MMORPG: The Elementalist

When Bizarre Blade brought up the League’s agreement, Brony finally decided to compromise!

That way, although Brony had deprived Bizarre Blade and his party of the opportunity to obtain the treasure, there was no way for him to avoid Bizarre Blade using the identity of “party member” to stake an advanced claim on a portion of the loot.

Furthermore…

The two Hall of Heroes members on Bizarre Blade’s side had also joined Brony’s team. While the portion that was to be allocated to the three individuals may not have been very large, it made the prideful Brony uncomfortable and uneasy in his heart. He felt like he got the short end of the stick in their dispute. Bizarre Blade may have become a member of his team, but it did not mean that Bizarre Blade’s three-member team had to adhere to his instructions. The Three Great League’s pact did not cover such a situation.

On top of that, Brony had no right to kick Bizarre Blade out of the team. He would face Bizarre Blade’s threats to upload the video onto the official website forum as a result…

Thinking about the whole thing, Brony bitterly turned around to formulate a new battle plan, specifically targeting the treasure behind the waterfall!

The original plan was to use the speed of two highly-nimble Bowmasters in relays to lure Cerberus away from the waterfall. They would then grab the chance to enter the waterfall and search for the treasure.

Although the two Bowmasters would definitely be sacrificed, the two individuals who signed up would obtain a few pieces of equipment at levels that were guaranteed to compensate for their sacrifices. However, the two Bowmasters in question had already been kicked out of the team, so Brony could only give the task to the Bowmaster and Summoner on Bizarre Blade’s side.

Using the Bowmaster’s speed and Summoner’s beast should achieve the same effect.

“I don’t agree.” Bizarre Blade directly refused after he listened to Brony’s plan.

A few members of Netherspirit’s Claw had already predicted what he would say, so Brony threw up his hands. “Are you going let us few Elementalists lure the monster, or let your professional warriors do the job?”

Brony’s scheme was quite well-calculated; in the team of ten members, other than the Summoner and Bowmaster from Hall of Heroes, who were suitable for baiting the monster, the rest were warriors, Elementalists, etc. Naturally, Bizarre Blade would not be able to use the non-League members on his side. Bizarre Blade had no grounds for his insistent refusal.

In any event, Bizarre Blade’s next proposal was beyond anyone’s expectation. He turned around to select two Bowmasters from his original team and brought them over:

“If no one here’s willing to sacrifice, I recommend these two people…”

“What?”

Brony was quite taken aback. Astonished, he looked at the Bowmasters, who did not raise any objections at all. Even the concealed Qin Ruo rubbed his nose in puzzlement. He never thought that those who had been abandoned would be willing to sacrifice themselves for Bizarre Blade—things were getting more interesting.

‘That bastard, Bizarre Blade… It looks like he’s determined to pillage Brony. Seriously!’

Bizarre Blade opened his mouth to speak again. “Of course, sacrifices can’t be made in vain. I suggest that after their sacrifice, each of them gets a Gold equipment—”

“F*ck! In your dreams!”

Before he could finish, Bizarre Blade’s suggestion was interrupted by Brony’s sharp, exasperated voice. In the end, the consequence of sacrifice would cost 5,000 gold coins per person.

Ten thousand gold coins would be deducted, and it made Brony feel distressed, as though his heart were dripping blood…

However, there was no other choice. Although the two Bowmasters behind him were of a higher level, they would definitely not sacrifice a drop in level for the sake of a mere 5,000 gold coins—the two Bowmasters on his side were Level 44 and Level 45 respectively. The two Bowmasters on Bizarre Blade’s side were only Level 40 and Level 41; the gap in the loss of a level would be too obvious!

***

After they decided on the candidates to lure the monster, they similarly decided on the candidates to enter the waterfall.

Brony and Bizarre Blade did not trust one another… so all 11 League members got ready to enter the waterfall, while the rest of the Non-League members stood guard outside the waterfall. They were responsible for attacking any teams from the Demon Faction that may pass by, as well as reporting the situation outside of the waterfall.

After getting the detailed battle plan, Qin Ruo, who had been waiting by the side for a long time, was now leisurely stretching his body behind a tree. He then followed Brony and his group quietly—he had no plans of handing over Cerberus’ treasure to the group of bastards from Netherspirit’s Claw.

Moreover, since he discovered Cerberus’ vigilant nature and patience in the beginning, Qin Ruo found the plan by Brony and his team too simplistic as well as idealistic. Would a Tier 5 Elite Miniboss—a fierce monster that guarded the teleport point to the Underworld—be so easily fooled? A plan to lure the enemy away from its territory?

As he pondered, an unexpected system prompt suddenly sounded in Qin Ruo’s ear, startling him.

“Tier 2 Aquamorph Skill upgraded to Intermediate Rank!”

Qin Ruo was later surprised to find that his own body seemingly underwent some slight changes. His body suddenly became abnormally cool. In addition, it felt like a lot of things were drilled into his brain all at once. It was as if his body had been twisted up. The atmosphere was simultaneously filled with the Water Element, which rapidly penetrated through every inch of flesh on his body…

Qin Ruo gazed in shock as the Water Element quickly penetrated his skin to fuse with his body. The progressive increase of his body mass could be seen with the naked eye.

‘What’s going on?’

Qin Ruo was startled but also amazed.

He even forgot to keep up with Brony’s group, who had set off on their journey. He was fully engrossed in his Aquamorph’s level upgrade, which brought about significant changes to his body.

Once he made sure that he was still the same as before, completely invisible and undiscovered by others, Qin Ruo nervously fixed his gaze on both his hands. He stared at them blankly as his arms elongated, his body slowly became larger in size, his field of vision gradually rose higher, and his mood surged to its limit. Finally, after about ten seconds or more, Qin Ruo felt his growth settle down.

At that moment, Qin Ruo looked like a giant towering over the group of players at the location they were supposed to guard.

He was four meters tall! It was two or three times his original body size.

‘Just what the heck is going on?’

Qin Ruo quickly retrieved the skill interface to check it and learned that the attributes of his Aquamorph had undergone extreme changes.

Aquamorph (Tier 2):

Intermediate Skill Level 0/2000

Automatically reduces 10% of incoming Physical Damage and absorbs 10% Magic Damage.

When the skill absorbs enough of the Water Element, the body can freely morph into any form, while the absorbed Water Element can be expelled from the body and, or used as an extension of one’s self (extension has to be connected to the user)

Physical attacks cannot be performed, and magic attacks cannot be used.

Consumes 3 MPs (Consumes 1 MP.for every 2 seconds)

Qin Ruo’s eyes lit up when he saw it. Not bad!

In addition to the attribute of absorbing Physical and Magic Damage, there was also the ability to absorb as well as transform the Water Element. Although that particular ability was not elaborated in detail, it was likely a good ability too. At least, his new field of vision made him feel like a giant. Next…

Qin Ruo decided to make a move.

Quietly taking a step forward and walking towards the side of a huge tree, Qin Ruo felt fortunate that despite his huge body, his speed was still the same as before. Furthermore, he was quite at ease with controlling his body and not making a sound with his footsteps.

Making up his mind, Qin Ruo lifted his head and looked up at the thick, solid tree trunk more than 10 m above him. He then started to control the Water Element within his body according to the Aquamorph’s skill attributes.

For Qin Ruo, controlling the Water Element was a skill he had mastered well. But in the past, he had been controlling water outside of his body. This time…the target of control was himself—the Water Element within his body and his body itself in that state.

Therefore, Qin Ruo was extremely careful.

Nonetheless, the skill of transforming the Water Element was not difficult to master. It was actually quite easy, and not any different from other normal skills.

Qin Ruo turned his body into his own controllable Water Element, and a transformation formed in his mind… Qin Ruo noticed his arm gradually becoming transparent. It was a Water Element bond invisible to the naked eye and it quickly grabbed the trunk above his head.

The Water Element bond swiftly wrapped itself around the trunk, and shrank rapidly as Qin Ruo directed it in his mind…

Swoosh!

With one swing, Qin Ruo was now similar to a man-ape, and he hung on to the big tree like Tarzan. Accompanied by the broken sound of the wind, he steadily set foot atop the tree, which was more than ten meters tall.

His move made the several players below the tree break out in cold sweat.

“Who’s there?!”

“Come out!”

A few of them had reflexively got into a fighting stance and triggered continuous vindictive arguments. Two Bowmasters even started to cast a spell…Even a group of nearby players rushed forward with imposing expressions, searching for the source of the sound.

More than ten seconds later…

After the two Bowmasters made sure that there was no one nearby, they both rolled their eyes and glared at those players who were making a big fuss.

“You’re too bored from idling, eh? Scaring yourselves for nothing? If you’re really that bored, go and lure the Boss…”

As the players chatted, on the other side, the two Bowmasters responsible for luring the monster finally found the ideal route to take action!