Chapter 41: One Strike for 9999, Still Just a Little Short

Under the effects of the Death Golem’s skill, all targets suffered a 50% reduction in all attributes, a 50% increase in damage taken, a 90% decrease in healing received, and continuous loss of health. Most devastatingly, their resource consumption skyrocketed tenfold!

Although the level 23 warrior was thirteen levels higher than Gu Chen, with his attributes slashed by half, he was effectively reduced to the level of a level 14 warrior. Furthermore, under the burden of tenfold consumption, his entire energy reserve was only enough to cast a basic Shield of Courage. When he prepared to unleash his ultimate move, he was shocked to find he had no energy left.

"How is this possible?"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In his astonishment, the warrior’s head was struck by a barrage of bullets and burst apart.

Thud!

The headless corpse collapsed heavily to the ground, dying without ever understanding why he couldn't cast his skills. At the same time, ten Nightmare Servants entangled another warrior, while the Nightmare Sovereign appeared behind him and launched a silent, lethal strike.

[Illusory Instant Kill]

A single-target burst dealing tenfold damage. Before the warrior could even react, he was dead where he stood. In a single breath, two second-tier warriors had become cold corpses.

The last remaining warrior looked at the two bodies on the ground, his face twisted in unprecedented terror. He cast a Shield of Courage on himself, turned, and ran for his life. However, he had barely taken two steps when a shadow coiled around him, trapping him in place. Seizing the opportunity, the Vampire Monarch pulled the trigger repeatedly. His twin pistols spat tongues of fire, and bullets rained down, densely concentrated on the man's back.

The last warrior was dead.

With all three warriors dead, even Wang Chongshan, a peak second-tier combatant, turned deathly pale with fright. Yet he dared not run, fearing that if he turned his back, he would be struck down by the combined force of the two summoned beasts, just like the warrior before him. Under the current circumstances, a desperate struggle was his only hope for survival.

A look of grim determination crossed Wang Chongshan’s face. He launched his most powerful skill, his figure instantly vanishing as he moved at unimaginable speed to deliver a killing blow to Gu Chen. As an assassin, he knew the weaknesses of every class. To fight a Summoner, one must kill the Summoner first. Even with his attributes reduced by 50%, he was still equivalent to a level 17 assassin, while Gu Chen was only level 10. With his current stats, as long as he used his finishing move, he would surely slay Gu Chen on the spot!

Although the head of the Li family had ordered Gu Chen to be taken alive, he no longer cared about that.

"Die!"

Wang Chongshan roared as he appeared instantly before Gu Chen, launching his lethal strike. A menacing short blade emerged, radiating a fierce, blood-red light. This was his finishing move; even with his stats suppressed, it could deal nearly ten thousand damage in a single hit. A typical level 10 professional had at most eight or nine thousand health, and since Gu Chen was a magic-class user, his health would be even lower. The cruel blade transformed into a piercing edge, falling mercilessly toward Gu Chen.

-9999

An exaggerated damage figure popped up. Wang Chongshan’s face erupted in unprecedented excitement. Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine damage in one hit! Explosive damage! A sinister grin spread across his face; he could already see Gu Chen being cut down by his strike.

However, Gu Chen’s Priest Robes were glowing faintly. The lethal strike had not harmed Gu Chen at all; it had merely struck his shield—and failed to even break it!

[Priest Robes]
[Attributes: Constitution +35, Physical Defense +10%, Magic Defense +20%]
[Effect: Provides a shield equal to 10x total attributes.]

What were Gu Chen’s total attributes? The Priest set provided 80 points, the set bonus added another 150 points, the attribute fruits added 400 points, and his growth to level 10 brought his base total to 870. In short, Gu Chen’s total attributes were 1,500, meaning his shield value was 15,000! A 9,999-damage strike was powerful, but for Gu Chen, it was still not enough.

"How is this possible?!"

Wang Chongshan’s face was filled with intense horror. He was a level 29 assassin! Even with his attributes cut in half, it was impossible for him to be unable to defeat a level 10 novice. Worse, his strongest strike hadn't even penetrated the opponent's defense! Wang Chongshan’s confidence was utterly shattered.

"You're just a hired hand for the Li family, why are you risking your life?" Gu Chen asked with a hint of disdain.

Wang Chongshan’s eyelids twitched, and his first instinct was to activate a skill to flee.

[Ghost Step]

Activate!

The next second, his expression changed abruptly. It wouldn't activate? His energy was bottomed out? At the same time, ten shadows appeared on his body, binding him in place. Wang Chongshan collapsed mentally. He couldn't win, and he couldn't run. Looking at the contemptuous smile on Gu Chen’s face, a wave of intense fear surged within him. In this moment, he realized the truth and was filled with profound regret.

The ones who died were the Li family's people; he was just a lowly worker, why was he risking his life?

"Gu Chen, please spare my life! I didn't intend to harm you, the Li family forced me!"

He looked toward Gu Chen, knelt, and kowtowed while weeping bitterly, abandoning all resistance. "Please, let me go! If you spare me, everything I own is yours!"

The moment the words left his lips, his figure was enveloped by the black mist transformed from the Nightmare Sovereign.

[Illusory Instant Kill]

In an instant, the tenfold damage erupted. With a look of intense fear and unwillingness, Wang Chongshan’s corpse collapsed heavily to the ground.

"If I kill you, everything you own is mine anyway."

Gu Chen’s eyes remained indifferent. As the battle ended, the Vampire Monarch consumed 15,000 health to convert the five corpses on the ground into vampire descendants. These five second-tier vampire descendants not only retained their original levels and attributes but also possessed vampiric instincts. Furthermore, a second-tier vampire’s self-destruct damage could reach 5,000 points, making them excellent assets in critical moments.

Gu Chen then ordered the vampire descendants to retrieve all the equipment dropped on the ground.

[Healing Scepter LV.20 (Excellent)]
[Cleric Robes LV.20 (Excellent)]
[Hurricane Greatsword LV.20 (Excellent)]
[Hurricane Armor LV.20 (Excellent)]
[Fang Dagger LV.25 (Rare)]

...

Aside from the assassin’s short blade, which was Rare grade, the rest were Excellent. It was understandable; they were just hired hands, and how much could they possibly earn working themselves to the bone? Rare equipment started at a million, so it was unlikely they could afford them. Beyond that, there were some items and materials. Most were useless to Gu Chen, but they could at least be sold on the trading platform for some money, so Gu Chen stored them all in his spatial inventory.

Finally, only a scroll radiating a blue glow remained in his hand.

[First-Tier Skill Scroll]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Effect: Randomly grants a first-tier skill of the user's class; may grant a skill already mastered.]