Chapter 192: Desire Dice

【Mental Shock!】

【-106!】

There was nothing to say; Yun Mu first resolved the Goblin crossbowman standing in the back row, who appeared to be the highest threat.

"Roar!"

Dabai let out a sudden Roar. While it dealt zero damage to all enemies, it didn't manage to Stun a single one. *Slap! * Yun Mu, standing behind it, smacked her forehead; she wasn't too surprised by this result.

After all, the Stun probability of Dabai's 【Roar】 skill was only 45%, and when factoring in the enemies' tenacity attributes, this Stun probability would decrease even further.

Like just now, stunning two monsters at once would have already been hitting the jackpot.

However, this did not stop her from feeling speechless about it.

If she had known this, she would have been better off letting it release Counterattack Guard.

She thought to herself, feeling a bit like she was speaking with hindsight.

【Lucy begins her turn!】

The combat prompt on the Game Panel refreshed in Yun Mu's mind. She just glanced at it casually and then had Lucy use the 【Immoral Pleasure】 skill from the equipment 【Immoral Notebook】 on the Scarlet Knight.

After being recruited by Yun Mu as a Partner, the Scarlet Knight lost the powerful buff he could receive from the Goddess's blessing in the Dungeon. In exchange, Yun Mu no longer had to worry about this guy deducting her HP due to acts of breaking his Oath.

Therefore, the Scarlet Knight could now fully benefit from the damage-increasing effect of the 【Immoral Notebook】.

【Damage modifier +10%】

【Critical hit +5%】

Two buff prompts popped up above the Scarlet Knight's head.

【Scarlet Knight begins his turn!】

"Scarlet Knight, use the skill Scarlet Slash on the Goblin slinger at position 2!"

*This way of commanding, why does it feel so much like Pokémon? * Yun Mu muttered to herself in her heart.

After receiving Yun Mu's command, the eyes beneath the Scarlet Knight's helmet emitted a flash of red light. He lifted one of his palms and gently brushed it across the blade of his Scarlet Cross Sword.

Then, he swung it fiercely! *Swish!! *

【-49!】

【-78!】 (Critical hit!) The scarlet sword energy crossed over the Goblin sword-and-shield soldier at position 1 and struck directly at the two Goblin slingers at positions 2 and 3.

"Guya."

Under the enhancement of two consecutive buff spells, the Scarlet Knight's damage received a massive boost.

In an instant, the HP bars of the two Goblin slingers were emptied.

【Goblin sword-and-shield soldier begins his turn!】

"Ya!"

The Goblin sword-and-shield soldier seemed angry about the sacrifice of his companions just now; he waved the short blade in his hand, claws bared, and then... "Ahhh!"

Without feeling a moment of sadness for the death of his teammates, the Goblin sword-and-shield soldier dropped the weapon in his hand without hesitation and turned to run toward the camp Gate behind him.

【The Goblin sword-and-shield soldier has fled!】

"Ah, this..."

Yun Mu looked at the panicked back of the Goblin sword-and-shield soldier, speechless. She had forgotten that this guy had a 【Cowardly】 trait.

【You have won the battle!】

【Detected the effect of the player's Path 【Desire】, roll the Dice? Yes/No】 "Of course."

Yun Mu nodded without hesitation. She had given up the maximum HP increase effect of the Scarlet Path to choose the Path of Desire precisely for this!

As soon as she finished speaking, a 20-sided Dice appeared in Yun Mu's mind.

With a light tap of her intent, the Dice began to spin rapidly.

*Rumble... * Yun Mu stared fixedly at the image of the spinning Dice. As its speed slowed down, a font emitting a silvery-white light appeared before her eyes.

【16】

【Affected by the 【Desire Dice】, the loot you harvested in this battle has increased by 16%!

You obtained 【Gold Coin】 *1806!】 (Desire Dice +16%, Pickpocketing +6%)

【You obtained a large amount of EXP!】 (Desire Dice +16%)

【You obtained equipment 【Goblin Round Shield (White)】】 【Goblin Round Shield (White)】

【Defense +5】

【Passive skill: Block】

【When successfully blocking a projectile, damage taken -8; when successfully blocking melee damage, damage taken -15.】

【A simple round shield made by Goblins, consisting of a circular wooden frame wrapped in a layer of iron. This thing is no different from an ordinary wooden round shield; the reason it has the Goblin prefix is simply because it was made by a Goblin.】

"Not bad, not bad."

Looking at the amount of Gold Coins credited, Yun Mu nodded with satisfaction.

The effect of this 【Desire】 Path is really good. Besides increasing Gold Coin harvest, it can actually increase extra EXP! It's not much worse than the maximum HP increase effect of the Scarlet Path! "First drop of the day, pity the quality isn't great." Yun Mu stepped forward, picked up the Goblin Round Shield from the ground, and said.

"Lucy, you take this piece of equipment."

She handed the Goblin Round Shield to Lucy.

It's +5 Defense, at least; this value is about the same as the green-quality Tough Mushroom Hat.

And that passive skill... "What does 'successfully block' mean?"

Yun Mu thought for a moment. Could it mean using the shield to block an enemy's attack? "I'll try it out in the next battle," she thought to herself.

"..."

Lucy took the Goblin Round Shield from Yun Mu's hand with disdain. Although she didn't say anything, her expression had already written her feelings all over her face.

"Haha..." Yun Mu gave a dry laugh, feeling a bit embarrassed. She avoided the other's gaze and said, "Just make do with it for now. Next time we encounter a Blacksmith Shop, I'll help you reinforce it."

"Even after being strengthened, it can't change the fact that this was made by a Goblin, meow~"

After the battle ended, standing beside the Gate of the Goblin Camp, Eve teased, "It will most likely become a name like 'Goblin Brave's Shield' or something, meow."

"Is there such a creature as a Goblin Brave?" Yun Mu asked with some curiosity.

"Mm, there will be. You'll probably see it once you enter the camp, meow~" Eve said after putting on a thoughtful expression.

"What do you mean by 'there will be'?"

Yun Mu, accompanied by Lucy, Dabai, and the Scarlet Knight, walked to the Gate of the Goblin Camp. At this moment, options for a fork in the road appeared on both the left and right sides of the Gate.

【Goblin Shop】

【Battle Area lv18 (Elite)】

"There can be fork-in-the-road options for this too?" Yun Mu looked at the text in front of her and complained, "Isn't it supposed to trigger the next battle immediately after entering?"

"This is also a part of the gameplay, meow. Hurry up and choose." Eve said, walking slowly behind her.

"Speaking of choices..."

Yun Mu looked at the two branching options in front of her, hesitated for a moment, and then walked toward the side opposite the Goblin Shop.

As if anyone would really think she was going to the Goblin Shop! She only had a total of 2,900 Gold Coins in her hand right now, not even 3,000.

Just leveling up Lucy wasn't enough, and she still wanted to go to the shop to spend? Wake up!

Continuing to grind monsters to level up and obtain more Gold Coins was the best policy.

【Battle Start!】

【You have encountered enemies—【Goblin Sword-Shieldman lv17 (Elite)】 【Goblin Hercules lv20 (Elite)】 【Goblin Musketeer lv18 (Elite)】】 Yun Mu had barely stepped into the Goblin Camp when she was surrounded by roaring Goblins.

She saw that after entering the battle, in addition to the Goblin Sword-Shieldman standing in the first position, there was an extra Goblin Hercules, fat and tall, holding a massive wooden club.

And a Goblin Musketeer, whose entire body was shrouded under a tattered cloak, with gray-white Bandages wrapped around its wrists, holding an old, worn-out musket.

【Goblin Hercules lv20 (Elite) 【2 Size Units】

Max HP: 55 【omitted】

Attack 24, Spell Strength 5, Defense 12, Resilience 4, Dodge 15, Speed 11, Precision Correction 20, Crit 18% Traits: Thick Fat (Physical Resistance +10%), Intimidation (When the character is on the field, Goblins will not flee) Skills: Bad Breath Attack, Swing Wooden Club, Whip Action.】 【Goblin Musketeer lv18 (Elite) Max HP: 42 【omitted】 Attack 26, Spell Strength 1, Defense 5, Resilience 2, Dodge 35, Speed 16, Precision Correction 40, Crit 16% Traits: Crowded, Cowardly, Fast Shooter (In the first round of battle, it has a high probability of acting first)

Skills: Snipe, Hasty Shot, Backstep.】 Why would Goblins have muskets?

No one could answer this question for Yun Mu, because the battle had already begun at this moment.

【Current Round: 1】

【Goblin Musketeer acts first! (Trait: Fast Shooter)】

【Snipe!】

"Jie jie jie!"

The Goblin Musketeer let out a weird cry, raised the musket in its hand, and pulled the trigger, aiming at Lucy!

"Bang!"

Foggy white gunpowder smoke sprayed from the muzzle of the musket. Lucy let out a muffled groan, and the corresponding damage value popped up above her head.

【-19!】

【Lucy's current HP is: 25/44】 "What kind of bullshit damage is that?" Yun Mu was startled when she saw the remaining HP of Lucy.

The Tough Mushroom Hat gave +5 Defense, the Goblin Round Shield also gave +5 Defense, and Lucy's own Defense was 6 points.

That meant the damage from this Goblin Musketeer was as high as 35!

You have to know, this was just a small mob!

"..."

Yun Mu set aside her earlier thoughts of underestimating the enemy. When the system prompted her to act, she raised her hand and used 【Mental Shock】 to take out the Goblin Musketeer!

【-101!】

"Ugh..."

The Goblin Musketeer dropped the musket in its hand, knelt on the ground clutching its head with both hands, and its body dissipated into fly ash.

Subsequently, according to speed, 【Bloodline Living Corpse begins to act!】

"Dabai, use the skill Counterattack Guard on Lucy!" Yun Mu ordered.

Regardless of what skills the enemies behind wanted to release, in any case, put the guard up first! "Roar!"

The Bloodline Living Corpse roared and blocked its body in front of Lucy.

【Defense +60%】

【【Counterattack】】

【Lucy begins to act!】

"Mm, Lucy, use the skill Transformation, then use Blood Magic: Life Conversion to use my HP to restore your HP."

Yun Mu said after thinking for a moment.

"Okay."

Lucy nodded, and her body immediately changed. After a while, she transformed from the Bloodline state into—ah, no, the Blood Clan form.

【Pressure +15】

"Tsk."

Seeming to look at the shield in her hand and the mushroom hat on her head with some disdain, Lucy raised her hand and drained Yun Mu's HP into her own body.

【-19】

【+19】

The red damage number and the green Heal number popped up above their heads respectively.

【HP: 56/75】

"Sure enough, healing like this is much more stable."

Yun Mu looked at the two people's health bars, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

Perhaps some might find her move somewhat meaningless, so let me explain it here.

Although Lucy's Blood Healing can restore health points, the amount it restores is completely random; it is even possible to restore 0 health points and also inflict the 【Bleeding】 debuff on the person being healed.

Using Life Conversion, however, can guarantee Lucy recovers to full health while also avoiding the appearance of 【Bleeding】.

Given that Yun Mu's defense and total health points are both higher than Lucy's, the concept of her deducting 19 health points is completely different from Lucy's.

The latter might enter the enemy's execute range because of this health loss, but she will not!

This is the meaning of Blood Magic: Life Conversion! 【Scarlet Knight begins its turn!】

"Scarlet Knight, use the skill Armored Elbow Strike on the Goblin Hercules!"

After a brief moment of thought, Yun Mu commanded.

The Goblin Hercules has 55 health points, 12 defense, and 10% physical resistance from the trait 【Thick Fat】.

Expecting the Scarlet Knight to kill him is simply unrealistic.

So, rather than dumping damage, it is better to control him for a turn first.

Armored Elbow Strike has a high Stun probability of 110%; even after subtracting the Goblin Hercules's 4 points of Tenacity, there is still a 70% chance to Stun.

【-5】

【Effect Resisted!】

Nani!! After the Scarlet Knight raised its elbow and struck the Goblin Hercules's head hard, the words "Effect Resisted" popped up above the opponent's head at the same time as the damage number.

Are you kidding me! Can a seventy percent Stun probability also be resisted!? Yun Mu said indignantly in her heart.

However, regardless of what she thought, the battle continued.

At this moment, it was the Goblin Sword-Shieldman's turn to act.

【Continuous Slash!】

"Oh my!"

The Goblin Sword-Shieldman let out a cry to embolden himself, brandished his scimitar, and slashed toward the Scarlet Knight's body.

Clang! Clang!

The worn-out scimitar slashed against the Scarlet Knight's heavy plate armor, emitting a crisp clashing sound.

【-0】

【-0】

The two instances of damage caused by the skill Continuous Slash failed to break through the Scarlet Knight's 38 points of defense! I have to say, full-body plate armor is indeed awesome.

【Goblin Hercules begins its turn!】

"Wow!"

The Goblin Hercules, whose speed was the lowest on the field at only 11, let out an excited Howl upon seeing it was finally its turn to act.

Then, it took a deep breath.

"This couldn't be..."

Yun Mu suddenly remembered the first skill in the opponent's skill bar on their attribute panel, and her expression changed instantly! "ROAR!!"

A foul-smelling, dark green stench sprayed from the Goblin Hercules's mouth, instantly enveloping Yun Mu, Lucy, Dabai, and the Scarlet Knight!

【-0】*4 【Poisoning】 (Bloodline Living Corpse) 【Poisoning】 (Scarlet Knight)

【Effect Resisted】*2 "Ugh, what the... seriously, ugh."

PS: I designed the skill effects for all Paths after careful consideration.

Therefore, there are no useless Paths.

There are only those that are not useful in the short term, or those that are not useful in the late game.

(End of chapter)