……
Walking up without hesitation, I placed my hands on the blood-red stone, and the seal began to unravel. The moment of its unsealing, a lightning bolt struck me–
“2000!”
The strike was without any hesitation at all!
Bang! The large rock burst apart, and from the rock a gray Python appeared: a Lv 42 Gold Tier Boss – Sand Python!
Looking at the boss’s level and tier, I felt relieved. A Lv 42 Gold Tier Boss wouldn’t damage me too much since my level has already far surpassed its. Nevertheless, with a flick of my hand, I used a [Heal] on myself and another [Heal] from Darling Duck fell on me–
“+750!”
“+912!”
……
Although they were both Lv 5 [Heal]s, the difference in efficiency was quite huge. Refusing to engage in self-depreciation, I used my Frost Rain Sword and activated [Combo], furiously striking the Sand Python’s head, bringing out a whole string of numbers. At the same time Baby Bobo also helped to dish out some damage and from the sky Rippling Pond chanted and cast [Icicle], [Pillars of Ice and Fire], along with other spells to attack the Sand Python.
“Ssss….”
The Sand Python stuck out its long tongue and continually bit my arms and armor causing 200-400 damage total. With this rate of health loss, neither Darling Duck nor I felt any pressure to heal myself. For a Lv 50 Swordsman like me with top equipment, killing a Lv 42 Gold Tier Boss was easy as pie.
“Wow, he is so strong…” Rippling Pond flashed a smile of happiness.
Darling Duck also smiled, “Congratulations, I guess the Lv 40 Gold Tier staff is destined to be in your hands…”
However, while I was slashing the boss I warned them, “Remain alert and continue to attack with full power. The surrounding players are slowly closing in on us. After all, this is still a Gold Tier Boss. Who wouldn’t be tempted?!”
Darling Duck was astonished, “Then what do we do?”
“Don’t worry, even if PK battle does start, don’t panic. Make sure that neither of you kill any of the players and Duck, continue to heal me. Leave all of the players to me. I will get rid of them… I will personally guarantee that this Gold Tier staff will belong to you, pretty lady!”
[T/L: He’s not really flirting here; the term ‘pretty lady’ is thrown around quite liberally in Chinese.]
Rippling Pond giggled, “Thank you~~”
……
When the boss’s health dropped to around 20%, the first team had arrived at our location. It was a 10-man team, with the average level being around 41, led by “Forgotten Sirius’, a Lv 43 Berserker. His equipment wasn’t too bad. His battle axe had a golden aura enveloping it: likely a Gold Tier weapon. With him were a few players who hadn’t yet undergone their 2nd Job Promotion.
The 10-man team surrounded me in a fan-shaped formation. They were watching my fight with the boss like a group of curious babies, all wide-eyed. Apparently, they felt that the boss’s health was still too high.
Fighting under these circumstances, I couldn’t help it any longer. With a slash of my sword I knocked the boss backwards while asking, “Huh, are you guys interested in this Sand Python boss?”
Forgotten Sirius hefted his battle axe onto his shoulder and said, “It’s a Lv 42 Gold Tier Boss. Who knows, if our luck is good it may even drop Lv 40+ Gold Tier equips. I am slightly interested. Why don’t you three leave this boss to us?”
In the sky Rippling Pond was slightly angry, “Leave the boss to you all? Who do you think you guys are…”
Forgotten Sirius howled with laughter. The Barbarian Berserker patted his hairy chest and said, “These trees were planted by me; this road was paved by me. If you want to pass you must pay the toll…”
TL: Common Chinese bandit saying
……
“That’s enough…” I was speechless. Unveiling my ID, the golden signet indicator [Ba Huang City’s #5 player] appeared while I used a [Pardon Card].
“Ah…”
A skinny Assassin in their midst was shocked and immediately whispered, “Boss, that strong-looking warrior over there is Xiao Yao Zi Zai. He’s Ba Huang City’s ranked 5, the legendary figure that dared to provoke [Vanguard]!”
Forgotten Sirius replied, “What are you afraid of? Let’s charge together and kill him and the boss!”
Just like the saying: greed goes hand in hand with courage. Humans will die for wealth, birds for food. And for a mere Lv 42 Gold Tier Boss, they dare provoke one of the top players of Ba Huang City. This is human nature!
……
The sharp weapon in my hand let out a slight metallic cry. I whispered in the party chat, “Duck, Rippling Pond, when the boss has only 10% of its health remaining, I will temporarily stop attacking the boss. Duck, you then will heal me while Rippling Pond uses [Icicle] on the three archers furthest away to lower their speed. Then leave the rest to me!”
The two ladies nodded: “Okay!”
12 seconds later the boss’s health dropped to 10%. Commencing the operation!
I stopped attacking the boss and rushed towards their party, bringing the boss along with me. In that moment Forgotten Sirius narrowed his eyes, “Seriously? Counterattacking with 10% of health left on the boss. Xiao Yao Zi Zai really has guts. Archers, use [Shattered Shot] to stun him: the rest of us will attack him. Use your 2nd Job Promotion skills and slaughter him!”
Stepping on the ground, I swiftly changed my path of motion several times and three misses appeared behind me. The charge time for [Shattered Shot] was rather long and since those three Archers were incapable of anticipating my movements, all of the [Shattered Shot]s passed through empty space.
“Hong!”
Flames raged around Forgotten Sirius’ battle axe as he aimed at my right shoulder. His attack brought out a gorgeous number–
“277!”
……
Forgotten Sirius was like a newborn calf that didn’t know to fear the tiger, oblivious to how fearsome the top ranking players were. —— He was in in big trouble. In addition, he clearly didn’t know that when a 7 level gap existed between opponents, a stat reduction of at least 30% applied to the weaker party!
“Crap, I can’t break through his defense? What kind of defense is this!?”
Forgotten Sirius, while holding his battle axe, stood there in a daze, totally forgetting his original objective of attacking me.
……
“Pu!”
[Fierce Ice Blade] pierced through Forgotten Sirius’ chest and caused 1174 damage and coupled with a normal attack, he fell down immediately!
“Ugh. I still have a family to feed…” Forgotten Sirius mumbled before he died.
TL: Another bandit saying when they are about to die…
Pulling my sword out of his chest, I immediately rushed towards a Monk. A surge of air burst forth from the ground as I activated [Strength of a Thousand Men]. Confronted with a flurry of attacks, the Monk’s health began to drop rapidly. Giving a cry of agony, he fell to the floor with his Monk Staff in hand: “ Boss, we’re coming…”