Capítulo 541: Chapter 274: Iron Stomach Flail and the Ruined Chapel (Part 2)
The action swift, the corpulent knight didn’t even have time to react before becoming a headless corpse.
Recalling the seamless feeling of sword-swinging, Xia Nan couldn’t help but feel somewhat puzzled.
The performance of [Green Pine] in the battle far exceeded the “15%” damage bonus stated on its attribute panel.
The Golden Finger definitely doesn’t make mistakes. After pondering, he could only suspect maybe the corpses within the mist had exceptionally high physical resistance, showing distinct defensive bonuses against ordinary adventurers’ slashes and stabs.
But the Yang Flame damage of the Wooden Sword faced no defensive effects at all, actually being a kind of critical weakness.
This subtraction and addition, coupled with his inherently strong combat ability, controlled combat style, well-timed attacks, and a bit of luck.
That’s why it seemed so easy to resolve the opponent.
Otherwise, swapping in a regular level 2 or level 3 warrior-type professional might even struggle against the corpulent knight.
Encountering Xia Nan at this moment was quite fortunate.
No further investigation needed, after the battle, naturally comes the sweeping of the battlefield.
After all, still needing to catch up with the adventurer team ahead, Xia Nan’s time wasn’t abundant, no room for thorough inspections.
Luckily, the only potential loot on the field came from the bodies of a half-orc and a knight, so searching wasn’t too troublesome.
Of course, the harvest was relatively ordinary.
A dozen Gold Coins from the half-orc’s pouch, and the weapons of both:
Iron embedded Wooden Stick—completely worthless, its attributes in the information panel nearly blank, not marketable, even if sent to River Valley Town’s best-reviewed Grocery Store, at best worth twenty or so Gold Coins.
Inherently heavy and cumbersome, carrying it around is very inconvenient.
Without any space storage-type Tool on him, Xia Nan decisively chose to abandon it, leaving the stick behind.
However, the flail in the corpulent knight’s hand might barely be worth something:
…
[Iron Stomach Flail]
Type: Flail
Level: Ordinary (White)
Effect:
When the user’s body mass index [weight (kg)/ height (m)²] is greater than or equal to fifty—
1. When blunt striking hits, the chance of causing internal bleeding to enemies with less than 30% stamina increases slightly;
2. Stamina consumption in combat -10%.
Introduction:
The user of this weapon usually uses their alarming weight to drive the iron chain, dealing devastating damage to their foes.
Notes:
“Boss, the shop should still open as usual tomorrow?”
——Buffet Destroyer · “Greedy Guts” · Warren
…
Undoubtedly, whether from type or effect condition, this weapon doesn’t suit Xia Nan.
Focusing on swift and evasive combat, utilizing high mobility bestowed by Battle Skill and specialty, flail-type weapons entirely don’t match his combat style.
The equipment’s special effect seemed decent, but its effect trigger condition on the attribute panel was something ordinary people could never achieve.
Take Xia Nan for example.
If one substitutes his nearly 1.9-meter height into the panel formula, accomplishing the trigger condition requires a weight increase to 180 kilograms.
Not to mention it isn’t a Divine Artifact, the cost of weight gain and potential benefits from equipment don’t equate at all.
Thus, the only fate for this effectually mediocre flail was for Xia Nan to sell it to the Blacksmith Shop, waiting for the day it finds a suitable master to unleash its power.
But regardless, the flail itself does come with two effect entries, and thus the material of this weapon or the forging should be somewhat superior to ordinary Equipment.
Even if it’s second-hand goods scavenged from the battlefield, it could fetch a fair price.
Thinking it over briefly, noting he needs to continue deeper with the team, carrying it would be inconvenient whether in stealth or combat.
Xia Nan then found a corner amid the ruins near the entrance of the plaza to hide the flail, reminding himself to retrieve it when leaving Grey Valley later.
Finally, making a quick sweep of the area, ensuring no valuable loot was overlooked.
He swiftly headed for the path leading deeper into Grey Valley, the silhouette with Dual Swords gradually dissolving into the dense mist.
…
…
“Tap… tap…”
Fragmented and cautious footsteps faintly echoed through the dense fog.
A menacing scar lay quietly on Marcus’s face like a centipede.
The officially registered adventurer association team leader appeared especially solemn at this moment.
Not because of the half-orc teammate likely smashed into meat paste by a Steel Chain Whip left behind.
But due to the increasingly dense fog severely impacting visibility.
Casualties, a common occurrence in adventuring.
They all knew the trade risk, earning one’s keep with their lives, injuries and death were nothing unusual.
No mention by the other two members of the team until now, personally motivated by self-interest, it’s all taken for granted.
Furthermore, while there was no verbal conversation among several at the time, the eye exchanges were present.
To some extent, swapping his life to avoid battling the tricky-looking enemy, preserving stamina and state for further opportunities was a decision made by the three collectively.
Overall… all done.
Really, the blame would only fall on Gorg’s orc blood affecting his Intelligence, yet he chose the “barbarian” class prone to losing sanity in combat.
Leaving him unguarded against scheming, charging straight out when shouted, gifting them this chance.
Without reservation, describing, having survived within the adventurer’s realm and Blood Blade Squad until just now before dying was Marcus’s exceptional mercy, overly “benevolent” verdict.
Nothing precious spared.
Not a Spellcaster cherished, just front-line melee combatant, casual adventurer gathering spots supply plentiful replacements.
Losing a team member, the atmosphere within Blood Blade Squad wasn’t particularly low-spirited.
Conversely, with some eager anticipation.
If the initial encounter upon arriving in Grey Valley with dried corpses and ruins merely gave them speculative guesses regarding potential encounters.
The appearance of the corpulent knight truly confirmed the substantial treasures awaiting discovery ahead.
After many years in the adventurer profession, an elemental yet widely affirmed rule was known to them all—
Greater risk equates to greater reward.
With such formidable Undead Knight guarding, treasures hidden within were unlikely worthless trinkets.
And indeed, their assumptions were correct.
With their continued advancement, the buildings on both sides of the path seemingly became progressively complete at a visible rate.
Enough to discern their functions as residential, commercial, or some other Types.
No longer like what they had just seen, nothing but rubble hard to recognize.
Mountain Dwarf “Stone Belly” excelled in such observation skills, even seizing the chance to unearth a few bizarrely shaped coins in roadside ruins.
The coin surface patterns were strange, unrecognized by any of them.
Stone Belly speculated possible origins in an ancient era, some long-gone ancient nation.
If his speculation held true, likely fetching high prices from collectors or scholars on the market.
More coin collection within these ruins, plenty for retirement funds for the group.
Marcus brilliantly contemplated this, his eyes sinisterly glinting with adventurer-exclusive greed and malice.
Distracted by potential future gatherings, actively pondering eliminating the other two teammates, monopolizing the reward.
Just as his thoughts wandered, lost in future dreams.
A towering shadow stealthily emerged among whirling mist ahead.
It was—
An unprecedentedly intact yet ominously deteriorated giant cathedral, riddled with cracks and deprived of life for an unknown duration, rendering it eerily desolate.