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Chapter 25 Roadblock Threat, Grudge-Holding Rat Monster
The force from the shield was astonishing; Xia Lin was knocked back two steps, his arm going numb.
The rat monster was bounced back slightly by the recoil, but it reacted extremely quickly, and the moment it landed, it let out that headache-inducing shriek again!
This time, the "lucky" target is Xia Lin.
Xia Lin, who had just shoved the rat monster aside, had already swiftly pulled a blue wine bottle from the leather pouch at his waist.
Inside are the few remaining "Blue Nightmare" items, which can temporarily boost spirits and resist abnormal statuses.
He bit off the cork and poured the icy liquid into his mouth.
Tons tons tons—
A refreshing breeze rushed to the top of my head, dispelling most of the dizziness.
Xia Lin was not given a single chance to offer a toast.
Almost simultaneously, the rat monster transformed into a gray shadow and pounced again!
too fast!
Xia Lin barely managed to parry with his sword, the sharp claws scraping against the blade, producing a piercing sound and sparks.
Eileen struggled to pick up her staff again, trying to lock onto the fast-moving figure, but the rat monster's movements were unpredictable, and her magic missiles missed their mark several times.
The battle reached a brief stalemate.
The rat monster took the initiative with its speed and sonic attacks, leaving Xia Lin to defend passively and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.
Eileen's magical support was unreliable.
Finally, in the instant the rat monster lunged into the air, Xia Lin seized the opportunity. Instead of blocking, he risked stepping forward, channeling all his strength into his arm, and his longsword drew a fierce arc from bottom to top!
Sizzle—!
The dull thud of flesh tearing mingled with the sound of bones shattering, and the rat monster let out a series of distorted and agonizing screams.
A grayish-purple ear, still attached to broken bone and scalp, was flung to the ground, thick blood and tissue fluid oozing from the broken end.
The mouse ears on the ground were still twitching and curling up nervously, like an ugly, dying insect egg.
The severely wounded one-eared rat monster had no more will to fight. Fear flashed in its scarlet eyes. Taking advantage of the momentum of its attack, it scrambled into a narrow side passage and disappeared into the darkness with a series of rapid scratching and rustling sounds.
"They got away..." Xia Lin leaned on his sword, panting heavily.
Eileen walked over quickly, her face still pale. There was a tear in the cuff of her robe, revealing a bloodstain, a scrape from when she was bumped earlier, but it wasn't serious.
"Xia Lin, are you alright? Thank you for earlier..."
"It's nothing," Xia Lin waved his hand. "Let's get out of here first."
This rat monster is quite vengeful, and Xia Lin is afraid it might launch a surprise attack.
The two did not linger and quickly returned along the same route.
Eileen's Light spell steadily illuminated the path ahead, while Xia Lin vigilantly watched the surrounding movements, especially the dark forks in the road.
Just as they approached the sewer entrance platform and could see the faint light of day filtering through, two figures emerged from a side passage and blocked their way.
It was Hank and his wandering teammate.
Hank's armor had several shallow claw marks, suggesting that he had also been in a battle.
He carried his broadsword, his gaze sweeping over the leather pouch at Xia Lin's waist and the staff in Eileen's hand. He grinned, but there was little warmth in his smile.
"Not bad, you two." Hank's voice was icy. "However, this kind of place is dangerous. Newcomers carrying good stuff are prone to getting into trouble."
The wanderer beside him had silently moved to the flank, his hand resting on the dagger at his waist.
"Hand over your equipment, and everything you've acquired." Hank pointed to Eileen's staff and Charlin's veteran's longsword. "We brothers will ensure your safe departure. Otherwise..."
"What else?" Xia Lin stepped forward, her voice calm.
He didn't believe the other party's nonsense about "ensuring safety" at all; handing over his weapon was tantamount to being at their mercy.
He chose to take a gamble.
Negotiations failed.
Hank's eyes turned cold. "Then don't blame us!"
Before the words were even finished, the roaming soldiers on the flank suddenly launched an attack!
His figure was like a ghost, his footsteps light and silent. In an instant, he bypassed Xia Lin, and two gleaming daggers were thrust straight at Eileen, who seemed easier to deal with!
Eileen cried out in alarm and hurriedly cast a spell, but it was too late.
Xia Lin seemed to have anticipated this.
The moment the wanderer moved, he suddenly pulled his left foot back, turned his body halfway, and the round shield on his left arm accurately blocked Eileen's path!
Clang! Clang!
The dagger struck the standard round shield with a crisp clanging sound, but failed to advance an inch.
"Trying to be a hero and save the damsel in distress?" Hank's sinister grin rang out at the same time. Seizing the moment when Xia Lin was distracted in her defense, he swung his broadsword horizontally at her waist with a heavy whoosh. "Take care of yourself first!"
Savage hacking and slashing.
Xia Lin hurriedly returned with his right longsword, which clashed fiercely with the broadsword!
Clang—!
Amidst the piercing clang of metal, Xia Lin's arm jerked, and he involuntarily took a half-step back.
The opponent has a clear advantage in strength!
Activating [Temporary Berserk] should provide an advantage in strength, but the current dark and complex environment is clearly unsuitable.
Just as Xia Lin was pondering a solution, another unexpected event occurred!
A grayish-purple afterimage, accompanied by a strong stench and a hateful howl, swooped down from the shadow of the pipes above everyone's heads, its target Xia Lin, who had just regained his footing.
It was that rat monster with one missing ear, lurking in revenge!
Xia Lin caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, and his hair stood on end.
This guy is damn vengeful!
In a split second, he instinctively rolled to the side.
The rat monster missed its target, its sharp claws scraping against the stone ground with a screeching sound.
But its momentum didn't diminish, or rather, hatred made it lose its accurate judgment, and it crashed straight into Hank, who was about to give chase, right next to Xia Lin!
"What the hell is that?!"
Hank was both shocked and furious. In his haste, he swung his sword to block, but was knocked back by the rat monster's violent impact, and his broadsword almost slipped from his hand.
The rat monster's shriek pierced the darkness once again without warning, the sound waves crashing into everyone's minds like an invisible hammer.
Xia Lin felt a ringing in his ears, but his mind cleared up immediately. The dizziness was easily dispelled by his body's resistance.
But Hank, who was behind him, wasn't so lucky.
With a muffled groan, a trail of blood spurted from Hank's left arm as his claws sliced through the gaps in his armor, tearing flesh apart.
He staggered backward, cursing as he shouted urgently, "Watch out! This beast can knock people out!"
He was a seasoned adventurer after all, never forgetting to remind his teammates at crucial moments.
However, with the improved sliding tackle technique, Xia Lin was very "slippery".
Just as the wanderer was recovering from the sonic shock, an alarm bell suddenly went off in his mind.
A figure had somehow gotten close to him without him noticing!
So fast!
A chill ran through him, and he instinctively flipped his wrist and raised his dagger to parry.
But it was too late.
The longsword slid in, grazing the edge of the dagger, precise and cold, like a venomous snake offering a kiss, gently and directly plunging into his throat.
The wanderer's eyes widened, a gurgling sound came from his throat, and the dagger in his hand clattered to the ground.
Xia Lin drew his sword, and blood spurted out as the figure collapsed powerlessly.
"You..." Hank's pupils constricted, his expression a mixture of shock and anger.
I misjudged it!
This kid is so clean and efficient, he doesn't look like a newbie at all!
Just then, Eileen, who had received Xia Lin's message, understood and the floating light sphere went out with a "poof".
Sewer creatures are sensitive to light, so holding a light source in this situation will only attract their attacks.
Hank instantly understood, and with a swift motion, he pressed the torch into the damp ground. With a hiss, the last glimmer of light on the field disappeared.
Darkness descended completely.