Bab 223: A sea of madness, terror, chaos, and loss of control
Amari and Mike had been traveling together for half a day since leaving the fortress.
During this time, they hadn't encountered a single Lord tier demon creature, but they did come across several Chief tier demon creatures.
With Amari's assistance, they managed to beat one Chief tier demon creature to the brink of death, leaving it barely clinging to life.
Mike, clad in shadow armor, fully charged with "Charge Up" and "Blessing of Lightning", unleashed three "Thunderclap Strikes" in 20 seconds. He did this not just to kill the three ants on the ground, but to convert the excess damage into his health and shield.
Then, Mike stepped forward to 'fairly' duel the demon race Chief!
"Star Pluck!"
"Void Tremor!"
"Break!"
Mike swung his hammer, smashing it onto the Chief tier demon creature's already cracked weapon.
The demon creature's weapon couldn't withstand the damage and shattered!
After breaking the demon race Chief's main weapon, Mike looked at his Thunderclap Hammer.
[Residual Will]: Use this hammer to break the main weapon of a Chief tier demon creature.
According to the description, the second residual will should be completed, right?
The Thunderclap Hammer emitted a blue glow and began to change.
Equipment: Thunderclap Hammer (Lv.200)
Tier: SS
Attributes: Strength +3500, Constitution +2100
Physical Attack: 10800
Perks:
[Armor Penetration]: The first physical damage dealt to an enemy ignores Physical Defense. The same target will only suffer Armor Penetration damage once every 3 hours.
[Everlasting]: Durability always at 100%, never takes damage.
[Wrath of the God]: While wielding this weapon, enemies within a 500-yard radius have all attributes reduced by 15%. The wielder's attributes increase by 1%-30%, depending on the number of affected enemies, maxing out at 30% when affecting 200 enemies.
[Providence]: When only wielding the Thunderclap Hammer as a weapon, its attributes are increased by 150%.
[Thunderous Might I]: Physical attack effects with the Thunderclap Hammer are increased by 25%.
[Residual Will]: Use the Thunderclap Hammer to kill a full-health demon Lord.
Residual Wills to fulfill: 7
Residual Wills fulfilled: 2
After unlocking the second residual will, the Thunderclap Hammer's attributes skyrocketed, with physical attack surpassing 10,000!
In addition to the previous perks being enhanced, the Thunderclap Hammer gained a new perk, [Thunderous Might I].
Clearly, this perk wasn't fully unlocked yet, only showing its basic effect.
At the same time, the third residual will for the Thunderclap Hammer was particularly demanding!
It required killing a full-health demon Lord?!
For Mike, if he didn't have absolute confidence, he wouldn't make a move.
The plan to unlock the third residual will for the Thunderclap Hammer would have to wait.
Maybe when Mike reached level 600, no, 900, it would be achievable!
Putting away the Thunderclap Hammer, Mike turned his attention to something else.
Shadow element skill books!
Shadow element skill books could only be used once every 24 hours.
It had been 24 hours since Mike last learned a Shadow element skill.
Thinking of this, Mike couldn't help but sigh.
"Sigh!"
Amari curiously asked, "What's wrong? Why are you sighing?"
Mike replied honestly, "Just thinking about how today's Tower of Truth didn't get an SSSS rating makes me feel uneasy."
Amari: ...
Indeed, not getting an SSSS rating was quite a big deal for the human race!
Since Thor's emergence, the human race hadn't missed an SSSS rating conquer!
There were even occasional triple and quadruple hits, with the tenth floor achieving an SSSSS rating conquer!
Mike guessed right; the current hot topic on major social platforms was the missing SSSS rating.
However, people were just watching and discussing for fun.
Thor had achieved so many SSSS ratings that the accumulated buffs were already plentiful, more than enough to use!
It was time for a break!
Among the two Shadow element skill books, Mike picked up [Ghostly Mirage] and began learning it.
[Ghostly Mirage]:
When released in the main body state, creates (2 to 99) indistinguishable illusions. The main body can swap places with the illusions, which follow the main body to move/attack. Illusions take 500% damage and deal 10% damage, and do not inherit the main body's buffs.
When released in the shadow state, increases movement speed by (100 to 10000)%, allowing movement without terrain restrictions. The speed boost lasts until the skill is canceled.
Cost: None
CD: 30 seconds
Note: Skill strength is related to the caster's level.
At Mike's current level, releasing [Ghostly Mirage] could create up to 6 mirages or increase movement speed by 200%.
[Ghostly Mirage] could be released in two states: main body/shadow.
For example, if Mike was hiding in Amari's shadow and released Ghostly Mirage, it would only increase his movement speed.
If Mike maxed out his movement speed while Amari strolled behind, a strange phenomenon would occur:
The shadow would run fast, but the person wouldn't keep up.
Shadow and person separated!
For survival, Ghostly Mirage was somewhat lackluster.
In terms of speed and movement, it wasn't as good as Wind's Reach, not even Windstride Slash.
However, Ghostly Mirage had a special use for Mike: output!
Summoning six mirages and simultaneously releasing [Meteor Fire Rain] would quickly stack Meteor Marks!
Summoning mirages to release Wind's Reach and Star Pluck in different directions, with Mike constantly switching positions, would maximize his movement distance, greatly increasing [Wind's Reach] damage!
With mirages, Mike had more flexible combat and output methods.
Of course, all these scenarios occurred in battles of the same tier as Mike.
Currently, Mike could still kill a demon race Chief head-on.
But a Lord would be somewhat dangerous.
Mike could use lightning to instantly kill the enemy, but the enemy's counterattack could also severely injure or even kill him!
Putting away the [Ghostly Mirage] introduction.
This abyss trip not only earned Mike Lord merits but also helped unlock the second residual will of the Thunderclap Hammer.
A great harvest!
"Amari, once we cross that mountain, we'll reach the other plane!"
After half a day of travel, guided by the [Eye of Truth], they finally reached the other plane.
"Phew—"
Mike exhaled deeply, feeling that this abyss trip was more than halfway done.
He should be able to go back soon... right?
Crossing the mountain, Mike looked at the scene before him and fell silent.
Standing on the mountainside, Amari and Mike looked ahead, their view exceptionally clear, the mist completely gone, revealing the plane's scenery.
Before them was an incredibly vast 'sea'!
Lord tier, Chief tier, and even General tier demon creatures, countless in number, gathered on the ground, forming a black and red ocean.
These demon creatures had no rationality, caught in a frenzy of slaughter, devouring each other to grow stronger, like a breeding ground for monsters.
Lord tier demon creatures constantly fell, and powerful demon creatures were continuously born!
It was a 'sea' of madness, terror, chaos, and loss of control!