Sustained Damage

Three minutes later, ripples spread across the sea.

A huge, smooth, black head emerged from the water.

Beside it were eight tentacles, black with a hint of silver. They were covered in densely packed bumps and looked slimy and disgusting.

When it drew closer, Ji Xinghe realized its head was bigger than the iron pots back home in the countryside.

"It's so big. It must have a lot of meat."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Xinghe fired two arrows.

[Hit monster, monster HP -57.4, -57.4]

[First Order Silver Squid Beast (Level 8)]

[Remaining HP: 235.2]

[Attack: 35]

[Defense: 10]

Ji Xinghe's lips curled slightly. "An eighth-level monster—and a weak one with no skills!"

She fired two arrows at once.

[Hit monster, monster HP -57.4, -57.4, triggered bleeding effect: HP -1, -2...]

She fired another pair. Before it could even swim to the island's Protective Shield, it was dead.

[Defeated a First Order Level 8 monster of a higher level: Experience Points +5, Wow Coins +1, Black Iron Treasure Chest +1]

The experience gained from defeating a higher-level monster had reached its cap.

[Would you like to dismantle the Silver Squid Beast?]

Ji Xinghe ignored the system notification in her mind and walked to the edge of the beach. She took out a Wood Arrow and fitted it to the crossbow, then aimed at the Silver Squid Beast's corpse.

With a bridge in place, Ji Xinghe could now store it in her inventory.

Ji Xinghe looked at the hollowed-out corpses of the Great Black Shark and the Ironclad Crab. "You two can retire now."

She tapped dismantle.

[Dismantled Black Shark Beast: Obtained resources: Black Shark meat (500 g) ×100, shark fins ×2, shark bones ×2]

[Dismantled Ironclad Crab Beast: Obtained resources: Ironclad Crab meat (500 g) ×10, iron crab shells ×4]

Then she laid the fresh Silver Squid Beast on the beach.

First, she used Drain twice.

[Talent activated successfully, Strength +0.2.]

[Talent activated successfully, Strength +0.1]

She was lucky. Both attempts succeeded.

Before Ji Xinghe could start cutting up the corpse, ripples spread across the sea again.

She looked up and saw two monsters swimming toward her, one from the left and one from the right.

The monster on the left was farther away, but it swam fast. The black-and-white, wave-shaped serpent monster soon collided with the turtle-shaped monster on the right.

Ji Xinghe's gaze sharpened. She was just about to fire the Star Feather Repeating Crossbow when the two monsters started fighting in the sea.

The serpent monster wrapped itself around the turtle's shell, then stuck out its red tongue, trying to force the turtle's head out of its shell.

Water splashed everywhere. Seeing this, Ji Xinghe quickly took advantage of their fight to launch a sneak attack.

She aimed at the serpent monster. There was no choice: it was faster, so she had to take it out first.

Two Wood Arrows struck its body in unison.

[Hit monster, monster HP -52.4, -52.4]

[First Order Mysterious White Snake Beast (Level 7)]

[Remaining HP: 195.2]

[Attack: 30]

[Defense: 15]

[Skill: Grow or Shrink (can freely adjust its size); when enlarged, attack power doubles (up to ten times); when shrunk, Movement Speed doubles (up to ten times).]

If it weren't for the Protective Shield, she wouldn't have dared provoke the Mysterious White Snake Beast with a skill like that.

Ten times the attack power would kill her in one hit.

Thankfully, she was still in the beginner protection period.

The monster noticed the ambush, and its icy gaze swept over her.

Then it released the turtle from its coils and quickly swam toward Ji Xinghe.

Once the snake had swum away, the turtle slowly changed direction and headed toward Ji Xinghe.

Perhaps it wanted to be the one who profited from the fight.

Ji Xinghe wasn't going to overthink it. She wanted both monsters!

Looking at the Mysterious White Snake Beast's remaining HP, she figured it would take only four Wood Arrows—two volleys.

It swam fast, and in moments, it triggered the Protective Shield.

Sensing an inexplicable barrier in front of it, the Mysterious White Snake Beast immediately used its skill, enlarging its entire body tenfold.

Its shadow instantly covered the beach. Ji Xinghe fired her Wood Arrows at once.

Come on, with a body this big, how much meat would it yield when she dismantled it?

Whoosh, whoosh~

Whoosh, whoosh~

Boom! Thud! Sand flew everywhere~

[Defeated a First Order Level 7 Mysterious White Snake Beast of a higher level: Experience Points +5, Wow Coins +1]

[Would you like to dismantle the Mysterious White Snake Beast?]

Half of the Mysterious White Snake Beast's body lay on the beach. Ji Xinghe walked over and stored it in her inventory.

Then she turned to look at the turtle monster not far away.

Whoosh, whoosh!

[Hit monster, monster HP -0, -0, Shield Value -35.5, -35.5

Triggered bleeding effect, HP -1, -1]

[Second Order Black Gold Turtle Beast (Level 8)]

[Remaining HP: 498]

[Attack: 10]

[Defense: 30]

[Skill: Turtle Shell Shield. Shield Value is twice its HP. After the shield is broken, its defense doubles for one minute.]

Ji Xinghe:!!!

A Second Order monster!

When had it activated its skill?

This skill was a bit of a problem.

After its shield broke, its Defense would reach 60. Wood Arrows couldn't penetrate it at all.

But the Star Feather Repeating Crossbow's bleeding damage could bypass the shield. She hadn't expected that; it was a pleasant surprise.

Ji Xinghe glanced at her status panel. Her mental energy had fully recovered.

Fortunately, the Black Gold Turtle Beast moved slowly. It was right in front of her now, and even if it tried to run, it wouldn't get far.

Whoosh, whoosh!

[Shield Value -35.5, Shield Value -35.5]

It took fourteen double shots to break the Black Gold Turtle Beast's shield.

If it were a First Order monster, she would need only sixteen double shots. But in the Survival World, there was a level suppression mechanic.

Attacks from lower-order monsters against higher-order ones dealt 5% less damage. If a First Order monster attacked a Third Order one, its damage would be reduced by 10%...

The higher the order, the stronger its suppression of lower-order monsters.

The moment its shield broke, its Defense increased to 60.

This time, Ji Xinghe didn't use the Star Feather Repeating Crossbow. She activated her skill instead. "Small Light Ball Technique!"

[Hit Black Gold Turtle Beast, -123 HP.]