Are These NPCs Really This Good at Stealing Kills?

Goblins surged in like a tide, stone axes and sharp spears flying through the air like raindrops. Yang Yu stood at the front and deployed Phantom Shield.

As long as Intercept was active, it could intercept the enemy's projectiles for a certain period of time. Only attacks with power exceeding 200% of his total defense could deal him 10% of their damage. Mere stone axes and sharp spears could never pierce through Intercept.

Besides Yang Yu, the adventurers on the front line also did everything they could to knock down the incoming projectiles.

Goblins leaped down from the trees one after another, picked up their thrown weapons, and charged forward. The mage squad had long been waiting, unleashing AOE spells that exploded throughout the forest.

"Blazing Flame Spear!"

"Ice Spike!"

"Chain Lightning!"

These goblins were roughly between levels 11 and 19. Their levels were not high, but they had considerable health and resistance. Even after taking several AOE attacks, they were still lively and kicking.

Still, that had something to do with the overall quality of the mage squad. After all, not everyone was a prodigy like Bai Jin, with over 200 Intelligence. Many adventurers around level 20 had Intelligence that had only just passed 100. They could not be expected to focus-fire and instantly kill the goblins; all they could hope for was that the mages would weaken them as much as possible.

The front-line adventurers clashed with the goblins at close range. Every one of them was brimming with fighting spirit as they swung their weapons. Running meant death anyway, so they might as well make a desperate stand and fight for a chance at survival. The more they fought, the braver they became, even taking the initiative to charge at the goblins behind them.

Although the priest squad was busy concentrating on healing the severely fatigued Andeno, they kept a close eye on the battlefield. From time to time, they freed up their hands to chant spells, healing others and applying buffs. There were combat-capable battle priests among them as well, but they knew every point of MP could save a life, so they did not dare use their skills recklessly.

If there was anyone relatively idle on this battlefield, it was He Meng, the Slime bound to Yang Yu by contract. It crawled into a tree hollow, slacked off with all its might, and cheered, "666!"

Of course, it was not truly that idle. Yang Yu was a once-in-a-generation genius capable of Cultivating Four-Leaf Clover. Someone like him held enormous strategic significance to the Slime Kingdom. There was no way it would simply watch Yang Yu die.

If Yang Yu truly faced some fatal danger, it would definitely protect him without hesitation.

For now, though, Yang Yu did not need its protection at all. Rather, the sight of Yang Yu laughing as he darted through the goblin horde left He Meng somewhat speechless.

How did that look like someone facing a crisis? He clearly looked like some villain determined to wipe out every last enemy.

He Meng was starting to lose track of which side was actually attacking.

"Hahaha! They're actually delivering themselves to me! How much experience are all these goblins worth?" Yang Yu fought to his heart's content, repeatedly unleashing Cleave. A crisis was also an opportunity. At his current level, he needed twenty or thirty goblins just to level up once, and they were not so easy to find.

"Whirlwind Slash!"

The health bars of several goblins in front of Yang Yu had already emptied. A few casual finishing blows would earn him a huge amount of experience, but then a streak of sword energy swept past and cleared out every goblin in front of him.

Meow meow meow?

Did someone steal my kills again?

When he turned around, he saw an honest-looking swordsman give him a thumbs-up. "You looked like you were having a hard time fighting, so I came to lend you a hand."

You bastard, you know I'm having a hard time, so why did you steal my kills? Do you know how long Bai Jin and I spent whittling down those goblins' health bars?

Complaints aside, they were still in battle, and the other party had meant well. Naturally, Yang Yu could not say those words aloud. He could only twitch the corner of his mouth and say, "Thanks."

Damn it, I got my kills stolen by a mere NPC again. No, if they steal them, I'll steal them back.

Sweeping his gaze across the battlefield, Yang Yu quickly locked onto a group of goblins with empty health bars. He shouted, "Demacia!" then leaped over and struck the goblins with a Cleave.

Yet not a single goblin fell. Yang Yu's attack power was insufficient, and each supposedly empty health bar still had the tiniest sliver remaining.

Just as he was about to finish them off, a long spear shot forward like a green dragon, skewering all the goblins together. When he looked back, he saw a delicate-looking male warrior with half his bangs covering his face brush his hair aside.

"Don't misunderstand, I-I wasn't trying to save you. I just saw you were in danger and accidentally made a move! Hmph—"

Brother, if you don't want to save me, then don't! Look at me—did I need saving? And wake up already. You're a boy, so quit acting tsundere!

Yang Yu's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something, but the other man had already walked away, making it inconvenient for him to say anything further. He could only direct his resentment toward the goblins.

Soon, he locked onto another group of goblins with empty health bars. They were goblins retreating from the front line, trying to flee deeper into the forest to report what had happened. Yang Yu first looked left and right to make sure no NPC could steal his kills, then charged at them with his broadsword without another word.

Just then, a black meteor streaked over his head and exploded among the low-health goblins, leaving none of them standing.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yang Yu saw a young mage wipe his nose with a satisfied expression. Quite a few mages around him congratulated him. It seemed he had finally managed to land a hit after much difficulty.

Faced with such a scene, Yang Yu had even less to say. He could only shed silent tears and mutter words filled with unwillingness.

"Fuck! Your mother!"

The battle gradually reached its climax. Under the priests' collective healing, Andeno recovered from his severe fatigue. His muscular body possessed a level far beyond that of a D-rank adventurer. Even normal attacks dealt tremendous damage to the goblins, and behind him stood his disciples, who had also recovered from their fatigue and possessed excellent attributes.

One muscular brute after another joined the battle, and the situation instantly became one-sided. Before long, the goblins were utterly routed, pinned to the ground and relentlessly beaten by the muscular men until tears of emotion streamed down their faces.

As Andeno crushed the skull of the last goblin, the battle came to an end. Everyone cheered—except one person.

Standing in the middle of the battlefield, Yang Yu clutched his head and wanted to roar, but could not roar out loud.

He had been level 19 before the battle, and he was still level 19 afterward. His experience bar had only risen a little over halfway, and part of that experience had even been shared from Bai Jin.

At that moment, he only had one MMP he did not know whether he should say. These NPCs were insanely good at stealing kills.

Buy buy three three, couldn't afford to offend them.

Perhaps because he had glanced at him one time too many in the crowd, Andeno noticed that Yang Yu was feeling down and strode over.

"Thank you, Lord Yang Yu. It seems that not only are your attainments in fitness extraordinary, but you also have unique insight into resolving conflicts. Thanks to your accurate judgment of the situation and your ability to unite everyone, we were able to survive."

"It was nothing. I merely spoke the truth. I did not want to die in the forest because of their panic."

Yang Yu's eyes were empty and lifeless. He did not want teammates who stole his kills, but without those kill-stealing teammates, he would have had no way to take down so many goblins. If anyone was to blame, it could only be the game's experience system. Why did he not get experience if he did not land the final blow?!

"Don't be modest." Andeno laughed heartily and slapped Yang Yu's back twice, then turned serious again. "I'll skip the pleasantries. Can you tell me why you look so worried? You must have noticed something else, haven't you?"