MMORPG: The Elementalist

Dark Annihilator was playing for real this time!

Not only was he using a max-level Tier 4 Berserk Fury, but also a Tier 5 Spell Shield, and the Tier 5 support skill “Mark of Death!” Meanwhile, the Phoenix he had summoned had deployed its ultimate ability, “Infernal Sea!”

Raging flames had bloomed out of thin air, setting the very air alight for thirty meters all around. Hiding in the flames, Dark Annihilator’s Spell Shield allowed him to plunge fearlessly through the sea of fire!

With everything he had, he raced ahead. All he needed was a single moment.

As long as the Infernal Sea could provide enough concealment for Dark Annihilator to vanish for one full second, Qin Ruo would have to let that Lycan Barrage go to waste, with no target to lock on to.

As for his Frostburst, it shouldn’t be powerful enough to break his Spell Shield.

With his Spell Shield, Dark Annihilator was totally confident that he could withstand two powerful spells, and shake off their negative conditions. Even if Qin Ruo and his Pet attacked in tandem, they couldn’t hope to achieve much within that one brief second.

Once he got within reach, Qin Ruo would no longer have any hope of victory, trapped on his narrow perch upon the mountainside.

What Dark Annihilator never realized was that Qin Ruo had yet to play his trump card. Even if Netherclaw himself were to show up in person, or another Tier 5 Supreme Champion of comparable power, he nevertheless felt completely sure he would be able to escape from their clutches. If they made the mistake of underestimating him, he might even be able to seize control of the battle.

In the space of a heartbeat, Dark Annihilator had unleashed an overwhelming onslaught, so that anyone else would have been caught in a helpless panic, unable to respond. Qin Ruo was prepared, however.

The moment Dark Annihilator had summoned his Phoenix, Qin Ruo had known that it was time to use his new skill.

Embedded into his brand-new Dark Gold cloak was a piece of crystal, and as the Conflagration roiled to life all around him, the crystal began to glow with brilliant light.

***

Two days ago, at Casanova Clan Trading Hall.

The moment Qin Ruo logged into the game, he received a message from Casanova. The message stated that his Trading Hall had acquired a fine article of Aquamancer equipment, and he was requested to visit the Member’s Room in person, so he could examine the item in more detail.

To have been personally received by Casanova himself, this item had to be something else! Excited and delighted, Qin Ruo hurried over at once.

When he arrived, he found Casanova holding a single item of Dark Gold quality. Qin Ruo barely managed to hold in his vomit.

Surely equipment of this quality could all be handled by Hollow Cast! Could the owner of the Trading Hall be so bored out of his wits that he would stoop to such menial work now?

Qin Ruo could feel his heart falling. He had long ago assembled a full set of Dark Gold stuff, and now he was working toward Legendary. Right now, even if there was some Level 49 Dark Gold Aquamancer equipment on the table, he would not so much as twitch a hair.

Particularly when Casanova started asking about how things were going down in the Buried City, Qin Ruo figured he was only using the item as bait to get some juicy tips out of him.

After a few half-hearted responses, he was just about ready to leave—until Casanova urged him to take a closer look at the Dark Golden item he had been presenting.

One look and Qin Ruo was captivated!

At first glance, it was merely Level 45. However, it had a property he had never seen before.

Mirror Cloak:

Dark Gold quality.

Defense +36

Magic Resistance +19

Water Magic Cast Speed increased by 10%

Water Magic Damage dealt increased by 5%

Water Magic Damage taken reduced by 10%

Fire Magic Damage taken reduced by 10%

Maximum HP increase by 200

Maximum MP increase by 50.

Grants the ‘Echo’ skill. After activation, the first attack spell cast will be recorded. Thereafter, the spell can be cast instantly from the Cloak at any time, for double the usual MP cost. Cooldown: two hours. (A spell has to be recorded separately each time this skill is used.)

So this was Echo!

Qin Ruo had never heard of such a property before, but he could immediately recognize its tremendous value to an Aquamancer! It was like receiving several Magic Scrolls for free every day. Although a bit expensive in MP, it could save him a lot of money. And he only became more excited when Casanova whispered something else to him, “This Echo skill doesn’t just record standard spells; it works with custom player-created skills as well!”

Qin Ruo’s heart leaped upon hearing this! Now he understood Casanova’s interest in this Dark Gold item.

The ability to record any spell, and then use that as the item’s skill… such a fascinating discovery!

“Where did you find this?” Qin Ruo asked with delight.

With an enigmatic smile, Casanova shook his head and replied, “You don’t need to know that. Now think this through carefully… Will you trade that Legendary ‘Helm of Storms’ for this ‘Mirror Cloak?'”

“Deal!” Qin Ruo replied immediately.

Although the attributes of Legendary items were half-again those of Dark Golden items, an item with this Echo property could amplify one’s power dramatically. Imagine recording a Twelve Frostramparts Formation, a Darkfrost Sting Barrage, or a Compressed Frost Bullet Barrage… it would be like having a Dark Gold-quality item with a truly extraordinary skill!

It would at least the equal of any Legendary item!

As though already knowing Qin Ruo would agree to his terms, Casanova nodded and produced a trade agreement. After Qin Ruo had signed off on it, the Mirror Cloak changed hands.

***

Boom!

Amid that deafening explosion, a tide of frigid air rose up all around Qin Ruo! In that sudden surge of wintry chill, the howling winds around Eternity Peak seemed to bite deep into the marrow.

The flames of the Phoenix’s Conflagration were swiftly extinguished by this massive blast of cold, and its effect in the area was completely suppressed!

A crimson-wreathed figure appeared in Qin Ruo’s view, stumbling in shock at the sudden appearance of a dozen Frostramparts, bringing his blade around to defend himself against the incoming Lycan Barrage…

… and Dark Annihilator realized that this scene had played out before. He’d been caught in the same trap once more.

“Defeated again.”

In that moment of despair, his sword wavered, and the first strike of the Lycan Barrage crashed into him.

His Spell Shield shattered!

The other two strikes whistled past his blade, finding their mark. Surrounded by the overpowering Chill of the Twelve Frostramparts Formation, the greatly weakened Dark Annihilator was blown clean away.

For the unprovoked murder of Dark Annihilator, you have lost one Honor Point!

As the system notification rang, Qin Ruo froze, not daring to believe that Dark Annihilator had faltered and been slain just like that. He watched as the Berserker’s Angelic Wings burst apart and melted into the air, while his corpse continued to sail through the distance, a hint of disbelief and despair still in his eyes.

***

Some moments later, he received an incoming call from Dark Annihilator.

***

“What happened?” Qin Ruo asked right away.

From the other end came the sound of Dark Annihilator’s carefree laughter. “Nothing much. Just lost focus for a moment, then I died. Oh yeah, were you using something with an Echo property?”

“How did you know that?” Stunned, Qin Ruo blurted this out in response.

According to Casanova, this kind of equipment was terribly rare, and only appeared as a result of Enchantment. The chance of receiving one was unbelievably low, so that most players were not even aware of its existence, and for the time being the Echo property had yet to become common knowledge.

Dark Annihilator laughed again. “Well, as it happens, I’m also somebody in this game. Even if the Echo property has only been discovered by precious few people, it hasn’t eluded our notice: one person in our League used to own such an item, until he surrendered it to our League Master.

“I’m familiar with your Frostrampart spell. It should take a long time to cast. To be able to conjure them up so quickly… using an Echo was the only possibility.”

“Netherclaw has one?” This made Qin Ruo’s heart leap into his throat.

These past few days, he’d been imagining himself as the sole owner of such an item. If Netherclaw had one too, the scale of his power might be…

“Certainly, up until this moment I hadn’t thought that much of the Echo property. Now that I’ve seen you cast a Twelve Frostramparts Formation with it, my eyes have been opened. The Chilling effect is truly immense. It really sucks to get caught without a Barrier. It has an obvious flaw, though: break a single wall, and the whole thing automatically falls apart.”

Qin Ruo felt his blood run cold. Apparently, there were now quite a number of people who had developed a thorough understanding of how his skills worked.

Before he could reply, Dark Annihilator continued on, his voice heavy with frustration. “Speaking of which, what’s the trick with that spell? Quite a few Aquamancers in my League have been trying to duplicate it, but no matter how many Frostramparts they bring out, the effect doesn’t even come close.”

At this, Dark Annihilator realized it wasn’t something he could ask an adversary, so he hurriedly added, “Forget it, I can’t ask you for such secrets.”

Qin Ruo chuckled inwardly. Did they think they could pick it up just like that?

The Twelve Frostramparts Formation was his trump card, developed to defeat superior numbers and Bosses! He had spent half a month trying to figure something out and had finally stumbled on it by accident.

Did they think all it took was to stick twelve Frostramparts together?

However, it was true that he was not eager to discuss it with others!

“Getting killed by you isn’t so bad. It sort of settles things with my people in the Netherspirit’s Claw League, and could be a bit of a wake-up call.

“Alright, I shan’t disturb your training any longer—I should be doing some training, myself. You’re right, of course: having just risen up to Tier 5 doesn’t actually make much of a difference.

“Let’s have another duel in the future. I hope you get past your Advancement soon. Next time, I’ll use everything I’ve got, and it’ll be your turn to taste defeat!”

All this bluster from Dark Annihilator put Qin Ruo in a good mood.

Laughing, he replied, “Sure! I’m going for my Advancement right after this. After that, let’s get together again for a rematch. I wouldn’t want you to keep going around huffing your pitiful excuses.”

“What?” Dark Annihilator’s voice rose sharply in volume. “Me? Make excuses? Screw you! If not for me struggling with internal conflict, you think you’d have a chance? Cut the crap, how about we do that rematch right now?”

“Let’s say, in another two hours?”

“To hell with that, I’ll have gone to sleep by then. Let’s make it another time!” This was a thoughtless lie: a single attempt at the “Spectral Shaman Massacre” quest would take three hours, while the Echo property refreshed after just two hours in comparison.

“Ah, as you say.” Shaking his head in exasperation, Qin Ruo returned to his perch from earlier, and brought down his Million Arrow Sleet to resume washing the mountainside clean of Undead.

Poochie was just one more step away from reaching Level 49.