Azure Scepter

Page 80

Trier did not shake hands with Edith, but asked in a gentle voice, "Your Highness, from your personal perspective, why are the local nobles of the Southern Duchy opposing the investigation team's work?"

“Two reasons,” Edith said, her smile still intact. “First, there are certainly many enemies among the local nobles who have been corrupted and degraded by the Silent Whisperers; their opposition to us actually proves we're doing the right thing. However, from another perspective, Teacher’s strategy has also greatly harmed the interests of the local nobles. Abandoning areas outside the major cities means that many noble fiefdoms will be swept away by the undead; while actively purging the demons, rather than the Silent Whisperers cultists, will only delay the resolution of the disaster…”

Trier sighed softly.

—Chief Spy Nordman's assessment was entirely correct; Princess Edith was indeed very intelligent. Although she had not received a systematic education as a ruler, she still knew everything. However, in front of Oris, she was unwilling to do anything.

Her education and beliefs turned her into a puppet whose behavior was manipulated by others.

“Your Highness, those measures not only harmed the nobles of the Southern Duchy, but also the ordinary people in those fiefdoms! You know this perfectly well, so why did you let this go unchecked?” Futia’s eyes widened in surprise, and her voice suddenly rose several decibels. “You are clearly the head of the investigation team, and Lord Oris is just your deputy. You only need to give orders!”

“But… but he is, after all, my teacher, and… he is a chosen one who received divine revelation from the Radiance.” Edith retorted instinctively, “Fodia, you are, after all, an elf. You simply don’t understand what divine revelation means to us.”

Fythia sneered, “Of course I understand—Trier is, the real deal, I swear in the name of the Sage of Sunset.”

She emphasized the word "genuine" in her tone.

Edith blinked subconsciously, and the next moment, she looked at Trier with a puzzled expression.

Before the princess could speak, the time traveler interjected, "Your Highness, if you can immediately order a blockade of all grain shipments, evacuate the people in Eraf as soon as possible, and seek help from the King and the Council, then I will naturally help you find the corrupt nobles who have degenerated into lackeys of the Silent Whisperers."

“But teacher…” The princess frowned, her voice filled with hesitation and uncertainty.

Trier pressed on, and he immediately interrupted, "All you need to do is give the order. Apart from your own hesitation, there is nothing in your way."

At that moment, new shadows were cast over the edge of the hole overhead—the others were almost there.

Edith looked slightly disappointed. She quietly withdrew her hand, as if worried about being seen by others.

"Snapped."

The next moment, Futia grabbed Edith's hand.

"Edith, I may not agree with some of your methods, but no matter what, I will always support you."

The heavily injured elf forced a smile at the princess, then winked in Trier's direction.

"Great assist, Fauci!" Trier thought to himself.

“Your Highness, please don’t worry, I will never force you.” Although he had just threatened the princess, he remained calm and took a half step back without making a sound. “Of course I will help you.”

Edith was stunned. After a moment, she seemed to understand that the reason for Trier's change of attitude was Fythia, and she looked at her best friend with great gratitude.

“Of course, it would be even better if you could let me meet with Lord Oris,” Trier added casually.

The princess nodded slightly, and her smile returned, though this time it seemed tinged with sadness: "Of course."

—The opportunity has arrived. Trier thought to himself.

Trier knew Oris, that slippery old catfish, all too well.

In the game's original lore, this so-called divinely inspired figure always used divine revelation as an excuse to avoid perilous battles—he escaped the undead plague that destroyed the Kingdom of Orko, the Battle of the Rusty Cold Lake where the Knights of the Holy Judgment perished, and the various bloody battles unleashed when the saint walked the earth...

In short, Oris is a cowardly lizard who always chooses to back down when faced with a powerful enemy.

"By the way, Your Highness, do you know where Lord Oris went? I don't think I encountered him on the battlefield," Trier asked casually.

Edith lowered her gaze slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"The teacher received divine revelation, so he didn't join the battle..."

“Even all the water in the endless abyss cannot turn the black swan’s black feathers white, even if the blue waves wash it forever,” Trier chuckled, quoting a line from Bloodstained Black Sails. “Perhaps, I mean perhaps, Lord Oris will still enter the divine revelation during the next great war. That would be good, as it would avoid all the risks, since we have been fighting all along.”

The second important principle of sowing discord is to use the enemy's real and objective habits to establish a false causal relationship through successful predictions, thereby planting the seeds of doubt. Then, all that is needed is time to nurture and blossom those seeds.

Moreover, what Trier said at this time could not be considered a false causal connection. The truth he spoke of was that Oris was indeed afraid of risks. Like the copper dragon Auris, he only dared to strike hard against the weak.

Quoting lines that Edith liked was purely a speculative act of pandering to her tastes.

Edith was stunned again. Her expression was complicated, as if she wanted to say something, but the next moment, Trier continued to speak.

“The moon shines brightly, its silver light painting the tips of the laurel trees. In the name of the moon in the sky, I swear.” Trier glanced at the black ash left by the burning Balrog on the ground. “I will not back down. I will fight until all evil that intends to destroy the Southern Duchy is destroyed.”

His first half of the sentence was a direct quote from "The Legend of Sir Kruso's Search for the Water Fairy Queen, and the Sir and His Seven Elf Wives," a statement Edith had made when he met Feudia earlier.

This still hints at Oris's cowardice, but Trier wasn't entirely making things up; he genuinely held such thoughts in his heart.

On the one hand, protecting his ancestral property was of sufficient material benefit to him. The wealth of the Southern Duchy could help him continue his research into necromancy after the event, and the large population was even enough to provide a foundation for his later attempt to become a god.

On the other hand, he had also made a promise to Harlan. In the end, what he had seen and heard since his transmigration, and his actions as a paladin, had caused his understanding of the world to become somewhat skewed.

As he said those words, Trier suddenly felt a wonderful sense of connection between his body and mind. An invisible force surged from his chest and then filled his limbs and bones like a warm current.

The princess instinctively replied, "Please don't swear by the moon. Every moon has its phases; it is ever-changing."

“Very well—I, Trier, swear by my oath as a paladin.” Trier suddenly drew his longsword, the hum of the blade echoing through the tomb. He said with utmost seriousness, “I will purge all those who interfere with our efforts to save the Southern Duchy, not even evil gods!”

As Trier's steady voice rang out, a white halo suddenly appeared!

To Edith's astonishment, holy white light drifted through the air like falling petals, instantly dispelling the dampness and chill. White specks of light surrounded Trier, like little fairies dancing to violin music in a fairy tale. The holy light multiplied, becoming so abundant that Edith could barely open her eyes—

The next moment, holy light surged into Trier's body like a flood!

"Snapped!"

[You have been inspired by your noble deeds and vows!]

[Current available profession: Paladin]

[WARNING: You have been detected as a Paladin (Vow of Vengeance) only!]

[Transforming... Transforming...]

[Paladin level 12 → level 13!]

[Paladin level 13 → level 14!]

PS: Second update

Chapter 160 All Things Are Evil

In an instant, Trier leveled up two levels!

He subconsciously looked around, and the holy light illuminated the gloomy tomb as bright as day, like a shadowless lamp. With each heartbeat, a warm and dry feeling would flow into his limbs and bones.

Trier inexplicably felt a gentle yet firm power within him, a power that connected his thoughts to every tiny muscle fiber. He felt as if he were an ascetic standing atop a mountain, with the blazing sun seemingly within reach, as if he could touch it if he simply reached out.

Trier extended his palm; he did not cast Holy Light, but a faint, warm holy light still emanated from his palm.

"I can't believe I'm also being summoned by a mysterious force." The transmigrator felt quite strange at this moment. Whether before or after the transmigration, this was the first time he had encountered a situation where he leveled up without using experience points.

In the game "Azure Scepter", in addition to using experience points to level up, players can also improve their class level by meeting extremely complex conditions. These requirements are often extremely complicated, and even someone as knowledgeable as Trier has never seen many people other than warriors level up in this way.

—Warriors can directly upgrade their class level by simply fighting and defeating powerful enemies in life-or-death battles.

"They actually leveled up by two whole levels."

Trier glanced at the information panel in disbelief.

[Paladin lv12→lv13]

[Based on your main class advancement, you have acquired the feat "Advanced Lay on Hands"]

[Based on your Intelligence modifier and primary job upgrade, you have gained 21 Freelance Points.]

[Paladin lv13→lv14]

[Based on your primary class upgrade, you have acquired the Vengeful Knight special feat "Blade of Judgment"]

[Based on your Intelligence modifier and primary job upgrade, you have gained 21 Freelance Points.]

A cobalt blue light screen unfolded before his eyes like mercury spilling onto the ground, and at the end of the blue message, a striking warning message caught his eye.

[Warning: Since you have become a Paladin, the power of your Invocation has been converted into your class level. You have also gained one Special Feat Point, which can only be used in Paladin feats and their derivatives.]

[Special Skill Point +1]

Trier's expression was complicated. He turned his head slightly and glanced at Edith, whose face was full of confusion and shock.

"I never expected that the cringeworthy words I used to say to sow discord between Edith and Oris would actually attract a mysterious call..." he thought to himself.

He couldn't help but fall into deep self-reflection: "Am I actually the best person in the narrowest sense? Perhaps, in terms of my actions, apart from turning Noi into a spirit, I've done nothing but good."

"Does this mean that the criteria for judging an oath are actually objective?"

"Forget it, I'll stop thinking about it. Let's focus on the acquired specializations." Trier shook his head, trying to dispel the strange thoughts.

[Advanced Healing: Through long practice, the righteousness of the oath has become part of your every action. You now possess self-healing abilities based on your Faith Protection level, currently restoring 5 health per blasphemy.]

[Furthermore, when you actively use Lay on Hands, you can simultaneously dispel nausea, fatigue, and trembling when the Justice bonus provided by Blessing of Faith is greater than 3; your Lay on Hands can also dispel dizziness, disease, and confusion; when the Justice bonus provided by Blessing of Faith is greater than 5, your Lay on Hands can dispel curses and remove exhaustion and poison; when the Justice bonus provided by Blessing of Faith equals 7, you are like a living saint, and any touch you make will greatly heal the wounds of the person you touch, while also removing blindness, deafness, paralysis, and shock.]

“Now I’m finally free from the glass cannon situation. With the damage reduction effect of Solidified Conviction, it’s hard for me to die directly. And as long as I don’t die directly, I can regenerate like a troll.” Trier thought to himself, “If my constitution is increased to 20, my recovery speed may be faster than the opponent’s.”

"My Justice bonus from the Protection of Faith has reached 5, so I no longer need to worry about fatigue and exhaustion caused by battles. I just need to heal myself with Lay on Hands."

Trier's eyes flickered as he looked at the second specialty.

[The Blade of Judgment: A unique specialty of vengeful paladins who hate evil and seek to punish it, the power of oaths infuses your Holy Slash. Once you successfully strike an enemy of the evil alignment with Holy Slash, subsequent hit rolls against that target will gain an additional Charisma modifier; additionally, as long as you do not retreat, you gain a deflection bonus based on your Charisma bonus when attacked by enemies affected by your Holy Slash—this effect stacks with the effects of the Oath of the Enemy.]

“A very good feat.” Trier sighed slightly, “but my Charisma bonus is a bit low. Although it’s not negative, it’s only 1 point. However, thankfully I have the Tranquility feat!”

The transmigrator happily reviewed the special skills he acquired after outwitting and outmaneuvering the sealed dream realm demigod.

[Tranquility: Faced with the terrifying crisis brought by overwhelming evil, some exceptionally gifted paladins can still remain calm. Their composure makes them even stronger—the number of divine spells you can use each day, as well as the related effects of those spells and the various paladin feats, will be determined by the Perception modifier, not the Charisma modifier.]

“Although my Charisma modifier is only 1, my Perception modifier is a full 5 points!” Trier nodded with satisfaction. “Combined with the 10-point natural base attack bonus from Otherworldly Knowledge, I can get nearly 15 points of attack roll bonus against enemies hit by the Holy Slash. This number is simply outrageous.”

"Although this feat only works against enemies of the evil faction, I remember there's a variant of the Paladin class called the Suffering Knight that has a very unique feat..."

With that thought in mind, Trier looked at that "special expertise".

Although Trier has always played a mage specializing in necromancy in the game, he also has a deep understanding of the skill point allocation for other classes. After all, knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory.

"Found it, the unique specialty of the Suffering Knight: Evil in All Things."

"Add more for me!" Trier thought to himself.

[All things are evil: The solitary knight of suffering only appears in the most difficult situations, surrounded by boundless darkness and despair, but they never give up—now, your divine spells and Holy Slash will have additional effects on neutral enemies as well, but at the cost, your supernatural ability "Divine Favor" and the divine spell "Detect Evil" will be completely disabled.]

"This feat is commonly known as Adaptive Evil," Trier thought to himself. "Now, even without weapons or spells, I should be able to easily destroy the Iron Golem with my bare hands, since the golem is now on the evil side."

Trier casually tossed 42 skill points into "Orco Cross Sword Technique," and then acquired a simple yet extremely powerful personal skill.

[Master of the Orco Cross Swordsmanship: In this swordsmanship style, you can be called a master. Your base attack (BAB) and base defense (AC) will always increase by one point.]

“Even without buffing myself, my base attack bonus is already 25 points, which is enough to compare with a typical melee-type legendary weapon.” Trier casually twirled his sword, then looked around.

—Although Noi remained expressionless, Trier still sensed a profound shock through their mental connection. Although Trier did not actively read Noi's thoughts, Noi's turbulent and chaotic thoughts still flowed through the link.

“Glory, why does our master receive the reward of the oath for instigating that foolish and arrogant princess? Isn’t instigation an act that walks on the edge of morality?”

"Am I the only one who understands that Master is instigating Edith? No, that's not right. Master's skill is indeed high, but it shouldn't be this bad. Wait, could it be that the Holy Deception is also encouraged by the Radiance? This is too..."

"I don't understand! My head hurts so much!"

Despite her severe injuries, Futia remained seated on the ground, her arms wrapped around her knees, looking at herself quietly with a faint smile on her lips.

Edith was also looking at Trier, but her brows were furrowed.

As is widely known, there are two ways to become a paladin: one is through rigorous training within the Paladin Order, and the other is through the legendary mystical calling.

Trier just seemed to have been inspired... However, as far as she knew, Trier had been promoted to paladin in Beaver Town due to a mysterious inspiration.

Could a person receive two mystical calls? Edith couldn't help but wonder.

and many more!

An inspiration suddenly struck Edith's mind like a blazing spark.

Perhaps what just happened wasn't a mysterious calling, but rather... a divine revelation of radiance!

Her eyes widened, her emerald green pupils contracting repeatedly.

If Fythia is right, and Trier truly is a divinely inspired individual, then it's perfectly normal for him to suddenly become a spellcaster even more powerful than a legendary mage in such a short time. Moreover, Trier now seems very close to becoming a legendary paladin...

“Radiance…” Edith murmured to herself.

If the above reasoning is correct, then Trier's behavior during her divine revelation is completely different from the teacher's epileptic seizures during hers. Therefore, Trier's somewhat harsh accusations against the teacher seem to have taken on a different meaning...

Edith couldn't help but shudder.

PS: This is the first update. There will be one more update today (today's definition is before 8 AM tomorrow). I sent a red envelope; it's under the menu options in the app.

Chapter 161 The Trader (Part 1)

Edith couldn't help but shudder.

In an instant, she felt as if she had glimpsed some kind of truth, like a sailor navigating the abyss who had accidentally caught a glimpse of some indescribable behemoth, and a chill ran from her tailbone straight to the top of her head.