**Chapter 110: Pitiful Blood Raven**
Light Snow , who hadn't been out for nearly ten days, seemed particularly excited at this moment. Her four large legs were like wound-up springs, galloping across the Plains. Her speed was so fast that I had to slightly lower my body to avoid the fierce wind blowing in my face. Taking advantage of the free time, I also Summoned the Lazy Crow, the only one who could keep up with Light Snow 's speed, and the Oak Sage, who could serve as a pillow.
Following Druv's Map, I took a wide detour from the Northwest – naturally, I didn't have the courage or ability to face tens of thousands of Monsters head-on.
Most of the Monsters on the Blood Moor had likely gathered together, so I advanced without any obstruction along the way. I didn't even see the shadow of a single Fallen or Zombie, let alone those Quill Rats that only knew how to Sneak attack from the woods. After walking for about several dozen minutes like this, finally, the massive bodies of the Monster Army entered my Vision.
Looking from a Hillside in the distance, the Plains below were densely packed with Monsters. As far as the eye could see, only the front part was visible. They were the most numerous and common Red Fallen in the entire Plains, along with Blue Saber Cats. These two colors alone accounted for about half of this group of Monsters, while the gray mass behind them was the miscellaneous Monster Army.
To get a clearer look, I rode Light Snow and circled this vast Monster group from a distance. Even with Light Snow 's Speed, it took a full half hour to get a general grasp of these Monsters' Information.
Just as Druv had said, this miscellaneous Army consisted of all sorts of Monsters, arranged in a tiered formation from Strongest to weakest. The weakest were at the very front, serving as cannon fodder Fallen, and the further back the Monsters were, the more Powerful they became. When I circled to the very back of the Monster group, I even saw several hundred Crippled Fiends from the Underground Cavern. These Ugly Monsters, which were relatively Rare even in the Underground Cavern, were now sticking out their long, disgusting tongues and appearing brazenly in the Blood Moor. If the number of Crippled Fiends in every Village was that high, wouldn't that mean there were thousands of Crippled Fiends in total?
Just these few hundred Crippled Fiends were already beyond my ability to Approach. Even with Lightning Resistance as high as over 50, a round of several hundred Lightning Bolts would still knock off nearly a quarter (over 50 points) of my Life when not in Shapeshifting form, not to mention the possible Magic Negative Status Effects like Paralysis, Pause, and stiffness.
There were also thousands of Skeleton Archers, packed together densely like a mountain of bones. The pale bone bows tightly held in their hands were like the Claws of Fierce Beasts ready to devour people. Just seeing that enormous Quantity, I could already imagine how terrifying the overwhelming Arrow rain would be when they Attacked. If all thousand-plus Arrows hit, unless I was in Werebear Form, I would be Instantly Killed. In this thing called War, the Strength of a single person is indeed insignificant.
Of course, if Kashya came, it would be another matter. With her Ability, the Attack Rating of these Ranged Attack Monsters against her would be something to burn incense and pray for if it reached even one percent. And Fara, the Level 82 Wizard who was even more formidable than Kashya, would have it even easier. Just casting a few Meteors from a distance could cripple this group of Monsters. It's just a pity they wouldn't intervene. If we couldn't handle this level of Crisis, I believe Akara and the others would definitely not mind a major reshuffle. Survival of the fittest; only the Strongest Expert can survive. This is the ruthlessness of the Superior, whether they like it or not.
What left me rather speechless was that standing next to the Skeleton Archers was actually a large group of Foul Hunters. These two types of Monsters, who would fight to the death if they met in the Underground Cavern, were now sticking together amicably like old Neighbors. It was more miraculous than hearing that Blizzard wouldn't delay a release. What kind of power could make these two mortal Enemies stand together? Thinking of this, I couldn't help but shiver, feeling that this War was filled with an Aura called Conspiracy...
Furthermore, within such a vast Monster group, Elite Level Monsters were naturally indispensable, and Chieftains were even more so. I wondered if there would be any Mini-Boss Monsters. These unique Rare specimens were not as widespread as the Elite Level ones.
After circling around, I returned to the starting point. The Lazy Crow, whom I had sent out earlier out of boredom, also flew back with a "caw caw." The Information it conveyed was rather vague and contained nothing of particular interest to me, but one seemingly insignificant piece of News piqued my Curiosity.
Led by the Lazy Crow, we came to a nearby Hillside. From here, the entire area of Monsters was clearly visible. It was indeed a good place for observation. On this Hillside, there was a Small Grove, and the anomaly the Lazy Crow had unintentionally discovered was inside.
"Your Excellency, could you come out for a moment?" I said lightly towards the Small Grove.
Soon after, a rustling sound came from the grove, and a thin Adventurer walked out, holding a Dagger in his hand, his eyes filled with surprise.
Just as I thought. Normally, I would have just assumed it was a few Quill Rats causing trouble, but now that all the Monsters were gathered over there, wasn't it strange?
"I am Malin, the Assassin Scout responsible for Vita Village. May I ask what instructions Lord has for me?"
Malin looked at the mysterious Man in the Cloak, riding a large White Wolf, with surprise. Since he was born, he had never seen such a terrifying White Wolf. Its sharp Gaze locked onto him tightly, and the Powerful Presence it emitted made him dare not move, let alone the Man riding this Powerful White Wolf?
Could he be some new hidden Class Changer? He had heard that the Elf Race, Dwarf, and Orc races also had Class Changers appear, but their Quantity was extremely small, and their actions were very secretive. No one had ever truly seen one until now... The Calmness and composure of an Assassin allowed him to suppress the myriad of Questions in his heart, and his Tone involuntarily carried a hint of respect. Although he didn't understand who the person before him was, his Strength was beyond doubt. Moreover, he didn't seem to have any Hostility towards him.
"I am Wu Fan, a Druid, and a Special Action Team Member of Vita Village. Mr. Malin, could you please report the latest Information to me?"
I sat on Light Snow , looking down at the Assassin before me, and asked in a commanding Tone. Akara had said that the Special Action Team Members of each Village were equivalent to Captain level, and could even override them at crucial moments, becoming the actual Managers of the entire Village. This was why Druv felt a sense of relief when he saw that I was a Special Action Team Member of Vita Village, as everyone was an Acquaintance and easier to talk to.
"This is an outright War. The only relationship between each other is Command and obedience. As a Superior, one should clearly understand their Status, establish prestige, and not just rely on Friendship, respect, and admiration. Only then can the most accurate judgment be made."
Akara's words echoed in my Brain from when we parted. I took a deep breath. Although I was puzzled by this behavior that seemed intended to deliberately cultivate my prestige, judging the Matter itself, I believed Akara was not wrong. This was not a Game. Those precious Lives could very well depend on a single decision of my own. It was not the time for my willful emotional actions.
"Y-yes, respected Lord Fan. This is my Honor."
Hearing that I was from the Special Action Squad, Malin instinctively straightened his Body, his inner shock even greater. When he had initially heard that the Special Squad for Vita Village this time consisted of only one person, and it wasn't Lady Sharna as he had imagined, he thought he had misheard. Although the Druid named Wu Fan had recently gained considerable fame and had good Strength/Power, he had never thought of comparing him to Lady Sharna. Now it seemed he was greatly mistaken. The Rogue Encampment indeed had hidden talents.
Next, Malin concisely reported the Information he had gathered over the past few days, piece by piece. It was no different from what Druv had said. However, when he mentioned the latest Information he had just received, it made me slightly pause.
"You mean, Blood Raven is also mixed in there?"
"Yes. Your subordinate can confirm, I definitely didn't see wrong." Malin's Gaze became serious, and he answered forcefully.
"Indeed. *Huff huff*, even a Mini-Boss Monster has come to join the excitement. Blood Raven, hehe, I almost forgot about her."
I muttered to myself. Speaking of which, among the Trial locations I had passed through on this journey, only the Burial Grounds was missing. Naturally, Blood Raven was the only Mini-Boss Monster I had missed. No, there was also Bonebreaker in the tomb within the Burial Grounds. Speaking of which, it was also a Mini-Boss Monster, but it was very inconspicuous in the Game, being knocked down in just a few hits, and its Strength/Power was terrible, so few people paid attention to it.
While I was thinking, Malin in front didn't dare to disturb me and stood respectfully to the side, waiting for orders. Now he dared not underestimate the Strength/Power of this Special Action Team Member before him. His dismissive Tone when speaking of Blood Raven didn't make him feel anything was amiss. A Monster that Lady Sharna could handle alone, this Lord should also have no problem with. Unfounded confidence quickly grew in his heart.
"Alright, there's nothing else. Go back and continue observing. If there's any Movement/Activity, remember to report back immediately." I stroked Light Snow 's soft fur and said lightly.
"Yes, your subordinate obeys." Malin responded and immediately returned to the woods without any delay. I secretly praised him and directed Light Snow to quickly leave the area.
After obtaining more specific Information, I wasn't in a hurry to return, but instead wandered around nearby. Although the large gathering of Monsters had stopped, there were still occasional Monsters that had "traveled a long distance." I was like the Master responsible for "welcoming" them, clearing out these dusty arrivals. If I was really bored, I would simply get closer to the Monster group and use the Bow and Arrow in my hand to Attract some of the outer Monsters, combining entertainment and Practice. Anyway, with Light Snow 's Speed, I didn't have to worry about being surrounded at all. After several hours, the results were quite good. I killed several hundred, which was even more efficient than during the Trial. It's just that the Strength/Power of these Monsters was a bit weak, and the Experience was pitifully low.
Forget it, just treat it as a warm-up. I've been cooped up for nearly ten days. Both Light Snow and I feel a bit restless. I feel like I'm getting stranger and stranger. I yearn for a Calm life, yet I also crave the stimulation of Blood and Slaughter. Could it be that I've unconsciously started to become abnormal?
The Campfire at night flickered brightly and dimly, making the Sky in the distance appear even more vividly red – who else but the Fallen who were afraid of the dark? Other Monsters didn't have the habit of making fires.
I was currently holding the Beginner Magic book Fara gave me, reading it carefully by the bright moonlight and the residual heat emanating from the Campfire. In this world where Strength/Power reigns supreme, I finally began to face Reality squarely. In moments of Life and death, the desire for Strength within me grew even stronger.
"Damn it!"
Time passed unconsciously. I was finally completely confused by the extremely complex theories and Arcane Arts in the book. After throwing the book into my Inventory Space, I casually took out Cain's Book of Wisdom to relax my mind. Speaking of which, I almost wanted to cry. An Otaku who had spent years immersed in the ACG World could now only pass the time with a boring Ancient Tome similar to a geography, customs, and character record.
As for the Quest Akara assigned me to gather Information, I had no relevant Experience in this area, so I had no Clue/Idea so far. I could only place my Hope on the other nine Special Squads, while fully embodying the spirit of "Free Action." I spent two days messing around nearby without any sense of the bigger picture. When I finally felt bored and was planning to return to the Village, I suddenly discovered the Target I had been waiting for had appeared.
That's right, it was Blood Raven.
When I spotted her Figure, my teeth were itching a bit. I had originally thought that given her Appearance, she would be mixed in with the Dark Hunters or Dark Wanderers, making me strain my eyes searching hard, almost getting red-eye disease. I didn't expect this girl to have no sense of aesthetics at all, actually staying with a group of Hungry Dead and Skulls, making my previous efforts feel like a comical performance by a clown.
Alright, I admit my starting point was wrong. Blood Raven was originally the leader of the Burial Grounds. Besides her Rocket special Ability, she also had the ability to Resurrect Hungry Dead. So, when in the Burial Grounds, you should never engage in guerrilla warfare or prolonged battles with her. Otherwise, by the time you realize it, you might already be surrounded by a large group of Hungry Dead. *Sigh*...
This is good too. I was originally worried that she was mixed in with the Dark Wanderers and I wouldn't be able to get close. I didn't expect her to run over to the Hungry Dead. *Sweat*, does this highlight my Speed advantage even more?
I cautiously approached the outer edge of the Monster group, patiently using the Bow and Arrow in my hand to Attract the Hungry Dead, clearing them out little by little. Since my Archery was really terrible, and I didn't dare to use Magic like Blizzard which could easily cause a group melee, it took me a whole afternoon for Blood Raven to slowly become exposed before me. This girl could actually nap while surrounded by a group of rotten Hungry Dead. I don't know whether to call it enjoyment or self-abuse. Did she have no sense of smell at all?
When I shot a crooked Arrow at her Follower next to her with great Question, Blood Raven finally seemed to notice and stood up. Her red and white soft armor perfectly accentuated her Figure, but the twisted, angry Expression on her face was not flattering. Her bloodshot eyes looked around for a moment before finally landing on me and Light Snow in the distance.
After locking onto the Target, she muttered something in a gloomy Tone that I didn't understand, then immediately raised the Long Bow in her hand.
"Run!"
I patted Light Snow and started running in an irregular pattern. At such a long Distance, this kind of running could make most of the Archer's Arrows miss their mark, but I underestimated Blood Raven's Ability, because she was a Mini-Boss.
With a *Thud*, I felt a burning, intense Pain in my back, as if a red-hot iron nail had pierced my Body, making me groan in pain. My Life dropped by dozens of points. Damn, as expected of Blood Raven's special Skill - Fire Arrow. Compared to Cold Raven, who was also a Minor Boss Level in the Cave of the Cold Plains, her Damage was significantly higher.
I looked back with resentment, silently praying that this fool would run out, otherwise, this Arrow would have been taken in vain.
As if hearing my prayer, Blood Raven shifted her Footsteps, hesitated for a moment, staring intently at my figure moving away at a leisurely Speed, and finally chased after me with a "whoosh."
Seeing that the Enemy had taken the bait, I quickly told Light Snow to maintain her Speed. Blood Raven seemed very confident in herself, and her Speed was also abnormal. At fifty percent of Light Snow 's Speed, she could keep up and even shoot an Arrow from time to time.
When we approached a nearby Small Grove, I smiled slightly, suddenly leaped like a fish, jumping off Light Snow 's back. In Mid-air, I had already begun to concentrate my Energy and activate my self-created Tactics that I had never used in actual combat.
Airdrop Encirclement!
That's right, the other four Ghost Wolves were hiding in the Small Grove next to us. After this period of Trial, I could now simultaneously Teleport five Ghost Wolves, including Light Snow , but it consumed a lot of Mental Power, and I could only use it twice at most.
Speaking of Mental Power, I actually don't know how to describe this intangible thing. Its relationship with Mana is the same as the relationship between a Warrior's Stamina and Moves. For a Warrior, having only Technique and Moves is not enough; they must also have Stamina to maintain them. When the Battle lasts for a long time, Stamina decreases, and fatigue occurs.
It's the same for Sorceresses. Having only Mana is not enough. Casting Magic also requires consuming a certain amount of Mental Power. This is why Students must meditate frequently, firstly to train their Elemental perception Ability, and secondly to train their Mental Power. Generally speaking, after decades or even decades of hard Practice, a Sorceress's Mental Power and a Warrior's Stamina are very high. Fatigue and Overdraw only occur after prolonged or high-intensity Battle.
In Blood Raven's surprised Gaze, the Human on the wolf's back suddenly jumped down, and then something even stranger happened. The White Wolf disappeared right before her eyes. By the time she came back to her senses, her vision was covered by a pair of scarlet Claws...
With a *Thud*, Blood Raven retreated several steps. She was horrified to find that the six intersecting bloodstains left on her chest were from the White Wolf she had just been chasing, which had suddenly disappeared. How could it suddenly turn the tables and Attack her? Before Blood Raven could understand, she was Attacked from behind again. Turning around, she saw four gray wolves that were slightly smaller than the White Giant Wolf. When did four such creatures appear behind her? She hadn't noticed anything!
For a moment, Blood Raven's already rotten and stiff Brain couldn't process it.
To be honest, I really wanted to describe this Battle as more tragic to express my respect for Blood Raven, but the situation was clear. Under the strict, orderly, and airtight sharp Offensive of the five Ghost Wolves, Blood Raven first froze for a moment in a very undignified manner. By the time she reacted, it was essentially the same as not reacting. She was an excellent Archer, and melee combat was definitely her weakness. Surrounded by the Ghost Wolves, she didn't even have Space to draw her bow. When she finally found an opportunity to pull the string, the cunning Light Snow would always Attack along with her four subordinates, almost certainly Interruption her Attack.
For Light Snow and the others, there was simply no more suitable Prey than Blood Raven. A Ranged Attack Archer who only knew how to use Bow and Arrow, surrounded by five ferocious Ghost Wolves, the outcome was clear with just a little imagination. Subsequently, the Poison Creeper, the one with the Strongest Attack Power in the Party, also joined the Battle. As long as the Ghost Wolves didn't get dizzy and intentionally leave a gap for Blood Raven to escape, there was no longer any suspense in this Battle.
However, towards the end of the Battle, Blood Raven still surprised me greatly. This girl actually brazenly abandoned her useless Bow and Arrow and fought back with her Fists. Don't laugh, and don't underestimate her Fists. The Fists of an ordinary Class Changer have considerable Attack Power, let alone Blood Raven, a Mini-Boss Level Monster. Unfortunately, she was not skilled in melee combat. Although her Fist Offensive was sharp and often forced the Ghost Wolves' Offensive back, from my perspective, it looked like nothing more than flashy but ineffective moves.
This Battle, without my participation, was finished by Light Snow and the others in just a few minutes. Of course, it wasn't that Blood Raven's Strength/Power was weak, but rather that I used a trick at the beginning, surrounding her immediately and rendering her Speed useless. Otherwise, in this vast Plains, whether I could finish her off before she ran back to the Monster horde would have been a question. Another point is that Blood Raven's other special Ability - Resurrect Hungry Dead - didn't come into play. There were no Corpses Underground here. If it were in the Burial Grounds, her Attacking while Summoning Hungry Dead would also be troublesome.
However, overall, regardless of whether Blood Raven could fully utilize her abilities, the victor of this Battle would belong to me. With Light Snow and the others who were good at dealing with agile monsters, and the Poison Creeper who was good at dealing with tough-skinned ones, the Mini-Bosses of the Rogue Encampment were only a matter of whether they were troublesome for me, not whether I could eliminate them.
Walking up to Blood Raven's Corpse, I saw the bow she dropped. Driven by Curiosity, I bent down, about to pick it up, but unexpectedly, it disappeared before I even touched it. Hmph, how rude. I'm the Protagonist, after all. Couldn't something a bit more fantastical happen? I boredly shifted my attention to the few Items Blood Raven dropped.
Oh oh oh, what is this thing that looks like a large flatbread? I curiously picked up an elongated oval object emitting a Blue Glow, hard like a Stone. Could it be an Item outside of the Game again? Thinking this, I couldn't contain my excitement and picked up an Identify Scroll and slapped it on it.
Large Charm of Strength
+3 Strength
OMG, it's a Charm! This is the first time I've dropped a Charm! This place is different from the Game with limited Inventory Space. There's almost ten cubic meters of Space, enough to hold any number of Charms. Their attached abilities, no matter how Junk, are equivalent to extra bonuses, requiring no Price/Cost. Therefore, their value is evident. And according to the iron Rules of this world, the more valuable something is, the lower the Drop Rate. This is why I've been around for so long and this is the first time I've dropped a Charm.
However, despite my happiness, I was still a bit puzzled. It wasn't that I lacked Game common sense, but rather that the Charms in the Game were just too... In short, I couldn't associate them with this stone-like physical object in front of me.
Looking at the rest of the Items on the ground, besides that Small Charm, the other few pieces were White Items: a Skull Cap, a Short Sword, and surprisingly, a Damaged Leather Armor. Damn, even Mini-Bosses have defective items! Casually throwing these White Items into my Inventory, I continued searching Blood Raven's Body. Wait, I'm not abnormal, I'm not that desperate yet.
Soon, I found a dark object in the waist pouch on Blood Raven's Corpse.
The legendary Annual Warrior Best Badge, get!!
*Ptooey ptooey*, besides Sister Sharna, that little idiot, who would believe that!
When I threw Blood Raven's Badge into Malin's hand, his eyes were already shining with awe.
"I've eliminated Blood Raven. Go inform Druv and tell him to rest assured."
I ignored Malin's worshipful Gaze. Actually, I was just embarrassed... *Cough cough*, who's peeking into my inner thoughts? Step forward!
"Y-yes, Lord. This is truly great News."
Malin said excitedly. As mentioned before, Ranged Attack Monsters were the biggest Threat in this Quest, and Blood Raven, as an outstanding one among Ranged Attack Monsters, with her accurate ultra-long range attack and the huge Damage of her special Skill Fire Arrow, could definitely cause huge losses to Adventurers if she were allowed to fully utilize them in a dense Battlefield. Eliminating her before the battle starts was undoubtedly a blessing for the Adventurers of Vita Village.
"Oh, right, Lord..." Malin put away the Badge and called out to me as I was about to leave.
"According to the observations of the past few days, Bishibosh also seems to be among the Monsters." He looked at me with a trusting Gaze, as if I was already standing before him with Bishibosh's Head.
"..."