Chapter 476
Chapter 476: Lame Claw and Its “King Gnawbone”
“We’ve taken the second floor, but we lost 20 people, with the reserve recruits almost completely wiped out. Is this difficulty for real? Is this really a dungeon we can challenge at our current stage? Did the developers’ programmers go crazy again from too much overtime pressure?”
On the Plague Town defense line, Joy Stick wearily and angrily looked at the northern gate that had been resealed, its thick spirit energy barrier blocking all views into the town.
Joy Stick was full of complaints at this moment, and the companions who had made it out of Plague Town alive beside him were also helpless and frustrated.
Their armor was covered in corrosion marks, and several unfortunate ones still had horrific scars from poison damage on their bodies. They could only slowly move forward with others’ help while grimacing in pain.
Meanwhile, Lin held a large handful of spirit dog tags, these items alone were sufficient proof of today’s difficult raid.
This was considered good already.
At least they could make it out alive without having to experience the awful three-day internet disconnection.
Joy Stick looked back at the Plague Tower that still stood in Plague Town. This thing probably had 5 to 6 floors. Although there would definitely be fewer people the higher up they went, they were already having trouble attacking when they reached the second floor.
Whether in terms of equipment, strength, firepower, or tactical options, there were too few plans to choose from. Facing this spirit energy fortress armed to the teeth, just as Fatal Orchid Huahua said, there was no other method available except throwing lives at it.
In fact, Brother Stick had also tried contacting the Goldflower Kingdom’s vanguard, requesting them to bombard the Mage Tower with field artillery. Colonel Frayzer didn’t refuse and seriously fired a round, but the effect couldn’t be said to be poor, only slightly better than nothing.
The spirit energy protection raised by that damn tower was as thick as city walls. Even direct hits from small-caliber field artillery could barely knock off a piece.
On this continent, there still wasn’t a clear answer whether spirit energy or firepower was supreme, but it could be certain that at the current level of steam engineering development, it completely couldn’t overwhelm spirit energy’s advantages in the mystical arts.
“Brother Stick, something’s wrong with the student faction’s position!”
Just as Joy Stick was preparing to log off to rest and take a shower to relieve his fatigue, his team member Kind-Face Giant Shark Uncle quickly ran over and reported to Joy Stick:
“The young lady has had spirit energy countermeasures active over there for 20 minutes, but there’s no movement at all from their position. Not only have the monks not mobilized, those temporary affiliated solo players also haven’t moved.
It seems like they’ve given up on today’s raid.”
“What? Given up?”
Joy Stick immediately widened his eyes and said:
“No way?
From what I know of those students, even if they admit defeat they wouldn’t show it on the surface. The face-saving nature unique to young people makes me unsurprised even if they charge through evil magic traps using human minesweepers.
How could they give up now?
Damn!
I know human minesweeping is difficult, but isn’t 6 hours still time? How can these guys slack off at this moment?”
“Boom”
Just as Joy Stick was confused, the sudden ground tremor almost made him lose balance and fall.
Joy Stick and Giant Shark Uncle quickly rose into the air, and they saw this sudden commotion had stirred up activity across all three faction positions in Plague Town.
Especially on the western frontline where the student faction was located,
From Joy Stick’s current height, he could clearly see players gathering there, seemingly preparing to charge into Plague Town to start today’s raid.
But something wasn’t right!
“Boom”
Another violent tremor came after about 10 seconds, with an even larger affected area this time.
Joy Stick clearly saw Goldflower soldiers running out on the hill with artillery positions, and even the spirit energy barrier covering Plague Town showed clear vibrations. Vampire players also rose into the air to check the southern defense line.
The continuous strange tremors seemed to indicate something was about to happen.
“Something’s not right!”
Joy Stick squinted and said:
“The movement patterns of players on the western frontline aren’t right. They’re forming charge formations, they seem to know in advance what’s going to happen.
Damn!
What exactly did those student faction people do?
Let’s go!
Go take a look!”
Joy Stick accelerated towards that direction, with Giant Shark Uncle following closely behind. But halfway through their flight, they heard huge commotion from below, including panicked shouts from NPCs.
Especially those northerners from Fort Crimea who were invited to observe, they screamed the loudest, seemingly having seen something incredible.
“Holy crap! What is that thing!”
Giant Shark Uncle’s scream also represented that something truly strange had appeared. Joy Stick looked up and saw the silhouette of a giant creature, appearing like a walking mountain, now revealing its form from the heavy fog permeating the eastern swamp of Plague Town.
It was too far to see the thing’s true condition clearly, but just its neck exposed in the fog was at least 30 meters tall.
This sight made Joy Stick’s body tremble.
He felt his fear of giant creatures might be triggered, and his second immediate thought was that this must be something the student faction conjured up!
As a commander, he instantly understood what these guys planned to do.
“Damn! Using a wolf to chase tigers!”
Joy Stick fiercely waved his fist in the air, turned his head and shouted to Giant Shark Uncle who was still recording the scene with a computation bead:
“Quick! Go gather the brothers to log on! The student faction likely plans to break through the Sorcerer’s Tower today. Once that tower falls, this town’s spirit energy defense will collapse.
The time for the great advance has come!
Tell the brothers to bring their weapons and prepare to charge in to slaughter the gnolls! Not a single one of those dog bastards who tortured us for a month can be spared!”
“Oh, alright.”
Giant Shark didn’t understand the reasoning behind Joy Stick’s judgment, but like the most excellent soldier, he immediately executed the order, turning to rush down to his position, followed by a hoarse voice rising from within.
On the northern defense line, Fatal Orchid Huahua and Lady Aqua, being lifted into the air by Sister Pomegranate and Little Ashina holding their arms, watched the giant beast drawing closer in the distance. Light flickered in her beautiful eyes as the final piece of the puzzle in her heart was finally completed at this moment.
“So it’s that.
The legendary swamp giant snake!
A legendary creature from mythology, the powerful third party hidden in this swamp shadow event, the third solution preset by the developers.
I didn’t expect it to actually exist
No!
It has always existed!
I just haven’t truly adapted to this magical land yet, and treated it like mythology from our Mountain and Sea Classic.
I still haven’t completely shifted my thinking, but these young people have already learned to think and solve problems with the mindset of this land.
Sigh, I’m really getting old, my thinking has become rigid.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
Sister Pomegranate sighed and said:
“We also didn’t think of borrowing external force, and even if you had thought of it we wouldn’t have been able to implement it. On our side only Little Ashina and I can fly. Just the two of us have no way to do what the student faction did, flying over Plague Town’s defense line and completing this kind of ‘aerial relay’ that looks difficult at first glance.
This is something only their small group of all vampires could achieve, it can only be called a racial advantage.”
“Don’t try to make excuses for me, Little Pomegranate. A loss is a loss, I’m over 30, I can take it.”
Lady Aqua revealed a smile.
She said softly:
“However this isn’t a big deal, the facts prove we achieved what the developers wanted to see, even without interference from powerful NPCs, we can still rely on our ‘otherworld wisdom’ to solve troublesome problems.
Pomegranate, in the game between players and developers, we won.
Won fair and square!
Now have all team members on the southern battle line log on!
Prepare to enter Plague Town for the final attack, and also have the solo players arm themselves. Such a memorable moment must let everyone have enough sense of participation.”
“You really plan to use them as cannon fodder?”
Sister Pomegranate complained:
“With the enemy strength in this raid instance, newcomers going up is just suicide.”
“But becoming cannon fodder is also a necessary stage on the path to becoming stronger, who hasn’t gone through this phase?”
Lady Aqua laughed and said:
“Let’s do it this way!
If all goes smoothly, before midnight, we can complete the raid on Plague Town instance, and the student faction’s entry into the first Hall of Fame will be well-deserved.
No one can erase this achievement that can be called great, they’ve given us self-proclaimed wise ones a good lesson, this continent has its own set of rules.”
————————
Although Lady Aqua gave high praise to the student faction, this couldn’t change the terrible situation faced by the only two remaining student faction members.
They went as 6 people, but 4 died on the way.
Although the swamp giant snake’s movement speed indeed couldn’t keep up with vampire flight speed, unfortunately the Ningkinanka could teleport!
In swamp terrain, every period of time, this legendary snake would directly teleport next to players carrying the giant egg, then unleash the racial talent of group blindness, followed by a smooth small combo of earthquake technique and war trampling.
With this set of attacks, forget Black Iron small fries, even White Silver rank couldn’t withstand it.
That unreasonable large-range 【Gem Blindness】 with its blindness and confusion effects couldn’t be resisted, that was Ningkinanka’s racial talent, likely a legendary trait. In short, even Governor Murphy hiding behind them almost got his dog eyes blinded if he wasn’t far away.
“Damn I’m gonna die gonna die gonna die!”
Currently carrying the giant egg and flying frantically towards the north side of Plague Town, Leading Pigeon had a bad premonition. He had been timing carefully, the giant snake’s teleport cooldown was about to end.
Although Plague Town was right ahead, he probably wouldn’t survive.
It was really regrettable to not be able to personally witness the scene of Plague Town being conquered by players, but there was no time to care about so much now. Leading Pigeon did an agile roll in the air, took off the “vest” binding the giant egg on his back and threw it to Cheche in front.
He shouted:
“Remember! Cheche! Throw it into the Plague Tower! Must throw it in! Success or failure depends on you!”
“Guarantee to complete the mission!”
Cheche caught the vest binding the giant egg and put it on his back, folded his wings for an instant second-stage acceleration to get himself out of the area about to be destroyed.
A few seconds later, the swamp giant snake’s mud teleport arrived on schedule.
That body as huge as a hill mysteriously disappeared from its original spot, reappearing below Leading Pigeon who was waiting for death with closed eyes in mid-air.
Leading Pigeon was even being artistic at this moment.
Facing the giant snake’s angry gaze, Leading Pigeon hovered in front of Ningkinanka’s ugly-cute head, spread his wings and stretched out both arms in an “embrace” gesture.
This scene was like an equal exchange between vampire and legendary creature, filled with a sense of ceremony against the backdrop of chaos and confusion.
This shameless guy even turned on the computation bead’s recording function, recording this highly religious scene into his bead, planning to upload it to the forum later.
However, the giant snake wouldn’t humor you.
The gem scales on its body burst with brilliant light, not only instantly blinding Leading Pigeon, but sending anyone covered by the light into death’s door.
Ningkinanka had lost its rationality in anger over its egg being taken away. Its tail that was missing a section swept across like a siege hammer, effortlessly collapsing a section of Plague Town’s outer wall, followed by the erupting earthquake technique and war trampling tearing open a small section of the ground. Leading Pigeon was predictably taken away.
The strength of such attacks had long exceeded the limit he could withstand.
But this wave of terrifying destructive power also directly alarmed Lame Claw who was still directing the defense inside Plague Town.
The corpse constructor who had changed into new “clothes” stood by the window of the Plague Tower, staring at the terrifying giant snake currently showing off outside the town. Its eyes that weren’t focused on the same point rolled around.
Speaking of fear, there actually wasn’t much fear.
After all, it was already dead.
And it was also severely mentally ill, fear was merely a “bad friend” in its mind.
Lame Claw’s daze was only because it keenly noticed the already incurable wound on this “world BOSS” swamp giant snake that had been lured over. That purple strange wound made Lame Claw realize this giant snake was already not long for this world.
“What great material!”
Lame Claw sighed:
“If I could get this corpse, I could shape my own undead giant beast, how wonderful but unfortunately, no chance, unless I release the King Gnawbone… Yes! I can release the King Gnawbone!
I can let it kill this giant snake and by the way kill all the bastards around attacking us, yes, just need to wait for night to fall.”
This madman hadn’t realized what the players planned to do by luring the giant snake to Plague Town. By the time its chaotic brain reacted, it was already too late.
Cheche carrying the giant egg charged into Plague Town through the spirit energy gap opened by Femis.
He completely ignored the evil magic traps covering the ground below, triggering almost all traps along the way in a trail of sparks and lightning. The swamp giant snake following closely behind also didn’t care about those things flickering with cold light on the ground.
It roared and smashed through Plague Town’s west gate and walls. Its huge heavy body crushed a pile of traps in the first second of entering the town.
The cold wind blew, and the Gates of the Netherworld made of white bones suddenly opened.
The Netherworld Guardian carrying the soul-reaping scythe fiercely led its shadow guards to charge into the material world, planning to severely punish those fools who disrespected death.
Then, they saw the giant muddy footpad descending from the sky.
In front of the extremely terrifying size of the swamp giant snake, whatever Netherworld dignity or way of death were all fake. Several Netherworld Guardians who had just entered the material world didn’t even have time to show their might before having their bodies crushed by the legendary creature’s foot. Under the ravages of the earthquake technique, they rolled back to the Netherworld in embarrassment.
Any rational person should stay far away from an angry giant beast at this moment, but unfortunately players truly weren’t afraid of death.
Seeing the student faction really lure the giant snake into town according to their plan, even the usually rational Teacher Yang got a bit hot-blooded. Under their lead, the solo players on the western frontline yelled as they held their issued rifles and cold weapons, roaring as they charged into the town ruins following the giant snake.
Some lucky ones even picked up the soul-reaping scythes from those crushed Netherworld Guardians’ hands.
Hey!
These things were genuine products born from the Netherworld! Much better than the replicas made in the black-hearted blacksmith shop. This dungeon raid wasn’t for nothing!
“I need to throw it into the Plague Tower!”
Cheche couldn’t think of anything else at this moment, only this one thought!
His companions had all died, the final heavy responsibility fell on him, but the spirit energy defense of the Plague Tower in front was very thick, completely preventing him from entering from the outside, making Cheche scratch his head anxiously.
Seeing the giant snake getting closer and closer, if he didn’t act now, what if the giant snake got the egg and ran away?
In his urgency, he grabbed his staff and knocked it against the window of the Sorcerer’s Tower’s highest floor, naturally hitting the spirit energy barrier with force that even sprained his wrist from the rebound.
“Damn!”
Cheche shouted and screamed.
He could feel Ningkinanka was already charging up poison rain, once that large-area attack fell, he would definitely be reduced to ashes.
His own death was minor, but with the backup plan already at this step, if it still failed, wouldn’t he become a “sinner for all time”?
One more time!
Cheche gritted his teeth and swung his staff to strike the spirit energy-sealed window again. He could even see a weird gnoll sorcerer standing behind the window mocking him.
That dog thing’s eyes were also strange, with the two eyeballs not focused on the same point, giving off a kind of “Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix” type of “elegance”.
“Go to hell!”
The fired-up vampire shouted as he smashed his staff over.
This scene made Murphy hovering behind Cheche shake his head, thinking this little player’s psychological quality was still lacking.
At this point, couldn’t you just put the egg on top of the tower?
Why get hung up on formalities?
Young people really tend to panic when things happen.
“Whoosh”
Necessary Evil suddenly struck, transforming into a black light stream that grazed past Cheche’s shoulder straight towards the front.
Under the miracle artifact’s absolute sharpness and magic-breaking blade, even the tower’s thick defense was torn open with a gap sparking with light. Lame Claw behind the window was startled.
It sensed Necessary Evil’s ferocity directly targeting its head and quickly retreated.
But the opened gap in the defense made Cheche overjoyed. This last student faction member accelerated carrying the giant egg and charged into the top room of the tower.
As he rolled on the ground and got up, he grabbed the giant egg from his back and waved at Lame Claw who had already summoned magic heart wraiths preparing to surround him.
Cheche shouted:
“Hey, idiot, here’s a treasure for you, catch!”
“Bang”
The rock giant egg smashed right into Lame Claw’s chest, making the constructor stagger. Cheche was also grabbed by several wraiths and lifted into the air while screaming, then had his blood wings torn open and was thrown down from the fifth floor.
However, in the next second, with Cheche’s tragically extended scream as background music
“Bang”
Ningkinanka’s frenzied impact made the entire Plague Tower shake.
Lame Claw turned back in confusion, and saw the giant snake’s black onyx-like eyes looking in through the tower’s top window, its gaze finally stopping on the giant egg in its arms.
At this moment, even with uncontrollable mad thoughts, Lame Claw felt a chill.
Damn!
Got tricked.
“Roar!”
The extreme killing intent mixed in the giant snake’s roar left the corpse constructor with no other thoughts. It almost immediately grabbed a bone talisman from its belt and smashed it hard on the ground.
The moment the talisman shattered, the seal on another construction tower that had been sealed for several days elsewhere in town slowly opened.
As the sealing formation outside the construction tower failed, the thick stone door was completely shattered. Amid flying bricks and stones, a terrifying figure darted out from within, taking Lame Claw’s summons as target and launching a devastating attack towards Ningkinanka.
The first claw strike tore open a wound on the giant snake’s broken tail. Murphy, who had been watching the show in the air, immediately retreated dozens of meters.
Upon seeing that shadow-wrapped figure frantically pouncing at the giant snake, Murphy immediately drew his sword cane while warning Tris in the Crimson Citadel:
“Wife! Come save people! These gnoll dog things made a Gold rank giant zombie! If I’m not mistaken, it should be the King Gnawbone…”
“What? What did you say? Say that again! What did they create?”