Su Bai stepped out of the cave, taking a deep breath of the fresh air outside. After the intense battle and the strange revelation of the illusion inside the cave, he still had the mission to find the rare Coral Snake. With his goal clear, he ventured back into the Dark Forest.
As he walked through the dense foliage, he noticed how the atmosphere felt more hostile. Creatures lurking in the shadows seemed to watch him from a distance. Although he had taken a rare health and energy potion, the accumulated fatigue from the previous battle weighed heavily on his mind.
Along the way, Su Bai tested his strength against some common and elite snakes, assessing his progress. With each strike, he felt his mastery over the Celestial CloudSword improve, and although he had not yet found the rare Coral Snake, he felt prepared for any encounter that might come his way.
However, after nearly an hour of searching in vain, Su Bai began to wonder if the rare Coral Snake had already been eliminated. Could it be that the rare-level Coral Snake he was searching for no longer existed in this area? His thoughts started to wander, but soon something else caught his attention as he continued forward.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, Su Bai noticed the trees becoming scarcer, and soon he found himself facing a vast, desolate plain. The air grew warmer, and on the horizon, a colossal sandstorm loomed, covering the sky like an impenetrable wall.
The storm whirled furiously, and Su Bai felt a nearly tangible pressure pushing him back. Grains of sand pelted the ground forcefully, forming an impenetrable barrier that separated the known world from the unknown.
"This seems to be the limit of Novice Village…" he muttered to himself, realizing that he wasn't yet ready to cross that threshold.
It was the first time he had encountered such a clear boundary in the game. It was obvious that this was not a place he could venture into without being better prepared or meeting certain requirements. The distant roar of an unknown creature echoed beyond the storm, sending a chill down his spine.
"What the hell is this?" Su Bai whispered, stepping back, his heart racing.
"This game never ceases to surprise me…" he thought, gazing at the storm one last time before turning away, opting not to take the risk.
He knew that, for now, his main mission was to find the rare Coral Snake and complete his task. There were still many things to discover in the area he was in. His mission wasn't over yet, but this encounter with the world's boundary reminded him that there was much more beyond what he had explored so far.
With that thought, Su Bai turned back and re-entered the forest, determined to continue his search. He knew he needed to focus on what was in front of him, but the vision of the sandstorm remained etched in his mind.
Leaves crunched beneath his feet, and a distant howl broke the stillness of the environment. In the distance, he heard the characteristic growl of a pack of wolves. It was the sound of a hunting pack.
"Well, if I don't find the snake I need, at least I can keep practicing," Su Bai murmured to himself, gripping the hilt of his sword.
Su Bai advanced cautiously, his steps barely a whisper among the dry leaves, while his eyes constantly scanned the pack. The Bloodthirsty Wolves were engrossed in their feast, devouring the remains of a fallen deer. However, every now and then, one of them would lift its head, sniffing the air suspiciously.
The red eyes of the beasts gleamed with uncontrollable ferocity. The pack leader, much larger than the others, vigilantly watched the surroundings. Su Bai knew instantly that he couldn't afford a single mistake: any wrong move would make him their next prey.
Bloodthirsty Wolf Leader (Leader)
Level: 8HP: 10,000Physical Attack: 352Skill: Wolf's Fury (Increases physical attack by 20% for 20 seconds)
Bloodthirsty Wolf (Common Wolves)
Level: 7HP: 8,500Physical Attack: 290Skill: Wolf's Fury (Increases physical attack by 15% for 20 seconds)
Su Bai decided that the best strategy would be to eliminate the smaller wolves first before focusing on the leader.
Wolf 1 – Level 7 (HP: 8,500):
The first wolf was the quickest to attack, lunging at Su Bai with its jaws wide open. Su Bai met it with a quick slash of his sword.
750 HP damage (remaining 7,750 HP).
The wolf retreated, injured but not defeated.
Wolf 2 – Level 7 (HP: 8,500):
Another wolf attacked from the side. Su Bai blocked with his sword, deflecting the attack and countering with a direct strike to the animal's chest.
850 HP damage (remaining 7,650 HP).
The second wolf staggered but quickly recovered.
Skill Activated: Mystic Frozen Cloud
Su Bai activated his Mystic Frozen Cloud, coating his sword in a layer of ice. With his next attack, he struck the first wolf in its weak spot, on its side.
1,200 HP · Freezing Critical (remaining 6,550 HP).
The wolf began moving more slowly, weakened by the cold.
The other three wolves pounced on him in a savage frenzy. Their razor-sharp fangs found the gaps in Su Bai's armor, tearing through his left arm's protection. Two managed to sink their teeth into his sides—one on the left and the other on the right. Though his armor protected him partially, the third wolf found a weak spot, ripping into his left arm. The pain was immediate, like fire cutting through his skin, and the loss of protection made the attacks even more painful.
Damage taken: -435 HP in total.Su Bai: 1,065 HP / 1,500 HP.
The bite echoed in his mind, the pain surging through his body like lightning. Despite everything, Su Bai held on, ready to strike back.
Without wasting time, Su Bai analyzed the weakest wolf's movements, waiting for the right moment. When the wolf lowered its guard, Su Bai spun on his right foot, raising his sword in an upward arc.
The blade of his Celestial CloudSword sliced cleanly through the animal's ribs, causing blood to splatter on the ground.
2,000 HP · Weak Spot Critical (remaining 4,550 HP).
Taking advantage of the wolf's imbalance, Su Bai moved quickly, aiming for the animal's neck in a precise diagonal cut. The impact was devastating, and the wolf collapsed heavily to the ground.4,550 HP (remaining 0 HP).Bloodthirsty Wolf #1 has been defeated.
The pack leader roared furiously upon seeing Su Bai kill one of its wolves and activated its Wolf's Fury skill, increasing its speed and damage.
The leader wolf lunged at Su Bai with immense strength, and Su Bai barely had time to raise his sword in defense. The impact of the bite made him stumble several steps back, feeling a sharp pain in his left arm.
Damage taken: -200 HP.Su Bai: 865 HP / 1,500 HP.
His breathing quickened, and for a moment, a flash of doubt crossed his mind. Could he keep up with such ferocious attacks? Clenching his teeth, he pushed those thoughts aside. "No time to hesitate," he told himself, preparing for the next onslaught.
One of the wolves took advantage of the opening created by the leader and, with a fierce growl, lunged directly at Su Bai's unprotected left arm. Its fangs sank deeply into his flesh, tearing a cry of pain from Su Bai. He felt the warmth of his own blood soaking the torn sleeve of his armor as the wolf pulled violently.
290 HP damage.Su Bai: 575 HP / 1,500 HP.
The leader wolf attacked again, but this time Su Bai was ready, anticipating another fierce strike. He raised his sword and countered.
1,150 HP damageLeader Wolf: 8,850 HP / 10,000 HP.
Seeing that the leader was stronger and more cunning than expected, Su Bai decided to use Endless Icy Cloud, slowing the wolf's movements.
Taking advantage of the slowdown, Su Bai delivered a direct blow to the leader wolf's abdomen, targeting its weak point.
2,500 HP · Weak Spot Critical.Leader Wolf: 6,350 HP / 10,000 HP.
Seizing the moment, Su Bai followed up with several consecutive strikes:
1,200 HP1,200 HPLeader Wolf: 3,950 HP / 10,000 HP.
With the leader wolf still vulnerable, Su Bai delivered the final blow, striking its heart directly.
3,950 HP · Fatal Critical.Leader Wolf: 0 HP / 10,000 HP.Bloodthirsty Wolf Leader has been defeated.
With the leader defeated, the remaining three wolves froze. Their eyes, once full of rage, now showed a clear flash of fear. For a moment, Su Bai watched them hesitate, their bodies tense as if evaluating whether to continue the fight or flee. Finally, one of them let out a desperate howl, and as if on cue, they all turned to escape. But Su Bai, sword in hand, wasn't about to let them run.
Su Bai repeated a similar strategy with the remaining wolves, focusing on their weaknesses and using strategic blocks to counter their attacks. This time, it was easier because the wolves had lost the will to fight. Each wolf fell one by one.
Bloodthirsty Wolf #2 (Level 7, HP: 7,650):
7,650 HP in accumulated strikes.Bloodthirsty Wolf #2 has been defeated.
Bloodthirsty Wolf #3 (Level 7, HP: 8,500):
8,500 HP in accumulated strikes.Bloodthirsty Wolf #3 has been defeated.
Bloodthirsty Wolf #4 (Level 7, HP: 8,500):
8,500 HP in accumulated strikes.Bloodthirsty Wolf #4 has been defeated.
Total experience gained: 1,700 EXP.
Su Bai checked his experience bar and noticed that he needed 1,500 EXP to level up to level 8.
Total EXP: 3,500 EXP / 5,000 EXP.
"It's becoming a habit to barely escape from these fights," Su Bai thought as he pulled out the last healing and energy potions from his inventory. He drank them quickly, feeling the warmth of the healing potion course through his body, partially closing his wounds, and the energy potion slightly renewing his strength.
Even so, Su Bai knew he had no more potions left, meaning his next encounter would have to be handled with much more caution.
Su Bai collected the rewards the wolves had left behind: a total of 20 copper coins and 4 wolf pelts. These items might come in handy for future quests.
Su Bai sighed as he surveyed the battlefield around him. He was exhausted, and although his wounds had been partially healed, they still ached. He knew that without more supplies, it would be unwise to continue searching for the rare Coral Snake.
He decided to head back to Eldoria Village to resupply and better prepare himself before facing the next challenge. There was still much to do, but he couldn't afford another mistake like this. With weary steps, he began his journey back, knowing that next time, he would have to be more prepared.