novelraw Chapter 82: Settlement
Chapter 82: Settlement
[Dimensional rift settlement in progress...]
[Rift distortion reduced by 20%, current distortion level 7%]
[Fight to the End: Both wyverns suffered massive injuries and fled in panic, reward +50%
Wyvern Friend: You showed friendliness toward the wyverns, reward +20%
Master Chef: Your exquisite culinary skills conquered the female wyvern's taste buds, reward +70%]
[Settlement complete. Comprehensive evaluation: A.
Obtained one Dragon's Roost exclusive skill card chest.]
Chen Qi examined his evaluation results.
For this rift, he hadn't participated in repelling the male wyvern.
Therefore, he didn't achieve a perfect clearance.However, achieving an A-rank evaluation in a large-scale Class D rift with multiple participants while only at first-tier strength was quite impressive indeed.
He'd done remarkably well.
[Draw skill card?]
Draw!
Chen Qi didn't hesitate - whatever card he got would be wyvern-related anyway.
A card materialized between his fingertips.
[Wyvern Charm
Affinity: Floral
Learning Requirement: Possess some degree of wyvern bloodline or draconic lineage.
Effect: You can cultivate an aura reminiscent of wyverns that induces goodwill from draconic creatures, allowing you to blend into wyvern groups.
When mastered to perfection, you might even be able to seduce wyverns.
Description: Rawr! The roar of a fearsome wyvern!]
An adorable little fire wyvern card appeared in his palm.
Wyvern Charm? What kind of nonsense was this? Did he look like someone who could seduce wyverns?
Chen Qi frowned at the cute, playful wyvern on the card.
"As expected, not every draw yields useful cards."
The more advanced the skill card, the more stringent its usage requirements became.
He didn't meet this card's prerequisites.
The requirements were exceptionally demanding.
To obtain a wyvern bloodline, one either needed a high-tier related profession card or to undergo special genetic modification surgery.
Clearly, neither option was feasible for him currently.
Chen Qi stored the card away in his Backpack Card.
His current attributes were quite good, having mastered both Qi energy and the Body Forging Technique.
To enhance his strength further, the most important thing was acquiring more powerful Qi-based skills.
Therefore, the best option was visiting the Merchant Consortium in Moonstone City to trade this floral-affinity skill card for a Qi-related one.
A Dragon's Roost card could easily be exchanged for an epic-tier Qi card.
"About time to leave."
Chen Qi picked up the Deepsea Water Spirit and leaped onto a small boat nearby.
With distortion reduced to 7%, the entire rift would close again 24 hours after this event concluded.
Dawn hadn't yet broken.
Chen Qi lit an oil lamp on the boat.
The dimly lit vessel slowly cut through the dark waters, beginning its journey back to the real world.
Chen Qi looked up at the pale moon in the sky, then down at the waves beneath the boat.
A bold thought suddenly struck him.
What would happen if he just jumped into the sea right now?
In this world, dimensional rifts, skill cards, supernatural professions, and inspirational enlightenment were as commonplace as sunshine back on Earth.
Many things that seemed miraculous through his Earthling perspective were perfectly normal here.
As long as the rift didn't involve the Void Affinity representing 'nothingness',
there was always an entrance path into every rift.
Similarly, there was always an exit path available for a certain period after clearing it - this was common knowledge.
But technically, nothing prevented him from staying in the rift after clearing it.
He could theoretically eat, sleep, play with water spirits, watch sunrises and moonrises daily in the rift.
A perfect place for seclusion.
Chen Qi recalled something mentioned on player forums.
Staying in a rift indefinitely could even lead to account deletion.
Definitely not a good outcome either way.
Suppressing this bold idea, Chen Qi tightened his grip on the Deepsea Water Spirit trying to merge with the seawater.
Losing these little ones in the rift would be troublesome.
After some time, the moon's color and shape gradually changed in the sky.
Gentle daylight warmed his face.
A notification popped up in his mind.
[You have left the dimensional rift.]
"Back to the real world."
Chen Qi looked into the distance, using his Black Blade as a crude oar to paddle.
As expected, the Blood Blade Pirates were probably still guarding the rift entrance.
Chen Qi's impression of them wasn't bad.
Overall, they were quite orderly as pirates went, serving as important supplementary law enforcement beyond coastal waters.
Unless dealing with the Black Whale Pirates or Navy, they could practically be considered peacekeepers.
Regardless, they were among the few survivors from this Dragon's Roost expedition.
Though no one had witnessed him defeating the Headless Skeleton and obtaining Ember's Touch at the end,
if he simply went ashore now, crowds would swarm him with questions about the rift events.
Considering he was currently being hunted by the Blackfin Crew,
fame brought trouble - better keep his distance.
After paddling some distance, Chen Qi hugged the water spirit and jumped into the sea.
Deepsea Water Spirits were natural floatation devices.
Holding one, he moved through water as agilely as fish.
Chen Qi felt he could write a book someday: "100 Uses for Water Spirits."
After swimming awhile, he returned to Flower Island's docks.
With everyone else still at the rift entrance, the docks were deserted.
Exhausted, Chen Qi placed his hands on his houseboat and hauled himself aboard.
Rustle!
Chen Qi looked up.
Someone was on board.
Beneath faint moonlight, Pelu sat atop the boat roof reading a history book.
Pages fluttered softly in the breeze, their whispers blending with the sea's tranquility.
She looked every bit the literary girl, the history enthusiast.
Until she noticed Chen Qi.
Pelu's eyebrows shot up when she saw Chen Qi, mouth falling open in shock, limbs flailing awkwardly.
"I'm not a water ghost..."
Chen Qi explained while entering the cabin for a towel to dry his dripping hair.
"What happened? Can you tell me?"
Pelu asked curiously, leaning down.
Her information network was always extensive.
The Dragon's Roost rift's difficulty was exceptionally high - many participants had already retreated!
How had he escaped?
After drying off, Chen Qi stepped out to bask in sunlight:
"I found the right moment to leave Dragon's Roost."
"......"
Pelu studied Chen Qi. Her instincts told her
he'd definitely done something significant but didn't want to share.
Damn these cryptic types!
Pelu's curiosity burned. Propping her chin, she murmured:
"You can tell me. Though I'm a reporter, I don't publish everything important, nor would I gossip about friends' affairs."
Friends...? Chen Qi eyed Pelu skeptically.
He didn't believe her.
If Pelu learned this involved the Deep Sea Hunters, she'd rush to publish immediately.
By tomorrow, the whole city would know about him.
Chen Qi removed his hunter cloak concealing his appearance, hanging it to dry on the boat.
"Some things did happen. That Little Red Riding Hood from the Blood Blade Pirates successfully defeated the wyvern.
The rift was miraculously cleared too."
Clearing a rift meant skill card rewards.
And skill cards were scarce commodities everywhere.
Pelu's expression turned genuinely surprised before breaking into a smile:
"Another clearance... Your rift-clearing frequency and speed are incredible. You could easily apply for a hunter license."
Even she hesitated to enter Class D rifts casually.
Pelu had realized:
This guy wasn't some ordinary chef - the type who'd jump into any rift he saw!
Pelu teased:
"What kind of chef keeps diving into rifts?"
"Culinary skills are important, but fresh ingredients matter too.
I originally went to Dragon's Roost for wyvern meat, but unfortunately failed."
"Wyvern meat..."
Pelu swallowed. She'd love to try some.
But clearly, such ingredients weren't easily obtained.
Chen Qi chuckled. Next free chance, he'd try getting wyvern meat - extremely nourishing.
"I'll find time to take the hunter license exam."
Hunter licenses were issued by various nations' supernatural organizations.
In many places, they weren't just status symbols but conferred numerous privileges.
Like priority access to many rifts, meteorological bureau's rift intelligence.
Even mercenary jobs paid better with certification.
After sun-drying the dampness away, Chen Qi gazed at the sparkling sea:
"Pelu, any information about the Flower Witch?"