Mad Flayer

In the Temple's [Sacrificial Offering] slot was a brownish-yellow object. It looked like some kind of wrinkled fur, or perhaps a dried lump of mud.

[Unknown Bark]:

A token passed down through generations of the Cave Dweller [Sen] clan, and an important clue tracing back to the previous era.

The description left Lu Yao completely baffled.

No attributes, no faith bonus—just a riddle-like description.

That was it?

Inside the Temple, Senjian, kneeling on the ground, said, "O God, this is a treasure our clan inherited from the era of the Forest God. It has been passed down through generation after generation, and they said it was the key to restoring the Forest God's former glory."

"Our ancestors passed down a saying: if our family could be restored, we were to follow this piece of bark and seek the traces left behind by the Forest God, returning to the embrace of God."

"Lord God, I know this is already impossible. The Forest God has completely fallen, and this land has been occupied and transformed by foreign [Whistleblowers] and [Flayers]..."

"The old era has ended."

"The Sen clan has offered its faith and loyalty to Lord Yao. Then this treasure from the old era should also be offered to God."

"I can sense that this bark has some kind of connection with somewhere in the mountains. If Lord God permits it, I am willing to take the bark and search for it."

Lu Yao clicked on the little figure.

The Cave Dweller Shaman's portrait showed an elder wearing a Stone Mask and holding a Bone Staff. His upper body was thin and bare, while he wore tattered skirt-trousers below. Senjian's hunched body gazed up at the sun overhead.

Beneath the portrait was written:

—Though we may be as humble as dust, we must never regard ourselves as maggots.

[Hero Lv13] Cave Dweller Shaman · Senjian

Attack 5 Defense 5 Wisdom 13 Mana 8 luck 1 Morale 2

[Abilities]

Wisdom Lv4: Wisdom is key for Apostles to hear Deity's will. The higher the level of Wisdom, the easier it is to improve and comprehend various abilities.

Wind Listener Lv1: Hear distant voices in the wind.

Senjian specialized in Wisdom, with a bit of everything else. He was the highest-level member of the Garlic Tribe. Moreover, he was the first naturally occurring Hero unit.

Looking at the [Unknown Bark], Lu Yao felt a little troubled.

This was an item related to the Forest God. He could only find clues in the Pixel World.

He dragged the screen westward.

The situation in the Salt Pool Tribe's castle was still tense.

The good news was that the Blood Knight had completely gone mad. It hacked at imaginary enemies inside the castle. No more human words appeared above its head, only beastlike roars.

The bad news was that the Blood Knight had become even more dangerous. Because of the difference in rank, Isabelle could not effectively influence him even with the [Evil Bone Whistle].

Lu Yao considered it. If the east did not work, he could try the west. There was no need to waste manpower here.

He decided to send Isabelle and Senjian to search for treasure first.

Holding the bark, Senjian entered the mountains to the west. After searching around, he arrived at a collapsed mountainside.

"Lady Apostle, this is where the resonance is strongest. We need to dig through these rocks."

The Cave Dweller Shaman summoned the Cave Dwellers, and the group began chiseling away at the stones.

Lu Yao vaguely remembered this place. It was where Lisa's Barbarian Tribe had once been located. Or, more precisely, it was the suspicious cave beside the Barbarian Tribe.

A few minutes later, Senjian and the Cave Dwellers cleared away the rocks and reopened the passage.

Isabelle led them inside.

Lu Yao double-clicked the cave and entered a new instance map.

The cave was filled with winding paths and was extremely dark. However, with Senjian, a native of the underground, leading the way, they encountered no Stagnation along the route.

The group spiraled downward when a living creature suddenly leaped out from around a bend in the passage.

It was called [Mad Flayer], and LV30 was displayed above its head. It looked like an oversized Wildman draped in white fur. The moment it appeared, it charged straight at Isabelle, and the two instantly entered combat.

Lu Yao grew a little anxious.

This was way too dishonorable.

Normally, shouldn't there be minor mobs guarding the outer perimeter, with the big boss waiting inside? You were opening with a boss ambush—had you never won before?

Lu Yao cursed inwardly, but his hands did not stop moving.

He opened the battle screen, prepared to use [Miracle] for long-range bombardment support at any moment.

With more than 10,000 faith ammunition in reserve, Lu Yao was not actually worried.

On the battle screen, the Undead Flayer's method of attack was very unusual.

It set its own head and hands ablaze, crazily grappling with Isabelle without fearing her Holy Sword at all. Whenever the sword struck it, flames burst from its body, igniting its entire body and blood. It was the very definition of a self-immolating attack.

It was Lu Yao's first time seeing such a tactic.

It was going this hard from the start?

Faced with such a fearless suicidal monster, Isabelle had no choice but to shift toward defense and evasion.

[Mad Flayer LV30]

Health Points: 3090/3090

Mana Points: 552/552

Damage: 35

Defense: 35

Speed: 10

[Evasion Lv15]

Can evade the damage caused by some attacks. The weaker the target's Health Points compared to its own, the greater the chance.

[Incineration LV15]

Attacks cause enemies to suffer burning damage over time.

[Mad Sacrifice LV1]

Awakens the fire of Sacrifice. Attacks burn the Health Points of both enemy and self.

The panel startled Lu Yao.

The [Mad Flayer] had an absurdly thick health bar, nearly comparable to that of the level 60 Blood Knight.

The most dangerous ability was [Mad Sacrifice], which turned the Mad Flayer's damage into true damage. As long as Isabelle was scorched by the flames, her Health Points would decrease.

Combined with the monster's enormous health bar, a close-quarters fight would become a contest of endurance... It would be difficult to outlast it.

The [Mad Flayer] had ambushed them from the start because it wanted to burn away their lives directly.

Lu Yao felt fortunate.

Thankfully, Isabelle had extensive combat experience, and her Speed was as high as 18. She still held an absolute advantage against the higher-level Mad Flayer.

It looked as though Isabelle was constantly dodging flexibly while repeatedly using the Holy Sword to inflict damage. But with such crushing Speed, every attack carried enormous risk.

The entire battle became a scene both tragic and absurd.

The Mad Flayer set itself on fire, intending to compete with Isabelle over who could live longer. Yet Isabelle merely kept evading, watching -1 -1 damage indicators continuously rise above its head.

Nearly an hour later, the Mad Flayer's health bar hit zero, and it burned into a pile of ashes.

But Isabelle did not leave immediately.

She stood beside the enemy's remains, and an exclamation mark appeared above her head.

"These ashes... are from a Treant?"

White light emerged from Isabelle as she used Lingering Prayer, but the black aura on the surrounding ground could not gather together.

A question mark appeared above her head.

"Lingering Prayer failed. The dead here have not fallen asleep. In other words, the Treant has not completely died."

Lu Yao typed in the Dialogue Box.

—If you need support, say so. I can use Miracle at any time.

"Yes, my lord."

Isabelle led Senjian onward.

Another seven [Mad Flayers] appeared ahead in succession, each at a higher level than the last. The final one was as high as LV39. However, its Speed was still only 12. No matter how strong its attacks were, they were useless if they could not hit.

Lu Yao did not dare sleep. He was afraid Isabelle could not handle it alone, and he did not feel at ease when he could not see what was happening. So, clutching the [Energy Staff], he stayed up through the night again.

By the time Isabelle had eliminated all the [Mad Flayers], it was already 8:30 the next morning.

Lu Yao saw that he was truly running out of time, so he typed one-handed while getting dressed and putting on his shoes.

—That's enough for today. Take Senjian and the others back to the tribe first. We'll continue when I return.

"Yes, my lord."

Isabelle accepted the order.

Thanks to reader 20181215174838538 for the support of 100 Qidian coins.