Then there's only one solution, find a corner against the wall in the tunnel and fight one-on-one without being surrounded! These level 1 Little Demons should have half the attributes of a level 1 player, even if they have Mining Pickaxes, I at least have 5 points in Defense. As long as I disarm their Mining Pickaxes, I'll have a weapon...
After rushing into the tunnel, Chun was shocked to find rows of level 1 Little Demons mining. But they just glanced up at him and didn't join the encirclement.
Got it, these aren't typical wild monsters that attack on sight! They only attack and rob when they see the Magic Stone. Maybe I'm marked as hostile by default, assumed to be in the same camp?
Soon, Chun saw a damaged abandoned minecart leaning in the corner of the tunnel. This angle, this height, it's perfect to climb up for a commanding position!
— System prompt: You are too heavy, failed to climb! You gained an increase in climbing proficiency.
Holy Shit! At a critical moment, it's actually because I lack climbing skills!
The Little Demons were closing in quickly, clearly not giving Chun another chance to climb. Chun had no choice but to confront them using the minecart and the corner. Although this position wouldn't lead to being surrounded, he now faced one against two, or even one against three.
Already, a Little Demon raised its Mining Pickaxe and swung down!
Suddenly, the screen zoomed in for a close-up of the pickaxe handle—System prompt: You have triggered the combat effect of the innate skill Mastery in Mining Pickaxe!
What? Chun had no time to think, instinctively reaching out — Snap! He actually grabbed the opponent's pickaxe handle, and meanwhile, a fluctuating progress bar appeared!
— System prompt: You triggered the Mining Pickaxe Disarmament effect! Note: This effect will seize the opponent's pickaxe for your use. Bound and insured pickaxes cannot be seized.
Holy Shit!
Chun was stunned beyond belief! Disarm is supposed to be a Warrior Skill, yet it merely disables the opponent's weapon for a while. This is outright looting, basically causing equipment to drop! Or does it only work on pickaxes?
The Little Demon, terrified, pulled back hard on the pickaxe, and the progress bar pulled slightly towards it, but it was clearly no match for Chun. This kind of strength battle depends on the weight attributes!
At this moment, another Little Demon swung down from the side, triggering the special scene again!
Chun frantically used his other hand to catch it!
Now it's one against two, with two tug-of-war progress bars, and the three sides are at a standstill, relying only on stamina! Fortunately, the kicking and bouncing of these two blocked any more Little Demons from getting in behind them, where theoretically one more could have been squeezed in.
Stuck in a stalemate, Chun's mind raced. Even if he wins by depletion, his stamina would be almost gone, leaving him without enough strength to face continuous attacks from behind. He must find a way to restore his stamina! There's only one method, not only exhausting the opponents until they're unable to compete, but also ensuring they don't let go. They must continue blocking here...
Once he understood, seeing the opponents' progress bars about to deplete, Chun deliberately loosened his grip a bit!
Sure enough, the opponents forcibly regained some ground, Chun tightened his grasp again, pushing the progress bar to the limit once more. So it went, loosening and tightening for two minutes, until the two Little Demons exhausted their stamina, collapsing and gasping with their pickaxes like crutches. Chun's stamina also began to recover. And just at this moment:
— System prompt: Congratulations! Your Outstanding Wisdom comprehended and integrated advanced fishing skills. Your Advanced Fishing Technique upgraded to level 2! Achievement reward: Burden capacity +1, Physical Strength +1.
...
Holy Shit!!
Chun couldn't believe it; this was even more outlandish than Disarmament! In such unrelated scenarios, fishing can actually be practiced? Indeed, the technique of fishing also requires finesse, hence the cross-skill comprehension, the game's freedom is truly high!
And as these two Little Demons stopped bouncing around, a third Little Demon finally squeezed in from the right and swung down with a pickaxe!
Chun had to free his right hand to catch this new pickaxe, nervously watching the small demon still gasping that he had just released.
The current plan is to handle these two gasping demons alternately with one left hand, breaking their rhythm so they can't attack simultaneously...
Finally, as the Little Demon regained a breath, it immediately resumed its attack, and Chun also immediately let go with his left hand to catch it again! The other released Little Demon took the chance to catch its breath.
Good, the rhythm is staggered.
Chun loosened and released with his right hand, continuously exhausting the third demon. With his left hand, he dealt with two demons, constantly deflecting attacks! The fishing proficiency soared, and what was expected happened again:
— System prompt: Congratulations!... Your Advanced Fishing Technique upgraded to level 3! Achievement reward: Burden capacity +1, Physical Strength +1.
In this three-way extreme endurance scenario, the achievement's 1-point increase in stamina was like a weight shifting slightly on a scale towards Chun, immediately establishing his dominance. Chun's single right hand finally exhausted the third Little Demon's stamina as well.
At this point, the three Little Demons in front of Chun were drained of stamina and became a wall of obstruction in front of him. Chun, akin to a circus performer juggling apples, alternated his hands between the three pickaxes and still managed to slowly recover his stamina.
And at that moment, a shocking beast-like growl resonated through the tunnel!
Chun was startled, wondering what was happening?
A crowd of Little Demons was even more shocked, shrieking and fleeing, scurrying back to the mine pit. The mining frequency of those Little Demons in the tunnel abruptly surged as if they were on adrenaline, clanging incessantly.
Only the two small demons whose pickaxes were being held by Chun exploded in a final desperate struggle in impatience, yet in vain, suddenly kneeling down in a tragic practice of crying and laughing!