Chapter 280 - 278: Evil Rot Slime (2)

Chapter 280: Chapter 278: Evil Rot Slime (2)

Marcus changed into a set of well-made, heavy Half Armor.

The main body of the Armor was high-density Chain Armor, effective at resisting slashing attacks.

Thick, solid steel plates covered critical areas like his chest, abdomen, shoulders, and shins, increasing its Defense Power.

He also bought a brand-new Half Tower Shield.

The face of the shield was a matte, iron-gray, with a heavy plate embedded in the center to reinforce its defense.

Simply resting it on the ground gave off an unshakeable sense of security.

Maki had also purchased a new set of Armor.

As a Heavy Sword Knight skilled in both offense and defense, he chose a set of dark red Scale Armor.

Polished black iron plates covered his vitals like dragon scales, providing considerable defense while preserving maximum flexibility for his arms to swing his Giant Sword.

The spiked Shoulder Armor was particularly ferocious and wild, a perfect match for Maki’s violent combat style.

Even Gray’s equipment was brand new. He wore a suit of Hard Leather and Iron Light Armor, which allowed for quick movement.

The Longsword at his waist had also been replaced with a new one that looked even sharper.

"Our team is really starting to look more professional."

Zelir remarked with a sigh.

He reached out and tapped Marcus’s Heart-Protecting Mirror, making a "DONG DONG" sound.

"The quality feels pretty good, much better than your old Armor... but why not go all the way and get Plate Armor?"

In Zelir’s mind, top-tier Vanguards were always equipped with full Plate Armor. Just looking at it was reassuring.

"Plate Armor?"

Hearing those two words, Marcus shook his head helplessly.

"It’s too expensive... A full suit of Plate Armor probably costs no less than your Magic Robe."

"That stuff has to be custom-made. The Lining, everything, has to be crafted according to your muscle dimensions."

"Even a plain suit of Plate Armor with no Enchantments is worth at least several hundred Gold Coins."

"And if you add some Protective Magic, like Flame Resistance or something..."

Just thinking about it made Marcus click his tongue in astonishment. "Over a thousand Gold Coins wouldn’t be out of the question."

Maki nodded in deep agreement from the side.

Owning a suitable suit of Plate Armor was his Ultimate dream as well.

’It’s that expensive...’

Zelir was a little surprised.

’It seems Plate Armor isn’t any cheaper than a Magic Robe.’

Gray’s gaze shifted to Valles.

Compared to the others, who were decked out in new gear, Valles’s attire was basically unchanged. He still wore the same dark green Leather Armor.

He hadn’t even changed his Longbow.

"Valles."

Gray asked curiously.

"You’ve earned so much money. Aren’t you going to upgrade your equipment and get a better bow?"

"There’s no need... This is the most suitable bow for me."

Valles’s fingers caressed the body of the bow, his eyes filled with unconcealed affection.

"Her name is Moonlight, and she’s made from the Moon Shadow Wood unique to my homeland."

"Won’t it become inadequate as your strength increases?" Gray said.

"No, because Moonlight grows along with me."

"It grows too?" Gray was surprised.

"That’s right."

Valles nodded.

"Moon Shadow Wood has an extremely rare property. As my Fighting Qi grows stronger and our familiarity with each other deepens, its resilience and power will increase as well."

"If I switched to one of those soulless Compound Bows from a typical weapon shop, it would actually diminish my Archery."

"I see..." Zelir couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.

The group stood fully equipped and ready to depart.

A Heavy Armor Vanguard, two Middle Level Swordsmen, a Half-Elf Ranger, and a Black Robed Mage.

The team members looked every bit the part of Elite Adventurers.

People coming and going couldn’t help but cast looks of awe and admiration their way.

"Alright, let’s move out!"

With a grand wave of his hand, Marcus led the group onto the carriage they had booked in advance.

...

The Crying Swamp was located west of the Gray Wood Forest, in a Forest Area that extended out from it.

Unlike the oppressive, sun-blotting gloom of the main forest, the trees here grew in a bizarre fashion.

Nearly ten meters separated each dead, black tree, making them look like black javelins stuck into the earth.

With the leaves on their branches almost completely withered away, the view was even more desolate.

And...

"WHOOO—HISS—"

A series of shrill, bizarre sounds echoed from all directions.

The sound rose and fell intermittently, like the suppressed sobs of a woman or the shriek of a vengeful spirit.

"What the hell is that sound..." Gray subconsciously gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

In this deathly silent place, the noise was utterly unnerving.

For some reason, he was reminded of the gloomy atmosphere of Rose Castle.

"Don’t be nervous. It’s just the wind."

Valles waved his hand dismissively.

He poked the trunk of a dead black tree beside him.

The bark of the trees growing here had long since peeled off, worn away by years of moisture and gnawing insects.

Their rough, twisted trunks were covered in irregularly shaped holes and cracks of all sizes.

Some trees had even split open down the middle, turning them into hollow tubes.

When the biting cold wind passed through these narrow gaps, it produced a sound like a piercing shriek.

One tree alone wouldn’t be so bad, but when the entire forest shuddered in the wind, the sounds combined into this collection of mournful cries.

When the wind eased, it became a plaintive whimper.

When the wind blew strong, it transformed into a heart-rending scream.

This was how the Crying Swamp got its name.

"It’s so cold..."

Maki hugged himself and rubbed his arms, his armor plates clinking together.

"In this godforsaken weather, I feel like my blood is about to freeze."

"Freezing is good. If you get injured, you won’t need to stop the bleeding."

Marcus walked to the very front of the group and stomped his feet hard.

"THUMP! THUMP!"

A hard, dull echo came from under his feet—the distinctive sound of frozen earth.

In spring or summer, this place would be a Nightmare for all Adventurers.

The ground would be a life-devouring quagmire that could suck you in with the slightest misstep, filled with poisonous gas bubbles and hidden venomous insects.

In such a slippery, muddy environment, it would be difficult to even stand firm, let alone fight.

But now...

The once-soft soil had been completely frozen solid, stretching deep into the forest.

This certainly made things much more convenient for Adventurers.

Marcus unfolded a map. He compared it with the markings, looked left and right, and quickly pointed out the direction.

"That way."

"Marcus... how on earth do you navigate?" Zelir couldn’t help but ask.

"Instinct."

Marcus answered simply.

"If you were thrown into a desert for four or five days, you’d learn how to navigate too."

The team adjusted its direction and proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Sure enough, Marcus’s judgment was correct.

As the group advanced, the hard ground gradually began to take on a softer texture.

It wasn’t because the temperature was rising and melting the ice, but because the very structure of the earth deep below had been altered.

"SQUISH."

Zelir took a step.

Although his boot didn’t sink in, it left a slightly depressed footprint on the surface of the frozen ground.

A black, sour-smelling liquid seeped out from the edges of the footprint.

The team members exchanged glances. Without a word, they all readied themselves.

They fanned out into a wing formation.

Marcus was at the very front.

Gray was on the left, Maki on the right, and Valles was behind Marcus.

Zelir took up the rearmost position, covering everyone.

The view gradually opened up, and signs of living creatures began to appear in the once-deathly silent woods.

Ahead was a huge clearing that had been cleared out by some unknown black liquid. The original vegetation had been completely corroded, leaving only a few wooden stumps.

In the very center of this clearing, a massive black object was slowly writhing.

It looked like a greasy mountain of flesh, its surface covered by a thick keratinous layer.

A purplish-black mucus flowed between the cracks of this layer.

Its body was not a uniform hemisphere, but was covered with irregular bumps and tumors.

"GURGLE... GURGLE..."

Most nauseating of all were the orifices of various sizes on its body, which were slowly opening and closing.

Every time an orifice expanded, it would stretch out several strands of viscous, black, glue-like fluid, accompanied by a wet, greasy sound.

*Adventurer’s Association Universal Monster Atlas*—[Tier 66]: Evil Rot Slime.

Threat Rating: [Challenge]!

This was a specially mutated Slime, even larger in size than a Giant Slime of the [Difficulty] rating.