Chapter 1 Abraham's Tomb

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

There were just too many skeletons here, a boundless sea of skeletons stretching as far as the eye could see.

Nie Yan cast Detect on one of the skeleton soldiers.

Skeleton Warrior: Level 13, HP 520/520

Back when the players first explored this place, Holy Empire and Angel Corp had fought a fierce battle for control of this area. At that time, Holy Light Flame had some conflicts with Angel Corp, hindering their efforts and drawing away their main forces, allowing Holy Empire to take control. It took them three days to clear out all the skeleton warriors and enter Abraham's tomb. As for what happened inside, no one knew. In the end, the people from Holy Empire obtained the Chapter of Freedom.

In his past life, the Chapter of Freedom was carried by a thief named Low调人生 (Low调人生). He was Holy Empire's chief thief, one of the few worthy of the title Shadow Dancer. He had outstanding achievements in almost every guild war, fortress battle, and city battle, killing at least a hundred people each time, mostly cloth-wearers, including Archmages and High Priests. Moreover, he seemed to have many life-saving skills, managing to escape unscathed from several encirclements despite the close calls.

Shadow Dancer—that was the supreme glory pursued by all thieves! It wasn't just about having a high level; advancing to Shadow Dancer required completing a difficult class advancement quest, challenging the limits of a thief. Upon completion, there would be substantial attribute and skill rewards.

When a thief reached the Shadow Dancer stage, they would become incredibly terrifying. They were elusive and hidden in the darkness, delivering fatal blows with every strike. Although they couldn't do anything to Warriors and Paladins of the same level wearing plate armor, the Warriors and Paladins couldn't do anything to them either.

The best way to deal with a Shadow Dancer was with a Priest's Mark or a Paladin's Eye of Divinity. Additionally, Archmages with high perception could barely maintain a 50-50 win rate against Shadow Dancers in PvP. Interestingly, the main reason Archmages could maintain that win rate wasn't anything else, but because mages leveled up so incredibly fast. Archmages often held a level advantage of 10 or more levels over Shadow Dancer thieves.

In his previous life, Low调人生 had advanced to Shadow Dancer so easily not only because he was skilled, but also because the Chapter of Freedom had contributed greatly.

Holy Empire, Nie Yan took a deep breath. The feud between him and Holy Empire was undeniably deep. Later, Holy Empire was acquired by Cao Xu, becoming one of Cao Xu's five major guilds. At that time, Cao Xu controlled the five major guilds: Holy Empire, Holy Light Flame, Mage League, Sacred Guardians, and Bloodlust Blades. Each guild was powerful, and together they could dominate the world. No one could shake Cao Xu's position as overlord. Many guilds could only barely maintain their own defense under Cao Xu's pressure.

It was said that the president of Holy Empire and Cao Xu were partners in reality. They would definitely unite in the end. If there was an opportunity to weaken Holy Empire, Nie Yan would definitely not let it go. Regardless of whether Holy Empire 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 in front of him, Nie Yan felt a surge of determination.

No one can stop me from becoming stronger!

Nie Yan glanced at the three skeletal kodos beside him. The reason he had ordered three or more skeletal kodos was to clear a path for him, to get him to the entrance of the tomb. Once that was done, the mission of the three skeletal kodos would be complete.

As for the inside of the tomb, after Holy Empire had taken the Chapter of Freedom in his past life, he had leveled up inside, and he still had some vague memories of the general layout. Once he went inside, he would remember.

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 gigantic skeletal kodos separated the skeleton warriors, driving them outwards. Countless skeleton warriors were knocked away by the skeletal kodos.

Many skeleton warriors began attacking the skeletal kodos, with -12 damage values popping up above their heads.

Nie Yan stepped into this graveyard, stirring up a hornet's nest. The skeleton warriors smelled the presence of a living being and went crazy, surging towards him like a tide. Countless skeletal bodies jammed together in front.

The skeletal kodos continued to clear the path, but with every step forward, the skeletal kodos' health dropped significantly. If their health recovery wasn't fast enough, they probably wouldn't be able to hold on.

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

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

Otherwise, if the three skeletal kodos died and he was still trapped in the encirclement of the skeletons, he would definitely die.

Nie Yan directed the skeletal kodos to speed up their advance. A skeleton warrior slipped through the skeletal kodos' defense line and swung the long sword in its hand at him.

Nie Yan dodged to the side. The skeleton warrior's attack, a critical hit, struck the skeletal kodo, then Nie Yan countered with a backhand slash, attacking the skeleton warrior's back.

-165, -152.

The skeleton warrior had already lost a lot of health when it broke through, and coupled with Nie Yan's high attack power, it was shattered in two hits.

Nie Yan urged the skeletal kodos to speed up their assault while dealing with the skeleton warriors that slipped through.

The distance to the entrance of the tomb was getting closer and closer, only about twenty yards away. The two skeleton warriors following behind Nie Yan were shattered one after another. Although there were fewer skeleton warriors coming from behind, their health was too low and they couldn't resist.

The vast sea of skeletons was like wave after wave of frenzied tides, surging and endless. Nie Yan and the three skeletal kodos were like reefs in the ocean, battered by wave after wave, in danger of being swallowed at any moment. But when the waves receded, Nie Yan and the three skeletal kodos still stood firm 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 only eight hundred left, while the one with the least health had only three hundred left.

Under Nie Yan's control, the three skeletal kodos slammed fiercely into the skeleton crowd in front, sending skeleton warriors flying.

Many skeleton warriors fell at Nie Yan's feet, but aside from one or two things that looked more valuable, he would take the time to bend down and pick them up. As for ordinary coins and the like, he didn't care at all.

Staying in place for even a moment 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 one step away, and his heart beat a little faster.

One of the skeletal kodos' health approached the bottom line. Cracks spread from the skeletal kodo's body, and with a bang, the skeletal kodo shattered into pieces. The skeletal kodo's fragments crushed three or four skeleton warriors below.

One of the skeletal kodos died!

Nie Yan was startled. Only two skeletal kodos were left, and the health of the remaining two skeletal kodos didn't seem to be much.

Nie Yan seemed to sense the approaching danger. If both skeletal kodos died, then he would lose his last barrier, and the endless sea of skeletons would instantly swallow him, leaving nothing but bone scraps.

The two skeletal kodos were even more stretched thin in their defense, and Nie Yan had to exhaust himself dealing with the skeleton warriors surging in.

An Assassinate killed a skeleton warrior, and two more skeleton warriors rushed in from the side.

Nie Yan dodged one skeleton warrior's attack. Another skeleton warrior struck Nie Yan with a sword, -32.

Five more skeleton warriors rushed in.

There were too many skeleton warriors, a full seven, and Nie Yan was a little overwhelmed. His health dropped sharply, 65%, 37%, 12%. He quickly gulped down a bottle of instant recovery potion, then applied a bandage.

+20, +20, +20...

Looking towards the entrance of the tomb, it was a dilapidated building, about three yards high, covered with cracks from the erosion of wind and sand, as if it could collapse at any moment. The interior of the tomb was deep and dark, and you could see layers of steps leading down. The darkness was like a beast waiting to devour people, opening its mouth and waiting for its prey.

While the two skeletal kodos still had some health, Nie Yan led them forward another three or four yards. Another skeletal kodo's health hit rock bottom, hissed, and shattered into fragments.

Nie Yan's heart tightened. He glanced at the health of the remaining skeletal kodo. -12, -12, -15. Damage values popped up above its head one after another. Surrounded by skeleton warriors, its health was also reaching the bottom.

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

There wasn't enough time. Nie Yan glanced at Abraham's tomb not far away. Was he going to fail here?

Countless skeleton warriors, like howling beasts, pounced on Nie Yan. Two skeleton warriors struck Nie Yan, reducing his remaining 37% health by 21%.

Seeing the beam of Abraham's tomb door, 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 spider silk flew over the heads of the skeleton warriors and stuck to the upper end of the Abraham's tomb door. With a hard pull, the pulling force of the spider silk caused Nie Yan to fly up, flying over the heads of the many skeleton warriors towards the top of the Abraham's tomb door.

Looking back, the place where he had originally stood was swallowed up by the surging skeleton warriors.

Nie Yan flew over the skeleton warriors and was about to crash into the rock wall of the tomb door. He supported himself with his right hand and stood on the beam of the tomb door.

The skeleton warriors below continued to stir, but they could never reach here. Nie Yan took a breath, finally safe. His health was only a little bit left. He quickly found a place to sit down and eat bread to recover his health.