Chapter 12: I Will Make a Move!
After obtaining the basic information on the mutated crocodile, Angela immediately changed weapons and tools.
"Open cart number 9, each of the scavengers gets a short bow."
"Your next task is to do everything you can to shoot out its two eyes."
"Old John, grab the oil canisters and find an opportunity to throw them, aiming for its head if possible."
"Everyone else, avoid its front; its turning ability is weak, so be sure to dodge its attacks."
"And absolutely don't stand behind it; the tail's attacks are just as deadly..."
After assigning tasks, Angela picked up a metal longbow, skillfully nocked an arrow, aimed at the charging mutated crocodile, ignoring the corpses of its companions, adjusted her breathing slightly, and released the arrow.
With a sharp "whoosh".
The speeding arrow struck the mutated crocodile's head precisely, sending a splash of blood into the air.
The mutated crocodile, hit by the arrow, roared angrily, shook its head as if nothing had happened, and continued charging.
However, its blood-colored vertical pupils seemed to have locked onto Angela.
Mutated creatures are fearless, but they can instinctively identify who poses the greatest threat.
Gently patting her warhorse, Angela took the initiative to ride forward, simultaneously nocking another arrow, demonstrating her exquisite riding and archery skills.
The second arrow also struck the mutated crocodile's head precisely.
The mutated crocodile was fully enraged by Angela and roared as it chased after her, drawn away from the convoy.
The scavengers took the opportunity to nock arrows, but their archery was nowhere near as accurate as Angela's.
Most of the arrows struck the thick, hard hide of the mutated crocodile, barely piercing it, with a few even bouncing off.
Old John seized the moment, leading Leon forward, carrying two black ceramic jars as they moved toward the mutated crocodile.
Angela, atop her horse, looked at the approaching mutated crocodile, her emerald green eyes showing a hint of seriousness.
She adjusted her breathing, aiming again before shooting.
Thwack!
Blood and muddy fluid sprayed out from the mutated crocodile's exploded eye socket.
It let out a shrill howl as one of its eyes was suddenly blinded, causing its massive body to momentarily freeze in place before recovering after several breaths.
The mutated crocodile was far more deeply infected than the other mutated creatures.
Angela, with her keen eyesight, clearly saw tiny flesh tendrils rapidly growing and spreading from the mutated crocodile's blinded eye, seemingly repairing or deeply contaminating it.
Old John, seizing the opportunity, adjusted his steps, and as the mutated crocodile prepared to move again, he nodded toward Leon:
"Throw it and run, be sure not to get any on yourself."
"Aim for the head if possible, but if you can't, hit the limbs."
Leon, feeling a bit anxious, gulped and quickly nodded.
The massive mutated crocodile, with a nearly half-meter-thick body, charged at Angela.
The half-elf knight was well-prepared, controlling her beloved warhorse to swerve to the right and gallop away.
She didn't put too much distance between herself and the crocodile, preventing it from changing targets or direction.
The sudden turn caused the mutated creature to fling half its body into the mud.
Its two front claws gripped the ground tightly, while its hind legs kicked forcefully into the muddy swamp.
Several black ceramic jars flew through the air.
They shattered on the mutated crocodile's back, coating it with thick, dark alchemical oil.
With a hint of regret in her eyes, Angela turned, nocked an arrow, and fired.
A streak of fiery light shot out from the oil-soaked arrowhead, precisely hitting the mutated crocodile's back.
Fierce flames erupted with crackling sounds.
"Roar...!"
The deep roar mixed with the crackling of the flames, becoming particularly chaotic.
The mutated crocodile thrashed wildly like a burning torch, rolling and struggling to shake off the engulfing flames.
This special alchemical oil was specifically prepared by Butler Ralph to deal with the swamp crocodiles.
Its adhesive properties were incredibly strong, continuing to burn even in water, capable of burning through the swamp crocodiles' skin and scorching their bones.
However, what could kill an ordinary swamp crocodile couldn't kill a mutated one.
The mutated crocodile's vitality was astonishingly strong. Even while burning in flames, it tenaciously continued its pursuit of Angela.
Four or five scavengers kept shooting arrows, but their accuracy was so poor that it felt like nothing more than a scratch in Matthew's eyes.
The mutated crocodile appeared heavily wounded, but under Matthew's gaze, its health bar still showed 10 points!
And it was still regenerating!
Although the regeneration rate wasn't high, this terrifying vitality reminded Matthew of high-tier mutated creatures from the past!
The mutated crocodile displayed incredible endurance, and Angela, with her superb riding skills, had been entangled with it for several minutes.
However, the muddy terrain was treacherous, and her horse couldn't perform at full speed, allowing the mutated crocodile to close in.
The scavengers' attacks and harassment didn't have much effect.
Old John launched two strong attacks, barely avoiding being swatted by the crocodile's swinging tail.
Leon made two sudden strikes but failed to cause any real trouble for the mutated crocodile, as even the bleeding wounds sprouted clusters of disgusting tentacles.
Butler Ralph noticed Angela was about to fall into danger and instinctively furrowed his brow.
The noise behind her was growing louder, and Angela knew the battle plan had failed.
The mutated creature's incredible vitality and defense exceeded her expectations, and the others' attacks couldn't relieve the pressure she was under.
Once her horse became exhausted, she would inevitably have to engage the mutated crocodile in close combat.
"I can't wait any longer!"
Just as Angela prepared to grit her teeth and fight head-on, out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the lord, who had been seated on the wagon, had risen to his feet once more.
He raised his red staff and, as the mutated crocodile charged toward her, began chanting in a low voice:
"Magic Missile!"
A brilliant blue light gathered at the tip of the staff.
The magic missile, trailing flames, shot toward the mutated crocodile.
With incredible penetration, they blasted through the gray-black scales, tearing open a massive gash.
One, two, three!
The burning head of the mutated crocodile was torn into several pieces.
Its massive body, as if it had lost control, suddenly collapsed into the soft mud.
Its wild charging stance came to an abrupt halt.
Old John, who had been chasing after it, gasped in shock, inhaling the thick, bloody stench in the air. He looked at the lord, who had nonchalantly sat back down, with a gaze full of reverence.
The lord had effortlessly killed two such terrifying mutated creatures, as if it were as simple as breathing.
This filled him with deep respect and gave him some new ideas.
"Perhaps the lord's territory would be a safer place to live!"
Leon stared blankly at the approaching mutated crocodile, sensing the terrifying destructive power and vitality within its massive body.
"Is this the power of an arcanist?"
"Such power..."
Matthew's casual defeat of the mutated crocodile ignited cheers of joy from the soldiers, who looked at him with respect, many shouting in victory.
This is the power of an arcanist!