Chapter 232 [Rain of Bones and Arrows] + [Mental Shock] = ?
Chapter 232 [Rain of Bones and Arrows] + [Mental Shock] = ?
Chapter 232 [Rain of Bones and Arrows] + [Mental Shock] = ?
After confirming that the surrounding environment was safe, Fangzhou withdrew his attention from the clone and returned to his main body.
At this moment, Instructor Lu Hu was already standing in front of everyone.
He analyzed the mistakes and oversights made by the trainees in the sand table exercise one by one.
Fangzhou quickly opened the memo.
Not only did they record every word of instruction and key points of debriefing from the instructors, but they also incorporated their own insights and reflections, creating invaluable study notes.
The same applies to the other students.
Time slipped away quietly amidst this passion and focus on learning.
As the last rays of the setting sun cast their glow, the afternoon's lectures came to a perfect end before we even realized it.
Lu Hu's voice echoed in the Hall of Glory.
"Today's war game competition is not just a simple military exercise, but also a rehearsal for your future leadership."
We will hold these kinds of events from time to time.
As I mentioned this morning, the winner will receive an extremely valuable reward—closed beta access to [Total War: Extinction of Demons].
Not only military academies, but also the military leaders of the Dragon Summer Federation and even the entire Human Alliance will pay close attention to the students who perform outstandingly in the [Total War to Annihilate Demons].
Your performance will directly affect your future.
Therefore, I urge each and every one of you to give your all, sparing no effort.
At this point, Instructor Lu Hu's gaze inadvertently focused on Fang Zhou at the front of the group, and he continued, "There is an old saying in the Dragon Summer Federation, which is called 'armchair strategist'."
But if you can't even excel in simulated battles, how can you expect to survive in the brutal real-world combat later on?
Alright, get out of class dismissed!
Among the group, Fangzhou's expression was slightly solemn.
He recalled what Instructor Lu Hu had just said, as if he was afraid that they, the lucky beta testers, would underestimate this opportunity.
There must be some deeper meaning behind this, which is worth exploring.
Fang Zhou's eyes flickered slightly as he resolved to dedicate some of his energy to this system from now on.
Even if it's not for the military bigwigs' favor, just for the newly acquired [Undead Chess Master] title and the massive amount of sandbox chess competition experience needed to improve its effects, such an investment is worthwhile.
This achieves multiple benefits in one fell swoop, which is exactly what Ark intended.
After having a hearty dinner with his two assistants, Bai Xiaochun and Meng Hongzhuang, Fang Zhou took out his personal terminal and began planning his cultivation schedule.
Besides his daily classes and experimental research with the necromancer research group, he also had many cultivation tasks to complete each day.
Simulated battlefield sweep.
Sandbox strategy game in Total War: Extinction.
Listen to Bai Xiaochun's beautiful singing voice.
Search for treasures in the trading channel.
Skills honing in the skills training room.
And most importantly, you control your clones to fight monsters and level up while focusing on meditation in the room.
Looking at the packed schedule, Fangzhou couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.
After casually teasing the two of them a few more times, he went to the simulated battlefield with high spirits to calculate the time. He figured he only needed to grind for another month to reach the level of Horned Demon Overlord before breaking through to the upper apprentice rank and saying goodbye to the [Horned Demon Outpost], a simulated battlefield for apprentices at the middle rank, forever.
"Congratulations, Ark Earth! Your team cleared the [Horned Demon Outpost] Abyss difficulty in 11 minutes and 30 seconds, ranking 1st on the all-time speedrun leaderboard. You are expected to receive 24 contribution points as a ranking reward this month."
"Triggered a loot drop, obtained 1 [Level 1 Jade], which can be exchanged for 10 contribution points."
As the heavily armored, axe-wielding Horned Demon Boss fell tragically under Olaf's twin axes, the Ark easily swept through the Horned Demon Outpost on Abyss difficulty.
He was pleasantly surprised to find that his completion time had been reduced by a few seconds.
In addition, a level 1 gem was randomly dropped, which can be exchanged for 10 contribution points.
Having made a small windfall, Fang Zhou turned and left the simulated battlefield in high spirits, heading towards the necromancer research group.
The laboratory was brightly lit.
Bai Xiaochun and Meng Hongzhuang, the two assistants, were engrossed in their respective tasks.
Bai Xiaochun was engrossed in a thick stack of documents.
She is working on perfecting the [Bone Arrow Rain] skill, trying to give it greater power and a wider coverage area.
Meanwhile, Meng Hongzhuang was immersed in complex data analysis and formula derivation.
Her goal is to develop a new set of skills that can significantly enhance the combat power of the skeletons.
With the deadline they made for Ark fast approaching, they had no choice but to work tirelessly to fulfill their promise.
Just then, Fangzhou quietly stepped into the laboratory.
After confirming that Bai Xiaochun and Meng Hongzhuang were not slacking off, he did not disturb the two assistants' hard work, but went directly into the inner office.
After greeting Instructor Su Xinyan, Fang Zhou was somewhat surprised to find that she was not currently immersed in studying the [Heavenly Curtain Magic Bottle] magic array pattern she had copied at noon, but was instead focused on deducing and perfecting the [Mental Impact] skill.
This scene aroused Fang Zhou's curiosity.
He patiently lingered beside Instructor Su Xinyan, observing her for a few minutes. Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked softly, "Instructor Xinyan, do you have any new insights into the [Mental Impact] skill?"
.
Upon hearing this, Instructor Su Xinyan gave Fang Zhou a light, warning glance, her tone tinged with a hint of mockery.
"Isn't this all thanks to your little assistant, Bai Xiaochang?"
Her previous consultation with me regarding the refinement of the Bone Arrow Rain skill sparked some new thoughts about the Mental Shock skill.
After saying that, Instructor Su Xinyan invited Fang Zhou to sit down and handed him a bottle of refreshing juice.
Her words revealed a hint of pride and confidence: "I'm thinking about whether there's a possibility of fusing the skills Bone Arrow Rain and Mental Shock."
Upon hearing this, Fang Zhou's eyes lit up instantly, and he adopted a posture of listening attentively.
Instructor Su Xinyan moved with elegance, gently raising her beautiful legs clad in stockings, her fair and jade-like feet swaying back and forth in her silver high heels.
"I have two main directions for improving my mental impact skills."
First, it is to enhance its control effect.
Drawing inspiration from the Wraith's skill of the Bronze-tier undead creature, it can inflict curses and control on enemies over a wide area.
This will greatly enhance the tactical flexibility of this skill.
Secondly, there's the idea you initially proposed.
The focus is on enhancing offensive power, making mental impact a sharp and devastating weapon on the battlefield.
Instructor Su Xinyan continued, "After carefully studying the materials on the Bone Arrow Rain skill shared by Bai Xiaochan, I found that the two skills have some striking similarities."
If the power of mental impact is condensed into the shape of an arrow, its penetrating power and destructive force will undoubtedly be greatly enhanced.
If the bone medium of the Bone Arrow Rain is transformed into invisible spiritual energy, it will undoubtedly make the skill more concealed and capable of surprise attacks.
There is a huge potential for mutual transformation and integration between these two skills.
"Furthermore, the physical armor penetration, death energy, and putrefaction attributes of the Bone Arrow Rain can also be fully integrated into the Mental Shock skill."
With Fang Zhou's talent, he immediately realized that Instructor Su Xinyan's idea was extremely practical.
If he can truly achieve the fusion of the two skills, it will be a significant milestone in his skill development journey.
After Instructor Su Xinyan finished explaining her ideas, Fang Zhou said excitedly, "Instructor Xinyan, you are a genius!"
If we could truly combine the skills Bone Arrow Rain and Mental Shock, it would open a whole new door for us necromancers.
Instructor Su Xinyan nodded with a touch of pride and said, "That's exactly right."
Therefore, I have decided to put aside the deduction and improvement of the two skills, Undead Veil and Soul Vision, for the next period of time.
They temporarily shifted their focus to joining forces with Bai Xiaochun, attempting to combine the Bone Arrow Rain with mental shock to create an unprecedented skill combination.
She glanced at Fang Zhou, kicked her high heels, and said somewhat displeasedly, "Of course, this is not an easy task."
We need time to gather information, organize our thoughts, and find inspiration and opportunities to integrate our skills.
And in all of this, your talent will be crucial. You might have to use your brain, your inspiration, and your talent to make the final decision.
Upon hearing this, Fangzhou patted his chest forcefully, his voice resolute.
"Instructor Xinyan, please rest assured."
You just need to collect the skill materials; I'll handle the final step of the deduction.
Please have faith in my talent; Ark will never let you down!
The two then discussed the idea of skill fusion for a few more minutes.
Afterwards, Fang Zhou opened his personal terminal and consulted Instructor Su Xinyan about the experimental data of the skeletal regeneration project of the Light Attribute Professional Association. Moreover, from Instructor Su Xinyan's explanation, Fang Zhou also gained a deeper understanding of the characteristics of living trolls and life crystals.
To repay Instructor Xinyan for her selfless guidance, Fang Zhou endured the humiliation and massaged her legs and shoulders, making her feel comfortable before turning around and leaving the laboratory.
Inside the dormitory, Fangzhou stared at the screen in front of him.
With a gentle touch, the [Total War: Demon Extermination] icon blooms at his fingertips, leading him into a whole new dimension.
This is a virtual world that is more detailed, complex, and vivid than any previous sandbox strategy game.
The moment Fangzhou became familiar with the system and clicked "Start Battle," his vision was instantly broadened, and he seemed to find himself in a vast plain.
This is the game's introductory test, and also the first hurdle he is about to face.
Standing before him was a carefully constructed Abyss Demon Legion.
An elite legion led by a Gold-rank Berserker Demon, whose troop composition is so well-balanced and whose combat power is so formidable that it would move any commander.
In this legion, the Bursting Demons are like flames in a raging storm, charging into battle with their bodies burning with hellfire.
The Demon Slayer is the Grim Reaper on the bloody battlefield, wielding blood-stained weapons to reap lives.
Horned demons and hound demons formed an impregnable wall on the front lines, using their hard horns and sharp claws to defend against all attacks.
The lesser demon's cunning and speed leave the enemy nowhere to hide on the battlefield.
The Fire Demon's ranged attacks, the Bewitching Demon's treacherous traps, and the Demon Child's precise shooting—all these combined to form an almost impenetrable long-range firepower system.
Even more awe-inspiring was the sight of several Hellfire catapults standing silently behind the formation, poised to unleash devastating firepower and reduce everything to ashes.
Fangzhou's gaze swept over the enemy troops, and he silently calculated in his mind.
The game features 20 teams of Abyss Demon Chess, totaling approximately 5000 warriors with a combat stat of up to 5.
His entry test seemed simple, but it was actually extremely difficult.
According to the rules, he needs to select a legion from the Human Alliance's wargame database whose combat stats also do not exceed 5.
Then, on a flat battlefield with no cover and no terrain to use, facing this seemingly invincible demon army head-on, Fangzhou suddenly recalled a lecture given by Instructor Lu Hu.
His current situation is somewhat similar to the bloody battle on the Dragon City Plain decades ago.
It was an epic counterattack where the few defeated the many and the weak triumphed over the strong, a legendary battle hailed as the Great Victory of Longcheng.
In that arduous and protracted battle, the human alliance, through wisdom, courage, and sacrifice, ultimately annihilated the invading abyssal demons.
Compared to the ferocity and hardship of that battle, the entrance test before us seems much milder.
The system not only gave the Ark and the Abyss army equal combat stats, but also activated the "Heavenly Eye," allowing him to see every detail of the enemy forces and thus select counter units and formulate strategies accordingly.
Fangzhou's gaze swept among the many pieces, each unit possessing its own unique tactical value.
First and foremost, long-range output has become the top priority in the Ark's strategy.
Without hesitation, he selected a Heavenly Dragon Crossbowman chess piece.
This unit represents the pinnacle of long-range firepower, capable of penetrating enemy defenses from afar, and is particularly adept at countering flying units like the Abyss Demons.
Immediately afterwards, two crane-hand chess pieces joined his formation.
The dense firepower of these elite archers could effectively penetrate heavy armor, rendering the enemy's charge meaningless.
However, the limitations of combat stats forced Ark to make a difficult decision. After weighing the options, he decided to add two more Jade Warrior archers as a supplement to ranged firepower, ensuring that the entire battle line was covered by firepower without any blind spots.
For melee units, Ark selected two of the most luxuriously equipped and powerful Heavenly Dragon Guard chess pieces.
These warriors are clad in heavy armor, wield massive shields, and possess multiple abilities including anti-charge, anti-large-scale, and armor-piercing capabilities.
Their presence is like an indestructible Great Wall, capable of withstanding the ferocious offensive of the large units in the Abyss Demon Army and maintaining the stability of the battle line.
To counter the Abyss Demons' encirclement tactics, the Ark added two Jade Warrior Lancers.
They are able to respond quickly to changes on the battlefield and defend against enemy flank attacks.
Moreover, they can seize the opportunity to launch surprise attacks on the Hellfire Catapults behind the Abyss Demons, disrupting their deployment and bringing a turning point to the entire battle.
Considering the needs for air firepower and reconnaissance, Ark did not forget the importance of air superiority.
He put in an extremely rare Sky Lantern chess piece.
This can not only provide air support for ground troops, but also play a reconnaissance role at critical moments, ensuring comprehensive control over the battlefield dynamics.
As for the remaining combat stats, after careful consideration, Ark ultimately chose Jade Warriors as the replacements.
Although these melee soldiers are relatively inferior in individual combat ability, their numerical advantage will become a solid backing for the entire legion, ensuring the continuity and stability of the battle line.
As the layout of the Ark was completed step by step, the light and shadow on the virtual battlefield gradually coalesced.
The camera then shifts, bringing Ark's perspective to a vast, flat battlefield.
The ten-second countdown ended, and the battle between the two armies officially began.
On the opposite side of the Ark, the Abyss Demon series of strategy games awaits.
The apprentice-level Little Demon and the Demon Child.
Black Iron-level Horned Demon and Dog Demon.
Bronze-level seduction demons and slayer demons.
And the Silver-tier Bursting Demon and Fire Throwing Demon.
Almost the instant the battle began, they launched a frenzied charge.
The stench of sulfur from the abyss permeated the entire battlefield.
However, the Ark remained unmoved.
He directed the Heavenly Dragon Crossbowmen under his command to fire with precision, arrows raining down like raindrops, shooting down one by one the flying units of the Abyss Demons.
Crane Hand's dense armor-piercing firepower made it impossible for the heavily armored melee demons to move an inch.
The Jade Warrior archers' regular firepower suppression was like a continuous wave, making it difficult for the enemy to catch their breath.
The Jade Warriors' tenacious defense, the Heavenly Dragon Guards' counter-charge and armor-piercing, the Jade Warriors' lancers' mobility and surprise attacks, and the Sky Lanterns' aerial support and reconnaissance.
Under the Ark's commands, the various wargames cooperated seamlessly and worked together perfectly.
NABC