Chapter 165: Astonishing Improvement
Anse now has many choices, such as continuing to accumulate experience, leveling up to 9 as soon as possible, and mastering Fifth Ring Spells.
Powerful Dominate Person, Hold Monster, Teleportation Circle, Bigby’s Hand, Synaptic Static are all Fifth Ring Spells, and mastering any one will be a qualitative change.
He can also spend three thousand six hundred experience to raise Paladin multiclass to level 4, max out Intelligence through feats, and unlock a second multiclass.
The new multiclass not only boosts combat power but also breaks mortal limits on Intelligence through feats, attuning more magical items.
He hesitates for a moment and decides to raise Sorcerer Level first!
The Black Tower still has a petrified high-level Rogue, and outside the city a large Amn Army is rushing over, soon bringing a huge amount of combat experience, with level up within reach.
At this time, he must hold back; it’s not too late to raise multiclass with any remaining experience after leveling up.
Anse continues to check the Character Card, below 「Resistance」 a new bar 「Immunity」 appears, with two items: Charm, Panic.
That means he can basically ignore spells that cause these two effects, such as Charm Monster, Fear.
Besides that, the biggest change comes from the soul level, but it’s hard to have any too intuitive feeling.
He stands up and goes to a corner of the room, picking up a dark golden Ring from a row of magical items, covered with rings of blue magic patterns.
This is the rarely used Spell Storing Ring, which can store one Fifth Ring Spell.
He doesn’t attune it immediately, but teleports back to the Federation with the Ring, opens the Window, and the staff dining building next door is brightly lit and packed with people.
The Guard Barracks is also lit up, and several teams of Warriors carrying lanterns are heading south along the street, probably going to change shifts.
Seeing everything as usual, Anse turns downstairs, instructs the on-duty Guard with a few words, then goes alone behind the house, selects a spacious Place, and concentrates on spellcasting.
“”
A hemispherical light ring appears, spreading outward from him as center, growing larger and larger, covering objects in its path, soon forming a hemisphere with a radius of nearly 5 meters.
Anse feels unprecedented ease and mastery, like reviewing junior high math after learning university math, with countless problem-solving ideas in mind, relaxed and pleasant, all under control.
He has a thought, and the sphere begins to transform, colors shifting, soon turning into a round Colored Mushroom House, as if from a fairy tale world.
Stepping into the Mushroom House, inside there is a tea table, round stool, and wooden bed fixed to the ground, in cartoon style, brightly colored, full of childlike fun.
‘It can actually reach this level.’ Anse looks at all this in amazement.
Previously, when he cast Leomund’s Tiny Hut, he could only cast it rigidly according to the spell model, not daring to change it casually; now he can slightly adjust its effects within the spell’s allowances.
The spell is still the same spell, but the degree of control has changed, casting is more flexible, and casting speed has also increased.
In theory, casting First Ring Spells requires Casting Attribute of 11, Second Ring 12… Ninth Ring 19; 21 already exceeds the base requirement by a wide margin.
‘Maybe one day, every spell I cast casually will rival metamagic effects.’ He chuckles lightly, in a great mood.
But then he thinks, those Genius Wizards without metamagic can still achieve some metamagic effects through understanding and control of spells, such as Empowered Spell.
And those naturally extraordinary races, each more outrageous than the last, so he can’t hold himself to ordinary human standards.
He composes himself, puts the Spell Storing Ring on his left index finger, takes out a Blanket and lays it on the bed, then closes his eyes to meditate.
Dark currents surge in the city, and there are wounded who might turn into Werewolves at any time; outside the city there are Amn people; staying in the Black Tower is too passive, unable to stay informed timely; living outside is better.
An hour passes, Anse completes attunement with the Spell Storing Ring, the whole process quite easy, feeling no burden.
「Brilliant Radiance」 is equivalent to upgrading the soul’s “bandwidth”, able to connect more magical items with ease.
He stores one Misty Step and one Magic Missile in the Spell Storing Ring, then begins making Holy Water.
Tomorrow he has to pay up, and the quantity of Holy Water he has on hand is still not quite enough.
——
The moon and stars are sparse, cool breeze blowing.
In the Wilderness, the advancing Amn vanguard suddenly stops, messengers running back and forth.
Moments later, the entire army camps on the spot, patrolling and standing guard, lighting fires and cooking.
Soon, a large command tent is set up in the center, over a dozen Officers hurrying over, sitting on both sides; simple meals are already laid out on low tables, but no one touches them.
The middle-aged Officer at the head looks gloomy, stroking his rough short beard, and says coldly: “The werewolf plan has failed!”
Everyone shows surprise, exchanging glances, saying nothing, waiting for more definite intelligence.
“Latest news from the spy: this afternoon, the Federation suddenly launched a large-scale raid, precisely hunting Werewolves lurking in the city; battle resolved in less than two hours, Werewolf Leader was blasted by Federation President Hollewen at the North Gate…”
“How is that possible?” A long-faced man with prominent canine teeth frowns, puzzled, “I’ve seen that man; his strength is decent, but not enough to take down that beast.”
He has a deep impression of Anse’s Fireball, but hasn’t truly fought Anse, so can only speculate.
“Detailed battle report hasn’t come yet, but someone saw the Owlbear, and Jacqueline the Castle Lord also joined the fight.” The middle-aged Officer glances at Derik, eyes carrying some disdain.
“No Treant?” Derik looks suspicious; he has always seen the Treant as the biggest threat.
“No Treant!” The middle-aged Officer coldly eyes Derik, “Next time you speak, remember the word ‘Officer’, or roll back to Nascal.”
Derik’s expression stiffens; in strength he’s not inferior, but one rank lower in position, in the army camp he can only obey.
He forcibly suppresses his annoyance, slightly lowers his head: “Yes, Officer Bahamund.”
“Mm.” The middle-aged Officer ignores him; this man just joined the army half a year ago, leads an elite combat squad alone, carries a bunch of Adventurer habits, needs constant reminders.
At this time, one Officer speaks up: “Officer, what now? Without Werewolves to distract, forced assault will cause huge losses.”
“Possibly some Werewolf was captured.” Bahamund shakes his head slightly, eyes troubled, “Verdant Courtyard has always been at odds with the Federation; didn’t expect them to team up this time. They’ve always been watching the Werewolves, so not strange if they detected their movements early.”
“I knew a bunch of beasts couldn’t be relied on, no brains for schemes; just daytime raid would’ve done, thousand wolves into the city, Dulag would be in chaos.” Derik scoffs, face with some mockery.
“Werewolves aren’t as smart as you, nor as fast on their feet.” Bahamund says flatly.
As soon as he finishes, many Officers can’t help but chuckle, emitting a few suppressed laughs.
Derik cold-hums, deciding to stay silent.
“Officer, what to do now? Without Werewolves to pin them down, storming will incur massive losses.” An Officer asks solemnly.
“Surround and blockade, wait for opportunity.” Bahamund muses.
“This…” The Officers exchange looks.
Most of Nascal’s forces were sent to Beregost, some left to guard the city; the remaining over two thousand troops were all brought out by them.
Two thousand men can barely blockade two City Gates, let alone besiege a small city?
“Who said I’m besieging Dulag?” Bahamund laughs heartily, confident, “Strike the snake at its vital point; Dulag’s fate hinges on two key figures—take them down, and everything resolves easily.”
