Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys

[Core Skill: Soul Shatter Warhammer (Active)]

Effect of Soul Shatter Warhammer (Active): Enemies who die beneath your warhammer will have a portion of their soul energy absorbed by the hammer, which will grant you a special enhancement effect.

The enhancement effect lasts for one minute, is stackable, and can accumulate up to ten layers.

Additionally, when soul energy is absorbed in ten portions, you can control and release it all at once to form a 'Soul Shatter Strike'.

(Note: The damage from Soul Shatter Strike is true damage and cannot be blocked by physical or elemental energies.)

(Note: The stronger the enemy's soul you kill, the greater the enhancement effect you will obtain. Enemies at the level of Knight or equivalent cannot provide soul energy. Warhammer wizards do not kill nameless foes.)

Although it was just a core skill, the content described in the text was quite lengthy.

After re-reading the information several times, Rein fell into deep thought.

"First, the keyword 'stackable'."

"Does that mean if I continuously kill ten enemies, I can stack it ten times?"

"No matter what the enhancement effect is, even something like Strength +1, if it can stack ten times, that would be Strength +10, a very powerful effect, indeed a weapon for group battles!"

"Then there's the keyword 'true damage'."

"This is the first time I've encountered such a description. Could it be that my previous damage was 'false damage'?"

However, Rein quickly noticed what was written in the note—'cannot be blocked by physical or elemental energies'.

"It seems 'Soul Shatter Strike' has an effect somewhat similar to a kind of witchcraft that attacks the soul directly?"

"It must be so!" Rein nodded to himself in agreement.

"Also, it says energy cannot be extracted from souls below the level of Knight?"

"Is it because they are not Transcendents, and their soul strength isn't sufficient?"

Originally, Rein wondered whether killing ten red fire ants would count?

Now it seemed, obviously not.

Unless the red fire ants were Transcendent red fire ants, equivalent to the level of Knight.

"However, whether my assumptions are correct or not, it's best to test it out firsthand."

Rein held his chest with one hand and stroked his chin with the other, his face showing contemplation.

At this moment, Rein wished that an enemy would come and launch a sneak attack on him once more!

Suddenly, Rein thought of something, his eyes lighting up, but the next second, he slightly shook his head.

"Let's wait until tomorrow morning. At this time, that guy is probably still being interrogated...."

-----------------

Meanwhile.

Deep within the Elim Mine.

At this time, the huge Legendary Species—the Earth Snake—had awakened. Compared to its hundred-meter-long serpentine body, its eyes were really not that large, merely the size of an adult's head.

However, outside its vertical pupils, there was a special triple eyelid structure.

Normally, there should be two layers, an upper eyelid and a lower eyelid, but the Earth Snake seemed to have an extra one that slid horizontally from left to right, possibly to block the splintered soil and dust when burrowing.

Moreover, if one looked closely at its pupils, one would see swirling black mist, identical to the black fog that rose from the evil magic circles laid out by Ganon of the Secret Snake Sect.

Seeing his great achievement, Ganon, whose somber face had hardly shown a smile since Holdan had been captured alive, finally thawed, now smiling broadly and obviously in an excellent mood!

After some thought, he took the initiative to speak to Raksul: "Your Excellency Raksul, I have successfully commandeered the Earth Snake. I appreciate the cooperation from the Black Flame Church, and this has also shown me the sincerity of your church."

"Regarding your mention of eliminating that Rein, I think we can expand this range a bit."

"I've heard that your church's aim this time is to overthrow the Dragan Empire's rule in Meister. Thus, I believe the most effective way would be to eliminate all the high-end forces of the empire in Meister, including Rein."

"My idea is that your church can assemble its elite forces, and I will control the Earth Snake to dig a tunnel from here straight to the underground of Count Habs's residence, and then launch a surprise attack at late night!"

"With a surprise attack and the power of the ancient Legendary Species—the Earth Snake—I believe we can easily take out the empire's high-end forces in Meister."

"Your Excellency Raksul, what do you think of my plan?" Ganon said with a smile.

Ganon's words naturally came as a great surprise to Raksul.

Originally, he was thinking about how to communicate with the Great Priest of the Secret Snake Sect.

After all, once the Earth Snake was in hand, if Ganon turned around and left, he wouldn't have much recourse.

Such a possibility was not out of the question.

But now, the plan that Ganon proposed clearly exceeded his expectations and was highly feasible.

In that case, all he needed to do was to gather the church's elites, join forces with Ganon, the Great Priest of the Secret Snake Sect, and the Legendary Species 'Earth Snake'...

There was a very good chance they could capture all of the empire's high-end forces in Meister, including Governor Count Habs and Rein, in one fell swoop!

Moreover, once the Earth Snake began digging, Freeman would also be free to take care of that matter!

"Your Excellency Ganon, I fully agree with your plan!" Raksul bowed slightly in gratitude.

"Then, I will leave the task of controlling the Earth Snake to you when the time comes."

"Yes, don't worry about it. According to the Earth Snake's digging speed, it will take at the most a day and a half to reach the designated location. Let me calculate; it should be by the second half of tomorrow night, which is the best time to attack," Ganon nodded with a smile.