The Skeleton Warriors were much higher level than the ones on the first floor of the Skeleton Dungeon, almost all around levels ten to twelve. Their defense was their strongest attribute, while their other stats were fairly balanced.
Surrounded and mobbed by monsters like these, an average level-eight player would have a very hard time dealing with them. Unfortunately, Xiao Yang was already beginning to take shape as a true stat monster.
After weathering that recent rain of arrows, Xiao Yang was still in decent shape. He had lost twenty-two health, about a tenth of his total.
The green number one popped up again. That extra point of Health Regeneration was still ticking away, restoring one health about every ten seconds. What's more, it worked even during combat.
That single point of Health Regeneration made the Dark Dispelling Lantern's out-of-combat healing seem a lot less appealing. As for the World Membrane (Life), its effects wouldn't become much more noticeable until Xiao Yang increased his health.
At this rate, he'd be back to full health before long. But now wasn't the time to get distracted. The fight between Xiao Yang and the Skeleton Warriors in front of him was about to begin.
He brought Justice's Condolence down hard on the head of the Skeleton Warrior in front of him, striking first. Thanks to his Heavy Strike skill, a damage number of ten popped up, staggering the Skeleton Warrior and making its Soul Flame flicker.
Justice's Condolence barely stopped moving in Xiao Yang's hands. He ignored the attacks from the two Skeleton Warriors behind him and focused on taking down the one in front.
One swing! Another swing, then one more! No fancy moves, just straightforward, relentless whacks.
And just like that, Xiao Yang beat the Skeleton Warrior to death through sheer force.
Justice's Condolence wasn't especially effective against these Skeleton Warriors. More precisely, Xiao Yang's three-piece Blackrock Prison set, his main equipment at the moment, was poor against the undead.
Part of the problem was that the undead weren't very susceptible to mental effects. On top of that, Justice's Condolence was a typical negative-effect weapon that struggled against high-defense enemies. The Skeleton Warrior Xiao Yang had just focused on, for example, never entered a Weakened state, even as he beat it to death.
But, well, sometimes brute force was all you needed. Xiao Yang might not have suitable equipment, many skills, or even a class, but he had the stats!
A true stat monster. His terrifying basic attacks, one after another, made him seem unbeatable.
He kept tanking their attacks and swinging his staff, and soon the three Skeleton Warriors had been reduced to piles of bones.
During the fight, Xiao Yang realized something that left him speechless. After reaching the second floor, it seemed like even the weakest monster was about as strong as the Skeleton Warrior who had been the first floor's final boss.
"So the bosses on early maps really are just stray dogs on later maps?"
He understood this kind of power creep, but wasn't it happening a little too fast?
After clearing out the few fast Skeleton Warriors nearby, the much larger group behind them closed in.
Xiao Yang glanced back and spotted a Skeleton Knight in the crowd, wearing rusted plate armor and holding a flail.
He turned and ran without hesitation. This wasn't a fight he could afford to take. The glowing Safe House was at the end of the corridor, and the Skeleton Warriors were hot on his heels. Maxing out his Agility had been the right call.
Xiao Yang was running like the wind!
He dashed into the Safe House, hurriedly shut the iron door, and dropped the bolt. Instantly, the Skeleton Warriors stopped moving.
It was as if they'd suddenly lost sight of their target. They came to a halt in the corridor.
The sudden stop caused them to shove into one another. The faster Skeleton Warriors in the back slammed into those who had stopped in front, and then, with a crash, bones went rolling everywhere.
They seemed unable to detect the Safe House, though that wasn't entirely true. The Skeleton Knight was pacing back and forth in the corridor.
It seemed more intelligent than the average Skeleton Warrior.
Gradually, the Skeleton Warriors around it drifted away, but the Skeleton Knight continued pacing back and forth.
Xiao Yang noticed. He was secretly watching the scene outside through the observation window in the Safe House door.
This might be his chance. The Skeleton Knight had become separated from the Skeleton Warriors. Perhaps he could take it out first while he had the opportunity.
But there was a problem. The Safe House wasn't far from the small plaza. If a fight broke out and he failed to kill the Skeleton Knight quickly, it would inevitably trigger another huge disturbance among the skeletons.
Skeleton Knight
Rank: Common
Level: 20
Health: 200
Damage: 21
Defense: 48
Agility: 13
Traits: Undead Mind, Minion Summon, Undead Command, Heavy Weapon Mastery, Heavy Armor User, Knight's Instinct
That was the Skeleton Knight's stat panel.
Its defense was absurdly high. Xiao Yang's usual damage was only twelve: eight from Justice's Condolence and four from the Strength conversion provided by the Blackrock Prison Guard Regulations.
Even if the Skeleton Knight became Weakened, the Blackrock Prison Guard Badge activated, and his Heavy Strike doubled his damage, it would still be tough to get past such ridiculous defense.
What a frustrating number!
And that was the best-case scenario. In reality, Xiao Yang might not be able to inflict a proper Weakened state even if he swung his staff until it was smoking.
Still, it was worth a try.
Xiao Yang also had five points of unavoidable damage from Elite Killer and two extra damage against skeletons from Undead Slayer (Skeleton).
After thinking it over briefly, Xiao Yang made his decision. But he still had to wait for the Skeleton Warriors to leave completely.
While he waited, Xiao Yang chugged a Health Potion. He still had plenty left over from his last big shopping trip. If he'd had time, he would have liked to whip up some Unstable Life Entangler for extra safety, but there probably wasn't enough time now.
The Skeleton Knight turned around, exposing its back to Xiao Yang.
His chance had arrived! He couldn't let an opportunity like this go to waste. He had to make his move!
The instant the Skeleton Knight turned and showed him its back, Xiao Yang yanked open the Safe House door with a loud, grating creak and leaped out. He opened with a backstab, driving Justice's Condolence hard into the back of the Skeleton Knight's head.
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