Sindragosa (2-in-1)

The Dragonkin BOSS dropped a treasure chest, and the second piece of Gold Equipment you got was a bracer.

[Blade-Scale Bracers (Bind on Pickup)]

[Quality: Heroic Tier (Gold)]

[Equipment Slot: Wrist]

[Equipment Requirements: Base Strength 35]

[Attribute: Strength +3]

[Additional Skill: Blade Scales: Passive, you gain 1 bonus armor for every 10 points of maximum attack damage; you gain 1 bonus attack damage for every 10 points of armor. (The bonus armor and bonus attack damage gained from this skill do not stack.)]

[Durability: 38/40]

[Note: Tremble before the Blade Scales Dragonkin's formidable armor and sharp blades!]

Like the previous broadsword "Dragonkin Arbiter," this piece of equipment is Top-grade Gold Equipment perfectly suited for the heavy armor and violent warrior route. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit the characterization of the White Phoenix Squad's trio.

If Li Shuyi's base strength is sufficient, she could consider this equipment. However, her base strength is only 23 points, which is not enough even if she fully develops all 5 free attributes of the Bonefang Necklace and upgrades it to level 7.

Bai Xiaowen once again sensed that the requirements for certain basic attributes of Top-grade Gold Equipment in advanced dimensional worlds were becoming increasingly higher, and often the conditions for wearing it were simply not met, which was completely different from the Gold Equipment obtained in low- and mid-level dimensional worlds (which had no requirements or very low requirements).

This seems to be the result of a certain standardized operation of the Spirit Realm Rules, in order to make the role of each Advanced Awakened one more distinct. For example, the agile Li Shuyi cannot wear the "Blade-Scale Bracers" suitable for violent warriors. On the other hand, if a high-strength warrior wanted to wear Li Shuyi's "Blood Grand Duke Emblem", the requirement of 30 points of basic agility would make him hesitate.

This further highlights the value of the "Bonefang Necklace" in increasing free attribute points, and the fact that these free attribute points can be redistributed at any time, greatly improving the flexibility of awakened players in choosing equipment.

After opening the four bosses' Golden Treasure Chest, the White Phoenix Squad opened seven more Silver Treasure Chest. Two of the Silver Treasure Chest yielded no luck at all, while the other five chests contained two pieces of blue equipment and some frozen jerky, bitter vegetable roots, and other food items.

"The lives of those Dragonkin monsters are tough. I really don't know how they survive in this icy wasteland," Li Shuyi remarked.

The three chatted as they waited for Goliya's awakening ritual to complete.

Of course, Qiao Rui didn't let her guard down. The Falcon Spirit remained hidden in the sky, circling and observing any potential new waves of monsters. It has to be said that this battle gave her a new understanding of Bai Xiaowen's combat abilities. No wonder Li Shuyi was so relaxed when facing an A+ level Elite Tier mission.

Gradually, the 120-minute awakening ceremony came to an end.

The swirling vortex of Yin energy, gathered together, was sucked into the bottom of the icy lake like a whale sucking in water.

Centered on Goliya, a powerful icy current swept outwards, blowing away the surrounding snow and the shattered ice and bones from the battle, revealing the crystal-clear surface of the frozen lake.

Crack, pop...

The sound of ice cracking echoed continuously.

Bai Xiaowen looked down and saw that the ice had cracked from the inside. He quickly told Li Shuyi and Qiao Rui to retreat, while simultaneously manipulating the undead creatures and the Rageclaw to create a 50-meter radius gap around Goliya.

Crack... Boom!

About five meters in front of Bai Xiaowen, a section of ice burst open, sending ice flowers scattering in all directions! A giant, bony claw covered in tattered flesh emerged from the ice and slammed heavily onto the surface of the frozen lake.

Diagonally opposite, another giant bony claw emerged.

The powerful creature beneath the thick ice extended two bony claws. It seemed to gather its strength slightly before pressing down with its claws. Its massive spine, covered in bone spurs, broke through the ice with a crash, revealing a huge dragon skull!

The dragon skull still had the dragon's horns, and Soul Fire slowly burned deep in its eye sockets. Then, two tattered bone wings rose up like sails.

Call!

With its bony wings flapping, this enormous creature finally soared into the sky!

"Was it successful?"

"What a powerful Bone Dragon!"

The three members of the White Phoenix Squad were all somewhat astonished. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed that Leader Tier Goliya could awaken such a huge Bone Dragon.

"I have given you new life! Obey my commands!"

Goliya, leaning on her greatsword, emerged from the pile of shattered ice and shouted at the Bone Dragon soaring in the sky.

Whoosh.

The Bone Dragon folded its wings and landed on a higher ice layer, its eyes, burning with eerie phosphorescent light, scrutinizing Goliya.

"Something seems off," Qiao Rui suddenly said. "I feel like this Bone Dragon's soul is a bit chaotic... Could it have been sleeping at the bottom of the lake for too long?"

Goliya snorted heavily, "Who's sabotaging my plans?" Her sharp, icy blue eyes suddenly turned to a snow-covered hill in the distance.

A dry voice rang out. "Hahaha... Young Death Knight, thank you for your gift. This Bone Dragon is mine."

Goliya narrowed her eyes slightly and pointed her Skeleton Greatsword. Instantly, Elite Ghost and Spider Demon launched a silent charge, threatening to flatten the snow hill.

Bai Xiaowen also secretly made a hand gesture, and the White Phoenix Squad, under the cover of the Ghost and Spider Demon, approached the snow hill.

Suddenly, a powerful mental wave surged forth, causing all the Elite Ghost and Spider Demon to momentarily freeze and lose their focus.

A gaunt figure stood atop the snow-covered hill.

It's a Lich.

On the Lich's gaunt face, his jaw opened and closed, and through magical onomatopoeia, his declaration echoed throughout the arena:

"I am Lich Bard, I am immortal! Now, submit to me, Death Knight. I will guide you to vengeance upon the living!"

Bai Xiaowen stopped in his tracks. No wonder it could affect the actions of the undead monsters in the Death Kingdom and cause the Bone Dragon to become mentally confused; it turned out that this Lich named "Bard" was behind it all.

The Lich Bard certainly had this confidence. Compared to the Death Knight, a powerful melee fighter, he, as Lich, was better at controlling the spirits of undead monsters and casting spells to assist his undead subordinates in battle, similar to the Summoner Class among the Awakened.

Bard had been hiding nearby, using Psychic Barrier to evade Qiao Rui and Bai Xiaowen's detection, and at the crucial moment when the Bone Dragon appeared, he lured it, attempting to seize control of the Bone Dragon.

"┻━┻╰(‵□′)╯┻━┻!"

Li Shuyi: "Should we kill this guy?"

"We shouldn't need to take action... Let's observe Goliya's movements first." Bai Xiaowen didn't believe that Goliya needed the White Phoenix Squad's help to deal with this Lich. Logically speaking, the White Phoenix Squad had already completed its mission by protecting Goliya from interference during the 120-minute awakening ritual.

A hint of mockery flashed in Goliya's eyes.

"Lich Bard, I can smell the stench emanating from you. You must have been locked up in a dark, sunless prison for hundreds of years, right?"

Goliya's tone was sarcastic, "You just came out of the mausoleum at North County Monastery, and you're already looking to die?"

The Lich Bard was slightly taken aback. "You also came from the Grand Mausoleum? No, there's only one Death Knight in the Grand Mausoleum, Kyle."

"You lowly Lich, you have no idea what kind of being you are facing," Goliya sneered. "How dare you compare me to Death Knight? I am the Overlord of the dead, the queen of the Death Kingdom! You think you can shake my rule over the undead with your paltry tricks of manipulating minds? Dream on!"

Goliya's voice gradually rose. "Let me show you my power!"

Suddenly, the Bone Dragon flapped its wings and swept low over the battlefield! The Elite Ghost and Spider Demon that had been in a daze opened their mouths and let out silent roars, waving their claws and surging towards the Lich Bard, instantly surrounding him.

The Lich Bard was utterly horrified. "You... you're just a Death Knight! You shouldn't have such powerful Mind Control abilities!"

"Wrong, this isn't Mind Control ability, but rather stems from an innate ' Tier Rank '!"

Goliya, like a charlatan, coldly declared, "I am the destined Overlord of the undead."

With a snap, the Bone Dragon's claws firmly gripped Bard's skeletal body, lifting him into the sky. Then, the Bone Dragon circled back to Goliya, tossing the Goliya Lich Bard to her like trash.

Before the Lich Bard could speak, Skeleton Greatsword gleaming with an icy light was already pressed against his shoulder blade.

"Submission."

Goliya's voice was low and somber. "Or destruction."

"This... this kind of majesty..." As an undead creature, the Lich Bard hadn't felt the sensation of "sweating" for a long time, but now he suddenly felt it.

This is not sweating in the literal sense, but a sense of fear that comes from the very soul.

Goliya waited three seconds, then raised her greatsword.

"Wait a moment!"

"Wait a moment!"

The Lich Bard and Bai Xiaowen shouted it out almost simultaneously.

The human and the Lich instinctively locked eyes.

Bai Xiaowen turned to look at Goliya and said with a smile, "Goliya, this guy seems quite disobedient. It's alright, I'll take care of him for you... You know, we outsiders love fighting bosses... oh no, I mean, ridding the world of evil."

Seeing Bai Xiaowen's eager gaze, the Lich Bard couldn't help but shiver and shouted, "Wait, I'm willing to submit!"

"(ˉ▽￣~) Tch..."

Bai Xiaowen glanced at the Lich with disdain, then continued to Goliya, saying, "Don't trust this guy so easily; it's better to just kill him cleanly and efficiently..."

Goliya shook her head slightly, ignoring Bai Xiaowen, and said to the Lich Bard, "Offer your soul imprint."

Bard wore a bitter expression—if a Lich could read expressions, this would be it. Its Soul Fire surged dramatically, and soon a tiny, pale white flame appeared in the void.

Goliya lowered her Skeleton Greatsword, and the pale white flame was suddenly sucked into it.

The Lich Bard hung his head, looking quite dejected. He knew that from now on, he could no longer disobey Goliya's orders, otherwise his soul would suffer a thousand times more torment—unless Goliya he would have no chance of reclaiming his soul imprint.

Bai Xiaowen clicked his tongue in amazement; the undead Boss Tier recruiting followers was that simple and brutal.

Bai Xiaowen understood that Goliya had intended to persuade him to surrender from the beginning; otherwise, she would have already unleashed Death Breath. His earlier statement about killing Bard was merely a performance to support his act, but unfortunately Goliya was too aloof and not cooperative enough.

There was no other way. The Death Kingdom was now impoverished, with plenty of mindless undead, but only one wise Boss Tier Goliya. Having finally spotted a Lich, how could they not capture her?

The Bone Dragon is also a self-aware undead Boss Tier, but it has just been awakened and its current level of consciousness development is still very low. It needs time and more experiences to gradually become intelligent.

"Dio, you have done a very good job and deserve my reward," Goliya said.

Spirit Realm Rules Message:

"A+ Rank Elite Tier Side Quest: Dragon's Tomb has been completed and automatically submitted. Quest Completion: Excellent."

"You have gained 2500 merit points (Death Kingdom)."

"Your reputation with the Death Kingdom faction has increased; your current reputation level is: Honored (unchanged)."

"Goliya's Affection Level towards you has increased..."

The subsequent Affection Level and reputation indicators are self-explanatory; Goliya's Affection Level remains at the friend level, and her Infatuation Level remains at the admiration level, with no substantial breakthrough whatsoever.

Bai Xiaowen muttered to himself, "After becoming the Black Knight, Goliya seems to have become much more aloof... I almost miss the Divine Grace Champion Knight who used to be teased with his underwear and always exuded an aura of justice and light..."

"I have awakened the Bone Dragon; it will be my mount. I will ride it and rule this world," Goliya.

Bai Xiaowen suddenly thought of something, "Wait a minute, this Bone Dragon is Leader Tier template after all, and it will develop intelligence in the future, so we should give it a name."

Goliya nodded slightly, then looked at Bai Xiaowen with a questioning gaze.

Li Shuyi pulled Bai Xiaowen aside. "Don't do things you're not good at..."

Qiao Rui smiled gently, "As long as the captain doesn't come up with a name like '4455', it'll be fine."

Bai Xiaowen, brimming with confidence, declared, "Don't worry, I've already thought of a great name..." He suddenly pointed at the Bone Dragon and shouted:

"From this day forward, your name will be... Sindragosa!"

Then... the Bone Dragon ignored him, not even bothering to glance at him.

"Sindragosa? Does this name have any special meaning?" Li Shuyi asked curiously.

Bai Xiaowen said in a serious tone, "Yes, DRAGO is a variant of 'dragon,' and according to the naming rules for dragons, blah blah blah..." and went on and on.

Goliya didn't care about the name and immediately nodded in approval. "Okay, let's call her Sindragosa."