Ch 315: Emerald Covenant, Theodore, and Aioan
Shen Chi seemed to understand what was happening.
He looked at Theodore’s panel, displaying the name—
【Skeleton Archbishop. Theodore（Emerald Covenant Cult）】.
Shen Chi recalled Theodore’s character background story.
The 【Emerald Covenant】, to which Theodore belonged during his life, was a secret cult that believed in the 【Emerald Tablet】.
Initially, someone discovered the existence of the 【Emerald Tablet】.
He firmly believed that the 【Divine Commandments】 were engraved on the Emerald Tablet.
And the 【Divine Commandments🨀 contained powerful forces.
So he founded the 【Emerald Covenant🨀, leading his followers in diligent cultivation, attempting to comprehend the 【Divine Commandments🨀 on the 【Emerald Tablet】.
He said to his followers:
『Comprehending the Divine Commandments allows one to grasp the power bestowed by the gods.』
『Everyone has desires in their hearts. If you can master divine power, you will surely realize your wishes and change your destiny.』
And among these earliest followers was Theodore.
Due to his background, Theodore had been persecuted by local nobles and religious groups since childhood, living a wandering life, constantly in fear.
He joined the Emerald Covenant by chance.
The founder of the cult treated him like a father and brother, regarding him as “one of the family.”
From then on, Theodore vowed to follow the Emerald Covenant to the death.
Unfortunately, later, the Emerald Covenant was discovered by the local super religious forces and branded as heretical.
The power of the Emerald Covenant Cult was ultimately too small to contend with the super religion.
So the founder of the cult and all the believers were forcibly imprisoned in a dungeon, to be purged as heretics in the future.
In the dim, crowded dungeon, the founder comforted his followers:
『I am about to comprehend the first commandment. Please meditate with me and lend me a hand. If I learn the Divine Commandment, I will surely save you from fire and water, even if it costs me ten thousand deaths.』
All the believers deeply believed this, placing all their hopes of survival on their most respected founder.
So they all sat cross-legged in meditation, adding their mental power to the founder.
The founder finally broke through, comprehended the Divine Commandment, and mastered a powerful Divine Technique.
However, the founder used the Divine Technique to break open the dungeon seal, escaping alone with the Emerald Tablet, abandoning all his followers.
In the end, more than a hundred members of the Emerald Covenant, except for the founder, were all cruelly purged by secret arts, with no survivors.
This secret art was undoubtedly a slow slicing for the believers.
They watched helplessly as their skin peeled off, muscles, fascia, and blood vessels were stripped away layer by layer, until only a skeleton remained, while their souls retained their senses.
Therefore, Shen Chi was able to summon Theodore’s spirit in the 【cult dungeon】 within that ancient battlefield ruins.
And summon those hundred-plus believers as 【Skeleton Cultists】.
Shen Chi then looked at the description of the 【Emerald Tablet】 on the high platform at the deepest part of the hall.
A clergyman carried the 【Emerald Tablet】 here to preach.
The clergyman said to his followers,
『The Divine Commandments are engraved on the Emerald Tablet.』
This clergyman was undoubtedly the founder of the 【Emerald Covenant】.
After escaping from the dungeon, he came to a new place and began a new round of preaching.
However… this time, the Emerald Tablet had split into ten pieces!
Along with it, the Divine Commandments on it were also split into ten.
The clergyman disappeared again.
……
This relic, obviously, is the sequel to that Emerald Tablet that was taken away!
It’s just that, now, only one piece of this tablet remains.
The other nine pieces are also missing.
Shen Chi silently stared at Theodore.
He could feel all kinds of strong and complex emotions from Theodore.
Regret.
Bewilderment.
Anger.
Sorrow.
Helplessness.
……
Before this, Shen Chi was used to these heroes and troop types with full loyalty, following him and fighting loyally for him.
Gradually, Shen Chi almost regarded them as game NPCs.
However, Shen Chi suddenly realized.
In fact, these summoned spirits all had unknown life stories, with pasts buried deep in the years that no one cared about.
They were once living individuals.
Shen Chi didn’t speak, quietly waiting for Theodore’s emotions to calm down.
Theodore quickly adjusted his emotions, and he gently lowered his head towards Shen Chi.
“Lord, I’m fine.”
Shen Chi asked:
“What’s that person’s name?”
Theodore replied in a deep voice:
“Aioan, his name is Aioan.”
Shen Chi was silent, replying:
“Okay.”
Aioan, this is the name of the founder of the Emerald Covenant.
Theodore was probably deeply engraved this name on his soul long ago.
Never to be forgotten.
Shen Chi knew that Theodore must want to know what happened to the Emerald Tablet after his death even more than he did.
Therefore, Shen Chi no longer hesitated.
He took a step forward and walked towards the depths of the hall step by step.
Theodore also firmly followed closely behind.
When Shen Chi officially stepped onto the first floor tile of the hall.
A panel suddenly appeared in front of him.
【Relic Quest: Divine Punishment】
【Background Description: Clergyman Aioan used Divine Technique to display amazing miracles, so he attracted many followers and believers.】
【Aioan said to his followers that if they wanted to master Divine Technique, they had to follow him to comprehend the Divine Commandments engraved on the Emerald Tablet.】
【As long as they comprehend the Divine Commandments, God will descend.】
【The believers were enthusiastic, coming every day to study the catechisms distributed by Aioan, hoping to comprehend the Emerald Oracle.】
【However, the believers did not know that what awaited them was not God’s blessing and gift.】
【But an undying nightmare.】
【This nightmare, compared to God’s blessing, is more like—punishment.】
【……】
【The Emerald Tablet split into ten pieces, and Aioan disappeared again.】
【Relic Quest: Comprehend 『Emerald Shard』.】
【Quest Time Limit: 6 hours.🨀
Shen Chi’s pupils constricted.
He read the information prompted on the panel attentively again and again.
A description of the 【Relic Quest】 appeared.
This relic quest is to comprehend the 【Emerald Shard】?
In other words, go to the high platform in the depths of the hall, take down that shard, and then “comprehend” it?
The information given by this quest… is very brief.
Even the standard for “comprehension” is very vague.
Oh well, let’s take it one step at a time.
Shen Chi ordered Theodore to follow and prepared to walk directly to the depths of the hall.
Two figures silently walked step by step towards the final goal, that Emerald Shard.
However…
He didn’t know if it was an illusion.
Shen Chi always felt that he was separated from the high platform at the end of his sight by a very long distance.
He tried to speed up his movement towards that high platform.
However, the high platform still stood at the end of his sight, and the distance did not change at all.
In his vision, this hall suddenly became extremely deep, empty, and huge.
Rows of tall corridors stood silently on both sides, extending towards the distant depths of the hall.
Shen Chi felt as if he was inside a train with endless carriages, never able to reach the last carriage.
The walls on both sides of the hall also suddenly separated to an exaggerated extent, almost enough to hold a football match.
Beside him were endless candlesticks, glass windows, wall lamps, and catechism books scattered all over the place.
Forming a nightmare that could never be finished or left.
And that high platform, that Emerald Shard, was quietly placed at the end of this endless nightmare, within sight but out of reach.
Shen Chi finally understood in his heart.
He knew that this task couldn’t be so simple!
At this moment, Shen Chi was horrified to discover.
Between a row of corridors far away on the side, in that deep and dim shadow.
A figure slowly walked out.
Out of vigilance, Shen Chi stopped.
He watched the suddenly appearing figure with extreme vigilance.
He saw the figure slowly walking towards him.
Shen Chi, who dealt with spirits all year round, only needed to take one look to know.
This figure did not have any human aura at all.
The figure’s pace of action was very mechanical, like a puppet whose joints had been completely rusted.
As he got closer, Shen Chi borrowed the dim light from the wall lamp on the side to see the person’s face clearly.
The skin was unnaturally pale, the cheeks were stiff, the expression was blank, and it was lifeless.
The whole person was shrunk in a set of tight religious robes, holding a staff in one hand and a catechism in the other.
It was clearly a walking corpse.
The next moment, a panel floated above the head of this walking corpse.
【Walking Corpse Mage】
【Level 20】
【Attack: 1254】
【Health: 876】
【Defense: 425】
【……】
【Skill: Black Flame Technique】
Shen Chi immediately scanned the data of the Walking Corpse Mage.
His heart settled down.
Maybe he wanted to give Shen Chi a scare, this person stared straight at Shen Chi, his eyes not blinking.
Shen Chi had no emotional fluctuations.
This zombie, at least, still had complete skin, muscles, and bones.
Theodore beside him only had bones left… what was there to be afraid of.
However, the next moment.
He saw this “zombie” raise his staff, aim it at Shen Chi, and immediately begin chanting!
“Is he going to fight?”
By the time Shen Chi reacted.
A jet-black flame suddenly fell from the sky, quickly smashing towards Shen Chi.
Shen Chi quickly dodged to the side, barely dodging the bombardment of this black flame spell.
With a bang, a shallow pit appeared on the ground.
Wisps of black air emerged from the shallow pit.
Shen Chi was about to summon Asuen when he realized that this relic could only bring one troop type inside.
He was stunned.
He immediately turned his head and shouted:
“Theodore!”
Without needing more instructions, Theodore raised the 【Windstill Staff】.
The light of the staff suddenly lit up, and the surrounding violent energy quickly surged towards the staff, gathering at the tip of the staff.
The next moment, eight deep purple magic missiles condensed in mid-air.
After a pause, they shot towards the mage enemy all at once.
Boom!
The Walking Corpse Mage was unable to dodge and took all eight magic balls.
He was instantly blasted into a cloud of dust, with nothing left.
Theodore’s basic attack spell 【Nether Missile lv4】 can fire eight magic missiles.
Each missile can deal more than 80,000 damage.
Not everyone can block it.
Shen Chi had no emotional fluctuations in his heart.
This zombie mage was probably just cannon fodder.
If his guess was correct…
A big battle was inevitable after all.
Moreover, he was now a spirit attached to the skeletal entity of the 【Immortal Body】, without any combat ability.
So, this was a war for Theodore alone!
If it was him who had just participated in the novice trial.
Perhaps he would be wary of this Walking Corpse Mage.
But… what’s the difference between the current him and bringing a big shot into the novice village?
A level 55 six-star hero, Theodore, was he joking?
At this moment, Shen Chi noticed that a cluster of emerald green light suddenly floated up from where the zombie mage had been killed.
This cluster of light shot towards Theodore at high speed.
Shen Chi’s pupils shrank, and he shouted:
“Theodore, dodge!”
So sinister, there was still a trick left after death!
However, before Theodore could move.
This cluster of light directly entered Theodore’s body, and there was no way to dodge it.
Shen Chi’s heart trembled.
He hurriedly asked:
“Theodore, how are you?”
Theodore’s expression was normal.
He felt his body.
Then he shook his head.
“There’s nothing unusual.”
However, he suddenly changed his words,
“No… it seems like I have accumulated a trace of strange energy in my body.”
“I have a feeling that as long as I accumulate enough energy, I can recover faster, including recovering the mental energy consumed by casting spells, and shortening the cooldown time of casting spells, and even enhance the power of spells.”
Shen Chi was stunned.
So he pondered for a moment.
It seemed that the cluster of green light was a rule unique to this relic.
It could be regarded as a reward for killing.
It wasn’t bad news after all.
So he shouted:
“Go, continue!”
Shen Chi called Theodore to continue walking forward.
The high platform in the depths of the hall had not changed at all.
It still sat at the distant end of his sight.
Sure enough, soon, new enemies refreshed next to him.
Two identical Walking Corpse Mages.
One level 25, one level 27.
The panels were roughly the same.
The spell was also the same 【Black Flame Technique】.
This time, the two Walking Corpse Mages did not pause, quickly raised their staffs, and chanted together.
The next moment, two huge black flame spells were condensed and crashed towards Theodore.
Theodore directly activated the 【Wind Protection】 skill attached to the 【Windstill】 staff and floated into the air.
During the floating period, the movement speed increased threefold, and it came with a 【Wind Shield】.
Theodore easily dodged the attacks of the two black flame spells.
The two Walking Corpse Mages entered the post-casting cooldown.
The next thing that greeted the two Walking Corpse Mages was Theodore’s Nether Missile attack.
The same scene was staged.
It’s just that, this time, the Walking Corpse Mages each took four Nether Missiles and turned into dust.
The ending did not change at all.
Two more clusters of green light floated up and gathered into Theodore’s body.
Continue.
……
This time.
Five Walking Corpse Mages surrounded Theodore.
There was also a deformed monster crawling behind the Walking Corpse Mages.
Watching Theodore and Shen Chi with fierce eyes.
Although the Walking Corpse Mages were still filled with death energy, they were no longer expressionless.
A grim smile hung on their empty facial features.
Staring at Theodore maliciously.
The monster behind them was composed of various skeletons, and on top of the skeletons, there were still strands of meat and blood stains that had not been removed.
The monster’s head was a human head, and there was a smooth incision at the neck.
He saw this human head crack into an exaggerated grin, like a deep mountain spider staring at its prey.
Shen Chi probed a little and learned that this monster was a failed product of the mages’ experiments.
Obviously, these Walking Corpse Mages didn’t take Theodore and Shen Chi seriously at all.
All five Walking Corpse Mages were above level 30.
And that monster was level 35.
Not only did it have spell damage, but it also had physical skills that didn’t require chanting.
Normally, this combination would be tricky enough.
This time, Shen Chi silently stood behind Theodore, completely handing the battlefield over to Theodore.
The five Walking Corpse Mages raised their staffs and were about to cast a spell—
But Theodore’s movements were faster than them!
【Prayer. Silence】!
All magic-based enemies within a hundred meters were silenced for ten seconds.
They cannot cast spells within ten seconds!
Cooldown time, thirty seconds.
The five Walking Corpse Mages suddenly discovered that their chanting had failed, and their expressions changed drastically.
Then, what greeted them was Theodore’s Nether Missile attack.
The result was still no different.
Enemies who took the Nether Missile had only one ending: death.
The deformed monster with the thickest health bar only had 6000 health.
A single Nether Missile with 80,000 damage was enough to kill it more than ten times.
Of course, if one Nether Missile couldn’t solve it…
It didn’t matter, he could just use another one.
Nether Missile, chanting for two seconds, cooldown, only five seconds!
Equivalent to Theodore’s basic attack spell!
……
He didn’t know how long it had been.
Theodore and Shen Chi now had… thirty mage enemies standing in front of them!
Not only were there five more deformed Failed Mage Experiment monsters, but there were also new types of mages.
【Elite Walking Corpse Mage】
【Level 35】
【Attack: 8024】
【Health: 5742】
【Defense: 2546】
【Skills: Frenzied Black Flame Technique, Hatred Black Mist】
The attributes had been greatly enhanced.
If it was Shen Chi who had just participated in the novice trial, facing this situation.
Then he would definitely analyze the situation on the battlefield carefully and formulate various comprehensive tactics.
After a highly tense battle, he would kill the enemies one by one.
But…
Now.
Shen Chi felt that he had lost his mind.
Without needing his order, Theodore first started with a 【Prayer. Silence】.
Then, he held the staff in both hands and began to chant.
——【Wrath of the Stars】!
Crimson magic power wrapped around the staff, and flames mixed with demonic energy suddenly appeared, floating around Theodore.
The tip of the staff became hotter and hotter, and the light became brighter and brighter.
The next moment—
A violent roar came from the surrounding void.
It seemed that something terrifying was descending.
The mage enemies in front of him all fell into inexplicable agitation, looking left and right vigilantly.
However…
The next moment, a meteorite broke through the top of the sky.
Carrying violent demonic flames, it illuminated the dull, dark hall, swept towards the Walking Corpse Mages, and directly smashed into the crowd and monsters.
Boom!
