Eunhae approached them with a fierce enthusiasm. Her nunchaku, distinct and far superior to the cheap weapon Feilian wielded, twirled in her hands. With each movement, the weapon emitted a yellowish aura, like a blurred flare trailing through the air.
The wolves circled, their fangs bared in a display of intimidation. But Eunhae remained unfazed. Instead, she flashed a wide grin as she leaped into the air, unleashing her nunchaku in a sweeping arc. Her attack was so swift that even the keenest eyes would struggle to follow her movements.
"One Slap!" she exclaimed, though it was unclear whether this was the name of her skill or something else entirely.
The nunchaku struck one of the beasts with tremendous force, sending it knocked to the ground, utterly helpless. The impact was so powerful that Eunhae nearly flattened the entire pack of wolves by herself, dispatching them with ease. Her swift, fluid movements and mastery of the nunchaku left no doubt—she was a seasoned Martial Artist, and Feilian was certain of it.
"Even with a single strike, their HP plummets," Feilian observed, analyzing the scene from a distance. "Common nunchaku couldn't inflict so much damage."
Eunhae unleashed her full potential, her acrobatic maneuvers mesmerizing to behold. She evades the wolves' ferocious snarls and lunges, their attempts to harm her proving futile. Instead, they were forced to endure her relentless barrage of strikes.
She epitomized the balance between defense and counter-attack, her nunchaku spinning around her in a dizzying array of unpredictable styles. It wasn't just her skill that gave her the upper hand—it was the sheer power of her nunchaku, amplifying her damage to the next levels, allowing her to end the fight faster.
"Take this, Triple Shot!" she shouted, her voice brimming with confidence. The nunchaku whirled from one hand to the other with increasing speed, the weapon unleashed a devastating swing that connected with all five wolves simultaneously.
Without missing a beat, Eunhae followed up with another series of attacks, each one delivered with precision and force. For her final blow, she reversed the direction of her nunchaku, swinging it from right to left with a devastating impact. The strike echoed across the area, kicking up clouds of dust as the wolves were sent crashing down and lifeless.
Crouching low, Eunhae gripped her nunchaku with both hands. In one swift motion, she rose to her feet, her eyes alight with renewed determination. "Is that all? I expected more from level 10 monsters!" she scoffed, her voice laced with disappointment and challenge.
"Most impressive," Feilian remarked, approaching her with a cautious, almost suspicious gaze. "Common weapons don't deal that kind of damage. You do realize that equipment degradation is a thing, right?"
Eunhae's face brightened, her smile unwavering. "You noticed, even though my weapon's display is custom? You've got a sharp eye."
"It's hard to miss," he replied, stopping just beside her. "You're not a newbie, are you?"
With a casual twirl of her nunchaku, she let out a soft chuckle. "Caught red-handed, huh? But then again, we all have our secrets, don't we? I'm sure you're no different."
She stepped forward, her movements deliberate, until she stood directly in front of Lin Tian, locking eyes with him. "I had a hunch when I saw you here. No true beginner knows about this spot to grind so much EXP, and even fewer could take down those wolves at level one."
"Which is why I used this Epic Gear to fight them," Eunhae explained. "I knew a weapon from trials wouldn't be enough. I'm at level 8 right now. Effective, isn't it?"
Her analytical skills were sharp, and her acrobatic prowess was undeniable. Yet, something about her technique stirred a sense of familiarity in Lin Tian, reminding him of someone he once knew. "No, it couldn't be," he mused. "She was a Bo Staff user."
"Yes. Yes, it is," Feilian sighed, acknowledging her point. "I'm sure the devs put these high-tier items in the game to capitalize on situations like this. But it looks like we have company."
His gaze shifted, and Eunhae followed, both turning toward the bushes in front of them. Several Ash Wolves emerged, their attention drawn to something deeper in the forest. Between the dense trees, two bluish lights began to glow, growing brighter and more distinct with each passing second. Whatever it was, it was larger than the wolves.
Lin Tian's brows furrowed as he solidified his stance, the tension in the air thickening. "I never expected it to exist here. Brace yourself," he warned, his voice low and steady, ready for whatever was approaching from the shadows.
Eunhae's eyes widened in shock as the massive Ash Wolf emerged from the darkness. Its fur bristled like porcupine quills, each one sharp enough to tear through skin, and its fangs dripped with a mix of blood and saliva. Every step it took sent a cold shiver down her spine, her heart racing as fear enveloped her.
[Hidden Boss: Ash Wolf Sentinel (Level 20)]
"You can't be serious! A boss like this, so close to Newbarin?" she gasped, unaware that she had instinctively retreated.
The confidence she once exuded evaporated in an instant, replaced by sheer panic. "Its level is way out of our league. Should we run?"
As the Ash Wolf Sentinel halted, a transparent barrier materialized around the area, trapping them inside. Feilian quickly checked the channel code and grimaced. "We can't," he said, his voice heavy with realization. "We've been transported to a special room. There's no way out."
The situation worsened, and Eunhae shook her head, still in disbelief. "That means..."
"We either die or win this," Lin Tian uttered, meeting her gaze with an intense look. "There is no other option."
Before they could say anything more, the monster shattered the tension between them with a deafening howl. The sound was so lethal that it forced both adventurers to cover their ears, leaving them momentarily immobilized.
Taking advantage, several wolves lunged at Lin Tian, who could do nothing. "Shit, this is bad!" he cursed as he felt their sharp fangs sink into his flesh.
"No!" Eunhae screamed, her voice filled with desperation. As soon as she lifted her hand from her ears, she felt the aftermath of the howl—her HP depleted, dropping by almost 15%.
Though the wolves tore at Lin Tian's clothes and skin, the damage appeared as a holographic manifestation, not actually destroying his attire. Yet, he could feel his health decreased rapidly, the relentless assault overwhelming his defenses.
"How much longer is that beast going to keep this up?" he muttered, recognizing that even as a tank, he was vulnerable to the Ash Wolves' onslaught.
Suddenly, a powerful strike blasted the wolves away from Lin Tian, forcing the boss to cease its ear-splitting howl. It was Eunhae, who had leapt into action despite the toll it took on her. Her HP was now down to 40%. "One of us has to do this, right?" she panted, her breath labored.
Feilian couldn't let her take the brunt of it alone. He regained his footing and stepped forward. "Thanks, but stay behind me! I'll draw its attention."
At this rate, he realized he might have to use his Epic Gear to defeat the Ash Wolf Sentinel. Despite six years of experience in this realm, he'd never faced a boss on the first continent, and his lack of knowledge about its skills and weaknesses put them at a severe disadvantage.
[Epic Gear: Weapon (Martial Artist)]
[Open]
[Access denied in the middle of a boss fight.]
Lin Tian struck in surprise as the notification flashed before him, a wave of anxiety crashing over him. "Of course, how could I forget that?" he whispered, his gaze shifting back to the Ash Wolf Sentinel, which was now about to charge.
"What do we do now?" he thought, their chances of survival seemed bleak. But there was no time to dwell on it—the boss was coming, and they had to act fast.