As Su Bai advanced, he began to notice small details in the environment. The air felt heavier, and the sunlight, barely filtering through the treetops, seemed to dim. The Shadowy Forest was more restless than usual. The shadows seemed to shift around him, and the sound of broken branches and dry leaves underfoot mingled with whispers he couldn't quite identify.
Though he saw no direct threat, the forest gave him the feeling that he was being watched. In these past few hours, this game had forcefully taught him that anything could happen.
Su Bai decided to stay alert as he moved forward. In an environment like this, any unusual sound could be the prelude to an attack. He kept his hand near the hilt of the Celestial CloudSword, ready to draw it at any moment.
As his feet crushed the dry leaves underfoot, he suddenly heard a louder crack. Instinctively, he stopped, tensing all his muscles. From the bushes, a pair of red eyes stared at him with fierce intensity. Without hesitation, Su Bai activated his exploration ability.
[Exploration Activated]
Spectral Fox
[Level: 7]
[HP: 6800]
[Physical Attack: 190]
[Ability: Shadow Camouflage(Allows the Spectral Fox to become invisible for brief periods, increasing its evasion by 20%)]
[Ability: Surprise Attack (Increases damage by 30% when attacking from surprise)]
Su Bai studied the interface carefully. The Spectral Fox wasn't an opponent to be taken lightly. Its ability to turn invisible and launch surprise attacks made it especially dangerous. He knew he had to stay sharp, as one mistake could mean a critical strike from the fox.
Keeping his sword steady, Su Bai decided not to wait any longer. He knew that if he didn't take the initiative, the fox would use the shadows to disappear and strike from where he least expected it.
The Spectral Fox crouched in the shadows, its eyes gleaming with malice, barely visible in the dim light of the forest. But Su Bai had already detected its presence, his trained senses anticipating the attack. He wouldn't give it the chance to strike first. With a decisive move, Su Bai swung the Celestial CloudSword, its blade coated with a thin layer of ice thanks to the Infinite Icy Cloud, and launched a direct attack.
The sword's edge glimmered as it cut through the air, and before the fox could fade into the shadows, Su Bai struck its side with precision, destabilizing it.
________________________________________
Damage dealt: -1500 HP
Spectral Fox: 5300 / 6800 HP
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With his opponent momentarily off balance, Su Bai pressed the advantage. Rather than giving it time to disappear into the shadows, he sidestepped, positioning himself strategically between the fox and the surrounding vegetation that might have offered it cover. His eyes never left the fox's movements, reading its intent to strike. At the right moment, the fox lunged at him, but Su Bai spun on his heel, executing a defensive pirouette that left his enemy unbalanced.
With a single fluid motion, his sword descended once more, this time with the precision of a master who perfectly understood the weaknesses of his prey. Su Bai struck the fox's side, inflicting a deep wound that weakened its ability to react.
Damage dealt: -2000 HP
Spectral Fox: 3300 / 6800 HP
The Spectral Fox, wounded and cornered, decided to use its special ability, trying to blend into the forest shadows to hide and ambush Su Bai from another angle. However, Su Bai, with the experience gained from previous battles, already anticipated this strategy.
When the fox tried to disappear into the shadows, activating its Infinite Frost Cloud ability so it could increase its speed with Mist Step, Su Bia ended up wrapping herself in an icy cloud that cooled the air around her, slowing down the enemy's movements and revealing her silhouette in the darkness.
Su Bai didn't let the opportunity slip away and launched a devastating attack while the fox was still trying to relocate within the shadows.
Damage dealt: -2500 HP · Critical
Spectral Fox: 800 / 6800 HP
Weakened and slowed, the fox tried to launch a desperate counterattack. Its claws swiped at Su Bai in a quick motion, searching for a weak spot. This time, the attack connected, tearing through Su Bai's armor, and he barely managed to block part of the blow with his sword.
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Damage received: -250 HP
Su Bai: 920 / 1900 HP
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A sharp pain shot through Su Bai's side, but he wasn't intimidated. He knew the fox was at its limit. Wasting no time, Su Bai closed the distance with an agile leap and delivered a final downward slash, aimed straight at the fox's heart. The creature let out a low whimper before collapsing, defeated.
Damage dealt: -800 HP
Spectral Fox: 0 / 6800 HP
[The Spectral Fox has been defeated.]
With a deep breath, Su Bai lowered his sword and observed the fox's lifeless body. The fight had been quick, but every second had required his full attention and skill. He quickly checked his health bar and realized that he hadn't suffered serious damage during the battle—an indication that his skill and control over the Celestial CloudSword had improved significantly.
Su Bai: 920 / 1900 HP
The battle wasn't just a physical victory; it was also a mental one. He knew that with every encounter, he was refining his technique and that soon he would face even more powerful enemies.
At the same time as the Spectral Fox fell in defeat, Su Bai felt the familiar tickling sensation on his left wrist intensify. He quickly glanced at the error bar, and his eyes lit up as he saw that it had finally reached 100%.
"Finally," he thought. The moment he had been waiting for since the gauge had begun filling had finally arrived. It was no longer just a simple curiosity—he needed to see what effects this strange power had on his surroundings.
"Looks like it's been almost ten hours," he murmured after confirming the generator's status. The message on his interface was clear: it was fully ready to use.
"Well, I entered the game eleven hours ago. Looks like there's still an hour left before the game officially launches."
With a faint smile, Su Bai reflected on everything he had accomplished during that time. "I've done a good job in these ten hours. At first, I thought I'd only be able to get a few levels ahead of the average player, but now I feel like I'm way beyond the normal pace. I've even progressed further than I imagined."
Determined to seize the opportunity after returning to Eldoria Village, Su Bai headed straight for the village. First, he would turn in the coral snake mission, and then he would use the glitch to sneak into the village chief's house and uncover the secrets it held.