Chapter Two-Hundred-and-Twelve

The moment that the forlorn knights were defeated, the army collapsed, and all of the soldiers and elites dropping dead on the spot.

Adam quickly flew across the defeated army, absorbing all the corpses so they wouldn’t run into a dozen amalgamated knights spawning. The Shadow seemed to have withdrawn from the battlefield after losing two of its knights, and Adam wondered if that meant its ceaseless march across the stage would slow down.

Hopefully it also gives me enough time to grab all of the corpses.

It was an absurd amount of enemies, but no matter how many of them he pulled into his kingly raiment, it just stayed the same size, although its shape changed, becoming like a bone-white echo of their rusted and ancient plate armour, replete with a close helm. Their decayed flesh lined the inside of the armour as a cushion, and their blackened blood was sandwiched between these two layers.

After about six minutes of flying in circles around the battlefield, Adam had absorbed the thousand plus corpses, and harvested the hearts of darkness from the 24 elites. The boost from his raiment was now absurd, even with its diminishing returns. It had gone up to 1,136%, meaning his total damage was now 1,600% thanks to the 200% he already had and the 20% boost from the glass sapling. His speed had also gone up to about 1,450%.

Unfortunately, my stamina is still too low to make full use of the speed boost, but it does seem to make my reaction speed and hand movements quicker.

Despite the massive boost to his speed, he was thankfully still able to move at a normal pace. The boost was more like a fourteen times expansion of his maximum potential, meaning his upper bounds were so much greater than for any normal human, but with the increased movement speed came increased stamina consumption.

He was also starting to wonder if he would do more damage throwing his gauntlet fingers than firing them with his magic, given how fast he was able to move his hands now.

Although, if I throw organic material at enemies, without using my magic, the Shadow will just take control of it before I can do much damage…

After Adam had finished collecting all the corpses, he returned to where the others were looking at four chests that were made out of rusted metal armour and blue tabards. Two of the chests offered upgrades, and the other two gave relics. Alongside the chests was the bulwark’s weapon.

This is the weapon that Alexander Nova used.

< < Secret Weapon Obtained > >

< Tainted Bulwark (Rare) — The sword and shield of the Forlorn Bulwark >

< Unique Skill ( Devastating Shield Charge ) | Ram the shield forwards and propel your body 10 metres in one direction at double your speed to inflict damage in proportion to how fast you are moving >

Makes sense why this is powerful. It’s possibly drawing from speed, damage, and impact upgrades all at once for its overall damage, making it easy to snowball with just a few relics.

Likely the combination of the Shield Charge, slothling spring boots, and body of sloth armour is enough to obtain absurd amounts of damage. The power ring from this stage would also be able to make the impact affect a much larger area.

“Who wants it?” Natalia asked.

No one pointed out the obvious that Diwa could clearly have used the weapon, likely in place of her niche Gorgon Slayer effect, to obtain a good amount of damage and manoeuvrability for free.

Chien looked like he wanted the weapon, but he was unable to take it, since his whole build revolved around his hammer, although he had lost a significant amount of power when his death had destroyed his headband relic.

“I would like to take it if no one else wants it,” Adam said.

He was mostly thinking of passing it forward to a future loop by using his relic saving upgrade, particularly because he was interested in trying out a melee-focused build, since several of the time-loopers he’d encountered had used them.

Actually, only Beck has used magic weapons as a time-looper so far. Arturo doesn’t count since I haven’t met him in person.

I guess one benefit of melee builds is that the increased speed most of them utilise also increases reaction speed.

“I was thinking that it might be good instead of my Nimble Prince,” Natalia said. “But without that movement boost, a lot of my fighting style falls apart.”

Adam didn’t think that was true, but he wanted the weapon so he didn’t say anything.

“Then I will take it,” he replied. He gestured to the relic chests. “Would you do the honours?”

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Natalia opened the first one, revealing three options.

< < Relics Available > >

< Moonwell Drinking Cup (Rare) — All liquids drunken from the cup are made safe to consume | Fills with Moonwater at midnight, which lasts for 1 hour and cures all active ailments when imbibed, in exchange for afflicting Moon-Gazing >

< Scarf of the Fleetfooted (Rare) — Every third step consumes no Stamina

| After every 15 steps taken while running without pause, speed is increased by 15%. The effect ends if the wearer stops or their Stamina reaches 0 >

< Blue Vein Necklace (Epic) — Summon an echo of the rushing Blue Vein River under yourself for 1 minute. 1-hour cooldown | Increases damage with Water-based attacks by 25% | Become able to traverse any body of water unharmed >

The cup and necklace are both quite bizarre, although the ability to traverse water unharmed will be useful for stage eleven.

“The necklace would be good for Seo-Yoon,” Adam said.

“I already have a necklace,” she replied, touching her golden pendant. She hadn’t let them see what it did, but Adam was immediately curious, since she clearly thought it was better than a 25% damage boost to her main weapon and some interesting utility.

“Is it better than this one?” Chien asked, equally curious.

“Yes,” she replied without elaborating.

I wonder if it’s something that protects her, like another ‘survive death’ sort of relic.

“Well then,” Natalia said, deciding not to push any further. “I will take the necklace instead.”

“I thought you’d go for the scarf,” Adam remarked.

“It’s not as cool as running on water,” she replied.

“I don’t think it’ll let you run on water,” Adam countered.

“Let’s experiment,” Seo-Yoon said with a grin.

Natalia grabbed the necklace and then opened the second relic chest.

< < Relics Available > >

< Power Ring (Epic) — Activate to empower your next attack, quadrupling the impact damage and creating an aftershock that deals 50% of the damage 5 seconds after. 15-minute cooldown >

< Sanctity (Epic) — Activate to cure an Affliction from yourself. Relic breaks after curing eight Afflictions or when unequipped >

< Flame Priest’s Robes (Rare) — Gain passive Health regeneration while in the presence of fire | Reduce the effectiveness of all Afflictions used against you by 50% >

“I need the sanctity ring,” Adam said. “And I think Chien should take the power ring.”

Chien nodded. “It will work well with my hammer.”

“Fine by me,” Natalia said.

“Me too!” Seo-Yoon exclaimed.

Natalia’s choice ring, which she’d swapped out for the snap gauntlet when Adam hadn’t been looking, glowed as she grabbed the first ring and then the second, handing them over to their new owners.

Adam took off his scoundrel’s torn bloodied glove and equipped sanctity, bringing his antivenom debuff up 50% to -1,322%, which was still absurdly bad.

Hopefully I can use this ring fast enough if I get afflicted with something.

Even a simple bleed affliction would be instantly fatal to Adam as soon as its damage ticked just once.

Natalia handed the spent choice ring back to Adam and he stowed it away.

“Now, what do we do about the upgrades?” she wondered.

“I’ll take one,” Adam said.

“Just take both,” Chien told him.

“I was just about to say that!” Seo-Yoon added.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “It’s not like I’m in need of upgrades.”

“I just realised, you haven’t had a single one this stage,” Natalia said. “You should definitely take both.”

“Well, since you all insist,” he replied.

Adam ended up getting an epic health and epic mana upgrade out of the two chests, although it wasn’t as if he needed either that badly. Both chests had teased him with antivenom upgrades, but it would have been like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.

Thankfully, the effect of the mantle of atrophy only last within the stage.

It would’ve been truly detrimental if it lasted forever.

They’d only just finished with their looting when the distant gate to Gothershall rumbled open, the dented portcullis struggling to retract up into the wall properly, while the hinges of the gate itself were severely warped from the forlorn bulwark’s devastating attack.

The hundreds of defenders rushed out of the city, ready to annihilate any stragglers from the forlorn army, but all they found was a devastated field with very few remnants of the dead soldiers left behind. Adam had been quite thorough after all, leaving nothing to chance when it came to the Shadow’s power to reanimate corpses.

Guard captain Tabian and the Gothershall captain, whose name Adam wasn’t familiar with, led the group out across the battlefield. Only one of the city’s three remaining leaders accompanied them, and it was the one who looked like a warrior past his prime.

“Gothershall owes the four of you the greatest blessings and gratitude,” the man said. “You have driven back the Forlorn King’s horde and safeguarded our city.”

Chien stepped forward. “We only did what had to be done,” he replied heroically.

Seo-Yoon looked like she might puke at his sincerity, while Natalia just shook her head.

“Alas, the danger is far from over,” the old warrior said. “With the King and his army on the backfoot and the true flame restored to us, we have a chance to fight back and reclaim our lands from their dark embrace. Given your successive victories against the King’s lieutenants, it is only right that you lead us to our destined victory.”

< < Special Quest Unlocked > >

< Banish the Shadow >

< Lead the defenders of the Old Kingdom to victory over the Forlorn Shadow >

“I will confer with my party,” Chien replied, making no commitments to the Gothershall leader.

“I understand. It is not a simple task that I ask of you, but with or without you, our people will assemble and strike at that accursed castle in two days,” he vowed.

The defenders behind him roared as one.

Natalia scoffed, clearly thinking that they showed a lot of bluster for people who’d done nothing to help in the fight.

“Lastly, given your aid to our city in its time of need, I believe a reward is in order,” the old man said. “Name your wish and I shall see it granted.”

Adam stepped forward. “We require coin to fund our journey,” he told him.

“Truly? Is this all you seek?” he asked.

Chien gave Adam a look, but then nodded. “That is our request.”

“Very well then, come with me,” the old man replied and led them back into Gothershall.

The defenders flowed in behind their party as they walked through the city gate, and within moments of re-entering the city, cheers and shouts came towards them from all sides, as the citizens of Gothershall cheered on their victory. It wasn’t a decisive defeat of the Forlorn Shadow and its forces, but it was clear that without Adam and his team, they would have all perished. So, for now, they indulged in the praise heaped upon them.

“Do you think they will give us a discount at the market?” Natalia whispered to Adam.