Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 370 Falling to the Ground
"laugh."

Blood splatters.

Reflecting the brilliant pink above, it was like cutting through an extremely thick cowhide. The black and gray blade, with a slightly hesitant motion, struggled to cut through the layer of skin that had been worn away by the crystal particles, leaving only a layer of skin with a blurry pinkish hue.

In contrast, the muscles and bones that followed were much easier to penetrate; the blade slid smoothly through them until it reached the skin on the other side, where it slowed down again.

As the last crystallized human on the field, Xia Nan could have sheathed his sword, like Margaret, without severing it completely, leaving the outermost layer of skin connected to the severed head, drooping down to his shoulders and chest.

It also saves a little effort.

But perhaps it stemmed from a habit, or rather, a fetish, that he had gradually developed through countless battles and killings.

Xia Nan didn't mind expending a little more energy, which he could recover by simply standing still and taking a few more breaths.

Using the forearm and wrist to propel the sword, amidst the gushing sound of blood, the last layer of skin remaining on the neck of the crystal-like figure before him was severed.

The head, propelled by the force of the blade, spun away from the shoulder amidst the blood.

Beheaded.

Reflecting on the feel of the touch, I felt slightly disappointed.

I feel that the Crystal Golems have too strong physical defense, and it's not nearly as easy to kill them as the Goblins.

"How are you all? Is anyone injured?"

Behind her, Margaret asked breathlessly.

The Swordsman class focuses on strength and burst damage, trading defensive capabilities for higher offensive power, and is not good at endurance.

Crystallings, with their extremely high physical defense, are one of her most hated enemies.

In order to break through the defense of the crystalline particles, the repeated release of the [Secondary Wheel Slash] consumed a lot of his stamina, and sweat soaked his dark golden hair, sticking to his cheeks.

Right now, he's holding a small bottle of what looks like a supplement, and he's gulping it down into his mouth.

They were all only minor injuries.

Under the [Fang Hunt], Xia Nan's agility and mobility have reached the top of the level. As long as he is careful and does not take too many risks, these people who have become corpse crystals cannot even touch the hem of his clothes.

Throughout the entire battle, the only time I managed to get help was when I was supporting the dwarf Soldin. Because I needed to draw the enemy's attention, I forced my way into the crystal crowd and got hit a few times by those strange people whose skin was covered with pink particles.

However, only a few scratches were left on the surface of the armor worn on its upper body, which was made primarily of Hellfire Steel, called "Hellfire Pulse".

There was no injury to begin with.

While Margaret and Soldin may not be as strong as Xia Nan in actual combat, they are both seasoned adventurers who have climbed their way up from the bottom.

Level 4, behind each level lies countless battles and an incredibly rich combat experience.

Facing the Crystallizers, whose individual strength was far inferior to theirs and who simply relied on sheer numbers and had obvious weaknesses, they only appeared disheveled at the beginning of the battle due to a lack of information. After getting used to it, they quickly took control of the battle rhythm. The minor injuries they suffered did not affect their movement at all, and they didn't even need bandages.

"I'm fine!"

Soldin responded loudly.

This dwarf, who had attracted the attention of dozens of Crystallings with his taunting combat skills after the battle began, now appeared very relaxed, having put the pressure he had just endured behind him after the battle.

The three cleaned up the battlefield.

In fact, there is nothing to deal with.

Unlike those wild monsters or other adventurers who attack them.

Before the transformation, the Crystallizer was just an ordinary resident of Sheephorn, so it's impossible for him to suddenly drop an enchanted item.

The only thing on his body that could be considered useful was probably the pastel gem embedded in his chest.

But... clearly, the female swordsman and the dwarf, having witnessed the carnage in Goat's Horn, would never again have any contact with such a monstrous thing.

As for Xia Nan, who had already tested it and knew that he could not absorb its energy, he would not do anything unnecessary to cause trouble—if he dug up the gem and took it out, infecting the residents of other places, that would be his sin.

In the square, as Margaret caught her breath and recovered her strength, she looked at the longsword in her hand with a touch of heartache.

As a seasoned adventurer whose job level has reached lv4, her main weapon is naturally an enchanted piece of equipment, which provides a certain damage bonus in cutting and slashing.

She cherishes her time very much, and every time she returns to the city after a mission, she goes to the blacksmith shop for a comprehensive and detailed maintenance.

However, right now, facing the Crystal Man's skin covered with gemstone particles, the sword, especially the edge of the blade, has many obvious scratches.

It made her feel a pang of heartache.

In contrast, Xia Nan's [Emberfall] straight sword had a smooth, new-looking surface. The friction and collision with the crystal particles during the intense battle had not left any marks on its blade.

As for the reasons... there are actually many possibilities, such as the impact inertia of [Fang Hunt], the swinging technique of [Spinning Slash], or Barn's superb skills.

But ultimately, it all boils down to one word—

"expensive!"

The cost of "anodized iron powder," which costs nearly 300 gold per gram, is still as high as four figures in gold coins, even when the main material is provided.

All I can say is that, at least when it comes to enchanted equipment, being expensive... definitely has its advantages.

Margaret's gaze swept over the dozen or so headless crystalline corpses on the plaza floor, and she couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement.

Even though her previous experience fighting demons in the goblin lair made her clearly aware that this adventurer with short, black hair possessed exaggerated combat power that was completely different from his youthful appearance.

Fighting side by side again now still filled her with surprise.

If she hadn't been able to learn about Xia Nan's clear upbringing in River Valley Town, she would have even suspected that he might be a direct descendant of some extraordinary family who had gone out to train.

Xia Nan naturally had no idea what the other party was thinking.

Right now, he's thinking about things outside of this battle.

Where is Moen?

He had only caught a glimpse of the church entrance just now, but he could clearly see that the entire church, except for the twenty-odd believers who had already crystallized, was empty.

The elderly pastor, suspected of being the culprit, was also praying beneath the statue of the goddess.

Why didn't it appear just now?

In his mind, based on the other party's identity and appearance, he should be the purest priest class, who needs teammates to restrain the enemy and stay in the back to deal damage.

In this situation, the twenty-odd tough crystallings were undoubtedly its best helpers.

Realizing this, Xia Nan paid extra attention throughout the entire battle, remaining vigilant against threats from outside the battlefield.

But unexpectedly, the old pastor... never showed up.

Xia Nan's face remained calm, but her heart sank.

After a quick tidying up, the three rearranged their formation.

Not a single person suggested retreating. They had already covered ninety-nine percent of the distance, with only the final step remaining to the finish line. At this point, even the most cautious person, as long as they were an adventurer, would not back down.

Of course, a plan for what happens after you get there is still quite necessary.

Extremely efficient, in just a few minutes, the three of them had prepared detailed strategies for dealing with potential dangers after entering the church.

However, considering that none of them knew Pastor Moen's background, Xia Nan believed that the best approach was to "adapt to the situation."

Cold and deathly silent.

The thick stench of blood from the corpses on the field filled the air, and the deafening roars of the Crystal Man were now replaced by the sound of slow footsteps.

Soldin remained at the very front of the group, with Margaret and Shanan following side by side behind each other.

The church doors were open, allowing one to see inside without having to go inside.

The pink color remained, but the wooden benches that were originally neatly arranged on both sides of the lobby were smashed into a mess by the crystal people who rushed out of the door, with broken pieces of wood and dust everywhere.

In stark contrast, the altar is located at the front of the church.

It felt like being in another world, completely unaffected by external influences.

The floor was clean and tidy, and the stained glass windows were dazzling and gorgeous.

A goddess statue holding grains of wheat and rosebuds stands in an eerie pink light, while the old pastor's thin back is humbly kneeling, offering his most devout prayers to the god he believes in.

Seeing this, Xia Nan couldn't help but feel that it was absurd.

Not emotionless wish-granting machines, most of the gods on the continent of Aifara have their own unique personalities and ways of behaving.

The goddess of agriculture and mother of the earth, Samtia, is gentle and kind, as can be seen from the divine duties she holds and the conduct of her priests.

For those living in poverty and suffering who want to work hard for a bright future, even if it is not through "sowing and cultivating," He will never be stingy with His blessings and divine grace.

As the only church in the town, it could be said that the entire town's residents are its believers.

The identity of the priestess of Goddess Moen also means that he is the agent of divine authority on earth. His words and deeds influence the views of the people around him on the sect behind him and the great being he believes in.

Giethoorn should have enjoyed bountiful harvests and full granaries year after year under the protection of the goddess.

But now... what is it?
A strange beam of light, radiating an eerie aura, shot into the sky, transforming into a pink barrier that isolated the inside from the outside. The common people, who should have been bathed in the grace of the goddess, had their consciousness blocked and their perceptions rewritten, turning them into walking corpses under the allure of the jewels, and the entire town was almost a dead zone.

In this situation, the town's only pastor, Moen, who was highly regarded in the town and whose prestige was even higher than that of the sheriff, was still able to kneel under the statue of the goddess and pray peacefully.

Xia Nan felt that if he were the god the other party worshipped, he would probably have already unleashed a divine punishment and sent this old man to hell.

why?
Why is Chantia indifferent to the tragedy that is happening in Gieshorn?

Is there some unspeakable reason behind this?

Or... do they simply not care?
Xia Nan didn't understand this god, let alone know what the other party was thinking. Even if he was caught up in the undercurrent of the game, he was just an insignificant little pawn under the god's fingertips, drifting with the tide.

But now, he is no longer clear about what he should do.

He wasn't seeking revenge for the sake of the townspeople; he didn't believe he possessed such noble character as to risk his life for complete strangers.

He only wanted to make those who intended to harm him pay the price, to break through the barrier of the light shield, to leave the town and continue his journey, to find that damned key in the notebook, and then return to the White Tit, sit in his usual spot, and drink a bowl of hot, fragrant cream of mushroom soup.

"Ready to fight!"

A low shout from the female swordsman rang in my ears.

Her response was the protective aura rising from the surface of the round shield, and the sharp, cold glint of the black-gray straight sword as it sliced ​​through the air.

The hymns that echoed through the spacious church finally came to an end.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the elderly figure struggled to his feet, causing the holy emblem hanging at his waist, bathed in a pinkish glow, to sway slightly.

"despair."

It was the crisp sound of the end of the ash wood staff hitting the ground.

The old man slowly turned around.

The silver-white hair at his temples swayed violently due to the energy fluctuations of the beam of light. His posture remained straight, but the bronze skin, tanned from hard work in the fields and exposed to the elements, was glowing with an unnatural pinkish light, filling in the wrinkles and creases left by time.

The eyes, which had once become somewhat cloudy due to old age, had lost all their kindness and gentleness, leaving only a small, blurry outline in a dazzling pink light, and a chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.

As his gaze swept across the group, the dwarf standing at the very front of the line felt as if his heart had been gripped tightly by something invisible, and he shuddered instantly.

Take a heavy step forward and thrust your left arm forward.

As the light burst forth, the round shield in his hand was covered with a layer of pale white energy, protecting his teammates behind him.

Margaret also sensed the inexplicable danger in the other person's gaze.

As planned, the figure who originally intended to sneak around to the side while the priest wasn't paying attention paused, and with a burst of speed, hid behind Soldin's shield.

At the same time, he flipped his wrists, gripped the longsword with both hands in reverse, and held the blade at an odd angle in front of him, assuming a defensive stance that was not quite standard but gave people an unusual sense of stability.

Xia Nan's perception ability is the strongest among the three.

But his reaction was the smallest among the entire team.

He maintained the same fighting stance he had taken when he entered the church, but his dark eyes were fixed on the priest's right hand.

In his hand, he held a palm-sized, pastel-colored gemstone, its color noticeably deeper than the ones worn by the townspeople.

His observational skills were extremely meticulous.

He could even see the outline of the taut muscles under the skin of the other person's knuckles when they exerted force.

Give it a gentle pinch.

hum-

A pink energy wave, far more concentrated than the one that appeared when the innkeeper died, suddenly spread outwards from the gem in the priest's hand.

It was so fast that there was no time to dodge.

Even with Xia Nan's agility, by the time he reacted and tried to move his body, the pink light had already passed through him.

"Ding!"

"【Dream Corridor】The neural terminal has detected energy substances and is automatically replenishing them..."

"Charging successful!"

"[Remaining Energy]: 2.0017% → 2.0027%"

And at the same time, a familiar mechanical voice burst into his mind.

There were two muffled thuds as people fell to the ground, one in front and one behind.

(End of this chapter)