Chapter 1047: Battle

"Enemy attack?"

Upon hearing this news, Aaron's figure flashed, and he hid within the shadows, his form vanishing from sight.

A rogue's signature skill—Stealth!

Don't look at me as a "Bard," I play "Thief" damn well!

*Cough cough! *

No choice, a Bard's health is too thin; protecting oneself in the midst of a great battle is the most important thing.

A Berserk Barbarian warrior who draws a blade and charges head-on is not his style!

What's more...

That 【Red-Robed Monk】 is a quasi-Legendary combatant nearing Legend, and he even has a Legendary item in his hand!

Hmm, I should talk about the classification of class levels here.

*Snap! *

Grace overcame the fear in her heart, and her nine-section whip was the first to lash out, creating a loud whip-crack.

And at this moment, Aaron received another notification:

【You have learned the "Fierce Wolf-Headed Vajra Protector Life-Preserving Mantra"!】

The gnoll's figure was incomparably agile, as if climbing a Cloud Ladder; he was actually able to borrow force to turn in mid-air, dodging the nine-section whip in the female cleric's hand.

Monk skill—Cloud-Climbing Vault!

"You all!"

In the midst of the fierce battle, the Paladin's pupils suddenly turned golden, and flames ignited on his one-handed sword: "Accept judgment... Holy Cross Slash!"

Because Aaron spat out a single syllable: "Hum!"

【Class: 10th-level Commoner/8th-level Bard】

But at this time, his body had already begun to act.

It is time to fight!

A radiance resembling a golden cross shot into the sky, emitting a strong Light.

【... You dealt a total of 43 points of damage, checking... The target is in a 'Disabled' state!】

Only when the honored one being worshipped lowers the curtain and truly bestows Divine Power can one practice a "Secret Mantra" to completion; from then on, as long as one chants the mantra, one can invoke the boundless might of the Secret Cultivation Honored One—to the natives, this is Divine Magic!

"Once, I learned it in once? No... isn't this a high-level class ability? I have an experience penalty for learning, how could it be so fast?"

"Opportunity!"

No, it's the "Fierce Wolf-Headed Vajra Protector Life-Preserving Mantra"!

The Paladin let out a muffled groan, barely managed to crawl up, and looking at the Spirit Bone Prayer Beads in Aaron's hand, his eyes turned blood-red: "It..."

【Special Feat:???】

As the opponent walked closer and closer, the corners of Aaron's mouth twitched slightly.

A terrifying blood-red light shone from the gnoll's pupils: "All must die!"

Aaron's tongue blossomed with spring thunder, and taking advantage of this rare opportunity, he bypassed the Diamond Palm suspended in mid-air and stabbed his dagger out, striking the gnoll's right arm that held the prayer beads!

Clearly, what Grace threw just now was not a "Dispel Magic" scroll, but merely a "Nita Trick"!

Just now, she used this trick to make the gnoll lose his footing, and subsequently, he was injured!

But the "Spirit Bone Prayer Beads" were still in the opponent's hand.

The gnoll looked at Grace and the Paladin who had walked out, a ferocious smile appearing on his face.

He died...

Compared to Grace, even with one arm severed, his Swordsmanship was more mature and seasoned.

"A bit hard to fight..."

However, looking at that gnoll 【Red-Robed Monk】, his gaze flashed, and many pieces of information appeared as well:

【Name:???】

【"Fierce Wolf-Headed Vajra Protector Life-Preserving Mantra": Requires the "Fierce Wolf-Headed Vajra Protector" as the Secret Cultivation Honored One, worshiped daily with flesh and blood; one must not eat dog meat or wolf meat... Chant the mantra a hundred times every day, and after a thousand days, sweet dew shall descend, and the mantra will be mastered (if one offers the flesh and blood of oneself or one's blood relatives to the Wolf-Headed Vajra, it can be mastered within a hundred days)】

【You successfully launched a sneak attack, dealing double damage to the target!】

【Class: 10th-level Yellow-Robed Monk/5th-level Monk/4th-level Red-Robed Monk】

But the next moment, the smile on its ugly face stiffened there.

Because after observing the gnoll 【Red-Robed Monk】 perform the "Secret Mantra," he had a realization: 'Although it is a variant of Spirituality, I can still find the general feel...'

"Must destroy that Legendary item!"

【... You have learned the Secret Mantra: Fix!】

The Paladin's gaze was firm, as if he were muttering to himself.

A furry, blood-spraying arm flew high into the air.

*Bang! *

This punch landed squarely on the Paladin's chest, sending his entire body flying; his chest was sunken and charred black.

'Can't tell, this girl also multiclassed into other professions; Warrior? Or a special class, like "Whip Dancer"?'

On the battlefield.

Aaron really wanted to complain in his heart.

As a thief, Backstab is the most basic requirement!

Of course, with his agility and the gnoll's perception, he basically couldn't gain any advantage in the check.

Aaron narrowed his eyes slightly, fixing his gaze on the Spirit Bone Prayer Beads in the hands of the 【Red-Robed Monk】.

As for a quasi-Legend, their professional level might even have reached level 19!

As for Aaron?

At the position of its left hand, flesh and blood began to regenerate rapidly, and the wound was healing.

She had just wanted to warn Aaron to be careful when she saw the gnoll turn abruptly, its left hand forming a palm, and strike out with a single blow.

During the battle, Grace suddenly threw out a scroll, which was inlaid with various gemstones.

She had not expected that the enemy before her was not relying solely on that legendary item.

Just as Aaron was pondering, the situation on the field had changed drastically.

—"Soul Summoning"!

A squad of fallen paladins emerged, and the one leading them was none other than a legendary-level "Hand of Order"; he led a group of paladin Ghosts, entangling the enraged gnoll.

A sad fact was that commoners were not counted in official professional levels, so he was actually just an 8th-level bard!

【Divine Attribute: Strength 22, Agility 16, Constitution 19, Intelligence 15, Perception 15, Charisma 9】

Fight a quasi-Legend head-on?

Uh...

Meanwhile, Aaron quickly arrived at the side of the heavily wounded paladin and raised his hand to cast a healing spell.

And in his eyes, a large stream of data emerged:

【You observe others performing "Secret Mantra", and you have gained some insight... You have obtained partial information on the relevant skill!】

Immediately following, its right hand transformed into a fist technique and struck out violently, with flames even burning upon the fist!

And so-called high-level professionals are all powerful beings with a professional level of 15 or higher.

"Your attacks will no longer be exempted!"

The next moment, the light and fluctuations of the Disjunction spell vanished instantly, as if nothing had happened at all.

【Skill: Secret Mantra,???】

After obtaining the Spirit Bone Prayer Beads, Aaron understood why this high-level paladin was so pathetic against the gnoll.

Grace nodded and had already picked up her weapon—a nine-section whip with a ferocious design.

This legendary item had alignment requirements (Intelligence 15, Perception 15 or higher, Evil Domain); if it were that paladin holding it, perhaps he would feel it burning his hands.

The paladin's expression was resolute as he continued to press the attack.

The gnoll 【Red-Robed Monk】 exposed its true strength, sweeping across the entire field!

But Aaron was of the Evil Domain, and Lawful Evil is also evil!

Furthermore, his Intelligence and Perception were both very high, so he could use this legendary item!

The wind and snow grew more urgent, and he saw a strangely dressed gnoll figure approaching.

"Not right... Just now, watching the paladin's 'Evil-Breaking Slash', my heart felt nothing; clearly, I cannot learn these high-level professional skills of the natives all at once... Instead, those high-level skills of the Secret Cultivation are as simple as eating and drinking, breaking through the limitations of the bard... Because of the Jack-of-All-Trades feat? Or am I special myself?"

【Professional Feat:???】

At this moment, the opponent's eyes were firm, and brilliant flames were even burning on their body.

Aaron landed a hit, immediately grabbed the Spirit Bone Prayer Beads from the ground, turned, and ran!

"Go take your revenge!"

"Found you..."

The nine-section whip in Grace's hand snapped, and her face was full of despair.

Secret Mantra—Freeze!

After taking revenge, the paladin leaned on his longsword, his eyes vacant, and the aura on his body was rapidly dissipating.

Whoosh!

After all, this was not a digitized game world; critical hits and attacks on weak points were quite lethal.

Aaron muttered to himself.

After Grace attacked, the paladin also roared and joined the battlefield.

Aaron's pupils shrank slightly: "Did this resurrection cause the panel to mutate? Or is it only these high-level professional abilities of the Outer God system that I can learn quickly, since I'm familiar with them..."

—Diamond Palm!

The opponent's own strength was already infinitely close to Legend, and they had even learned the Evil God's "Secret Mantra"!

The Outer God had no other professionals under their command; all monks practiced the Secret Cultivation Honored One method and could all be counted as priests of those Evil Gods!

A newly initiated low-level priest could only wear yellow robes and do various chores; they were called 'Yellow-Robed Monks', chanting scriptures and mantras daily, cultivating the three secrets of body, speech, and mind.

Aaron was more inclined toward the latter.

Even if it only lasted for a few seconds, it was a huge flaw in the middle of a battle!

Generally speaking, as long as this prompt appeared three times, one could basically learn a skill.

"This look..."

But at this moment, the gnoll's emerald eyes had become incomparably dangerous, flickering with a hint of gold, and it suddenly roared out a syllable: "Hum!!!"

After the Red-Robed Monk, there was another rank, known as 'Red-Robed Master', also called 'Dharma King', corresponding to the legendary profession that could be advanced to after the 【Red-Robed Monk】 profession reached max level—【Red-Robed Archmage】!

Upon reaching the rank of 【Red-Robed Archmage】, one could solidify the Secret Mantra into a spell seal, branding it onto one's own body, constantly feeling the power of the worshipped Secret Cultivation Honored One, and even activating it with a thought without needing to chant the mantra.

The Secret Mantra system was the core ability of the Outer God's kin!

And at this time, Aaron's reaction was also very strange.

On the other hand, the two people beside him were a high-level paladin and a high-level priest; it wouldn't be much of a problem for him to provide support.

"Go to hell!"

Grace saw shadows writhing behind the gnoll, but at the same time, she also saw the gnoll's ferocious grin.

Among the natives, there is no concept of data levels; strength can only be divided into commoners, professionals, mid-tier professionals, high-tier professionals, quasi-Legend, Legend...

【Race: Gnoll】

Boom!

Facing this paladin, Aaron only said three sentences, and then the other party rushed out to join the fallen paladin in besieging the gnoll.

When the radiance dissipated, one could see that the longsword in the paladin's hand had already decapitated the gnoll, and the corpse was covered in charred marks.

And at this moment, Aaron had already quietly snuck closer.

A paladin's skills inherently have bonuses against creatures of the Chaos Evil Domain; if not for that Legend item, the other party definitely wouldn't have been so miserable before!

【You are affected by 'Chaos Spirit Qi', judgment in progress... Immunity failed, your subsequent checks for disarming, strength suppression, lethal attacks, etc., will have a -1 modifier!】

At the same time, prompts from the Divine Attribute bar appeared one after another:

【You are affected by 'Evil Spirit Qi', your alignment is Evil Domain, you have immunized against this judgment!】

Half a day later.

They are fearless of death, deeply believing that after death, their souls will ascend to the kingdom of the gods, becoming petitioners or higher God's Messenger, obtaining joy and peace.

——Secret Mantra: Freeze!

Uh... he can barely be considered a mid-tier professional!

You can tell just by looking at the Divine Attribute bar.

【Alignment: Chaos Evil Domain】

"Could it be that my rebellious son went and wreaked havoc in a Buddhist esoteric world before?"

The paladin's charging figure suddenly stalled, as if struck by an acupoint-sealing technique.

"Looking at the requirements, it's very troublesome... and I must worship that dog-headed Vajra as my Secret Cultivation Honored One... but I've already learned it!"

【Stealth failed!】

Aaron's eyes narrowed slightly, then he shook his head secretly: 'It feels like these two were deceived by this cunning gnoll; compared to the Legend item, the opponent itself is even more dangerous!'

It looked at the bleeding wound on its left hand, pressed its palms together, and began to chant the mantra again: "Om Mani Padme Hum!"

As a priest, at a critical moment, one must fight for the god one believes in!

Its movement to use the Spirit Bone Prayer Beads suddenly stalled, as Disjunction is known as the ultimate killer of all Magic items.

……

"I, this 【False God】, really have no prestige..."

Seeing this, the paladin's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he slashed out an 'Evil-Breaking Slash', the scorching holy light burning the gnoll's robe and incidentally leaving its left hand's fur charred, revealing a wound deep enough to see the bone!

In front of an ice grave stood the paladin's broken longsword.

……

Aaron had already dashed out of the ice house and found a shadowy terrain to hide in.

With a superhuman strength of 22 points, plus Monk skills, it only took one punch to severely injure an armored high-tier paladin! Leaving the other party in a near-death state!

Grace looked at this scene, completely despairing.

He seemed to see an old, evil wolf, having confirmed that the prey had no ability to resist, wanting to toy with the prey to its heart's content.

"Gnoll, evil-doer!"

The gnoll 【Red-Robed Monk】 grabbed Grace by the collar and lifted her up.

【Sneak attack successful!】

——Flame Fist!

But the next message became different:

Even if it were a Legend Disjunction, there is a one-in-a-thousand chance to disintegrate a divine Artifact!

It's just that it couldn't understand why this priest of the Lady of Morning had such a precious high-tier scroll in hand and hadn't used it earlier!

"Now it is no longer in the hands of that gnoll..."

It is injured!

The gnoll revealed a bloodthirsty smile, as if it could already see the scene of Aaron's body being torn to pieces.

Terrifying elemental fluctuations overflowed, causing the gnoll to let out an exclamation: "Disjunction?"

"You were exposed long ago, you clumsy thief?"

"He didn't tell me his name... but he was a respectable paladin!"

Grace looked at the newly erected grave, her eyes turning slightly red, then she looked at Aaron—or more precisely, at the Spirit Bone Prayer Beads in Aaron's hand!

(End of this chapter)