The players Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei could hardly believe their eyes as they looked at Chen Tian, wondering just how outrageously lucky this guy was!
To stumble upon a quest with an additional condition was unheard of! They were envious.
Quests with additional conditions were the most peculiar kind within the Chrono-Era’s missions. These missions offered choices, with different rewards for different options, and the system determined the available choices.
Digital and Wukui Nanfei spoke in unison, “What additional options?”
Chen Tian replied calmly, “Go to the mountain peak, break the seal, defeat the ghost god, and rescue this old gentleman’s granddaughter.”
“The option I chose is that you can team up with me, or you can explore here first, as the City Lord’s mansion quest also needs to be done.”
Chen Tian waved his hand and waited quietly. Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei nodded in unison, “Let’s team up! There’s plenty of time, and you’re still a novice. We need to protect you. Besides, we’re brothers and friends; we’ll face dangers and seize opportunities together.”
Chen Tian’s mood also settled. He said, “Alright! Then let’s set off!”
Chen Tian felt honored to have met these two good friends. By Chen Tian’s standards for judging people, he had never been disappointed in his friendships.
The four then proceeded to the mountain peak. On the peak stood four massive tombstones. In the center of the peak was a colossal tombstone, entangled with countless chains.
Simultaneously, Chen Tian and the other three looked at the enormous tombstone. The central tombstone was imposing, about seventy meters tall, wrapped with numerous giant chains. Dozens of these chains were broken, as if they had been attacked.
Chen Tian scanned his surroundings, his mind racing. Images flashed through his thoughts, and with a sudden spark of inspiration, he said, “Digital, Wukui Nanfei, smash one of the tombstones!”
“Okay!”
Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei sprang into action. They trusted Chen Tian’s judgment, as his judgments had never been wrong.
Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei drew their longswords and twin pistols, respectively. Their swords slashed, and their pistols thrust, instantly attacking the tombstone to the east.
With a loud *bang*, the tombstone slowly shattered into rubble. Simultaneously, streaks of black transparent energy floated into the air from atop the tombstone.
A black, transparent spectral figure appeared before Chen Tian and the other three. It was a ghost clad in armor, with a ghostly appearance. It was covered in black armor, and a large black crescent horn grew from its head.
“Yeeah!”
It emitted a bizarre cry, like a language not of this world, and charged towards Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei. Startled, they exclaimed, “What is this?”
Ghosts, spirits? How much knowledge had gone into making this game!
The two simultaneously swung their weapons to attack. Their swords and twin pistols gleamed, their fearsome power seeming capable of crushing everything before them.
But suddenly, their attacks passed right through the ghost’s body. Yes, they passed through.
While Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei were stunned, two claw marks instantly appeared before them. They swept across, and the two were forced to retreat.
“What is this? The attacks are ineffective!”
Digital Bro exclaimed, utterly bewildered. His attack had passed through, causing no damage?
Then, they both clicked on the enemy’s status panel.
Ghost Soldier
Race: Ghost Clan
Level: Thirty-one
Abilities: Illusory
Traits: Ignores Holy Light skills
Health: 10031/100031
Strength: 5100
Speed: 7600
Constitution: 0
Skill Mastery: 7100
Armor: 0
Skills: Ghost Claw, Ghost Soundwave, Ghost Shadow.
As they looked at the panel, Chen Tian said, “Ghosts are formed from the grudges of the dead. They have no physical form, which is why your attacks pass through them. That’s the ‘Illusory’ trait.”
Chen Tian touched his forehead. How realistic was this game? It could even design the ethereal existence of ghosts, with such a plausible setting.
Ghosts did not exist in the human world but in places of Yin energy or mythical underworlds. They had no physical form; they were merely spectral figures. Physical attacks could not harm them because they had no bodies.
“You all step aside. It seems this quest can only be done by me.”
Chen Tian walked out calmly. He was a fire elemental spirit, mastering the element of fire. Elemental attacks were energy-based, and fire elements possessed the ability to burn away evil and strange powers.
Seeing that they couldn’t help, Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei retreated behind Chen Tian and watched with Dekai.
“Lord Dekai, why don’t you directly eliminate this ghost clan?”
Wukui Nanfei, recalling something, asked curiously.
“People need to experience trials to grow. Although I am your protector, I will only intervene if your lives are in danger. One needs to constantly challenge oneself and break through limits in combat to become stronger. Level is merely a means to restrict one’s own capabilities,”
Sir Dekai Knight said profoundly, yet it was easy to understand. Wukui Nanfei, at least, understood.
Then, Sir Dekai Knight added, “Besides, this little fellow might not need my help.”
Sir Dekai Knight had developed an interest and liking for this person named De’en Ailiao. He wanted to see the other’s capabilities, as he felt this person was very unusual.
Chen Tian and the Ghost Soldier locked eyes. A pair of azure blue flames floating in the air stared intently at Chen Tian. It instantly rushed towards him.
Chen Tian extended his finger. *Snap!* A flame shot out from his fingertip. With a single finger, a weak beam of flame shot out.
It struck the Ghost Soldier directly. Countless sizzling sounds were heard, signs of it being burned all over. A terrifying wail arose, unsettling and trembling.
In a short while, Chen Tian had killed the Ghost Soldier. He then blew on his finger, and the spark was extinguished by the wind.
Chen Tian looked down and said, “A mere level thirty-one Ghost Soldier dares to provoke me? You court death! Now, let’s deal with the remaining three tombstones. If my deductions are correct…!”
Chen Tian instantly extended his palm, shooting out two fireballs towards the tombstone in the west. But this time, the tombstone was different from the previous one.
On the tombstone covered in black blood, a black shield slowly appeared. The fireballs struck it but caused no damage.
Chen Tian nodded, confirming his calculations were not wrong. He then clasped his hands, and twin blades formed of flames appeared. He slashed them out repeatedly, sending dozens of flaming blades flying.
A series of explosions and dust rose. When the dust settled, the black shield on the tombstone slowly shattered, like broken glass, with chaotic cracks covering the entire shield.
Chen Tian then swung his blade and shouted, “Break!”
Instantly, a flaming blade struck the shield, causing it to explode. The tombstone was revealed to Chen Tian. His twin blades of flame transformed once more into a longbow. He drew the bowstring, and countless fire elements converged. An arrow of flame was shot out.
It struck the tombstone directly, causing it to shatter into four pieces. Streaks of black transparent energy appeared, and a voice said, “You disturb my lord’s revival. You shall die!”
This time, it was human speech. Before Chen Tian appeared a black, spectral, translucent human body clad in sinister black armor, with two long swords on his back. His head was completely covered by a helmet, and Chen Tian could only see a pair of azure blue flaming eyes floating within.
His arms were covered by armguards, and his hands were not human but the claws of the ghost clan. Black shadows constantly flickered on his dark brown claws, making them appear incredibly sharp.
A human body with ghost clan features, a general appeared before Chen Tian. Chen Tian clicked on the opponent’s information.
Ghost General
Level: Thirty-seven
Race: Ghost Clan
Abilities: Semi-Illusory, Shapeshifting
Traits: Semi-Illusory
Health: 150031/150031
Strength: 4500
Speed: 6100
Constitution: 0
Skill Mastery: 9100
Weapon Mastery: 8100
Armor: 30
Skills: Ghost Claw, Ghost Fire, Ghost Wind Kick, Ghost Sword Annihilation, Ghost Sword Slash.
Chen Tian looked at the attributes before him and then opened the information on Semi-Illusory.
Semi-Illusory: The Ghost General can maintain a semi-illusory state, capable of switching between a physical and spectral form. In the semi-illusory state, while in physical form, the armor on its entire body ignores energy attacks, and in spectral form, it ignores physical attacks.
Chen Tian’s brow furrowed. This was a bit overpowered!
Swapping between reality and illusion. Players who mastered this could become invincible. However, ghosts had a drawback: they had no Constitution value. Their combat time was fixed, and they would die if they didn’t rest.
This was a game setting, but Chen Tian didn’t know how long this Ghost General could last.
Ghosts could not remain in the human world for extended periods; this was an immutable law. If they stayed too long, they would be affected by the human world’s Yang energy and perish.
This rule had not changed in the Chrono-Era game. While ghosts were not believed to exist in real life, some books still recorded information about them.
Chen Tian used to read many peculiar books, so he naturally remembered them.
He never expected to encounter such a realistic ghost NPC in his first game.
Chen Tian and the Ghost General’s eyes met. The Ghost General spoke first, “Human, I am the third general under the Ghost God, Ghost Sword! You dare to disrupt my lord’s resurrection. You shall die!”
Instantly, the Ghost General’s speed exploded. It transformed into a black whirlwind and appeared before Chen Tian, extending its claws, which seemed like the Ghost God’s own to claim souls.
Seeing this, Chen Tian calmly extended his arm. Two flame-shaped shield imprints on his arm glowed.
Two round shields made of flame appeared on Chen Tian’s arms. He brought his arms together in an L-shape, and the two flame shields blocked in front of him. Chen Tian’s figure retreated step by step, and then the flame shields shattered.
Chen Tian felt no pain. If they were gone, they were gone. They could be recreated with the ‘Flame Flower’ function.
“Weren’t those skills from the Dual Shield class!”
“That’s right! Isn’t he an elf? How can he use human class skills?”
Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei looked as if the world was ending, their faces etched with disbelief.
Those were indeed skills from the Dual Shield class, ‘Dual Shield’s Protection’. But how could an elf use human class skills?
Chen Tian looked at the Ghost General before him. Its strength was decent, its speed acceptable, but its offensive attributes lacked special bonuses. Otherwise, that previous attack could have been fatal to Chen Tian.
Then, Chen Tian clenched his hands, and twin blades of flame appeared. He thrust them forward, and the flames from the two flaming blades transformed into two beams of light that shot towards the Ghost General.
“What is Chen Tian trying to do! Elves are at a disadvantage in close combat, aren’t they? He’s still a juvenile.”
“I don’t understand, but I’m shocked. What kind of monster is this guy! Look, look!”
Digital Bro exclaimed, his jaw dropped, pointing at the battlefield.
In their eyes, Chen Tian’s twin blades moved like agile pythons, constantly attacking and defending. The flaming twin blades were swift, and his attack speed rapidly increased. Countless flame marks appeared, and Chen Tian seemed to enter a special space where only his movements with the twin blades existed. The twin blades continuously accelerated, as if his eyes were solely focused on them.
And in the battlefield, Chen Tian’s flame marks enveloped the entire area. Yes, the entire battlefield. Even Digital Bro and Wukui Nanfei retreated.
“This guy, has he comprehended a skill? Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly have such terrifying class skills. He must have comprehended a skill.”
“No, rather than comprehending a skill, this is more like…!”
Digital seemed to realize something, and his expression became indescribable.
Wukui Nanfei also realized something and stammered, “You, you, you mean, Chen, Chen Tian is, is evolving, evolving skills!”
Skill evolution was one of the biggest features of Chrono-Era. The level of comprehended skills could continuously evolve with the player’s refinement. After level 100, players’ class skills would be cleared, and only comprehended skills would be used.
It could be said that after level 100 was the true battlefield for players. Comprehended skills relied on the player’s own abilities and how they used their traits, but class skills were fixed and had little use after level 100.
Amidst countless flame marks, the Ghost General desperately wielded its twin swords to resist. Heaven! Who knew what this human was? It was completely on the defensive, and if this continued, it would die.
But it had no solution. It was of the ghost clan, that was true, and it was semi-illusory, but this kind of elemental energy-infused physical attack would cause damage no matter which form it switched to.
“No, I am not reconciled! My lord will avenge me! Kid, you wait to be absorbed by my lord, Lord Ghost God!”
The Ghost General, which exploded instantly, was mercilessly sliced by the blade marks within the battlefield of sword marks. But Chen Tian’s movements did not stop; he continued to wield his twin blades.
Dekai’s eyes widened. “Leave quickly, hurry!” He then directly picked up Wukui Nanfei and Digital and left. With a stomp of his foot, he instantly flew into the air above the mountain peak.