Chapter 201: Chapter 201: The Level 4 Fire Seed Armor with a Second Stage Awakening
"In terms of scale, a Level 4 Sanctuary is indeed much larger than a Level 5 Sanctuary." Qi Suian observed the Corpse Demon General’s Sanctuary, feeling completely calm.
’This is probably some kind of standard design. Each level has its own set of limitations.’
’Just like the Fire Seed Armor, it creates a tiered hierarchy. This class system extends to within the Sanctuary, creating three levels: Elders, Warriors, and civilians.’
However, none of this really concerned Qi Suian. He didn’t care for the so-called class system, his gaze fixed on the young man named Crisp.
Without any suspicion, Crisp had become their unwitting guide.
Now, he was at the entrance of the Corpse Demon General’s Sanctuary, going through verification. The moment it was complete and the entrance opened, Qi Suian would make his move.
With the experience from last time, the AI could easily exploit the timing window.
Verification complete. The Tai Sui God shot straight for the entrance, unleashing a powerful attack that instantly shattered the protective film blocking its path.
Then, the alarms began to sound.
At first, Qi Suian paid the alarm no mind, but he had barely taken two steps before he discovered what made a Level 4 Sanctuary different.
’It doesn’t just have an alarm system, but a defense system too.’
A barrage of Energy Arrows materialized above the technological barrier.
Qi Suian didn’t yet understand why they were shaped like arrows, but it didn’t stop the Tai Sui God from dodging.
"The reaction is quite slow. It seems to be consuming the collected energy reserves." Qi Suian’s eyes narrowed.
His previous assumption had been wrong. It wasn’t that the reserve energy couldn’t be used, but that a Level 5 Sanctuary had no means to do so.
An alarm system hardly consumes any energy, which was why the reserves had just been accumulating.
But a Level 4 Sanctuary, on the other hand, had a use for it.
’Their combat discipline is better, too.’ Qi Suian shifted his gaze, seeing a large number of Warriors in combat armor rushing toward him.
Based on their efficiency and marching formation, he could tell this was a professional army.
They were nothing like the people from the Riveting Knight Sanctuary, where seven or eight out of ten were promoted through connections rather than actual skill.
There were surely some who’d slipped through the cracks here, too, but the vast majority had earned their place through sheer strength.
’The lock-on effect is a pain, but I still have a chance to win.’ Qi Suian watched as the Tai Sui God weaved through the Energy Arrows completely unscathed, all while killing Sanctuary Warriors and tossing them into the Melting Furnace.
One could only say the Sanctuary’s intelligence was no match for the AI.
Even with its area-of-effect attacks, there were still plenty of openings.
Besides, the attack power wasn’t actually that high. At first, Qi Suian had assumed energy weapons would be formidable.
But in reality, they only had the stopping power of a handgun—and not a Desert Eagle, just a standard-issue pistol.
Therefore, with the Dragon and Tiger Primordial Divine Force complementing its own durability, the Tai Sui God could have taken the hits without even dodging.
Still, it was better to dodge. Getting hit by bullets was never a good thing.
’A Level 4 Sanctuary is already this tough. What about Levels 3, 2, and 1? Don’t tell me I actually won’t be able to beat them.’ He felt a genuine sense of uncertainty.
And he was still only facing Warriors. The Elders, with their Fire Seed Armor, had yet to make a move.
’Maybe a Level 4 Fire Seed Armor, just like a Level 4 Sanctuary, has special abilities. Otherwise, if the stats are the same, what makes it a higher level?’
’Of course, the stats might just be different.’
As he was lost in thought, the Tai Sui God suddenly spun around, dodging a feathered arrow that looked as if it were carved from bone.
The arrow embedded itself in the ground, then slowly faded away.
It was clearly another type of energy weapon.
’If that had been a direct hit, the Tai Sui God’s body would have been pierced through on the spot.’
Only the Grand Elder, clad in the Level 4 Fire Seed Armor—the Corpse Demon General—could unleash an attack with such power.
Sure enough, a tall humanoid figure approached at a slow walk. It was covered in white crystalline matter and rode a crystalline white horse of a similar style.
The crystal longbow in its hands slowly morphed into an immense broadsword.
"Intruder, which Sanctuary are you from?" Grand Elder Seth’s voice was full of vigor, betraying no sign of old age.
Qi Suian could tell his opponent would be difficult.
Unlike Grand Elder Noelde from the Riveting Knight Sanctuary, Grand Elder Seth from the Corpse Demon General’s Sanctuary might not have vastly different personal stats, but his Fire Seed Armor was stronger, and he was clearly not as afraid of death.
On the contrary, he was far more competent and ferocious.
Seeing that Qi Suian didn’t answer, he spurred his horse forward and brought his broadsword down directly on the Tai Sui God’s head.
The Tai Sui God was just as fast. It dodged the blow, then aimed a counterattack along the arc of the broadsword, right at Grand Elder Seth’s horse. A direct hit would have left him horseless.
’The Fire Seed Armor’s stats haven’t changed, but it clearly has a lot more special properties.’
’There are buffs to its strength and speed, likely an enhancement from the Sanctuary.’
Qi Suian confirmed that the strength of a Level 4 Fire Seed Armor came not from an increase in its base stats, but from the addition of extra properties.
’So if he leaves the Sanctuary’s vicinity or gets too far away, his Level 4 Fire Seed Armor will effectively downgrade to Level 5.’
Grand Elder Seth was an experienced fighter. He didn’t even wait for the Tai Sui God’s attack to land before launching a counterattack of his own.
"Cry of the Graveyard Maiden!"
He unleashed his Awakened Skill directly, as if he had no regard for his own lifespan.
Visible soundwaves rippled outward, manifesting as a woman’s mournful wails. The Tai Sui God’s movements began to slow, as if it were trapped in a bog.
Unlike the Riveting Knight’s Awakened Skill, the Iron Thorn Dance, the Corpse Demon General’s Cry of the Graveyard Maiden was a domain-type ability.
Anyone within range of the soundwaves, friend or foe, would be slowed—everyone except the Corpse Demon General itself.
As for those outside the domain, hearing the cries would inflict a single Spirit attack. The effect was weaker; Warriors were immune, while civilians would only feel dizzy.
After all, the true power was concentrated within the domain; the effect outside was more of a potshot.
Furthermore, the Corpse Demon General itself would receive a buff, adding a Spirit-based component to its physical attacks.
The broadsword came down on the Tai Sui God’s head from above. A solid hit would have likely split the Tai Sui God in two—vertically.
CLANG!
The Corpse Demon General’s broadsword struck the ground. Inside the armor, a look of astonishment appeared on Grand Elder Seth’s face.
He couldn’t understand how his opponent had dodged.
The Tai Sui God had indeed been moving sluggishly, but just before the attack landed, its speed suddenly surged, allowing it to bizarrely evade his strike.
’A debuff? Heh, a slowing effect is the last thing the Tai Sui God needs to worry about.’ Qi Suian sneered inwardly. He didn’t know what kind of technology his opponent was using, but he was sure of one thing.
The Wind Master aviation system could simply accelerate, and the speed boost was more than enough to counteract the debuff.
So it wasn’t that the Tai Sui God was immune to the debuff; it simply nullified the negative effect by accelerating.
’He’s strong. I can’t win. With that buff, he’s at least twice as strong as someone in a Level 5 armor.’ Qi Suian quickly assessed the situation.
Grand Elder Seth quickly concealed his astonishment. "You’re good," he said, "but you still have a long way to go."
"Second Stage: Wail of the Screaming Banshee!"
Instantly, the mournful crying transformed into a piercing shriek.
The Dragon and Tiger Primordial Divine Force shattered instantly from the shriek. At the same time, Qi Suian could feel the Tai Sui God’s speed decreasing even further.
Even with the acceleration from the Wind Master aviation system, its speed was being chipped away.
’A Level 4 Fire Seed Armor’s Awakened Skill actually has a second stage? This... is ridiculous.’
’And look at the cost... Does he have a death wish or something?’ Qi Suian griped internally.
As if sensing Qi Suian’s confusion, Grand Elder Seth spoke as he swung his broadsword in a wide arc. "If the Awakened Skill has a second stage, then naturally, the Awakening itself has a second stage as well."
"Did you think I don’t care about my own lifespan?"
"No. Once I kill you, the Corpse Demon General will devour your life force."
"Then, I won’t just replenish the lifespan I’ve consumed; I’ll make my own life force even stronger."
"This... is the ability of a second-stage Awakening. A power developed by all Fire Seed Armors to compensate for their own flaws."
’Well, this is definitely a situation that calls for some protagonist-level plot armor,’ Qi Suian thought.
’AI, switch to the voice of an old man on his deathbed. Let’s test him.’ A plan to break the stalemate formed in Qi Suian’s mind.
The Tai Sui God dodged the horizontal slash and spoke in a weak, frail, and ancient voice, "Is that so? Then you may be disappointed. My life force is hardly enough to replenish your own."
The moment the voice came out, Grand Elder Seth froze. He had considered many possibilities, but never once did he imagine that inside the armor was an old man on the verge of death.
’It’s common knowledge that you can’t fake a voice. So this must be real.’
’An opening!’ Seizing the brief moment of hesitation, Qi Suian took direct control of the Tai Sui God as the AI injected him with a large, highly-concentrated dose of the Death Agent.
The Feast Energy in his body went into immediate overload.
The Evil Dragon Force, together with a newly-generated Dragon and Tiger Primordial Divine Force, pushed back against the domain of the Screaming Banshee’s Wail. Seizing the instant, both of the Tai Sui God’s fists slammed into the Corpse Demon General’s vital points: its head and neck.
"I... this shouldn’t be..."
The Corpse Demon General’s faceplate shattered, revealing Grand Elder Seth’s face.
A chunk of his face was missing, but he wasn’t dead yet. The Fire Seed Armor was clearly keeping him alive by a thread.
However, before he could finish, Qi Suian’s next attack landed, crushing his skull on the spot.
Without the protection of his Fire Seed Armor, he stood no chance against the Tai Sui God’s attack.
One careless move had cost him the entire game.
’As I thought. You have to advance on all fronts. If you only focus on strengthening your gear without improving your own stats, you become a liability the moment your equipment is countered.’
Looking at the dead Grand Elder Seth, Qi Suian felt a wave of relief that he hadn’t just mindlessly focused on powering up the Tai Sui God.
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