Chapter 119: The Ancient Tomb of Abraham

The entrance to Abraham’s ancient tomb was near, yet somehow felt distant.

There were too many skeletons here, an endless sea of bones stretching as far as the eye could see.

Nie Yan cast a reconnaissance spell on one of the skeleton soldiers.

Skeleton Warrior: Level 13, HP 520/520.

When players initially explored this area, a fierce battle erupted between Triumph and Angel Dominion over control of the region. At that time, Bright Holy Flame had some conflict with Angel Dominion, slowing down Angel Dominion’s main force and drawing their attention elsewhere. As a result, Triumph seized control of the area. It took them three days to clear out all the skeleton warriors and enter Abraham’s ancient tomb. No one knows what happened inside the tomb afterward, but ultimately Triumph obtained the Scroll of Freedom.

In the previous life, the Scroll of Freedom was carried by a rogue named Diao Xiang Ren Sheng (Low Profile Life), who was the top rogue of Triumph and one of the few truly worthy of the title Shadow Dancer. He had remarkable achievements in almost every guild battle, fortress capture, and city war. Each time, he killed at least a hundred players, mostly spellcasters, including characters of the caliber of Archmages and Divine Priests. Moreover, he seemed to have many survival skills; despite several perilous situations, he always managed to escape unscathed.

Shadow Dancer was the ultimate honor all rogues aspired to achieve. Simply having a high level wasn’t enough to earn the title of Shadow Dancer. Advancing to Shadow Dancer required completing a highly challenging class change quest that tested the limits of a rogue, rewarding substantial attribute and skill bonuses upon completion.

When a rogue reached the Shadow Dancer stage, they became extremely formidable. They moved like ghosts, hiding in darkness, delivering deadly strikes. Although they couldn’t easily deal with plate-armored warriors and paladins of the same tier, those warriors and paladins couldn’t handle them either.

The best ways to deal with a Shadow Dancer were a priest’s Mark ability or a paladin’s Divine Eye. Additionally, a high perception Archmage could maintain roughly a 50-50 win rate against a Shadow Dancer. Interestingly, the main reason Archmages could maintain such a win rate wasn’t due to their skill, but rather because their leveling speed was so terrifyingly fast, often giving Archmages a level advantage of ten or more levels over Shadow Dancers.

In the previous life, Diao Xiang Ren Sheng’s effortless advancement to Shadow Dancer wasn’t solely due to his exceptional skill but also owed much to the Scroll of Freedom.

Nie Yan took a deep breath, thinking of Triumph. His feud with Triumph ran deep. Later, Triumph was acquired by Cao Xu, becoming one of Cao Xu’s five major guilds. At that time, Cao Xu controlled five powerful guilds: Triumph, Bright Holy Flame, Mage Alliance, Sacred Guardians, and Warblade Bloodthirsty. Each of these guilds was formidable, and together, they were nearly unstoppable. No one could challenge Cao Xu’s dominance. Many guilds could barely survive under Cao Xu’s pressure.

It was said that Triumph’s guild leader and Cao Xu were business partners in real life, and their eventual merger was inevitable. If there was an opportunity to weaken Triumph, Nie Yan would never let it slip away. Whether or not Triumph would eventually be acquired by the financial tycoon Cao Xu, Nie Yan would always remain vigilant.

Gazing at the endless sea of skeletons ahead, Nie Yan felt a surge of determination.

No one can stop me from becoming stronger!

Nie Yan glanced at the three skeletal kodos beside him. He had summoned at least three skeletal kodos specifically to clear a path for him to the tomb entrance, after which their mission would be complete.

As for the tomb itself, after Triumph obtained the Scroll of Freedom in the previous life, Nie Yan had once come here to level up and retained a vague memory of the layout. Once he entered, his memories would return.

Nie Yan ordered the skeletal kodos to lead the way, protecting the front and flanks, while two ordinary skeleton warriors guarded the rear. They advanced toward Abraham’s ancient tomb.

The three massive skeletal kodos pushed through the skeleton warriors, driving them outward, sending countless skeleton warriors flying.

Many skeleton warriors began attacking the skeletal kodos, dealing -12 damage each, numbers floating above their heads.

Nie Yan’s arrival stirred this burial ground like a stone dropped into still water. The skeleton warriors, sensing the presence of living beings, became frenzied, surging forward like a tide, crowding the front in massive numbers.

The skeletal kodos continued clearing the path. Every few feet forward cost the skeletal kodos a significant portion of their HP. If not for their rapid HP regeneration, they would have already collapsed.

At this rate, all three skeletal kodos would be destroyed before reaching the tomb entrance.

This deviation from Nie Yan’s plan required immediate action!

Otherwise, once the three skeletal kodos fell, Nie Yan would be trapped in the horde and doomed.

Nie Yan urged the skeletal kodos to accelerate their advance. A skeleton warrior slipped through the skeletal kodo line, swinging its longsword at Nie Yan.

Nie Yan sidestepped the attack. The skeleton warrior’s strike hit a skeletal kodo, dealing a critical blow. Nie Yan countered with a backstab, striking the skeleton warrior’s back.

-165, -152.

The skeleton warrior had already lost significant HP when it broke through, and combined with Nie Yan’s high attack power, it only took two strikes to eliminate it.

Nie Yan continued directing the skeletal kodos while dealing with the skeleton warriors that slipped through.

They drew closer to the tomb entrance, about twenty yards away. The two skeleton warriors following Nie Yan shattered one after another. Although fewer skeleton warriors came from behind, their low HP made them unable to withstand the onslaught.

The endless sea of skeletons surged forward like relentless waves, seemingly infinite. Nie Yan and the three skeletal kodos stood like rocks in the ocean, battered by wave after wave, always on the verge of being overwhelmed. Yet, after each wave receded, Nie Yan and the skeletal kodos remained steadfast in the center of the skeleton sea.

Nie Yan checked the HP of the three skeletal kodos. The one with the most HP had 800 left, while the one with the least had only 300+ HP remaining.

Under Nie Yan’s command, the three skeletal kodos charged forward, ramming the skeleton warriors and sending them flying.

Many skeleton warriors fell at Nie Yan’s feet. Except for one or two valuable items, which he took time to bend down and collect, he ignored the common coins.

Every moment spent in one place meant drawing closer to death.

In the heat of battle, Nie Yan edged closer to Abraham’s ancient tomb, only eight or nine yards away. Success was within reach, and his heartbeat quickened involuntarily.

One skeletal kodo’s HP dropped to critical levels. Cracks spread across its body, and with a loud crack, it shattered into pieces. The fragments crushed three or four skeleton warriors beneath them.

One skeletal kodo was dead!

Nie Yan was startled. Only two skeletal kodos remained, and their HP didn’t seem to be much either.

Nie Yan sensed the approaching danger. If both skeletal kodos fell, he would lose his final defense, and the endless sea of skeletons would instantly swallow him whole, leaving not even a bone fragment behind.

The two skeletal kodos struggled to maintain their defense, forcing Nie Yan to frantically deal with the surging skeleton warriors.

A backstab felled a skeleton warrior, but two more charged in from the side.

Nie Yan dodged one skeleton warrior’s attack, but the other landed a blow on him, dealing -32 damage.

Five more skeleton warriors broke through.

With seven skeleton warriors attacking simultaneously, Nie Yan found himself overwhelmed. His HP steadily decreased: 65%, 37%, 12%. He quickly drank a potion and applied a bandage.

+20, +20, +20…

Looking toward the tomb entrance, it was a ruined structure about three yards high. Eroded by wind and sand, it was covered in cracks, seemingly on the verge of collapse. The tomb’s interior was deep and dark, revealing descending steps. Darkness itself seemed like a predatory beast, waiting hungrily for prey.

With the two skeletal kodos still having some HP left, Nie Yan pushed forward another three or four yards. Another skeletal kodo’s HP dropped critically low, emitting a low growl before shattering into fragments.

Nie Yan’s heart tightened. He glanced at the remaining skeletal kodo’s HP: -12, 12, -15. Damage numbers floated above its head as the skeleton warriors relentlessly attacked, draining its HP.

Nie Yan had completely lost his defense. The endless sea of skeletons surged toward him, ready to consume him in the next moment.

It was too late. Nie Yan glanced at Abraham’s ancient tomb nearby. Was he going to fail here?

Countless skeleton warriors, like howling beasts, lunged at Nie Yan. Two skeleton warriors struck him, draining 21% of his remaining 37% HP.

Spotting the lintel of Abraham’s tomb entrance, Nie Yan suddenly had an idea. He immediately activated the skill on his Weaver’s Ring, shooting a strand of spider silk. With a swoosh, the silk flew over the heads of the skeleton warriors, sticking to the top of Abraham’s tomb entrance. With a sharp tug, the silk’s pull lifted Nie Yan into the air, soaring over the heads of the skeleton warriors toward the top of Abraham’s tomb entrance.

Looking back, the spot where he had stood was already swallowed by the surging skeleton warriors.

Nie Yan flew over the skeleton warriors. As he neared the tomb entrance’s stone wall, he used one hand to grab the lintel, landing safely atop it.

The skeleton warriors below continued to stir, but they could never reach him here. Nie Yan caught his breath, finally safe. His HP was nearly depleted, so he quickly sat down to eat bread and restore his HP.