Chapter 173: Guardian’s Embrace The room was adorned with ancient tapestries, their faded threads whispering tales of bygone eras. Within these walls, the secrets of the past, present, and future seemed to converge.
In this sanctified space, the great foreteller communed with forces beyond mortal understanding, unveiling the kingdom’s destiny through mystic revelations.
As the group stepped inside, the weight of history settled upon their shoulders.
Amidst the relics, Xin and his companions discovered a dwarven grimoire, its pages brimming with enigmas and potent spells.
Within its weathered pages lay a chronicle of forgotten truths and ancient sorceries capable of reshaping the course of history.
"This is a spellbook," Victor stated firmly, his eyes fixed on the ancient pages. "Lord Schrodinger, you should learn its contents."
Xin hesitated, a gnawing sense of foreboding settling in his stomach. "Is it safe?" he inquired cautiously, his intuition warning him of impending danger.
Victor chuckled, his hand resting reassuringly on Xin’s shoulder. "Safe? Not in the slightest. Something is bound to happen once you acquire the spell. That’s for sure."
"Then perhaps it’s best to leave it there," Xin decided, lowering the book.
"You really should consider learning it," Midnight Duchess joined in. "Even if we face defeat, at least the spell would be yours."
"But wait, how is it fair that Lord Schrodinger gets to keep the book while I can’t have those items?" Rever protested a note of jest in his voice.
Victor clarified, his tone measured. "Obtaining those items requires defeating a boss. This book, however, operates differently. You can read its contents and learn the spell first before triggering any traps. A powerful spell like this shouldn’t go to waste."
Midnight Duchess nodded in agreement. "Spell and skill books are rare finds. We might not come across another one in the future, given the randomness of this place."
"So, we definitely missed out on those treasures earlier," Rever lamented.
"Didn’t you hear what they said?" Yuzuro reprimanded him sharply.
"Enough! I sense favoritism here," Rever retorted, though his frustration wasn’t aimed at Xin.
Xin shook his head resolutely. "I won’t take it if it risks our lives. Let’s finish this quest first." There would still be spell and skill books in the future.
Just as Xin was about to place the book back on the pedestal, a subtle shift in the air caught his attention, a signal that something was about to unfold.
The air in the Room of the Great Foreteller grew heavy, laden with an ancient presence. Shadows danced across the walls, casting eerie shapes upon the tapestries.
"Wait . . . Lord Schrodinger didn’t use the book," Yuzuro said. "Why is something happening."
Victor’s eyes narrowed, and warned the group, "Be prepared. The chateau’s former owner didn’t leave this room unprotected. Looks like a powerful Wight guards this place."
As the group exchanged wary glances, Midnight Duchess added, her voice low and cryptic, "This Wight is no ordinary foe. Its body is impervious to most attacks. We must thread carefully."
Just then, a chilling gust of wind swept through the room, extinguishing some of the candle flames.
In the dim light, they saw it: a Wight, its ghastly form draped in tattered robes, materialized on a black spiky chair. Its skeletal fingers clutched the armrests, and its eyes glowed with an ominous light.
ǁ W I G H T ǁ
Inside the Room of the Great Foreteller, an ancient guardian looms, a creature summoned by the chateau’s previous owner. This formidable Wight was entrusted with guarding the owner’s most cherished possession.
Its body is impervious, withstanding all but the most unyielding attacks. This formidable foe excels in close-quarters combat, making it a daunting challenge even for the bravest of adversaries.
Only those with unparalleled courage and resourcefulness have any hope of overcoming this ageless sentinel.
ǁ E N D ǁ
The Wight’s voice echoed, cold and lifeless, "You trespass upon sacred ground. None escape the grasp of my master."
Rever traced his jawline thoughtfully. "Hold on . . . so whether or not you use the book, we still have to face that guardian since it’s the protector of this room, correct?"
"Are you still fixated on that?" Yuzuro sighed internally.
"Seems like it," Victor responded, his blades materializing in his hands.
Midnight Duchess chuckled. "In that case, it’s in our best
interest if you use that book, Lord Schrodinger. It could aid us in this battle."
With no other option, Xin reluctantly opened the spellbook. Everyone knew he was the only one capable of using the spell, forcing his hand in this situation.
[ACQUIRED! Inferno’s Embrace!]
ǁ Inferno’s Embrace ǁ
Inferno’s Embrace is a powerful fire spell that harnesses the primal fury of flames. When cast, it conjures a raging inferno that engulfs enemies ablaze upon contact, dealing continuous burn damage over time.
The flames, infused with magical intensity, can also be hurled as fiery projectiles, creating a deadly ranged attack.
ǁ E N D ǁ
Xin placed the spell into his tier-4 skill slot. His eyes widening in shock as a tier 4 Inferno’s Embrace would consume nearly a third of his mana pool just to cast it once.
It was an AoE spell, justifying the high cost, but Xin’s mind was already calculating; he still needed to conserve mana for summoning his Golems, a crucial part in this fight.
Deciding to focus on his Golems first, Xin raised his hands, summoning the sturdy constructs while the others engaged the Wight.
Xin decided to create the Elemental Golem since it could fire magical damage without using his own mana.
Midnight Duchess’s gaze fixed on their spectral adversary, and cautioned, "Remember, physical attacks won’t work on it. We need elemental or magical damage."
Rever grumbled softly. "That complicates things. My mana reserves aren’t that high, and my skills lack potent magical damage."
"The upside is, it’s not invincible like the Lanternal," Yuzuro interjected, her tone tinged with resignation. She clearly wasn’t thrilled about facing another ghostly opponent.
. "Don’t worry," Victor reassured them, charging towards the Wight. "Just draw its attention, and keep the aggro on you while we chip its HP."