Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 311 Armor Explosion
【Stinky Cloud Technique】.

This special spell of the Conjuration school, although it has a spell ring of up to "3", is not used as a reaping-type damage spell most of the time.

Its basic effect is to manipulate magical particles and drive poisonous fog with mental power, which not only obstructs vision but also causes physiological discomfort and infects enemies with viruses.

Born from purgatory, the long lifespan and exceptional talents unique to their race allow the demon nobles to achieve their desired results with a wealth of accumulated knowledge far exceeding that of those with short lifespans, as long as they are willing to learn.

Saloyan's ambition is evident in his willingness to project his consciousness into the material world and attach it to a low-level adventurer who has not even obtained a professional level and whose soul quality is ordinary. He is even willing to use the utmost patience to "guide" the other party to lead him to the planned destination in order to find traces of things that might interest his superior.

He wants to improve so much.

In this context, how could the crucial skill requirement for climbing upwards be neglected?

His superb magical skills and countless years of accumulated knowledge have allowed him to no longer be limited to the rigid and ordinary spells in spellbooks, but to make corresponding changes based on the special evil power he possesses as a demon and the specific situation on the field.

The Stink Cloud spell he is currently casting is a completely different version of the original spell.

The mist, now darker and thicker with a sulfurous odor, is imbued with the extreme negativity of hell, giving it a corrosive effect similar to acid rain. It can easily crack skin and kill any creature within it.

Even the range subtly expanded, and under Saloyan's extremely precise control, it split into two groups, one large and one small, which drifted towards the Blackwood Squad and Xia Nan on the other side.

The [Stinky Cloud] spell, which is only at the third level of the spell hierarchy, has the effect of the [Death Cloud] spell, which is at the fifth level.

This is actually a backup plan.

In Saroyan's ideal scenario, the players on the field would be simultaneously stunned and lose control by the [Fear] spell he cast. In that case, he would only need to charge up a little more and finish them off with a single [Fireball] spell with a higher ring.

However, not only is Xia Nan immune to the fear effect, but even the female swordsman who appears to be the leader of the Blackwood Squad has passed the test. If they use the [Fireball] spell again, they may be able to cause a lot of damage instantly, but the survivors may also come and interrupt the contract signing ceremony.

Therefore, upon realizing that the [Fear] spell had not been fully effective, Saroyan temporarily changed his strategy, using the upgraded and improved [Stinky Cloud] spell to control and harvest, delaying the two fear-immune individuals while inflicting damage on the living targets who were in a state of fear.

The first to be affected was naturally Xia Nan, who was the first to complete the [Fear] save and was the closest to the target.

The pungent smell of sulfur filled my nostrils, and even breathing it made my throat feel hot and burning.

Faced with the thick, poisonous fog surging from the front, Xia Nan did not hesitate at all, and [Gravity Control] silently took effect.

It was as if an invisible protective shield had been erected around his body. When the yellowish-green corrosive acid mist got within an arm's length of Xia Nan, it naturally drifted to the top and sides.

Looking at it vaguely, it resembles a transparent, stubborn rock washed down by the river.

Ultimately, it's only level 1. While [Gravity Control] may have an extremely high potential and a wide range of applications, its current strength is still somewhat lacking.

While filtering out most of the poisonous gas, a small, highly corrosive, and concentrated yellow-green liquid mist still lingered in the air in front of him, relentlessly swirling and shifting, attempting to break through this invisible shield and pounce on the target behind him.

"Proficiency +1"

"【Gravity Control】lv1: (15/100)"

Semi-transparent characters flashed past my eyes.

With complete mastery of his physical body, equipment, and combat skills, Xia Nan made the best decision the instant he realized that [Gravity Control] had failed to completely dispel the poisonous fog, leaving some residue.

hum-

The invisible barrier was quietly removed.

The small, yellowish-green clumps of liquid mist, like sharks that have smelled blood, rushed straight towards Xia Nan, driven by the remnants of the devil's spiritual power.

But only for the next second.

Before even an inch of skin could be touched, a cold, dark aura radiating a faint, eerie light rushed straight towards them.

"Pfft."

As if encountering some kind of natural enemy, this concentrated mist, capable of corroding steel, left only a futile wail in the air before being scattered and falling to the ground, where it corroded and seeped into the soil.

【Ghostly Scale Guardian】Effect 3:

—Immune to corrosion/acid damage (non-legendary source).

Even if it gets a little rain, it might leave a few water stains, but the surface of the Serpent Scale Arm Shield remains spotless and pristine despite the corrosive effects of the Stinking Cloud Poison Mist.

With his expertise, combat skills, and equipment, Xia Nan used them smoothly and precisely in just a few seconds, whether actively or passively, to resist two third-ring spells.

It didn't even have the slightest scratch.

In contrast, the response of the Kuroki squad next to them was clearly much more disorganized.

Under the effect of the Fear spell, their formation was instantly broken. One person fled, two people stood frozen in place, and one person barely resisted but was also clearly affected.

If it were then swept up by the poisonous mist of the [Stinky Cloud Technique], it would be utterly devastating.

Margaret was alright. As the team leader, she possessed the most resilient will in the entire squad. After struggling to withstand the [Fear Spell], she showed no sign of retreat in the face of the yellow-green poisonous mist that followed.

He even took a few more steps forward, shielding his teammates behind him, and went to meet them.

Legs slightly apart, feet firmly planted on the ground.

Even though his long, powerful legs were just standing still, his whole body gave the impression of suddenly slamming down onto the ground!
The clothes on the thighs, waist, abdomen, and arms were stretched high by the muscles below.

His jaw clenched, and a resolute look appeared on his handsome face.

hissing sound—

The longsword danced, the silvery-white sword light flashing faster and faster, almost forming a continuous expanse in front of him.

A sharp, cold light filled the area in front of her, and the strong wind generated by the swinging sword slashed and dispersed the poisonous mist that rushed forward.

Margaret had done everything in her power to ensure the safety of her teammates.

Unfortunately, the Swordsman class, belonging to the Warrior category, is ultimately a class that sacrifices defense in exchange for attack and burst damage.

She might be able to buy some time for her teammates who were trapped in the spell's control using this unorthodox method, but it was still far from enough to completely dispel the fog.

"Zi..."

The ends of the dark gold braid that swung violently behind her as she swung her sword were scorched by the mist, turning slightly black and emitting an unpleasant odor.

Under the sword wind, the yellow-green mist was stirred and dispersed, some of it dissolving into the air, or being absorbed by the bricks and mud on the ground.

The remaining two-thirds, after slightly distorting, reformed behind Margaret and surged towards her teammates.

First was the dwarf [Shield Warrior] Soldin. His years of adventurer experience had honed his professional skills and muscle memory, which meant that even when immense fear welled up inside him, he did not throw away his iron shield and prism.

But faced with corrosive liquid mist, fear spread and there was little chance of resistance.

Enveloped in an instant. Body hair scorched, wisps of white smoke rose from the rough surface of skin, as if being roasted over a fire, the temperature rising rapidly.

But at that moment, perhaps the sound of the carefully maintained braid on his chest corroding in the mist was too jarring, and the dwarf, who was deeply terrified, suddenly jolted.

Ding--

Instinctively, a silvery metallic sheen appeared on his body surface, instantly keeping out the mist that was about to corrode his skin and invade his flesh.

Then came the wanderer, Shajin, who was a few steps behind.

This gaunt man, sharp-tongued and mean-spirited, possessed neither the tenacious will of Margaret nor the robust physique of the dwarf Soldin.

But perhaps it was his past experience as an assassin that led him to undergo relevant training.

So even though he failed the [Fear] check, he didn't look as bad as the others.

He stood there, struggling, his arm gripping the dagger so tightly it trembled, as if he were waging a fierce battle against his inner fear.

In this situation, the corrosive toxic fog from the outside world became the key to breaking the balance.

Awakening from the stinging pain on his skin, and the moment he regained control of his body, he used a combat technique to envelop his entire body in the power of shadow, making him appear as a shadow on the ground, thus reducing his presence and keeping the acid mist at bay.

Having barely managed to dodge the spell, they hadn't even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief.

A sudden, piercing scream rang in his ears, sending Sha Jin plummeting into an icy abyss.

Turn around suddenly.

Joshua, the mage who had just been affected by the [Fear] spell and thrown away his staff to run away, was now howling in pain as he lay on the ground, rolling around in agony.

Dirty soil mixed with pus and blood seeped out from the robe that was rapidly cracking under the corrosive influence of the mist.

A low-level mage, if he lacks sufficient adventure experience, the protection of strong teammates, or even a strong will, will be vulnerable.

Perhaps in ordinary times, when facing lower-level opponents, it can demonstrate its outstanding abilities as a spellcaster.

However, if they encounter an enemy of significantly higher strength, requiring a desperate, head-on battle, they become the weakest link in the team, the most fatal vulnerability.

"Go help the captain!"

The sturdy figure, gleaming with metallic luster, rushed past like a block of iron, leaving only a low, muffled thud in Sandkin's ear. Soldin gripped the healing potion tightly in his hand and charged toward Joshua.

Without hesitation, the tacit understanding between teammates of many years and the professional qualities of seasoned adventurers were fully demonstrated at this moment.

Shajin suddenly turned around, not looking at Joshua and the dwarf again, and rushed towards Margaret's direction with his dagger in hand.

Thus, the ripples from the [Fear] spell spread out from the nest in less than ten seconds.

Devil, Abby, Contract...

The scene before his eyes gradually overlapped with the information revealed by the Kuroki squad in his mind, and they were connected one by one.

Xia Nan roughly figured out the cause and effect of the current situation on the field.

His brain raced, while his body instinctively rushed toward the magic circle ahead.

From his own perspective, he shouldn't have run away.

The speed and explosive power granted by [Fang Hunt] might allow him to leave the Blackwood Squad, who are further away, behind, but it's not enough for him to escape the lair before Abi completes the contract.

Xia Nan was unaware of the contents of the contract, nor did he know what would happen after it was completed.

But if the worst-case scenario is as expected, he will likely not only be unable to escape, but will also have to face a demonic incarnation far beyond his ability to cope.

He could not possibly place his hope for survival on such vague and uncertain possibilities!

Xia Nan is used to taking control of her life.

He wanted to interrupt the ceremony and completely thwart the devil's plan.

In this way, given the strength he has shown so far, he will have the option to either confront the enemy head-on or retreat temporarily.

Having made up his mind, his body had already arrived in front of the magic circle in the blink of an eye.

hold head high--

A long, mournful howl, accompanied by a dark, distorted phantom of a wolf, suddenly erupted around Xia Nan.

[Fang Hunt] + [Whirlwind Slash]!
The longsword in his hand had already been fully charged, and he was just waiting for the right distance to unleash a sharp strike that would be enough to sever the necks of ninety percent of the creatures on the outskirts of the forest.

His dark eyes reflected the blood-red flames on the ground.

Not only Abi, but to be on the safe side, if Xia Nan's sword strike lands, it will also cut the human flesh "contract" in the center of the magic circle in half.

However, Saloyan reacted even faster.

The sheer amount of experience that everyone on the field combined, multiplied tenfold, combined with the slight pressure of a consciousness projection unrelated to the death of the physical body, allowed this devilish baron to handle every situation on the field calmly and meticulously.

The moment the acid mist was blocked by the invisible shield around Xia Nan's body, he had already silently recited the incantation, preparing for the next round of casting.

"Sizzle..."

A piercing explosion erupted in the void beside Abby, contrasting with the dark red light emanating from the magic circle. It was a dazzling, bright blue lightning bolt that rapidly condensed energy amidst the convergence of magical particles.

——3-Ring Energy System Lightning Beam

Even though Xia Nan reacted extremely quickly, the moment he sensed the dangerous aura of the lightning, he stopped his hunting instantly. Before he could even stand still, his body instinctively pushed off with his feet, attempting to dodge to the side at a ninety-degree angle.

But the burst of lightning was still faster than the physical body.

Buzz! ! !

The dark cave was suddenly illuminated by daylight.

The lightning, condensed into a single point, suddenly burst forth, transforming into an exaggerated beam of lightning, five feet in diameter, that almost pierced the entire nest horizontally.

Fleeting.

Xia Nan's timely reaction prevented him from being hit head-on by the exaggeratedly powerful spell, but his body was still carried high into the air by the immense impact of the lightning and crashed down.

He gripped the longsword tightly in his hand. The half of the plate chain composite armor that had been struck by the electric beam had melted into a molten state, flickering with fire, and fell from his upper body.

(End of this chapter)