The Ironclad Battle Bear looked down disdainfully at the little thing before it and shook its head like a human.
It folded its arms across its chest and did not attack first.
It seemed to be saying, I'll give you the first move. Otherwise, once I strike, you won't get a chance.
Lin Yi stood before the Ironclad Battle Bear, a fierce glint in his eyes.
He tilted his head from side to side and loosened up a little.
Although his opponent was not all that strong, it was still a gatekeeper boss.
He had to show it some respect!
Of course, only a little!
Battle was imminent!
Lin Yi instantly shifted into attack mode, sprinted toward the Ironclad Battle Bear, and leaped into the air.
His A-grade beginner longsword sliced through the air with a whistle, aimed straight at the Ironclad Battle Bear's abdomen.
-84566!
The blow struck its target precisely. The Ironclad Battle Bear roared in pain and briefly froze.
However, Lin Yi's attack did not merely deal physical damage. The [Spectral Fangs] effect on his earring triggered.
A little frightened face appeared above the Ironclad Battle Bear's head, indicating the fear effect.
The enormous creature was actually locked down by hard crowd control for three seconds, during which it would be unable to move.
Lin Yi would not let this opportunity slip.
He immediately activated [Frenzied Wolf's Wrath], unleashing the berserk power within him and dealing 105% area-of-effect physical damage to the Ironclad Battle Bear.
-93452!
He immediately followed up with a basic attack, his longsword sweeping across the Ironclad Battle Bear's body again and leaving a deep sword wound.
-87433!
At the same time, Lin Yi seized the opportunity to use [Berserk Charge] again, dashing upward.
He dealt physical damage to the Ironclad Battle Bear and inflicted knockback while moving three meters upward, landing on the armor covering the bear's arm.
-85231!
After the charge ended, Lin Yi did not pause at all. Pushing off the Ironclad Battle Bear's armor, he rapidly climbed higher.
Then came another basic sword attack, its edge aimed straight at the back of the Ironclad Battle Bear's neck!
-186713!
Only two seconds had passed, yet the light had already faded from the Ironclad Battle Bear's disdainful eyes.
Boom!!!
Its enormous body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
[Killed [Ironclad Battle Bear]. Congratulations! You gained 88 hours of lifespan and 2,200 experience points.]
Clang!
Lin Yi sheathed his sword. Standing on the Ironclad Battle Bear's head, he glanced down at the fallen boss, a trace of confusion on his face.
Even that little bit of respect...
Seemed far too unnecessary!
A boss I couldn't hope to match in my last life just croaked this easily?
Couldn't you show a little respect to yours truly, Gui-to yours truly, Ling!
At least last a few more moves!
That wasn't satisfying at all!
A hundred thousand combat power really did make the early game much easier!
Lin Yi stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
"Fuck!"
"Why am I getting worked up over a bear!"
"Time to cash in, time to cash in!"
With that, he began searching for his loot.
Throughout the battle, Lin Yi's attacks had flowed seamlessly, employing the advanced melee micromanagement techniques of later years.
He opened with an auto attack, cast [Frenzied Wolf's Wrath], auto-attacked again, immediately used [Berserk Charge], and finished with an auto attack to a vital spot.
As everyone knew, both auto attacks and skills had a moment of stiffness before and after dealing damage, known as attack windup and recovery.
In short, [Frenzied Wolf's Wrath] canceled the first auto attack's recovery, the second auto attack canceled [Frenzied Wolf's Wrath]'s recovery, and [Berserk Charge] canceled the second auto attack's recovery.
By weaving skills and basic attacks together, he had almost no recovery time, and his windup time was greatly shortened as well.
Every attack was perfectly accurate, and every sword strike combined power and technique.
Unfortunately, Lin Yi was still a few hundred experience points short of leveling up.
Still, the items dropped by the [Ironclad Battle Bear] were indeed quite a shock at this stage.
[Ironclad Essence] Category: Material Grade: S Description: Can be used to forge or upgrade equipment, providing an additional defense bonus. An essence refined from the Ironclad Battle Bear's iron armor, hard and rich in magic.
[War Bear Soul] Category: Special material Grade: S Description: An orb formed from the condensed soul of the Ironclad Battle Bear, containing powerful vitality. Used for special quests or crafting special potions, it can grant equipment or potions special effects.
[Berserk Core] Category: Gem Grade: S Effect: When socketed into equipment, increases combat power by +3,000 and improves the damage and effects of bear-type skills by 3%.
[Ironclad War Bear's Heart Protector] Category: Armor Grade: S Effect: A heart protector made from the Ironclad Battle Bear's breastplate, indestructible. Provides substantial defense and reduces physical damage taken by 1%.
[Blazing Flames] Category: Skill book Grade: S Effect: Once learned, unleashes a powerful flame attack, dealing 102% magic damage to enemies within the surrounding 8 × 8 area.
[Ironclad Battle Bear's Gallbladder] Category: Material Grade: S Description: Possesses extremely high medicinal value and can be used to craft special potions. The Ironclad Battle Bear's gallbladder has unique medicinal effects, making it a material alchemists dream of obtaining.
[Ironclad Battle Bear's Paws (One Pair)] Category: Ingredient Grade: Z Description: The Ironclad Battle Bear's paws have delicious meat and extremely high nutritional value. Can be used in cooking to make food with recovery effects.
For fuck's sake!
I was wondering why you weren't fighting back. Turns out you were saving this crap for me!
Never mind that pile of materials I can't use for now.
I finally got a piece of equipment and a skill book...
And the equipment is a heavy great breastplate that only reduces physical damage by 1%?
You think I'm a beggar?
Would I die without that 1% defense of yours?
And what's with this Blazing Flames? A mage skill book?
How come I never knew you could do that?
Still, Lin Yi had not expected a pair of Z-grade bear paws to drop.
This top-tier one-star ingredient...
Was indeed rare!
But if he could not find someone who liked eating it...
It would still end up rotting in his hands.
Still, it was his loot, after all. Although Lin Yi looked rather sour, he put away everything that had dropped.
Afterward, he slowly walked into the cavern.
There were no other monsters inside, and he reached the end after walking a little over ten meters.
At the end of the cavern, a magnificent gate stood before Lin Yi.
The gate stood in stark contrast to its surroundings, its presence like a gateway to another world. Exquisite reliefs covered its surface, every detail conveying mystery and solemnity.
The golden light flowing across the gate shone like stars in the night sky, dazzling and seemingly containing boundless power and secrets.
Directly above the gate, the eight letters of "ZERO GAME" were cast from an unknown metal, emitting a faint glow.
Each letter seemed alive, trembling slightly as though recounting ancient legends.
To the right of the gate, a mysterious teleportation array lay quietly.
It consisted of a series of complex runes and geometric shapes, flickering with a ghostly blue light that contrasted sharply with the golden gate.
At the center of the teleportation array was a deep vortex, emitting subtle energy fluctuations.
Facing the gate, Lin Yi took a deep breath and said with an odd expression:
"My dear esteemed game guide Xiao Ling, please let me see..."
"Your big treasure!"