Chapter 64

The leader-level monster, named Carnivorous Toad, stood a hundred meters away. Endless dark clouds shrouded his heart, and despair sprouted within, instantly growing into a towering tree.

No matter how hard he tried, the arm holding the shield remained unresponsive. He glanced at the status bar in his vision. Below the bar, a half-lightning bolt icon was exceptionally conspicuous.

Local paralysis...

Just one blow hitting his shield had resulted in this. While Xiang Kong was shocked by the Carnivorous Toad's strength, he began to doubt the impact immunity effect of his block skill.

Could it be that if the numerical difference between the two sides is too great, the skill effect is ignored?

There was no time to ponder this question. The Carnivorous Toad's abdomen began to swell strangely again. Xiang Kong seemed to see the indifference in its large, lantern-like eyes.

No, I can't give up like this! How can I die here!

Xiang Kong roared internally. Under the pressure of death, he desperately widened his eyes, staring intently at the Carnivorous Toad's mouth. Suddenly, an electric current surged through his limbs, an indescribable feeling filled his chest, and his eyes went blank for a moment. His mind, however, became incredibly clear. The despair and fear that had sprouted in his heart vanished without a trace.

His slightly contorted face instantly calmed. His gaze towards the Carnivorous Toad was blank, and a series of simulated images flashed through his mind like lightning...

Block it head-on, death! Jump in place, death! Dodge left, death! Dodge right, death! Crouch, lie down?

No, if I do that, the next attack will be unavoidable, and the end result will still be death. Therefore, there's only one choice: retreat!

Discarding those simulated images of death, he lightning-fastly reached a conclusion: retreat.

After enduring the first attack, neither side had moved. The Carnivorous Toad launching an attack from such a distance must be because the distance was sufficient. Therefore, if he used his fastest speed to leap backward for the next strike, he could dodge the attack, and then, while the Carnivorous Toad was in a vulnerable state after a missed attack, he could turn and run, simultaneously opening his item inventory to materialize a Transfer Crystal and use it immediately.

That's right, it's possible! This plan is absolutely feasible! With the dual assistance of activating the first stage of the Gene Lock and Kenbunshoku Haki, and my calm combat instincts, my fingers will definitely be able to materialize the Transfer Crystal precisely and without trembling.

However, with his current agility stats, it was difficult to be confident he could leap backward and dodge this attack. But he absolutely had to survive, to live for the future he yearned for, so he couldn't die here!

A strong will to survive surged from his heart. His leg muscles suddenly bulged, forming a disproportionate contrast with his upper body.

Second stage of the Gene Lock!

Xiang Kong looked ecstatically at his thick legs...

(Carnivorous Toad: "Are you f***ing done yet? Do you think it's fun for me to hold my breath? You want to leap back and dodge? Fine, but why do you have to take so much time? Who am I going to find if I choke later?")

"With this, it's possible! Great!" Xiang Kong looked confidently at the Carnivorous Toad a hundred meters away.

"Come on, let me perform this epic flash! Flying Thunder God Technique! (That should be the name.)"

Abundant power surged through the muscles in his legs. Xiang Kong pushed off with both feet, the explosive force making his body seem to vanish as he leaped backward, instantly retreating a considerable distance. Yes, this must be spatial movement.

"Success!"

Xiang Kong shouted in ecstasy. He looked forward, only to see a mass of slimy green liquid hurtling toward his face.

"Why not its tongue?"

With deep confusion, Xiang Kong's face was hit. His nasal cavity was immediately filled with a foul odor, and his vision was a blur of oily green. But he didn't care about any of that, just staring blankly at the Carnivorous Toad a hundred meters away.

Why wasn't it its tongue! Are you kidding me?

HP was being depleted at a slow but steady rate...

The Carnivorous Toad glanced at him dismissively and sneered, "Croak, croak, croak...!"

(Is that how toads croak? Is it a frog? But what is it actually saying? Where's the translator? Translator, come out quickly!)

"I didn't expect the ending to be like this... I'm so unwilling, truly so unwilling! I still want to meet you in reality... I want to be with you forever..."

With lingering deep affection in his eyes, Xiang Kong's body suddenly contorted, then let out a muffled thud, shattering into countless scattered fragments.

"Argo..."

In that final second, the thick, unresolvable affection finally turned into a soft murmur.

Just then, a fingernail-sized singularity of light appeared out of thin air before the flying fragments. A second later, the singularity suddenly erupted in dazzling light, lasting for about five seconds. The light gradually weakened, and a figure appeared within the radiance.

"So sad..."

Yui floated in mid-air, slowly opening her eyes. She gazed at the fragments filled with affection, her pupils, which shimmered with a faint luster, brimming with sadness.

She extended her small hand, and the scattered fragments, as if drawn by something, all gathered onto that fair little hand.

(Resurrection incoming? Impossible, too naive, young man.)

"Xiang Kong!"

Argo stood not far away, staring blankly at the condensed mass of fragments in Yui's hand, shouting with heart-wrenching agony.

"How could this happen!"

Tears immediately flooded, pouring from his eyes and washing over his face, yet unable to wash away the pain in his heart.

"How could it be so easy..."

Life is as fragile as this. Struggling in this heartless world, death is as common as daily life. One moment you might be laughing heartily, the next you die with a look of shock.

"I'm sorry, I can't do anything."

Yui said sadly to Argo. Under Argo's despairing gaze, the fragment condensed in her palm gradually became transparent, then disappeared...

After killing Xiang Kong, the Carnivorous Toad did not continue to attack Argo, because Yui had added a sub-command to its AI.

After doing all this, she took one last look at the crestfallen Argo, then disappeared into thin air. The passage was once again plunged into darkness.

The Blood Alliance's shield suddenly died, causing surprise among many players. However, as time passed, people's attention shifted away from the deceased Xiang Kong. The Blood Alliance continued to dominate the conquest operation, and finally, after one year, on the seventy-fifth floor, the game conquest was successful!

The End!

I've been thinking about how to develop the story so that Yui following the protagonist makes sense. Alas, sometimes it's hard not to overthink things. I'm still undecided. The only thing certain is that Yui cannot appear now, because the protagonist doesn't yet have the ability to break through the underground labyrinth.

Well, after this chapter, there should be a normal chapter. But being the shameless author I am, I immediately went to sleep.