"Where are those things? Are we going to confront them?"
Umbrella Brother really needs to vent right now.
"No, keep moving forward. Although it’s unclear why, those things seem to be afraid of something, so they don’t dare come near us."
The more you know, the greater the mental burden, and Su Xiao is the one bearing the most pressure in the team.
Previously, there were probably hundreds of those things around, all following from afar. Su Xiao had thought about engaging them, but the idea fizzled the moment it appeared because their numbers shot up to several thousand in seconds.
The current situation is such that the way ahead is clear without those things in the way, while all other directions are surrounded, so they can only head forward.
Su Xiao opened the task list, a new task had already appeared.
[Hidden task second phase ’Death Land’ completed, third phase (final phase) activated.]
Difficulty Level: Lv.19
Task Brief: Eliminate the Dark King before he fully awakens.
Task Info: The Dark King is located deep within the Black Forest. (Warning: If the Dark King fully awakens, the task difficulty will rise to Lv.28.)
Task Reward: This is a chain task, rewards given based on task completion.
The hidden task has skyrocketed to a terrifying Lv.19, with the potential to rise to Lv.28 at any moment.
If the so-called Dark King fully awakens, Su Xiao is a goner. There’s no way back now, only forward.
As the group proceeded, a noise came from the forest ahead.
They focused and realized it was a Wild Boar eating.
This Wild Boar was entirely black, as large as a bull, with two tusks protruding from its mouth that vaguely had a metallic quality.
"What’s it eating... so disgusting."
Umbrella Brother frowned deeply; the scene before him was hard to accept.
The beast had a human arm in its mouth, the arm already somewhat withered and half-eaten, yet despite this, the arm in the boar’s mouth was still struggling desperately, clawing fiercely at the boar’s nostrils.
The boar snorted disdainfully, dropping the arm to the ground and stomping on it heavily before picking it up and chewing it to bits.
Noticing the sound of footsteps, the boar turned its head.
The boar spoke, and more importantly, it spoke a language the group could understand.
"The... the boar talked."
A talking boar suddenly appearing in the current environment was a significant mental shock to everyone.
"Who are you calling a boar, you little prick."
The boar raised its head, and it was then the group noticed its eyes were entirely black, with no distinction between pupils and irises.
Umbrella Brother was at a loss for words, hesitating for a long time, unsure whether he should retort.
"Here for survival trials or to complete a task?"
The boar sat on the ground, seemingly with no hostility.
Su Xiao sized up the boar, feeling a mix of familiarity and strangeness towards it.
"Your predecessor, a contractor from several batches ago who failed while trying to reap benefits deep in the Black Forest."
As expected, from the boar’s earlier words, it was clear they were from Earth.
"And what’s with your current appearance?"
Umbrella Brother felt a chill down his spine; this contractor’s transformation implied they might suffer the same fate.
"Why should I tell you? You’re surrounded by the Undead, you’re doomed. I advise you to have a little carnival before your death. Just as well, there’s a girl in your team, though she’s young, she’s usable."
The boar sneered, examining the group with interest.
Su Xiao stepped past Umbrella Brother, walking slowly towards the boar.
"Looking to fight? Even though I look neither human nor ghost now, my strength has increased far beyond yours, a mere First Tier..."
A Blade Aura was unleashed, and the boar quickly lay flat on the ground, while the thick tree half a meter behind it was severed, the slanted cut smooth and clean.
"Hey, that was a Blade Aura, how can a First Tier contractor wield such a thing?"
The boar looked in horror at the slowly falling tree.
Realizing Su Xiao had made a move, Umbrella Brother quickly rushed forward, while Little Confused cast several buffs on Su Xiao, and Old Bar watched behind them to guard against any threats from the rear. The source of thɪs content is 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
The beast shouted, but Umbrella Brother and Su Xiao ignored it, charging straight at the boar.
"Hmph, so what if you can unleash Blade Aura? In life, I was at the pinnacle of the First Tier as well."
The boar kicked the ground, charging at full speed towards the group.
Umbrella Brother halted his forward rush, positioning himself perfectly between Su Xiao and the boar.
Umbrella Brother lowered his body, extending his arms. As the boar charged towards him, steam surged from the gloves, precisely grasping the boar’s head.
It was like a speeding train crashing into a rock; the boar’s head was firmly caught by Umbrella Brother.
Underfoot, earth splattered as dried leaves sprayed behind him, his legs digging into the soil, body leaning forward.
Fine cracks appeared on Umbrella Brother’s shoulders, but he stood firm, not taking a step back. A main tank dies facing forward; they don’t flee. At least that’s what Umbrella Brother believes.
The boar sneered, cold air exuding from its body.
A Long Knife pierced through the boar’s flank; the boar’s expression froze, feeling intense pain.
Dragon Slash penetrated the boar’s body, and Su Xiao pressed forward with force.
The boar slumped to the ground, sending dried leaves flying, the Dragon Slash completely bore through its body.
"Pain sensation? Is this pain sensation? Hahaha, how many years, how many years has it been since I last felt pain?"
Despite being impaled, the boar laughed wildly.
Su Xiao withdrew Dragon Slash, while Umbrella Brother still held the boar’s head tightly.
Dragon Slash flipped in his hand, changing from a regular grip to a reverse grip, right hand holding the knife, left hand braced against the pommel, Su Xiao stabbed the boar’s head.
The long knife penetrated the boar’s brain, just as Umbrella Brother was about to let go.
Su Xiao gripped the hilt, looking down at the boar.
"How did you do it? Make me feel pain."
Even with its skull pierced, the boar spoke with a calm demeanor, showing no signs of impending death.
Su Xiao withdrew the knife, Dragon Slash switching to a regular grip as he prepared to decapitate the boar.
Su Xiao ignored the plea, the knife continued its arc downward.
"Want to see the Dark King? That was my goal in life; you must be searching for the Dark King."
The long knife stopped a few inches from the boar’s neck, the sharp Blade Aura having slashed off some of its fur.
"You’ve seen the Dark King."
"Of course, my transformation is its masterpiece."
The boar scrutinized Su Xiao.
"If the Dark King is in a half-awakened state, you might be able to kill him, I can guide you."
Su Xiao shook his head.
"I don’t trust you; chopping you up seems more reliable."
Su Xiao poised to swing his knife.
"Chopping me up won’t do any good. Even if you hack me into pieces, I won’t die. Rest assured, with my current state, deceiving you offers no benefit. To be specific, I’m already dead."
The boar sighed helplessly, those completely black eyes devoid of desire, greed, or emotion—only a wish for death.