activa-t Chapter 45 Two Promotions
Chapter 45 Two Promotions
Ronan recalls the steel-cast greatsword.
The sword was covered in thick, crimson blood.
Ronan shook it a few times, then took out a coarse cloth from his dimensional bag and wiped it over and over again.
"Moradin's beard, I can't believe it's real!"
The five dwarves who had been captured by the gnolls and were helping them forge flails stared blankly at Ronan, who emerged from the thick fog, and the gnoll corpses scattered on the ground.
Ding, ding, ding!
Soon, the dwarf recovered from his shock and began to strike the shackles binding him with a forging hammer.
Each dwarf wears three sets of shackles. Two sets are attached to a boulder on the ground at one end and to rings around the dwarf's neck and waist at the other end. The third set is used to lock the dwarf's feet.
Ronan approached, wanting to help the dwarves.
The dwarf then placed parts of the shackles into the furnace, where they melted after a short while.
But the rings around the dwarf's neck, waist, and feet still remain.
A dwarf with bushy eyebrows and a curly beard that almost covered his chest immediately said gratefully upon seeing Ronan, "Thank you for saving me, sir. My name is Vaughn Hyde, and they are all my cousins."
Then, he looked at Ronan's steel greatsword: "If we have the opportunity, we will certainly forge an even more exquisite weapon for you, sir."
You have received gratitude from five dwarves and have gained 300 XP.
[Experience Points: Level 5 Cultivator (13935 XP/14000 XP)]
"Where are you from, and how did you get captured by the gnolls?" Ronan asked casually, noticing the rings on the dwarves' bodies that he couldn't remove himself.
The dwarf Vorn said, "We used to run a blacksmith shop in Waterdeep, and many of the weapons we forged were sold to the Northlands."
"A merchant from the Am Empire spent some time in Waterdeep and, after seeing the weapons we forged, hired us to go there and help them forge weapons."
"After finishing the work, on the way back, I was unexpectedly captured by gnolls."
Ronan glanced at the rings on the dwarves again and said, "After I rescue the others, you can come with me to Baldur's Gate. I can take you to the blacksmith there and remove the rings for you."
"Sir, you are such a kind person!" the dwarves exclaimed.
Ronan then went to the cave where the gnolls implanted mind flayer tadpoles into humans.
Among those humans, only a few had received professional training; most were ordinary people. Even though the gnolls had already run out of the cave, they still dared not make any rash moves.
Ronan approached the cave and saw that the girl who had been tied to the cross had been taken down.
Those who had received professional training held the gnoll flail in their hands, keeping a close eye on the cave entrance.
Upon seeing Ronan's shadow, they were all startled.
After realizing that Ronan was not a gnoll, he was stunned again.
Ronan said, "Everyone, I have eliminated the gnolls, so you don't need to worry anymore."
"Sir, are you telling the truth?" someone asked. After all, they had suffered for so long, and it was hard to believe that someone was actually rescuing them.
Ronan nodded: "You'll see when you go out and take a look."
When people heard Ronan say this, they believed him and wept with joy.
For some reason, when they saw Ronan, they felt that he was a very kind and reliable person who would not lie to them or harm them.
Ronan then went to another cave to rescue people.
The cell door was locked with chains.
Ronan guessed that the key should be on the gnoll.
So he left the cave, and as he walked, he released divine light from between his brows to sweep across the area.
Before long, they found the blood-stained key among the pile of corpses.
The door was opened with a key, and the person inside was released.
Some of the people in the prison were relatives and friends of those who were to be implanted with the mind-stealing tadpoles.
They had thought they would be separated by death, but upon seeing each other again, they embraced and wept.
Infected by these people, the others who had narrowly escaped death also began to cry.
"Sir, what is your name? We want to know the name of our savior."
A couple in their thirties, with tears in their eyes, spoke to Ronan.
The couple, the parents of the girl who was about to be implanted with the Mind Devil tadpole, were deeply grateful to Ronan after hearing their daughter's story.
"Ronan Jonas, a disciple of Baldur," Ronan said.
"I'm from Baldur's Gate too!"
"I knew it! Baldur's Gate has no shortage of heroes!"
"Long live Mr. Jonas!"
……
[You have received gratitude from the people, gained 500 XP, and have been promoted to Level 6 Cultivator.]
[Experience Points: Level 6 Cultivator (14435 XP/23000 XP)]
Ronan never imagined that soloing the gnoll den would allow him to level up his profession twice.
However, this was also his first time engaging in such a high-intensity battle.
After all, using multiple Taoist techniques simultaneously and fighting for a long time not only depletes his true energy but also exhausts his mental energy.
No wonder adventurers always like to gather in taverns, drinking and boasting.
Having just completed his first high-intensity mission, he longed to head to the Elf Song Tavern, order a glass of mead, and relax his tense mind.
But right now, the priority is to send these people to the city.
He immediately asked these people where they were originally going.
Some say they want to go to Baldur's Gate, while others say they want to go to the Amn Empire.
Ronan could only send them to one place, so he said, "I can only send you to Baldur's Gate. I am a warlock, and the Amn Empire does not allow me to enter."
The Amm Empire has a rule that spellcasters, except for divine spellcasters, are not allowed to enter.
They felt that spellcasters would bring them chaos.
Everyone present was already extremely grateful to Ronan for saving them, so they didn't ask for much, and the Anmu people agreed.
People searched for their belongings that had been stolen by the gnolls in the gnoll's lair.
Some people wanted to take their goods with them, but after the gnolls stole the wagons, they couldn't resist their cravings and ate all the horses. They couldn't take the goods with them and would have to recruit adventurers later to retrieve them.
After everything was prepared, Ronan led the group out of the valley.
After walking for a while, Ronan saw in the distance that two gnolls outside the valley were still warily watching their surroundings.
Because this place is quite far from the settlements in the valley, the gnolls have no idea what is happening in the valley.
After walking a while longer, Ronan summoned his steel greatsword and killed the two gnolls as well.
You killed a gnoll grunt with your steel greatsword and gained 100 XP.
You killed a gnoll grunt with your steel greatsword and gained 100 XP.
[Experience Points: Level 6 Cultivator (14635 XP/23000 XP)]
Ronan led the group out of the valley, and then, following the map given to him by the wanderer old Kohler, led them around the difficult paths and wild beast territories, heading out of the Cloak Forest.
As Ronan walked, he brought up the control panel and began to examine it.