Chapter 961 - Loading the Merge Ability
Han Wu hunted Wolf Mountain to extinction before finally gathering all the equipment and materials required for Lone Wolf Warrior.
After absorbing the legacy, Han Wu finally completed his First Form. It seemed Han Wu would keep his human appearance until he specifically activated it, though his attributes had received a massive boost regardless. Even without activating any skills or changing forms, his base stats reached Strength +55, Agility +55, Attack +50, and Defense +60.
Once he activated Lone Wolf Warrior, these stats would double. That kind of power, combined with Lycanthropy and Crushing Claws, meant he was likely already stronger than some Second or even Third Form creatures that lacked a named legacy.
Completing the First Form also officially unlocked the Second Form. He received ten empty slots, just like before, except each slot could now accommodate Rank 2 equipment and materials.
Han Wu immediately placed the Rank 2 hook claws he’d gotten from the Wolf King into one slot. The Void Stone holding the Refiner was too valuable to be discarded, so he temporarily equipped it until he found a Rank 2 Void Stone to replace it.
Finally, he took out the Rank 1 Divine Stone. This was his chance to unseal one of his powers. The significance of that was enormous, so he had to weigh his options carefully.
After some deliberation, Han Wu decided to load Merge into it.
Merge could combine materials or equipment together and raise their quality. The only problem was that it was bound to the True Martial Jurisdiction. A Rank 1 Divine Stone simply couldn’t contain both. He could force them in, but it would cap their effectiveness at 1%.
Han Wu had no choice. The White Soul Civilization’s laws were throttling his powers, and he couldn’t exactly negotiate terms with the Golden Will, so he’d just have to accept it. Even 1% was better than nothing, and he could always swap in a higher-ranked Divine Stone later.
After placing the inscribed Divine Stone into a slot, a warm sensation spread through his body. That was the protection of the True Martial Jurisdiction, granting him a 10% overall attribute boost and a 10% increase in the power of martial skills. It was extremely practical for his situation.
As for Merge, at 1% effectiveness, its speed was throttled a hundredfold. Han Wu fused two Rank 1 Fire Stones as a test. Fortunately, even at a hundred times slower, the two stones merged into a single Rank 2 Fire Stone in ten seconds.
Han Wu’s eyes lit up. He’d found a way to access stronger skills ahead of schedule.
He immediately fused the remaining materials in his bag. Before long, he had multiple Rank 2 stones of various elements. Picking several, he inscribed skills into them and ended up with four more skills.
[Fire Breath Palm: Shoot a five-meter tongue of flame on release. Attack +8, Fire +8]
[Mend: Accelerates wound recovery and temporarily grants Constitution +5]
[Flash Kick: An explosive burst kick. Strength +5, Attack +5]
[Toxic Claws: A venomous claw strike that requires the right equipment to execute. Agility +6, Poison +8]
The reason he stopped at four was neither a matter of lacking available abilities nor slots, but the limit of his White Soul Coins. After inscribing these, he was down to single digits. He couldn’t afford to inscribe anything else.
Still, those four skills would do for the moment. Han Wu headed down the mountain in a pleasant mood.
The Desolation Manifestation had already scouted a route for him. There was a human city to the southeast where Han Wu could resupply. Trusting the Desolation Manifestation completely, he set off toward the southeast. Along the way, he ran into a four-person adventurer party.
They had come to Wolf Mountain to hunt wolves for materials and equipment, but couldn’t find a single one. Staying on high alert, they pushed deeper, yet still found nothing. As they were wondering what was going on, they spotted Han Wu and, terrified that he would attack, instantly dropped into a defensive stance.
Han Wu glanced at them once. Their sloppy formation was full of holes. If he actually wanted to kill them, it wouldn’t even take ten seconds.
According to the White Soul Civilization’s laws, killing any living being netted materials, equipment, or White Soul Coins. He didn’t bother, though. Their strength was simply too low.
The Desolation Manifestation confirmed that none of them had even reached First Form. Killing them wouldn’t be worth the effort.
Han Wu walked right past them. The four relaxed slightly when they realized he wasn’t going to attack.
A chubby-cheeked girl dressed as a mage boldly called out to him, “Excuse me, do you know why there aren’t any wolves on Wolf Mountain?”
After the Desolation Manifestation translated, Han Wu replied directly, “Because I killed them all.”
The Desolation Manifestation relayed his words back to the group. All four of them froze. The mage girl’s mouth hung wide open, and the staff slipped from her hand, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
“Every wolf on the entire mountain?” one party member asked. “You’re joking. There had to be at least a thousand wolves here.”
Another shook his head. “The number of wolves isn't the problem. The problem is Ferris, the Wolf King, controlling this territory. There’s no way it would let someone slaughter its pack and do nothing about it.”
“If he said he killed all the wolves, does that include Ferris?” the mage girl asked after collecting herself.
The very idea of this left her three companions stunned, and the party continued whispering amongst themselves.
“That would mean he has at least a Second Form!”
“A Second Form fighter, and I doubted him? I’m such an idiot!”
“Galewind City is organizing people to resist the Undead Legion’s invasion. Think we should invite him to fight?”
“Absolutely. If he really killed Ferris, maybe he can stand up to the Fourth Form Undead General too. The guild will reward us handsomely for recommending someone like him!”
“Then what are we waiting for? Go get him!” the mage girl cried out.