Looking at the mysterious scale, which had transformed from pure black to gray-white, Nolan knew that the curse power stored within it had been completely devoured by him.
The dense curse aura throughout the narrow stone wall also dissipated at this moment.
"My professional level increased by two ranks in one go. What kind of creature did this scale come from?"
Nolan raised his palm, effortlessly lifting the giant mysterious scale from the ground, a look of solemnity appearing on his face. "It's very light!"
He shook the scale a few times. The palm-thick scale sliced through the air without making a sound.
Nolan took out an iron sword with his left hand and forcefully struck the scale.
Clang!
A crisp impact sound rang out.
Not a single scratch appeared on the mysterious scale; instead, the iron sword's point of impact with the scale was dented.
So hard!
Nolan's eyes lit up. The ability to store such immense curse power indicated that the scale itself was extraordinary.
At the same time, it could also withstand the erosion of curse power.
What if it were made into a weapon?
This thought flashed through Nolan's mind. This might be an excellent material. But the problem was, there might not be anyone in the Another World (Otherworld) capable of forging such a scale into a weapon.
Furthermore.
The source of the curse power came from this mysterious scale.
Then.
"Did the 'Curse Knight' profession also originate from this scale, or rather, from the creature behind this scale?"
Nolan speculated with a solemn expression.
As far as he knew, besides the current Lenas, the only other person in this world with the "Curse Knight" profession dated back to one of the Thirteen Heroes two hundred years ago.
Nolan looked at the human skeleton leaning against the wall.
Was the other party one of the "Thirteen Heroes" from the legends of various human nations?
He glanced around the narrow stone wall crevice. Besides the mysterious scale and the skeleton, there was nothing else.
Naturally, it was impossible to prove whose skeleton this human's was.
He placed the mysterious scale into his item box.
"I'll take these things. Whoever you are, thank you for this gift."
Nolan softly spoke to the skeleton.
He had more or less figured out the general course of events.
The time when the curse power within the mysterious scale began to dissipate was impossible to calculate, perhaps starting when the Forest Gnome tribe began to clear the poisonous magical beasts that occasionally climbed up into the valley.
Due to its continuous presence in the crevice within the stone wall, the curse power dissipated very slowly.
However, a few years ago, a creature like a petrified lizard dug through this partition, and the curse power finally spread out completely.
Unfortunately.
If that large portion hadn't dissipated, Nolan felt that the "Curse Knight" profession might have instantly reached its maximum level.
Whoosh!
The Flame Archangel flapped its wings, carrying Nolan back into the cave and out of the narrow crevice hidden within the mountain wall.
Outside the stone wall.
Duogan had woken from his coma, but because he was too close to the center of the mysterious scale, the skin all over his body had completely rotted.
Waves of pain constantly surged, but the frenzied emotion in Duogan's eyes had completely receded, returning to clarity.
He struggled to get up from the ground.
"Cough, cough, has the curse's power been resolved?"
Duogan leaned against a rock, his voice weak, muttering to himself powerlessly.
Ever since he was affected by the curse, he felt his mental state had never been as good as it was now; the power in the air that agitated his spirit had completely disappeared.
In the dark environment, a glimmer of light appeared from above.
The figure of the Flame Archangel appeared in Duogan's blurred vision.
"Are you alright, Duogan?"
After Nolan descended from the air, he quickly approached Duogan, frowning at his current weak state.
The other party's body had been severely corroded by the curse power, just like the fully rotted magical beasts he had killed earlier.
"What caused this, Strong One?" Duogan opened his clear green eyes, speaking in a faint tone.
He desperately wanted to know the answer, what had caused the destruction of their entire tribe.
This was his only purpose in coming here!
"It was a cursed undead creature."
"Sealed deep within the rock wall. It seems the petrified lizards living here accidentally dug through the rock wall, causing the leakage of curse energy." Nolan paused briefly, then slowly spoke.
He felt this answer would be easier for the forest gnome in front of him to accept.
If he were to say that all of this was caused by merely a scale from some unknown creature, Duogan would probably fall into true despair.
"Undead creature—"
"Indeed, it really is—such a detestable existence for the living."
Duogan's weak voice carried both anger and relief. "We forest gnomes exist to protect the jungle and the creatures living within it."
At this point.
Duogan's eyes became somewhat hazy.
"In the end, were we still cursed by the power of the petrified lizards?"
Weak and hazy voices continuously echoed within the cave. Nolan also thoroughly understood the entire sequence of events.
The Forest Gnome tribe had always passed down a special magic ritual. This ritual required tribe members who possessed the ability of "Wild Transformation" to perform it.
In the ritual, by consuming the heart of a certain magical beast or wild animal, one could not only gain the power buff of that magical beast or wild animal.
One could also break through the limits of "Wild Transformation" and transform into that magical beast, but at the same time, one would lose the ability to transform into other wild animals, only being able to transform into the wild animal or magical beast whose heart was consumed.
In this area, the strongest magical beast was the petrified lizard, so the young people in the entire tribe always regarded hunting petrified lizards and devouring their hearts as an honor.
However, this kind of magic ritual.
It was also resisted by some members of the tribe. The act of eating the heart of a magical beast went against their duties.
Duogan, in front of him, was clearly not one of these conservatives. He relied on his own strength to single-handedly capture a petrified lizard and complete the magic ritual.
This immediately caused a sensation in the Forest Gnome community at the time, as petrified lizards were quite strong magical beasts.
The carcass of the deceased petrified lizard was then shared by Duogan as food with his companions and some members of the tribe.
As a result.
The curse erupted.
The entire tribe was instantly destroyed, with only one tribe member escaping. This is why Duogan kept saying they were cursed by the petrified lizards.
After hearing his words.
Nolan couldn't make a judgment, but it drew his attention to the so-called magic ritual he had previously overlooked.
During the battle.
Nolan felt that Duogan's strength was unusually high.
The other party possessed the "Wizard" profession, capable of using second-tier magic, meaning his spellcasting level was at least above eight.
He also possessed the "Forest Priest" profession, allowing him to transform into a petrified lizard far exceeding his own size. Normally, his level wouldn't be low either.
At least above level 21.
But apart from the considerable strength he possessed after transforming into a petrified lizard, he wasn't particularly strong in other aspects.
The "Wild Transformation" skill also has levels, generally divided into three tiers. The first tier only allows transformation into beasts and magical creatures of similar size to oneself.
The second stage allows for exceeding one's own size, but there are still certain restrictions.
Only upon reaching the third tier are there no size restrictions, and this level typically requires being above level 60.
Yet, the magic ritual passed down by the Forest Gnome tribe could actually break through this limitation!
"Pasha—is he alright?"
Duogan turned his head, looking expectantly at Nolan.
"He's very well." Nolan nodded gently, smiling as he spoke.
Pasha had, of course, died long ago, and was in fact killed by Lenas. The other party ultimately did not escape the madness caused by the curse.
The reason he said that earlier was to communicate with Duogan.
"Give this—this scroll of the magic ritual—to him." Duogan tremblingly raised his hand, fumbling at his chest, and pulled out a yellowed bark scroll. "Tell him, there's no need to worry about anything."
"It's time to atone for my sins."
"Please, ancestors—forgive Duogan Stone Lizard, this name of sin."
His arm fell.
Nolan looked at Duogan, who had completely lost his life, and fell silent for a moment. He didn't gain any experience, but the curse power within the other party's body entered his own.
At his current "Curse Knight" level, the amount of this curse power was not much.
Moonlight enveloped the land, and the brilliant starry sky twinkled.
By the time he returned to the surface with Duogan's body and found a beautiful spot to bury him, it was already night.
Nolan stood before the grave, looking up at the night sky, and suddenly felt that this world had become exceptionally real.
"Now is not the time to stand still and sigh." Nolan let out a breath, his gaze returning to calm.
He opened his attribute panel, sorting through the information on it.
[Ability Chart]
Innate Ability: [Player]
Overall Level: 24Lv
Experience Slot: 16789 / 10000
Professions:
Basic Profession: Genius 10Lv (Warrior. — — ·)
Intermediate Profession: Sword Saint 10Lv
Advanced/Special Professions: Magic Swordsman 1Lv, Curse Knight 3Lv
Skill Points: 40
Passive Skills: Item Box, Sword and Magic, Mana Infusion, Complete Curse Resistance, Dark Attribute Resistance (20%), Undead, Slash Enhancement (10%)
Active Skills:
Warrior: Instant Reflex, Four-Light Consecutive Slash, Quick Slash, Stealth, Tracking
Magic:
Tier 1: Minor Healing, Magic Arrow, Scentless, Camouflage
Tier 2: Item Appraisal, Magic Accumulation, Magic Interpretation
Tier 3: Undying Spirit, Undead Control
Tier 4: Heat Up, Angel Summon, Papermaking
Tier 5: Revive Dead · Modified
Professional Skills: Potion Making, Alchemy, Scroll Crafting, Magic Slash, Dark Wave, Shrink (2 / day), Wild Transformation
[Attribute Chart]
Player: Nolan
Justice Value: 51 [Neutral]
HP: 173 (13%)
MP: 28 (2%)
Physical Attack: 173 (13%)
Physical Defense: 58 (4%)
Agility: 113 (8%)
Magic Attack: 58 (4%)
Magic Defense: 28 (2%)
Overall Resistance: 150 (9%)
Specialty: 60 (5%)
Total: 60%