I Just Want Players to Save Money, They Insist on Giving Me!
Chapter 653 - 204: Cut Down the Great Tree, Sever the Omen!_2

Chapter 653: Chapter 204: Cut Down the Great Tree, Sever the Omen!_2

He simply decided to mark this place and return for a proper exploration after leveling up.

Once back on solid ground, his first order of business was to settle the score with that old codger Patch.

True to form, Patch was the quintessential fence-sitter.

Upon seeing a player march up to him, he would frantically heap praise and flatter them, sparing no compliment as he desperately tried to worm his way out of accountability.

Wang Laoju found himself amused by Patch’s shameless performance.

Or perhaps Patch had actually managed to touch a chord with his mostly deceitful, occasionally truthful words.

Regardless of how Patch argued, there was at least one statement that Wang Laoju was willing to forgive.

Patch claimed that for an ordinary person like himself, merely surviving in the perilous borderlands was no small feat, and changing sides like the wind was vital for staying alive; otherwise, he would have died hundreds, if not thousands, of times over.

In the end, he chose to spare Patch’s life.

When he opened the map again, the entire Nimgreifu had been thoroughly searched.

Only the main storyline’s Stonewell city remained.

And of course, the outdoor BOSS that had mercilessly tortured players in the early phase, the Big Tree Guardian.

"I will first vanquish the Big Tree Guardian, then have a go with Omen," Wang Laoju planned his route and teleported back to the Initial Land.

Sure enough, he saw a cavalier clad in golden armor, looking majestic, continuously patrolling back and forth.

This boss, who had given players such a psychological nightmare at the beginning of the game, had also once tormented Wang Laoju to the brink of death.

But now, everything was different.

After scouring Nimgreifu from top to bottom, he had gained a considerable amount of improvements.

He had also learned many techniques from various elite monsters and bosses.

Fearless!

After blowing the whistle for his horse, he summoned the Spirit Horse Tortoit.

Wang Laoju’s eyes hardened as he lowered his body on the horse and charged straight at the Big Tree Guardian!

Bring it on!

I’m standing right in front of you, do I look anything like I used to?

The stirring background music swelled in the moment of the clash between the two cavaliers!

In the first round of combat, Wang Laoju charged up his sword for a powerful strike, and as he rode past the Big Tree Guardian, he fiercely swung his blade!

"Puchi!"

The numbers for hefty damage floated up.

After a successful strike, he instantly put distance between himself and the Big Tree Guardian.

That one blow nearly shaved off 1/10 of the Big Tree Guardian’s health bar!

Compared to the initial damage of only 1/40 of its health bar, it was a difference like heaven and earth.

Moreover, the increase in the stamina gauge provided Wang Laoju with much more leeway when facing the Big Tree Guardian.

But what was crucial was the players’ deepening understanding of ’Ring-like’ games.

Through countless battles, players had long shifted their mindset from ’this is a traditional action game that combines skills’ to ’a semi-gambling game where precise timing and maneuvering with the enemy during combat are key’.

Quickly, Wang Laoju brought the Big Tree Guardian to a sliver of health amidst the clash of blades.

For the final strike, he charged at the enemy, and at the moment of head-on collision with the equally fierce Big Tree Guardian,

he lightly tapped the jump button, and as the majestic horse leapt from the ground,

Wang Laoju dismounted.

The Fading One was lifted by the spirit horse to a height unreachable by his own leap.

In midair, he then drew his sword.

Cut Down!

He delivered a frigid, direct strike from above!

And that took away the last bit of health from this novice mentor.

"Eeyah~~!!" cried the Big Tree Guardian’s horse with a sharp whinny.

Then, it collapsed to the ground.

The formidable foe emitted a scattering of twinkling lights before disappearing.

With over 3000 Runes deposited in his account, he also obtained a golden halberd.

"Thrilling!" With the Big Tree Guardian’s demise, the overwhelming joy of conquering a powerful enemy erupted, making Wang Laoju take a long breath and exclaim with delight.

He then inspected the weapon that had dropped.

After six or seven hours of gameplay, Wang Laoju realized that in Elden Ring,

the positioning of the equipment was rather ambiguous compared to traditional RPGs.

That is, there was no absolutely overpowering equipment.

Only equipment that is more suited to the current scenario was present.

Every piece of equipment had its value.

Even the seemingly inconspicuous Straight Sword that accompanied the player from birth might not necessarily be worse than the golden halberd in his hands.

The Straight Sword, being lighter and swifter, was quicker to swing, making it less likely for the enemy to find an opening.

While the golden halberd was a heavy and powerful spear with high attack, strong armor-piercing, and a certain bonus to holy attack power,

the downside was its slow wind-up motion.

However, Wang Laoju was quite keen on the golden halberd’s Battle Skill—Golden Oath.

This was a buff-type battle skill which, upon use, could enhance the player’s attack and defensive power.

Without a second thought, he returned to the Big Blessing to find Patch and used the Faded Forging Stone to strengthen it to +2.

With it equipped, his combined attack power on the panel had now reached nearly 300 points.

After unleashing the battle skill, it could surge to 350+

Even taking the enemy’s defense into account, a single hit would likely deal a whopping 200+ damage.

With the golden halberd in hand, he arrived at the Sword Training Camp situated before the checkpoint.

He casually lured a small monster out.

These soldiers with a mere 400+ health when faced with Wang Laoju dual-wielding the golden halberd,

would be left with just a sliver of health after a powerful, charged thrust.

The improvement was tremendous!

He also upgraded his attributes at the Blessing Spot.

His health remained at level 20, with 650 points.

All other attributes were also evenly distributed.

Additionally, the Sacred Grail Drops were upgraded to level 2.