Mercenary Wars

Chapter 83 Hunter Assessment
The growth process of the Blood-Summoning Sword is quite interesting. As blood is absorbed, a sharp and narrow blade first extends out, and then grows inward to gradually complete the sword body.

Therefore, when it was halfway grown, the Blood-Summoning Sword was hollow, with a unique and sharp design that made Gao Jiano stare at it for a while before continuing to pour blood.

The blood of Rosier's avatar was as black as ink, and the sword that grew from it was also black, looking somewhat like some kind of black steel, extremely smooth, but without any reflection.

When almost all the dozens of bottles of black blood had been poured out, the sword finally grew into a black longsword, slightly longer than the usual size.

There are five round holes on the blade.

The five round holes may seem insignificant, but they actually serve many purposes. The simplest function, of course, is to act as a bleeding groove, enhancing the bleeding effect.

Secondly, it reflects the sword's level. Black Blood is level five blood, so the sword that grows from it will naturally be level five, hence the five round holes. As the sword is upgraded in the future, the number of round holes will increase accordingly.

In addition, when the sword is incomplete, absorbing blood can repair it, and when the sword is complete, the absorbed low-level blood will condense in these round holes and eventually become something called "blood crystal".

Blood crystals are a common material and currency used by blood elves.

After thinking for a moment, Gao Jiano simply poured the remaining bottles of level 5 black blood onto it.

Blood crystals immediately began to condense in the bottommost round hole, gradually accumulating from a thin layer.

When the thickness of the blood crystal reached the same level as the sword blade, Gao Jiano made a thought, and the blood crystal fell off on its own.

Then he picked up the blood crystal, weighed it in his palm, and found that it felt very similar to a coin—no wonder it was the currency of the blood elves.

He then took the Blood-Summoning Sword into his hand.

[Item: Blood Summoning Sword]

[Hood Level: Unknown]

[Sword Level: 5]

[Enchantment: Blood Summoning: Summons blood, causing non-owner creatures to draw their blood towards the blade when they come into contact with it.]

[Enchantment: Rosier's Touch: Enemies struck by this enchantment will be cursed, becoming corrupted, and will have a greater chance of acquiring the true name "Rosier" upon leveling up.]

Gao Jiano couldn't help but frown slightly.

The Blood-Summoning Sword can gain enchantments from blood, but "Rosier's Touch"... there's probably no weapon enchantment more useless than that, right? At least he couldn't think of any use for this enchantment.

Give the enemy a trash holy name on their next upgrade?
Well, something's better than nothing, since it's free anyway.

After a while, Gaucano came to Daris's room.

“Daris, how’s your practice of the ‘Blood Regeneration’ rune going?” he asked.

Now, as long as he masters Blood Regeneration, he will be a proper Bloodblade Mage.

Considering that the blood elves had been extinct for many years, he felt that he might be the only bloodblade mage in Farallo.

Even if it's not the only one, it's certainly extremely rare.

Darlis was drawing magic runes on a mannequin when she heard the voice and looked up: "It's already consistently reaching eighth-grade quality. Do you want to draw it now?"

Gaucano: "How long will it take to reach grade seven quality?"

"Well, I can't really say. My second-ring magic runes are only 'Open Mind,' which barely approach the seventh-grade quality." Darlis thought for a moment, "I estimate it will take at least a year."

One year...

“Then let’s draw it now,” Gaucano said.

Darius then drew the magic rune Blood Regeneration on him.

A few hours later, the drawing was completed.

[Acquired Rune: Blood Regeneration] [Level: Second Ring (Rank 8)]

[Effect: Physical casting, instant-cast spell "Blood Regeneration," absorbs blood to heal injuries. When combined with incantations and blood of a level four higher than the caster's own, it can repair physical disabilities.]

Touching the magic rune on his chest, Gao Jiano asked, "Is it possible for me to get another second-circle magic rune?"

“Impossible.” Darius shook her head. “Your body simply cannot handle another second-ring magic rune. Two first-ring magic runes that I am familiar with are somewhat possible, but even if everything goes smoothly, you will suffer from severe ‘magic rune overload’ and endure immense pain every moment.”

“Alright.” Gao Jiano pondered for a moment, “What other first-level magic runes do you have that can reach level seven? I’ll get another first-level magic rune.”

Darius: "There are also three attribute runes: 'Resilient Body', 'Powerful Strength', and 'Quick Reaction'."

Gaucano: "Do you know the Hunter's Mark?"

Darius shook her head again: "Mages who can draw hunter's mark runes are basically employed by the Hunter's Guild or the Thieves' Guild."

She added, "Besides, Hunter's Mark isn't a powerful spell, so there's no need for you to waste a first-ring rune slot on it. Your magical talent is better than most people's; once you pass the Level 3 Hunter exam, you can go directly to the Hunter's Guild to learn it."

“Next month is the Level 3 Hunter Exam,” she added.

Gaucano thought about it and agreed.

The Hunter's Mark left a deep impression on him, but in reality, it wasn't a spell worth using up his runes for.

Spell runes have two main uses: first, physical casting, allowing those without magic to cast spells; and second, enhancing spells, as spells cast with runes are almost always instantaneous and have stronger effects.

However, Hunter's Mark is an instant-cast spell, and the enhancement of the runes is almost only reflected in reducing the casting cost, which is not very meaningful. Only those hunters with poor magical talent have to get runes to cast spells with physical strength because it is really difficult to cast spells with mana.

For Gaucano, it would be better to get a Level 3 Hunter Badge and then learn the Hunter Mark at the Hunter Guild.

Alternatively, he could buy a Hunter's Mark skill book on the black market, but due to the guild's monopolistic suppression, such official skill books are usually very expensive, and Gaucano didn't want to waste his money.

“Then give me a ‘Quick Reaction’ tattoo,” he said. Quick Reaction increases agility, and like all attribute runes, it increases by two points per level.

……

next month.

The price of hunter supplies in Southsea Town has reached its highest level in nearly two years, setting the stage for the upcoming Level 3 Hunter Examination.

Discussions about this matter could be heard from time to time on the streets and alleys, and the Hunter's Guild was crowded with a large number of applicants, inquiries, and onlookers every day.

Applicants lined up one by one to register at the Hunter's Guild.

"Next," the registrar said without looking up. "Name, occupational class."

Gaucano sat down at the table and took out his Level 2 Hunter badge: "Gaucano, no surname, twenty years old, Level 2 Hunter."

"How many hunter tricks have you learned?"

"Seven."

What major are you planning to pursue?

"shooting."

After a while, Gao Jiano paid the registration fee and then received a document from the registrar.

"With this certificate, you can participate in the range assessment at any time within the seven days starting tomorrow," the registrar said. "After passing the range assessment within seven days, you can then go to the Stonetalon Mountains to participate in the field assessment."

"Good luck, next one."

(End of this chapter)