into its back.

Kase charged in as well. He swung his Axe, snagging the creature’s waist with the back hook of his Battle Axe—though a Ghost could pass through solid objects, a Magic Weapon could greatly slow its passage.

As the two of them held the enemy in place, Colin finished his Spellcasting.

[Tasha’s Hideous Laughter] was cast successfully.

The Ghost froze, then doubled over, suspended in mid-air as it began to laugh uncontrollably.

’Finally got you!’

Colin quickly drew [Burning Blood] and swiped his hand across the blade. He immediately began Casting, channeling the energy of a Tier Four Magic to cast [Curse Sword], while simultaneously using [Combat Mage] to enhance it to its most powerful state.

Black Runes instantly surfaced on the blade of [Burning Blood], then were dyed a terrifying blackish-red by the blade’s own color.

Colin surged forward, gripping the hilt with both hands and thrusting the sword at the Ghost.

The tip of the sword pierced effortlessly into the Ghost’s body and ran it clean through. The Runes on the blade flared with brilliant light.

The terrifying blackish-red color spread rapidly within the Ghost’s body.

Everywhere the blackish-red color touched began to rapidly disintegrate, like shattered glass. In the blink of an eye, the Ghost became a cloud of scattering, eerie blue dust.

Having lost his perch, Dorn fell from mid-air, landing on Kase. The Half-Orc lost his footing, and the two of them tumbled to the ground in a heap.

Seeing their opponent defeated, Colin breathed a sigh of relief.

In the distance, the Wall of Fire still firmly blocked the stone door. He had no idea where the ghosts summoned by the main Ghost had gone. In any case, they hadn’t shown up. Perhaps they had been incinerated by the [Wall of Fire].

’Maybe their memories from life make them stick to using doors,’ Colin guessed. ’Otherwise, those ghosts could have just passed right through the walls to get to us.’

As he was thinking, Orelia wearily walked over. Clutching her Holy Emblem, she continued to recite prayers to heal the others.

"Don’t be stingy with the Potions. This is what they’re for," Colin advised, looking at her condition.

"I’ve already had two, Mr. Colin," Orelia replied wearily.

Dorn stayed lying on the ground. He stared at the ceiling and asked, "Hey Colin, you think you’ll ever get that strong?"

"That’ll probably take a very long time," Colin said, sitting down on the ground as well. "I guarantee you, if that thing had been alive, it would’ve been even tougher. After all, a Ghost can’t wear gear."