It was pitch black inside the mine.
Abandoned oil lamps covered in dust and grime could faintly be seen along the walls.
Fortunately, Lan Lianhua was a Nun, and she could use an illumination spell to light up the mine.
This way, they wouldn’t have to stumble forward in the dark.
However, because of the illumination spell, Gu Xin’s group of four currently stood out like fireflies in the night, exceptionally conspicuous.
Before long, pairs of crimson eyes gradually lit up in the darkness ahead.
“They’re Night Bats, and there’s a lot of them,” Gu Xin warned the other three.
Night Bats were Tier 1 monsters, a nocturnal species that survived by sucking blood and were especially sensitive to light.
The Night Bats’ screeches were incredibly ear-piercing as a massive swarm of them flapped their wings and lunged at Gu Xin’s group.
“Hahahaha, bring it on!”
Meng Xiu laughed heartily, heavily thrusting his greatshield forward.
A phantom image of the shield continuously expanded, completely blocking the path ahead.
The Night Bats attacked relentlessly, biting with their teeth and stabbing with their claws, but it was completely useless.
They couldn’t break through the shield’s defense at all.
“A bunch of filthy mongrels dare to stand in our way.”
Wang Quan raised his ruby-inlaid staff, magic power surging as his arrogant words fell.
A magic array pattern materialized in the air above, and raging flames burst forth, transforming into flaming wheels that rolled downward one after another.
Tier 2 Fire Magic — Rolling Fire Wheels.
The terrified and agonized shrieks of the Night Bats rang out endlessly.
The flames burned fiercely, and those caught in the fire wheels were instantly reduced to ash.
“Impressive, Old Wang.
An instant one-shot,” Gu Xin said, giving his bro plenty of face.
“Hmph, in the face of my magic, they’re just some trash bats.” Wang Quan proudly lifted his chin.
Gu Xin smiled in relief, while Lan Lianhua rolled her eyes.
Having dealt with the first wave of attacking monsters, the four-person group continued forward.
However, the number of monsters in this mine was beyond imagination: Night Bats, Mud Hands, Mud Dolls, Mud Slimes, and so on.
“There are simply too many.
No wonder this mine was abandoned.”
Lan Lianhua used a healing spell to restore some of Meng Xiu’s stamina, unable to help but frown.
“It’s not a big deal.
We should be out of here soon.” Wang Quan took a sip of a mana potion.
“No worries, brothers, I can hold the line!” Meng Xiu maintained his sunny, confident expression.
As for Gu Xin…
“Bro, are you done looting?” Wang Quan looked at Gu Xin, who was currently rummaging through the monster corpses.
Yes, Gu Xin was busy looting corpses.
“There isn’t a single intact one.
Old Wang, you’re too heavy-handed.”
Gu Xin stood up and sighed helplessly, casually tossing aside the Mud Doll arm in his hand.
He had just been trying to reattach the Mud Doll’s arm.
Material-type Mud Dolls were Tier 2 monsters rarely seen in the main world.
Among the many monsters that had just attacked, there was only one Mud Doll.
But under a single blast of Wang Quan’s lightning magic, the Mud Doll had been blown apart, its body torn to pieces.
“Blame me, then?
Should I use ice magic next time?” Wang Quan spread his hands innocently.
He was an extremely rare tri-element mage.
Fire, lightning, and ice—this was the root of Wang Quan’s conceit.
Because he was a magic genius.
He possessed three magic elements, and his innate magical talent was exceptionally high.
A Tier 2 spell that would take others several days to barely grasp, or even half a month to successfully cast…
Wang Quan could manage to use it after just half a day.
He was nothing short of a magic prodigy.
In reality, however, Wang Quan didn’t particularly like using ice-attribute magic, because compared to fire and lightning, the power of ice magic was noticeably weaker.
“As long as you understand.
Let’s keep moving.”
Gu Xin clapped the dirt from his hands.
The Mud Doll was simply too severely shattered.
The group continued onward.
About five minutes later, they finally made it out of the mine.
“If we walk about a dozen kilometers in that direction, we should be able to see the royal capital.”
Wang Quan took out the map and checked it again.
*Rumble…*
At that moment, the earth quaked and the mountains shook as a violent rumbling echoed out.
“Hm?”
Gu Xin turned his head and saw that the mountain itself was trembling.
Rocks tumbled and shattered as an earth-yellow ‘giant’ slowly stood up.
It looked like a massive yellow stone statue with a humanoid structure.
On its giant head, two white eyes currently stared down at Gu Xin’s group.
“Is this…
a material-type Stone Golem?
This is an incredibly rare monster.” Gu Xin’s eyes instantly lit up.
Loess Giant, commonly known as a Stone Golem, was a material-type Tier 2 monster, and a very rare one at that.
Strictly speaking, the Loess Giant was the higher-tier evolution of the Mud Doll.
It was said that as a Mud Doll absorbed rocks over the years, it would slowly transform into a Loess Giant.
Whether this rumor was true or not was unknown, but that didn’t matter.
What mattered was that a Loess Giant had appeared right now.
“Ooooh!
This is a big guy!
Brothers, stand behind me!”
Equally thrilled was the Knight, Meng Xiu.
Looking at the Loess Giant that stood nearly ten meters tall, he was practically buzzing with excitement.
With an opponent like this, a punch from it would definitely pack a punch, right?!
*Thud!
Thud!
Thud!*
Heavy footsteps boomed.
The Loess Giant didn’t move fast, as its body was massive and heavy, but a single stride covered a great distance.
“Hey!
You sluggish monster, come hit me!”
Meng Xiu stood ready, raising his shield, not forgetting to verbally taunt the Loess Giant.
Meanwhile, Gu Xin and the other two had already retreated dozens of meters, terrified of being caught in the Loess Giant’s crossfire.
The Loess Giant reached Meng Xiu in just a few steps.
It clenched its rock-formed fist and smashed it down viciously.
*Boom!*
The Loess Giant’s heavy punch slammed into Meng Xiu’s shield.
The terrifying force caused Meng Xiu’s entire body to shudder, veins bulging on the arm gripping the shield’s handle.
Heavy, far too heavy!
Yet, on Meng Xiu’s tense, ashen, and rugged face, a massive grin broke out.
Strong and powerful!
So strong and powerful!!
He was laughing maniacally!
“Hahaha!
What power!
So much power!
Hit me harder, make me feel even better!”
As if it understood Meng Xiu’s words, or perhaps because his maniacal laughter was too grating…
The Loess Giant raised its other arm high and smashed it down heavily.
*Crash!*
The ground quaked violently as Meng Xiu was hammered straight into the earth.
“Flame Spear!”
Wang Quan’s magic was finally complete.
Within the fiery red magic array, a massive flaming spear materialized.
It tore through the air, piercing straight toward the Loess Giant.
Sensing the danger, the Loess Giant abruptly raised its arm horizontally in front of itself.
The Flame Spear struck the Loess Giant, but it failed to pierce through its rocky arm.
“Its defense is too high.” Wang Quan’s gaze narrowed.
*In that case…*
“Detonate!”
*Boom!*
The Flame Spear exploded with a bang.
Caught in the violent fiery blast, the Loess Giant let out a low roar of pain, a portion of its stone arm blown to pieces.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wang Quan used a Summon Card to summon a [Bandit Goblin].
The Bandit Goblin immediately ran over to Meng Xiu’s position, struggled to yank him out of the ground, and dragged him back to Wang Quan and the others.
“May the light of God heal you.”
Lan Lianhua hurriedly used a Holy Light spell to heal him.
Meng Xiu wasn’t in great shape.
The Loess Giant’s heavy blows had been far too crushing, leaving him severely injured.
“Holy hell, its strength is way too high.”
Meng Xiu grimaced.
His body was covered in bruises, yet his face bore an unnatural flush, making him look incredibly bizarre.
“With a Stone Golem’s size and tonnage, its strength is bound to be astonishing.
You don’t need to…”
Gu Xin tried to comfort Meng Xiu, afraid that the Loess Giant had dealt a blow to his confidence.
“Hahaha, but it felt so good!
Getting hit by it felt amazing!
It’s been so long since I was treated so roughly and forcefully.”
Meng Xiu was still laughing maniacally.
Gu Xin choked on his words.
Lan Lianhua’s face twitched, nearly losing her grip on the Holy Light spell.
*Are you out of your fucking mind?*
“Stop your yapping and get up to hold the line.
The big guy is coming,” Wang Quan shouted at Meng Xiu while gathering his magic.
The Loess Giant had already recovered, but it seemed even more enraged now, marching toward them with earth-shaking steps.
If they actually let the Loess Giant reach them, how the hell were they supposed to fight?
“But Meng Xiu can’t hold it off,” Lan Lianhua said, her brows tightly furrowed.
Wasn’t Meng Xiu just pounded into the ground with two punches?
“We should retreat for now.
There’s no need to take it head-on.”
“Hah?
It’s just a Tier 2 monster, and I’m supposed to run from it?”
Wang Quan was extremely displeased.
“My magic can damage it.
As long as Meng Xiu can tank it a little longer, I can dismantle this rock piece by piece.”
Wang Quan’s words weren’t without reason, as his fire magic, Flame Spear, had indeed injured the Loess Giant just now.
If he could just cast his magic a few more times, he would defeat this monster sooner or later.
“Then who’s going to tank it?” Lan Lianhua asked the million-dollar question.
“No problem, brothers, leave it to me!” Meng Xiu stood up and hoisted his greatshield.
“I am the hardest man in the Knight Academy!
For the glory of the Knights!!”
Knight Meng Xiu was peerlessly brave.
Knight Meng Xiu prepared to charge.
Knight Meng Xiu stopped in his tracks.
Because a hand blocked his path.
“Children, it seems you need my help.” Gu Xin revealed a massive smile.
“Big Gu?”
“Such excellent materials can’t be ruined by you guys again.”
Gu Xin stared at the Loess Giant with sparkling eyes.
If such precious materials were shattered by Wang Quan again, Gu Xin would die of heartache.
A Loess Giant was vastly more valuable than a Mud Doll.
Hearing Gu Xin’s words, Wang Quan and the other two were left somewhat speechless.
“Come, Akaza.”
Gu Xin drew a magic card and infused it with mana.
The magic card lit up with a dazzling purple glow, and a summoning array materialized in front of it.
“Purple?
That’s an Epic-grade magic card.”
Lan Lianhua and Meng Xiu were highly surprised.
An Epic-grade magic card—did Gu Xin craft it himself?
If so, that was simply too incredible.
Wang Quan scoffed lightly.
Look at these two underachievers; Gu Xin had other Epic cards, too.
Within the summoning array, a pale-skinned young man gradually appeared.
“Humanoid?”
This time, even Wang Quan was taken aback.
Although they weren’t Card Crafters, they knew that crafted magic cards were fundamentally linked to the materials used during their creation.
So what kind of materials were used for a humanoid Summon Card?
“Big Gu wouldn’t, right?”
Wang Quan frowned.
He knew Gu Xin fairly well and understood his character.
There was no way he would use a ‘human’ as a material.
“Looks like Big Gu’s luck is pretty good, actually managing to craft a humanoid Summon Card.”
Wang Quan clicked his tongue, as if marveling at Gu Xin’s good fortune.
He said this deliberately for Lan Lianhua and Meng Xiu to hear.
Although the probability was extremely low, there had been instances of using magical beast materials and ending up with a humanoid card.
“It seems Brother Gu Xin is a man of great destiny, hahaha,” Meng Xiu immediately believed him, laughing heartily.
“Indeed.”
Lan Lianhua tapped her chin lightly, curiously observing the young man summoned by the card.
His skin was extremely pale, and his hair was a peach-pink.
His body was covered in dark blue tattoos, with blue sclerae and golden pupils.
He wasn’t particularly tall.
On his upper body, he wore only a short purplish-red vest, exposing his muscular physique, while his lower body was clad in white martial arts pants with blood-red prayer beads around his ankles.
Overall, he looked like an incredibly eerie person, both in appearance and aura.
“Lord Gu Xin.”
After being summoned, Akaza knelt on one knee and bowed his head respectfully to Gu Xin.
“Akaza, take it out, but don’t ruin its body.
Its weak point is on the left side of its chest.”
Gu Xin was concise and to the point.
That was where the Loess Giant’s crystal core was located.
As long as the core was knocked out, the Loess Giant would naturally die.
“Understood.”
Akaza slowly stood up and turned to look at the Loess Giant, the corners of his mouth gradually curling up into a highly wicked grin.
*Thump!*
Akaza dropped into a horse stance and thrust his right palm forward.
This was his opening stance.
“Technique Deployment・Destructive Death・Compass Needle!”
Centered around Akaza, a blue snowflake-shaped array formed from battle aura energy expanded outward.
“Ooh~ What vigorous and pure battle aura!”
Meng Xiu’s eyes lit up.
That snowflake-shaped battle aura array was especially beautiful and intricate.
How did this Akaza do it?
The Loess Giant roared.
Its rocky arm clenched into a fist once more and smashed heavily toward Akaza on the ground.
The terrifying force of the swinging punch created friction with the air, almost producing a sonic boom.
Akaza’s grin widened, growing even more wicked.
He leaped high into the air, dodging the attack, his gaze locked tightly onto the left side of the Loess Giant’s chest.
“Destructive Death・Air Type!
Hiyah!!”
Akaza clenched his fists, veins bulging, and continuously threw punches through the air at that spot.
Destructive Death・Air Type: striking the air with his fists to launch battle aura shockwaves as attacks.
Powerful shockwaves shot out one after another, striking the Loess Giant in rapid, lightning-fast succession.
The Loess Giant’s defense was extremely high.
The first shockwave hit, leaving only minor cracks.
The second shockwave widened those cracks, and the third shockwave shattered that spot entirely.
Finally, under the relentless bombardment of the shockwaves, the left side of the Loess Giant’s chest was forcibly blasted through, knocking its crystal core right out.
*Crash.*
The Loess Giant’s massive body toppled over heavily, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and smoke.
“Lord Gu Xin.”
A blur flashed by, and Akaza appeared in front of Gu Xin once more, handing him the earth-yellow energy crystal core.
“Well done, Akaza.”
Gu Xin accepted the pure earth-element crystal core and praised him with a smile.
Akaza remained silent, returning to his unsmiling, serious state.
Gu Xin recalled Akaza back into the card.
Akaza in a combat state versus a non-combat state was practically two different people.
“This Loess Giant will definitely make an excellent card.”
Gu Xin looked at the Loess Giant, in an exceptionally good mood.
Reaping a harvest right after entering the Secret Realm was naturally something worth celebrating.
Today was definitely a good day.