Chapter 16 : Hidden Boss [3]
The girl's scream still echoed across the valley when the first assassin broke.
"Damn it all —I'm going all out!" His face twisted, and in a blur he bolted for the entrance.
~Shoosh
~Shoosh
The assassin who took the lead had a changed expression and rushed out of the valley.
Unfortunately, they still failed to break through.
The Terrorclaw Bear threw away the Screaming Duck in his hand, turned into a shadow, and slapped towards the assassin.
Others also started attacking the bear.
But the bear stirred as his Golden fur rippled, muscles coiling beneath it like molten iron. Its toy dropped from its paw, forgotten.
The little yellow Duck Toy gave a pitiful "quack."
Then the Terrorclaw Bear moved.
It didn't run but appeared blurred. A shadow wrapped in muscle and gold. Its claws fell like a guillotine attack and slapped towards the assassin.
"Shadow Escape!" The assassin exclaimed and used a dodging skill.
His body split into two persons, the real and the false. A black doppelgänger darted to the side, taking the brunt of the claw.
This is an assassin's primary skill. The shadow clone can resist 80% of the damage.
The Terrorclaw Bear immediately pounced on the shadow clone and slapped the shadow's shoulder with one claw.
~Crack
The shadow shattered instantly but the real assassin wasn't spared out by the Terrorclaw Bear.
As the attack wound left four deep gashes carved across his back , slicing leather through flesh, and bone. The Blood sprays out like a fountain with heat across the stone wall.
He collapsed, trembling, vision swimming red. His health bar plummeted to a sliver. Only sheer luck or perhaps the system's mercy kept him alive.
The Terrorclaw Bear came in front of him wanting to see whether he was alive or dead by smelling.
Then the Terrorclaw Bear loomed over him with his breath steaming and he saw the bear claws twitching as if deciding whether to finish the job.
But the Assassin held his breath and didn't dare to move an inch despite being in severe pain.
The assassin bit down on his tongue, refusing to move. A single twitch could be his end.
By seeing this terrifying scene everyone held their breath in their lungs as they forgot to take breath.
Kevin saw the yellow Duck toy dropped at his feet. He secretly bent his legs, stretched out his arms and picked it up silently.
He wanted to use the Beast Attraction item to divert the hatred again so that he could find an opportunity to escape during the chaos, picked it up silently, horror burning their nerves.
Then Kevin saw it , the Beast Attraction Duck item, lying innocently at his feet. His heart thudded. Another chance.
He bent, slow, eyes darting. If he threw it at the right moment, he could make the bear chase someone else. Maybe even slip out in the chaos.
But his actions were seen by Adrian.
Adrian glanced at him coldly, then glanced at Curse
But Adrian was him . His gaze was cold steel, pinning Kevin where he crouched.
And Adrian glanced, once, at the timer in the corner of his vision.
[Curse Time Remaining: 90 seconds]
Not enough. Too soon.
"Everyone don't dare to move," Adrian hissed in a voice like a blade scraping the stone. "Everyone stay still. Do exactly as I say."
Their ragged breaths steadied. Even Jason's proud elites stared at him now like drowning men staring at a lifeline.
Adrian's voice was low, rapid. "Don't move, listen to me."
Adrian shouted softly. Now he could only use the most dangerous method to delay time.
The others were also listening to him as if they had seen a life-saving straw.
"I know the Terrorclaw Bear has another weakness.
Once its hatred is attracted to more than three targets at the same time, it will have difficulty in making a choice.
The Terrorclaw bear has a low IQ but a very bad memory.
As long as we remain still, it will attack three times without anyone running away or fighting back, and then it will be free from hatred."
He didn't add: and someone will be the unlucky one under those claws.
The others didn't have time for doubt. They froze, pressing to the wall.
Adrian quickly said that this method was a bad idea. If it wasn't for the last resort, he didn't want to experience it himself. It would definitely be death if I were to be hit by this big guy.
Although everyone believed in Adrian's plan but had doubts still lingering in their hearts.
As per the situation they did not have time to think too much at this moment.
We could only do as Adrian said and remain still.
Sure enough, the Terrorclaw Bear's gaze began to wander among everyone, and it could not make up its mind who to attack.
The bear's head swung slowly. Red eyes glared from one trembling body to another. I couldn't decide.
Ten seconds dragged into eternity.
Then it chose.
It was more than ten seconds before it set its sights on Faboren, who was pretending to be dead on the ground.
It leaned down and grabbed Faboren's back with one claw.
Faboren was wearing a white level 3 leather armor.
The leather armor was torn in an instant, and blood spurted out, but Faboren gritted his teeth and did not move.
Its claw sank into his back. Rip. Armor shredded. Blood gushed. Faboren's teeth cracked from how hard he clenched them, but he did not cry out.
"Ahh"
The Terrorclaw Bear did not continue to attack Faboren.
Instead, he walked towards the people on the wall.
The bear turned back once again and looked at Adrian. the bear sniffed at him once… and turned back away to his trek.
Everyone held their breath when they saw the Terrorclaw Bear turn back but next second seeing this scene…everyone breathed a sigh of relief at a same time
With that sigh a wash of relief through the group like a wave. For now, they were still alive.
Then, a flicker. A blue dialog box appeared before Adrian's eyes.
[Claire Summer has sent you a trade request: "Lv.3 White Leather Armor" → Accept?]
Adrian blinked as his gaze flicked to her.
Adrian's eyes saw a hint of surprise flashed in. He didn't expect Claire Summer to suddenly give him equipment.
He looked at Claire Summer , but found that the girl's face was slightly red, and she lowered her head and did not dare to look at him.
Then he looks at himself.
The leather armor he was wearing before has disappeared, and now only the original cloth clothes remain.
Adrian's lips tightened. "Reject."
The armor she offered was weak, barely above paper. His remaining clothing was far superior. More importantly her health pool was pitiful. Even with leather, she would snap like glass.
Although he was not wearing leather armor, it was at least a level 8 cloth garment.
In terms of defense and health, it is twice as high as level 3 leather armor.
Adrian looked at the equipment in the package, but unfortunately they were all above level 5, and Claire Summer couldn't wear any of them.
He quietly activated his Spirit Eyes skill on Claire Summer .
Claire Summer 's simple attribute panel immediately appeared in front of Adrian.
_______________________________
[Claire Summer: Priest].
[HP: Low.]
[Defense: Fragile.]
[Damage: High (Skill-dependent)].
_______________________________
Selfless fool, Adrian thought. Nearly broken, and still thinking of others.
Her damage is good, but her health is very low, making her a typical fragile character.
With her health, even if she wore leather armor, she might not be able to withstand the attack of the Terrorclaw Bear.
"I was almost dying, yet I was still thinking about saving others."
Adrian muttered to himself, and suddenly found that the Terrorclaw Bear actually walked past more than a dozen players and walked straight to the back.
And its gaze was directly locked on Claire Summer .
It was as if he could sense that Claire Summer , who was naked, was easy to bully.
At this moment, Faboren, who was lying on the ground at the entrance of the valley, finally saw hope.
The bear lumbered closer. Its eyes scanned the wall and locked.
On her.
Its gaze burned with cruel instinct—Weak prey —Easy prey.
By looking at this scene ,Claire Summer tensed up then gripped her staff tightly. Then —her expressions changed —her lips quivered, but she held back a scream.
Adrian acted on instinct then he immediately grabbed her with his arm and then pulled her forward with a fierce motion. He did a powerful twist as he launched her like a dart.
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Claire Summer only felt a huge force coming and his body was thrown out.
This throw sent her flying more than ten meters away, until she hit the boulder and stopped.
Although her back was hurting from the collision, Claire Summer 's eyes were already full of tenderness and gratitude when she looked at Adrian.
The Terrorclaw Bear suddenly turned around observing the surroundings but next second his eyes looked at the boulder, but unfortunately it was already out of its perception range.
The Terrorclaw Bear tilted its head slightly, as if wondering why there was a sound but it was not moving towards the target in front of it.
Then he looked around to their direction but he didn't notice that one person was missing, so it directly selected Adrian as its target.
As this monster is not smart enough and did not notice anything, instead, it turned back—to Adrian.
Boom!
Claws slammed into his chest. Fabric tore. Three long gouges carved across muscle. Not deep enough to kill, but enough to stagger.
Adrian gritted his teeth. He didn't move. Couldn't move. Not yet. One more strike.
At that time, as long as you don't attack it within 1 minute, it will not lock onto any target.
This time, it looked closely at every player.
Finally, his eyes fell on Kevin
Kevin's blood drained to ice. He stood rooted, face pale, his mage's robe fluttering.
Even with eight white gear pieces, his health barely topped 2,000.
Against the bear's maw? Less than meat on a plate.
The beast leaned close, its jaw opening. Hot, rank breath blasted Kevin's face. Saliva dripped from fangs as long as daggers.
Kevin shook. His bladder nearly gave out. Terror ripped through his mind.
And then—he broke.
With a desperate flick, he hurled the Screaming Duck. Straight at Adrian.
"Quaaack!"
The bear's body stiffened. Muscles bulged. Its fur flared into burning gold. Eyes bled scarlet.
[BOSS has gone Berserk.]
Everyone understood that the Terrorclaw Bear had gone berserk.
"ROAR!!"
The Terrorclaw Bear let out a terrifying roar.
Its hatred immediately fell on Adrian, who was closest to the Yellow Little Duck.
This scene immediately broke the last line of defense in the hearts of all players.
The players clinging to the wall rushed out at the same time.
However, what they didn't expect was that as soon as they moved, the Terrorclaw Bear's hatred shifted.
Puff!!!
With a slap of the claw, a player turned into a white light and disappeared on the spot.
The valley exploded with sound.
The fragile courage of the players shattered.
"Run!" someone screamed.
The wall of survivors surged, panicked bodies sprinting for the exit.
The bear moved like lightning.
Swish~
Crack~
!
A claw tore through one man's spine. He vanished in white light before his scream finished.
Another. Then another.
Seven. Eight players gone in seconds, their deaths painting the walls in streaks of crimson before their corpses blinked away.
The surviving player froze again by this terrifying scene; it was like their heart came out through their throats.
Kevin was also frozen in fear and pain in his place because he couldn't as the bear's fangs sank into his shoulder and ripped away a chunk of flesh from his body. His health plummeted to ten percent.
He bit his lip bloody, refusing to twitch. Still as stone. Only his eyes, wide with agony, betrayed him.
The bear sniffed once. Then turned away, fooled.
At the direction of the stone wall we can view Kevin as he had been holding his breath there for a quite long time. His whole face turned red due severe pain but he didn't dare to move in this situation.
Only one tenth of his health was left.
"Puff."
Pain exploded in his lower body. He screamed, high and shrill.
He spun and froze.
A spear jutted from behind him and pierced deep.
Kevin only felt a piercing pain in his anus.
He turned around suddenly and saw a big gun piercing deep into his anus.
The owner of the spear raised his lips slightly and mouthed goodbye to him.
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(Adrian POV)
Adrian stood at the other end, lips curved in the faintest smirk.
He mouthed one word "Goodbye" in a low voice.
Kevin's face contorted. "Adrian, you motherfu**—!"
As Kevin roared, his body turned into white light and disappeared on the spot.
And where he was originally, a skill book was suspended in mid-air.
It was obviously dropped after Kevin's death.
(To be Continue)
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