Azure Scepter

Page 43

At this moment, Trier was sitting in the shade of the ancient tree, gazing intently at the iron pot not far away.

A dark iron pot was simmering a stew made of dried meat, turnips, and a few peas and mushrooms. The stew was bubbling and gurgling, and a bird that had been plucked and gutted could be vaguely seen rolling around in the thick broth.

Under the moonlight, Futia walked lightly to the iron pot. She slowly bent down, then with a flick of her wrist, elegantly poured some wheat-brewed beer into the broth.

"hiss-"

In an instant, steam rose up, carrying with it a sweet aroma of wheat and a rich, meaty flavor.

Eight hours had passed since they left Beaver Town.

They left Beaver Town at noon, and if the journey goes smoothly, they should be able to reach the outskirts of Eraf by tomorrow afternoon.

“Noy has restored his broken oath state with Redemption, it’s time to level up,” Trier thought. “After leveling up, I can have a good meal—I didn’t expect Fatiya to be such a good cook.”

With this thought in mind, he softly activated the information panel.

The cobalt blue light curtain slowly unfolded like mercury spilling onto the ground.

"upgrade!"

Chapter 77 The Faceless Statue

[XP-33500]

[Paladin lv7→lv8]

[Based on your main profession upgrade, you have gained 2 free attribute points]

[Based on your primary class and Intelligence modifier, you gain 5 free skill points.]

The blue light screen kept flashing, and Trier unhesitatingly invested two free attribute points into his physique.

In "Azure Scepter", attributes that reach 20 points or more can be called extraordinary attributes.

When an attribute reaches an extraordinary level, it produces incredible effects. For example, when a player's Constitution reaches 20, he can wield the ability of "regeneration" like a troll—those who possess this ability can quickly heal their physical injuries, even from crippling damage, without the aid of divine magic or spells.

Take, for example, superhuman strength. Take Fydea, for instance. Although compared to the 5-meter-tall, half-ton-plus hill giant, she is as slender as a lonely laurel tree, if the two were to engage in a pure brute-force contest, the hill giant would very likely be defeated by Fydea...

In conclusion, extraordinary attributes greatly enhance a person's combat power, making them crucial.

Trier knew that he had wasted a full ten years due to his amnesia.

The wasted decade left him with mediocre attributes across the board, each far from reaching the 20-point mark of transcendence. His only attributes that came close to transcendence were physique, intelligence, and perception; therefore, if he wanted to achieve transcendence in a short time, he had to choose one of these three.

Since the Paladin class itself provides a high saving throw bonus, he does not intend to improve his perception; and since he currently feels that his thinking is not significantly hindered by insufficient intelligence, he does not intend to intentionally increase intelligence in the short term; therefore, he chooses to improve his physique.

Reality and games are very different. In games, players have five chances to start over, but in reality, they only have one chance. Therefore, improving physical fitness can greatly increase his margin for error—at least he won't be seriously injured after being stabbed twice by a skeleton while in armor.

[Physical constitution 15→17!]

Suddenly, a faint tingling and numb sensation burst forth in Trier's blood vessels like a tidal wave!

He felt as if an invisible, finely hairy tentacle had penetrated his skin, muscles, internal organs, bones, and nerves. The next instant, Trier felt a sudden lightness throughout his body, as if he had shed a great deal of filth and burden. He felt as if he had drunk an ice-cold drink on a hot summer day, and a light and pleasant sensation instantly filled his entire body.

"Improving physical fitness is much more comfortable than improving strength," Trier thought to himself.

He took a deep breath, and the rich aroma of the soup, carrying the scent of early spring malt, filled his nostrils.

Trier suddenly felt a hunger and looked expectantly at the iron pot roasting over the campfire.

Fythia sprinkled a final pinch of black pepper into the soup pot, then took a delighted sniff before succinctly declaring, "It's done!"

Just as Trier was about to try the elf's cooking, Olius, who had been huddled by the campfire, suddenly stood up, grabbed the iron bowl next to the pot, and handed it directly to Fythia.

"Aren't dragons supposed to be able to go a long time without eating again after eating once?" Futia looked at the dragon, which had suddenly become very agile, incredulously.

Olius smiled shyly: "I'll just try it."

However, after Olius finished tasting it, only a quarter of the soup remained in the pot.

"Phew." Olius let out a satisfied burp, squinted its eyes contentedly, and lay down by the campfire. "The taste was really good. It would be even better if there were a story to tell."

Fythia sighed helplessly, took out two other bowls, filled them with thick soup, and presented them to Trier.

She gently handed a bowl of soup to Trier, then sat down next to him—she glanced curiously at the bag at Trier's waist.

"By the way, is it really true that there are no shifts for night duty?" Futia asked.

Trier scooped the soup into his mouth with a spoon. The richness of the meat and the sweetness of the malt had completely melted into the warm soup. The just-right spiciness of the black pepper powder invigorated him, and every taste bud on his tongue seemed to be singing.

—Finally, a good meal! Futia's cooking is really good!

Trier mumbled, "Of course not, Noee can handle it herself—she doesn't need sleep."

"Would you like some wine?" Futia suddenly asked with a smile, as if by magic she produced a bottle of wine from her waist.

"No need, I don't drink."

As he spoke, Trier picked up a slice of cheese from a plate and ate it. The cheese was creamy with a hint of nuts. He savored it for a moment and then realized that it tasted like hazelnuts.

At this moment, he felt incredibly satisfied—a steaming hot meal was indeed enough to revitalize him, and the physical improvement and the deep-seated fatigue brought on by the journey had vanished.

"Speaking of which, what exactly did you discover about that headless knight statue this afternoon?" Futia suddenly asked, her azure eyes gleaming with undisguised curiosity in the firelight. "What exactly is in the pouch at your waist?"

“A faceless statue, somewhat dangerous.” Trier shoveled the soup into his mouth, the steaming broth carrying the thick, creamy cheese down his throat.

After leaving Beaver Town at noon, Trier immediately went to the knight statue at the foot of Mount Saint-Sel. "Cooling" was indeed the key to solving the mystery of the headless knight statue, and his only gain was a faceless stone sculpture the size of a palm.

Trier glanced at the cloth bag at his waist, and lines of information flashed past the corner of his eye.

[Item Name: Mask Sculpture]

[Item Level: Cursed Cursed Artifact]

[Item Description: A crude stone carving, seemingly shrouded in a dark and evil aura. Two lines of crooked inscriptions have been carved into its back with a longsword. Upon close inspection, one may experience a hallucination of a human face.]

[Equipment Requirements: None]

[Equipment Effect: None]

[Though darkness has been temporarily repelled, never let your guard down. I will watch over you until the end of my life—Losher Lorraine, etched on March 12th, in the year the shadow of the dragon lingers.]

[I can't believe it, I really did it! May the radiance protect me! Those arrogant demigods who tried to manipulate the fate of mortals have truly been defeated by me!]

Although the statue does not provide any benefits, it reveals a great deal of information. Trier now knows what the Sunset Sage meant by "the key to defeating the Lich."

Chapter 78 Fairy Tales

Trier took a cloth bag from his waist and took out a stone sculpture that was only the size of his palm.

The sculpture has no facial features. In the dim light of the campfire, Trier could only barely make out that the original image of the sculpture should be a woman wearing an elaborate court dress.

His fingers gently brushed across the sculpture's faceless features—the straight lines were like scars, the deep furrows lacking any of the sculptor's delicacy, instead exuding a cold and austere feeling.

—This faceless sculpture was sculpted by Rosevie, and it is clear that she was not skilled in this art.

“This is the faceless statue,” Trier said, glancing at Fythia sitting beside him.

Fythia opened her eyes wide, seemingly out of curiosity, and unconsciously leaned forward, the faint fragrance of a young girl filling Trier's nostrils.

Seemingly noticing Trier's gaze, she shifted her eyes slightly, and they met.

A flicker of panic crossed those clear, lake-like eyes, and Trier couldn't help but think of the lost fawn in the forest.

A far cry from her usual capable demeanor, Fythia lowered her head as if startled, then quickly raised it again and glanced at Trier.

After a moment, seemingly realizing she was acting somewhat guilty, she said dryly, "The craftsmanship of this sculpture is really poor..."

After spending several days with Futia, Trier had basically figured out her speaking patterns—the subtext of Futia's words was, "Although this sculpture is ugly, I want to hear the story behind it."

So he asked, knowing the answer already, "Would you like to hear a story?"

A blush crept onto Fytia's fair face. She nervously fidgeted with the hem of her dress, then, as if she had just come to a realization, she suddenly looked at Trier without hesitation.

In the firelight, Futia's eyes shone brightly, her azure eyes as dazzling as the stars in the sky, and a faint smile slowly curved her lips.

The alluring and ambiguous atmosphere spread rapidly, like sparks falling into dry tinder.

Sudden--

"A story!?" Olius suddenly sprang to life, leaping from the campfire like a boulder launched from a catapult, and bounding to Trier. "I want to hear it!"

Trier stared in astonishment at the dragon that had suddenly appeared, and his prepared speech shattered into pieces as if struck by a heavy hammer.

"Can't you just be quiet for a moment?" Futia stood up angrily, clenching her right hand so tightly that the iron spoon twisted, deformed, and cracked as if it were dirt.

Aulis instinctively shrank its neck and chuckled awkwardly, "I...I just wanted to hear a story."

“It’s alright, let’s listen together,” Trier said. “It’s a long story.”

He gently tapped the forehead of the faceless sculpture, while Futia sighed heavily.

"What kind of story is it?" Olius asked with great anticipation.

Trier succinctly stated, "Fairy tales."

The firewood crackled and burned, sparks appearing in an instant, then expanding and exploding moments later, dissipating into nothingness. The scorching flames reflected in Fyodor's pupils. She hugged her knees, listening quietly to Trier's story.

"Long, long ago, in a distant dream realm, there lived a beautiful nymph fairy. Her skin was as white as winter snow, her lips as red as June berries, and her hair as green as willow branches sprouting in spring."

"She enjoyed playing pranks on others, doing harmless tricks. One day..."

Trier's voice was steady and reassuring. Although his tone was flat, Fauci still thought of her mother—her mother told stories in the same way.

However, Olius let out a long yawn and said, "Hey, your tone is off—it needs some variation, otherwise it'll make people sleepy."

"Quiet down!" Futia whispered a reminder.

Ignoring Olius's complaints, Trier continued, "One day, she encountered a great fireball wearing a golden crown. The fireball was as proud as the sun, and its serious and rigid appearance resembled a turkey wearing a fringed robe. So, out of arrogance, the mischievous nymph decided to tease this high-ranking fireball."

Trier's voice echoed through the woods, where a cold, damp fog had risen at some point.

A cold wind swept through the treetops, and the rustling of the leaves sounded like whispers in the shadows.

A dark cloud obscured the crimson moon.

"Success! Through this sculpture, we can indeed contact the dream realm demigod who was defeated and sealed away by Losevie," Trier thought to himself.

He continued, “So, at the most important banquet in the dream world, she declared that she had woven the most beautiful coat in the world with the beautiful dreams of humans as the thread, the nightmares of gnomes as the needle, and the purest fantasies of elves as the clasp, and she would offer this dream-woven garment to the great fireball.”

"But it was just a joke. Nymph's hands were actually empty. She strode across the banquet carpet, holding the air with great seriousness, as if she were holding the hem of her dress."

The large fireball wearing the crown was extremely puzzled and asked: Where is that beautiful dress?

“Nymph suppressed a laugh and solemnly said to the demigod in the dream world: This garment exists in the hearts of good people, but evil people cannot see it—respected one, please remove your crown.”

The fireball was skeptical, but it believed it nonetheless and actually took off its crown. The nymph took the crown and ran away.

Aulis protested, “Trier, demigods wouldn’t be that stupid! Their wisdom and power far exceed our imagination. This story is completely unbelievable.”

“Indeed.” Trier nodded. “A normal demigod wouldn’t be so foolish. It’s quite bizarre in itself that a demigod who is good at pranks would be the one to be pranked.”

The wind in the forest suddenly picked up, carrying with it faint whispers and groans, a stench of negative energy permeating the air: "Arrogance... mortals... the price... not foolish... insects..."

"Did you hear that?" Futia suddenly drew her scimitar, looking warily into the forest that had suddenly become eerily shadowy. "Something's wrong."

"It's Losewey! It's here to kill us! I don't want to die..." Olius screamed, its pre-prepared spell sequence instantly activating, the radiance of High Courage enveloping it, but it still immediately hid behind a tree.

Trier remained unresponsive, seemingly oblivious to the strange phenomena around him, and continued speaking: "At the banquet, the lords of the Dream Realm laughed heartily, all thinking the Great Fireball was a complete fool. The teased Great Fireball, enraged, immediately seized the Nymph. The Nymph had no choice but to apologize for her excessive joke, but the Great Fireball remained determined to take revenge."

Noy, who had been wandering and patrolling nearby, suddenly floated out from behind the tree where Olius was hiding. In her hand, she was carrying the head of a zombie covered in vines. Although it had been smashed to pieces by a flail, the zombie's mouth was still opening and closing.

It seemed to be trapped in some kind of nightmare, constantly muttering: "Insects...arrogance..."

Noy took out the Holy Symbol and fired a Hellfire Ray, instantly burning the zombie's head to ashes.

The inexplicable whispers and the putrid smell disappeared.

“This corpse was hanging in the tree branches, and it suddenly came to life, which is very unusual.” Noi put away the holy symbol and said quite seriously, “The magical winds nearby are strange; we’re probably being watched by something.”

"Stop telling stories, let's run..." Olius cautiously peeked out from behind the tree, "That lich's power is simply beyond our ability to contend with!"

“Don’t worry, there’s no danger.” Trier casually stroked the faceless sculpture, whose face now bore a shocking crack. “Let me finish my story.”

"The fireball reclaimed its crown, and to punish the nymph, it used the power of language to steal her conscience. The nymph must destroy one hundred human settlements before she can regain her conscience."

"However, when the nymph set out to destroy the first human settlement, she was immediately redeemed by a paladin. After a series of arduous battles, they finally defeated the invincible fireball and sealed it away completely."

"Wait a minute, is this really a fairy tale? Could this paladin be Lothaway?" Olius asked in surprise.

Trier still didn't answer the dragon's question; he continued his story: "Now, another paladin has discovered this seal. Will he help this foolish, arrogant, and malicious fireball break the seal?"

"Respect...reward...seal...power...immortality...number of exchanges...limited...wasting an opportunity..." The zombie head, already burned to ashes, suddenly spoke again!

Trier chuckled twice, then stuffed the nearly broken faceless sculpture back into the bag: "Now, we have a common enemy. The fireball may regain its freedom, but only in the future—we have three more opportunities to communicate, so choose your words carefully."

As Trier spoke, the surrounding mist dissipated, and the crimson moon reappeared.