The Risk Goblin's shameless use of its Rocket Boots left everyone stunned.
They had never seen a monster so good at running away. Its humanlike expressions and movements made it seem less like an NPC and more like a kid pretending to be one.
Two tongues of crimson flame roared to life, and the Risk Goblin began to rise slowly into the air.
Everyone was filled with frustration, but there was nothing they could do to stop it. They could only watch as the Risk Goblin escaped. The spellcasters were more than 40 yards away, and Lonely As Snow was more than 30 yards away—outside Charge range. Besides, Charge's stun effect didn't work on airborne targets; it only increased movement speed.
Shi Feng was the closest, just 15 yards away. But he had no ranged attacks. Even if he ran after it, the Goblin would probably be more than 20 yards off the ground by then. All he could do was watch the Risk Goblin get away.
Nine-Headed Dragon Slash!
Shi Feng knew he couldn't catch up. He swung the Abyssal Walker, its blade wreathed in black mist, and nine streaks of sword shadow burst forth in an instant, hurtling after the Goblin. He couldn't just let such a clever Risk Goblin escape without trying.
He had assumed the Risk Goblin was just an ordinary Special Elite, but he hadn't expected it to act so much like a person.
In ten years of fighting in God's Domain, Shi Feng had encountered few Goblins this clever. The Main God System didn't give a minor monster high intelligence for no reason. Such intelligence usually meant something significant. Human heroes and legendary creatures, for example, were all colossal, terrifying beings.
Though this Risk Goblin wasn't as intelligent as those heroes and legendary creatures, it was far cleverer than a BOSS. Killing it might bring an unexpected reward.
At that moment, the Risk Goblin's name changed. It suddenly became Axel Mador.
Axel Mador, Lord, Level 5, HP 600/600.
Shi Feng found the name familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.
Still, against a Goblin with only 600 HP, he was confident that Nine-Headed Dragon Slash would finish it off.
But just as the nine sword shadows were about to pierce Axel Mador, he pulled several iron balls from the pack on his back and hurled them straight at the Abyssal Walker's phantom.
The moment they made contact, blinding flames flashed.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
A chain of explosions blasted the Abyssal Walker's phantoms away. By the time they prepared to attack Axel Mador again, he had already flown 30 yards away—the phantoms could only strike targets within that range.
Shi Feng could only watch Axel Mador escape, helpless to stop him.
"Damn it! What kind of monster is this? Its escape ability is so busted!" Heizi glared at the retreating Axel Mador and cursed.
Kele was so furious his teeth practically ground together. He punched a tree several times.
The others were just as frustrated.
They had worked so hard to fight this Elite monster, and just when they were about to reap the rewards, it grew wings and flew away. Could anything be more aggravating?
"Brother Feng, should we keep chasing?" Heizi had noticed that the Goblin wasn't moving very fast, and the fuel in those boots might run out soon. It could land before long.
"Forget it. Let's get back to farming Wandering Goblins." Shi Feng shook his head. If chasing it had been worthwhile, he would have done so already. The Goblin's Rocket Boots were too powerful—they were known in God's Domain as the ultimate escape tool. They had only just activated, and their speed would soon surge. In the blink of an eye, the Goblin would disappear, making it impossible to find again.
Sure enough, moments later, the flames shooting from the Rocket Boots flared up. With a whoosh, Axel Mador vanished into the sky, never to be seen again.
"Don't let us run into you again. Next time, you won't get away," Heizi said regretfully, staring at the spot where Axel Mador had disappeared.
Shi Feng also felt it was a shame. Still, there would be little danger when they went back to farming Wandering Goblins. After this encounter, the Risk Goblin probably wouldn't show up again.
"Let's go. We'll get back to farming Wandering Goblins," Shi Feng said, turning to the others.
"Brother Feng, you're amazing. I never would've thought of it—we can just kill every last one of that bastard Axel Mador's kind. Let's see if he shows up then!" Heizi laughed, pleased with his own cleverness.
Shi Feng was speechless. He turned to leave, ignoring Heizi's wild ideas.
Suddenly, Shi Feng froze and stopped in his tracks.
"Damn, our luck is terrible. I can't believe Axel Mador showed up here—and as a Level 5 Risk Goblin, no less." Shi Feng clenched his fists, his brows furrowed. For the first time, he looked truly furious.
Seeing how angry Shi Feng was, the others felt a chill in the air around them. They instinctively took a step back, cold sweat running down their foreheads. They had always thought of Shi Feng as approachable, calm, and steady. They hadn't expected him to be so terrifying when enraged.
The lush forest around them seemed to become a Frost Hell—silent, icy, and dark.
"Brother Feng... are you okay?" Heizi was startled too. This was nothing like the times Shi Feng had gotten angry and argued with someone. It was the first time Heizi had seen him this frightening, and he asked cautiously.
"Oh, I'm fine." Shi Feng came back to himself and smiled faintly, restraining the intense killing intent within him. It had been slowly cultivated in God's Domain. Compared with the Tyrant Bear of ten years in the future, Kele, it was nothing—but Heizi and the others might not be able to handle it.
He finally remembered who Axel Mador was.
Axel Mador was a renowned engineering grandmaster in God's Domain. Three years later, he would build the Sky Fortress, Ring of Twin Serpents, shake the nations, establish the Goblin Empire, and launch God's Domain's famous expansion, The Rise of the New World. Countless super guilds would then attack the Sky Fortress, Ring of Twin Serpents, only to be wiped out. Axel Mador would be responsible for it all.
Such an important figure had appeared right in front of him, and he hadn't recognized him. Worse, he had failed to seize the chance to kill him. How could Shi Feng not be furious?
"Captain, there's a box here. Did it drop when Axel Mador exploded?" Gluttonous Mouse, who had been quiet until then, spotted a metal box on the grass. He picked it up and asked.
Shi Feng took it and saw Axel Mador's name engraved on one side. He opened it, then smiled. "Great job, Mouse! At least this means our fight wasn't for nothing."
Seeing Shi Feng so pleased, the others knew the item had to be valuable. Ordinary things were nothing special to him.
None of them had even considered keeping it for themselves. They already regarded Shi Feng as an idol, and they were naturally happy to help him.
"Here's what we'll do. Stay here and farm monsters for now. I have something important to take care of. Let me know once you've all reached Level 4." Shi Feng put the metal box away and quickly arranged things. The others couldn't help with what came next; he would have to handle it alone.
The others felt a little reluctant when they heard him say that. But knowing he had plans for them once they reached Level 4 made them look forward to what was coming, and they followed his instructions.
Shi Feng then left the depths of Dark Moon Valley.
With Heizi's area-of-effect skill, the party could handle seven or eight Goblins at a time. Their leveling speed would be at least two or three times faster than that of other parties.
As for Shi Feng, he intended to use the metal box to take the first step in his plan to rise to prominence in God's Domain.