Can't I Raise Myself? Chapter 34

"There are ghosts below."

"Huh?"

"Keep an eye out for me."

Shally didn't explain much. Ordinary people couldn't see supernatural phenomena. The Harrier Guard's power would affect them through a kind of mental pollution. If the Harrier Guard was more ferocious, killing people would be normal.

So, it's better for ordinary people not to know.

After equipping the Ring of Death, Ryan felt it wasn't enough, so he equipped the Blade of Erosion from Lin Qi for her. Unfortunately, the Black Gloves had too harsh an equipment requirement, so Shally couldn't wear them.

Even so, Shally, who was only level 1, now had stats comparable to Lin Qi at level ten.

"Otherwise, why would people say they like leveling alts? It's great to raise an alt with a main account."

Just in case, Ryan transferred a few steamed buns and roasted chickens from Lin Qi.

In the screen, Shally went down the rope again.

"I don't know when those Blood Cult guys will make a move. Let's explore the map as quickly as possible."

In the game, the Blood Cult had caused a major incident. Ryan guessed that the people imprisoned in Casola Prison were all sacrifices waiting to be offered.

However, he remembered that before the Blood Cult made their move, there was a war on the Empire's border. August's neighboring country sent troops all the way to Berman City. In the end, the protagonist group turned the tide, helping Caslathdi seize control of Berman City.

This meant that Ryan had time, at least until the war reports of enemy invasion came in.

"It would be great if I could start as a noble."

Ryan thought to himself.

There was a big difference between nobles and commoners.

Even though he could reach his current position, it was all thanks to the recommendations of Caslathdi and Jonathan, plus Adler's covert support. If he had no background at all, he would only be a security soldier his whole life.

As far as Ryan knew, over eighty percent of positions in the city government and military were occupied by noble factions, and the remaining twenty percent had connections to some extent.

Ryan estimated that he could at most reach the position of director, and that would depend on Caslathdi and Adler working hard, and the noble faction in Berman City giving him some face. But beyond that, unless Ryan also became a noble, there was no hope.

But if he had a noble start, then promotion would be legitimate... well, as long as there was a suitable reason.

In the game Empress Online, there were actually many ways to become a noble, but many players did not choose to become nobles because they preferred to have the protagonist, as a commoner, gallop with the young ladies and empresses.

If they actually became nobles, they preferred to play as commoners.

Look at that strange way of thinking.

While contemplating, Shally went down the hole again along the rope.

As soon as she appeared, she attracted the attention of the Harrier Guard. Fortunately, Ryan was prepared this time. In mid-air, Shally jumped directly off the rope, holding the Blade of Erosion and chopping like cutting melons.

"There are quite a few of them. Good thing I didn't act impulsively before."

After Shally jumped down, Ryan could finally see the situation below clearly. It was the end of a passage, with five Harrier Guards lurking near a treasure chest. Whether they wanted to get the treasure chest or go to the other side, they had to clear out these Harrier Guards.

Swish!

The first Harrier Guard was eliminated. The abundant experience caused Shally to level up directly. Not only that, but a small ball of light also dropped out.

"The first monster dropped something. Does fighting monsters above your level give a bonus?"

Ryan didn't pick up the item because the other four Harrier Guards had already surrounded them.

Dodge!

Fighting five at once was impossible. After all, Shally hadn't transferred classes yet, and without skills, her operational ceiling relying on basic attacks was too low.

Taking advantage of the twenty seconds of evasion, Shally went on a wild offensive, focusing on one Harrier Guard and hacking away.

Stab you, stab you, stab you, stab you...

The damage from the Blade of Erosion was very high. After twenty seconds, Shally had successfully killed two. The remaining two, while munching on steamed buns, were also eliminated.

Three small balls of light dropped on the ground.

Shally walked over to loot them.

[You obtained Steamed Bun * 1]

[You obtained Soul Jade * 36]

"Tch~ As expected."

[You obtained Skill 'Swiftness'.]

"Huh?"

Ryan's eyes lit up.

"Good stuff, it finally dropped."

Ever since Lin Qi had obtained the Swiftness skill while idling last time, she hadn't managed to get a second skill book.

"As expected, the drop rate for the Swiftness skill is quite high."

Ryan didn't plan to have Shally learn this skill. The reason he had Lin Qi learn it before was because he needed to raise a main account. Now that Lin Qi had a basic level of strength, he still intended to prioritize equipping himself as much as possible.

He could learn skill books.

After putting Swiftness into his backpack, 'Shally' approached the treasure chest.

He opened it.

The treasure chest, a dark golden color, vanished from the game interface after being opened.

Ryan blinked, immediately understanding that this must be a special entity spawned by the game system's mechanics, much like how monsters drop loot. It was a special mechanism triggered by game characters.

And the people of this world likely couldn't see this treasure chest, just as they couldn't see dropped items.

"In that case, treasure chests might spawn in other places too."

He'd have to keep a closer eye out from now on.

[You have obtained Soul Jade * 500.]

[You have obtained Oath Shield.]

[You have obtained Skill 'Combo'.]

Three messages popped up, and Ryan's heart skipped a beat.

[Oath Shield]

[Quality: Tier 1 · Excellent]

[Effect 1: Constitution +2]

[Effect 2: Reduce incoming damage by 10%.]

[Equipment Requirement: Constitution 12]

[Description: There has never been a peaceful time, only people who carry the burden for you.]

A Tier 1 transcendent equipment, not bad. It just wasn't very suitable for 'Shally' to wear; this item was clearly meant for warriors. Jonathan would probably like it a lot.

[Combo (Passive Skill): When attacking a target, if in a continuous attack state, the next attack's damage stacks by 10%, with no upper limit.]

"Holy crap!"

Ryan couldn't help but swear.

A combo skill!

A god-tier skill in the game!

Damage that stacks without an upper limit, a must-have skill for dealing high damage.

"If I could add a skill that grants invincibility... my father's son would be invincible."

Although, combo skills were easy enough to get, but invincibility was incredibly difficult. Ryan hadn't even managed to get one before his transmigration.

So, who should learn it?

This skill could be a god-tier skill if used well, but it would be useless if not.

After thinking for a moment, Ryan decided to set it aside for now. He could learn Swiftness, but he didn't need Combo yet. There was no rush to use such a good item.

After putting things away, 'Shally' began to walk towards the other end of the passage.

The completely dark passage offered no visibility. She took out a lantern from her backpack, illuminating the way as she slowly groped forward.

The situation on this floor was completely different from the previous one. There were no prison cells, only crossroads after crossroads.

As she reached some intersections, she could even see skeletons on the ground. These were people who had died a long time ago. Ryan slowly recalled the situation here.

The Karut Maze, like Karut's Blade, came from the same person, who was named Karut.

This lower level originally didn't exist and wasn't part of the Casola Prison. It wasn't until a guy named Karut went to great lengths to build a maze beneath Casola Prison.

The reason he did this was actually out of respect for an enemy general who had been imprisoned there. Ryan couldn't understand the complex emotions involved, but if he were the leader, he would have simply executed that traitor.

[When you step upon this path, you enter the Underworld.]

At this moment, a stone tablet appeared at a crossroads, with the following words carved on it.

[You hear the echoes of war.]

[Water the path you came with blood, forge a throne with the bones of the dead.]

[Are you ready to accept the trial?]