Chapter 1 Abraham's Tomb

The entrance to Abraham's tomb was so close, yet still seemed so far away.

There were simply too many skeletons here, a vast sea of bones stretching as far as the eye could see.

Nie Yan cast Detect on one of the skeleton soldiers.

Skeleton Warrior: Level 13, Health 520/520

Back when the players first explored this place, Triumph and Angel Corps had fought fiercely for control of the area. At the time, Holy Light Flames had clashed with Angel Corps, holding them back and drawing away their main forces, which allowed Triumph to take control. They spent three days clearing out all the skeleton warriors before entering Abraham's tomb. No one knew what happened inside, but in the end, Triumph's people obtained the Chapter of Freedom.

In his past life, the Chapter of Freedom was carried by a Thief named Low调人生 (Di Diao Ren Sheng), a top Thief in the Triumph Guild and one of the few worthy of the title Shadow Dancer. He had impressive achievements in various guild wars, fortress sieges, and city battles, killing at least a hundred people each time, mostly cloth-wearers, including powerful Magisters and Holy Priests. He also seemed to have many life-saving skills, managing to escape unscathed from several encirclements.

Shadow Dancer—the ultimate glory pursued by all Thieves! Reaching a high level wasn't enough to earn the title; advancing to Shadow Dancer required completing a difficult class advancement quest that pushed the limits of a Thief. Completing it would grant significant attribute and skill rewards.

A Thief who reached the Shadow Dancer stage was incredibly fearsome, appearing and disappearing without a trace, lurking in the shadows, and striking with lethal precision. Although they couldn't do much against Warriors and Paladins in full plate armor, Warriors and Paladins couldn't do much against them either.

The best ways to deal with Shadow Dancer Thieves were a Priest's Mark of Divinity, a Paladin's Divine Sight, and high-perception Magisters who could barely maintain a 50/50 win rate in PvP. Interestingly, the reason Magisters could maintain a 50/50 win rate wasn't anything special, but because Mages leveled up so quickly, Magisters often had a level advantage of 10 or more over Shadow Dancer Thieves.

In his previous life, Di Diao Ren Sheng (Low Diao Ren Sheng) was skilled enough to easily advance to Shadow Dancer, but the Chapter of Freedom had played a crucial role.

Triumph, Nie Yan took a deep breath. The feud between him and Triumph ran deep. Later, Triumph was acquired by Cao Xu and became one of Cao Xu's five major guilds. Back then, Cao Xu controlled those five guilds—Triumph, Holy Light Flames, Mage League, Sacred Guardians, and Warblade Bloodlust—each of which was powerful. Together, they could dominate the world. No one could shake Cao Xu's position as overlord. Many guilds could barely maintain their self-preservation under Cao Xu's pressure.

It was said that Triumph's guild leader and Cao Xu were partners in the real world, so they would definitely merge in the end. If he had the chance to weaken Triumph, Nie Yan would never let it go. Whether or not Triumph would be acquired by the capital magnate Cao Xu in the future, Nie Yan had to be wary.

Looking at the endless sea of skeletons ahead, Nie Yan felt a surge of determination.

No one can stop me from growing stronger!

Nie Yan glanced at the three skeletal Kodos beside him. The reason he had commanded three or more skeletal Kodos was to clear a path for him and get him to the entrance of the tomb. Once they did that, the skeletal Kodos' mission would be complete.

As for the tomb itself, after Triumph had taken the Chapter of Freedom in his previous life, he had leveled up inside and had a vague memory of the general layout. Once he was inside, he would remember everything.

Nie Yan had the skeletal Kodos clear the way in front, guarding the front and sides, while the two ordinary skeleton warriors guarded the rear, as they advanced towards Abraham's tomb.

The three massive skeletal Kodos pushed the skeleton warriors aside, driving them outwards. Countless skeleton warriors were knocked away by the skeletal Kodos.

Many skeleton warriors began attacking the skeletal Kodos, with damage values of -12 appearing above their heads.

As Nie Yan stepped into the cemetery, he stirred up a hornet's nest. The skeleton warriors sensed the presence of a living being and went berserk, swarming towards him like a tide. Countless skeletal figures crowded in front.

The skeletal Kodos continued clearing a path. With every step forward, the skeletal Kodos' health dropped significantly. If their health regeneration wasn't fast enough, they probably wouldn't be able to hold out.

At this rate, the three skeletal Kodos would be dead before they reached the entrance to the tomb.

This was somewhat different from Nie Yan's expectations. He had to speed things up!

Otherwise, if the three skeletal Kodos died and he was still surrounded by skeletons, he would definitely die.

Nie Yan controlled the skeletal Kodos to push forward faster. A skeleton warrior slipped through the skeletal Kodos' defenses, brandishing its longsword and slashing at him.

Nie Yan dodged to the side. The skeleton warrior's attack, a critical hit, struck a skeletal Kodo. Then, he made a backhand strike, attacking the skeleton warrior's back.

-165, -152.

When the skeleton warrior broke through, its health was already low. Coupled with Nie Yan's high attack power, it was smashed to pieces in two hits.

Nie Yan had the skeletal Kodos continue to push forward while dealing with the skeleton warriors that slipped through.

The entrance to the tomb was getting closer and closer, only about twenty yards away. The two skeleton warriors behind Nie Yan shattered one after another. Although there were fewer skeleton warriors coming from behind, they were too fragile and couldn't hold them back.

The vast sea of skeletons surged like wave after wave of a raging tide, endless and relentless. Nie Yan and the three skeletal Kodos were like reefs in the ocean, battered by wave after wave, constantly in danger of being swallowed. But when the waves receded, Nie Yan and the three skeletal Kodos remained standing like solid rocks in the center of the sea of skeletons.

Nie Yan glanced at the health of the three skeletal Kodos. The one with the most health had eight hundred left, and the one with the least had just over three hundred.

Under Nie Yan's control, the three skeletal Kodos violently rammed into the skeleton ranks in front of them, sending the skeleton warriors flying.

Many skeleton warriors fell at Nie Yan's feet, but he only took the time to bend down and pick up a few items that looked valuable. He absolutely didn't care about ordinary coins or anything like that.

Staying in place for even a moment longer meant getting one step closer to death.

In the fierce battle, Nie Yan got closer and closer to Abraham's tomb, only eight or nine yards away. Success was just around the corner, and his heart couldn't help but beat faster.

One of the skeletal Kodos' health was approaching the bottom line. Cracks spread across its body, and with a bang, it shattered into pieces. Boom, the fragments of the skeletal Kodo crushed three or four skeleton warriors beneath them.

One skeletal Kodo had died!

Nie Yan was startled. Only two skeletal Kodos were left, and their health seemed to be running low as well.

Nie Yan seemed to sense the approaching danger. If both skeletal Kodos died, he would lose his last barrier, and the endless sea of skeletons would instantly swallow him up, leaving not even bones behind.

The two skeletal Kodos had even more difficulty defending. Nie Yan had to struggle to deal with the skeleton warriors that came surging in.

He used Assassinate to kill a skeleton warrior, but two more skeleton warriors rushed in from the side.

Nie Yan dodged one skeleton warrior's attack, but another skeleton warrior slashed him with its sword, dealing -32 damage.

Five more skeleton warriors rushed in.

There were too many skeleton warriors, a full seven of them. Nie Yan was overwhelmed, and his health dropped rapidly—65%, 37%, 12%. He quickly chugged a health potion and applied a bandage.

+20, +20, +20...

Looking towards the entrance of the tomb, he saw a dilapidated building, about three yards high. Eroded by the wind and sand, it was covered in cracks, as if it could collapse at any moment. The inside of the tomb was dark and gloomy. He could see layers of steps leading downwards. The darkness was like a beast waiting to devour its prey.

While the two skeletal Kodos still had some health left, Nie Yan led them forward another three or four yards. Another skeletal Kodo's health reached its limit. It hissed and cracked, shattering into pieces.

Nie Yan's heart tightened. He glanced at the health of the remaining skeletal Kodo. -12, -12, -15, a series of damage values appeared above its head. Surrounded by skeleton warriors, its health was running out as well.

Nie Yan had completely lost his barrier. The endless sea of skeletons surged towards him, about to devour him in the next moment.

There was no time left. Nie Yan glanced at Abraham's tomb, which was not far away. Was he going to fail here?

Countless skeleton warriors, like howling beasts, lunged at Nie Yan. Two skeleton warriors slashed him, reducing his remaining 37% health by 21%.

Seeing the lintel of Abraham's tomb, Nie Yan's heart stirred. He immediately used the skill on the Weaver's Ring, firing a strand of spider silk. With a whoosh, the strand of silk flew over the heads of the skeleton warriors and stuck to the upper end of the lintel of Abraham's tomb. With a sudden tug, the force of the spider silk lifted Nie Yan into the air. He flew over the heads of the skeleton warriors, towards the top of the lintel of Abraham's tomb.

Looking back, he saw the place where he had been standing swallowed up by the surging skeleton warriors.

Nie Yan leaped over the skeleton warriors and was about to crash into the rock wall of the tomb's entrance when he braced himself with his right hand and stood on the lintel of the tomb's entrance.

The skeleton warriors below continued to stir, but they were absolutely unable to reach him. Nie Yan gasped for breath. He was finally safe. He only had a sliver of health left. He quickly found a place to sit down and eat bread to recover his health.