Chapter 33 Desperate Struggle for Survival
Ever since the magical Kodo Beast appeared, I’d felt an unprecedented sense of vigilance toward its king—the one with a human-like body. Its arrival not only intensified the ferocity of the grown Kodo Beasts outside, but even the three adult beasts trapped inside with us seemed as if they’d just taken a dose of adrenaline—their attacks, defenses, and speed all surged unexpectedly, catching us completely off guard.
Most troubling of all was the situation that Bear and Brother White now faced. If we couldn’t resolve this crisis with the magical Kodo Beast immediately, it wouldn’t just be a matter of failing to level up—every single one of us would be wiped out and sent back to Frostfall City.
Quickly, I assessed the magical Kodo Beast, then glanced back at the narrow corner behind me. A plan began to form.
Swiftly dispatching the current adult Kodo Beast, I ignored the stunned look from the Poet Sage and dashed toward Black Tea, tossing the newly respawned trio of adult Kodo Beasts onto the Poet Sage’s hands...
Perhaps my actions gave the others a sudden sense of clarity, as if the clouds had finally parted to reveal the moon. Black Tea didn’t pause to question whether this strategy had flaws; she chose without hesitation to trust the words of the Scavenger Qilin and quickly summoned an icy armor that enveloped her entire form.
While Bear and Brother White could still hold on, three massive ice lances materialized in perfect alignment above her head, all pointed at a single target—the magical Kodo Beast!
Whoosh!!
The ice lances shot out in unison...
Chilling air swirled as they streaked through the center of three nearly identical fireballs. In that brief, intersecting instant, the roaring flames abruptly contracted, and droplets of water slid from the ice lances.
A second-tier spell—equally matched!
Yet, what we hadn’t anticipated was just how cunning this magical Kodo Beast—the pack leader—could be. Sensing the threat of the incoming ice lances, it let out a series of strange, unintelligible howls, then actually made a move to dodge...
The four of us shuddered. This creature... was far too intelligent!
But what happened next allowed us all to breathe a sigh of relief. In the cramped Kodo Beast Valley, not only were Bear and Brother White trapped, but even the magical Kodo Beast couldn’t escape. Though it barked out several sharp commands, the surrounding Kodo Beasts couldn’t make room for it fast enough...
In the end...
“Direct hit! 12 points of damage to the magical Kodo Beast!”
“Direct hit! 13 points of damage to the magical Kodo Beast!”
Two of the ice lances found their mark, and we were all elated, exclaiming, “Lucky...”
Yet at the same time, a faint sense of disappointment lingered. Black Tea was a second-tier mage, but her second-tier spell had only managed to inflict 25 points of damage. It was clear—the magical Kodo Beast’s magic resistance was nothing to scoff at.
Fortunately, according to my plan, Black Tea wasn’t meant to be our main source of firepower against the magical Kodo Beast. The chain of ice lances was merely meant to divert its attention...
Eliminating the magical Kodo Beast would fall to the warriors!
After casting her chain of ice lances, Black Tea wasted no time and turned to sprint deeper into the corner behind her.
By the time the magical Kodo Beast shook off the lingering effects of the freeze, Black Tea—the source of its perceived threat—had already darted ten meters away. Pressed close to the crevice in the rocky wall behind, she watched the enraged magical Kodo Beast with trepidation, quickly reaching out to the water element in the air, preparing to weave a first-tier spell—Frostbite.
By now, she vaguely understood the Scavenger Qilin’s intent—to make use of the need for spellcasting range, forcing the magical Kodo Beast to draw as close as possible to Bear and Brother White.
Once the warriors could close the distance, we’d be able to break free of this peril...
But all of it depended on the magical Kodo Beast’s next move!
“Come on! You have to come... Please!”
As the magical Kodo Beast shook off its momentary freeze, all four of us silently and fervently repeated the same prayer in our minds...
At that very moment!
The magical Kodo Beast suddenly raised its staff high, let out a series of harsh, grating screeches, and the unruly horde of Kodo Beasts up ahead instantly fell silent, parting to open a narrow path down the middle... stretching all the way to within ten meters of Bear and Brother White!
Seeing the magical Kodo Beast cautiously step into the path and begin advancing in our direction, excitement surged within us, tinged with a trace of anxiety.
Having lured it in, now came the moment for close combat!
A “magical” Kodo Beast chief had high resistance to spells, but its frail, wizardly body surely couldn’t withstand the physical onslaught of a second-tier warrior.
As long as the warrior could engage it in close quarters, no matter what mystical powers the magical Kodo Beast possessed, it would not escape our grasp!
But the one to close in...
Bear and Brother White suddenly frowned.
They realized at the same time: the two of them had to keep the Kodo Beast horde at bay—they couldn’t abandon their posts. That left only one among us...
He was the only option.
As they turned to look at the Poet Sage, they saw that he had already, as I’d previously instructed, swiftly finished off a freshly respawned adult Kodo Beast and dashed to their side.
“Lion’s Rend!”
With a resounding shout, the Poet Sage raised his massive bronze greatsword high and brought it crashing down with the speed of lightning. Accompanied by the roar of a true lion, a grand arc of golden sword energy swept through the Kodo Beasts between Bear and Brother White!
The Kodo Beast horde before them was immediately blasted apart by the Lionheart Aura!
At the same time, Bear and Brother White unleashed their power!
Bear’s Battle Roar!
Violet Energy Unleashed!
Two great second-tier group combat skills erupted together; in an instant, dozens of Kodo Beasts were sent flying!
“Poet Sage!”
“Go!”
With these skills clearing a path for him, Bear and Brother White’s mana was nearly depleted, and all their hopes now rested on the Poet Sage.
Yet as the Poet Sage surged forward and took in the scene ahead, his steps faltered—there, in the seven or eight meters between him and the magical Kodo Beast, stood at least twenty adult Kodo Beasts, among them the formidable Silver Kodo Beasts and Stone Kodo Beasts.
At that moment’s hesitation, the faces of all five who were counting on him turned pale—this was bad!