Chapter 98: You Want to Attack Me? I'll Fight You Head-On!

After Fengxi logged off and returned to the city to resurrect, the poison in Lin Jia’s body dissipated. Fully restored, Lin Jia hurried forward, already hearing the curses from the leader and the fourth member nearby: "Damn it! Damn it!"

When Lin Jia caught up, they hadn’t gone far. The leader and his summoned skeleton were struggling against Nangong Zangma’s level 5 azure skeleton, while the fourth member was wielding his heavy blade, fiercely chasing the Taoist. It was clear that the leader’s level 0 white skeleton was no match for the level 5 skeleton; the ground was already littered with bone fragments. Sometimes, the leader couldn’t even replenish the summoned white skeleton’s health before it was shattered by the enemy’s strikes—there was no time to heal.

The Taoist’s newly summoned mutated skeletons never had full health, a fact evident from their usual monster-hunting sessions. If a freshly summoned skeleton wasn’t healed first and sent into battle, it would likely be crushed before killing a strong monster like a wild boar. Fully healed skeletons seemed to have higher defense and attack, lasting much longer in combat.

The leader grumbled, “Damn! This cursed Taoist’s skeletons are ruthless! How did he manage to level ‘Summon Skeleton’ to level 2 in just a few days? Mine doesn’t even have 1,000 skill experience points yet!” If one relied only on leveling up by dying and summoning again, the skill might never max out before the game itself shut down. But how this Taoist had managed it was beyond Lin Jia and the others.

Seeing Lin Jia the mage approaching, the fourth member shouted, “Second Brother! Help! I can’t catch him! Damn it! All you do is poison!”

Nangong Zangma’s fighting skills were evidently excellent. He avoided direct confrontation with the fourth member’s high-attack warrior. Realizing he couldn’t win against the heavy blade, he instead coated the leader and the fourth member with green poison and then dragged the warrior into a marathon chase.

The female Taoist leader was busier than anyone else—poisoning Nangong Zangma and his skeleton to reduce their health and defense, healing her own skeleton and the fourth member, and occasionally disrupting Nangong Zangma with Soul Fire Talismans as he fled. She also wielded her demon-slaying sword to fiercely attack the enemy’s level 5 skeleton, seemingly harboring a deep grudge against it. Whether it was jealousy or something else, nobody knew.

Nangong Zangma was no different—while running, he poisoned the leader and the fourth member and healed himself and his skeleton. In the short time before Lin Jia arrived, the three had been locked in an intense battle.

Lin Jia didn’t rush into the fray immediately. Instead, he typed rapidly, sending out several taunts that made Nangong Zangma nearly spit blood:

“Dirty horse! Your girl is mine now! She doesn’t want you anymore! Did she tell you? Sorry~ This green hat isn’t one I’m helping you wear! Who told you not to cherish your girl, huh? If you like the pigs here, we’ll just give them to you~ Why resort to rough play!?”

Mentioning the “green hat” made Lin Jia think of the bright green prayer helmet on his little mage’s head, prompting him to snort in contempt.

Nangong Zangma was probably furious but couldn’t stop to type a reply. Lin Jia chuckled darkly and began randomly casting firewalls on the ground. Soon, patches of blazing fire erupted across the battlefield. Though the level 0 firewall’s power was limited, it greatly hindered Nangong Zangma, who had to dodge the burning ground while running. The fourth member, protected by Lin Jia’s team attack mode, was unaffected by the flames and could boldly sprint along the shortest path, relentlessly pursuing Nangong Zangma and landing several heavy blows.

The fourth member’s high-level gear gave him formidable attack power. The level 20-something Taoist had limited health, and after a few strikes, Nangong Zangma began frantically healing himself, gradually retreating beyond the firewall’s boundary. Once he disappeared from sight, Lin Jia placed another firewall beneath the level 5 skeleton fighting the leader and unleashed a torrent of lightning strikes. That level 5 skeleton was extremely dangerous; among the three brothers, only the leader could keep it distracted with endless summoned skeletons. If Lin Jia or the fourth were caught by it, they’d have to flee, dead or alive.

However, when Nangong Zangma realized Lin Jia’s plan, he recklessly ignored the fourth member’s pursuit and charged at Lin Jia himself. Lin Jia had planned to dodge, but after the soul fire talisman and demon-slaying sword struck him, he noticed his health consumption was roughly equal to what he regained from the potent healing potion. Grinning, he let out two chuckles and surprisingly forced Nangong Zangma to stand his ground and endure the attacks.

While furiously striking the level 5 skeleton with his left middle finger on F1 for lightning, Lin Jia’s other four fingers had already prepared four potent healing potions on hotkeys. He hammered the skeleton while keeping a close eye on his health, taking potions at the perfect moment and shouting, “Leader! Heal me! Fourth Brother, go for him!”

Lin Jia’s madness stunned the leader and the fourth member momentarily, but the leader’s level 3 healing spell soon transferred from her skeleton’s head to Lin Jia, and she charged forward, swinging her sword at Nangong Zangma, who was relentlessly attacking Lin Jia. The fourth member continued the chase, roaring as he slashed behind Nangong Zangma whenever he paused to strike Lin Jia.

Both sides fought to see who could outlast the other. But with Lin Jia’s support and a firewall at his feet, Nangong Zangma finally faltered and was ejected randomly. The level 5 super skeleton collapsed into a heap of shattered bones under the combined fury of Lin Jia’s lightning and the leader’s summoned skeleton.

The leader furiously healed Lin Jia while cursing, “Damn it! Lin the Mad! How dare you tank like that!?”

Lin Jia’s hands trembled uncontrollably from the intense keyboard and mouse action, but victory in the PK battle filled him with an indescribable thrill and excitement—far stronger than the joy of looting rare gear.

Raising his trembling hands, he flexed the fingers stiff from pressing F1 relentlessly and realized he enjoyed this feeling—the exhilarating intensity of PK battles he’d never experienced in any other online game.

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[Note: Apologies for the slow updates these past couple of days. Today’s second chapter will be out around 8 PM tonight! (If I can sneak away from work…) ]