Within the thick, ink-like fog of the Misty Forest, danger was quietly closing in. Suddenly, countless thick tentacles lashed out from all directions like coiled pythons, lunging aggressively toward Lin Xiu and the others. Lin Xiu’s heart skipped a beat, but years of adventuring quickly steadied him. A flicker of determination flashed in his eyes as he activated his Shadow Clone skill without hesitation. In an instant, an identical duplicate appeared not far away. Every movement of the clone was a precise replica, successfully drawing the attention of several tentacles. As if guided by invisible threads, those tentacles whipped around toward the clone, whistling through the air as they struck.
Seeing this, Su Yu did not hesitate for a second. Her slender fingers nocked an arrow and pulled the bowstring with practiced fluidity, her movements entirely seamless. Propelled by the bowstring, the specially crafted flame arrow streaked across the night sky like a shooting star, racing toward the tentacles with a blinding radiance and a surging wave of heat. The targeted tentacles were instantly engulfed in flames, burning fiercely. The sizzling sound of flesh being roasted echoed endlessly, accompanied by a nauseating, foul stench that filled the air and nearly made everyone gag.
Lu Chen stood like a god of war, gripping his massive greatsword with both hands, the blade gleaming with a biting, cold light. Every swing carried the immense power to split mountains and cleave rocks, the whistling sound of the blade tearing through the air echoing all around him. The tentacles that drew close to him were cleanly severed by this ferocious onslaught, and the green mucus gushing from the stumps splashed onto the ground, corroding deep, black pits wherever it landed.
While nimbly dodging the tentacles' attacks, Bai Zhi chanted under her breath, her hands dancing rapidly through the air to weave a series of mystical incantations. Moments later, a dazzling golden barrier slowly rose around the group like a blooming flower. Runes flickered across the shield, temporarily holding back the frantic assault of the tentacles. Each time a tentacle lashed against the barrier, it sent a ring of golden ripples spreading outward.
"We can't keep going like this! We have to find the monster's main body!" Lin Xiu shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing through the fog. Taking a deep breath, he focused his entire mind, keeping his eyes locked on the endlessly thrashing tentacles. Using his Shadow Strike skill, he flashed like a streak of black lightning, weaving nimbly through the gaps between the tentacles. His figure blurred and cleared by turns, every movement charged with resolute momentum as he tried to locate the monster's hiding place amidst the chaotic battle.
Just then, a low, terrifying roar rolled from the depths of the thick fog, brimming with boundless fury and majesty. Immediately afterward, a massive Octopus Demon slowly emerged from the mist. Its body was as huge as a mountain, its colossal figure almost blocking out the light of the sky and casting an enormous shadow. Every tentacle was covered in sharp barbs that gleamed with a chilling, lethal light in the dimness, resembling the scythes of the Grim reaper. The demon opened its gaping maw to reveal rows of razor-sharp fangs, spewing a plume of green toxic mist that rapidly blanketed the area, withering all vegetation in its path.
"Watch out for the poison fog!" Bai Zhi cried out anxiously, hurriedly waving the staff in her hand. The gem atop the staff glowed with a soft blue light. At her command, a gust of wind materialized out of thin air like an invisible giant hand, slowly blowing the toxic mist away.
Giving the demon no chance to catch its breath, Su Yu's eyes hardened as she resolutely loosed an explosive arrow. The arrow traced a graceful arc through the air and struck the demon's head with pinpoint accuracy. With a deafening boom, the explosive arrow detonated against the monster's skull, sending fiery sparks flying in all directions and rocking its massive frame with a powerful shockwave. Struck by the attack, the demon writhed furiously, its tentacles lashing out like maddened whips to redouble its assault on the group.
Spotting an opening in the flurry of the demon's tentacles, Lu Chen drove his legs downward and leaped high into the air, tracing a sharp arc overhead. His greatsword, imbued with towering sword qi, cleaved downward toward a tentacle joint like a bolt of lightning falling from the heavens. Accompanied by a deafening crash, one of the tentacles was cleanly lopped off, blood gushing from the stump like a fountain. Sensation of pain wracking its body, the demon let out a shrill screech, frantically flailing its remaining tentacles in a desperate bid to turn the tide.
Keeping his eyes glued to the demon's every move, Lin Xiu finally spotted a flaw. A sharp glint crossed his eyes as he directed his Shadow Clone to charge straight at the front of the demon to draw its attention. The moment the monster focused all its focus on the clone, Lin Xiu activated Shadow Strike, instantly materializing behind the beast. He leaped high into the air, his dagger flashing with a cold light, and drove it deep into the demon's back with all his might. The monster's body shuddered violently as it let out an agonized roar, green mucus continually welling from its wounds. The fluid dripped onto the ground with a sizzling hiss, corroding bottomless pits into the earth.
Under the close coordination of the four, the demon's attacks gradually slowed. Its body was covered in dense wounds, and blood stained the surrounding soil. Its movements grew increasingly sluggish, every swing of its tentacles requiring immense effort.
"Now's our chance! Attack together!" Lin Xiu shouted at the top of his lungs. Su Yu rapidly loosed a barrage of flame arrows, one after another, flying straight toward the monster's vital spots with blistering heat; Lu Chen gripped his greatsword with both hands and poured every ounce of his strength into his strikes, each slash carrying world-shattering power; Bai Zhi chanted ancient spells while her hands danced continuously, sending powerful beams of magic shooting from her fingertips; and Lin Xiu darted nimbly around the beast with his dagger, searching for an opening to deliver the fatal blow.
With a thunderous crash, the demon's colossal body slowly toppled over, slamming heavily onto the ground and kicking up a billowing cloud of dust. The entire earth shook as if struck by a minor earthquake.
[Experience Points Obtained: 3000]
[Level increased to Level 19]
[Rare Material Obtained: Demon Core]
Collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion, the four panted heavily, their clothes soaked through with sweat and their bodies covered in the scars of battle. Though grueling, they had successfully defeated the formidable Octopus Demon through sheer willpower and seamless coordination.
After resting for a moment and tidying up briefly, they continued onward into the depths of the Misty Forest. Along the way, the fog grew thicker and the surrounding environment increasingly bizarre. After walking for an unknown length of time, an ancient and mysterious ruin finally came into view. The gates of the ruin were tightly shut, carved all over with strange runes that radiated an ancient and mystical aura, as if whispering of an era buried by the passage of time.
Stepping forward with a slight frown, Lu Chen carefully observed the runes on the gates. His fingers gently brushed against the carvings, feeling their texture and warmth. "These runes seem to hide some secret—perhaps they're the key to opening the gate," he said, his voice deep and resolute, echoing before the silent ruins.
Just as they were fully absorbed in studying the runes, eerie footsteps suddenly sounded around the ruins. Raising their heads in alertness, the group watched as a pack of Skeleton Warriors slowly swarmed out of the darkness. Wielding weapons and with hollow eye sockets glowing a ghostly green, the Skeleton Warriors closed in on the four step by step. A new round of battle relentlessly began.