Chapter 508: Section 295: The Youth’s Main Weapon
The Dragon-man youth would eventually have to engage in a valiant duel with Teng Donglang.
Penetration was a very good trump card, and it would be a pity to expose it just like that.
Zong Ge sighed, “Indeed, the ship is not a place to showcase this. However, even if we sail away from the island and find a deserted one, the conditions still wouldn’t be sufficient.”
“I need better potions to withstand the power of Penetration.”
Zi Di offered many potions, some of which were of Silver Level.
But after Zong Ge actually used them, he found their effectiveness lacking.
The Dragon-man youth chose to defend Zi Di, “She is still just a Bronze Level Mage, it’s too much to ask her to produce Golden potions.”
“We can look to buy some from the secret potion subcommittee.”
“Even if they don’t have them now, we can try placing a preorder.”
Zong Ge nodded, “Next, it’s my turn to teach you.”
Saying so, Zong Ge actively returned the golden silk chain armor and the Big Arena Badge to the Dragon-man youth.
Zong Ge then asked, “Have you decided? What kind of main weapon would you like to choose?”
The Dragon-man youth honestly replied, “Currently, I’m considering a crossbow or firearms.”
“Choosing a crossbow as my main weapon could augment my weakness in long-range attacks.”
“If Teng Donglang possesses a Flying Combat Technique, the crossbow or firearms will be my main reliance.”
Although the Dragon-man youth could also forcefully reposition himself in mid-air, it was through the mutation of Fighting energy combined with the Smoke Dragon’s Ring Mound transformation.
Such a shift was adequate to bully Xiong Ju but far from comparable to a Gold Level with flying ability.
After pondering for a while, Zong Ge slightly shook his head, “You have a foundation in shooting, but it is far from enough.”
“Your previous battle with Xiong Ju has already proved that Silver Level crossbows paired with Alchemy Arrows do not pose a sufficient threat.”
“Therefore, you must possess at least a Gold Level crossbow or firearms.”
“But that alone is not enough.”
“To fully unleash the power of a crossbow, you must combine it with various archery Combat Skills.”
“Generally speaking, a competent archer possesses at least 3 kinds of archery Combat Skills.”
“The more skilled archers have even more, usually between 5 and 6.”
“I have seen some masters of archery, and they have at least 10 archery Combat Skills.”
“I have mastery over 4 archery Combat Skills, and the War Merchant’s database has even more.”
“The key issue is time. Even with the Big Arena Badge, you won’t have enough time to master these archery Combat Skills to a level where you could battle Teng Donglang.”
“The excuse of Penetration won’t buy you enough time.”
Crossbows and firearms as long-range weapons are indeed convenient to use and also allow the fighter to remain in a relatively safe environment.
But the strengths of long-range weapons are also a form of weakness.
Once the arrows or bullets are fired, the fighter has very little control over them.
Even an ordinary person, if they meticulously study fighting skills, can dodge straightforward arrows or bullets.
Therefore, one must use Combat Skills to alter the trajectory of the arrows or bullets.
Thereafter, pair it with archery Combat Skills to increase the power of arrows or bullets, reduce their mutual interference, and form cooperative patterns, among other things.
Only by doing so can the monotony of shooting become complex and difficult for the enemy to defend against.
Archers with only one or two archery Combat Skills pose a very low threat.
Fighters using long-range weapons not only need to invest more in Combat Skills, but also have the financial capacity to support the consumption.
Arrows and bullets are consumables. An arrow or bullet doesn’t cost much, but you can’t expect to shoot just a few arrows or bullets in a fight.
It all adds up, and those arrows and bullets amount to a substantial sum of money.
With frequent battles, it’s a significant test of an individual’s financial resources.
The Dragon-man youth understood Zong Ge’s point and readily abandoned the idea of choosing a long-range weapon as his main weapon.
“Do you have any good suggestions?” the Dragon-man youth asked directly.
Zong Ge stated clearly, “I suggest you choose a close-range weapon.”
The Dragon-man youth frowned, “But if Teng Donglang possesses a Flying Combat Technique, I’ll be very passive.”
Zong Ge nodded, “It’s not just about being passive; there is almost no chance of victory.”
“The opponent is already Gold Level.”
“The disparity between Silver Level and Gold Level is enormous.”
“Your method of advancing through the explosive force in the air is crude. It works against Silver Level, but when facing a Gold Level capable of flight, you’ll reveal many flaws.”
“So, if Teng Donglang can fly, squad leader, your best response would be to find a way to concede gracefully.”
“There’s no need to engage in a battle where you have no assurance of victory, is there?”
The Dragon-man youth’s expression grew solemn.
Zong Ge’s words weren’t pleasant to hear, but they did make sense.
Zong Ge continued, “Fortunately, based on the intelligence we’ve gathered so far, Teng Donglang doesn’t possess any Flying Combat Techniques.”
“Consider battling him on land, where melee weapons pose a far greater threat to him than ranged ones.”
The Dragon-man youth continued to ask, “Then, what kind of weapon should I choose that would be most appropriate?”
Zong Ge had evidently thought about this question before and blurted out, “The suitable weapon is one that can restrain the enemy and should also play to the wielder’s own strengths while avoiding weaknesses.”
“Teng Donglang’s Bloodline is the Ilex Bloodline, and his Combat Skills mostly have ice attributes. His main weapon is a long whip. That’s a typical mid-range weapon.”
“Your biggest advantage at the moment is your speed, and the high frequency and fast-paced punches and kicks that come with your melee combat force the enemy into your rhythm, giving you a significant advantage.”
Upon being reminded, the Dragon-man youth’s eyes suddenly sparkled with insight, “You mean, claw guards or knuckle dusters?”
But Zong Ge shook his head.
He looked at the pair of Dragon Claws on the Dragon-man youth.
“Your hands are already natural weapons and I believe they will become even sharper in the future; there’s no need for superfluous additions.”
After leaving Mysterious Monster Island, Zong Ge and Sanda knew that the Dragon-man youth had secretly kept the Blood Core.
They surmised that the Blood Core was the key to the Dragon-man youth’s various Beastifications.
The Dragon-man youth’s mastery of mutations like the Smoke Dragon and Ring Mound were obviously acquired after leaving the island.
Thus, Zong Ge had long guessed that the Dragon-man youth would take a step further in Beastification in the future.
Zong Ge continued, “Axes, swords, and blades all suit you. To counter Teng Donglang’s long whip, you need cutting damage.”
“Apart from these, Short Handle Spears and hammers are passable. The former allows you to penetrate your opponent’s defense with precision, while the latter can amplify your explosive power when matched with your Fighting Energy.”
Zong Ge deserved his title as a master of weapons, having a deep understanding of various arms.
He went on, “According to your current fighting style, the Short Spear is most suitable for you because the way you exert force in your two attack skills is highly similar to the thrusting movement of the Short Spear. The time and effort you spend on mastering the Short Spear will be the least.”
“Among hammers, the round mallet suits you better. When wielding Xiong Ju’s square hammer, one must be mindful of the direction of force. Whether it’s a square or a round hammer, choose a short handle, not a long one.”
“Your advantage in speed is evident; you don’t need to work on increasing your attack range. You can bridge that gap through rapid movement, closing in on your opponent for an attack.”
“Short-handled primary weapons will continue to promote your fighting style and not diminish your advantage of high frequency and fast tempo.”
“The choice of axes, blades, and swords follows the same principle.”
“For you, all three are about the same.”
“If you have to choose, it depends on what you prefer.”
“Of course, what’s more important is what we can actually buy in the near future.”
“What the actual equipment is, and the quality of the equipment, is actually quite key.”
Zong Ge gave his advice freely, speaking at length and offering many insights.
His opinions were filled with sincerity.
Just as the Dragon-man youth treated him, Zong Ge was genuinely willing to help the Dragon-man youth.
Their relationship was somewhat complex.
They were both comrades and rivals.
But they were open-minded individuals, never considering suppressing one another. Rather, they preferred to support each other and through each other’s strength, to validate and inspire themselves and help each other become stronger.
After thinking for a short while, the Dragon-man youth tentatively chose the Short Spear.
He thought of the pair of Short Handle Spears Zong Ge carried on his back, which might indicate that among all weapons, Zong Ge was most skilled with the Short Spear.
From this angle, by absorbing Zong Ge’s battle experiences, the Dragon-man youth’s growth in using the Short Spear would be more efficient.
Although Tower Spirit couldn’t refine Black Iron or Silver Level weapons, hastily forging a few pairs of ordinary quality Short Spears was still doable.
The Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge each took a pair of Short Spears for their sparring session.
The Dragon-man youth’s challenge against Teng Donglang wasn’t a personal action; it was a big deal for the entire Mercenary Group.
To help the Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge had given up training the Fast Blade and Backwater squads.
He had previously trained soldiers, but now he was training the Dragon-man youth.
During the rest period after their bouts, he would race against time to share his expertise and point out where the Dragon-man youth could improve, going all out with no reservations.
Time flew by swiftly.
Both became so engrossed that they forgot about lunch.
Only when Zi Di personally brought them food did they stop to devour their meal hungrily.
After learning of Zong Ge’s trial results, the two men’s guess about their failure, and their subsequent challenge, the Ghost Girl produced a set of potions.
She said to Zong Ge, “The potions you wanted are right here. The main potion in this set is of Golden Level and provides strong protection against Penetration. The other three Silver Level potions serve different auxiliary functions. Some enhance defensive effects, while others are for healing.”
The Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge were curious.
Zi Di informed them, “Of course, I didn’t refine them, they were gifts sent by someone at noon.”
“Using a Golden Potion as a gift?” Zong Ge became even more curious, “Who has such sincere intentions?”
Zi Di looked towards the Dragon-man youth, who guessed, “Could it be Bu Quan?”