Vol. 5 Chapter 6: I Am Fear

Chapter 6: I Am Fear

At his small base, Lu Li refreshed the forum, collecting useful information while keeping an eye on the activity in the Leping City thread.

He was reading a paid post about crafting magical items by a user named Rainfall. The post was titled "On the Crafting of Magical Items."

"At this stage, players will find their skill slots insufficient. As the number of skill modules increases, adjusting and adding them becomes cumbersome, necessitating overall coordination of the modules. Thus, excess modules may appear."

"Today, we'll discuss how to utilize these surplus modules by crafting magical items."

"Modules are essentially energy crystals governed by rules. With the right method, we can integrate them into objects, transforming them into magical items with special abilities."

"Here's a crucial reminder: don't attempt to integrate modules into your body. That's something only rule-breakers can do. If you try it now, you'll likely bring disaster upon yourself, risking the crystallization of your personality and willpower."

"Let's get into the integration methods for modules."

"Currently, a few methods are known. The best involves using modules like fusion, addition, and compliance to perform enchantments. You can also skip forming a skill, but the module will be quickly destroyed."

"The second method involves some native shamans in dungeons. They possess various secret techniques that can integrate modules. However, the effectiveness of these techniques depends on the specific method, and some might waste your modules."

"The third method is extreme compatibility. Some modules are highly compatible with certain items. In such cases, you can simply channel the compatible energy to integrate the module. But this situation is rare."

"Moreover, not all items are suitable for module integration. Ideally, use items with inherent special properties, and be mindful of their elemental compatibility. Avoid foolish acts like integrating a fire module into a water-based material."

"Finally, here's a skill combination and parameter for module integration: Enchantment Engraving: Energy Module Magic + Control Module Inscription + Rule Module Addition + Rule Module Engraving + Form Module Ink. Detailed parameters are as follows..."

"I don't personally recommend forming enchantment skills. Instead, I suggest using external modules. For detailed reasons, see my other post, a direct link: 'On Skills and Resonance Rate.' If you need enchantments, contact me for private transactions. I specialize in enchantments."

Lu Li squinted and opened the linked post. He needed to understand more about rule-breakers.

"A player's strength comes from three aspects: basic abilities like implants, mutations, and inner demons; various skills and magical items formed by modules; and self-learned abilities acquired in dungeons."

"Setting aside other factors, let's focus on skill slots. Players gain three skill slots after passing the test dungeon. Completing three more dungeons adds one slot, and another is added after the fifth dungeon, capping at five skill slots."

"I'll share my skills: a cultivation skill, an attack skill, a defense skill, a mobility skill, and an enchantment skill. This setup seems reasonable but leaves out healing, detection, and large-scale AOE skills."

"Some players switch skills based on needs, like replacing a cultivation skill with a dungeon-specific one during a battle. While this seems effective, it's inadvisable."

"This brings us to player levels. Initially, strength is judged by skill count. When everyone has five skills, it's about resonance rate."

"With skill usage, we can sense the skill slots' existence and adjust their parameters by will. For instance, reducing a skill's charge time from three seconds to one."

"The clarity of this sense is the resonance rate. Below 10%, you can tweak minor parameters. At around 30%, you can adjust module participation in skills. Above 50%, you can freely reconfigure skill modules. At 80%, five skill slots connect, and at 90%, they become a module repository, allowing free composition of skills."

"At 100%, you can attempt to become a rule-breaker. I won't delve into rule-breakers here."

"The key to raising resonance rate is consistent skill usage and module interaction. Frequent skill switching hinders this, so it's best to ensure all modules in a slot are useful. Thus, I don't recommend having a lifestyle skill. For enchantments, contact me."

After reading, Lu Li nodded. Based on this theory, his soul mutation might be why his resonance rate was about 35%, allowing him to adjust some skill modules.

After some thought, Lu Li narrowed his eyes as he noticed a new forum post: "Confirmed: Countermeasures Bureau Deploys Suicide Squad to Leping City."

"So, they've finally come?" Lu Li muttered, glancing at the snake woman Lilith. "From now on, you will temporarily be Hatred, one of the seven deadly sins. I'll replace you with someone more suitable later. For now, you'll play the part."

"I didn't plan to personally involve myself in the mask war, but with the Countermeasures Bureau participating, I have no choice but to join in." Lu Li had several objectives for the mask war: testing the mask collection troops, stirring up chaos to attract hidden forces, and uncovering the hidden currents of reality.

Now that the hidden currents had emerged and Leping City's peculiarities were clear, Lu Li decided to personally step in for more control and information.

Shadow magic flowed from his magic heart, forming a mask on his face. Activating the Fear's Touch skill, he began radiating fear from the source of his name.

"From today onward, I am the Dark River, I am Fear!"