The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 202 Rewards and the Burning Sea (4k views, please subscribe and vote)
You are like a lighthouse piercing the darkness, guiding desperate adventurers to the other side.

Clearly, you are a bard, but not content with being just a singer who pleases the masses.

Whether it was your intention or not, you have been bringing hope to people through your songs—admit it, you are a natural leader.

You have received the 'Grace and Hope Beacon':
When facing a crisis, your words will be more convincing and you will be more likely to lead those in despair.

For those who follow you, you possess an irresistible charm that seems to dispel all their fears, boost morale, and revitalize them.

Remarks:

I've come to lead you away from the darkness.

Judging from the word 'demeanor' clearly written in the log, Tang Qi roughly deduced its role based on the previous 'commoner hero':

"'Demeanor' is like a halo that is different from magic and directly affects how others perceive you—the previous 'commoner hero' was like a 'first impression' that directly determined how others treated you."

This "beacon of hope" is more like a set of "stereotypes" that subtly make those on the verge of despair spontaneously believe in me.

And those who believe in me, as long as they can see me, or sense my presence or my singing, and know that I am by their side, will have their confidence and courage ignited, and their morale boosted... even if it's a magical effect?

Does this mean I don't even need to consume Poet's Inspiration to increase the chances of my companions resisting the third-circle [Fear] spell?

Back when Black Serpent faced Barbaya, he was inevitably affected by the fear spell, losing the opportunity to kill her.

Tang Qi was inevitably surprised by the effect of this demeanor.

Perhaps because his deeds were sensational enough, the reward far exceeded his expectations.

He quickly looked at the next reward—

Writers, spies, jesters... the work of bards is not limited to sitting in taverns singing ballads.

However, most jobs require the support of a reputation in order to reap greater rewards.

That is every poet's most outstanding weapon. When the whole world knows you and loves you, even your enemies will give you some respect.

And this seems to be the problem you least need to worry about—

After all, who could reveal the truth about Longjin City, outwit the entire city, and escape the city's pursuit in one fell swoop?

You are a celebrity, without a doubt, and your fame will continue to spread by word of mouth.

You gained expertise and the celebrity effect:
The wider your reputation and the more well-known your deeds become, the more charming you appear to others, and the more obvious the benefits of your demeanor.

Remarks:

Donch Weinberg? Hey, I know him, the poet who's at the top of the 'Dwarf Kill List,' right?

"There are combo attacks too?"

Tang Qi couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
"In other words, the more approachable I am, the more courage I can give to people who have heard of me?"

Reputation is indeed not something Tang Qi needs to consider.

The "Escape from Dragon City" incident was a huge gimmick. At the beginning of the plan, he had already instructed Little White Pig that as long as he could seize this opportunity, he would have the possibility of publishing the "Guide" in other cities.

Of course, the entire process is beyond Tang Qi's control; we can only wait and see.

You gradually came to understand the true meaning of friendship.

True friends don't necessarily need to be together every day, but rather someone who, even if I need you, is still willing to respect your decisions.

Because you know that being apart won't erase your friendship.

Parting is also for a better reunion.

You have enhanced the magic trick's 'friendship' skill:
Designate a non-hostile creature in front of you to cast; it will remain friendly towards you for 1 minute.

Remarks:

It takes at least three months to go from acquaintance to friend. But for most people, it takes a hundred years—Barn the Crushed Stone.

"Even though we're friends, I actually only found out his name through his diary..."

As dawn broke, the rubble had already left Xingmei Town.

Tang Qi couldn't help but scratch his head at this moment.

After all, adventurers usually address each other by a code name.

Just like how, after Gawain died, Shattered Stone muttered while drinking, "Wasn't this guy originally called Black Snake?"

"So when the spell wears off, they won't realize I was using magic to influence their emotions?"

This is actually very important.

Because a minute is actually a very short time.

Unless you can guarantee that you will be out of the other party's sight in a minute, or confirm that the other party will not react violently to the magic and draw their sword at you—like the Black Serpent back then, when Tang Qi needed to find Xingmei's whereabouts.

Otherwise, the drawbacks of dating techniques will limit their use in most scenarios.

"Looks like I can make more 'friends' in the future and then stab them in the back—no, I mean be honest with them."

You always seem to see into other people's hearts, finding what they themselves don't understand, yet what they care about most, and offering precise comfort and soothing to their pain.

'Beastification' is not just a curse on people's bodies.

They even cursed their lives.

They drift between humanity and beasts, and even if they find a place to belong, they inevitably fall into self-doubt.

And you are firmly telling her that she deserves to exist.

You have received the 'Healing Mantra':
First Ring, Evoking Spell. You designate a visible creature within 30 meters, sing a song, and heal a portion of its injuries.

This spell is ineffective against constructs and undead creatures.

Can be cast in ascending rings.

Remarks:

Empathetic words are a powerful remedy for pain. Who says heartache isn't pain?

"finally come."

Tang Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Other means of recovery that can be used during combat, besides life-saving potions."

Although Tang Qi believed that his individual strength was at the level of a seasoned adventurer.

However, he was still clear about the role of the bard as a support character.

The previous 'Relaxation Song' required a long period of piano playing to achieve healing.

The 'Healing Mantra' largely compensates for his weaknesses; immediate healing often proves crucial in combat.

Deception, confusion, control... You fully understand the power of language and flexibly apply it to every action you take.

A masterful negotiation style makes it impossible for others to discern the truthfulness of your words, leaving them with no choice but to passively believe you.

Transforming a flawed contract into a slave contract that controls the mind and actions of others is undoubtedly thanks to your silver tongue.

You have acquired the skill of 'eloquence':
Second Ring, Bewitching Spell.

When you cast this spell, you can alter the memories of your audience, causing every creature of your choice within a 5-meter radius to immediately forget everything you said in the last six seconds.

After that, they will only remember those words that were part of the spell's verbal structure.

Note: Its original name was 'What Did I Say!?', because you could use it to insult anyone, and the other person would obviously forget what you said under your spell.

"I feel that some experimentation is needed."

As Tang Qi pondered, he had the dawn, which was waiting outside, bring Shyvana before him.

Although Shyvana does not acknowledge Tang Qi's status as his 'master'.

But she knew that to leave this eerie Dawn and Dusk Forest, she would need Tang Qi to guide her and confirm the direction.

Especially due to the constraints of the 'contract', she reluctantly gave up the chief's residence, allowing Tang Qi to live in the most comfortable room on the turtle's back.

She is still managing the tribe's population, following Tang Qi's orders to harvest the rye in Xingmei Town, and using the town's mill to grind it into flour.

Although exhausted, she knew she couldn't disobey Tang Qi's orders, so she was hastily brought before him.

In her view, this was a constraint imposed by the contract.

Tang Qi understood that it was the intimidation that Chenxi had previously instilled in her that made Shivana, who revered the strong, instinctively unable to refuse.

But she still wouldn't give him a friendly look, and just asked in a sullen voice:
"What's the matter?"

Tang Qi asked, "Do you know that you are an incompetent, stupid, incapable leader, politically naive, reckless, easily cheated, and destined to destroy your entire tribe, while I am the qualified leader?"

Why...why did you suddenly say that?

"You think what I said is correct?"

"Hmm... It's a bit disgusting, but sometimes what you say makes a lot of sense."

Shyvana even seemed a little shy, as if she had been praised:
"Ahem, you didn't call me here just to say this, did you?"

"Also, I want to remind you to take a headcount of the tribe's population as soon as possible, and then prepare to head south."

"No, no—I absolutely cannot take them back!"

Sivana said firmly,

"We must head north."

"The north is the Holy City and Ironforge. Are you determined to bring down the entire Horde to their hands?"

"But we made that deal with that human just to get away from the South, as far away as possible!"

Why must we leave the South?

Tang Qi squinted and asked.

Mushrooms migrated from the south, and so did orcs.

He was genuinely curious about what exactly the South was like.

"Because there is a flowing liquid there! It is endless, mixed with all kinds of colors, just like an ocean... an ocean that is advancing towards us!"
If you touch it even slightly, even just a finger, it will be swallowed up and burned, leaving not even ashes!

It was originally very far away from us, until it submerged our original territory, forcing us to migrate, and continue migrating, to escape the predation of that ocean..."

"A mixture of various colors of liquid? Burned to ashes?"

Tang Qi carefully observed the words and began to analyze them silently.

"It sounds like [Burning Sea]..."

In Tang Qi's knowledge base, the concept of "Burning Sea" originates from the theoretical framework of "Crystal Wall System," which concerns the operation and existence of the entire world.

It is said that every world that exists is located within a spherical [crystal wall].

Crystal walls are a physical layer, an almost indestructible dark ceramic-like solid.

It includes an entire planetary system, such as planets, satellites, stars and other celestial bodies, and even the vast yet finite universe.

Looking at the world from outside the crystal wall is like gazing at a shimmering, dark crystal ball.

The existence of the crystal wall not only isolates the entire world, but also protects the world within the crystal wall from being destroyed by the [Pseudo-Energy Sea] outside the crystal wall.

It was a bright, iridescent, flowing substance that did not belong to any element in the physical sense. It filled the spaces between each crystal wall, forming a truly 'boundless' ocean that supported the 'world' flowing within it.

Its presence is extremely flammable. Once the crystal walls break and a large amount of it fills the space, the entire world will be burned to ashes due to the presence of phlogiston...

"While it's not certain that it really is a phlogiston sea, even if it is, it's likely just a leak."

Otherwise, the world would be destroyed in an instant—phlogiston doesn't reason, allowing people to live and thrive peacefully in the apocalypse.

In other words, if it were going to burn, it would have burned out long ago.

It wouldn't have spread like this, little by little.

There must be some other contributing factor?
Amidst his speculations, Tang Qi grew increasingly optimistic, even beginning to wonder about the reason for the 'ocean's' appearance:

"It appeared in the great desert. Could this be related to the fall of the Golden Kingdom?"

Although we have gained a preliminary understanding of El Dorado, the truth behind its fall remains inconclusive.

Therefore, it is impossible to record it in the log and obtain a reward from it.

But regardless, he had already made up his mind to go south—

He was more curious about the legendary "Sandalwood Forest".

According to Shattered Stone, Sandalwood Forest is a 'Fairy Wilderness' inhabited by all sorts of fairies and spirits.

Freedom and joy are celebrated there, and most of the fairy tales familiar to children come from the sandalwood forest.

Like the mischievous fairy spirit and the half-goat man with the mustache that we encountered before, all sorts of human and creature beings appear in that dreamlike forest.

"You'll have a sweet dream there."

Before leaving, Shattered Stone patted him on the shoulder.

Tang Qi wanted to experience the gentleness of fairies, and "The Guide to Different Races" also needed some space dedicated to fairies...

This left his tone unquestionable:

"That's why you need to lead the entire tribe to atone for their sins and obtain legal status within the Lords' Alliance territory—going to the Southern Wall as a mercenary is the only way for this tribe to survive."

This is not a lie to her.

Otherwise, if they continue north, the Horde will face territories of the Lawful faction, such as the Holy City and Ironforge.

They didn't have the leisure of Long Jincheng to manipulate a group of powerless orcs as their political bargaining chips.

Maintaining territorial security is the top priority.

"Can--"

Shyvana wanted to refuse, but Don Qi said very simply:
"It's okay if you don't want to. I'll kidnap you separately and leave your tribe and the Houk waiting to be wiped out by Dragon Gold City."

You have no room for negotiation with me.

Shyvana gritted her teeth, turned around and left the room, it was unknown whether she had made a decision.

Chenxi, who had been guarding him, suddenly spoke:
"Just now...why was she so happy after you insulted her?"

"Because she only heard 'Do you know you are a qualified leader?'...I erased the middle part with magic."

Tang Qi understood the effect of this spell.

When dawn broke and he returned outside, he quickly looked at the last reward:
"What is the 'Avenging Scimitar'...?"

(End of this chapter)