Chapter 645: Swordmaster and Monk
Matthew clicked his tongue in wonder as he examined the Wraith sealed before him. Curious, he looked at the calm-faced old swordmaster and asked:
"Is this how swordsmen train?"
Sealing evil entities within their own bodies to temper their minds, bodies, and wills.
And gradually absorbing and mastering their powers, seeking breakthroughs to climb to even greater heights.
That was Matthew's understanding of swordmasters.
No exaggeration, this fierce and unique legendary class would absolutely appeal to players.
But in the real world, when you only have one life and know how terrifying evil entities truly are—
Matthew couldn't help but speculate just how much sacrifice and bloody lessons went into the founding of the swordmaster path!
After all, every transformation surgery Matthew studied consumed many test subjects.
For swordmasters, the "consumption" was themselves!
Gazing at the flickering electric arcs across Matthew's thunder magic armor, the old swordmaster's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He answered Matthew's question without hesitation:
"That's right. This is our task and our mission."
"They're called evil entities in the Northern Continent. Where I come from, we call them demons..."
Demons?
Only truly monstrous beings deserve to be called that!
Matthew couldn't help but think of the god 'Nian' as he pondered the old swordmaster's words. Remembering their conversation days ago, he smiled and said:
"You don't need to worry. Even if we can't deal with them now, we'll find a way in the future."
"Bay Territory isn't afraid of them—we even hope to reap some spoils from them."
"As for your so-called mission, if you're willing to teach, Bay Territory is willing to provide the right talents to walk this dangerous but necessary road."
Hearing Matthew's words, the old swordmaster suppressed the Wraith's struggle. Recalling Bay Territory's Professional Training Academy and those bright, clear eyes of its students, a sliver of hope flickered in his gaze.
He'd been to many places and seen all kinds of territories and Kingdoms.
The old swordmaster had thought that, despite the vast world, there was no place left for them.
Their journey to the Northern Continent had been one of desperation.
Yet just as many seals were failing, demons on the verge of rampage, and swordmasters nearing despair—
One unintentional action gave the old swordmaster a sliver of hope.
Although he didn't believe Bay Territory could currently resolve the demon threat—
Their attitude, ability, and desire to accept them genuinely moved him.
What pleased him most was that, during his conversations with Matthew—
This rather extraordinary lord had clearly stated their stance:
"We need more knowledge."
"We need greater power to resist evil entities."
"We need the swordmaster legacy!"
At first, when Matthew suddenly approached him, the old swordmaster had been skeptical.
Especially when Matthew suggested—
That Bay Territory would strike at an evil entity, showing their resolve and inviting the swordmaster to assist.
When he heard Bay Territory was willing to fight evil and even offer some "apprentices" in exchange for his help—
The old swordmaster started to wonder if they were trying to manipulate him.
But the swordmaster, long resigned to death, wasn't afraid of such "threats."
Many forces had tried to uncover the secrets he bore.
Some even wanted to control this terrifying power for their own ends.
For such fools, the swordmasters merely watched silently as they walked to their deaths.
They even used those situations to occasionally vent their "pressure."
That's why swordmasters had traveled far to this unfamiliar land.
These fearsome power-bearers were like volcanoes—no one knew when they might erupt.
But after spending a fair amount of time in Bay Territory, the old swordmaster had come to understand its ways.
He had a good impression of Bay Territory, and the conditions they offered did tempt him.
As for whether they'd keep their promise, he honestly didn't care that much.
He didn't have much time left. He couldn't afford to relocate again.
If Bay Territory upheld the deal, both sides would benefit.
If they dared to break it, the old swordmaster would simply let disaster run its course.
He had no choice anymore.
The swordmaster imprisoned the demon—but the demon influenced the swordmaster too!
Matthew understood his attitude and situation well.
In fact, players were very familiar with swordmasters.
Many had once apprenticed under them, learning combat techniques and walking their path.
For players, danger meant opportunity.
The rarer and stranger the class, the more excited they became.
Being strong lasts for a while—
But being cool lasts a lifetime!
To imprison evil with your own body!
Not only powerful—peak style!
Totally hit the players' sweet spot!
But players quickly regretted it.
They went in excited, in huge numbers—
And not one succeeded.
Because after changing class, swordmasters taught them with full force, and their power soared.
Within a year or two, they'd reach high-tier.
Like riding a rocket!
But once they hit high-tier—
The demon sealed by their master would emerge in their bodies.
Once it appeared, it clung like a parasite, causing all sorts of terrifying debuffs.
If the players weren't strong enough, they'd be consumed and become the demon's nutrients.
Meanwhile, the swordmaster got to ease their burden a bit.
Then, before the player lost control, the swordmaster would coldly "clean them up"—weaken the demon and delay the crisis.
Only then did players realize—
Swordmasters had trained them to share the burden!
They remembered how strict the apprenticeship requirements were and how they'd been warned:
Becoming a swordmaster is life-threatening!
Now they knew why!
What scared them even more—
It didn't end with one death!
When they resurrected, they'd find the demon had followed them.
So the amused swordmasters happily sent them off again.
Only after burning all their resurrection chances and getting their accounts deleted, could players escape the demon.
After this wave of deleted swordmaster players, the trend finally died down.
But stronger player teams thought up weird tricks.
They talked with the swordmasters, learned their plight, and sent fearless players as apprentices.
They gained instant high-tier teammates—and the swordmasters' friendship.
Swordmasters rarely attacked enemies directly.
But their guidance, knowledge of evil entities, and occasional assistance were a huge help to elite player teams.
With player support, many swordmasters held out much longer.
Even Matthew himself had once worked with top swordmasters—easing their burdens, and borrowing their power against disasters and evil.
So he understood the old swordmaster's thinking and knew he wouldn't refuse.
Of course, Matthew wouldn't sacrifice his own adventurers.
The lab had plenty of failed "products!"
They'd lost value as test subjects. With the growth of magical imagery and preserved specimens, even their worth as samples was declining.
It was far more efficient to use them as batteries to extend a swordmaster's life.
Matthew's frugality with test subjects was legendary!
The old swordmaster, unaware of this, didn't know Matthew's plan.
Meeting Matthew's dark gaze, he nodded with interest and patted his arm:
"So what do you plan to do with it?"
Matthew pointed to the distant Wraith monsters, then looked up at the Wyvern Riders in the sky, speaking softly:
"Once we've dealt with those Wraith monsters and cut off its power source, we can start studying it properly."
The old swordmaster could tell—Matthew knew a lot about demons. He couldn't help but wonder:
"Could it be that the great Eastern clans' bloodline really survived here in the Northern Continent?"
"Roar...!"
The excited roars of the wyverns echoed across the desert.
Their breath blew away the thinning mist.
The Wraith monsters hiding within scattered in panic.
The Wyvern Riders didn't engage—they weren't trained for direct assaults on large enemy groups.
Their usual role was to disrupt the battlefield.
Or take advantage of aerial superiority to drop alchemical bombs and crossbow bolts made by Bay Territory.
Continuous aerial damage not only weakened enemy morale but relieved ground forces.
Once enemies began to collapse, they'd strike in coordination with ground troops.
Opening breakthroughs, guiding the assault.
That way, they contributed far more than direct combat while staying safe and combat-effective.
Though Bay Territory had started breeding wyverns—
Their reproduction rate was low, and growth slow—it took three to four years for a new batch to mature.
So their number couldn't rise quickly via conventional training.
But as Bay Territory expanded operations in the Catachan semi-plane, more breeding bases were being built, promising future growth.
For now, accumulating battle experience and refining wyvern tactics was key.
To the adventurers, though, there was a deeper meaning.
Bay Territory was valuing its own more and more—not just in gear, but in task assignments.
Even though the warriors still bore the brunt of battle—
They usually only appeared once preparations were done.
But the adventurers didn't mind.
The more Bay Territory relied on them, the more work they got—the more money they made.
They were fighting for profits, after all. More chances meant more excitement!
Like now—
Wraith monsters surged forth in waves.
But without the Wraith's mist control, they couldn't move forward efficiently or launch strong attacks.
Yet they still charged wildly, driven by bloodlust.
Determined to take down the adventurers or die trying.
Adventurers loved enemies like that.
As long as they held formation, they could snipe the weakened Wraiths for easy, lucrative kills.
The melee fighters bore most of the danger, acting as bait.
After clearing a wave, they'd edge near the mist to lure more out.
They ran fast and wore sturdy holy light-enchanted armor.
This gear, designed specifically for Wraiths, provided excellent protection.
It could withstand multiple hits and keep the bait alive.
The mindless Wraith monsters quickly fell under concentrated fire.
About ten minutes later—
Bay Territory's second wave of reinforcements arrived.
Relieved, Alice immediately organized them into battle.
Using the existing strategy, they quickly optimized the most effective formations.
Speeding up the Wraith cleanup!
After all, this was all money!
Adventurers often fought until they were completely drained before requesting rest.
But they were reluctant to leave this goldmine, so after a short break, they returned.
The battle raged for an entire day!
Tens of thousands of Wraith monsters were slain.
Bay Territory collected several thousand soul crystals.
Adventurers earned nearly ten million gold.
Though the costs were high, the profits matched.
From selling gear to consuming and processing magical materials, Bay Territory generated immense value.
Ten-million-level magic materials were fully processed in under ten days.