Going Their Separate Ways

By then, everyone who had followed Xiao Yu before had left. Only Killer Codename 38 and Invincible Hero remained behind him. Both had gained some reputation from taking part in the story event, advancing their templates from ordinary to rare elite.

There were also three gnolls. Two of them were rare elites as well, while the last had probably only recently joined the game. Even after taking part in the story event, he was still just an ordinary gnoll warrior.

"We're finished! The boss is dead! What do we do now?" one gnoll wailed.

"Damn it, what are you howling for? It's just a game. So what if he died? He can just level another character. Besides, now that your boss is dead, isn't this your chance to take his place? If I were you, I'd hurry back to camp and seize power. Are you staying here to wait for death?"

At Xiao Yu's words, the two rare elites exchanged a glance, each seeing excitement in the other's eyes. They turned and ran toward the gnoll camp.

After watching the three gnolls disappear from sight, Xiao Yu shook his head, turned around, and headed in another direction.

Apparently sensing that they were heading the wrong way, Invincible Hero asked in surprise, "Hey, boss, where are we going? Aren't we going back to camp?"

"Back to camp, my ass," Killer Codename 38 said. "We brought all the goblins out of camp, and they're all dead. What's the point of going back?"

"Not necessarily," Xiao Yu said thoughtfully. "Our goblin camp may have suffered heavy losses, but the other monster factions are in the same state, so there's no need to worry about anyone taking our territory in the short term. Besides, the adventurers are all chasing us bosses right now, so the camp is actually safe. As long as you go back and develop it properly, you can build it up again."

As he spoke, Xiao Yu took out the Goblin Chieftain's Scepter. "I don't plan to go back to camp, but if either of you wants to return, I don't mind giving him this scepter. Then he can become the boss of a monster faction. Granted, it's a small faction, and its prospects for growth aren't great, but at least leveling will be easy in the early stages. You'll also get to experience what it's like to be the boss. Does either of you want it?"

"Well..." The two goblins looked at each other, both rather undecided. It was a tempting offer. They had seen how impressive Xiao Yu looked as the boss, and who wouldn't want to try it? But neither of them had been playing long, and they still didn't understand the game very well. They were afraid they wouldn't know how to play without Xiao Yu directing them.

Besides, Xiao Yu was right. The goblin camp didn't have much room to grow. After all, even the highest-level wild monsters in Night Whisper Forest were generally only in their teens, while the lower-level ones were only a few levels high. Even with underlings to help, they would basically be unable to level any further once they reached level seventeen or eighteen.

But the chance to be the boss was indeed very tempting. In the end, Invincible Hero gritted his teeth and stamped his foot. "I don't want it. I'm sticking with you, boss!"

Killer Codename 38's eyes darted around. "Um, boss, what do you think about me going back and becoming the chieftain?"

Xiao Yu nodded casually. "If you want it, take it." With that, he tossed the scepter straight to Killer Codename 38.

Killer Codename 38 was delighted when he caught the scepter, but his face immediately fell. "But it looks like only magic classes can use this scepter. What do I do?"

"Isn't that simple? Just level another character. Once you're the boss, you'll have underlings to help you level quickly anyway." He then explained how to change classes to a goblin diviner.

Killer Codename 38 was overjoyed. "Then it's settled. Thanks, boss Eric!" With that, he took the staff and ran off, disappearing in a flash.

Watching Killer Codename 38 leave, Invincible Hero felt somewhat uncomfortable. He even regretted not stepping forward to take the scepter himself.

"Let's go. We need to leave. There's no value in staying in this little pond anymore. We still have a long road ahead of us." Xiao Yu turned and gave Invincible Hero a meaningful look. "Besides, the adventurers will be attacking the goblin camp soon. We can use that time to get farther away."

"What?" Invincible Hero was stunned. "But didn't you say the adventurers would prioritize chasing the bosses?"

"That's right, but the question is, who knows where the bosses will go? By ordinary logic, they'll definitely go to the camp first to look for us bosses. We can use the time Killer buys us to get farther away."

So that's how it is! Invincible Hero felt a surge of lingering fear. He had almost gone back just now. Fortunately, he hadn't tried to be clever.

The two had only gone a short distance when a party of adventurers appeared where they had been.

"Phew, how come we still haven't caught up? Those monsters are running way too fast," Supreme Greatsword complained.

"Don't worry, we should catch up soon. Look at these tracks here. Clearly, someone passed through. It's only two o'clock. If we follow this route, we'll definitely catch them before daybreak."

"What? It's already two!?" Water Falls Without a Trace cried. "Damn it, I have work tomorrow. Hey, you there, we're logging off first."

Fish That Doesn't Eat Cats was reluctant to leave. "Sis, can we play a little longer? We haven't caught that boss yet."

"Log off and go to bed right now, or I'll tell Dad."

"All right, all right, I'll log off now, okay?" Fish That Doesn't Eat Cats seemed very afraid of her father and could only give in.

Although they were unhappy about their teammates logging off halfway through, the others couldn't say much, since the two were female players. They had also just given up the equipment, so the others said good night to the two elves, added them as friends, and could only watch as they disappeared.

Hellboy's Dad said, "What now? Do we still chase them with two people gone?"

Supreme Greatsword gritted his teeth. "Yes, why wouldn't we? We're definitely killing that goblin boss for its drops today."

Surviving Fighter said, "Um, can the three of us beat it?"

Supreme Greatsword chuckled. "What are you afraid of? We've gained several levels over the past two days, and we've gotten a lot of good equipment too. We're much stronger than before. Last time, the three of us were only level twelve or thirteen, and we still nearly killed that boss. Now we're all level fifteen or sixteen, so what's there to fear?"

Hellboy's Dad nodded. "True, but I feel like we're forgetting something."

What are you forgetting? Obviously, you're forgetting that monsters can level up too, idiot. You don't even know players can play as monsters in this game. You're clearly a newbie, the succubus beside him sneered inwardly, though she showed none of it.

After thinking it over, Hellboy's Dad still couldn't figure out what was wrong. He waved his hand. "Then let's keep going. Follow me, Nataya. Don't fall behind."

"Yes, master!" the succubus named Nataya said in a sweet voice, following close behind him.