NOVEL NEXT Chapter 177: Crazy Zen, You Sneaky Bastard!
Bai Pu had no doubt that the Overlord could skillfully master long-handled weapons.
Advanced Equipment (Close Combat) Specialization, with a comprehensive mastery, once you have Level 4 Two-Handed Hammer Specialization, you'll surely get the Long-Handled Weapon Specialization, which also requires two-handed control, mastered quickly.
Especially since the Overlord would not lack the guidance of a renowned teacher.
Of course, the Level 4 effect of Advanced Equipment is unique and won't offer an extra draw for another effect just because you've mastered Level 4 in long-handled weapons.
Unless one had a fortuitous encounter like Bai Pu, first obtaining the Level 4 effect of Two-Handed Swordsmanship through the Hidden Title Limit Breaker, then getting tutelage from a World Boss like Beiming Jihu, and passing a test to gain an extra draw for an effect, achieving a powerful double effect of Advanced Equipment!
Bai Pu, wielding a long saber, crouched and charged forward. In his vision, he could see the Overlord's information.
[Overlord (Level 4 Hero)]
[Species: Humanoid Species/Human Race]
[Profession: Yellow Heaven Thunder]
[Attributes: Power 70, Agility 25, Endurance 40, Spirit 29]
[Skills 1-6: Yellow Heaven Power (Professional Skill), Qi Gathering, ???]
The Overlord's Golden Halberd spun with ease, creating a mid-range large circle!
The strengths and weaknesses of both were clear because of their weapon choices. The Overlord's Golden Halberd, belonging to the Long-Handled Weapons category, was nearly three meters long, making mid-range combat more comfortable for him. Bai Pu's long saber, although a Two-Handed Weapon, had a blade barely over one meter, more suited for close combat!
Thus, Bai Pu charged forward aggressively from the start, while the Overlord swung the halberd to guard, preventing Bai Pu from closing in.
Normally, Bai Pu should retreat, allowing the Overlord to step forward and take full advantage of his weapon's reach and power!
However, Bai Pu refused to back down!
Suddenly, he wielded a Spider Demon Tower Shield with his left hand, blocking the halberd's slash with a clang! As the halberd got deflected, Bai Pu quickly retracted the shield and smoothly entered close range, the glint of his saber enveloping the Overlord.
"Quick weapon switch?"
The Overlord, though surprised, didn't panic. His halberd swiftly slid downward, from being gripped at the end to being held in the middle. The clanging sound continued non-stop as they exchanged three to four moves within a few breaths, each one retreating after a clash.
Yet, the Overlord had already switched from offense to defense, feeling a sense of defeat rising within him!
From the earlier exchanges, he realized that Bai Pu's Power Attribute rivaled his own, and Bai Pu's Endurance Attribute far surpassed his!
A faint yellow glow flashed on the Overlord's body, the golden halberd flickering with golden electric arcs, delivering a powerful strike!
This strike not only carried the Overlord's formidable Physical Attack Power but also contained paralytic electric force.
Bai Pu raised his long saber to block, feeling a jolt that slightly impaired his movements. The Overlord took a deep breath, gripped the halberd with both hands, and unleashed his signature skill:
Steel Dance!
With a hurricane-like sweep, the halberd inflicted six instances of Physical Damage within three seconds to enemies in range, with an added knock-up effect!
However, during the three seconds of the Steel Dance, Bai Pu did not float as the Overlord expected.
Moreover, when the halberd's blade struck Bai Pu, it felt as if hitting a highly resilient solid rubber tire, causing no significant damage, instead pushing back!
"This must be the high-defense characteristic that comes with Endurance over 100 points! How can it appear on a Low-level Awakened? Damn it, I should have used the Fangtian Halberd from the beginning!"
The Overlord's sense of defeat intensified. He initially avoided using the Fangtian Halberd (Imitation) because Bai Pu was merely a Level 3 Enhanced Elite, while he was a dignified Level 4 Hero Profession! It felt like bullying with strength, so he opted for the lighter Golden Halberd instead.
Now, there wasn't time to switch weapons.
Bai Pu lowered himself, charging like an enraged dragon, and delivered a slanting slash at the Overlord, who was unable to defend while casting his skill!
This slash seemed feeble, and the Overlord intended to endure it, raising a dark yellow shield on his body.
But as the slash landed, it suddenly burst into dazzling Blood Fighting Qi light!
The Shattering Mountain effect was activated, breaking through the dark yellow shield with one strike! Simultaneously, Bai Pu's blade pulled back, seemingly following some wind flow trajectory, and slashed once more at the Overlord's undefended chest!
Wind-Seeking!
This slash didn't have the Blood Fighting Qi enhancement of Shattering Mountain, but it was still excruciating, as Bai Pu's Power Attribute was already fairly high, and wielding the saber with two hands naturally augmented 10 Attack Power!
The Overlord grunted and retreated, but Bai Pu swiftly followed with his shoes' sprint effect, keeping up like a shadow! The long saber continued to slash relentlessly.
The Overlord could only grip the front end of the halberd, scrambling to defend, feeling incredibly frustrated.
He was aggrieved because his strongest trump card required the Fangtian Halberd (Imitation) to unleash its full potential!
Now, with Bai Pu relentlessly pursuing him, he had no chance to switch to the Fangtian Halberd (Imitation), forcing him to use the last resort with the Golden Halberd—
Yellow Heaven's Dominance!
Powerful electric arcs spread across the Overlord's body, forming a gleaming Thunder Armor! Concentrated currents made the golden halberd appear molten, flowing with golden light.
This move was both offensive and defensive. If Bai Pu's saber hit, it would only infuse him with the Yellow Heaven Demon Thunder energy, rendering him paralyzed and immobile!
Of course, no technique is without flaws; the primary drawback of this move is the long power-up time, making it a stationary target. If someone proficient in long-range attacks used high-priority forced retreat skills like "Heart-Piercing Arrow," it could be interrupted forcefully.
Bai Pu wiped his waist, pulling out the Spider Demon Tower Shield and threw it out.
Helical Throw!
The shield, enveloped in a blood-red glow, crashed into the Overlord's body. Yet in the next moment, the blood-red glow was dispelled by the yellow electric arcs, impotently returning to Bai Pu's hand.
Its priority was suppressed.
As a Hero Profession, the Overlord's basic priority was one level higher than Bai Pu's. The Yellow Heaven's Dominance likely reached Three-star Skill, one additional priority level higher than Helical Throw's Two-star level!
Combined, Helical Throw's effect was weak, hardly disturbing the Overlord's stance.
"Looks like I have to endure it."
Bai Pu took a deep breath, having just removed the "Cold Body" state and prepared the "Insulation Coating" to counter the thunder damage.
As he deployed it, a viscous protective film formed on Bai Pu's body surface, effectively isolating thunder-type damage and reducing paralysis duration from thunder effects by 50%.
Just as the Overlord was about to complete his power-up, a sudden sniper bullet, trailing thick white smoke, shot forth from the side!
The sniper bullet, enveloped in a strong energy flow, neutralized by the Yellow Heaven Demon Thunder energy on the Overlord's body, pierced his energy shield, and sunk deeply into the Overlord's waist!
A shadow of a giant rhinoceros flashed behind the Overlord, shattering with a roar. Clearly, some life-saving ability had been activated, mitigating part of that attack's damage.
"Damn it, Crazy Zen, you sneaky bastard!"