Chapter 61: The Most Unreasonable Skill in History

The Paladin, commonly known as the Uncle or the Dad, is one of only two healing classes in DNF. Aside from being unable to compete with the Priestess in terms of fair skin, beauty, or sweet voice, the Dad—with his burly physique—can be said to be the most popular teammate in the game.

As the saying goes: “With 51 Honor, the sun never sets; a weakling instantly turns into a battle chicken!”

However...

Some Dads, besides their skill in saving lives, occasionally like to stir up some trouble.

As someone once said, “Studying medicine can no longer save the main DPS!”

And so, lonely Dads everywhere picked up their hammers and began teaching the main damage dealers what it truly means to carry.

[Skill Book: Vengeance of Light]

If Luke remembered correctly, Vengeance of Light should be the very first offensive skill Paladins learn after their class change. From the early to late game, it remains a core skill throughout.

This ability allows the Dad, when swinging his hammer, to sometimes strike enemies with a bolt of lightning—a not insignificant amount of damage.

Swinging a hammer and discharging lightning—this is truly unique in DNF.

(Certain Hammer God: I can do this!!)

After reading the description in the skill book, Luke felt that this was likely the most unreasonable skill in history!

In the game, aside from the chance to release lightning when the Dad actively attacks, Vengeance of Light also gives a high probability to retaliate with lightning when taking magic damage.

Hence the name, Vengeance of Light.

Like other DNF skills that manifest in reality, Vengeance of Light had undergone some systemic modifications.

The description in Luke’s skill book read: “Whenever you attack any enemy, or are attacked in any way, there is a chance that the Apostle’s punishment will strike your enemy from above.”

The key phrase: in any way.

“Attacked in any way?” Luke asked Lotus in amazement, “So from now on, no matter who opposes me, as long as I strike first, they can’t hit me back? If they do, they’ll be struck by lightning?”

“That’s right,” Lotus replied.

“Does mental attack count?”

“Of course it counts.”

“What if someone insults me?”

“Well... that should count... I suppose?” Lotus replied, somewhat uncertain.

“That’s just too underhanded,” Luke chuckled. “Completely unreasonable, utterly lawless!”

“Hmph, is this skill really that strong? I doubt it,” Lotus snorted dismissively. She had no fondness for lightning-based attacks. In her memories, two Apostles specialized in lightning, and she didn’t have a good impression of them.

“How is it not strong?” Luke exclaimed, eyes wide. “This is the perfect tool for causing trouble!”

“A tool for causing trouble?” At the mention of mischief, Lotus immediately perked up. “Tell me more, Luke!”

“Think about it. Whether someone hits me and gets struck by lightning, or I hit them and they’re zapped anyway, wouldn’t that be infuriating? They can’t hit me, yet can’t not hit me either. Isn’t it just the most aggravating thing?”

Lotus, after listening, nodded in agreement. “It really is underhanded.”

Luke grinned, “The only thing I’m not sure about is how much damage the lightning will do in reality. If it’s real lightning, the power won’t be low, right?”

Lotus considered this and nodded. “Makes sense.”

“In the future, maybe I’ll get a chance to compare with Thor himself,” Luke mused, stroking his chin. “Oh, and now, even a war of words will be useful. Before a fight even starts, I can provoke the opponent and get them zapped a few times first. Yes, yes! What a devious plan.”

“Being insulted probably... doesn’t count... right?” Lotus replied, still unsure.

“Why wouldn’t it?” Luke insisted. “I think being insulted definitely qualifies as a mental attack!”

Lotus’s small eyes darted about as she mocked, “So, you’re about to walk the path of a notorious trash talker, provoking people everywhere you go?”

“I think I’ve just suffered a mental attack,” Luke said, giving her a sidelong glance.

They waited for a moment.

No lightning struck. Lotus laughed uproariously, pointing a tentacle at Luke and jeering, “Are you stupid? How could something like that possibly happ—”

As another wise man once said: “Don’t pretend to be cool—pretend, and you’ll be struck by lightning.”

Suddenly, there was a sharp crack in the warehouse.

A slender, brilliant bolt of lightning appeared out of nowhere from the ceiling and precisely struck Lotus!

In an instant, Lotus’s skin was charred black, her words cut off, her movements frozen.

A savory aroma began to waft through the air.

Luke was already clutching his stomach, doubled over with laughter.

Finally, he felt a sense of satisfaction. Serves you right for hiking up your prices! He pointed at Lotus and taunted, “See? That’s what you get for tempting fate!”

This skill was just that unreasonable.

As long as Luke personally felt he had been attacked, Vengeance of Light would trigger, and a bolt of lightning would strike his adversary.

“Not bad, not bad...”

Though this skill had appeared unexpectedly, it suited Luke perfectly! He’d definitely profited this time.

Lotus remained charred and motionless, though she hadn’t suffered much real harm. Her small eyes darted about quickly, but she couldn't move. The shock had only paralyzed her temporarily—after all, she was no ordinary octopus.

Luke ignored her and moved on to the next round of a ten-draw.

“Oh—another new skill!”

[Skill Book: Phantom Sword Dance]

“A certain self-proclaimed traitor, whose true role is to hang about, but whose actual identity is a sewer-dwelling class’s... most stylish skill?!”

Luke read the skill description with great interest.

Phantom Sword Dance: Unleash a flurry of rapid sword slashes at the enemy, concluding with a fierce, long-range sword energy that deals multiple hits.

“Twenty-four strikes in all?”

This skill was essentially the signature move of the Sword Saint, and arguably one of the coolest skills in all of DNF.

Without hesitation, Luke clapped his hands and learned the skill.

He closed his eyes to digest the knowledge, and when he opened them again, a flash of sword aura seemed to flicker within.

Compared to the Draw Slash he had already mastered, Phantom Sword Dance was far more complex.

In reality, Draw Slash had taught him only to swing a sword in one perfect motion, always the same posture, the same angle—a masterpiece of sword-drawing.

But with Phantom Sword Dance, Luke felt he could now truly call himself a swordsman.

Twenty-four slashes, each at a different angle, with different force, and different technique. These twenty-four strikes embodied all the skills mastered before the Sword Soul’s awakening—a move that brought everything together!

Luke believed that, with time and practice, he could break down the Phantom Sword Dance into twenty-four distinct techniques.

When that day came, he would truly be a master of swordsmanship.

“Alas, my body is still too weak,” Luke lamented, miming sword moves like a martial arts fanatic in a movie. His face fell, and he sighed deeply.

He still looked like a seven-year-old, though his strength was that of an adult. But compared to the Sword Souls of the DNF world, his mortal body was far too frail—it simply couldn’t withstand the motion of performing twenty-four consecutive slashes.

“However, I can use the mecha to perform it,” Luke mused, nodding. With the mecha, he wouldn’t have to worry about his body’s limitations. “I suppose, just like with Mecha Martial Arts, using the mecha for Phantom Sword Dance will greatly amplify its power.”

Luke was very pleased to add this move to his mecha’s arsenal. So far, five skill books had dropped in these few rounds.

“Not a bad day for luck.”

He began to look forward to what else might come his way.