My Players Are So Fierce - Chapter 386

Chapter 386: Murphy’s Eye – The Observations of a Newly-Initiated Cultist Pangolin

In the Crimson Halls, Murphy sat in his chair, observing intently.

His gaze reached far into the distance, his pupils unfocused and appearing hollow, much like the state of a soul leaving its body.

Beside him, Tris was maintaining a continuous spirit energy ritual. She maintained her spell-casting posture with the dark and cold demeanor befitting a vampire spirit mage, her left hand raised to Murphy’s back of the head. Waves of dispersing spirit energy blew her black hair behind her head, occasionally revealing the scar on her slender neck and delicate collarbone.

Her incredibly alluring face showed nothing but solemnity and effortless control as she used her sophisticated spirit energy techniques to bind Murphy’s vision with Hog, who was far away in the Foul Swamp.

This was the most iconic detection spirit technique “Scout’s Eye” in operation, and Tris’s unique way of utilizing spirit energy appeared to be an art of spellcasting in the eyes of professional detection specialist Helu, who was assisting on the side.

More importantly, Tris was now demonstrating to him the advanced applications of “Scout’s Eye” beyond its normal operation.

This long-distance, long-duration vision switching possessed excellent stealth capabilities, making Helu take copious notes in his notebook of the valuable knowledge before him.

“This is a detection ritual that I’ve slightly improved.”

Tris glanced at him.

She mused that his scholarly thirst for knowledge was indeed befitting of a formally trained spirit mage, far beyond what those amateur players who picked up the craft halfway could compare to.

Seeing Helu so studious, the Blood Vulture Grand Duchess was pleased and casually advised:

“The spirit energy required to maintain it long-term is beyond what you can currently handle. You can try it after advancing in power, and you’ll also need to place some spirit energy markers on your chosen ‘eye’ beforehand, otherwise this ritual would be very difficult to activate successfully.”

“Yes, yes, thank you for your guidance.”

Helu made another note, then humbly asked:

“What are the normal and maximum effective ranges of your detection ritual?”

“The maximum is about this current distance.”

Tris estimated:

“From Crimson Citadel extending to the depths of Foul Swamp, approximately 700 kilometers. Under normal circumstances, I would fix the target on Miriam to ensure my protection of the Crimson Regent, this is Murphy’s requirement.

In his view, Miriam’s importance to the territory has already surpassed his own, and besides, Murphy doesn’t need protection in most cases.

Unfortunately, Miriam stubbornly refuses power, she seems to have no intention of realizing herself on the path of power, what a pity.

Back to this ritual.

The farther its effective range, the higher the spirit energy consumption. At the current distance, maintaining it would drain your spirit energy pool in 7 seconds.

If maintained for over 15 seconds, your internal spirit energy channels would be completely destroyed and you’d become a cripple.

This secret ritual wasn’t meant for Black Iron rank detection spirit mages in the first place, try it again after entering Silver rank.

However, if you have a fixed and well-crafted detection mage tower to bear most of the pressure, then it becomes something you can freely use at your current level.”

“Detection mage towers are too precious.”

Helu was startled, then sighed helplessly:

“Even my mentor in White Cliff wasn’t qualified to have his own mage tower. We detection spirit mages are seen as mere tricksters in the eyes of other spirit mage factions, never taken seriously.

Although detection mages shone brilliantly in several major operations during the Ten-Year War, changing this stubborn and foolish perception cannot be accomplished overnight.

My mentor’s two greatest wishes in life were first, hoping to gain entry to the upper levels of the Circle Tower and obtain an educational director position, and second, wanting to own his own mage tower.

But until his death from illness, these two wishes remained far out of reach.”

“Perhaps you could fulfill them for him?”

Tris looked Helu up and down and said softly:

“You can apply to the administration for a mage tower allocation. As far as I know, the Stonemason Guild will begin construction in two months on a ‘Midnight Tower’ in the inner city as the new symbol of the Blood Vulture Clan, it will be a comprehensive building that will also include mage tower functionality.

I’ve seen Professor Chen’s design drawings.

It’s a beautiful building containing three subsidiary towers. This means that while I use the main tower, there will be three mage tower positions vacant.

Femis, as the leader of the Midnight faction spellcasters, will definitely get one, another must be reserved for shared use by spellcasters among our warriors, the last one is currently vacant.

Submit an application to Regent Miriam, they will review and approve accordingly, though I estimate with your current strength you won’t be able to use it for free, you may need to submit expensive rental fees to the administration.”

“This-this is too presumptuous, I’m just a Black Iron spirit mage, and one without much combat ability at that.”

Helu was at a loss when struck by this gift from heaven.

He couldn’t imagine his mentor’s dying wish would suddenly be realized in this way, but Tris didn’t give him more chances to explain, waving her hand saying:

“Although your power rank is indeed a bit lacking, this doesn’t change the fact that you are one of the few spirit mages in Transia who received formal training.

You are qualified to obtain your own mage tower, though only for now.

The Transia rebuilt by little Murphy values competition!

Once other powerful spellcasters challenge your mage tower allocation and you lose, then you will lose your mage tower.

This is not just a reward or blessing, it’s also a heavy responsibility and pressure.

Of course, I know some people’s personalities are averse to competition, so I’ll leave the choice to you. Now I need to maintain this detection ritual, don’t disturb me.”

“As you command, Your Grace.”

Helu bowed respectfully while backing away to the edge, suppressing his spirit energy aura to avoid affecting the ongoing detection ritual.

Generally speaking, long-distance detection operations through vision switching like Murphy was doing now would cause serious mental impact and pressure, because adapting to the vision switch is not something that can be done quickly.

However, Murphy often transferred his vision to the high-speed aerial perspective of Spirit Vulture Revnor, which was far more dangerous than the current semi-fixed horizontal perspective, so Murphy didn’t feel any trouble or difficulties.

He was now using Hog’s eyes to examine the top floor layout of the abandoned mage tower in Plague Town, which wasn’t as luxurious as he had imagined.

In fact, to put it harshly, it was as messy as a chaotic construction site.

Dissected swamp animal carcasses were carelessly piled on one side as food for three oversized mutant dire wolves, those beasts were also unhygienic and made the place smell nauseating.

The various instruments on the adjacent experiment table were placed randomly without any order. Even though Murphy was only a self-taught summoner not very familiar with alchemist rituals, based on what he had learned through exposure in Tris’s laboratory he could tell there were at least 7 errors in how things were placed here.

“This bastard sorcerer doesn’t even wash used beakers, isn’t he afraid of blowing himself up during experiments?”

Murphy complained internally.

Because he was borrowing Hog’s vision, his internal complaints were also sensed by the nervous Hog, causing the Blood Claw chieftain to be stunned momentarily.

Good grief!

So the reason he couldn’t understand these mysterious instruments wasn’t because they were actually impressive, but purely because they were placed wrongly?

“No, you don’t understand because you really don’t understand, it has nothing to do with their incorrect experimental procedures.”

Murphy corrected:

“These are errors that require extremely high spirit energy ritual attainment to discover. You still have much to learn, Hog.

You could try becoming a gnoll hunting priest, I hear this profession has high status among gnolls, Kenport is a hunting priest.

If you want to climb to a high position in gnoll society, you must learn to use every opportunity to change your image.

We can discuss this later, focus!

Flesh Render is coming!”

The vampire lord’s reminder came just in time, snapping the distracted Hog back to attention.

When he looked up, he saw a gnoll sorcerer in clan-style robes limping out from the inner chamber.

It was a very old gnoll.

This could be seen from its stumbling gait and its weak, aged face. The mane on its neck had turned completely white and even showed patches of hair loss, making it look like a mangy dog.

However, the passage of time had given this elderly gnoll an indescribable aura.

It was shrouded in cold and ominous energy, like a snake hiding in the shadows, observing the world outside the cave with its venomous eyes.

Those eyes under the hood met Hog’s gaze, making the Blood Claw chieftain immediately lower his head in fear, afraid those sharp eyes would see through his guilty conscience and the secrets hidden in his heart.

“Don’t be afraid, just a Silver rank plague sorcerer, it can’t see through your abnormal state.”

Murphy reminded:

“But if you continue maintaining this guilty appearance, what happens next is uncertain. You’re here to deliver news.

You’re Kenport’s confidant!

Show some spirit.”

“I’m here to deliver news, my lord! I am King Kenport’s confidant.”

Hog blurted out what Murphy told him in his nervousness, causing the old gnoll sorcerer leaning on a strange bone staff who was examining him to be stunned for a moment.

Then it let out a hoarse, malicious and disdainful laugh.

It berated:

“Lies! Kenport would never consider a crippled mongrel as a confidant, that fellow’s foolish obsession with pure bloodlines even surpassed his pursuit of power and ambition.

It was a purebred gnoll born in Moss Valley, even daring to speak boldly to me at our first meeting, how could it possibly look up to you?”

“But this is the truth, my lord.”

Hog pressed on stubbornly:

“Perhaps it has to do with my unique experience. I was once a prisoner in the vampire arena before later escaping with my tribesmen in the chaos. It was I who told King Kenport about the secret passages into the vampire city, but King Kenport trusted the wrong ‘friends’!

Those cunning bastards used us, attempting to seize control of Crimson Citadel.

It was those midnight dogs who revealed King Kenport’s exact location to the Blood Vulture Clan vampires, leading to the king’s defeat and death.

Before dying, he requested that I must pass on his message and regrets to the person he trusted most, which is you, Lord Flesh Render.”

“Trust… heh, I never knew this word could come from that fool Kenport’s mouth.”

The old gnoll clearly wasn’t so easily convinced by Hog’s words. It looked the overly cunning small gnoll chieftain up and down, then after a few seconds asked:

“You say you’re Kenport’s confidant? Where’s your proof?”

Hog’s heart tightened, just as he was about to make up some lies he heard Murphy say:

“Kenport had two daggers and a bone ritual offering, made from the remains of the bloodthirsty hyena he raised. It was this gnoll sorcerer who helped him craft those items.

Kenport becoming the warlord of the Gnawbone Clan was also related to Flesh Render’s secret support!

I guess Kenport was this sorcerer’s chosen ‘puppet’ in the Gnawbone Clan. They’re not ‘nobles’ from Moss Valley, they wanted to raise their status through controlling ‘nobles’ like this.

Transform these into your own words and tell it.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t matter if you say it wrong. Being able to mention these things that others don’t know is enough to prove your close relationship with Kenport.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Hog was delighted internally.

With Lord Murphy’s intelligence support he became increasingly confident, and after feigning hesitation he opened his mouth to reveal everything Murphy had just told him.

The old gnoll before him made no comment, only staring expressionlessly at Hog until he finished speaking before dispersing that cold aura and sighing:

“You are indeed a cunning one, actually able to see those deeper meanings that even Kenport couldn’t understand. That’s right, he was the warlord chosen by our Plague Clan in Moss Valley!

I had hoped Kenport could rise to prominence in the Gnawbone Clan, so that our marginal clan could rise with him.

But that fool didn’t follow the plan I gave him at all after entering Transia.

Forget it!

It’s good that such an uncontrollable fool is dead, sparing us from falling into an even worse situation because of him later. You’ve delivered all your messages, Hog, you may leave.”

“No, Lord Flesh Render.”

How could Hog let go of this good opportunity? It stepped forward with a howl, then said sincerely:

“King Kenport is dead, Transia has changed rulers, those Blood Vulture dogs have been attacking my poor clan in Smuggler’s Woods.

They even destroyed the skeleton army you sent out. Look! This!”

It unhooked the command scepter from its waist to show the old gnoll Flesh Render, then retold what happened in Smuggler’s Woods with some modifications, saying:

“They defeated the corpse mage you sent out. It was I and my warriors who seized this scepter in the chaos, and it guided me here.

My lord, to be frank, my clan has been implicated by Kenport’s defeat and is now at the end of our rope.

We need support now.”

“What do your life and death have to do with me?”

Flesh Render said unmoved:

“The Plague Clan has its own mission, we’re very busy.”

“We can block the Transia vampires from stepping into the swamp!”

Hog shouted:

“They’re preparing to do that! You don’t know yet? The Transia vampire leader Murphy has already sent people to build fortifications outside the swamp.

They want to defend against the Black Plague. If they charge in and discover your existence, whatever mission you have will be disturbed!

Those people are all mad! Otherwise Kenport wouldn’t have died so miserably!

They dare to release terrifying spirit energy on their own land, they won’t have any hesitation using those dangerous powers in the swamp either!

Lord Flesh Render, helping us is helping yourself!

We can block them!

Just need 10 scepters like this one, just need 10 elite skeleton armies…

I saw outside, you have endless corpses to make soldiers from, just give us a little bit and you can avoid future troubles.

I’m a gnoll, my lord!

My name is still on the Blood Rat Gang’s wanted list, my head is worth 250 Transia gold coins, enough to mobilize all the bounty hunters in Transia.

They won’t let me go, you can completely trust me and my clan.”

“Hmm interesting.”

Flesh Render narrowed its eyes to examine Hog before it again, that subtle gaze making Hog feel nervous, but then it heard Flesh Render sigh and say:

“Our people are savage and belligerent, wisdom is rare for them, and gnolls who can perform cunning to your degree are even rarer.

If Kenport had half your brains, I wouldn’t have had to worry about his outcome.

Alright alright, you’ve convinced me. Go to the Construction Tower and find my apprentice Lame Claw, it will give you more scepters.”

“Thank you, Lord Flesh Render!”

Hog wagged its tail very excitedly, but then its eyes turned and, thinking of Lord Murphy’s earlier comments about “gnoll status,” boldly asked as Flesh Render turned to leave:

“My lord, to be honest, King Kenport promised me before his death, he said I was clever and suited to become a priest serving Lord of the Hunt…”

“You?”

Flesh Render showed an expression quite strange for a gnoll, looking back at Hog and shaking its head saying:

“You’re far from it! Your power is weak, your body is fragile, even a dire wolf could easily overturn and eat you. You wouldn’t even pass the first trial of a hunting priest.

Kenport must have just made an irresponsible enticement to make you work diligently.

But… well, if you have a chance to enter the Dark Mountains in the future, remember to bring a complete mountain goatman priest’s heart to the Plague Clan’s beast den, my students will help you complete the hunting priest transformation.

You must complete that dangerous hunt alone, no one else can participate.”

At this point, the Flesh Render sorcerer let out a long sigh, waving its hand somewhat wearily saying:

“Go, go try, see if Lord of the Hunt will bestow blessings upon you. Perhaps, our Lord of the Hunt indeed needs a bit of service from wisdom now.”