Chapter 76 Stony Field
The Monsters in Stony Field, besides the old acquaintances from the Caves – Human Skeletons, Hungry Dead, Dark Wanderer, Fallen, and Fallen Shamans – several more powerful types of Monsters have appeared. First, I encountered swarms of Vile Crows.
Yes, I can only describe it as swarming. Looking from afar, their figures were densely packed, like a crowded ant nest.
Fortunately, these Vile Crows aren't very intelligent and lack any sense of group cohesion. When I approached, a few Vile Crows on the outer edge spotted me. They immediately broke away from the group, flapping their fleshy wings "flapping" and pouncing towards me. These drab gray Vile Crows, at first glance, resembled large bats dragging long tails, but unfortunately, they lacked the sharp mouths of bats. On top of their heads, like Quill Rats, stood some beautiful short spines. Looking from afar, you might even think a flower was blooming on their heads.
These few Vile Crows viciously pounced towards me. Before their attack arrived, a wave of foul smell hit me head-on. They truly are "Vile" Crows; the name is too fitting.
However, watching the few Vile Crows charge at me with a "flapping", I was a bit speechless. Although their Speed was indeed fast, it was too "straightforward". I slightly moved aside and shifted a few steps, and these Vile Crows whizzed "whizzing" past the spot where I had just been standing. Unable to stop, they crashed into a tall Boulder behind me.
Sweat. What was that? A suicidal attack?
The Strength of these Vile Crows is far inferior even to the Fallen. However, I didn't underestimate them because of this. Their Strength lies in their numbers. If there are only a few, their attack method is indeed very monotonous and poses no threat at all. But what if a large group crashes into you? Where could you possibly dodge then?
I casually dealt with the few reckless Vile Crows that had charged at me, then glanced at my Status Panel. As expected, the Experience they gave was even less than the Fallen. Indeed, Strength is proportional to Experience. Of course, their numbers are so vast that if I could defeat them all, the Experience would be quite considerable.
I considered it for a moment and decided not to provoke these little things for now. Firstly, the Experience is low, and the Drop Rate is low. Secondly, they are simply too smelly. The smell of just a few Vile Crows was already unbearable, let alone a large group gathered together. The smell was almost comparable to a giant cesspool.
After bypassing this flock of Vile Crows and taking down a wave of Skeletons along the way, I encountered a new species. Their name sounds quite fashionable, called the Moon Clan. It sounds a bit like the Moonlight Clan from my original world, but their appearance is far from fashionable. These so-called Moon Clan are actually Goatmen. Judging by the pair of horns on their heads that curve slightly inward, they should have Goat bloodline – if such an animal exists in this world. They walk upright on two legs, and their entire Body, except for their chest and abdomen, is covered in a layer of yellowish-brown fur. They hold a Great Cleaver in both hands, and coupled with their tall and sturdy Figure, they can quite intimidate newcomers who see them for the first time. Unfortunately, although they are indeed quite powerful, with high Attack, and decent Defense and Life, the Great Cleaver they hold seems awkward to use, greatly limiting their Attack Speed and Accuracy. Otherwise, their Strength would be a notch higher.
These Moon Clan generally inhabit areas under Boulders, in groups of three to ten. When I went around a cluster of Stones, I happened to step into their Territory. Immediately, they charged towards me like enraged bulls, their faces that should have been gentle like a goat's contorted fiercely, with surging Presence.
I was currently holding the Blue Short Sword with +1 maximum Damage and wearing Superb Leather Armor. Facing new Enemies, to be safe, I still Shapeshifted into Werebear Form before leading my Poison Creeper and Ghost Wolf to meet them.
However, after clashing, I found that these Moon Clan, although their Attack is high, are not as terrifying as imagined. Even with my flexibility after Shapeshifting into Werebear Form, I could dodge a small portion of their attacks. Thinking about it, it makes sense. I'm already level 12. Even without the Bugged Amulet, if I were in a Party, I should be able to get by in Dark Wood. If I could still be stumped by these Monsters, that would be ridiculous!
Besides these "Moonlight" Clan, the great Mothers of Class Changers, the Fallen Lords, as described by some idiotic poet, have finally evolved splendidly. Their name is Saber Cat, and all their Stats have increased significantly. But I feel their situation is actually more miserable now, because there are no Fallen Shamans in Stony Field! Fallen Shamans cannot resurrect Saber Cats. This way, they have lost their biggest inherent Advantage. Even if their Strength is a bit higher than the Fallen, how much stronger can they really be?
Whether it's the old acquaintances from the Caves or the new species of Monsters, the Experience gained from them is very little for me at level 12. So I don't plan to stay in Stony Field for long. The only thing here that might interest me is the Mini-Boss Level Monster Rakanishu, whom Cain told me to be extremely wary of. This Mini-Boss's Attack and Defense are not high, but the Lightning Damage brought by its Lightning Enchanted Talent is terrifying to a Degree that is almost comparable to the Countess's Fiery Inferno. So, if your Lightning Resistance isn't high, definitely don't provoke it.
To be honest, I'm not confident I can defeat it. The Lightning Enchanted Talent is truly terrifying, especially when it appears on a Mini-Boss. Its Damage is much higher than when it appears on an Elite Monster. The Lightning Enchanted Elite Level Dark Hunter I encountered near the Lake in Cold Plains last time already gave me a hard time chasing me. Although I now have the % Lightning Resistance provided by the Golden Leather Armor, I am no longer facing an Elite, but a Mini-Boss. It's truly a case of "as one's skill increases, the challenge grows," which is quite frustrating.
In fact, the Bosses in the Diablo World are all very distinctive. For example, Rakanishu here, and the Countess. Their own Strength isn't particularly impressive, but their Elemental Damage is absurdly high. To people without the relevant Resistance, they are almost unbeatable. However, if you have the corresponding Resistance that counters them, they are just equivalent to an Elite Level Monster with a bit more Health. Blood Raven is the same; a few Melee Classes going there is simply suicide, but if a few Advanced Amazons cooperate with Sorceresses, killing her doesn't seem very difficult. On the other hand, Amazons find it relatively difficult to handle Mini-Bosses that are small in Figure but have Talents like Extra Strong and Extra Fast.
Therefore, there is no strongest Mini-Boss. Any Mini-Boss has its Characteristics and Weaknesses. If you let it play to its strengths, even the most powerful combination of Class Changers in Rogue Encampment wouldn't dare to provoke it. Conversely, if you can find its Weakness, Lars and Doug, the three of them defeating the Countess, is the best example.
Besides Rakanishu, who makes me hesitate, I have two other purposes for coming to Stony Field. One is to find the Waypoint here, and the other is to find the Underground Passage leading to Dark Wood. Speaking of this Underground Passage, it was actually artificially created. Between Stony Field and Dark Wood, there is a towering Mountain Range. To reach the other side, you have to cross over this Mountain Range, which is undoubtedly quite difficult. So, the residents here had a flash of inspiration at the time and actually thought of digging a Cave at the foot of this Mountain Range to connect the two places.
However, because the previous generations lacked this Experience, not long after they started digging, they dug crookedly and haphazardly because they couldn't discern the correct direction in the dark Cave. Although they eventually connected the two places, the Cave has been dug like a maze. What's even more exasperating and funny is that one time they got dizzy from digging and actually dug downwards, digging out a second level. Of course, all of this was told to me by Cain while chatting with him. My understanding of the History of the Diablo World is not much better than an illiterate person's.
First, I must find the Waypoint. While moving forward according to Akara's description, I dealt with the Monsters coming to their deaths – unless I encountered a swarm of Vile Crows. Then, on the third day, I finally arrived at the place Akara described. Hoho~~, this time I didn't get lost again.
In Front of me stood a giant Stone. I can only use "giant" to describe it. It was at least dozens of meters high. Encircle it? Heavens! Even hundreds of Giant Beasts might not be able to encircle it. Compared to the six Cairn Stones Cain mentioned, it's probably not much smaller.
What's even more surprising is that all four sides of this giant Stone are almost vertical to the Ground, and the surface is quite smooth. I don't know if Assassins or Amazons can climb onto it; at least, I don't have this ability.
So, as Akara said, I found an inconspicuous small Rope in a hidden place at the foot of the giant Stone. I pulled it, and soon, a simple ladder woven from hemp rope was silently lowered from above. I was immediately speechless. I estimate that even underground agents meeting up during the Anti-Japanese War were only at this level of secrecy.
After climbing up the ladder, two Rogue Archers and a Sorceress still came over to greet me. While responding to them, I observed the situation on top of the giant Stone. Damn, the top of this giant Stone is as large as a football field. Being high up, the fierce winds were almost strong enough to blow a person away. Standing on top and looking down at Stony Field truly gave me a feeling of looking down on all other mountains. A sunken Crater was dug out right in the middle of the giant Stone, and the Waypoint was inside.