Holy Sword Art, the Priest’s most formidable offensive skill in the late game, serves as the ultimate advancement of Holy Light Orb. Within the game, once Holy Light Orb reaches its maximum level, it unlocks a secondary offensive skill: Holy Light Aura.
Holy Light Aura was the very skill that had been hovering around Yue Wu moments ago. This ability functions as both an offensive and defensive skill for Priests, making it adept at both attack and protection.
Upon reaching its max level, Holy Light Aura further unlocks two branching skills: the defensive Holy Light Aegis, and the passive offensive skill, Holy Light Strike.
Following Holy Light Strike, the next skill to be unlocked is Holy Light Detonation, culminating finally in Holy Sword Art.
As for why Yue Wu directly taught Jeanne D’Arc Holy Sword Art, it was because this was not a game world at all, but a real one. There was no need for the game’s intricate skill unlocking system; skills could be learned directly.
Of course, this information came from Yue Wu’s system. Over the past few days since his transmigration, Yue Wu had thoroughly understood the system’s myriad functions.
These included viewing others’ attributes, serving as a mobile encyclopedia, displaying his personal attributes, managing a skill bar, and providing a storage space integrated with the Gate of Babylon. There was also an intimidating yet enigmatic ‘dungeon’ function.
To this day, the dungeon function had never activated, not even a single light flickering to life.
Name: Yue Wu (Changeable)
Race: Human
Age: 17
Class: Priest
Affiliation: Ten Ring Order (Adventure Group)
Morality: 0
Strength: A-
Constitution: SSS+
Endurance: SSS+
Magic: SSS+
Spirit: SSS+
Agility: S+
This was the information the system automatically displayed when Yue Wu woke up today. Apart from an increase in his Strength attribute and the addition of a ‘Morality’ value, nothing else had changed.
Yue Wu had no idea why his Strength attribute had increased, nor did he understand the meaning of a ‘Morality’ value of zero. In any case, Yue Wu had already lost much of his faith in this ‘single-player’ system.
“Jeanne D’Arc, today I’ll give you a glimpse of Holy Sword Art, but with your current magical power, it will be very difficult to use. So, you must work hard to increase your magic.”
“However, I’ll transfer some spells into your mind. Once your magical power meets the requirements, you can then use those spells.”
Yue Wu searched through his skill bar for several spells suitable for Jeanne D’Arc’s future use: Holy Light Aura, Holy Light Aegis, Holy Light Strike, Holy Light Detonation, and Holy Sword Art.
However, considering Jeanne D’Arc’s insufficient magical power for Holy Sword Art, he repeatedly emphasized that she should prioritize increasing her magical power first.
“Understood, Brother.”
Jeanne D’Arc understood Yue Wu’s intentions and readily followed the arrangements he made for her.
“Here, take this. Consuming it will accelerate your magical power’s growth.”
Yue Wu produced a test tube containing a light blue liquid. This substance, called Mana Essence Elixir, was a consumable in the game that directly boosted a user’s magical power for an hour.
Time swiftly passed until evening. Jeanne D’Arc spent nearly the entire day meditating and enhancing her magical power with the Mana Essence Elixir.
In Yue Wu’s eyes, her attribute data underwent a significant transformation.
Name: Jeanne D’Arc
Race: Human
Age: 14
Class: None
Affiliation: Ten Ring Order (Adventure Group)
Attributes: Light, Fire, Dark
Strength: F
Constitution: F
Endurance: E
Magic: D-
Spirit: D-
Agility: F
Her Endurance, Magic, and Spirit had all advanced a tier. While the Mana Essence Elixir could be used ten times in the game, in this real world, it was a one-time use item.
Had Jeanne D’Arc been able to use it ten times, her magical power might have reached B-rank.
In this world, a person’s power level was determined by the amount of their magical power, making Jeanne D’Arc’s current strength D-rank.
However, this was merely superficial. Jeanne D’Arc lacked any combat experience, rendering her an ordinary person with D-rank magical power, nothing more.
“Let’s go home. You must be tired.”
“Mm.”
“Come on, Brother will carry you home.”
“Really?”
“Do I look like I’m lying?”
“Brother is the best!”
“Mhm, mhm. If you’re sleepy, just take a nap on Brother’s back.”
“Mm.”
Yue Wu turned his head to glance at Jeanne D’Arc, who was already asleep on his back, and smiled with deep contentment. He wasn’t sure why he was so kind to her, but he often felt that Jeanne D’Arc’s figure sometimes overlapped with memories of his own younger sister, compelling him to protect her.
Yue Wu chose not to overtly use his Angelic Wings to transport directly into Saxony City. Instead, he teleported just outside the city gates, not far from Saxony City, and slowly carried Jeanne D’Arc home, savoring the heartwarming sensation.
Upon returning home, Yue Wu gently placed Jeanne D’Arc on her bed, tucked her in, and closed the door. He then went back to the rooftop to sit and gaze idly.
‘How boring. How lonely it is to be invincible; the higher one stands, the colder it becomes.’
It had been almost five days since he arrived in this new world, and Yue Wu suddenly felt like he had nothing to do. He considered taking quests at the Adventurers’ Guild, but he couldn’t read the local script. Should he go to a dungeon to fight monsters instead?
‘Perhaps I’ll explore a nearby dungeon tomorrow?’
‘Time to sleep then~’
Yue Wu finalized his plans for tomorrow. Since Jeanne D’Arc would be staying home to continue improving her magical power, there shouldn’t be any issues.
****
The next morning, the weather was far from ideal; it was overcast and cloudy.
“Morning! You must be hungry. Come, let’s eat breakfast together.”
Yue Wu had risen before dawn and, in passing, prepared a simple breakfast. Just as he sat down to eat, a freshly awakened Jeanne D’Arc appeared before him.
“Okay~”
Jeanne D’Arc rubbed her sleepy eyes and took a seat.
“Jeanne D’Arc, I’ll be away for a few days. You must work hard while I’m gone.”
After their meal, Yue Wu settled into a sofa chair in the living room, organizing his belongings, and informed Jeanne D’Arc of his upcoming trip.
“Will you be gone long?”
Jeanne D’Arc sat opposite Yue Wu, a sense of melancholy washing over her at the thought of him leaving for several days.
“Not for long. When I return, I hope to see a Jeanne D’Arc who has grown.”
“Also, if you feel ready, go to the Adventurers’ Guild and take on some quests to gain experience.”
“After all, Brother can’t always be by your side. Jeanne D’Arc needs to learn to be independent, so these few days while I’m away will be your time to do just that.”
Yue Wu stood up, moved to sit beside Jeanne D’Arc, and gently stroked her head, a soft smile gracing his lips.
“Alright then, Brother, please come back soon.”
Jeanne D’Arc clutched Yue Wu’s arm, her expression somewhat aggrieved.
“Mhm, I’ll bring Jeanne D’Arc a present when I return.”
Yue Wu raised a hand and gently pinched Jeanne D’Arc’s small cheek.
“Hmph hmph~ You promised then.”
Jeanne D’Arc pouted, raised her right hand, and extended her pinky finger. Yue Wu mirrored her action, extending his own.
“Pinky swear, don’t lie to me.”
“Mhm mhm, I won’t lie to you.”
Finally, Yue Wu bid farewell to Jeanne D’Arc at home. In the hallway, Yue Wu changed into a white robe and pulled up its hood.
This time, Yue Wu did not produce a scroll. Instead, he extended his left hand, and a white magic circle materialized beneath his feet.
“Angelic Wings, transfer outside the city.”
In the blink of an eye, Jeanne D’Arc stood in the now empty hallway. She was truly reluctant to part with Yue Wu, yet she also didn’t want to disappoint him.
With newfound resolve, she determined to become the person Yue Wu hoped to see.
Yue Wu, having used his transfer magic, reappeared far from Saxony City, within the Forest of Fingal.
“Who’s there!”
Cang Lang, who had been resting with closed eyes in the Forest of Fingal, suddenly sensed an intruder in his territory. He promptly rose and rushed towards the disturbance.
“Yo! Little Cang Lang.”
Yue Wu had known from the start that Cang Lang would appear before him. The reason he chose to teleport here was to inquire about something from Cang Lang.
“It’s Lord Yue Wu.”
Realizing the newcomer was the powerful individual who had previously helped restore his forest, Cang Lang couldn’t help but adopt a more respectful demeanor.
“I’m not called Yue Wu anymore. You can address me as Merlin.”
It was unclear what Yue Wu was up to, changing his name like that.
Name: Merlin (Changeable)
Race: Human
Age: 17
Class: Priest
Affiliation: Ten Ring Order (Adventure Group)
Morality: 0
Strength: A-
Constitution: SSS+
Endurance: SSS+
Magic: SSS+
Spirit: SSS+
Agility: S+
“Yes, Lord Merlin. May I ask what brings you here?”
“I just wanted to ask if there are any dungeons nearby.”
“A dungeon? What is that?”
“Uh, then do you know where there are any lairs where magical beasts gather?”
“I know of one. To the east, over seven hundred miles from the forest, there’s a lair. However, humans have designated it a forbidden zone.”
“A forbidden zone?”
“Do you have business there? If not, I advise against going.”
“Oh? Has something happened there?”
“Indeed, the frequency of demon appearances has increased significantly recently.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
Yue Wu already knew what Cang Lang was implying: the radical faction of the Demon Realm had begun to stir up trouble. Various continents had also detected the demons’ movements and had likely dispatched reconnaissance teams to investigate.
‘I wonder which faction of the Demon Realm that little loli belongs to?’
After leaving the Forest of Fingal, Yue Wu suddenly recalled the tsundere loli he had encountered when he first transmigrated.
Over seven hundred miles from the Forest of Fingal lay a lair. This area was once a vast plain, but hundreds of years ago, the initial invasion by demons transformed it into a cavernous passage to the Demon Realm, known as a ‘dungeon’ in the game.
Such lairs existed across all continents. After repelling the demons centuries ago, the powerful figures of each continent had placed seals upon these lairs to prevent further demonic invasions.
However, these seals could not truly halt the demonic advance. No matter how potent the seals, they could not withstand the erosion of time; demons would inevitably reappear.
Thousands of years ago, the demon race was once the earliest inhabitant of this world. Due to certain reasons, they were forced to migrate to another dimension, which later became known as the Demon Realm.
Slowly, after several centuries, other races emerged in the world. These various races engaged in fierce wars, competing for territory, a conflict that lasted for a millennium.
Ultimately, humanity, the shortest-lived race, emerged victorious. They drove all other races from their lands. To this day, races other than humans are rarely seen on the continent.
However, some peace-loving races have secluded themselves in places humans cannot find.
Yet, it was likely that only one person in this entire world knew the hidden locations of these peace-loving races.