The Devil's Cage

Kieran could understand the whole structure of the Grand Demonic Heptagram now, but he realized after he understood it, it didn’t provide much of a use.

Even though he could described in details how the Grand Demonic Heptagram turned a human into a half-dead or a half-spectre, granting them all sorts of peculiar powers, it didn’t help him in any aspects because he didn’t know the incantations nor the required casting ingredients.

Without the incantations, Kieran couldn’t activate the magic circle and without the required casting ingredients, it was like human model missing a bone structure, displaying an empty vessel with only the looks.

The other giant magic circle that was branded in the whole city shared a similar fate as well.

No doubt his results were disappointing.

His original plan was to conclude some useful knowledge that could aid him in future dungeons by deciphering the magic circles. The simple example was the giant magic circle that granted Trumbo his stable defence. Kieran still had a fresh memory of that.

However...

"There really isn’t a shortcut huh?" Kieran sighed.

Though soon, Kieran was caught by Blacksmith’s reply to his message.

...

Blacksmith: Thanks.

Blacksmith: Mantle can be repaired, armor cannot.

Blacksmith: I have an armor with me that I can barter off.

...

Then a screenshot with the details of the armor Blacksmith mentioned appeared.

It was an upper body armor with a golden lustrous look, sleeveless but protected the torso very well and looked like a smaller size platemail.

[Name: Armor of Excellence]

[Type: Metalic Armor]

[Rarity: Magic]

[Defense: Powerful]

[Attribute: Heavy]

[Effect: None]

[Prerequisite: Strength B-]

[Remark: Armor of Excellence is not a standard typical armor. In order to bestow it with powerful defense, the blacksmith who crafted this forgot about the weight issue. When done, the mistake couldn’t be undone!]

...

[Heavy: Agility -2 level]

...

"Minus Agility?"

Kieran frowned over the attribute [Heavy].

No doubt a Powerful defence armor was great, but the cost to wear it was not little either.

If it was possible, Kieran would prefer an armor that wouldn’t decrease Agility stats.

He knew the importance of Agility to his movements but he didn’t have any other options at the moment.

Blacksmith was being frank about being unable to repair [Paul’s Conceal].

With Kieran’s understanding of Blacksmith, she wouldn’t lie in order to purposely sell the [Armor of Excellence]. [Paul’s Conceal]’s absence made [Armor of Excellence] the only choice.

So after a few minutes, Kieran gave his affirmative reply.

...

2567: Okay.

2567: How much do I need to reimburse?

Blacksmith: No need.

Blacksmith: I said I will buy it with higher price. Prepare to receive the goods in 4 hours.

...

After the message was sent, Blacksmith ended the conversation one-sidedly.

Kieran laugh lightly when he saw Blacksmith’s name going grey. Compared to the talkative Lawless, Kieran admired Blacksmith’s character of few words more.

Even more so when the contrast of comparison presented itself right after.

...

Lawless: I found the riding skill book! I don’t know if that guy is lucky or unlucky, he got 3 [Riding] skill books in 1 single dungeon!

Lawless: Though I couldn’t find any enhance defense skill at the moment, but I got a replacement! Guess what is it?

(Not only talkative but has a habit of teasing people as well, a total fit for a bad taste character.

Fortunately, Kieran knew how to deal with him. After being quiet for 3 minutes, Lawless couldn’t stand it anymore.)

Lawless: When did u become like Blacksmith?

Lawless: How come I didn’t know u both are so close and had so much tacit agreement?

Lawless: The skill is [Adaptive Armor], a special rank skill!

Lawless: Cost around 30,000 Points, not too cheap, not too expensive.

Lawless: The equipments this time around is a lot more than usual, might take me a few days to sell them, commission as usual.

2567: Help me get different type of potions, balm and [Bullets of Blessing] from the remaining points, it will be great if u can find me a bigger capacity potion satchel.

Lawless: Leave it to me!

...

Although he was a bad taste character, but Lawless was, no doubt, a reliable person.

After the conversation ended, two skill books appeared on the trading platform before Kieran.

[Discovered new skill: Riding]

[Prerequisite met, learn skill?]

"Learn!"

[Skill learned: Riding]

[Name: Riding (Basic)]

[Related Attributes: Agility, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Ancillary]

[Effect: You know how to ride a tamed pony]

[Consume: None]

[Prerequisite: None]

[Remark: A failure among the cowboys!]

...

[Riding, Basic to Grand Master, cost 10,200 Points, 7 Skill Points. Yes/No?]

"Yes!"

[Name: Riding (Grand Master)]

[Name: Riding (Basic)]

[Related Attributes: Agility, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Ancillary]

[Effect: If it is possible, you could ride a dragon’s back]

[Special effect: Master of Horse Combats (You skilled at horse combats, you will not be affected by the disadvantages of riding a horse)]

[Consume: None]

[Prerequisite: None]

[Remark: The grand master on a horseback!]

[Note: This skill is maxed out!]

...

"[Riding] could only reach Grand Master?"

Kieran was caught off guard, but he wasn’t too concerned over it. After all, it was not the first time he encountered it. Then he switched his attention to [Adaptive Armor] skill.

[Discovered skill book: Adaptive Armor]

[Prerequisite met, learn skill?]

"Learn!’

[Learned skill: Adaptive Armor]

[Name: Adaptive Armor (Basic)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Ancillary]

[Effect: You know how to maximize the efficiency of a piece of armor, bringing out its defensive potential]

[Consume: None]

[Prerequisite: None]

[Remark: You will always get hurt less than others!]

...

Special skills could cost more than a basic skill during leveling, but to Kieran, it was nothing with his current points.

[Adaptive Armor, Basic to Grand Master, cost 22,000 Points, 14 Skill Points. Yes/No?]

"Yes!"

[Name: Adaptive Armor (Grand Master)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Ancillary]

[Effect: You know how to maximize the efficiency of a piece of armor, bringing out its defensive potential. Other than that, your armor will be more indestructible]

[Consume: None]

[Prerequisite: None]

[Remark: Whenever you wear an armor, you will be impenetrable like an iron wall]

[Note: This skill is maxed out!]

...

The knowledge transfer synchronized with Kieran’s body once again.

Kieran suddenly understood how to correctly use a piece of armor and block the enemy’s attack with its hardest part, as if it was well-tempered.

It wasn’t much of a surprise to Kieran when it came to the amazing feeling of the synchronization process. His eyes were looking at his skill tab, readying for more leveling of other skills.

Including [Sharp Weapon, Dagger (Master)], [Firearm Weapon, Explosives (Master)], [Lockpicking (Pro)], [Sharp Weapon, Spear (Pro)], [Sharp Weapon, Bow (Master)] and [Medical, Medicinal Knowledge (Master)], etc.

In order to level all the mentioned skills to Musou, he would need a lot of Golden Skill Points.

Following that, Kieran’s choice narrowed down with his limitations.

Even though he had 3 Golden Skill Points in his tab, but in order to activate [Transform Devil] and [Desire Summoning] smoothly, he would need to save at least 2 Golden Skill Points for his ace cards.

In other words, he could only spend 1 Golden Skill Point.

In fact, he has made his choice a while ago.