Ch. 25 — The Mage Shell

Lin Xun scratched his head, deep in thought.

Maybe the ceiling in the Inner Castle Banquet Hall was taller than the one in the small chapel?

Let’s assume the banquet hall had enough vertical clearance for him to pull off a successful Blood Charge.

That would mean the boss fight flow had to be: first, step into the hall; then blow the horn; summon the warhorse; mount it; and finally, use the skill—this whole sequence of actions.

By the time Lin Xun actually got around to charging, the Yellow-Robed Bishop would probably have spell-blasted him into the floor a hundred times over.

“Could it be that praising the Sun was actually the correct option after all?”

He skimmed through the previous game logs, searching for clues to defeating the boss.

“Huh?”

When he had entered the banquet hall yesterday and the bishop had walked toward him, the following choices had appeared.

[1. While the Yellow-Robed Bishop is still casting, charge in and stab it through the mouth.]

[2. Say ‘Oops, wrong room,’ and exit the banquet hall—be sure to close the door on your way out.]

[3. Praise the Sun!]

“I get it now! That’s it!”

Lin Xun shivered as a realization hit him.

He cursed himself for being stuck in “typical game mode” and not seeing something so obvious sooner.

He exited the small chapel.

Out in the castle courtyard, he summoned his warhorse again, then switched to the crossbow and headed toward the Inner Castle Banquet Hall.

[Would you like to enter the Inner Castle Banquet Hall?]

“Heh… Yellow-Robed Bishop, get ready to eat shit.”

Lin Xun chuckled coldly and slammed “Yes.”

[You push open the large doors of the Inner Castle Banquet Hall and step inside.]

[This banquet hall once served as Lord Fox’s venue for hosting guests. The room is dimly lit. A long dining table stretches down the center. Plates and goblets lie in disorder. Former delicacies have rotted away, reeking with foul stench.]

[At the far end of the table stands a yellow-robed figure.]

[It sees you and rises, walking in your direction.]

[The figure wears a jewel-encrusted high crown, a bright yellow robe, and wields a silver staff. In the gloom of the banquet hall, its eyes glow crimson.]

[‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop of the White Moon Church’ raises its staff and begins chanting an incantation…]

[What will you do?]

The same three options appeared again: Charge, Leave, or Praise the Sun.

Lin Xun quickly selected his equipped crossbow.

[Unlike the others, you choose the road less traveled—you raise your ‘Military Crossbow’ and fire a powerful bolt.]

[Your bolt strikes the Yellow-Robed Bishop. The red glow in its eyes intensifies, and its chanting speeds up noticeably.]

Lin Xun immediately hit the second option:

[2. Say ‘Oops, wrong room,’ and exit the banquet hall—be sure to close the door.]

[You bow slightly, placing a hand over your chest in a courteous gesture of apology, then swiftly retreat out of the banquet hall. With a flick of your foot, you slam the door shut behind you.]

[You return to the courtyard. The ‘Turkoman Bloodhorse’ lets out a piercing neigh. Mount it?]

Grinning from ear to ear, Lin Xun clicked “Yes.”

[You mount your horse. With your warhorse at your side, you are a true knight.]

[You have grown stronger!]

Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly equipped the Dragonhunter Lance.

[A red flash streaks across the door. It crumbles to ash. The ‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop’ slowly steps out of the banquet hall.]

[It enters the courtyard, its crimson eyes brimming with fury. Once more, it raises its staff and begins chanting an incantation…]

This was it!

If he couldn’t go in—then bring the boss out!

Luring the snake from its den—such a simple tactic was his way of dealing with the Yellow-Robed Bishop.

In a flash, Lin Xun tapped the glowing skill icon: Blood Charge!

[You charge at the corrupted monster before you…]

[A red flash…]

That familiar message reappeared, and Lin Xun’s heart sank.

[Your warhorse turns to ash—it shielded you from a lethal blow.]

[Seizing the moment, you leap forward and drive your ‘Broken Dragonhunter Lance’ straight through the monster’s left chest…]

[You narrowly defeat the ‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop of the White Moon Church.’ Experience points greatly increased.]

[Power surges within your shell. ‘Blood Sun Paladin of Discipline’ Shell Level Up! Current Shell Level: 11]

[You obtained Unknown Fading Chunk of Spirit ×1]

[You obtained Intermediate Forging Stone ×1]

[You obtained Tainted Essence Crimson Sunflower Seed (Rare Item)]

Lin Xun pumped his fist in excitement—the warhorse had saved his life at the crucial moment.𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

And he hadn’t let the horse die in vain—one thrust, and the yellow-robed boss was sent straight to the afterlife.

“Once my Soul Strength recovers, I’ll reshape the mount. Having a combat pet is just too damn good…”

The rollercoaster of a boss fight had his heart all over the place—but in the end, he emerged victorious.

[You look at the monster’s shell…]

[‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop of the White Moon Church’ Shell: A frail and elderly figure—once the highest-ranking clergyman of the Saint Rance diocese, and a bishop within the church’s cardinal council. A gaping hole in his chest marks a fatal blow that ruptured his heart. Compatibility: 90% (+25%)]

[Would you like to possess this shell?]

Lin Xun’s Shell Slots were currently full—occupied by the Paladin of Discipline, the Blacksmith, and the Blood Sun Cultist.

To possess the Yellow-Robed Bishop, he’d have to discard one.

After careful thought, he decided to let go of the Blood Sun Cultist.

The Blacksmith had a Rare+ forging skill—great for crafting enhanced gear. That made it a logistics-oriented shell worth keeping.

The Blood Sun Cultist and Paladin overlapped in function—they were both melee types. Though the Cultist was higher-level, its shell quality was low and had limited potential.

“I really need to upgrade my soul talent soon. These Shell Slots aren’t cutting it anymore.”

He stripped all gear from the Cultist shell, then discarded it.

Lin Xun couldn’t wait to possess the Yellow-Robed Bishop. He’d been eyeing that mage shell for ages.

[You possess the ‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop of the White Moon Church.’]

[The shell brims with the Corrupting Blood Sun’s power. You feel immensely strong—unstoppable.]

[The shell retains fragmented memories from the bishop’s lifetime…]

[The bishop had long known he could not resist the coming of the corruption. The Moonlight’s Hometown—Saint Rance—was doomed to fall into ruin…]

[Count Fox had hosted a banquet at his castle and warmly invited him to join. The bishop knew exactly what the count intended—the coward was hoping to persuade him to stay in the castle, hoping his presence would bolster defenses. As for the lives of Saint Rance’s people, that noble count had never cared.]

[In the end, the bishop accepted the invitation and came to Fox Castle—not for strategy, not for honor, but for one reason only: the countess, lauded as the ‘Rose of Saint Rance.’ Ah… the taste of that rose… In the final moments of life, he longed for one last indulgence…]

“…Getting in one last round before death, huh? Did the Black-Robed Priest learn that from you?”

Lin Xun was speechless at the plotline. He opened the Shell Panel…