Chapter 236: 112. Start brushing, start brushing_5
Translator: 549690339
If the Golden Commerce Guild knew that they had a wizard who was willing to clean up aberrations among their ranks, they’d laugh in their sleep.
Businessmen, after all, always put profits first, and they would never refuse an opportunity for gain.
Moreover, within the territory of the Golden Federation, wizards other than those specifically declared illegal were not considered criminals, they just couldn’t openly come to the forefront. This was much better than the ghostly situation in the Tatis Empire.
By turning a blind eye to Noland Lee’s existence, the Golden Commerce Guild didn’t break any of the laws and rules set by the Alchemy Cathedral, and could not be accused of harboring illegal forces.
As long as Noland didn’t do anything excessive, this tacit agreement could be maintained.
Once he understood this, Noland became more measured in his actions.
In the dim tunnel, he activated “Tracking the Living”, cast a “Magic Shield”, and took a revolver in each hand.
With no onlookers, this series of operations became much easier.
He pushed open the sluice gate of the staircase, descending to the third underground level.
Jumping over the foam-sealed hollow, he continued forward until he saw traces of battle on the ground.
A dozen small aberrations were torn in half by sharp weapons, their bodies lining the walls of the corridor. Blood from the aberrations was splattered all over the walls.
As Noland passed the corpses of the aberrations, he silently chanted “Collect Soul Fragments”.
[System Message: ] [Soul Strength +0.1 point]
[Soul Strength +0.1 point]
Not bad, these corpses were fresh, and each had soul fragments.
Noland collected soul fragments as he continued forward.
Not far away, he saw a metal gate that was wide open on the wall.
According to the map provided by Kent, this gate led to the fourth underground level, and should normally be closed.
Noland noticed claw marks left by the leopard on the door frame and bolt, probably the work of Fars Scott.
He considered it, then left the door half-closed without locking or barring it, as a return route for Fars and Kent.
The fourth underground level might still have some fresh aberration corpses, but it also posed unknown dangers.
Faced with this tempting yet dangerous situation, Noland decisively bypassed the metal gate and continued deeper into the third underground level, acting as if he had no knowledge of the soul fragments available on the fourth underground level. He was just that cautious.
About 20 seconds later, the air became more acrid, indicating the presence of aberrations ahead.
Noland brought up his skill list, investing 100 Energy Points into “Tracking the Living” to raise it from level 1 to level 5.
His vision suddenly cleared, and the horizontal range of his sight was extended from the original 20 meters to 60 meters.
Many swaying red silhouettes entered Noland’s vision, running towards him. Judging by the way these creatures moved on all fours, they were aberrations.
“Bring it on.”
Noland grinned, raising both arms and pointing his revolvers at the two aberrations at the front.
Two transparent bolts of lightning shot out, instantly covering fifty meters and piercing the aberrations.
The two aberrations suddenly stopped in their tracks, colliding with the ones following closely behind.
Instantly, chaos ensued as the creatures roared and screeched. With the help of “Tracking the Living”, Noland could easily discern the aberrations’ movements and attacks. When an aberration opened its mouth, he knew.
He even knew how they opened their mouths.
Noland aimed at the top of an aberration’s head, slightly lowering his aim, and fired the first bullet with a loud bang.
“Splurt!”
Bullets whirled, penetrating the fragile upper jaw inside the mouth, pulverizing the soft tissue, and shooting out from the back of the aberration’s head.
The first aberration fell, the rest shrieked and roared, charging towards Noland
Some of them sprinted on the floor, while others leaped high up, crawling on the walls, bouncing back and forth between the left and right walls.
Noland Lee remained calm in the face of danger, sweeping the muzzle across the aberrations rushing towards him, throwing a bunch of transparent lightning. “Fear Spell” x3!
“Cripple Spell” x3!
Six aberrations were instantly controlled by him.
“Bang bang bang bang bang bang!”
He alternated shooting with both hands, sending bullets flying one after another, with the sound of flesh ripping echoing in the corridor.
After six shots, only three aberrations fell.
Noland Lee frowned slightly, knowing that his shooting skills were too poor to achieve the desired effect.
But he didn’t get discouraged, once again casting control spells and pulling the trigger.
Emptying the bullets of two revolvers, he casually tossed them aside, pulling out two more revolvers from his waist and continued shooting.
Instead of falling to the ground, the discarded revolvers are drawn to hang on the side of the backpack by the retractable rope inside. This was a small mechanism that Noland Lee designed in advance to prevent losing firearms.
“Bang bang bang…”
Gunshots rampaged in the corridor as aberrations fell one after another.
Of the whole group of aberrations, only one made it to Noland Lee’s face, and he blasted its upper jaw at close range. All the other aberrations died halfway.
Noland Lee breathed a sigh of relief, with a smile on his lips.
He touched the revolvers hanging on the backpack, glanced at his personal panel, and his eyes swept across the aberration corpses in front of him, silently calculating the gains and losses of the battle.
“I invested 12 revolvers, about 70 bullets, consumed 3 Soul Strength and 30 Energy Points, and killed… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… at least 30 aberrations. With all these moves, how much Soul Strength am I going to get?”
Noland Lee collected the soul fragments at the scene and glanced at his personal panel:
“14 level 1 aberrations, 17 level 2 aberrations, a total of 4.8 points of Soul Strength, a net gain of 1.8 points. ‘Kinetic Weapon Shooting Proficiency’ has risen to level 7, and ‘Dual Gun Shooting Proficiency’ has been unlocked. Not considering ammo consumption, it’s like using 30 Energy Points to exchange for 1.8 points of Soul Strength and related passive skill experience. Well, this deal is definitely not a loss, but it’s just a small gain.”
Noland Lee kicked a corpse at his feet and muttered in his heart:
“These level 1 aberrations are really dragging down my efficiency in killing them. If all the aberrations were level 2, my Soul Strength acquisition rate would be much higher.”
He looked up at the dark corridor, “I wonder if there are only IVI 2 aberrations in the depths of Underground Layer 2…”
Noland Lee changed the bullets in the 12 revolvers, inserted them into his waist, and continued forward with anticipation and caution.
“I didn’t bring any food or drink. The backpack is all filled with bullets. Unless I shoot all these 700 bullets, no one will be able to make me go back. Hehe”Eh? Wait, I think I forgot something.”
Noland Lee stopped in his tracks, his eyes scanning the ground, and locked onto a relatively intact aberration corpse.
With a thought, he traced the spell blueprint and cast the “Enslavement of Deceased” spell, subconsciously holding his breath.
The aberration wobbled to its feet, obeyed his will, and came to his side, crouching down in a completely submissive manner, like a loyal servant.
Noland Lee glanced around.
Aberrations caught by his gaze got up one after another and stood by his side. “So, the ‘Enslavement ot Deceased’ can be used to enslave non-human undead as well. That’s interesting.”
Noland Lee rejoiced inwardly, but didn’t gloat.
After all, the “Enslavement of Deceased” spell also consumed Soul Strength and Energy Points.
Whether summoning aberration undead to fight for oneself is profitable or not, there is no definite conclusion yet, and only a test in real combat will tell.
“Let’s get to it-”
Noland Lee waved his hand and, along with his little minions, ran towards the depths of the Third Underground Level..