Chapter 71: Turning the Tables, the Great Escape!
Damn it! That bastard of a beast commander! It’s as if that monster has gained a mind of its own!
If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never believe a virtual monster could lay traps, let alone arrange its troops and tactics with such cunning.
This world is terrifying!
Even as I marveled at the horrors of “The Age of Magic,” I didn’t forget to continue misleading the beast commander with my trash gear. I quickly activated Sprint, retreated ten meters, then rushed with all speed toward the fifteen minions under the beast commander’s command.
Unexpectedly, my movement seemed to ignite a glimmer of hope in the trapped lionfolk. They shouted in unison, “Yes! Lead the beast commander away, stall it as long as you can!”
A cold smile crept across my face.
Me, cannon fodder? Don’t make me laugh…
If my guess was correct, the beast commander wouldn’t bother with a level fifteen rookie like me. In this fully sealed cave, a rookie like me could accomplish nothing.
In its eyes, a rookie in worthless gear couldn’t possibly break through the crossfire formed by nine beast warriors and six beast beasts.
Of course…
That was just my judgment. If I was wrong, I could only throw everything I had into stalling the beast commander, buying time for the thirteen to escape.
Fortunately, the beast commander confirmed my theory soon enough.
After casting a contemptuous, disdainful glance in my direction, its ugly eyes swept past me. Twenty meters away, it didn’t even pause, going straight for the lionfolk trapped in the mire…
“Damn it!”
“That beast commander, that bastard!”
“May you never have a son! Wait till I reach the third tier—then I’ll hound you every day, you bastard!”
In an instant, the encouragement from just moments before drained from the faces around me, replaced by paling complexions and the most venomous curses spat at the beast commander.
But it was useless—the beast commander seemed not to understand human speech, a wicked grin twisting its features as it lunged toward the warrior who’d just spat obscenities.
Its massive greatsword swung up like thunder, cleaving down with deadly force!
The player trapped in the mire fell silent under the immense pressure of that blade, watching in wide-eyed resignation as it crashed down. In those last moments, he grew strangely calm.
Perhaps, in his mind, he was already dreaming of the day he’d reach the third tier and torment the beast commander as he pleased.
But as he was sent flying by the beast commander’s blow, his vision caught a glimmer—a figure wreathed in faint silver light flashing by in the distance!
So swift! It pierced straight toward the beast beasts blocking the opposite passage… His desperate eyes widened.
…
The moment the beast commander charged past me, I felt a surge of relief. Instantly, I swapped out my entire set of silver gear. Gazing at the pale silver glow emanating from my body, I felt an unprecedented surge of strength and agility fill me.
Power—absolute power!
Before, my stats barely let me stand against a beast warrior. Now, clad in full silver, neither the level twelve beast warriors nor the level twelve beast beasts could toy with me.
Just the agility boost from my equipment totaled twenty-four points. Including the Silver Beast Magic Dagger’s three, my agility soared to fifty-four. With a physical defense of eighteen, no level twelve beast warrior could break through. And the gear boosted more than just agility—six points in strength, three in intelligence, nine in stamina.
As two volleys of iron bolts whistled toward me, I dodged those aimed at my face, but didn’t bother blocking the rest. Instead, I charged headlong into the onslaught.
“You have been attacked by a beast warrior. No damage taken!”
“You have been attacked by a beast warrior. No damage taken!”
Hearing the system’s feedback echo in my mind, an overwhelming sense of pride surged through me!
Even when struck in unarmored spots, the beast warriors’ ranged attacks couldn’t harm me at all. First-tier silver gear truly is the bane of low-level monsters!
Still, I didn’t forget my perilous situation.
The beast commander was only fifty meters behind me. If it turned back before I escaped, this gear might not stay intact for long.
I dared not hesitate. With all speed, I dashed through the hail of fire to face the six beast beasts lined up ahead.
With a swift motion, I seized the throat of a lunging beast beast. The Silver Beast Magic Dagger flared with a pale blue light as I struck precisely at its cervical spine!
Instantly, several nearby beast beasts leapt to its aid. But this was the moment I’d been waiting for—I abandoned my wounded foe, withdrew my dagger, and once again activated Sprint.
With a sudden burst of speed, I slipped through the narrow gap between the beast beasts, enduring the blows of iron bolts, and emerged before the beast warriors.
Success!
…
The instant I slipped past the beast beasts’ line, the beast commander—who had already slain five in quick succession—seemed to sense something. It spun around, its twisted, ugly face contorted further with rage.
With a roar, it abandoned the survivors and charged straight toward me!
Unfortunately… now it was too late. Beast warriors are far easier to handle than beast beasts…
By the time the beast commander stormed into the passage, the only things left on the ground were two headless corpses. The rest had vanished without a trace.