Chapter 8

Every city has a cemetery.

The graves of the nobles are built magnificently, managed strictly, and have dedicated guards. In contrast, the cemetery for the poor in the northern part of the city appears much more desolate.

The cemetery for the poor is a public project in every city, and the officials in charge of it are rarely free from corruption, so the staff hired are always severely insufficient.

The cemetery for the poor has always been quite dilapidated, serving as a gathering place for various thieves, bandits, and tomb raiders.

...

In the middle of the night, a new moon hung on the branch.

Maven and Anna quietly appeared at the southwest entrance of the cemetery for the poor.

Of course, he was not there to rob graves. These poor people had not lived good lives and often did not even rest in peace after death. Even if Maven was short of money, he would not be like those incompetent tomb raiders who prey on the bodies of these pitiful people.

He was there to find the cemetery's guard.

Indeed, the cemetery for the poor has a guard, but this guard is hired by the city hall for a very low wage and is only responsible for daily supervision, and is extremely irresponsible.

By searching his memory, Maven knew that the guard's name is "Heisen," an eccentric old man.

Maven remembered this name.

"Shortly after the game started, the first level-two elite boss to be defeated was named this..."

"Corpse Raider, Heisen. He has always used his position as a cemetery guard to exploit the few remaining values of the poor. He sells these bodies to the necromancers hiding in the Desolate Hills north of Riverbank City in exchange for meager rewards. Eventually, in one transaction, he obtained a book from the necromancer, transforming into a heretic who can summon the dead, destined to be hated by all righteous deities."

Corpse Raider Heisen is Maven's target.

If the game follows the current historical process, the server will not open for another half a year. Perhaps the current Heisen has not yet obtained the necromancer's secret manual and evolved into a terrifying level-two warlock.

This is worth a bet.

Maven silently assessed their strength. A level-two ranger, but with the experience and memories of the Dark Night Overlord; a level-five half-elf warrior—on the road, he asked Anna about her level and was surprised by the result.

It turns out that Anna has been a level-five half-elf warrior for a long time, but because she has been busy with matters in White River Valley, she hasn't had the chance to return to the half-elf gathering place to find a qualified mentor to advance to a more powerful level-two class. Her strength is quite remarkable, which is also the reason Maven has survived until now!

"A level-five half-elf warrior, at least 120 hit points, and with a racial trait, a class feat, and a personal feat, along with a considerable number of powerful skills, she is simply a super fighter."

In response to Maven's inquiries, Anna held nothing back, telling him about her traits, feats, and various skills.

Common warrior skills like [Cleave], [Basic Block], and [Double Strike] are very practical in battle. Anna's fundamentals are quite solid.

As for a racial trait and two feats, Maven found them quite enviable:

[Racial Trait: Sword Mastery]: Your sword mastery level +1.

[Class Feat: Toughness]: As long as you do not suffer fatal or crippling damage, the damage effect will not affect your actions.

[Personal Feat: Precision]: Your sword always aims for the enemy's vital points.

Anna's racial trait is quite rare and almost only appears in pure-blooded elves, with half-elves being very few. One could say her luck is quite good. Sword mastery level is very difficult to improve, requiring years of training and accumulation. Without this racial trait, Anna's sword mastery level would be [Sword Expert], but with the racial trait, she directly leaps to the terrifying [Sword Master].

Maven knew that even among level-two class characters, few have such a high sword mastery level. Sword Master means that Anna's sword skills are almost invincible in evenly matched battles!

The feats [Toughness] and [Precision] are also very practical in battle. The former allows one to avoid the pain that affects continued fighting, ensuring sustained combat ability and survival rate; the latter makes it easier to hit the enemy's vital or crippling points, causing greater damage.

Regardless, the strength of this half-elf housekeeper exceeded Maven's expectations, giving him more confidence in the upcoming action.

...

In the quiet little wooden house in the cemetery for the poor.

The dim candlelight accompanied the creaking of the wooden floor, and a tall figure was working hard.

However, his object of work was a pale-faced, bloodless young girl!

The girl's eyes were lifeless, and even pus was flowing from her eye sockets, but the tall figure remained unmoved.

Outside the window, two figures silently watched the scene.

Even Maven did not expect that when he and Anna found the cemetery guard Heisen's house, this guy was actually committing necrophilia.

It was utterly inhumane!

The girl's body had not decayed much, likely due to some disease, making her the best tool for Heisen's desires!

Boom!

The door of the small wooden house was kicked open, and Anna, filled with rage, completely ignored Maven's previous battle plan.

She was beyond angry.

For someone who has a strong mental aversion to desecrating the dead, there was only one path for him!

And that is death!

Anna moved quickly, rushing forward and slashing down with her sword!

Cleave!

The agile Heisen managed to dodge, jumping off the bed.

His face was twisted with anger and shock.

He did not know why someone would come to disturb his ritual at this time!

"Poor half-elf girl," Heisen's deep voice sounded. "Since you have ruined my ritual and made this body lose its value, you will have to compensate with yourself!"

He suddenly raised his hand, and a dark flame shot out!

"Damn, it's actually [Corrosive Fire]!"

On the other side, Maven, who had sneaked in through the small window, felt a chill when he saw the dark flame.

Corrosive Fire is a second-level spell and a signature ability of warlocks. The fact that Heisen can instantly cast Corrosive Fire means he has officially advanced to a warlock!

Even if he is not the elite template from six months later, he is still quite a formidable opponent.

Anna was startled and ducked, and the Corrosive Fire instantly melted a hole over a meter in diameter in the wall!

This dodge gave Heisen an opportunity to sprint and increase the distance between him and Anna.

The small wooden house was actually quite large, with several rooms. Heisen fled to the living room and stood behind the sofa.

Low-level spellcasters have few means of close combat, and cannot be approached by warriors.

However, once the distance is increased, spellcasters with a large number of high-damage, low-level spells will undoubtedly have the upper hand.

Suddenly, a thick spellbook appeared in his hand.

At this moment, Anna rushed over, but it was as if she had hit a wall!

Explosion!

A spherical wave of air erupted from where Heisen stood, knocking everything around it over!

Anna was no exception!

She stumbled and fell to the ground.

Although Anna has considerable strength, she lacks experience in fighting spellcasters!

Heisen grinned, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth.

"You're dead, girl."

Meanwhile, in a corner he had not noticed, Maven was intently staring at the ring on his hand.

It was a black diamond ring, and if Maven's memory served him right, it was a faint light item!

Its effect is to instantly cast a spell of a level not exceeding the caster's level! The limitation is that it can be used once every three days!

"So he can't actually instantly cast Corrosive Fire!"

"This is the effect of the black diamond ring. He is stalling for time to cast a more powerful spell."

"He is not a level-two warlock, but a level-one dark illusionist!"

As is well known, illusionists have limited protective spells.

Low-level wizards have very limited spell slots, and they can only ensure three protective spells in their spell slots. Corrosive Fire and Explosion are among them.

Maven took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't rush.

Anna had attracted Heisen's attention, and the level-five half-elf warrior put some pressure on him.

This was an opportunity. He had to seize it.

The prerequisite was that Heisen cast his last protective spell.

Anna got up from the ground, let out a light shout, and made a quick charge, her longsword steadily aiming for Heisen's heart!

This was a full-force attack from a level-five warrior. Heisen's spell was not yet ready, and if he was hit, the spell would undoubtedly be interrupted!

A look of helplessness appeared on his face, and he gritted his teeth, flipping the spellbook to the first page!

After a few brief syllables, a thick layer of light yellow armor floated around Heisen's body!

A 0-level spell, [Lesser Mage Armor]!

Maven's eyes lit up; this was the third protective spell!

Bang!

The longsword almost pierced a hole in the armor!

But the rebound force from the mage armor made Anna's wrist tremble, and she almost lost her grip on the sword.

Heisen took this opportunity to take a half-step back and complete the spell he had been preparing!

In an instant, eerie howls echoed continuously.

Outside the small wooden house, a bustling sound could be heard.

Heisen's body gradually became ethereal, and his voice was filled with satisfaction: "Enjoy the feast of the zombies. I will savor your soul after your flesh is torn to pieces..."

Anna looked out the window, both shocked and angry.

Outside, the area was black with the zombies Heisen had summoned!

At this moment, a cold voice suddenly sounded in the house:

"Didn't your teacher teach you that a warlock is most vulnerable during [Ethereal Shift], Mr. Heisen?"

A cold scimitar was placed on Heisen's neck, easily breaking through the floating mage armor and slicing a large cut into his throat!

Black blood spurted like a fountain!

Heisen's head fell directly to the ground!

Maven emerged from the shadows, stepping over the warlock's dead body with a stern look, and gazed out the window.

"We have trouble. The zombies are cursed, quickly seal the doors and windows!"

...