147 Fusion Time (1/2)
Cao Mao couldn't choose. There was no hint or indicator if one of them was superior to the others or not. In a dilemma like this, he canceled the fusion.
First of all, Cao Mao didn't like the fact that he would lose some of the clone techniques in this fusion. Since he couldn't steal the same skill from the same clone again, it would be a hassle to look for another clone to regain the lost system skills.
Secondly, there was no description of the new skills. Cao Mao couldn't gauge how strong each style or technique could be.
And lastly, gambling was bad. Cao Mao couldn't afford to lose all core sword techniques and hope to get something better from the bunch.
Instead of combining all sword techniques at once, Cao Mao experimented with two or three skills at a time to see the best possible combination, so he could get the most out of it.
Playing around for an hour, he found a result that he wouldn't lose anything by using the following combination;
Iron Wall Sword Fortress +20
Simplified Murder Sword Formation
Death Sword Formation
Iron Wall Sword Fortress was a defensive sword style while the other two were a combination of spells and sword arts. When a sword formation was activated, the spell could give buffs to the user, debuff the opponents, attack the opponents directly, defend against oncoming attacks, or become a unique sword stance, depending on the variations and the specialties of each formation.
Murder Sword Formation and Death Sword Formation were debuff style swordsmanship. Once used, the opponents' defensive stance, abilities, or armors would be rendered useless while the formation was active. The sophisticated and deliberated style required a certain mastery in swordsmanship – One with the Sword.
Originally, Cao Mao had no clue about One-with-the-Sword. But after giving Kang Yan the Ring of Yin Slave and copying her abilities to system skills, he acquired her knowledge in swordsmanship. But for the practical usage, Cao Mao had to work on it himself.
Ding
50% Indestructible Fortress Style
35% True Murderous Sword Formation
9% Berserker Swordsmanship
3% Sword of Annihilation
2% Murder Sword Fortress
1% Death Fortress Sword Style
As usual, the possible results never showed any detail of these skills. It was up to Cao Mao to judge the abilities by its name.
However, Cao Mao was looking for an upgraded version of the Iron Wall Sword Fortress style. Therefore, he welcomed any rare ability that focused on defensive sword arts.
Cao Mao activated his heaven blessing, changing the lowest percentage skill to 100%. Then, he pressed the FUSE button.
WHOOM
Cao Mao's head felt heavier as if he had just woken up after a hard party. At the same time, new memories entered his brain.
Flashes of unknown movements entered Cao Mao's mind. He could see a series of complicated movements while he gained comprehension behind the fortress sword style.
This was not the first time that Cao Mao had experienced the memory implant process from the system. When he copied his yin slave's skills, he went through this ordeal several times.
Enduring the system process for 3 hours, the download was completed. However, Cao Mao was bleeding from his nostril from the intense memory transfer.
Ding
You have learned Death Fortress Sword Style
The following skills cannot be fused for one year; Simplified Murder Sword Formation, Death Sword Formation, Death Fortress Sword Style.
Ding
Your skill, Iron Wall Sword Fortress +20, has been deleted.
”Haiya, fighting 3rd-stage clones is a lot better than fusing skills. That shit is fucking painful.”
Cao Mao laid on his back before in the baby geese, panting in exhaustion.
Chirp (Nose bleed.)
Chirp (Hooman blood is stink!)
Chirp (Hooman is bleeding!)
Chirp (Help the hooman!)
The geese jumped on Cao Mao's face and pecked his nose, licking and drinking his blood.
”Honk! HONK!” (STOP, BAD GEESE!)
As Cao Mao was struggling under the geese, the system updated.
Ding
You have completed the last tutorial quest.
You can access the campaign mode.
The system shop has been updated.
You can upgrade Isolation Training Space to level 5.
The system has given you one week to prepare for the upcoming campaign mode.
Please decide which protagonist, main character, or antagonist you wish to hunt.
If you don't choose anyone after the one week is over, the system will automatically pick a random protagonist for you.
Six system screens appeared before Cao Mao, showing the details of potential targets.
Two protagonists, two neutral characters, and two antagonists were selectable. However, Cao Mao could only pick one.
Cao Mao ignored the geese and read through the description of each character. But when he saw the face of a neutral character, his face twitched.