Chapter 81: Deep Blue Shadow
Near the Reservoir River, Eastern District, Black Ring City.
The scene here was peaceful. It was morning, sunlight scattered down, and street vendors could already be seen selling fruits, vegetables, or daily necessities. These were transported from the Elf clan, as the two sides had reached preliminary trade cooperation.
Worpol, Uya, and five Grey Orcs walked along the street. None of them wore battle armor or carried weapons.
"It's been many years since I've seen streets like this."
Worpol's gaze was still fierce. He had spent too many years on the battlefield, and the sudden peace made him very uncomfortable. But he had already decided to leave Black Ring City soon and go to a sparsely populated place. This morning, when he just woke up and was still groggy, he almost killed a neighbor who came to visit, instinctively thinking it was an enemy attack.
"We need to stay away from civilians."
Uya spoke indistinctly, holding her lunch in her hand. She was a big eater, with an appetite equivalent to about six Grey Orc soldiers.
"Me too, stay away from civilians."
The floating demon ghost, Tanyatan, sighed with some emotion, holding a list in her hand—the ingredients for her dinner preparations.
"Worpol, I know a good tavern. Want to go?"
Uya spoke casually.
"Of course."
Worpol's eyes lit up. His greatest hobby was drinking.
"Tanyatan, want to join?"
"No, the Lord's dinner hasn't been prepared yet."
"Tonight, Lord Bai Ye is going to the Elf side."
"Huh?"
"Lord Bai Ye is going there to discuss trade cooperation. So, let's go drink to our heart's content together."
Uya's second invitation made Tanyatan's face show hesitation. Finally, she sighed.
"Just this once."
Unable to refuse the kindness, Tanyatan could only agree. She pressed her clothes, planning to dispose of the highly toxic items she carried before drinking with Worpol and Uya. If those were discovered, she was done for.
After arriving at a side street, the group reached a doorway. Beside the doorway hung a wooden sign representing a tavern, but the inside was somewhat dim.
Tanyatan stopped, looking at the dark doorway ahead. Seeing her stop, Worpol and Uya, who had walked a few steps ahead, also halted.
Uya looked at Tanyatan with confusion and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I... hate dark places."
Tanyatan lowered her head slightly, a thoughtful look in her eyes.
"What nonsense are you talking about? You're a demon ghost that can swallow living beings whole. Darkness is your camouflage color, isn't it?"
A Grey Orc guard said half-jokingly. His hand dropped, and he subtly made a gesture.
"I'm very timid, even more afraid of the dark. I'm just a weak demon ghost maid."
Tanyatan lowered her eyelids, her lower body, like black mud, slowly churning.
"Stop wasting words with her. Kill her right here."
Uya stomped on the ground, sending a stone slab flying. She pulled a long sword from the dirt.
"Aren't we friends? Treating me like this makes me very sad."
The demon ghost, Tanyatan, dropped her disguise and spoke with a seductive smile. In truth, she was actually a Ghost Princess, a ruthless character who had once declared herself king and had always been cooperating with Agamemnon.
"Destroy her."
Baha flew over and landed on a nearby rooftop. Seeing Baha, the Ghost Princess's pupils contracted.
Wolf Cavalry soldiers converged from the surrounding area, conservatively estimated at several thousand.
Moments later, a loud bang echoed from the eastern district. Black sludge shot into the sky, taking several minutes to settle.
Inside a three-story small building, Su Xiao lit a cigarette. Just then, he received a notification.
[Notification: Your follower has killed the Ghost Princess.]
[You have disrupted the plan of the Dark Lord, Agamemnon.]
[You have obtained a Random Chest (White ~ Holy Spirit Rank). This chest has a chance to contain special items.]
[You have obtained 5.11% World Source (due to the Ghost Princess's soul being in a damaged state).]
[You have triggered a special event: Recruitment of Demon Ghost Maid, Tanyatan.]
[Demon Ghost Maid, Tanyatan, has successfully broken free from the Ghost Princess's 'Soul Attachment.' You may recruit her. Initial loyalty is 75 points.]
[Yes/No to permanently recruit Demon Ghost Maid, Tanyatan. Remaining recruitable servant slots: 1/1. If you choose this recruitment, your Stamina attribute will be permanently reduced by 3 points.]
...
Su Xiao decisively chose No. The reason was that Tanyatan was somewhat weak. Recruiting her as a permanent servant would make her cannon fodder, and the cost did not justify the gain.
Originally, Su Xiao thought that the Demon Ghost Maid, Tanyatan, had always been disguised by the Ghost Princess. He had even wondered why Tanyatan's acting was so explosive.
Now, it seemed that wasn't the case. It was likely because he had opened the exit to the Burning Land, allowing the Ghost Princess to slip out and, using her higher status among their kind, attach herself to the Demon Ghost Maid, Tanyatan.
After dealing with the hidden threat within Black Ring City, Su Xiao opened the Title Fusion Disc. When attacking the Elves, he had obtained many titles, but when fighting other factions, he got fewer titles. Even so, he had accumulated 4 four-star titles and 1 three-star title.
Su Xiao planned to synthesize a five-star title, taking a gamble to see if he could get a title that enhanced his own combat power.
The Title Fusion Disc appeared before Su Xiao. The magma patterns on it were very faint, and the five auxiliary title slots around it were all empty.
The three-star title Su Xiao had obtained was called [Friend of Nature]. He got this after forming an alliance with the Elf Queen. Interestingly, Su Xiao's hostile reputation with the Elves had not disappeared; it was locked.
First came the synthesis of three-star titles. Su Xiao placed [Walker's Elegy], [Plunderer], [No-Characteristic Title] x2, and [Friend of Nature]—a total of 5 three-star titles—all into the title disc.
[Walker's Elegy] looked good, but its practicality was mysteriously low. As for [Plunderer], its effect was: after killing an enemy, the chest drop rate increases by 0.15%.
For this bonus that was essentially non-existent, Su Xiao chose to consume it. He even felt that with his fluctuating luck, even if it were 15%, it might not have much effect.
After paying 50 Soul Coins, the title fusion began. A few minutes later, a four-star [No-Characteristic Title] appeared.
He placed all 5 four-star titles into the title disc. Normally, this fusion would cost 100 Soul Coins, but since Su Xiao wanted to perform a random fusion, it required 300 Soul Coins.
The so-called random fusion meant not placing a main title and paying extra Soul Coins. This way, fusing without a main title would produce a title with random attributes.
[To complete this title fusion, 300 Soul Coins are required. The resulting ★★★★★ title will have random characteristics.]
Su Xiao chose to fuse. The magma patterns on the fusion disc lit up, and the 5 auxiliary titles around it gradually had their energy extracted, converging into the central slot. Completing this fusion would take about four hours.
With nothing else to do, Su Xiao began to meditate. He wasn't in a hurry to find Agamemnon, because the Wolf Cavalry Legion needed to rest. Although Agamemnon was still sealed, there were hundreds of thousands of elite Flame Orcs in the Burning Land, which the Wolf Cavalry Legion needed to hold back.
Time flew by. When the fusion disc cooled down, a deep blue light surged from the central slot.
[Fusion complete. You have obtained ★★★★★ title: Deep Blue Shadow.]
[Deep Blue Shadow]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise
Quality: ★★★★★
Category: Title · Rare (Due to random fusion, only 72% of this title's potential has been released).
Title Effect 1 (Unique Effect): For each point of the wearer's True Strength attribute, physical defense is increased by 0.5 points (can increase physical defense by 94 points).
Title Effect 2 (Unique Effect): For each point of the wearer's True Stamina attribute, HP is increased by 30 points (can increase HP by 5610 points).
Tip: Only one of the two title effects can be activated at a time.
Title Effect 3: If this title's star rating is successfully increased, it will have a chance for a qualitative change, transforming this title from 'Defensive Characteristic' to 'Offensive Characteristic.'
Current Characteristic: Defensive Characteristic (This title has higher compatibility with Offensive Characteristic. Due to random fusion, it is currently in Defensive Characteristic.)
Introduction: This is the wrathful shadow in the deep blue, yet you use it for defense? Unbelievable.
Price: Unsellable.
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