’Sickness Village... This place sounds dangerous.’
Shen Xing gazed at the notification that had flashed by, lost in thought.
As usual, he then logged into the forums and did a quick search. Soon enough, he understood.
When Lords explored the Fog, they would encounter all sorts of special areas, which could be thought of as open-world dungeons.
These areas were often teeming with monsters, some even housing terrifying creatures, making them extremely dangerous.
But high risk also meant high reward.
If one could conquer these areas, they could often obtain a great deal of treasure.
High Level Unit Nests, Elite Souls, equipment, Advanced Building Blueprints, and so on...
It was said that one new player had cleared a special area early on and obtained an Elite Three-Star Soldier Type: the Dark Elf Archer.
Relying on this group of Elite soldiers, he wiped out a massive number of surrounding monsters and soared to prominence.
Shen Xing could only scoff at that.
’Stories like killing a boss, getting some heaven-defying treasure, and reaching the pinnacle of life are, after all, the exception, not the rule.’
The vast majority of newcomers who encountered such a special area and recklessly charged in would definitely get a harsh lesson from the monsters inside, becoming just another statistic among countless accidental deaths.
This world was too dangerous; one had to be cautious, then even more cautious.
He had a Beastman Infantry lift him up.
Using the improved vantage point, he began to observe every corner of the village.
Just then, Shen Xing saw a large number of dark figures gathered in an open area in the center of the village.
Unlike the Lost Ones in the Fog, these figures didn’t look like monsters. In fact, they seemed more like humans.
They were draped in black robes, kneeling on the ground in unison, and continuously praying to a tall, dark-red statue.
Nearby, two other dark figures holding Bone Staffs and wearing Feather Crowns, resembling Shamans, were chanting something.
The aura of every figure was profound, and a few of them even felt more terrifying than Hellish Roar.
Shen Xing looked from afar, and information about the monsters instantly appeared before his eyes.
[Plague Believers]
[Level: 7]
[Potential: Normal ★★★]
[Attributes: Power 27, Spirit 35, Agility 21, Constitution 23]
[Skills: Corrosive Liquid Spray (Spits corrosive mucus, dealing continuous corrosive damage to the target and stacking ’Plague’ layers.)]
[Talent: Plague Body (All attacks apply 1 layer of the Plague effect.)]
[Bonds - Plague Messenger (Active): When more than 10 Plague Believers are present, HP +10%.
When more than 30 Plague Believers are present, Plague damage increases by 20%.]
...
[Plague Priest]
[Level: 7]
[Potential: Elite ★★]
[Attributes: Power 48, Spirit 59, Agility 37, Constitution 38]
[Skills: Dark Bomb (Wields the Magic Staff to coalesce a Dark Bomb, dealing massive Magic Damage to enemies).
Plague Hurricane (Wields the Magic Staff to summon a Plague Hurricane, damaging enemies within a 5-meter diameter for 2 seconds).]
[Talent: Plague Body]
[Bonds - Plague Messenger (Active)]
...
Shen Xing’s eyelid twitched violently. The village was actually filled with monsters all above Level 5.
Just by looking, he could see at least several dozen of them, including quite a few Elite One-Star and Elite Two-Star monsters.
Even more outrageous, he also spotted a dark shadow in the air, flying through the thick Fog.
’Can’t afford to mess with them! Definitely can’t!’
"We’re pulling back. Change direction."
Shen Xing gave the order decisively, commanding his team to retreat.
But at that moment, one of the Plague Priests seemed to have noticed something.
It stopped chanting, raised its head, and its gaze fell upon the direction the Beastman Infantry were leaving.
In the churning Fog, an orange ball of light was moving rapidly.
The Plague Priest’s pupils instantly turned blood-red. It raised the Bone Staff in its hand and let out a series of urgent cries.
The Plague Believers who had been kneeling on the ground raised their heads one after another, their gazes locking onto the direction in which Shen Xing and his men were fleeing.
It was like he had kicked a hornet’s nest. Dozens of black-robed figures began to pursue them with shambling steps.
"Run!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Xing immediately ordered the Beastmen to pick up the pace.
The Beastmen also sensed the danger. Carrying their Lord in his wheelchair, they began to sprint through the Fog.
Fortunately, this group of Plague Believers moved very slowly.
It wasn’t long before they were left far behind.
Unfortunately, a dark shadow from the sky was giving chase.
The shadow was extremely fast and unaffected by the Fog.
A prickling sensation washed over his back, as if he had been locked onto by some powerful predator.
Shen Xing looked back. Through the churning Fog, a monster with a wingspan of over three meters was rapidly closing in!
Its bald head was completely featherless, and with its sharp talons and long, hooked beak, it looked incredibly dangerous!
[Dark Vulture]
[Level: 5]
[Potential: Elite ★★]
[Attributes: Power 36, Spirit 29, Agility 41, Constitution 34]
[Skills: Dive Attack (Locks onto a target from high altitude and dives at high speed, dealing massive damage to enemies in its path.)
Giant Wing Sweep (Whips its wings around, dealing Heavy Strike damage to surrounding targets and knocking them back.)]
[Talent: Carrion Pecking (Damage dealt to injured targets is increased by 30%.)]
[Bonds - Dark Vulture (Inactive)]
...
A Two-Star Elite Monster, and a Flying Species to boot. This was almost the strongest enemy he had encountered since entering the game.
Shen Xing quickly weighed the strength of both sides in his mind.
But before he could think any further, the monster suddenly flapped its wings and dove at them like an attack helicopter!
—Dive Attack!
It closed in, extended its talons, and grabbed a Beastman’s shoulder!
BANG!
A Tungsten Steel Great Axe suddenly struck from the side with terrifying force, viciously hacking into its wing.
Hellish Roar’s strike was enhanced by Gale Step’s 100% critical hit effect—it was both fast and brutal!
SKREEE—
The Dark Vulture shrieked in pain. Blood and feathers sprayed through the air as it crashed to the ground, tumbling over a dozen times!
Shen Xing rejoiced. ’My Beastman bro’s War Axe is no joke.’
Although there was a one-star difference, Hellish Roar was his top ace, having been enhanced twice. Its combat power was not much less than this vulture’s.
"Get it!"
’Kick it while it’s down!’
At Shen Xing’s command, he simultaneously pulled out his Mechanical Crossbow and squeezed the trigger!
SWISH! SWISH SWISH SWISH!
Three or four Bone Arrows shot out, striking the vulture’s back and burying themselves deep in its flesh.
Except for the Beastman carrying Shen Xing, the other infantry had already swarmed it, their Stone Axes raining down like hailstones!
SKREE! SKREE!
The vulture screeched incessantly as it was hacked at, blood splashing everywhere.
But it was an Elite Two-Star creature, after all. It quickly recovered its bearings, spread its wings, and spun around violently!
WHOOSH!
A powerful gale swept out. The surrounding Beastman Infantry were sent flying as if they’d been hit by a door panel.
—Giant Wing Sweep.
A vicious glint flashed in the Dark Vulture’s eyes. It wanted to press the attack, but seeing Hellish Roar charging at it again, a trace of fear welled up in its heart.
It flapped its wings, preparing to rise into the air first, seize its home-field advantage, and then slowly hunt these creatures down.
But at that moment, an invisible giant hand descended from the sky, smashing down on its head.
The Dark Vulture was sent stumbling by the blow.
Seizing this brief opportunity, Hellish Roar, having activated Gale Step, had already pounced. It grabbed the vulture’s wing and slammed it hard against the ground.
It still wanted to resist, but Hellish Roar was already mounted on its back.
Its left hand clamped down on the vulture’s nape, while its right hand swung the War Axe wildly at its head!
In the blink of an eye, it had hacked the Dark Vulture into a bloody mess, its life force fading.
In the distance, the group of Plague Believers led by the Plague Priest was anxiously rushing over.
But they weren’t fast enough. They could only watch helplessly as the Dark Vulture was surrounded by a mob of burly Beastmen.
SKREEEEE—
Following a final, agonizing shriek, the area fell silent once more.
By the time they arrived, there was no sign of the Beastmen or the vulture.
All that remained was a floor of shattered feathers and residual blood.
ROAR...
The group of Plague Believers stared in the direction the Beastman Legion had gone, letting out continuous low roars. Anger flashed in their eerie green pupils.
...
...
Half an hour later, Shen Xing, leading his six Beastmen, stepped into the range of the firelight.
A warm aura washed over him. Two Arrow Towers stood guard on either side of the village entrance like sentinels.
The rows of black wooden houses had seemed dilapidated before, but now they felt incredibly welcoming.
Although they had encountered some surprises on this trip, they had thankfully returned to their territory with everyone intact, and they had even brought back the massive vulture carcass.
The creature weighed over a hundred pounds, enough to provide this group of Beastmen with meat for several days.
Of course, the meat on the vulture wasn’t the most important thing; what mattered was the loot it dropped.
Inside Shen Xing’s backpack lay a fist-sized, bright soul and a light, white feather.
[Bright Elite Soul]
[Type: Advancement Item]
[Effect: Can advance a Normal ★★★ Soldier Type to Elite Level, or raise the star level of an Elite creature.
Probabilities are: 65% (Normal → Elite ★), 60% (Elite ★ → Elite ★★), 55% (Elite ★★ → Elite ★★★)]
...
[Hope’s Feather]
[Quality: Blue (Excellent)]
[Type: Special Item]
[Effect: Activate the power within the Feather to grant oneself a temporary Flying Ability. Lasts 60 seconds, cooldown 5 minutes.]
...