Chapter 4, The Mysterious Visitor
As one of the underground gathering places in the North, Brandenstone City is a source of pride for the gray dwarves. Rather than being a city, it is more akin to a vast cavern. Countless gray dwarves have carved out this enormous space with their blood and lives, and within it, they have constructed a bustling and vibrant city. Naturally, this has attracted numerous intelligent races, who gather here from various places for brief rests, trade, or even to settle down.
Stop! Traveler! This is Brandon Stone City, what are you doing here!
Kardek could almost foresee the lively scene of a Halloween party in the city, with plague, ghouls, and undead creatures in attendance
Following the black-robed mage was a young girl dressed in a bright red gown, her striking golden long hair making her quite conspicuous. At this moment, she was crossing her arms, squinting her eyes, and gazing at the guards in front of her with a proud expression.
Upon hearing this, Jan and Enoia exchanged a glance, each seeing the hidden amusement in the other's eyes
Indeed, the drama has arrived
Quantity: 10 people
Get lost
Moreover, the defense of the Succubus Guard is 10 points, combined with its resistance to physical attacks due to its ethereal form, as well as its ability to convert undead creatures, it can be said to be the most effective summoning unit in the early stages
Necromancer
Uncertain if it was due to the belief that he could earn some extra money, a short and stout man shouted loudly as he raised the spear in his hand, pointing it at the black-robed mage before him
Most importantly, as undead beings, they do not require sustenance; at most, they merely consume the soul fragments of their enemies to restore themselves. Even in the absence of soul fragments, they can exist by relying on the magical energy provided by Jan's dungeon, without needing to compete with Jan for that little bit of food
In fact, the reason why Jan disguised his identity to come here is not merely to show off. For an underground city to develop, it requires a lot of resources. However, Jan himself does not possess many resources. While he can have the goblins mine for ores and crystals, construction materials and food can only be obtained through purchasing and trading.
Hello, esteemed master.
This ... ...
[Special Ability: Soul Penetration (No physical obstacles exist for them, nothing can refuse the touch that emanates from the depths of the soul—Penetration + 15, Damage X 3)]
Three special abilities
If possible, I would like to take the liberty to ask the esteemed mage to assist us in resolving a minor dilemma
[Special Ability: Soul Devouring (Despair is a fine wine, Pain is a delicious steak, Fear is a premium dessert, Death is the final course—defeating an enemy allows one to devour their soul to restore health and mana)]
[Female Demon Guard (Silver Elite)]
This is truly wonderful! We never imagined that such a powerful mage like you would come to our city. I can assure you, esteemed mage, that we in Brandonstone City warmly welcome your arrival. How about this? We will provide you with a building for your experiments free of charge, and we guarantee that no one will disturb your work. However...
The reason he is able to disguise himself as a necromancer is precisely due to his own banshee guard. As long as these ghostly banshees are by his side, even if Jan claims he is not a necromancer, it is likely that no one would believe him
At this point, Jan paused for a moment, but soon, a strange smile appeared on his face, shrouded in the cloak.
The gray dwarf guard strode forward, furrowing his brow as he carefully scrutinized the group of people before him
A cold, deep voice emerged from the mouth of the dark-robed sorcerer. Accompanying this voice, a translucent ghost suddenly materialized in the space between the two. She was completely transparent, dressed in tattered robes, and her long green hair spread out in all directions as if soaked in water.
Without strong guards and lacking any remarkable features, just a glance raises serious doubts about how they managed to survive the infinite darkness of the dim passage to reach the Stone City of Brandon
Regardless of the era, rumors are always the fastest and most widespread form of communication. As soon as Jan entered the inn, even before he had the chance to close the door to his room, the rumor of the necromancer had already completely spread throughout the city of Brandonstone.
Early the next morning, on the second day after their arrival, five dwarfs dressed in luxurious attire knocked on the door of Jan's guest room
Immediately afterwards, the female demon suddenly reached out her hand and grasped the spear raised by the gray dwarf. Before the gray dwarf could react, a chilling cold, penetrating to the marrow and capable of freezing the soul, surged through the spear and flowed unimpeded into the gray dwarf's body
I believe they will not keep me waiting for too long
Defense: ★☆ (Spiritualization)
You need not be overly anxious; in fact, I have come to Brandon Stone City solely in search of a relatively quiet testing ground, one that will not be disturbed by those foolish subterranean creatures. If you do not bother me, then there will be no issues at all
For the gray dwarves of Brandenstone, travelers are the least noteworthy things they have encountered in their long lives
Attack: ★☆
And the undercurrents began to surge accordingly
If it were his siblings, he could simply deploy a massive army to force these cities into submission and tribute. However, unfortunately, Jan does not possess such great power, so in order for the underground city to develop steadily and sustainably, he has no choice but to take the field himself
Standing at the forefront is clearly a mage. The gray dwarves do not harbor much fondness for these spellcasters, yet they do not fear him and the *books* as much as others do. Although the gray dwarves' lineage inherently limits them from becoming mages, it also endows them with extraordinary resistance to magic. In fact, ordinary mages are not regarded highly by these gray dwarves.
Glancing at the stagnant gray dwarfs, Jan let out a cold snort, and then he walked towards the city before him. This time, no one dared to obstruct his path. Even the others intending to enter the city held their breath, watching these three individuals with eyes filled with terror and fear
The gray dwarf governor named Kadeck rubbed his hands together in excitement; his demeanor was entirely unbefitting of a city governor, resembling more that of a hotel manager welcoming guests.
The gray dwarves are a cautious and greedy species. I can assure you that the arrival of a necromancer is enough to make the rulers of this city restless. If he does not wish for his city to become a dining hall for ghouls, then I believe he will come to seek me out... At that time, they will likely attempt to entice me with generous rewards to serve them or to help them solve some problems that the gray dwarves themselves dare not face. All we need to do is wait quietly until that time arrives... At that time, they will likely attempt to entice me with generous rewards to serve them or to help them solve some problems that the gray dwarves themselves dare not face. All we need to do is wait quietly until that time arrives.
However, he soon felt regret for his actions
Although the gray dwarf possesses considerable resistance to magic, no creature can withstand the blow of death. The unfortunate guard let out a scream and was immediately sent flying, crashing heavily against the thick stone wall. His face turned pale, and a large patch of white frost had formed on his beard, while his short body trembled incessantly from the cold
Level: 1
Answer my question, traveler! Take out your luggage and weapons for inspection
Upon witnessing this scene, the other two guards, who had originally intended to rush forward to provide assistance, involuntarily halted their steps, their faces pale as they gazed at the dark-robed mage before them. Although they were still unaware of the mage's true identity, the suddenly materializing female demon and the terrifying aura of death had already revealed his true nature.
What are your plans
The gray dwarf, adorned in a finely crafted half-armor embellished with exquisite patterns, displayed a warm and somewhat excessive smile, attentively gazing at Jan.
In response to Enoya's inquiry, Jan first adjusted his glasses out of habit, and then he began to speak.
Although she had anticipated it in her heart, Jan still revealed a joyful smile. Special abilities are powers that only rare elites possess, and their occurrence is largely random. The highest level of a complete form, the Shining Rare Troop, possesses as many as five special skills, while the Wraith Guard she has summoned possesses three special skills, which is already quite impressive
Especially in the dark underground, wood is worth its weight in gold. Many buildings in the later stages of Jenn's dungeon require wood for construction—one cannot expect Jenn to grow trees herself. Not to mention the challenge of whether it is even possible to cultivate them in a sunless underground world, sourcing saplings is itself a significant issue
Hmph
It seems that those gray dwarfs have already begun to take action, my lord
And the facts have proven that Jan's idea is correct
Therefore, when the guards at the city gate saw a slender figure in a black robe approaching them, they did not feel that anything was different
Only after they disappeared did the air, which had originally appeared to be frozen, begin to flow again. Soon, one of the gray dwarf guards dashed into the city and vanished in the blink of an eye
[Special Ability: Undead Transformation (Death is not the end, but the beginning. Only by relinquishing the desire for life can one descend into this eternal cold world—there is a certain probability of transforming the opponent into an undead creature)]
It is precisely for this reason that Jan chose to appear in the city of Brandon Stone as a death mage, a figure both revered and feared. He believes that the gray dwarves will certainly not ignore him, a ticking time bomb, and as long as the Library and their allies dare to send someone to find him, Jan can take the opportunity to make demands of them. At that point, he will be able to obtain the resources he desires without arousing any suspicion from anyone. He believes that the gray dwarves will certainly not ignore him, a ticking time bomb, and as long as the Library and their allies dare to send someone to find him, Jan can take the opportunity to make demands of them. At that point, he will be able to obtain the resources he desires without arousing any suspicion from anyone
I am Jan.
However, as one of the most insidious and cunning races of the underground, Kardek would naturally not be as foolish as his distant cousin, the dwarves. Upon hearing Jan's words, he only slightly revealed a hint of panic, and then once again displayed an excessively enthusiastic smile.
Zhan En is not a necromancer at all. As previously mentioned, although he has learned a great deal of knowledge in the library of the demon race, he is unable to utilize these spells due to his own limitations. The same applies to necromancy spells. Even now, as the dungeon master, Zhan En can only cast the two basic spells provided by the system: "Thunderous Might" and "Flame Serpent".
To speak frankly, it has been a long time since a mage has appeared in Brandenstone City. They are the greatest and most formidable beings in this world, and I believe you can understand the feelings we experience when we learn that a mage has graced us with their presence. As the governor, I extend the warmest greetings to you on behalf of all the people of Brandenstone City
At this point, Kadeck rubbed his hands together, raised his head, and cast a barely noticeable glance at Jan, before lowering his head once more
Upon hearing this, Kadeck's chubby cheeks, filled with fat, involuntarily twitched. A necromancer is going to conduct experiments in his own city with a stone on top?
However, at this moment, Jan was not concerned about these trivial matters at all. In fact, while the outside world was bustling around for his sake, Jan himself was comfortably settled in the guest room, smiling as he reviewed the information that appeared before his eyes
Still concealing his true identity beneath the cloak, Jan sat in the chair and nodded at the gray dwarf governor before him
Narrowing her eyes and wearing an elegant smile, Enoia withdrew her gaze from the depths of the alley. She then turned her head and looked at Jan.