Amber Sword
Chapter 97 - 40 Acts of Summer War_2

Chapter 97: 40 Acts of Summer War_2

experience points.

Brand couldn’t help but be stunned. Although it was both a leap in level and a boss, 800 experience points were indeed not much; still, it gave him a real shock. After all, in this world, experience truly exists, a power that makes you continuously grow stronger. That’s why compared to in the game, every time he gained experience, he felt even more excited.

He could clearly feel himself growing bit by bit through each battle.

He was immersed in his thoughts when he saw Miss Merchant running over as if presenting a treasure, carefully holding an item in both hands to show to Brand. Previously, all the equipment they found were identified by Brand — the young man only needed to glance at it to say what it was, its origin, how to activate it, and whether it had magic power.

So by this time, Brand had already become synonymous with omnipotence in Roman’s mind.

"Brand, are you looking for this?" She held the card carefully and asked.

Brand followed her hand and saw that the card’s pattern was grey, depicting a knight on a tall horse and his robed followers. The card’s color matched the base color of his Holy Sword Card. Brand immediately realized that this was the card he had been searching for. He took it and looked — indeed!

Highland Followers

(Knight IX)

Water Element 1

[Creature — Human/Scholar, Level 8 Creature]

When Highland Followers enter the field, provide 1 reputation every week.

Maintenance cost: For every day this card is on the field, pay an additional 1 water element.

’Highland Courage’

This one is a summoning card. Even if Brand were dull at this moment, he could guess. This Highland Follower, the profession is Scholar, but the card description below says Highland Courage — it must be talking about the apprentice followers of the Karasu Plateau, Karasu’s Wizards and Knights have been allied for two centuries.

A level 8 scholar, not very strong. But at crucial moments, it can be a great help. He couldn’t help but look at Roman, who was looking at him expectantly, and smiled, "Thank you, this is very useful for me."

"You’re welcome," Miss Merchant said happily.

But at this time, Frey ran back alone from the north, looking worried and said, "Brand, Roman, I saw Stone Cone Worms coming from the north, should we avoid them?"

"Stone Cone Worms?" Brand was taken aback. He originally wanted everyone to rest, but didn’t expect the Stone Cone Worms to come so quickly. Though Stone Cone Worms might not necessarily attack them, in such situations, most people would choose the safer option.

He nodded, "You go ahead, I’ll set up some things to prevent it from following us."

Stone Cone Worms determine the position of prey through magic scent and vibration perception, so they can be attracted by dispersing magical items. After Roman and Frey left, Brand took out the No. 5 Holy Water, made a hole at the bottom with Azure Light Piercing, and placed it in the crevice of a rock nearby. Then he looked around to ensure nothing was missed before retreating alone to the west.

He thought that due to the previous magic response, Madara might send a squad to investigate here. However, the Stone Cone Worms left here would teach those skeletons an eternal unforgettable lesson, also as revenge for Breson’s people.

*********

It was June in the Year of Flowers and Summer Leaves, history was developing just as Brand knew it would.

Madara’s secret envoy arrived at Winter Claw Castle, and Erune King Oberg VI, following Marquis Jinghua Klug’s suggestion, refused to meet the envoy, thus the first Black Rose War soon entered its second stage.

On the front battlefield, Karasu Province was facing a severe threat from Madara’s ’Winter Solstice’ and ’Black Crow’ legions. Even Duke Ogujin sent a messenger to lament that if support could not be received soon, morale might face complete collapse.

Meanwhile, further north, between the mountains at the junction of the Kelman Mountains and the sea, an Undead Army was secretly advancing lightly.

And in the southern Golan-Elsen Province, Fanmir Fortress was continuously attacked by the Instarlon Army. Yet in the Bu Qi Region’s flank, it had fallen into an eerily silent state. Commander Count Pula had once sent a letter to the 104th Swordsmen stationed at Ridenburg, receiving the last reply:

"All is well."

The date was June 1st.

At this time, Brand and Frey’s group were passing through the secret path under the Forbidden Garden, seizing every moment to head to Ridenburg. In fact, they had already discovered traces of undead activity along the way, but the scale was very small, appearing more like Undead Scouts approaching Ridenburg.

This made the atmosphere in the group tense. They were a step ahead of Madara’s main force, but how big this step was, no one could say.

At midnight on this day, Brand, Frey, and Roman passed the last section of Xavier Mountain Path. When they pushed through the forest and arrived at a small hill called Fendek Mountain south of Ridenburg, facing the night mountain wind, they saw the breathtaking scene of the Yu Song Valley formed from the confluence of the Yu Song and Weishi Rivers. The lights of Ridenburg were like a dazzling gem embedded in the darkness, silently lying in the valley below, illuminating the entire riverside along the coast.

Seeing this, Frey and Miss Merchant held their breaths. They had constantly speculated about what Ridenburg might look like but never imagined the starfire of civilization in the dark could be so beautiful.

But at this time, Miss Merchant poked Brand’s back and whispered, "Brand, there’s an army behind us."

"An army?"

"Yes, look north from here. The valley we passed through this afternoon. Can you see it?"

"That’s more than ten miles away, it’s so dark, how could I possibly see! My lady, don’t joke with me at this time!" Brand was stunned, then said irritably.

"But I saw it."

...