Chapter 445 - 421: [War Dance Shadow] and [Psychedelic Dance]

Chapter 445: Chapter 421: [War Dance Shadow] and [Psychedelic Dance]

[Upper-tier Profession detected: Warrior. Professional Resonance can be triggered.]

[Wanderer + Warrior]

[Extra Benefit acquired: War Dance Shadow]

[War Dance Shadow: When you actively trigger "Fermented Battle Intent," your combat style will undergo a fundamental transformation. You are no longer just a Warrior who suppresses opponents with Power, but a battlefield phantom who dances on the edge of a blade.]

[Each time you successfully dodge or use Subtle Footwork to make an enemy’s attack miss, you will leave a "Residual Shadow" at your original position. This shadow, composed of agitated battle intent and distorted light, lasts for several seconds. The maximum number of shadows is determined by your Agility Attribute.]

[You can, by will alone, instantly swap places with any Residual Shadow you have created on the battlefield. When you launch a surprise attack from a shadow’s position, the attack will draw upon the lingering battle intent contained within it.]

[The more perilous your dance in the face of adversity, the more lethal your counterattack.]

As the text slowly faded, a thought stirred in Roland’s mind, and he tried to activate this brand-new ability.

There was no earth-shattering fanfare. But in his Perception, the fiery battle intent from his Warrior Profession and the nimble, phantom-like aura from his Wanderer Profession began to intertwine and resonate in a new way.

He subconsciously performed a swift sliding dodge to the side.

The moment he stopped, he clearly glimpsed something in the corner of his eye.

At his original position, a blurry Residual Shadow, similar in outline to himself, had quietly materialized, composed of restless Energy and distorted light. It lingered in the faint glow like a reflection in water.

’Success!’

Roland’s spirits lifted. He created several more Residual Shadows in succession, then focused his mind, locking onto one of them in the open space ahead.

His will extended like an invisible tentacle.

The next moment, space itself seemed to fold and shift minutely.

His consciousness and core Perception instantly crossed the distance, "appearing" directly at the targeted Residual Shadow’s location while leaving a new one in his place.

The entire process was smooth and natural, without a hint of delay or any ripples of Magic. It was purely an instinctive displacement born from the resonance between "battle intent" and "Shadow."

’Incredible mobility...’

Witnessing this, Roland couldn’t help but feel his mouth go dry.

This was an effect that could never be achieved by sheer speed. It was more akin to a short-range spatial jump, comparable to a Caster’s Space Spell.

On a rapidly changing battlefield, this ability was enough to let him toy with most opponents, effortlessly engaging or disengaging from combat and seizing firm control of the battle’s initiative.

Combined with the stealth and concealment of [Shadow Dance Form], he could drag his enemies into a death Domain of his own making before they could even react.

However, after the initial euphoria, Roland quickly calmed down and shrewdly identified the ability’s limitations.

The generation of Residual Shadows was entirely dependent on a "successful dodge" or "making an attack miss."

If an opponent’s speed, attack range, or the subtlety of their techniques far exceeded his own, making it difficult to dodge effectively, then the frequency and opportunity to generate Residual Shadows would be greatly reduced. The ability’s power would naturally diminish as a result.

’A powerful ability, but not without a counter.’

Roland reached a calm conclusion, his gaze returning to a state of serenity.

’Although this Trait greatly raises my combat ceiling, especially when facing numerous or similarly matched enemies, it’s no master key for turning the tables against an opponent with overwhelmingly superior strength.’

Just as he was pondering this, the gold text appeared again.

[Upper-tier Profession detected: Juggler. Professional Resonance can be triggered.]

[Wanderer + Juggler]

[Extra Benefit acquired: Psychedelic Dance]

[Psychedelic Dance: When the Wanderer’s covert actions combine with the Juggler’s dazzling performance, you are no longer a mere stealth operative or performer. You become an "Illusion Master" capable of manipulating the perception of reality.]

[When you perform agile movements beyond normal comprehension—such as running up walls, sliding along the ground, or weaving through tight spaces—you will leave behind short-lived, indistinguishable moving Residual Shadows. These Residual Shadows are not physical but can effectively interfere with an enemy’s attack judgment and line of sight.]

[Furthermore, while moving at high speed, you can command one Residual Shadow to briefly mimic one or two of your simple actions (like a forward thrust or a sideways roll) before it dissipates. This creates the illusion of "multiple yous acting simultaneously," greatly confusing the enemy. The specific effect is determined by your Spiritual Attribute.]

[When an enemy’s attack misses due to your Illusions, your first attack against them will be converted into "Cognitive True Damage." This strike will bypass some defenses, as the damage originates from the mental collapse effect caused by their "conviction of being hit."]

After carefully reading the description, Roland involuntarily held his breath.

If [War Dance Shadow] had turned him into a Space Magician on the battlefield, then this new ability pushed him directly to the pinnacle of psychological warfare and cognitive deception.

An Illusion Master who manipulates perception...

That title alone was enough to make Roland’s heart race.

This was no longer simple stealth or evasion, but a higher-dimensional attack targeting the enemy’s very mind.

The fleeting Residual Shadows produced during extreme movements, while not as long-lasting as the Residual Shadows from [War Dance Shadow], had their true value in being "indistinguishable" and "directable."

Imagine it: in a fierce clash, the enemy would not only have to identify his real body but also face several Illusions mimicking his actions...

It was like throwing the opponent’s brain into a maze.

But what shocked Roland the most was the "Cognitive True Damage."

This completely transcended the scope of conventional combat.

It didn’t rely on physically breaking through defenses. Instead, it directly used the Spiritual Shock and cognitive collapse that occurred when an enemy "misjudged and was convinced they were hit" to inflict damage.

This meant that even if an enemy was wearing Legendary Armor and protected by a Magic Shield, as long as they were fooled by an Illusion, the subsequent attack could bypass these external protections and strike their spiritual essence directly.

This was simply...

A weapon tailor-made for the weak to defeat the strong, for cracking seemingly impenetrable defenses.

Although both [Psychedelic Dance] and [War Dance Shadow] involved "Residual Shadows" at their core, their functions and effects were completely different.

[War Dance Shadow] focused on extreme mobility, repositioning, and surprise attacks that exploited openings. It was tactical-level spatial control.

[Psychedelic Dance], on the other hand, specialized in psychological deception, sensory interference, and capitalizing on an enemy’s mistakes to inflict true damage. It was strategic-level cognitive warfare.

One was for creating opportunities and positional advantages. The other was for confusing the opponent and turning their mistakes into a fatal blow.

If he could skillfully combine the two, his threat level on the battlefield would increase exponentially.

However, after the euphoria, Roland’s reason quickly returned, and he precisely identified this powerful ability’s Achilles’ heel.

Its reliance on the Spiritual Attribute.

The deceptive effect of the Residual Shadows depended specifically on the Spiritual Attribute...

This meant that against powerhouses with tenacious spirits, wills of steel, or Perception far beyond the ordinary—for instance...

An existence like Corellon.

These carefully crafted Illusions would likely be far less effective, or even seen through at a glance.

In front of an opponent of that caliber, trying to deceive their perception with Illusions was like a novice trying to show off in front of a master.

And without the deceptive effect, the subsequent "Cognitive True Damage" would naturally become baseless.

After a slight shake of his head, Roland refocused his gaze on the gold text before him.

[Upper-tier Profession detected: Blacksmith. Professional Resonance can be triggered.]

[Wanderer + Blacksmith]

[Extra Benefit acquired: Master of Traps]

[Master of Traps: You have gained the ability to set deadly traps with extraordinary speed and creativity. You can use discarded weapons, stones, or even the wreckage of an enemy’s equipment on the battlefield as materials to quickly assemble "improvised traps" in a very short time.]

[With the right materials, you can forge traps with special effects (such as explosions, strong acid, restraints, or audio-visual interference).]

The text hadn’t even fully faded when, in an instant, countless recipes for trap construction, material ratios, trigger mechanisms, and knowledge and inspiration for environmental utilization flooded into Roland’s mind, as if hammered in by an invisible forge.

From the simplest tripwire pits to explosive devices made from Elemental Energy and metal fragments, to booby traps that could spray corrosive slime...

The variety was staggering and dazzling.

’Turning the battlefield into my own personal workshop...’

Roland quickly digested this information, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

[Master of Traps], unlike the mobility and deception abilities he had just acquired, offered a completely new dimension to combat...

Domain control.

Whether it was placing obstacles along a retreat path, setting up a kill zone in a specific area, or using traps to force an enemy onto a battlefield of his choosing, its strategic value was immeasurable.

It compensated for his potential weaknesses in prolonged frontal assaults and area defense, making his tactical options richer and more varied.

’But it doesn’t fundamentally increase my own Power...’

As he pondered, the gold text flickered once more.

[Upper-tier Profession detected: Knight’s Attendant. Professional Resonance can be triggered.]

[Wanderer + Knight’s Attendant]

[Extra Benefit acquired: Shadow Iron Riders]

[Shadow Iron Riders: When you enter a stealth or concealed state while in a Riding posture, your mount will also be enveloped in Shadow power along with you. This drastically reduces the sounds it makes and conceals its tracks and scent, allowing it to move with incredible stealth.]

"Shadow Iron Riders..."

Roland savored the meaning of this ability. It was undoubtedly the perfect fusion of a Wanderer’s stealth and a Knight’s Charge.

Imagine a Death Knight on horseback charging out of the shadows like a phantom, appearing before an unsuspecting enemy. The shock and lethality would be immense, but...

’As expected, for Professional Resonances related to Knight’s Attendant, one of the core cornerstones of their effects is the mount itself.’

’Whether it’s [Riding Harmony] or [Shadow Iron Riders], or any other Extra Benefit triggered with [Knight’s Attendant], they all require a powerful and suitable mount to carry them and bring their full potential to bear.’

An ordinary warhorse might barely suffice, but to truly display the power of these Traits and Extra Benefits, a mount that is sufficiently swift, resilient, and perhaps even possessing some Extraordinary characteristics of its own is essential.

’Looks like finding a suitable mount has to be put on the agenda.’

Just as he was immersed in his thoughts and plans, a faint shout pierced the surrounding silence and reached his ears.