Chapter 618 - 196: Cat-and-Mouse, I Grant You Victory
"Retreat!"
Realizing that the Iron Cavalry Team was aiming to start a direct battle, Lin Xia cautiously chose to first retreat to the defensive zone protected by the Magic Towers.
This arrow made Lin Xia feel the pressure exerted by the Iron Cavalry Squad.
The opposing team had a very strong long-range assassin capable of quickly killing members of their squad.
Returning to the defensive zone, Lin Xia gave orders.
He decided on a division of labor and cooperation.
Considering the opponent had potent personnel for targeted kills, it was decided that the close combat team members would temporarily go out for hunting to complete repeatable side quests.
The other support-type Bliss Players would all stay in the defensive zone to avoid being targeted and killed while outside.
Until the powerful sniper of the opponent was dealt with and this threat was neutralized, they had to act cautiously.
However, Lin Xia’s mindset rapidly changed during the subsequent clashes.
The first frontal clash came on the second day.
Lin Xia led 12 team members to collect resources from Magic Towers on a battlefield of ruins when a teammate suddenly alerted:
"Boss, five members of the Iron Cavalry Team are approaching."
Hearing that only five members came, Lin Xia was initially dumbfounded, unable to understand why the opponent would choose such a reckless attack strategy.
Could they truly have such confidence in their strength?
With confusion, he decided to attempt contact with the incoming Iron Cavalry members.
Soon, five figures appeared in view.
The leading figure wore a colorful mask, speeding up his pace during the run, and slowly raised the right arm donned with gloves.
Lin Xia decisively activated the Berserker Talent.
His heart rate suddenly accelerated, and his body began to change dramatically.
The well-fitting clothes tore into pieces instantly under the surge of powerful force from within.
The muscles beneath the skin wriggled like living creatures, swelling at a visible rate.
His arm muscles bulged high like blocks of hard rock, and veins were clearly visible on the skin like serpentine paths.
The sense of power from the swelling made Lin Xia let out a deep roar.
His chest heaved violently, and his pectoral muscles expanded outward like gigantic shield plates, squeezing the surrounding air into explosive sounds.
Even his neck became thick during the berserk process, with muscles curling tightly like steel cables.
"Explode!"
Facing the oncoming figure head-on, Lin Xia chose to collide with the strongest physical force.
A heavy punch was thrown, tearing through the air with blood-colored airflow, colliding with the leading figure’s fist.
Boom!
The collision of this punch ignited violent air currents.
What surprised Lin Xia was that the power he was proud of didn’t gain much of an advantage.
He and the leading figure of the Iron Cavalry Squad both retreated, trenching the ground with two backward-extended marks from their legs.
"Not bad!" came a voice from under the mask.
"Since you’re here, don’t leave," Lin Xia said coldly, his figure charging toward the leading figure like a tank.
But just three steps forward, he perceived the side’s Broken Wind sound, and he ducked his head sharply.
Immediately, the breaking wind brushed past overhead, slicing several strands of hair.
A shadowy figure, unnoticed, almost struck his temple.
Lin Xia twisted his body, grabbing the ankle of the side figure, and smashed it toward the ground.
Yet from the right again came the sound of the Broken Wind.
Lin Xia did not dodge, locking the ankle of the Iron Cavalry close combat assassin with his fingers and slamming it toward the ground.
He had confidence in his team.
As he had guessed, the attack from the right did not land on him and was intercepted by his teammates.
Boom!
Lin Xia slammed the assassin’s figure onto the ground, and a mighty right foot followed, stomping down fiercely.
A crater formed on the ground, the struck assassin let out a muffled groan.
"Die!"
With the ability activated, a blood-colored raging dragon coiled around Lin Xia’s right arm, crashing onto the assassin’s head, instantly shattering the Iron Cavalry assassin’s head.
Quickly turning his head, he found the two teammates who shielded him from the assault had both been stabbed through their chests.
This reddened Lin Xia’s eyes, fueling his rage.
"Kill!"
In the face of Lin Xia’s frenzy, the remaining four Iron Cavalry members suddenly retreated.
But just as Lin Xia pursued two steps, he abruptly halted.
"Boss, don’t fall into an ambush, this surprise attack is too bizarre, I fear it’s a trap."
Upon hearing his teammate’s warning, Lin Xia restrained his anger and decisively stopped.
The five Death Trials made him realize what a misstep in a competitive environment meant.
He had to be cautious and could not let anger cloud his judgment.
Gazing into the distance, as the four Iron Cavalry members ran further, they suddenly turned to applaud him:
"Very strong, not bad."
Lin Xia did not respond, staring icily at the four figures.
As the berserk state wore off, his body gradually returned to normal, and a teammate stepped forward to hand him new clothes.
In the initial exchange, the Iron Cavalry lost 1 assassin, but his squad lost two powerful close combat members.
Lin Xia looked toward a young figure in the team:
"Ye Hu, what do you think?"
"The roles of these five members are main close combat, two assassins, two vice-combatants. In terms of ability, the warrior clashing with the captain seemingly possesses a close combat talent, resembling the captain’s Berserk ability. Moreover, the abilities used include: Qi Blood Boiling, Barbaric Bull Charge, Skull Shattering Strike..."
After listening to his teammate’s analysis, the abilities of these five Iron Cavalry members became tangible.
The ultimate conclusion was that these five Iron Cavalry members were slightly weaker than the captain but stronger than other members of their squad.