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The “Chimera Abyss Dragonbone Elder Lich” has been selected.
The evolution to the Chimera Abyss Dragonbone Elder Lich has begun.
As a result of the evolution, the level of [Undying Wisdom] skill has increased.
As a result of the evolution, the level of [Inhabitant of the Abyss] skill has increased.
As a result of the evolution, the level of [Abyssal Aura] skill has increased.
As a result of the evolution, the skill of [Floating Skull] has been acquired.
As a result of the evolution, the skill of [Life Obsession] has been acquired.
Through evolution, the Staff of Hourai, Skull Mask, and Moon’s Feather Robe have all grown by one level.
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This was the log information of my evolution. Yes, this skull was undoubtedly the effect of the newly acquired [Floating Skull] skill. The situation as it stood left no room for doubt.
And the only evolution destination I could choose was a race called Chaos Abyss Dragonbone Elder Lich. The race description read as follows:
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Chaos Abyss Dragonbone Elder Lich
A new breed of Elder Lich with elements of a dragon in its body, capable of using all abyssal magic, and various parts are added through [Alchemy].
It is expected that this new race boasts a strength incomparable to that of the standard Elder Lich, but due to being a new race, an accurate measurement of its combat power is impossible.
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The description was almost identical to the previous Chaos Abyss Dragonbone High Lich. I believed it to be a legitimate evolutionary line. Although being a new race didn’t seem to change that legitimacy much.
Then there were the two new skills I acquired: [Floating Skull] and [Life Obsession]. It seemed these were skills that an ordinary Elder Lich could also acquire. Let’s go through them one by one.
[Floating Skull] was a skill that allowed the skull to float around the Elder Lich and provide support fire. However, there were restrictions. The support fire was limited to a single type of magic pre-set by me. The magic cast by [Floating Skull] wouldn’t benefit from any boost from staff or equipment, which meant its power wouldn’t increase much. Moreover, if the [Floating Skull] was destroyed, it would take six real-time hours, or a day in-game time, to resurrect. The magic used for support fire also consumed a considerable amount of magic power, so it couldn’t be relied upon as a trump card in a normal sense.
However, it acts as a safety measure. This is where the other skill, [Life Obsession], becomes relevant. It enables me to resurrect in a near-death state if the [Floating Skull] is intact when my health runs out. Essentially, it was a one-time escape from death. That’s probably why it was called “Obsession.”
This skill was interesting, and it would be useful for regular adventures. But… it’s not as effective in PvP situations. I could pretend to be dead and then counterattack, especially against someone who sees it for the first time. But I was sure that information about this tactic would quickly spread and people would start taking countermeasures. At least, if I were in a fight against someone like me with this skill, I’d destroy the [Floating Skull] first. It would kill two birds with one stone by eliminating the annoying support fire and getting rid of the resurrecting potential.
Even so, in the end, I wasn’t able to increase the number of my heads. I could have acquired the [Floating Skull] as an Elder Lich without increasing them anyway, so it was truly a wasted effort. That was somewhat sad…
“…I apologize for getting carried away. I’ve calmed down now.”
“That’s fine, but… what exactly is that skull?”
“I’ll explain everything later. Just wait a bit. I want to finish the job change first.”
Saying this, I quickly selected my job. Naturally, I chose the Abyss Sage, which I hadn’t picked last time. Since my companions lacked healing abilities, I had previously chosen the Apostle of Death and Chaos, which was essentially a priest job. Now, having acquired the ability to use a type of healing magic called [Soul Magic], I could proceed on my original path!
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The “Abyss Sage” has been selected.
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Hmm, it seems I didn’t gain any new skills through this job change. Or maybe it’s just that the previous job was special. Knowing this, I wasn’t disappointed. With this, my fifth evolution and job change were complete!
“It’s done. Now, about this skull…”
I briefly explained about the floating skull beside me. They seemed relieved to know that it wasn’t a result of my attempt to increase the number of my heads. However, getting used to the sight of a floating skull in one’s field of vision didn’t seem easy, especially for Eiji, who kept glancing at it.
“So, is the prince coming or what? We’ve been waiting for quite a while…” Jigoro said.
“That’s true… today is a weekday, so I can’t play for too long…”
Today, right after the event ended, was a weekday. In the game, time progressed at four times the speed of reality, which was convenient. However, today we could likely only scout, given the limited time. It was getting late, and I was hoping everyone would arrive soon…
“Everyone, thank you for waiting. His Highness is ready. Please gather in front of the royal castle.”
“Speak of the devil.”
“Indeed.”
Just as we were discussing Prince Zahar, it seemed he had finished his preparations. It was time to meet up then.
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As we exited the royal castle, there awaited us Prince Zahar along with three Boar Orcs who were all fully armed. Their group consisted of two vanguard warriors and one mage wielding a staff. Were they the prince’s guards? More importantly, I felt bad for making such an important person wait.
“I apologize for making you wait, Your Highness.”
“Ah, no, don’t worry about it, my guests!”
Fortunately, it seemed we were spared any reprimands. That was a relief.
Though he was smaller and slimmer than the typical Boar Orc, Prince Zahar still exuded an intimidating presence when armed. He might not be as skilled as his father, but he was certainly skilled as well.
As a side note, metal armor wasn’t very popular in Bigdareio. The reason was that equipment made from the materials of defeated monsters was preferred over it. Eiji and Usaji were using such equipment.
There were powerful monsters roaming around the country, and the stronger the warrior, the more likely they were to acquire materials harder than inferior metals. This meant that, aside from weapons, those who used metal armor were either still low-level or had specific reasons for their choice. It didn’t seem to be just a matter of dealing with the heat.
In fact, Prince Zahar’s armor seemed to be primarily made from monster materials. It likely comprised scales, shells, or exoskeletons from monsters he had personally subjugated. However, what caught my attention more was the weapon he held in his hand.
“Does Your Highness prefer to use a spear?”
Although I had just arrived in Bigdareio, I hadn’t yet seen any Orc or Boar Orc warriors wielding spears. Just like Eiji most favored great axes, hammers, or swords so large they required two hands to swing. These weapons seemed fitting, given their great power, but it appeared Prince Zahar had different preferences.
“M-Mhm… no, I mean, this is right! This… I find this easier to handle!”
“Is that so?”
“Anyway, let’s get going!”
“Then, this is where we part ways, everyone.”
Jigoro and the others nodded in agreement. Only Kari and I would accompany Prince Zahar. This was a scouting mission, so there was no need to unnecessarily increase our numbers. Thus, we would proceed to the site, while the rest would gather information and train in coordination by hunting monsters.
Moreover, since today was a weekday, we decided to disband here so everyone could log out at any time they wanted. I might end up slightly sleep-deprived, but that couldn’t be helped.
Now then, would we encounter great demons or massive serpents on this mission? It was uncertain whether the investigation would even be successful in the first place. But since I accepted this quest, I was committed to giving it my all!
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I temporarily disbanded our party with Jigoro and the others and immediately joined Prince Zahar’s party before setting off. Although I expected we would be walking to our destination, the prince’s departure was marked with a special arrangement. A vehicle had been prepared for them.
This vehicle was a large sled pulled by a Scale Camel, which was a camel-like beast with scales instead of fur. The sled, however, was more akin to a Bigdaleio chariot than an actual sled. Since it was designed for desert conditions, the sled could be transformed into a rough-terrain vehicle by replacing the sled runners with wheels.
Apparently, the sled itself was a magical tool, with a body so sturdy that it was nearly indestructible. Additionally, it was equipped with a mounted ballista capable of firing two-meter-long spear-like arrows. Furthermore, the Scale Camel was protected by an automatic magic shield that would activate to protect the Scale Camel pulling the sled from any attacks, and the sled even had a feature to stabilize its cargo during travel. Quite convenient, I would say.
Upon seeing this, Iris who had been groggy from the heat, was so captivated that she seemed to forget her discomfort. It probably sparked her inspiration, and I hoped it would be useful in her future creations.
“Yahooooo! The wind feels amazing!”
Such an exuberant shout came from below. Whose voice do you think this is? Would you believe it was Prince Zahar who, until recently, had been making a deliberate effort to speak formally?
According to the guards, the prince was a bit of a speed enthusiast. He was exceptionally agile, even among the Boar Orcs. While he could actually run faster than the chariot, he loved the thrill of racing in a vehicle.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the thought of someone running faster than a chariot. However, Prince Zahar claimed, “My father… His Majesty can run even faster!” That had to be a joke, right?
“Please, Your Highness, calm down! We have guests present!”
“No way! Opportunities to speed like this don’t come often!”
Due to his position, Prince Zahar had rarely been able to ride his chariot at full speed. However, with the justification of needing to conduct a swift investigation, he was now racing it at almost top speed.
…. He might be quite the mischievous boy. His curiosity seemed to match that of Prince Lysandros. Perhaps it’s a trait common to royal children—being bundles of curiosity.
“Why don’t you have your own mount, Your Highness?”
“I want one! But there’s no creature capable of carrying me at full speed…”
My casual question made Prince Zahar hang his head in disappointment. Indeed, finding a mount for him would be difficult. Despite being small for his kind, he was still a giant compared to humans, and he had significantly more muscle mass. Plus, he was equipped with splendid armor and a large spear. He must weigh at least 150 kilograms.
Carrying such a load and running would be impossible. The very chariot they were using required four Scale Camels to pull it. In Bigdarei, although there was a cavalry unit, it didn’t include any Boar Orcs among its members. For Boar Orcs, finding a suitable creature to ride in the surrounding area was a difficult task, so it made sense that there were no Boar Orcs in Bigdarei’s cavalry.
“That’s a shame…”
“But I haven’t given up! One day, I’ll find the perfect partner who can carry me!”
The prince might become the first Boar Orc cavalryman. Finding a suitable mount would be a difficult task, though.
“We’re almost at our destination! This is as far as we can go!”
“Then, let’s stop here.”
Advancing further might risk detection. Though it was quite a distance away, a huge sandstorm could be seen even from here. The height of the sandstorm seemed to be over 100 meters, but flying higher than that wouldn’t be a problem for Karl and me. We should be fine.
Now it was my turn. I have to observe from the air and determine the cause of this anomaly!
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