Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 474 Breakthrough!

Xia Nan was unaware of the specific challenge level of the shark-like monster before him.

But without a doubt, this should be the most powerful enemy he has encountered recently, second only to the adult red dragon banished by the mage Violet.

In just a few rounds of combat, his keen senses allowed him to clearly perceive the opponent's exaggerated physical strength, which seemed capable of crushing steel.

The fact that the "deflection field" could shatter the [Death Line] ring with a single punch is enough to prove that the immense power of its attack is beyond the physical defense capabilities of people of their level.

Therefore, having realized this during the brief exchange, I temporarily adjusted my battle strategy, using my mobility to entangle and kite the opponent, avoiding direct combat as much as possible.

In battles of this caliber, low-level enchanted equipment like the [Death Line] ring might be falling behind, but with the [Fang Hunter]'s combat skill grade and his outstanding physical attributes, it can still serve as the core of his combat, at least enough to keep things going.

In the end, he did achieve his goal, buying enough time for his teammates who were under mental control.

Now that Hein, Lorraine, and others have joined the battlefield, the immense pressure that was originally weighing solely on Xia Nan's shoulders has been relieved, allowing him to return to his comfort zone and wander the edge of the battlefield as a free agent.

Of course, we can't just stand by and watch.

It's unclear whether this is due to his inherent personality or a habit he developed as his fighting style gradually took shape.

When Xia Nan is playing in a team match, he prefers to stay on the sidelines and expand his vision to the entire battlefield.

He was just like a winter wolf in hunting mode, pacing slowly in the shadows, carefully observing the prey surrounded by his teammates, looking for its weaknesses. At the same time, he could also use his mobility to provide support when his teammates were in danger.

Currently, although time has been short and the massive shark beast hasn't revealed much, Xia Nan has found what he believes to be a breakthrough:

—The pale human body that was fused with the other's body.

He had no idea how the two had combined in such a distorted way, nor where they had come from.

However, from a practical combat perspective, this alien creation, formed by the fusion of two species, perfectly compensates for each other's weaknesses.

The shark-like beast's massive body forms the foundation of its terrifyingly powerful physique; while the human-like body's magical abilities grant this monster a ranged attack method for controlling the battlefield.

To put it bluntly, just considering the nearly five seconds of mental control just now, if there wasn't a "supermodel monster" like Xia Nan with special resistance abilities in the team, giving everyone time to break free from the control, it would have been a huge mistake.

With just one charge from the Shark Beast, the Blade of Vengeance squad would likely suffer heavy casualties.

Furthermore, the existence of this human body increases the shark beast's margin for error in combat.

The invisible shockwave that swept outwards directly prevented the body from being seriously injured.

...We must first deal with the human body that has been fused to the other side!
As her thoughts raced, Xia Nan made a decision in her heart.

Even faster than his thoughts were his physical actions.

Even as he decided on his next battle strategy, Xia Nan's body had already charged halfway through the wolf's howl.

It wasn't recklessness, but rather his instinct as a free agent in the team that made him realize he needed to take action.

Buzz-boom——

The shockwave from the silent scream of the human body sent Lorraine, Sasha, and the barbarian Aken flying from around the shark beast.

The shark stumbled a few steps as it stepped into the mud, taking the opportunity to regain its balance.

Meanwhile, the few people who had been thrown back by the shockwave had just landed.

They behaved differently.

Lorraine had the highest professional level and the most comprehensive physical qualities among the three. Although she looked a bit disheveled, she managed to adjust her center of gravity in mid-air, her two pointed leather boots sinking deep into the mud.
Sasha, the spotted cat, was agile. Although his low defense caused his eyes to daze for a moment after being hit in the face by the shockwave, his wild bloodline still made him seem like a nimble big cat. His fluffy long tail swayed as he twisted his waist in the air and landed nimbly on all four feet.

Under the impact, it was actually the seemingly strongest barbarian, Arken, who performed exceptionally poorly.

Already in a state of shock after his powerful leap and strike, and having just pulled his anchor-shaped giant axe from the mud, his strength was completely dissipated.

The impact left them no time to react, and they landed on their backs almost face up.

In response, the shark beast was clearly quite intelligent, and in an instant, it chose the target among the three people around it that was most likely to cause actual casualties.

However, just as he regained his balance, he was like a small mountain, rushing towards the barbarians with a strong, fishy wind.

Before Xia Nan arrived on the battlefield, a beam of turquoise magical light appeared.

——Ring 2, Variation System, Thorny Thicket
As the core of the entire team, Hein may not be able to become a "spell turret" with the main output like many high-level spellcasters, due to her Druid class and level 3 class level, or to cast powerful spells with long chanting preparation to achieve a decisive effect.

Even when faced with unexpected encounters during a mission, she is still able to leverage the advantages of her spellcasting abilities to provide ample support to her teammates as a core controller.

hum-

A bluish-green glow fell onto the muddy ground.

Unlike the previous first-ring "Entanglement Technique", the plants growing from below have changed from the original aquatic vines to more resilient and thorny brambles.

Even the range of the spell's effect has significantly expanded, from a small area under the enemy's feet to the entire open space between the sharks and the barbarians.

Knowing that the sharpness of the thorns was insufficient to damage the thick, tough shark skin on the shark's body, they knew that if they rushed at it, it would quickly break free.

Hein, with his extensive combat experience, chose to trade "quality" for "quantity," slowing down the enemy by placing as many thorns as possible along their path.

fruitful!

The enormous shark beast, entangled in thorns, seemed to be walking through a dense forest, with numerous tough thorns climbing up with each step it took.

Perhaps its superior physical attributes caused the thorns to snap off as soon as they wrapped around it, but with each step, the shark's speed gradually slowed down.

This bought time for the barbarian Arken, who was struggling to get up from the ground, and also bought time for Shanan, who was rushing to his aid.

hold head high--

A familiar, long, mournful wolf howl suddenly came from the back of my head.

The anger that had been suppressed in his heart rose again. The shark beast stopped its steps, which were entangled by thorns, turned its body, and slammed its right arm through the air behind it.

I could vaguely feel a pain in my back; clearly, I had been cut by the blade again.

But I didn't feel any real impact on the object when I swung my arm.

Strike once and retreat immediately!

In order to maximize his speed and agility, Xia Nan didn't even use the [Gravity Etching] skill, which can cause a lot of damage, and launched attacks on the enemy purely in the form of harassment.

The shark's forward lunge involuntarily slowed down.

This also allowed the barbarian Arken, who had been thrown to the ground by the shockwave, to finally get up.

"Attack the human body on its body!"

Surrounded by a dark, powerful wind, Xia Nan retreated rapidly, dodging the shark beast's pursuit, while giving a warning to the others.

In fact, after this experience, Lorraine and the others, who were experienced in combat, became even more aware of the dangers posed by human bodies and quietly shifted their targets to the human bodies fused with the shark beast's torso.

"Sizzle!"

Replacing Xia Nan was a dazzling burst of fire that suddenly rose from beside the shark beast. The [Scale Fire Scimitar], enveloped in orange-red flames, swung through the air at an exaggerated speed that was difficult to detect with the naked eye, leaving dazzling streams of flame around the hot female captain. For a moment, the flames seemed to envelop her entire body.

【Spinning Blade Cage Dance】, from the 【Curved Blade Master】 class, is a combat skill that has also been mastered to a high level.

While possessing a certain degree of lethality, it is typically used to deflect ranged attacks such as liquids or arrows.

In the current situation, using this more defensive approach is undoubtedly questionable.

But Lorraine clearly had her own ideas.

Currently, with the added power of the flames attached to the [Scale Fire Scimitar], its imposing presence has increased, while the dazzling flames also serve to distract attention.

The shark beast, which was trying to chase Xia Nan, was immediately attracted by the firelight.

Without dodging or defending, it arrogantly relied on its immense strength to deliver a punch.

Clearly, they had been prepared for this.

At the moment when the shark-like beast raises its right arm, its muscles contract and expand to store power.

The sharp stream of flames dancing in front of him suddenly stopped!
Lorraine abruptly stepped back and jumped away from her original spot.

There was no need for direct verbal communication; just a few glances and the tacit understanding accumulated over the years were enough for her and her teammates to communicate.

When the situation on the field changes, the original role of the main attacker responsible for causing damage is transformed into a strategy role that creates space for teammates to deal damage.

Taking advantage of the dazzling flames that attracted the enemy's attention, Sasha, the spotted cat-man, crouched like a wild beast and moved with the wind, and secretly slipped to the side and rear of the shark beast's blind spot.

Seizing the opportunity when it was charging up its punch, the level 4 Ranger unleashed its full combat power in an instant.

With its paw pads swirling around the wind, the cat pounced through the mud as if walking on flat ground, its long tail swaying behind it to maintain its balance.

He held the two swords upside down, their surfaces surrounded by scorching flames.

[Blazing Slash]!
This is a rare spellcasting combat skill from the Ranger class, which increases attack damage and adds fire damage to the weapon.

As the flames dissipated, the sharp blade pointed directly at the shark-beastman's body!
It was supposed to be a blind spot, but whether it was intentional or an oversight, Sasha only bypassed the shark beast's perspective, but not the human head that grew out of its side chest.

The moment it leaped into the air, it was spotted by the deformed, deathly pale human body.

Sensing danger, the twisted face, dripping with blood and tears, raised once more, its mouth wide open, facing the spotted cat-man.

"Ho-hoo-hoo-hoo!"

A violent sonic wave, gathered into a bundle, surged forth from its mouth, leaving deep craters in the soft mud along its path.

If hit head-on by such a sonic attack, given the physical strength of the Spotted Catman, he would likely be severely injured and lose his ability to fight on the spot.

But to everyone's surprise, Sasha seemed to have anticipated this.

Or perhaps he did it on purpose, to make the other party aware of his movements and launch an attack.

The Spotted Cat's agility, combined with his leopard-like lithe body, allowed him to use his long tail to generate a second burst of power the instant his feet left the ground.

With a side somersault, he nimbly and gracefully dodged the beam of sound waves that swept past.

He is not a primary attacker either!

Lorraine used the firelight to attract the shark beast's attention, while Sasha feigned an ambush, but in reality, it was also to keep the human body from paying attention to anything else.

The two who were in charge of the main attack in the previous round of battle, due to the reversal of the situation on the field, tacitly chose to create space for their teammates to deal damage.

The one who actually delivered that fatal blow was the Barbarian Arken, who was half a step slower to get up after falling to the ground, and who went from being the first to attack to being the last to attack in the round.

"Ahhhhh!!!"

His entire body was covered in a dense red light, and the power of his rage instantly pulled his physical strength to the peak that he could reach at level 4.

The speed seemed slow, but the powerful burst of force released in an instant almost crushed the air. You could vaguely see the airflow reflecting the red light on its body and flowing behind it, forming a blurry outline.

From the mud beneath their feet, the last remaining thorns surged forward, attempting to tightly bind the shark's body.

Engulfed in raging fury and blazing light, the barbarian's body swelled twice its size, his giant axe wielding him like a lance in the hands of a charging cavalryman. At this moment, nothing could stop his advance.

It was about to fall, its gaze fixed on the human body that had grown from the shark-like beast's torso.

Just then, the shark beast, which had just thrown a punch at Lorraine and was in a state of stiffness after the attack, and was also temporarily stiffened and unable to turn around due to the thorns, suddenly moved.

Suddenly, it opened its gaping maw, large enough to swallow an adult human whole.

Hanging down, towards the ground.

"Splash!!!"

A torrent of water gushed from its mouth.

The immense thrust that erupted in that instant lifted its nearly four-meter-tall, muscular body off the ground.

Like a giant rock being pushed by the water flow, its entire body was carried backward by the water spurting from its mouth.

In a critical moment, it mimicked Lorraine's previous [Flame Breath Reverse Tide] and managed to achieve a very brief displacement by relying on its own water-spitting ability.

He let the giant anchor axe, which contained the full power of a level 4 professional and was capable of splitting steel in two, fall onto the open ground in front of him.

This also caused the barbarian Arken, wielding a giant axe, to expose his side to the shark beast after gathering all his strength to attack, leaving himself no way out and completely defenseless.

A cruel glint flashed in the dead blackfish's eyes, and viscous droplets of saliva mixed with the spray from its mouth dripped down.

It raised its fist high toward the barbarian in front of it.

hum-

A pink magical glow flashed through the air for a fleeting moment.

——Ring 2 · Bewitching and Control System · Human Immobilization Technique!
It will obviously not work on the shark beast's true form, which is a monster.

But when the magical light fell on his side, on that fragile human body, it was enough to freeze his pale form completely.

It cannot sound an alarm, nor can it cast spells.

They could only watch helplessly as the pitch-black figure, enveloped in illusory energy, approached in an instant amidst the sudden howl of wolves.

He watched helplessly as the sharp wolf fang, its surface glowing with an ochre-red light, pierced his neck with a piercing howl as the air was torn apart.

"Boom boom!!!"

The shark-like creature is shown sideways, with the human head positioned there.

Accompanied by a high-frequency, piercing energy hum, a small, reddish-brown firework suddenly exploded.

Blood mixed with bone fragments and flesh fell slowly amidst roars filled with pain and endless rage.

(End of this chapter)