One hour… Two hours…
"Pant… Pant…"
The Bison King was visibly tiring, its fiery red glow dimming slightly as its health bar dipped below 30%. But then, something strange happened. The crimson aura surrounding it intensified, glowing brighter than a Christmas tree in Times Square.
Jack frowned. "Oh come on, buddy. Don't tell me you're about to evolve after I spent hours chipping away at you."
Evolution! One of the unpredictable mechanics teased by *Eternal*'s developers. Even regular mobs could ascend to greater forms—not once, not twice, but potentially three times. And boss monsters? They had a higher chance of evolving than your average critter.
"MOOOOO!!"
The Bison King let out another earth-shaking roar, and suddenly, two ghostly red duplicates materialized beside it, flanking the original like demonic bodyguards. The beast's attack range expanded dramatically, covering nearly the entire battlefield.
Ding! System Notification: The Bison King has activated [Charge Attack], summoning two phantom duplicates with 50% of its base attack power. Attack Range +200%. Duration: 30 seconds.
Relief washed over Jack. Thank goodness his luck hadn't been that good. Facing an evolved version of this monster would've been like stepping into a lion's den wearing a meat suit.
The Bison King charged again, but Jack remained calm. Dodging the main body's assault, he allowed one of the phantoms to clip him—but the damage was laughable.
-40!
Turns out, the duplicates packed the punch of a wet noodle compared to the real deal. With 600 HP, Jack could tank fifteen hits from them before keeling over. Given that the skill lasted only thirty seconds, he could afford to play it safe.
20%... 10%...
As the Bison King's health dwindled, its movements slowed to a crawl. By the time it reached 1%, it looked like it had run a marathon uphill carrying a fridge on its back.
"Swoosh!"
Out of nowhere, a sharp blade sliced through the air behind Jack. But instead of panicking, he ducked instinctively, spinning around with the fluidity of a ninja performing parkour. His iron sword flashed, connecting cleanly with the ambush attacker.
-83!
A burst of red numbers floated above the assailant's head as they stumbled backward, their stealth shattered. Under the moonlight, Jack got a clear look at his opponent: a teenage boy, roughly seventeen or eighteen years old, with a face that wouldn't look out of place in a high school yearbook. Too bad his morals were as crooked as a politician's promises.
[Qing Yun] Level: 4 Health: 400 Attack: 10-12 Defense: 6-8
Ah, a fellow player. And judging by the sneaky approach, probably someone who'd unlocked the Rogue's stealth ability early.
"Holy sh*t!" Qing Yun gasped, utterly baffled. "How the hell did you see me?! I was practically invisible!"
Qing Yun's plan had been simple: let Jack wear down the Bison King until it was hanging on by a thread, then swoop in for the kill. Classic "last-hit" strategy. But alas, life rarely goes according to plan—especially when you underestimate your opponent.
Before Jack could deliver a witty retort, he lunged forward, unleashing a flurry of basic combos. Each strike landed with brutal efficiency, sending Qing Yun's health plummeting faster than a stock market crash.
-60! -63!
With half his health gone, Qing Yun realized resistance was futile. "Fine, finish me off," he spat bitterly. "But tell me one thing—how did you know I was there?"
Jack smirked, lowering his sword just enough to make eye contact. "Kid, use that thing between your ears next time. Think about it."
And with that, he delivered the final blow, reducing Qing Yun to a puff of white light destined to respawn at the starting village.
Turning back to the exhausted Bison King, Jack raised his sword triumphantly. "You hear that, big guy? No last-minute heroics here. Just you and me."
He swung his blade down with the satisfaction of someone who'd just won a staring contest with a tiger. As the beast collapsed, Jack grinned ear to ear. "Alright, buddy, don't disappoint me now. Drop some loot worthy of my epic victory!"
(End of Chapter)