No, this wasn't a Kuriboh!
Xiao Wen stared wide-eyed at the little creature shaped like a chestnut, covered in long brown fur, with two sparkling watery eyes and a pair of pure white little wings on its back.
"Is this Winged Kuriboh?" Xiao Wen blinked.
Winged Kuriboh: 1 Star; Winged Beast/Light ATK: 300; DEF: 200 Duel Effect: When this monster is destroyed, damage taken during the turn is 0. Description: A beloved creature of the Winged Beast race, this little fellow brimming with mysterious power will become the summoner's powerful shield!
Xiao Wen looked at the herd of Ironback Rhinos and activated the system's search function to inspect their attributes.
Ironback Rhino Level: 7 Attack: 100 Defense: 250 HP: 600 Temperament: Gentle Description: A herd of Ironback Rhinos living in the watery grasslands outside Novice Village. They are herd animals with gentle temperaments, but once enraged, they will attack as an entire group.
"Three hundred attack? It'll do."
Xiao Wen muttered, pointing forward at Winged Kuriboh.
"Chirp chirp..."
Winged Kuriboh flapped its little wings, circled Xiao Wen once, then charged at the nearest Ironback Rhino. With a fierce slam, it sent the creature flying.
Armor Break!
Critical Hit!
HP -600!
Golden-red numbers floated up from the Ironback Rhino's corpse.
Player EXP +500.
"Damn, that attack is awesome!" Xiao Wen clicked his tongue as he watched his experience bar surge forward.
"As expected of a level-seven monster. This is sweet! At this rate, it won't be long before my level catches up to those show-offs."
"Moo!"
"Moo!"
"Moo moo!"
Just as Xiao Wen was indulging in his fantasies, the gazes of dozens of Ironback Rhinos suddenly fixed on him. Their eyes reddened as they glared hungrily, hooves scraping the ground, ready to charge at any moment.
"Uh... looks like I stirred up a hornet's nest. But it's no big deal."
Xiao Wen remained composed under the Ironback Rhinos' stares.
That's it?
Just a minor scene.
Xiao Wen calmly looked at Winged Kuriboh and shouted, "Winged Kuriboh, come save me!"
"Kurigu!"
Winged Kuriboh let out a long cry and shot back with a swoosh. It hovered above Xiao Wen's head, spread its two white wings, and let milky-white light flow forth, forming a giant bell that descended over him.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
The Ironback Rhinos charged in and rammed the illusory bell, producing crisp ringing sounds. Yet they only sent a few ripples across its surface.
Winged Kuriboh Monster Spirit Skill: Absolute Defense! Effect: Can withstand attacks from enemies no more than ten levels above the summoner for 100 seconds. For every level higher the opponent is, the duration is reduced by ten seconds. It can also be affected by other debuff statuses. Can only be used once per summoning.
It can hold for forty seconds. This skill is truly ridiculous when used against a group attack.
Although he could have handled the stampeding herd even without Winged Kuriboh's protection, why not give himself an extra safeguard and avoid some trouble?
Thus, Xiao Wen ignored all defensive measures, raised his fist, and smashed it into a nearby Ironback Rhino.
HP -50
A bright red damage number floated from the Ironback Rhino. Xiao Wen narrowed his eyes, not the least bit surprised.
This outcome had been entirely within his expectations.
"Fighting level seven at level one and still dealing fifty damage... my starting attributes without any equipment bonuses really are insane."
Xiao Wen sighed, and the playful smile on his face gradually faded. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
He shifted sideways, raised his fist, and struck again, smashing it into the Ironback Rhino's neck. The damage instantly turned orange-red.
Fatal Strike!
HP -350!
Xiao Wen's expression remained unchanged. As the Ironback Rhino's head tilted slightly aside, he threw another punch into the soft cartilage of its flank. Another Fatal Strike damage number floated up, and the Ironback Rhino collapsed.
"First one down. It was weaker than I expected."
Xiao Wen grinned as he looked toward the remaining twenty-five Ironback Rhinos.
"Moo!"
"Moo!"
The death of their companion only further stirred their savagery. Their eyes reddened as they fixed their gazes on Xiao Wen, bellowing as they charged fearlessly toward him.
Dull impacts rang out without end, waves rippling across the defense surrounding Xiao Wen.
Yet rather than panic, he smiled. He raised his fist and struck out, each blow landing precisely on an Ironback Rhino's weak point and dealing double damage.
Forty seconds passed quickly. During that time, Xiao Wen relied on his astonishing control to bring down another seven Ironback Rhinos. His experience bar was now only a tiny step away from leveling up. By his estimate, killing two more Ironback Rhinos would be enough.
However, with Absolute Defense's duration over, finding two easy targets among these eighteen Ironback Rhinos without any protection would not be easy.
Xiao Wen glanced at his full HP bar, 50/50, a wry smile on his face.
With his current defense and HP, even the slightest bit of damage would be enough to send him back to Novice Village.
Ding! Nine Provinces Server Announcement: Congratulations to players Ice Snow Flowing Cloud for jointly defeating a level-five Lord BOSS. Reward: 100 Reputation Value. Ding! Nine Provinces Server Announcement: Congratulations to players Ice Snow Yi Feng for jointly defeating a level-five Lord BOSS. Reward: 100 Reputation Value. Ding! Nine Provinces Server Announcement: Congratulations to player Ice Snow God King for defeating a level-five Lord BOSS. Reward: One green-quality class weapon.
Three consecutive announcements rang throughout the Nine Provinces server of "Phantom God," stirring an uproar.
The sounds echoed in Xiao Wen's ears, and the smile on his face grew even wider.
"The Ice Snow Three Kings... those three have started putting in effort too. In that case, there's no reason for me to fall behind! The name of a god from back then—I'll reclaim it, step by step, starting today!"
A sharp gleam flashed in Xiao Wen's eyes. At the same time, the Absolute Defense effect around him vanished.
The surrounding Ironback Rhinos sensed that the mysterious protective power around Xiao Wen had disappeared and immediately charged at him with bloodshot eyes.
Attacks came from all directions, and an intense sense of danger enveloped Xiao Wen, as though death would descend upon him the next moment.
"Still such a stupid attack. Looks like the game's mechanics for low-level monsters are still the same old thing," Xiao Wen muttered.
If anyone else faced such an assault, they would likely have no choice but to await death.
But Xiao Wen was different. Or rather, every elite player above king rank in Nine Provinces had their own unique way of dealing with such a situation.
Whoosh!
A black shadow rushed toward Xiao Wen. He stepped back half a pace with one foot, narrowly avoiding the attack. At the same time, he hammered out a punch, using the opponent's momentum to send it flying. It blocked the charge of several other Ironback Rhinos, opening a gap in the airtight encirclement.
Xiao Wen's lips curled upward.
"Now, the slaughter begins!"
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