It was angry, very angry!
The hair on top of the Large Hannya’s head, which looked like withered grass, stood up one by one. From the roots to the tips, the strands quickly dyed themselves blood-red.
Its two copper-bell-sized eyes widened as it glared menacingly at the “food” that had repeatedly stopped it from eating—the one whose hands glowed.
*Roar!* With a furious howl, it charged toward Yoshimura Umeko.
Although Yoshimura Umeko’s face was slightly pale, she turned and ran the moment she saw it coming. At the same time, another Paper Charm appeared in her hand.
“Shikigami: Protection!”
The Paper Charm in her hand glowed once more, forming a light screen between her and the Large Hannya.
She knew she wasn’t as fast as the Large Hannya.
The performance of Shikigami: Blood Explosion was indeed impressive, but every time she used the skill, it consumed a significant amount of the user’s Health Points. However, among the skills she currently possessed, it was the only one that could damage the Large Hannya.
The light shield formed by Protection only managed to stop the Large Hannya for a brief moment before it was shattered under the beast’s sharp claws. But that single moment was enough for her to put some distance between herself and the boss.
Meanwhile, Luo Taozhi quickly escorted the villager she had saved to a safe location before turning back to the battlefield.
Just as she returned, she saw Yoshimura Umeko shooting red lines at the Large Hannya again. After the lines pierced the monster’s legs, Umeko quickly rushed in another direction, using shields to block the beast’s path.
Seeing Yoshimura Umeko’s fluid execution of “Blood Explosion, Protection, and Run,” Luo Taozhi was stunned.
This didn’t look like someone who had barely survived a fight with the Large Hannya; she was clearly kiting the boss like a dog!
It wasn’t until Luo Taozhi looked at the information above Yoshimura Umeko’s head that she understood why the woman had looked so weak back then.
[Yoshimura Umeko]
[Health Points: 555/1200 (Minor Injury)]
No wonder!
Her previous 1,050 Health Points had decreased by 450 after three uses of Blood Explosion. That sacrifice had converted into output, but it only seemed to deal about 300 damage to the Large Hannya.
Without a doubt, this was a losing trade. She was losing big time!
It was no surprise the boss had only been repelled before. Based on this damage, even if Yoshimura Umeko squeezed herself dry to use Blood Explosion eight times, she would only deal 800 damage!
There was no way she could win like that…
While Luo Taozhi complained internally, she had already closed in on the boss, whose eyes were fixed solely on Yoshimura Umeko.
Qi Gathering, then a heavy sword thrust!
The longsword, shrouded in white light, struck the Large Hannya’s joint with force!
-45! Critical Hit!
After using the Qi Gathering skill, the damage from Luo Taozhi’s sword increased significantly. Combined with the double damage from a Critical Hit, she actually managed to deal such high damage to a Level 20 boss!
Even though the boss was in a weakened state, Luo Taozhi was still very satisfied. At the very least, being able to deal damage was a good start.
She was only Level 6, after all.
Looking at it this way, the boss didn’t seem that difficult.
Luo Taozhi held her glowing white longsword and continuously slashed at the Large Hannya’s joints, abdomen, and other soft, vulnerable areas.
-45! Critical Hit!
-20!
-45! Critical Hit!
…
Damage numbers continuously appeared above the Large Hannya. It felt like there was a biting little insect at its side.
However, it didn’t want to pay attention to her. Only that damned “food” with the red light in her hands was the most annoying, and being hit by that side hurt much more.
The Large Hannya’s gaze remained fixed on Yoshimura Umeko from beginning to end. But because Umeko kept releasing Protection, the beast couldn’t even touch her.
This allowed Luo Taozhi to deal damage comfortably. Since the boss ignored her completely, she only had to follow behind it and keep swinging her sword.
In truth, the Large Hannya was just unlucky.
If it were a typical player, they wouldn’t necessarily be able to follow behind and hit it constantly. After all, even with Yoshimura Umeko’s speed buff, an average player’s mechanics wouldn’t allow them to accurately hit the moving joints of a monster in motion.
1045/5000
1000/5000
955/5000
…
As the Large Hannya chased Yoshimura Umeko, its health bar drained away like flowing water.
Although the damage numbers were only in the double digits, they were not to be underestimated when accumulated.
*Roar!*
Finally, when its Health Points dropped to only 700, the Large Hannya finally turned its gaze toward Luo Taozhi—the little insect that had been biting its heels this whole time.
Sharp claws carried the sound of the wind. Even as they shattered the Protection shield, their power remained undiminished as they swept toward Luo Taozhi behind it.
“Oh?”
Luo Taozhi performed a mid-air twist to dodge the Large Hannya’s sneak attack.
‘It even knows how to surprise attack. Not bad.’
Looking at the boss that had turned to attack her, Luo Taozhi didn’t panic at all. She dodged the Large Hannya’s attacks while looking for an opportunity to strike hard at its weak points with her sword.
Suddenly, another red line appeared before Luo Taozhi’s eyes, and Yoshimura Umeko’s voice reached her ears.
“Shikigami: Blood Explosion!”
-100
-45! Critical Hit!
-100
-45! Critical Hit!
…
Two consecutive red lines flashed past Luo Taozhi, and a total of 200 damage appeared instantly.
At the same time, the Large Hannya’s gaze returned to Yoshimura Umeko.
Seeing the boss abandon her to rush toward Yoshimura Umeko, Luo Taozhi understood.
It seemed the mechanic for this dungeon worked like this.
Discounting the Health Points she had lost from Luo Taozhi’s accidental strike earlier, Yoshimura Umeko had a maximum of 1,200 Health Points. She could release Blood Explosion eight times, or seven times if she wanted to guarantee she didn’t die.
That equaled 700 Health Points worth of damage.
At the start, Yoshimura Umeko would release Blood Explosion three times. Until the player’s damage exceeded 300, the boss’s Aggro would stay glued to her. Once the player’s damage surpassed 300, the boss would immediately attack the player. After attacking for a while, Yoshimura Umeko would release Blood Explosion again to pull the boss’s Aggro back to herself.
All the player had to do was ensure their own survival when the Aggro shifted.
With 1,500 Health Points provided by the NPC’s mechanics, a player could safely output 1,400 points of damage while staying alive. The amount of damage the player actually had to risk their life for was only 100 points.
Furthermore, this was a party dungeon that allowed up to five people (Level 6-10). That meant the party only needed an average of 20 DPS to clear it?
‘So this dungeon is actually a benefit for Novice Village players?’
It was just meant for players to practice.
While Luo Taozhi was thinking, the Large Hannya’s health bar was completely emptied.
The Large Hannya turned into black smoke and dissipated, leaving behind Yoshimura Umeko, who was panting heavily, and Luo Taozhi, who felt like she hadn’t quite had enough.
[Congratulations to Player Xiao Taozhi for the first clear of the dungeon: Forest of Rebirth (Level 6-10)!!!]
[Obtained First Kill Rewards: Golden Treasure Chest +1, Achievement Point +1]
[Obtained Title: Benefactor of the Forest!]
[Congratulations to Novice Village No. 001 for unlocking the dungeon: Forest of Rebirth (Level 6-10). Note: Only one party of players may challenge this per day.]
[Congratulations to Player Xiao Taozhi for obtaining…]
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