Ch.45Chapter 45. Conquering Symphonia (3)

Chapter 45. Symphonia Raid (3)

While waiting for Lakye, I checked my status window after a while.

[Name: Malak]

– Available Blessings: Healing Totem (Advanced), Divine Descent, Binding Totem, Zombie Control (Intermediate)

– Used Blessings: Berserker’s Energy (Kanto), Spirit Master’s Path (Paya)

– Available Points: 3500

– Followers: Paya, Lakye, Muri, Nix, Bojak, Sola

– Enter Community

Compared to when I first saw it, it’s really grown a lot.

Including the one-time blessings I’ve already used, I’ve learned a total of six skills.

Even if Zombie Control counts as a skill rather than a blessing, that’s equivalent to level 5 as a Paladin.

My remaining points are also substantial. With a bit more, I can upgrade Healing Totem to the highest level.

I could also upgrade the Zombie Control blessing to advanced level, but I don’t think that’s very meaningful.

Controlling five zombies is already quite demanding. Having more wouldn’t be efficient.

It was a garbage skill from the original game anyway.

That Charon guy can control hundreds because he’s incredibly talented and has refined his skills over a long time, but I’m not like that.

I should perfect controlling five zombies before upgrading the level.

…It’s been quite eventful getting to this point.

Saving Hannah, going to the necromancer’s tomb, seeing the dark cloud demon, evacuating the Sky Tree tribe.

I haven’t been in danger myself. Well, that’s natural for a totem.

With nothing else to do and to relax a bit, I opened my private message window.

[Hannah]

[NotACatfish: What?]

[What skill did you learn at level 5?]

I’ve been curious about this for a while. I could see information up to level 4 thanks to George’s raid team’s compilation, but there’s no information from level 5 onward.

What skills do Paladins learn at level 5?

[NotACatfish: Me? I went with Blessing of Strength]

[What’s that?]

[NotACatfish: A buff that doubles physical abilities for a certain time]

[NotACatfish: It seemed like the best option]

Oh. That sounds good just from hearing about it.

[NotACatfish: I’ve been wondering for a while, Sans, what level are you?]

Sigh. Do I have to lie again here?

Can’t be helped. Once I’ve started, I have to keep it up.

[Level 3. I’m not good at combat so I’m laying low]

[NotACatfish: lolol such a noob]

[NotACatfish: Should big sis protect you?]

Hannah. Don’t make me want to flick your forehead.

[NotACatfish: Are you still living with the barbarians?]

[Yeah]

[NotACatfish: I told you to come to the mart]

[NotACatfish: You can live here grilling fish]

That’s easy for you to say.

I’m a totem, I can’t walk or eat, you know?

[Do you remember what skills are available at level 5?]

[NotACatfish: Yeah, I wrote them all down]

[Can you tell me?]

[NotACatfish: Just a sec]

Great. Once again, I’m gathering information in my spare time.

[NotACatfish: Blessing of Strength, Shock Reflection, Light Snare]

[Can you explain the others besides Blessing of Strength?]

[NotACatfish: Shock Reflection transfers damage received back to the opponent, and Light Snare is a binding skill]

[Thanks]

Both sound good.

Paladins have a reputation for being punching bags because demons are too numerous and powerful, but they’re still close to being superhumans.

I saw William, an Imperial Knight, fighting, and he couldn’t use sword energy or magic like in fantasy novels.

I asked Harry if an archmage could destroy a country alone.

He said that if someone had the power to destroy a country alone, they wouldn’t be a mage but a transcendent being or god.

Paladins are the strongest in pure combat ability. Or rather, the strongest among mortals.

Anyway, they grow exponentially stronger as they level up, so they have high potential.

The problem is that the dark clouds come before they can fully realize that potential.

[Aren’t the other skills good too?]

[NotACatfish: Simple is always strongest. Blessing of Strength is the best]

[Thanks for telling me. I’m off to eat bugs]

[NotACatfish: What bugs?]

[Today it’s rhinoceros beetles]

[NotACatfish: lololol]

After waiting for several hours, Lakye arrived.

Despite traveling such a long distance, he looked calm, not tired at all.

This is what a true superhuman is like.

“There’s nothing unusual. Currently, there are two demons in the city, one intermediate and one lower. If we’re going to attack, now is our chance.”

Good.

It’s time to execute the plan we all devised together.

Come on, player entrance!

This is fun. Keep it going!

It’s not my fault these phrases pop into my head.

It’s all because of K-content.

– Lakye. Hand the totem over to Paya.

First operation: Force dispersion.

We’ll spread zombies where the cultists are scouting to lure them.

Four lower demons have joined them, so we need to create an even bigger distraction.

Four demons would tear the zombies apart quickly, but who cares?

This blessing doesn’t consume much mental energy.

I just need to control other zombies to keep drawing aggro.

“…Understood.”

Lakye looked at Paya expressionlessly and held out Totem #3.

Very slowly, leisurely.

“Great! Toughie and I will go…”

Paya grabbed Totem #3 but couldn’t take it.

Because Lakye was holding Totem #3 firmly.

Lakye, why are you suddenly acting like this? The totem might break at this rate.

“W-what are you doing! Chief Lakye!”

Paya tugged at Totem #3, struggling.

Unlike Lakye’s warm hands, I can’t feel the sensation.

“What are YOU doing? Take it already.”

Lakye replied calmly, his expression unchanged.

Does he not want to give it up? Does he like Totem #3 that much?

Maybe he’s grown attached to it since he’s moved around with Totem #3 often.

Still, we can’t have this power struggle.

– Lakye.

“…I apologize.”

Lakye finally released his grip.

Paya snatched Totem #3, glared at Lakye once, and mounted Toughie.

Lakye sat down on a chair with a sulky expression like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.

He usually acts mature, but sometimes he’s like this.

Lakye’s age is… nineteen or twenty, I think.

That’s still young enough to be immature.

Squeak-!

With Toughie’s energetic cry, they departed.

This time they used stealth mode since they were going down the mountain.

“Toughie, become invisible!”

At Paya’s command, Toughie’s body turned transparent.

Paya and Totem #3 also became invisible. It’s an overpowered ability that makes the rider invisible too.

Spirit creatures are awesome.

“How is it? More skillful than before, right?”

– Indeed.

They’ve already left the mountain. Faster than Lakye. No matter how good someone is at running, they can’t beat flying.

I can see the cultists in the distance.

“Where should we go?”

– Over there.

“Yes!”

Paya enthusiastically steered Toughie in the direction I indicated.

– One. Just kill one.

“Toughie, did you hear that?”

Toughie nodded and grabbed a male cultist’s head with its claws.

He was slightly separated from the reconnaissance team.

“Aaaagh!”

Then it applied pressure and squashed it like a tomato… Well, that’s too gruesome, so I’ll stop here.

Anyway, we now have one corpse.

– Stay well hidden.

As long as Totem #3 is intact, I can enjoy zombie control indefinitely until my mental energy runs out.

Paya nodded and hid nearby with Toughie.

I immediately used zombie control. Now this man is Zombie #1.

Zombie #1 was a warrior class equipped with a sword and shield, and unlike when I controlled lower-level zombies, there were no control issues.

The only problem was blurry vision, but that’s because Toughie had crushed one of Zombie #1’s eyes.

I covered the damaged face with a helmet and headed toward the nearest reconnaissance team.

The first team I encountered was a group of about twenty people.

“Have you found enemies?”

A woman with dull eyes approached me.

Her speech was slurred and her movements bizarre—typical cultist behavior.

Cultists only start acting human when they panic and scream after their worshipped demon dies.

I stood silently still, then acted when the woman came within my attack range.

By “acted,” I mean I simply swung my sword.

The woman blocked it easily.

As expected, even as a cultist, she’s still a warrior. An ordinary person with poor coordination like me wouldn’t stand a chance.

“What are you—”

But I’m a zombie. My entire body is a weapon.

I lunged at the woman. I got stabbed in the stomach, but I felt no pain, so it didn’t matter.

“Kuhek.”

I bit her throat, causing her to spurt green liquid like a fountain. I made sure she was dead and turned her into a zombie.

Now she’s Zombie #2.

With Totem #3 nearby, I can use the blessing multiple times.

The main tribal alliance forces have already departed. By now, they’re probably turning a village into a wasteland.

I need to draw aggro.

I’ll keep increasing the number of corpses, switching to better bodies, and luring them in.

“What’s this?”

“Kill it!”

The cultists approach with weapons drawn. I only moved Zombie #1, keeping Zombie #2 collapsed on the ground.

It’s a classic ambush strategy—while they focus on #1, #2 will strike from behind.

“Heretic!”

They swing their swords. Quite fierce strikes.

Nope~ I’m a zombie so it doesn’t hurt~!

I need to show these guys what mindless zombie deployment really means.