Night Hunter

Run! Run! Xiao Yu ran until he was out of breath and finally couldn't run anymore. Leaning on his staff, he gasped for air.

"Hey, can't run anymore? I have to remind you, those adventurers are right behind you."

A hoarse voice came from overhead. Xiao Yu looked up and saw the big bird called Ace Pilot.

The bird was standing leisurely on a branch, looking down at the goblin with an air of superiority.

"Damn, what are you so smug about? You can fly, so what? What's so great about that?"

Xiao Yu grumbled inwardly. Bird-type monsters were much weaker in combat than beasts like jackals, wolves, tigers and leopards. Their only real advantage was their ability to fly, and reaching a very high level as one was out of the question. But if all someone wanted was to make their presence known in the game, it wasn't a bad choice. At least the danger was low.

"How many of them are there?"

"There were five, but now there are only three left. Though I can't rule out anyone in stealth."

"There won't be anyone in stealth," Xiao Yu muttered to himself. "Stealth reduces movement speed. If they're chasing me over a long distance, they can't possibly be using it. If there are only three, I don't need to worry about them."

Xiao Yu glanced at Invincible Hero. Though he had advanced to rare elite, his combat strength was honestly very limited.

"Hide for now. When you get a chance, ambush their healer."

"Got it, boss." With that, Invincible Hero slipped straight into the woods.

Xiao Yu summoned a fire elemental and waited where he was. A few minutes later, the trees ahead suddenly parted, and three adventurers came rushing into view.

"Huh? What's going on? Why did the boss stop running?"

"So you're the ones chasing me." Xiao Yu raised his staff. "Then die!"

Flame Bomb Storm!

"Oh no, the boss is using a big move!" Surviving Fighter was the first to react, sending a Hammer of Justice smashing straight at him. The Hammer of Justice wasn't very powerful, but it had a stun effect. As far as he was concerned, it was sure to stun his opponent and interrupt his spellcasting. But when it hit the goblin, only a -18 appeared, with no other effect.

"Huh? Why isn't he stunned?"

"Your paladin skills are too crappy. Watch me instead. Charge!" Supreme Greatsword charged straight up to Xiao Yu and punched the goblin in the face.

"Huh? Why didn't it work?"

"Haha, idiot, I'm a boss! You think your pathetic skill can stun me?" Xiao Yu raised his staff. At such close range, Supreme Greatsword had no room to dodge. Flame Missiles blasted toward him like machine-gun fire. He blocked a few with his shield, but then it exploded, and a barrage of fireballs sent him flying.

-9, -10, -9, -8, -7, -11. A dense string of red numbers appeared over his head. Before Surviving Fighter could heal him, Supreme Greatsword had been blasted to death, dropping several pieces of equipment and lying lifeless.

Hellboy's Dad: "Damn, this boss is strong! What the hell? How are we supposed to beat him?"

"Beat him, my ass! Run!" Surviving Fighter turned and ran as soon as he finished speaking, disappearing in a flash.

Before Xiao Yu had finished casting his second Flame Bomb Storm, the two remaining players had already vanished. Damn, they sure ran fast. Flame Bomb Storm was powerful, but its casting time was too long. Still, they were gone, so he turned to leave. Then he noticed what looked like two pieces of equipment on the ground. One was ordinary junk, but the other glowed green. It was actually usable.

"Manster's Pelt? Wasn't Derek wearing this? Looks like that guy died."

Xiao Yu didn't stand on ceremony. He put on the bearskin coat, and his health rose by a large chunk. He called out twice in the direction Invincible Hero had gone, but received no response.

Did that guy run off? Xiao Yu had no intention of staying long either, so he turned and continued on his way.

Meanwhile, Hellboy's Dad and Surviving Fighter had run a long way and were still shaken by their scare.

But suddenly, a rustling came from behind them. Something was moving rapidly through the woods, startling flocks of birds into flight.

"Oh no, something's coming!" Both were nervous, afraid a monster was charging at them. To their surprise, several female knights riding moonblade panthers burst out of the woods.

The moonblade panther at the front charged straight at them, stopping abruptly just a meter away. Hellboy's Dad could even smell the warm breath coming from its mouth, and he raised his staff instinctively.

"Don't attack, they're night elves!" Surviving Fighter hurriedly stopped Hellboy's Dad, then gave the female knights before him a knight's salute. "Good evening, honored ladies. May I ask what brings you here? Is there anything we can do for you?"

The huntress in the lead looked coldly at Surviving Fighter.

"We are hunters from the Night Elf Council. We came here to track down the villain who killed the archdruid Manster Moonwalker. What are you doing here? Speak, human!"

"Ah, we're tracking that villain too. Unfortunately, we were no match for him, and our companion sacrificed himself. He's just ahead. Follow this road and you'll find him." Surviving Fighter pointed in the direction they had fled from.

The huntresses exchanged glances, and their leader nodded. "Thank you, paladin. Take your companion and leave here as quickly as you can. The Night Whisper Forest isn't safe at night."

With that, she gave her mount a sharp kick. The four female knights sped up and vanished into the dense woods in an instant.

"Damn, those night elf women were so cool! Are those panthers the night elves' racial mounts? They look much better than human warhorses. If I'd known, I would have picked a night elf when I chose my race," Hellboy's Dad said enviously.

Surviving Fighter said, "It's fine. Once we raise our reputation with the night elves, we can buy them too. Isn't this a great chance? I say we catch up and help them fight that goblin boss. We can raise our reputation, and maybe even pick up some equipment while we're at it. NPCs don't pick up equipment anyway."

"Right!" Hellboy's Dad caught on too. The two hurriedly turned back and ran in the direction they had fled from.

Before long, Xiao Yu learned that the huntresses were approaching. Once again, Ace Pilot was the one who told him. Although Xiao Yu immediately picked up his pace, how could a goblin's two short little legs possibly outrun a four-legged moonblade panther, no matter how fast they moved? He had barely run any distance when a dark shape flashed before him. A huntress appeared in front of him in an instant, blocking his path.

Then three more huntresses burst from the woods behind him. The four surrounded him, each holding a crescent-shaped flying blade, while their moonblade panthers watched him hungrily. Mounts in this game weren't just for riding; they could also fight when needed.

"Damn it, looks like I'll have to fight!" Since he couldn't escape, Xiao Yu had no choice but to raise the Storm Scepter in his hand. Still, he wasn't entirely without a chance. He was a minor boss, after all. The four huntresses looked fierce, but three were level 17 ordinary units, and only one was a level 19 elite. It wasn't as though he had no chance of fighting them.

Kaya Shadowhunter (Night Hunter Captain): "You're the goblin who killed Manster Moonwalker. Hmph, to think a mighty archdruid died at the hands of someone so despicable. Prepare to die! Today, I will destroy you in the name of Elune, the Moon Goddess."

Destroy me on behalf of the moon, too? Damn, do you think you're Sailor Moon?

Xiao Yu snarked inwardly, a vicious smile appearing on his face. "Heh heh heh, if you want to capture me, Eric, it won't be that easy." He abruptly raised his staff. Come and fight!