Bait

With a frontline established, Lin Luo's movements became even faster.

Edgar was struggling considerably; age was his greatest handicap. However, with Lin Luo, things became much easier.

The two of them were highly efficient. In less than half a day, the Misbegotten on the city walls were mostly cleared.

However, this did not meet Lin Luo's ideal goal—he intended to cleanse the entirety of Castle Morne.

"Edgar," Lin Luo said, retracting his staff. "Do you still have enough stamina...?"

"I... I can!" Edgar looked at Lin Luo doubtfully for a moment, his gaze then firming. "I have a method that will solve this once and for all, though it does carry some risk..."

Lin Luo looked at Edgar and said seriously, "What do I need to do?"

Edgar asked without thinking, "I need you to be the bait!"

Lin Luo explained, "If we continue at this rate, our efficiency will definitely not be enough. Of course, if you..."

"I can," Edgar stated directly.

"Very well." Lin Luo's palm conjured a strange, human-headed stone carving. "Take this..."

"This is the Calamity of Shabiri... Its function is quite simple... uh... it makes you more... punchable? In short, it's meant to draw aggro." Lin Luo bit his lip, thinking hard before settling on that description. "When the time comes, just lure them here."

"Mhm... No problem." Edgar considered for a moment, accepted the ornament Lin Luo handed him, and then fastened it to his chest.

"Do you need to rest?" Lin Luo looked at Edgar, sensing his condition wasn't optimal.

"I'm fine... I can last another three days and three nights!" Edgar declared firmly.

"Impressive!" Lin Luo praised lightly before offering two green chunks of turtle neck meat. "Eat this to recover your energy first."

"Thank you." Edgar took them, shoved them into his mouth, and before he could even chew much, he hefted his greatsword. "By the Erdtree, I swear! Magic defense."

Lin Luo produced the Erdtree Seal in his right hand and cast a prayer on Edgar. A golden light instantly enveloped Edgar, and he felt a surge of strength throughout his body. Fearing he might accidentally injure Edgar later, he handed him a flask of medicinal liquid.

"When you lure them over, remember to drink this. It will allow you to withstand the majority of the damage from one attack," Lin Luo said. "The prayer I cast on you also enhances your defense and resistances."

"This..." Edgar was moved. He felt like he should kneel before Lin Luo again. Lin Luo, quick as lightning, reached out to steady him. "Please, don't."

"Just think of me as a ruthless quest-completing machine."

"My gratitude is beyond words!" Edgar gave Lin Luo a deep look, then turned and walked away, adopting an air of a warrior heading to his certain doom.

Why does the Lord of the Castle seem to look at me so strangely...

Lin Luo scratched his head and couldn't help but shiver.

"No! Absolutely not!"

It was a minor setback, and Lin Luo quickly forgot about what just happened, taking the Sword of the Incarnate out of his storage bag.

"Hmm... this..."

Lin Luo looked at the Sword of the Incarnate, lost in thought.

"Forget it, I'll switch to another one..."

A scene of Irena crying while holding her father flashed through Lin Luo's mind. She had tremblingly asked who killed him, and he imagined how awkward he would be at that time.

"I'll just be a Sorcerer King for now."

Lin Luo put the Sword of the Incarnate back into his storage bag and took out the Glintstone Staff of Azur.

Unlike the Staff of the Death Prince, this staff could increase casting speed but would consume more FP.

The Staff of the Death Prince, on the other hand, could greatly enhance the power of death sorceries.

About half an hour later, a noise startled Lin Luo, who had been resting with his eyes closed.

There was a commotion downstairs, with roars echoing. It was likely the Scaled Misbegotten that Edgar had attracted, along with a few giant rats.

He wondered if Edgar could actually lure them away. After all, with that heavy armor, he didn't look fast enough to run.

But at this moment, Lin Luo could only pray that Edgar was alright. He was starting to regret not playing it safe and just killing them all. If Edgar, who was unreliable, were to get into trouble, he wouldn't know how to face Irena.

This wasn't a game where you could reload and start over.

"Lord Lin Luo! It's up to you!"

Just as Lin Luo was preparing to head to the Chapel of Anticipation to atone, Edgar's voice reached him.

"Yo! You've got some grit..."

Lin Luo looked over in surprise. Good heavens, his armor was tattered. Who knew what kind of harrowing experience he had just gone through.

"Throw the trinket over!"

Lin Luo shouted, not wasting any more words. He knew it was his turn to perform.

He raised the staff in his hand, drawing a slight circle in the air.

He unleashed his signature skill.

"Meteorite of Astel!"

Lin Luo slammed the staff onto the ground, and countless meteors appeared behind him, crashing down furiously in front of them.

Edgar was also stunned by the sight.

But he didn't hesitate. He quickly threw the Calamity of Shabiri from his chest and then fumbled for the medicinal pill Lin Luo had given him, downing it in one gulp.

The Scaled Misbegotten following behind suddenly focused their eyes on the Calamity of Shabiri that Edgar had thrown. They swarmed forward, and countless greatswords and axes instantly shattered the stone's head.

Even when they accidentally injured the surrounding Scaled Misbegotten, they didn't stop. Instead, they became even more frenzied by the blood.

It wasn't that they were brainless; rather, their intelligence wasn't that high. Under the guidance of the Calamity of Shabiri, their primal beastiality was ignited. As a result, under Lin Luo's endless meteor shower, they showed no fear, only a crazed demeanor.

By throwing the trinket, Edgar also managed to create some distance between himself and the surrounding Scaled Misbegotten.

But the respite was short-lived. The aura of the Calamity of Shabiri still lingered on Edgar. After shattering the trinket, the Scaled Misbegotten's gaze returned to Edgar.

A few of the Misbegotten who had completely lost their minds charged towards Edgar at an impossible speed. Lin Luo himself would have clicked his tongue at such speed.

"I can't use this thing anymore!"

Lin Luo looked at the dozens or hundreds of them remaining in his storage bag, contemplating when he should dispose of them all at once.

The claws of the Scaled Misbegotten were less than ten centimeters away from Edgar. In the nick of time, Lin Luo's spell finally stopped channeling. The stellar sorcery – Meteorite of Astel – finally roared to life.

A meteor accurately struck the ground between the Misbegotten and Edgar.

"Boom!"

A muffled groan sounded.

If he guessed correctly, it was the sound of the medicinal pill's shield on Edgar shattering.

But fortunately, because of this meteor, Edgar was 'flung' to safety, landing right next to Lin Luo.

"Are you alright?"

Lin Luo put away his staff and handed Edgar a bottle of red medicinal pill.

"Thanks... I... I'm fine..."

Edgar grunted in pain as he slowly stood up. That impact felt like his little brother was about to break off.

He took the medicinal pill Lin Luo offered and quickly drank it.

Instantly, he felt as if his body had been cleansed. The pain in his lower body subsided.

It was then that Edgar looked back.

"...Lord... Lin Luo, Castle Morne... it's not that badly damaged, is it?"

Edgar managed a weak smile. Good heavens, half of this section of the city wall had been directly smashed down.

"Uh... out with the old, in with the new."

Lin Luo scratched his head awkwardly and quickly fell silent.