Chapter 162 Rhino Warlord One-Eye
The Silent Marshlands, a creepy stretch crawling with Level 15 monsters, lay ahead of them.
"Eric, are you sure we're going the right way?" Tonny asked, sounding pretty nervous. "Didn't we just pass a whole pack of Marshland Riverbeasts?"
Ezio, trailing behind Eric with Tonny, chimed in. "What kind of monster are we even looking for to test the Luminous Celestialflare?"
"We can't waste it on those Riverbeasts," Eric said through their team chat. "The cooldown on Luminous Celestialflare is thirty minutes. We need something, or rather, some things, that can actually take its power."
He had a point. Even the Swampscale Behemoth, a rare elite at Level 17, had gone down easily to Tonny's boosted magic. Using the Luminous Celestialflare on a regular Level 15 Marshland Riverbeast, with its measly 2000 HP, would be overkill. They needed to see its real potential.
"Only by understanding its full power can we strategize," Eric continued. "We need to find the perfect high-level grinding spot, one neither the Martial Alliance nor the Stygian Alliance would expect."
Following a winding path through the marshland's heart, they stumbled upon a natural amphitheater of muck: the Mirehaven Marshes. Here, hulking Level 20 Marshland Behemoths roamed in packs, mixed with the occasional Level 20 elite Twinhorn Rampager. At the center of this chaotic scene was a small island, home to a behemoth among behemoths: a monstrous Marshland Behemoth, easily the size of a two-story building. Even from a distance, its aura screamed danger: the Rhino Warlord One-Eye.
"Eric, this is suicide!" Tonny exclaimed, his voice tight with fear. The sheer number of Level 20 rhino-like creatures sent chills down his spine.
Marshland Behemoth, common monster, level 20, health 3200.
Twinhorn Rampager, elite monster, level 20, health 17500.
Rhino Warlord One-Eye, special elite, level 20, health 50000.
Tonny wasn't kidding. Even with Eric's agility, getting swarmed meant certain death.
"This is the only way," Eric said, his eyes scanning the Mirehaven Marshes, mapping out a mental path. "I'll draw them out. Tonny, you focus on your timing. As soon as I'm in position, Radiant Ward, then unleash the Luminous Celestialflare."
"Captain, it's too risky!" Ezio cut in, his voice strained. "If we die here, it'll be a huge setback."
Hundreds of monsters surrounded them, each capable of crushing a Level 15 player with a single hit. Elites and special elites only made it worse. At their current level, they were walking targets.
"I have a speed scroll," Eric reassured them, a confident smirk on his face. "I'll be long gone before they even know what hit them. Just make sure you're ready, Tonny. Radiant Ward first, then the Celestialflare. Don't worry, you've got this."
Tonny, despite his nerves, nodded, steeling himself for the challenge.
Eric found a good spot for Tonny and Ezio, then, activating his speed scroll, he shot off towards the unsuspecting Marshland Behemoths.
His presence, a mere Level 12 blip in their Level 20 world, was an immediate provocation. Add to that his bold, unconcealed approach, and it was no surprise that over twenty Marshland Behemoths rose in unison, thundering towards him.
The swamp, while not as bad as water, still slowed movement by 30%. Fortunately, this slowdown was also effective against the Marshland Behemoths, making it impossible for them to catch up to Eric when he activated his speed boost scroll.
Sticking to his planned route, he circled the central island, his goal to draw every Marshland Behemoth away from it. The Rhino Warlord One-Eye, however, was a wild card he couldn't afford to engage. It was too powerful, too unpredictable."By the gods, Eric!" Ezio gasped, his voice a mix of awe and terror.
"His agility is insane," Tonny muttered, eyes glued to Eric's movements. "One wrong step and he's toast."
From their vantage point, they watched as Eric danced a deadly ballet, weaving between charging behemoths, each dodge a hair's breadth from disaster. Yet, there was a precision to his movements, a calculated risk that spoke of mastery, not luck.
Both Tonny and Ezio committed the technique to memory. Watching an expert like Eric in action was priceless, way better than any solo practice. This brief observation was already paying off, sparking a desire to master this evasive dance themselves.
Just as Eric thought he had everything under control, a hulking figure slammed into him from the front: a Twinhorn Rampager, its elite status evident in its ferocity.
Eric managed to parry the blow, but the sheer force sent him flying, landing him unceremoniously at the edge of the small island, right in the path of the slumbering Rhino Warlord One-Eye.
The Warlord, rudely awakened, rose in a fury, its blood-red eyes locking onto Eric. With a deafening roar, it scraped its hooves against the ground, lowering its massive, steel-like horn, and charged.
This was no ordinary charge. This was Furious Blitz, a skill unique to the Rhino Warlord One-Eye, a burst of speed that belied its size. Even the swamp couldn't contain its raw power.
"Bring it on," Eric muttered, knowing dodging was futile. Activating Swordsoar Ascension, he met the charge head-on, his Abyssal Blade flashing.
The impact shuddered through him, but he held firm, the absolute defense of Swordsoar Ascension holding strong. To his surprise, he even managed to inflict 367 damage on the Warlord.
'Tough hide,' he thought, impressed despite himself.
He had no intention of dragging this out. As the Warlord, momentarily stunned, prepared its devastating Warlord's Onslaught, Eric vanished, reappearing 30 meters away behind a bewildered Marshland Behemoth, thanks to Silent Stride.
The Rhino Warlord One-Eye, enraged at its prey's escape, bellowed and charged again. This time, however, without Furious Blitz, its speed was merely on par with its brethren.
"Tonny, now!" Eric called out through the team chat, finally reaching his designated spot.
The unexpected appearance of the Rhino Warlord One-Eye had thrown a wrench into their plans, but the objective remained the same, albeit with a heightened sense of urgency.
"On it!" Tonny replied, his voice electric with anticipation.
A golden aura enveloped Eric, bathing him in protective light. Radiant Ward, one of Mephisto's Guardian Shield's potent skills, rendered him immune to magic damage, reduced physical damage by 80%, and restored 5% of his health every second for 20 precious seconds.
As an added precaution, Eric activated Level 2 Vital Guardian, bolstering his health even further.
He was surrounded, a lone figure amidst a sea of over two hundred enraged rhinos. Even a seasoned Level 20 tank would have crumbled under such an onslaught. But Eric endured. His movements, honed through countless battles, allowed him to evade over 60% of the attacks, while the steady health regeneration from Radiant Ward kept him in the fight.
"Time to shine," Tonny whispered, his voice tight with focus. "Luminous Celestialflare!"
With a final, resounding word, he unleashed the full might of Mephisto's Guardian Shield. His mana, drained to its very core, was a small price to pay.
Immediately, Tonny pointed his staff towards the sky, piercing through and dispersing the clouds above Mirehaven Marshes. The sky trembled, and suddenly a colossal golden magic circle appeared, illuminating the heart of The Silent Marshlands.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
