NIP Chapter 171: Scarecrow Island
Chapter 171: Scarecrow Island
“30 of them have made a contract with the Nidhogg serpents. It doesn’t have any effect on their combat power as of yet, but their potential is exceptional even among rare companions,” Franken spoke before Zyrus could inquire about the progress.
“30 is just perfect. I could have a total of 3000 knights in the future, so I’ll create 30 squads of 100 with them as the leaders.”
“Mhm. Even though the later they join the more starting benefits they’d get, it’s still worse than the experience and improvements these players will go through.”
Both Zyrus and Franken were sure that the present 400 players would one day reach the top ranks. Except for some very talented players, no one else could hope to match those bestowed by his authority.
[Appoint knights]
A knight's honor is an unbreakable bond that shall not be tarnished. The wielder of the crown can appoint knights who will live and die by his side.
-Number of knights = 10 x user’s level
-Only those who are willing can be appointed as knights.
-The knights will get their special class upon advancement, and they will also gain a portion of the user’s traits, bloodline, and skills.
“Come forward.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the 400 players replied in a sonorous voice. They were neither the strongest nor the most talented players. Regardless of which race they were from and what their circumstances were, these players were the ones who were most loyal to him.
“I don’t care what name and identity you had until this moment. From now on, you’ll be known as my knights till the day I die. Make the whole sanctuary tremble with your presence, earn aliases and titles that’d make even the kings hiding in their castle shiver in fear. Only then will I acknowledge your identity.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Their reply was even more energetic than before. The players knew that this was a test given to them for the power they were about to receive. Passing this was the prerequisite for getting Zyrus’s acknowledgment.
“Very well then,” Zyrus looked into each and every player’s eyes and stood at the forefront with his Twilight Crusher.
[Appoint knights]
[Initiating….]
“I, Zyrus Wymar, in the authority of the Last Apostle and the Plague Bearer, hereby appoint you as my Knights. Let the laws be witnesses of this sacred ceremony,” Zyrus announced with a voice filled with mana and slit his wrist.
“WE PLEDGE OUR LIFE AND SOULS TO HIS MAJESTY. LET THE LAWS BE WITNESS OF OUR ETERNAL LOYALTY,” the 400 players kneeled and slit their wrists as well.
Neither Zyrus nor the players knew these words before. It was their instinctual response under the halo of the onyx crown.
Zyrus was like a deity who hovered above the players with a glowing halo. Each and every one of his skills were manifested as mirages above the dragon of war. A floating dragon, red eyes that pierced one’s soul, a tattered projection of the shrine…numerous images came and vanished within seconds.
*Shaaaaaa*
The glowing crown on his head was absorbing fragments of these images, and each time it became darker and darker.
It was like a black hole that was devouring blood and mana. At the same time, a glowing radiance was spreading from the crown like the event horizon.
[Appointment Successful]
[400 "Aydahar Cavaler" are chosen as your Knights]
Zyrus floated down and looked at the 400 cocoons before him. His bloodline, traits, skills, and talents were too powerful. Even a fraction of them was enough to cause a change in their level of existence.
He also received the information on Aydahar Cavaler. It was a unique class created by his authority. The name translated to Dragon Knights, so it was apparent how strong they’d be in the future.
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The knights would also gain the blessing of order after reaching each new ring. This would allow them to synchronize and obtain the power from his future skills, bloodline, traits, etc.
‘Let me see what their class does.’
Zyrus clicked on the crown’s tab with gleaming eyes.
[Aydahar Cavaler]
A class created by the Onyx crown. Your level will be equivalent to Zyrus Wymar's, and your stats will be less than his by 5.
As a special class based on the crown’s authority, its upgrade and evolution differ from the normal classes. Reach the limits of your existence to attain a new Realm!
Blessing of Apep: On the longest night of every year, you can revive with a penalty of -10 levels, -5 stats (Permanently)
Note: Leveling up again will not give any stat bonus, and the exp required will be increased by 50%
Mark of Gorynych: Become the servants of the mighty tyrant. When performing brutal and destructive actions, you will gain a random buff.
Note: This is a formation-type skill. Activating it with large numbers will result in special buffs.
‘They're ridiculously good, but the next one is just as mind-blowing.’
Zyrus scrolled down and looked at the final skill. Since the Aydahar Cavaler was a special class, its skills were fixed from the start. Nothing would change even at lv 300 except for increased utility and effectiveness.
But even with a limitation like that, the first and the third skill made Aydahar Cavaler better than 90% of the other classes.
Dragonification: Attain partial Dragonification based on Zyrus Wymar. You can also use all of his skills at 10% effectiveness.
Note: This is an incomplete skill. Further progress will depend on your status at lv 100,200, and 300.
“Franken, keep an eye on them. We’ll set sail at midnight.”
“Where are you running off again?”
“To check on the progress of the Altar,” Zyrus's words echoed as he hopped from mast to mast. This fleet was scattered throughout the second zone. It would take more than 40 days for all of them to gather at the same point, and from there on they’d sail to the last island.
‘And in the meanwhile, I’ll inspect all of the bases on the way…’
…
The month went by without any significant events. Once again Zyrus stood on the dragon of war’s hull and gazed at the blue ocean.
Compared to the dry sand on the plains of Ilios, he preferred the salty and moist air of the ocean. Their journey thus far was almost like a picnic.
Normal boss monsters and aggressive schools of fish were already killed by his fleet. The first zone had three islands, while the second zone had 8 main islands. 5 of them were in the south from the first zone’s headquarters, while 3 were on the western side.
‘They should be arriving soon…’
Zyrus jumped at the highest vantage point on the dragon of war and looked at the sides. Druv, Strongfist, the beast legion, goblin riders, and the majority of subdued monsters should be coming from the western side; whereas Kyle, Lauren, Jacob, and Shi kun would come from south.
There was a good reason why Zyrus had distributed them this way. The Western fleet had the same number of ships despite there being just two targets. Why? Because the distance between the second and third island on this side was greater than their total distance from the first zone.
Countless aggressive fish occupied this area. Two out of the three years were spent on clearing this region all the way to the end of the second zone.
*BUUUUUUUUUUUU*
*Hoooowwwwl*
Bugles and trumpets cried out one after another, and hundreds of ships fluttering with black sails covered the entire western horizon.
Clangs of metal and howls of the beasts reverberated soon after. Even the scattered fish were scared away by their presence.
“Let’s go greet them,” Zyrus climbed on Franken’s back and the duo soared towards the leading galleon: ‘Sedna’.
The entire ship was filled with loud cheers as they welcomed the duo descending from the sky.
“Long…time…no..seee..”
“Haha, long time indeed. Where’s Strongfist?”
“Sleeping….He fought boss…alone..”
“Oh, let him rest for a while then,” Zyrus chatted with Druv and gave everyone some pointers on their stat distribution and upcoming class and bloodline upgrades. All of the elites within his army were just about to cross lv 40.
*BUUUUUUUUUU*
Before they even reached the dragon of war, two more bugles resounded from the other side. Hundreds of ships pierced the sea like an arrow and appeared on the faraway horizon. Even from a great distance, Tiamat and Phorcys were visible like giant behemoths.
Zyrus repeated the same actions and greeted the players on the two galleons. There was a big difference between the players meeting him on the dragon of war versus him coming forward to greet them and praise them for their hard work.
A leader’s every word and gesture held the power to affect the morale of the entire army. Zyrus was no rookie when it came to this.
Finally, all of the key players held a meeting on the dragon of war while they sailed towards the 8th island.
“Alright everyone, I’ll now explain the situation on the last island.” Zyrus knocked on the table and pointed at the map he had drawn.
“What does it look like?”
“Rice paddies?” Shi kun answered as he observed the map laid out on the table.
“Yeah, it’s similar,” the others also agreed one by one.
“This place is called the ‘Scarecrow Island,’ the gateway between the second and the third zone.” Zyrus placed another sheet on the map on which a few scribbles were drawn.
“Mantises, Earthworms, Locusts, Butterflies…and many such insectoid creatures inhabit the area. They’re not much of a trouble since they’re around lv 35-39.”
He once again took out three more sheets, this time with much clearer images.
“The environment itself is safe for our ships to travel. Thus, the main danger comes from three other monsters. Ria, Shi kun, pass on this information to other captains and squad leaders as well.”
“Got it.”
“Sure.”
“Alright. All three species should have reached beyond lv 40. You don’t need me to tell you what that implies. The first and most common threat are leafhoppers; also the main reason why I’m having this discussion.”