"Don't let those guys get away! Catch them!"
"They dared to steal the boss from the Storm Horn and blow up our warehouse. Why don't they have the guts to face us head-on?"
Forty or fifty Minotaurs sprinted across the ice, dodging skills that came flying at them from ahead. A dozen or so people were fleeing in front of them, releasing skills to slow their pursuit.
"Chirp!" An arrow shot toward them from above, glowing orange. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a flying bird and plunged into the Minotaur formation.
The blast wave shattered the ice beneath their feet. Cracks spread across the surface, and several Minotaur players accidentally fell into them.
Arrows continued to rain down one after another, and the cracks in the ice kept widening. Just then, reinforcements arrived behind them.
A snow-white-furred Minotaur pressed both hands against the ice. A white magic circle took shape across its surface, and the ice, which had been on the verge of collapsing, gradually stabilized.
The cracks slowly closed. The arriving Minotaurs caught up with the main force, while the fleeing group up ahead ignored their dwindling MP and frantically cast speed-boosting spells on themselves and their companions.
"These Minotaurs really do have tempers like bulls. They've nearly chased us through two whole regions, haven't they?"
"Huff, huff, huff. They already have chased us through two regions. And it's all because you didn't investigate the situation properly. I'm about to collapse."
Watching the pursuers who wouldn't give up, Genjiro couldn't help complaining. Bellriver corrected his estimate and blamed him for being unreliable.
"Enough. Forget about all that. We need to figure out how to get out of combat and teleport away first."
"I've got a few high-level teleportation scrolls. Let's give these to Teacher Bukubukuchagama and Uncle Tianmu One first, so they can leave with what we've collected."
As he spoke, he took a few scrolls from his backpack and handed them out. Then he turned to Momonga.
"Lord Momonga, use that invincible brain of yours and think of something, or the Minotaurs are really going to gore us right in front of our faces."
"Don't panic. Let me think carefully."
Momonga tried to recall the surrounding terrain. After all, with only a dozen or so of them, no matter how strong they were, they couldn't wipe out the seventy people behind them—unless an avalanche buried them all right now.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Momonga. He remembered there was a steep cliff not far ahead. If they could reach it and get to the highest point—
Peroroncino could attack the cliff from a distance and knock loose some of the snow, holding the Minotaurs back for a while. Then they could use teleportation scrolls to send a few people away ahead of time.
The rest could scatter and flee, splitting up the pursuers and taking the chance to get away.
"Everyone, follow me. There's a cliff ahead. We'll climb up, then Peroroncino will attack the coordinates I give him when he gets my signal. After that, we'll scatter and look for a chance to escape."
Meanwhile, in the icy region, Peroroncino received Momonga's coordinates. He drew back his bowstring, and a golden arrow appeared out of thin air.
Streams of light gathered around the arrow. Behind him, countless golden arrows appeared, ready to fly the moment Momonga gave the order.
Although Minotaurs were naturally slow and agility was one of their weaknesses, their stamina was among the best in the game.
Momonga and the others were slowing down because they were running out of stamina. If the Minotaurs held on a little longer, they could surround them.
They struggled up to the top of the cliff. Momonga immediately sent the signal, and Peroroncino launched a fully charged attack. The dense shower of arrows was far more powerful than the previous one.
Countless firebirds swept down from the sky and gradually converged, forming a lifelike phoenix. With a piercing cry, it slammed straight into the middle of the cliff.
The Minotaur players saw the terrifying attack and each used their own means to cast defensive magic. Although it didn't hurt them,
Momonga had already achieved his main goal. Snow began sliding down the cliff. At first, only a small patch gave way, but gradually, the snow covering the entire cliff rolled downhill.
Momonga breathed a sigh of relief and immediately urged Bukubukuchagama and the others to leave.
"All right, we're safe for now. Teacher Bukubukuchagama, you should use the scrolls to get out of here first."
"What about you?"
They knew that the items Mu Fengyu gave them were bound to work well, but they were still worried Momonga and the others wouldn't be able to escape.
Mu Fengyu patted his chest with confidence and said proudly,
"Teacher Bukubukuchagama, don't worry. You can leave. I'll take care of the rest."
"It's fine, Teacher. You should go first."
"Yeah. Even if you stay, your stamina is almost gone, right? You'll only hold us back."
After everyone urged them to go, Bukubukuchagama and the others decisively used teleportation magic and quickly left this place of trouble.
The pursuers below had also escaped the avalanche. The cliff was right behind Momonga and the others, and anyone who fell from here would have their HP reduced to zero.
Meanwhile, the Minotaur troops slowly closed in. They didn't seem worried that the group would choose to jump to their deaths. In their eyes, even if their opponents jumped, all that would be left behind was a pile of useless loot.
"This region is such a pain. Flying items and magic are prohibited here."
"Momonga, you all should teleport away first. I'll buy you some time."
"What about you?"
"Don't worry. Even if I die, I won't drop anything."
"Don't forget, I'm carrying an item that prevents death drops."
Mu Fengyu smiled reassuringly.
With that, he walked down without hesitation, giving the others no chance to react. Momonga tried to stop him, but Ulbert patted him on the shoulder and shook his head.
The others then began waiting for the combat-logout timer to finish. Once they were out of combat, they could use teleportation magic to leave this dangerous place.
But first, Mu Fengyu had to hold out for five minutes.
Without looking back, Mu Fengyu drew his weapon and faced the approaching enemies.
After all, he had made a promise to him—to all of them. No matter the cost, he would defeat the corruption—sorry, wrong channel—he would hold out until they had all left.
Mu Fengyu closed his eyes. Intricate magic circles swiftly assembled in his hands.
He took an hourglass-shaped item from his backpack. This was his real secret weapon.
Seeing what Mu Fengyu was doing, the enemies below hurriedly attacked. Phantom bulls and giant axes flew toward him as if they cost nothing.
Yet, facing the attack that surged toward him like a tide, Mu Fengyu merely glanced at it before crushing the item in his hand without hesitation.
Super-Tier Magic [Mirror Lake] activated instantly.
As Momonga and the others watched, the enemies below miraculously vanished. With no enemies left to threaten them, they successfully left combat and could use teleportation magic to escape.
But just as Momonga and the others finished teleporting away, Mu Fengyu suddenly appeared back where he had been. After reappearing, he stood motionless. A gust of wind blew, and he immediately toppled backward.
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