Trick Master

Primitive Forest in the dead of night.

The rain was torrential.

Outside the Tree Hollow of a Giant Tree Species whose bottom has been hollowed out.

Four eerie green Lanterns were hung on the branches on the four sides.

The surface of the lamp is made from human skin.

Inside are imprisoned restless "Ghostfire".

Necromancers often use the unreliable "Ghostfire" as a lower-grade alternative to the Gem of Truth.

There is only one reason—

poverty.

Outside the Ghostfire lantern.

The Protective Barrier, outlined with Bone Powder and Phosphorus Ash, had long been washed away by the cascading waterfall.

Even though the Treehouse still has a "Medium Negative Energy Shield" as a backup.

The owner of the house still seemed somewhat uneasy.

Qiao Deli stood at the door of the Treehouse.

Silently gazing into the depths of the rain-soaked forest.

It seems that even the slightest breeze or rustling of the wind can affect him.

He was clutching a strangely thick and ugly staff tightly in his hand.

Rustling sounds!

Strange sounds came from the branches.

Qiao Deli jerked his head up, nearly unleashing the Negative Energy Ray in his hand—

Fortunately, he managed to stop the staff in time.

The next second.

A group of Demonized Squirrel hopped over happily.

Qiao Deli watched quietly as they disappeared into the rain.

"I'm so nervous."

Qiao Deli comforted himself:

"Since we've already made our plans, we shouldn't be so worried about gains and losses."

Thinking about this...

He couldn't help but look back.

Deep inside the Treehouse.

The two flamboyant fellows were pointing and commenting on his most prized possession, which annoyed Qiao Deli.

If it weren't for the suddenness of the incident, he, who has always lived a reclusive life, would never have invited people to his home.

Let alone showing off their most treasured possessions!

"That thigh bone is really nice..."

A necromancer's voice, filled with astonishment, came from inside the house:

"She must have been a beauty in her previous life, right?"

Another person added:

"Indeed, impressive. Such long legs are a waste not to be used as the ' White Bone Car Girl '."

Screw the White Bone Car Girl!

Qiao Deli cursed inwardly: These necromancers' XP is really weird! Just then.

The necromancer holding the thigh bone suddenly turned around with a grin and looked at him:

"Qiao Deli, you're in trouble, aren't you?"

Qiao Deli's expression tightened.

"Don't look at me like that. Someone as unsociable as you can't even be kept at the Rainforest Ecological Research Institute, yet you suddenly invited us over today—anyone with a brain knows something's up, right?"

The speaker's name was Johnsen.

He is a level 33 necromancer and one of the senior managers of the Ecological Research Institute.

He put down the thigh he was holding.

He strode over to Qiao Deli's side.

"Tell me, what kind of enemy is it?"

Johnsen lit a cigarette for himself and handed one to Qiao Deli as well. "That's one of the good things about us necromancers."

"Anyway, the speed at which tobacco damages the lungs can never keep up with the speed at which Negative Energy erodes the brain, so we might as well enjoy life while we can."

Qiao Deli forced a smile and then declined.

"I'm not entirely clear on the specifics either."

He said in a deep voice:

"All I know is that he has a level 34 Elite Gargoyle as a servant."

"That's really something..."

Johnsen, smoking, suddenly gave a strange smile, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth:

"What secret are you hiding that you're unwilling to accept the research institute's protection even when faced with such a dangerous enemy?"

"If you ask me, you're not a spy for some other faction, are you?"

Qiao Deli's face turned pale instantly.

Who says necromancers are all blockheads?!

He explained in a flustered manner, "How could that be? I'm just not used to it..."

It was at this moment.

Heavy footsteps approached from ahead.

The three of them looked around.

But then, through the dark rain, a muscular man emerged, dragging a Giant Tree Species with one hand!

That was a real Purgatory Devil!

Although it wasn't an elite template, the dangerous aura emanating from purgatory instantly put the necromancers on edge.

On the shoulders of a muscular man.

A little guy is lying there, pointing at the Treehouse.

"I can pay more!"

Qiao Deli couldn't help but shout at the top of his lungs.

However, this was long before he made his statement.

Johnsen and the other necromancer had already vanished without a trace! He shakily raised the ugly staff in his hand.

His face was filled with terror and despair.

"Are you kidding me!"

"Our magic against pure-blooded demons is like giving them a massage!"

In the rain.

Johnsen quickly cast "Grease Soles" and "Forced March" on himself and started running at full speed.

The other necromancer ran much slower.

Amidst the latter's increasingly faint shouts.

The two sides quickly widened the distance between them.

Johnsen ran a long way before finding a relatively safe place to stop.

After quickly activating the Negative Energy Defense Shield on the clothes.

He began summoning "Low-Level Bone Horse".

"It should be safe now."

He was thinking this when...

Suddenly I felt something fly past my head.

He looked up.

All I could see were dense branches and water droplets.

Pearl-like water droplets fell onto his neck.

He felt a cool sensation.

Then he lost the ability to bow his head forever.

"You have killed one necromancer (elite/human)."

"You have gained 21 XP points"

"You have gained 44 Xia Yin Value."

"Rewards for the Extermination Order are being collected..."

"Reward acquisition failed; you cannot obtain the Necromancer's feat."

"What did I say again?"

"Necromancers are such a nuisance; they're just not fun to kill."

Roger touched the corpse listlessly.

Apart from that standard robe that comes with a "Negative Energy Defense Shield".

Other substances such as Bone Powder, Blood Salt, and Phosphorus Ash are almost useless.

I managed to find a few decent rings and necklaces, but they were all driven by Negative Energy.

Not only are the effects mediocre, but they can also harm the user's body.

It was worthless to Roger.

He stood up helplessly.

In the rain.

Wu Gu dragged over the corpse of another necromancer.

Demons typically possess high Magic Resistance.

Although not as ruthless as Roger, he is still a big shot in front of low-level mages.

The strength of the Contract Master in the early stages is gradually becoming apparent.

The only hurdle is the medium through which the contract is written.

Poor Capella was probably still searching for "ancient bamboo" or "stubborn stone" before he died.

Very few people know that Rabbit Skin can be used as a substitute.

"Owner."

"The Woodpecker is injured..."

Wu Gu's expression was slightly grave:

"That person is acting strangely."

"Um?"

Roger was slightly surprised.

Woodpecker are tough guys who can even take on female Thunder Dragon! "But that guy seems to be the culprit who imprisoned the gargoyles."

"It's not surprising that there's something there."

This thought came to mind.

He shook off Wu Gu and rushed back as fast as he could.

The battlefield Treehouse was in complete chaos.

The Woodpecker angrily swung its giant tree, leveling all the surrounding obstacles!

On the edge of the battlefield.

The gargoyle was pinned to the ground by a pale blue net, waving its claws angrily.

It moves once.

The net around your body will tighten a little more.

In just a few dozen breaths.

Its stone-like skin was even marked with fine cracks! A shadow quickly moved away from the battlefield.

He held two daggers in his hands and moved as fast as a ghost!

The Woodpecker had already been stabbed several times in the waist and ankles!

The wound was bleeding rapidly, and pale green putrefactive elements were visible at the edges.

The dagger was clearly poisoned.

If it weren't for the devil's equally high poison resistance, Woodpecker would probably be down by now! His health points are dropping rapidly.

The opponent didn't give him a chance to fight head-on at all.

Both the timing of the strike and the angle of attack were executed with remarkable precision and accuracy.

He's a cunning old fox.

"I was overthinking it. The gargoyle's master is nothing special."

Qiao Deli gripped the dagger and skillfully used the "Shuttle Step".

This unique skill of Elite Assassin allowed him to successfully outmaneuver the Quasi-Horned Demon before him.

As for that gargoyle...

Once caught in the infamous "Fly Net" of the Xi Long Woodland, even the highest-level magical beasts will obediently become prisoners.

"That's about it."

He habitually licked his lips.

The devil in front of us is becoming increasingly agitated, and has most likely lost his mind.

It's time to deliver the fatal blow.

"It's a pity we couldn't use this devil's hand to kill Johnsen."

He thought with a slight sense of regret.

The next second.

He appeared like a ghost behind the Quasi-Horned Demon, his dagger aimed straight for its heart!

However, at this very moment...

A deadly intent silently bloomed behind him!

Qiao Deli was incredibly astute. At that moment, he used a "Quick Stealth" technique to try and conceal himself, and then planned to land and dart to the edge of the battlefield.

But the unexpected pain still pierced his nerves.

"How is this possible?!"

He watched helplessly as the lower half of his body, about to disappear into the shadows, was sliced through by a scarlet blade.

Then it fell silently onto the muddy ground.

The cold raindrops pelted his face.

The world turned black and white.

Everything comes to an end.

"Notification: ' Seize the Initiative ' is in effect..." (Note 1)

"You killed Qiao Deli (human assassin/elite)"

You have gained 35 XP points.

"You have gained 27 Xia Yin Value."

"Rewards for the Extermination Order are being collected..."

"You have acquired a specialty from Qiao Deli — Bone Shifting Technique."

"Um?"

Roger glanced at the data panel, then jogged over and picked up the incredibly ugly staff.

"Trick Master (Special Staff)"

Rating: SS

"Inlaid: Primal Stone (Negative Energy) *6"

"Description: You can use this item and related spell scrolls to achieve the goals of Quick Casting and Channeling Spells."

"Scroll Space: 4/12 (Negative Energy Limit)"

Producer: Qiao Deli

"Note: Nowadays, the only difference between me and a necromancer is intelligence."

"Wow."

Roger couldn't help but look at the corpse on the ground with newfound respect. "I never expected to meet a kindred spirit."

(Note 1. Here is an explanation of the mechanism of Seize the Initiative.)

"Unavoidable" means that something cannot be dodged by skills, feats, moves, or other forced means.

During the execution of the move, the target still has room to dodge and parry.

It's not that I can just select an enemy with my eyes and hit them with a single thought.

It's not a complete gamification, after all.

In actual combat.

There will be a concept of the completion rate of a move or attack.

Once the "Maneuver Completion" reaches a certain level, the target can no longer dodge and can only parry or take the hit...