[Write a Note: By the way, isn't Nero's signature weapon a bit too low on stats? At S1 it only gives 18% crit rate and 24% follow-up damage?]
[Nero's Sword: Compared to other DPS light cones, it does seem a bit lacking.]
"Honestly, it's fine. Considering Nero's mechanics, this is just compressing the power into numbers. The important part isn't Nero's damage boost, you can get buffs for that later. The key is that final 5% action delay."
Yellow Pee Bro glanced at the chat and spoke:
"Everyone knows this, and you've all experienced it in previous boss fights. Nero is a high-speed follow-up DPS."
"Starting from when the sword array is activated, our team of four can launch eight attacks in one cycle. Out of those, four are Nero's follow-ups, and one is his active attack."
"If you subtract the one hit used to apply 'Drowning Dream,' that's four instances of 5% action delay on the enemy."
"And this delay isn't single-target. If it's a group being hit by follow-ups, then every enemy target gets delayed."
"If you factor in Nero's independently counted max ultimate and 'Heaven Collapse,' then just from AoE damage alone, that's ten instances of 5% delay applied to all enemies."
"This light cone can be used by Welt too, but it's obviously hard for him to reach the same effect as Nero."
"Of course, this will require some execution later, since Nero needs the first ultimate to set up the sword array."
While talking, Yellow Pee Bro opened the character interface and began checking Nero's abilities.
"Let's first see how much the traces boost Nero in total. Let me count… 24% attack, 24% crit damage, and 5 speed."
After counting the minor trace bonuses, Yellow Pee Bro smacked his lips. "So Nero has 108 speed naked. As expected of wind element, he really runs fast."
"Now let's see what the three major traces give."
"'My Sword Art·Bone-Penetrating Wind': each Sword Soul, after the sword array is activated, applies a 2% vulnerability to all enemies that can't be dispelled…"
"'My Sword Art·Swift Wind': each Sword Soul increases Nero's attack by 2%…"
"'My Sword Art·Flowing Wind': each Sword Soul increases Nero's speed by 2…"
Yellow Pee Bro muttered softly, then fell silent for a moment. A few seconds later, he widened his eyes and exclaimed again, "My god, little sword immortal, 128 speed naked. Flying on a sword, of course he's fast!"
[Aha Isn't Here: Yes, back then the Aeon of Beauty, Idrila, was the sprint champion among the Aeons.]
[Knight of Pure Beauty: I see, so the Aeon of Beauty is also a running champion. That's very 'pure beauty'!]
[Jungle General: What's wrong with Pure Beauty running a bit faster?]
[Aha's Emanator: The Aeon of Beauty is the sprint champion among Aeons, Nero is the sprint champion among characters…]
[Belobog Savage: No wonder Uncle Cold Legs tried to run away in Jarilo but Nero grabbed him right back. It wasn't because they were bros, it's just that he couldn't outrun him at all!]
[Luofu Will Patrol Happily Today: Nero belongs to our Luofu. The Xianzhou Alliance worships the Reignbow Arbiter. For the sake of the Hunt, it makes sense that Nero runs fast, right?]
[Jing Yuan Is a Big Cat: 6. When Luofu speaks, it really carries weight.]
"Now let's look at the skills. I think any playable version will definitely have its numbers toned down."
"During the trial earlier, Nero's enhanced basic attack multiplier was as high as 300%… combined with this kit, that's basically a 'Trisolaran among Trisolarans.'
"Even though this kind of adjustment is a hassle, according to that leaker guy, Nero was fully designed by some internal big shot."
"Just looking at how much work went into his overworld animations, I personally think this possibility is very high."
After finishing his pulls, Yellow Pee Bro had calmed down quite a bit. After saying a couple more lines, he began checking Nero's skills.
———
[Skill Explanation]
[Talent] My Sword Art: Wind Sword Array (Level 10):
Each time Nero deals damage to an enemy afflicted with Wind Shear, he gains one Sword Soul, up to a maximum of 10.
After Nero uses his Ultimate, he activates the Wind Sword Array. When the array is activated, Sword Souls are converted into an equal number of Sword Intent stacks, and Nero is treated as always having 10 Sword Souls.
While the Wind Sword Array is active, every time an enemy takes an attack, it triggers a Wind Sword follow-up attack, dealing Wind damage equal to 60% of Nero's attack to the target.
Toughness reduction: 5
Each Wind Sword follow-up attack, or any attack from an ally that inflicts Wind Shear, grants Nero 1 stack of Sword Intent. When Sword Intent reaches 10 stacks, Nero immediately triggers a follow-up attack: My Sword Art·Heaven Collapse, dealing Wind damage equal to 200% of Nero's attack to all enemies.
Toughness reduction: 10
[Technique] My Sword Art·Do Not Disturb the Free Wanderer:
After using the technique, Nero creates a wind field around himself and enters a sword-flight state lasting 30 seconds.
In this state, Nero's movement speed is greatly increased. The surrounding wind field directly destroys breakable objects it touches. Enemies and their attacks cannot penetrate the wind field; when they touch it, they are knocked back.
While in sword-flight, pressing the attack button makes Nero dash forward a short distance. Entering combat during this state applies one stack of Wind Shear to all enemies and deals Wind damage equal to 100% of Nero's attack to all enemies.
Toughness reduction: 10
[Basic Attack] My Sword Art·Showy Display (Level 6):
Deals Wind damage equal to 100% of Nero's attack to a single target. When using Showy Display, Nero attacks using the weapon of any character in the team.
Toughness reduction: 10
[Enhanced Basic Attack] My Sword Art·Jade Dragon Becomes Mystery:
Deals Wind damage equal to 250% of Nero's attack to a single target, and Wind damage equal to 125% of Nero's attack to adjacent enemies. Jade Dragon Becomes Mystery applies one stack of Wind Shear to all targets hit.
Toughness reduction: 15
[Skill] My Sword Art·Clean Sleeves, Pure Wind (Level 10):
Deals Wind damage equal to 40% of Nero's attack to a designated target, and additionally deals 5 instances of Wind damage equal to 40% of Nero's attack to random enemies. Each hit is guaranteed to apply one stack of Wind Shear to the target hit.
Toughness reduction: 10
[Enhanced Skill] My Sword Art·Flowing Clouds Paint Meaning:
Deals Wind damage equal to 150% of Nero's attack to all enemies and applies one stack of Wind Shear to all targets hit.
Toughness reduction: 10
[Ultimate] My Sword Art·Coiling Stars Exhausted, Heaven Pours a Single Gleam (Level 10):
Deals Wind damage equal to 100% of Nero's attack to all enemies.
Energy cost: 160, Toughness reduction: 20
After using the Ultimate, Nero absorbs all Wind Shear stacks from the enemy with the highest number of stacks. For every 2 stacks of Wind Shear absorbed, he triggers one additional follow-up attack, up to a maximum of 3 extra follow-ups. These three follow-ups deal Wind damage equal to 125%/150%/175% of Nero's attack to all enemies respectively.
Toughness reduction: 10