Chapter 195 – Assassin from the Other Shore

The hallmark power of the Second-Order Elite Tier is ‘Energy Armament’.

Armament Skills are created based on this foundation, incorporating countless rare materials to forge skills that can be used as equipment.

For Rakshasa, this ‘Karma-Burning Fiend Spear’ not only possesses the potential for further strengthening but can also be freely integrated into his body, equivalent to his Lifebound Weapon.

In terms of power and uniqueness, it is nearly comparable to a Hero’s exclusive weapon.

「Karma-Burning Fiend Spear」

「Description: Forged from one’s own fiendish power through multiple tempering processes and incorporation of various materials. Possesses Advanced Sharpness, Advanced Toughness, and moderately amplifies Rakshasa’s fiendish power. Simultaneously, the Karma-Burning Fiend Spear can lock onto the ‘karmic sins’ on enemies – the stronger the enemy’s ‘karmic sins’, the more powerful the spear’s karma-burning and slaughtering capabilities become.」

Additionally, the ‘Fiendish Dragon’ tattoo on Rakshasa’s body seemed to have undergone transformation, though not as noticeably as the Fiend Spear.

While Rakshasa gained substantial rewards, Red Robe did as well.

She didn’t comprehend such a unique skill like the Karma-Burning Fiend Spear – what she obtained was merely…

「Prompt: Red Robe has begun comprehending the ‘Illusion Concept’, significantly enhancing the illusion world under Sin Eye Prison.」

「Prompt: Red Robe has created the terrain skill ‘Blood-Stained Red Pavilion’ through the illusion world.」

「Prompt: Red Robe has combined the terrain skill with the Epic Skill ‘Netherworld Market’, causing slight changes to the ghost market.」

In terms of Concept Realm, Red Robe had previously lagged behind Rakshasa.

This wasn’t due to lack of talent.

Rather, because Lord Mu frequently sought Rakshasa for spear practice… training sessions, hence Rakshasa progressed rapidly. As for Red Robe, her path of illusions could only advance gradually through supplemental sleep, making her progress somewhat slower.

But with ample accumulation, she seized that spark of inspiration during this evolution miracle to break through her realm in one move.

Furthermore, various phenomena manifested around Red Robe, faintly revealing scenes of an ancient marketplace. The market was shrouded in black mist, dark and eerie as if it were the underworld hell, except that before each stall and shop stood empty, without even a single evil ghost.

「Netherworld Market」

「Description: The ghost market is born from illusion power yet can affect reality. In its early stages, it only possesses trapping capabilities. Red Robe can deploy the ghost market to surround enemies and use its power to erode targets with weaker resistance, transforming them into components of the market – evil ghosts of the ghost market.」

「Through continuous erosion and transformation, the Netherworld Market will gradually become lively and develop more mystical properties.」

An empty ghost market seeks evil ghosts from the human world.

This is Red Robe’s Netherworld Market.

Her skill is somewhat similar to Deadbone’s Undead Holy Mountain – both are management-type, world-type skills.

The difference is that her skill has a very low floor but an extremely high ceiling. If she were to transform a Third-Order Warlord Tier powerful enemy into a market evil ghost, what might this skill achieve?

“Epic Skills are truly mystical – not only do they possess limitless potential, but they can also derive numerous branch skills.”

“The same Epic Skill may produce vastly different effects in the hands of different individuals.”

Of course, there are also Epic Skills with little variability.

Such as a certain Dolai’s ‘Space Devour’.Its skill is simply taking a bite, shattering space, and devouring everything. Forget about deriving new applications—even the usage form of the skill barely allows for variation.

Yet, ‘Space Devour’ possesses a beauty in its sheer power.

So far, nothing has been found capable of withstanding a single bite from Dolai.

The Undead General once remarked that if he wanted to withstand Dolai’s ultimate move head-on, the only way was to summon the Undead Holy Mountain. Even then, the mountain would lose half its peak from a single bite, demonstrating the overwhelming force of Space Devour.

Destructive power maxed out.

Moreover, once an enemy is locked on by it, evasion is nearly impossible.

There are drawbacks, though. Dolai can only devour targets within its ‘range.’ During the previous encounter with the Blood Raven Boss, Dolai had no chance to unleash this devastating move.

Rakshasa’s Epic Skill, ‘Three-Phase Body,’ differs from Dolai, Deadbone, Red Robe, and Isloria.

It is equally unique.

「Three-Phase Body」

「Description: Rakshasa can split into three individual aspects—’Good Body,’ ‘Evil Body,’ and ‘True Self.’ The combined strength of these three bodies is no less than the original, though each has distinct inclinations. The Good Body possesses ‘Karmic Flame,’ capable of burning away all sin. The Evil Body has a Sin-Eating Physique, enabling it to devour all sin to strengthen its form.」

「Additionally, under certain conditions, the separated three-phase bodies can merge back into one.」

「Note: Three-Phase Body is not a conventional clone or incarnation skill. It possesses autonomous cultivation ability, but if any of the bodies perish, reforming them comes at a great cost.」

At this moment, Rakshasa, wielding the Karma-Burning Fiend Spear, was enveloped in a roaring, dense storm of fiendish energy.

Within this dark brown whirlwind, Rakshasa’s form split into three.

In the center stood his ‘True Self,’ identical in appearance and features to before.

To the left was the ‘Good Body,’ its skin less dark, its expression less fierce, even carrying a hint of compassion for all beings.

To the right, the ‘Evil Body’ was the most striking. Its muscles were exceptionally knotted, its frame twice as bulky as before, with blackened features and sharp fangs, resembling a king of malevolent spirits.

Rakshasa and Red Robe’s transformations were witnessed by all the generals and elites, stirring envy in their hearts.

Who would be the next general eligible for an Epic evolution?

The Bone Dragon swallowed, though it had no saliva to speak of.

Yet the sight before it, the sheer transformation, was enough to astonish this dragon for ten thousand years!

After all, it was a Bone Dragon.

Though not great, not revered, dubbed the shame of the dragon race, weak and pathetic, still…

As one of the strongest troop types below the Epic tier, it could keenly sense the changes in Rakshasa and Red Robe. How to describe this transformation? It was no exaggeration to say it was like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, ascending to heaven in a single step!

A Bone Dragon like itself was only a step away from Epic—0.95 steps, to be precise—yet that tiny gap was like an insurmountable chasm. Its predecessor had struggled for centuries without crossing it.

But now,

having been recruited by the great, revered, supreme, unparalleled… (ten thousand words omitted) …wise Lord, it had a chance, and it wasn’t even far off.

At this moment, the Bone Dragon could only thank its predecessor. Its predecessor died well, died wonderfully—otherwise, how could it have met such a wise Lord?

Let’s do this!

For the glory of evolution, for the Lord, and to become a higher-quality mount, a certain Bone Dragon embarked on a frenzy of internal competition and cultivation.

…Under the night sky, the stars shone brilliantly.

A tall, slender figure walked through the silent mountain forest. The perilous wilderness and the murderous intent lurking in the deep night seemed to be of no concern to him.

In the darkness, pairs of glowing green eyes suddenly appeared.

A powerful ghost wolf lunged out from the shadows, baring its sharp, menacing fangs. Its pitch-black fur blended into the night, and a strong shadow energy coursed through its body.

But the ghost wolf, mid-pounce, froze in mid-air as if trapped by countless spiderwebs.

The slender figure continued walking forward, covering several steps—hundreds of meters in an instant.

Only then did a bloodline spread across the ghost wolf suspended in the air. Blood sprayed out, and the thick scent of blood attracted more ferocious beasts. A carnival feast began, and the once-silent mountain forest grew lively with splattering blood and savage roars.

The figure had long since moved on. He suddenly crouched down, touched the sand and stones on the ground, and revealed a smile.

“Found another territory. Let me count—this is the ninth newly established territory, right?”

He pulled out a map from his pocket, marked with the locations and basic information of the previous eight newly established territories.

He casually stuffed the map back into his robes, his attitude completely relaxed.

After all, his mission was merely to investigate the new territories, the outer defenses of the Taixuan Alliance, and… to search for the possible existence of the Tianyuan Territory in this region.

For him, this was simple—just time-consuming, requiring the repetitive process of finding territories and entering them.

Receiving such a task, the young man was actually somewhat dissatisfied.

He was no ordinary player; he was an intelligence officer within the Eye of Divine Radiance, a powerhouse ranked in the A-class sequence. Even among A-class agents, he stood at the forefront.

He had completed 11 A-class missions and 44 B-class missions—an astonishing record!

He had even infiltrated the territories of veteran lords on multiple occasions. These included the Taixuan Lord, neutral lords, and even the Everstar Lord.

This filled him with immense pride and arrogance.

After all, the greatest strength of a veteran lord lay not in their fully developed legions capable of conquering cities, nor in their renowned fierce generals, but in their heavily fortified territories, built through continuous development and management.

The territory of any veteran lord was like a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair.

He could not only infiltrate them but also escape unscathed.

He might not be the strongest among A-class agents, but he was one of the few best at infiltration and survival.

Because of this, he was hailed as ‘Phantom Victor.’

A titled powerhouse!

Once, while infiltrating the stronghold of a veteran lord, he was unfortunately exposed and even pursued by a Fourth-Order Commander Tier powerhouse—a veritable regional overlord—yet he still managed to escape.

This was his most boastworthy achievement.

To have him investigate the situation of new territories was truly a waste of his talents.

However, precisely because Victor was no small fry, he understood the importance of this mission. It wasn’t just about suppressing Tianyuan but also about thoroughly scouting the outer perimeter of the Taixuan Alliance to facilitate the next phase of their strategy.

“With Blue Star’s imminent fusion, the conflict between our Divine Radiance and Taixuan is becoming increasingly unavoidable.”

“If only Taixuan had obediently become a vassal of our Divine Radiance, there wouldn’t be so much trouble!”

After all, a single planetary world could, at most, give rise to only one faction-level power.

The first to gain recognition from the “Holy Griffin Empire” was their Divine Radiance Empire.The first to establish a faction was still their Divine Radiance Empire.

If only the Taixuan Alliance hadn’t somehow obtained a Faction Heart from somewhere, their Divine Radiance Empire could have long gathered all the resources of Blue Star to strive for a higher position.

Then he, Phantom Victor, wouldn’t have missed the chance to become a Lord back in those days.

Everything was Taixuan’s fault.

Just like the vast majority of countries on Blue Star, wouldn’t it be fine to become their vassal?

Victor moved through the shadows, speeding along like the wind.

Soon, just as he expected, a relatively small territory appeared within his sight. Many bright lights shone within the territory, resembling pearls in the night.

Saying this territory was small was only in comparison to the established territories and veteran territories Victor had seen before.

In reality,

its buildings, lights, and number of guards far exceeded the eight territories Victor had previously passed through.

“This is a town-level territory.”

“It seems I’ve finally encountered a somewhat capable newly established territory.”

He hoped it would bring him some gains, as well as some amusement.

Victor walked straight forward, but his form underwent some subtle changes. He didn’t appear in ordinary people’s vision, like a specter.

Second update…

(End of chapter)