Chapter 31 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Strictly speaking, Toxic Miasma was not a Plant-type skill but was grouped into it because it had many a vague connection with various Plant-type skills. Even so, it was such a chickenfeed of a skill that most players would simply ignore it.

[Toxic Miasma: Releases a cloud of poison which lowers the target’s Attack and Defense to a certain extent, lasts ten seconds, 1-second casting, 20 seconds cooldown, mana cost 12.]

Such a skill would be fine from that explanation alone—short casting, short cooldown, and the unleashed poison cloud would lower the opponent’s Attack and Defense. Be that as it may, the phrase ‘to a certain extent’ was key and it was simply puzzling: players who initially thought that it was a good early game skill would find it defective after testing it. Some even calculated that it only reduces Attack and Defense around 2 to 3 percent, and that effect was weakened even further against monsters above Elite-class.

In short, the 2 to 3 percent reduction was basically negligible since most monsters had defense values numbering up to several dozen points, making Toxic Miasma even less cost-effective given the major mana cost. Moreover, the growth rate of that skill itself was very low and had no potential for development, and it was useless even if its area of effect could be increased rapidly.

Nonetheless, most players were not aware of a trick to using it, although that would require the skill to be leveled up to 3.

Moreover, the Skill Tome for that ability was a cheap sixty bronze coins, and Xue Yu used the rest of his money buying consumables.

“Are you really learning Toxic Miasma? Don’t you think it’s a waste on your Skill Bar?” Xue Yu smiled bitterly, unable to imagine the function of such a skill.

“You will know when the time comes.” Nie Fan grinned. It wouldn’t be interesting to explain everything at once—his friends would eventually see Toxic Miasma in a different light.

With a flick of his right hand, he learned the skill.

From Xue Yu and Lin Suyue’s perspective, Nie Fan had produced surprising results consistently with his unique ideas on every occasion, and they would certainly like to see how he could play with a rubbish skill like Toxic Miasma.

“Where are we going next?” Lin Suyue asked, assuming that Nie Fan already has something in mind.

“I have something else to do, you two should go for some leveling.” Nie Fan told them. He had initially planned to bring them to the Heartlands of the Wood Nymphs’ Forest, but thought that it would be fine going later since their equipment were still too weak. They could wait until they had upgraded items, since they just have to remain under Level 25 before heading to the Heartlands.

For his part, Nie Fan was supposed to get a Lycanthropy Skill Tome as early as possible—a core skill for Morphing Druids, but that could also wait now that he has Cheetahmorph.

Hence, Nie Fan sent Xue Yu and Lin Suyue a spawn point for Frost Goblins, a Level 20 monster which was ideal leveling for them.

“Well then, I’m going off with Su Yue. Contact us on voicechat later.” Xue Yu said with a nod. After all, they should train alone and familiarize themselves with their own skills, or being carried all the way by Nie Fan and not improving their skills meant nothing even with their high player levels.

Hence, with their bags stuffed full of Mana Springwater and other consumables, Xue Yu and Lin Suyue left the village.

Checking his own bag and finding that he was fully prepared as well, Nie Fan left too.

***

There was only one entrance into Tajit Village. Two Level 60 Elite Guards stood watch, one on each side of the entrance. At their current levels, they were existences that players looked up to, not to mention that they could instakill any red-listed players who dared to come to close without allowing them any time to react.

Nie Fan himself felt a murderous air hitting him face-on when he walked past the Elite Guards. Anyone would be intimidated by those figures armed to the teeth in Crusader Armor and equipped with enormous War Swords.

Outside the village, Nie Fan looked towards the north where a few dozen players were engaged in a battle royale on a clearing a hundred yards away. There were several especially conspicuous red-listed players, but ultimately there would always be conflict wherever there were people, and the reason they were engaged in PK duels there was no more than to resolve their differences.

Nonetheless, Nie Fan did not linger for too long and made a mad dash deep within the Blood Shade Plains.