Chapter 176: Prankster Four-Person Group
Since it was just a Projection, Arach's Attack Pattern was relatively simple. Most of the time, it would fiercely bite with the yellowish-green fangs protruding from its upper jaw, occasionally sweeping with its front pair of steel claws. It was a Physical Attack type of Monster. As long as one could tolerate its terrifying Appearance, it was generally not difficult to handle. Its Head and limbs were very hard, making it feel less satisfying to hit, but its soft abdomen was its Weakness. Attacking there usually made it easier to deal higher Attack Damage.
The combination of Arach and the Dark One wasn't considered Powerful either. Therefore, this four-person Adventurer group looked completely at ease. The only thing they needed to watch out for was preventing Arach from escaping; its rogue-like method of retreating while scattering things was quite troublesome.
As I carefully observed the Operation of these four Adventurers, my eyes lit up. Although it was just a small-Scale Battle and I couldn't truly discern the Strength/Power of these four, the level they displayed was still refreshing. How should I put it? It could be described as extremely... flamboyant.
The Knight's fighting Style was relatively standard. After all, as the Party's Shield and healer, if he got too active, the entire Party would probably have a headache. However, his timely blocks and Heavy Blows were quite impressive.
The short Assassin, however, was lurking among the Monsters. If I hadn't been sharp-eyed, I probably would have thought there were only three people in the Party. I saw a black phantom moving rapidly through the horde, touching a Monster, then leaving immediately. He seemed to have a particular fondness for Arach's plump, upturned buttocks. The smile that occasionally spread across his face sent shivers down my spine.
Wearing blue hard Leather Armor and looking solemn, the Middle-aged Male Sorcerer, if I had met him normally, I would have definitely thought he was a typical polite, Knowledgeable, and wise Mage. However, the Style he displayed in Battle was truly hilarious.
Just looking at his footwork Style made it clear at a glance. His bizarre Pace, sometimes weaving like a snake, sometimes like stepping on the Big Dipper, sometimes advancing two steps and retreating three, mimicking Roving Waves Microstep. His Movements were slow, but they gave off a Feeling of being elusive and uncatchable.
His disorderly Figure casually approached, then suddenly stopped at a Distance that made the Monsters itch with impatience. Abruptly, a Frost Nova burst forth, and then he twisted his Buttocks and left...
Yes, he was twisting! Although the Movement was very slight. But how could it escape my Discerning Eye, equipped with Light Radius Stats, making me worthy of the title of Expert with piercing Gaze?
Of course, his footwork was not objectionable. For a Class like the Mage, with low agility and low Health, footwork is their second Life even before learning Teleport, no, even after learning Teleport.
A Mage who doesn't know footwork absolutely cannot survive in Trials.
But the flamboyant Aura emanating from this Mage's Movements, along with his light, floating Pace that could entice Enemies and make their teeth chatter, combined with his completely serious Expression, was truly speechless. It completely overturned the Image of a Mage in my mind. Even Fara, that Old Man, could at most be described as a rogue; he was far from being called "flamboyant". (I suspect Fara is also a flamboyant talent, he just feels too embarrassed to show it in front of the younger generation).
As for the remaining Barbarian, I had to give him a fierce compliment. Fierce, truly a fierce general! He swung two Sabers in his hands with such brutality, the whistling sound of tearing wind made even me, watching from a Distance, tremble with fear. I really didn't know where the Monsters desperately resisting in front of him got their courage.
He seemed to completely disregard the Attacks of the Dark One and Arach. His two Sabers spun like fans, swift and fierce. The man himself was a human-shaped tank, a mobile meat grinder. Wherever he went, Flesh and Blood splattered, and screams erupted one after another.
The frail Dark One simply couldn't withstand his trampling. Even Arach's hard limbs would break before the storm he whipped up. In between, he lifted his Head and let out an earth-shattering Roar. His face, covered in Blood and gore, looked like madness. He was using the Barbarian's Tier 2 Skill - Shout. At Level 1, it could increase his and his Teammates' Defense by 100%, which was even more terrifying than the Paladin's Resistance Aura. The only drawback was that the Duration was a bit short.
Looking at it this way, it's no wonder he gave up on Defense. Shout provides at least a 100% Defense bonus, plus the Paladin's at least 70% Defense bonus, even a Mage could hold their ground, let alone a Barbarian known for their thick skin and rough flesh? Having these four deal with these Monsters was really a bit of an overkill.
Watching the Barbarian's god-of-Battle-like posture, the exhilarating visual impact brought by the splattering Flesh and Blood made me boil with excitement. Indeed, among the Seven Major Classes, none dared to directly confront the Barbarian, known as the Battle Maniac.
They seemed born for Battle. As long as there was a Barbarian in the Party, there was absolutely no need to worry about Physical Attack output. They could even replace the Paladin as the Party's Tank. Especially High-Level Barbarians, their Defense was no less than a Paladin's, their Speed was no less than an Assassin's, and their Stamina reigned supreme among the Seven Major Classes. They were like tireless Combat Machines. Competing in Stamina with a Barbarian was widely recognized as the most foolish behavior.
Of course, this didn't mean the Barbarian Class was the strongest among the Seven Major Classes. Compared to their unparalleled advantages, their Weaknesses were also obvious: Magic. That's right, Magic was their only soft spot, and one of their fatal Weaknesses.
Firstly, their Magic Resistance is low. For example, if the Enemy is a normal-level Skeleton Mage that can cast Fire Bolt, the Wizard, who has the highest Magic Resistance among the Seven Major Classes, only needs 15 Fire Resistance to Resist its Fire Bolt Attack (taking less than 5 Damage). A Druid needs around [blank in original Chinese], while the Barbarian, with the lowest, needs to reach 30.
Secondly, they severely lack Magic Attack Methods corresponding to their Magic Resistance. Among the Barbarian's Combat Skills, only the Ultimate Skill they can master at Level 60, Berserk, comes with Magic Attack, and its Attack Rating is pitifully low. Therefore, when dealing with Monsters of the Type with high Physical Defense and low Resistance, the Barbarian's Efficiency is greatly reduced...
While I was recalling the advantages and disadvantages of the Barbarian Class mentioned in Cain's Book, the Battlefield opposite was gradually coming to an end. Firstly, the fragile Dark Ones were almost completely wiped out by the Assassin weaving through them and the Barbarian charging through like a heavy tank. Of the more than ten Arach, only four remained, hanging by a thread.
These four Arach clearly sensed the situation was bad. They seemed to Plan/Intention to escape. Their eerie green eyes in their strange compound eyes rolled wildly, and their limbs were tucked in like crabs. This was a sign before they ran away.
I saw them suddenly retreating. Their Speed was surprisingly not much slower than when they advanced, and their fiery red Buttocks twitched. It looked as if something was shooting out from inside.
And at this moment, an accident happened. That "Buttocks-targeting" Assassin with a lewd smile on his face seemed to still be savoring the pleasure of plunging his dagger into that soft abdomen. Unexpectedly, he was covered by the Spider Web spat out by that Arach. The invisible and colorless Spider Web fell over his Head, trapping him completely. The stickiness of the Spider Web Bound him inside, unable to move. In his struggle, he fell to the Ground like a worm.
The Arach, focused on escaping, hadn't expected such an unexpected Gain. The Spider Web it usually used for escaping had actually caught Prey? At this moment, its Spider Soul burned – how rare! It was probably the only Arach in the tribe that used Spider Silk to hunt Prey. No, it had to take him back. Now let's see who would dare say the Arach tribe's Spider Silk could only be used for escaping.
It continued spitting onto the Ground, its pair of steel claws rapidly alternating pulls like a fisherman hauling in a net, dragging the Assassin trapped in the Spider Web over and lifting him onto its back. It seemed to Plan/Intention to take the "Loot" back to its Lair.
The sudden incident left the other three Dumbfounded. Seeing the Assassin lifted high by the Arach like a hanging piece of pork, with an Incredulous and frustrated look, smiles immediately bloomed on the three men's faces. Piercing laughter erupted the next moment, especially from the Paladin, whose laughter was the most malicious.
It wasn't that they were indifferent to their Teammate's Life. They knew that although Arach's Spider Silk was very sticky and the Assassin's Strength was completely unable to break free, this stickiness would disappear quickly. In less than half a minute, the Assassin would be able to break free from it. That's why the three of them were watching the show; such a rare embarrassing incident couldn't be missed.
After the Assassin's miserable figure gradually became smaller as the Arach left, the three, having laughed enough, felt it was time to "rescue" their poor Teammate. If they waited for him to break free by his own Strength, the "newsworthiness" of this embarrassing incident at the Tavern would be lost by more than half.
"Hockley, I'll let you have this Favor. I... I can't take it anymore."
The Middle-aged Mage leaned against the Wall with one hand. His shoulders were constantly trembling, but his face still maintained a serious and solemn Appearance. Only the Muscles in his cheeks kept twitching, making him look a bit bizarre. He was indeed a flamboyant type of person.
Hockley, mentioned by the Mage, seemed to be that Barbarian. Facing the invisible and colorless sticky Spider Web on the Ground, he snorted disdainfully and suddenly jumped up like a cannonball. His massive Body, however, was as agile in the air as a white crane gliding with outstretched wings. He leaped forward nearly ten meters before his Figure slowed down. If not for the height restriction of the crypt, perhaps he could have leaped even higher and further.
"Hmph!"
The Barbarian, whose Figure had slowed slightly, roared again. His toes hadn't touched the Ground; instead, he leaned and pushed off the Wall. With a "bang," the hard Blue Flower Stone Wall immediately burst open, creating a small pit. Using this Strength, he leaped out again, his Figure already closing in on the escaping Arach from above.
Amazing!!
I watched Dumbfounded as that Shadow leaped like a great roc spreading its wings. Was this the Barbarian's Tier 2 Skill - Leap? It was truly insane! I never expected a tall Barbarian could achieve a Degree like a Martial Arts Master from novels with this Skill. Combined with their terrifying Melee Capability, the title of "Melee First" for Barbarians was well-deserved.
Three Leaps, it only took three Leaps, and the Barbarian caught up to the Arach that had already escaped twenty meters away. And the last Leap landed right in their center.
"Boom—"
When this scene appeared, my mind immediately conjured the moment the Tauren Chieftain in Warcraft used "War Stomp". The entire crypt shook three times, making me wonder if he would pierce through the Ground and fall directly to the third level. If that happened, everyone would be happy.
Unfortunately, the crypt was more substantial than I imagined. After such abuse, it still vibrated with its tenacious Body, absorbing the Barbarian's Strength. Instead, the four poor Arach were left dizzy under the intense stomping. Their Bodies swayed like drunken crabs, barely able to stand steady.
"Yo, boss, how much Money per pound for this hanging fresh meat?"
The Barbarian took advantage of this opening, lightly swinging the Saber in his hand at the thin thread between Arach's steel claws and the Assassin. Then he reached out and grabbed the broken thread, grinning at the Assassin hanging in his hand.
"Go away, go away, is that something a poor ghost can afford? If you're hungry, cut some off a Zombie's Body and make do. You poor kid who's never eaten meat."
The Assassin rolled his eyes, Feeling the Spider Silk on his Body gradually loosen. He struggled twice with Strength and finally freed his hands and feet.
"This time I'm truly embarrassed to death."
The Assassin grumbled as he tore at the Spider Silk stuck to his Body. Although the stickiness was reduced, it wasn't something he could clean off quickly. He immediately stared furiously at the four Arach who were tiptoeing and trying to sneakily escape.
"I'll stab your buttocks to pieces."
The Assassin rushed towards his "Enemy" like crazy. The Wrist Blade in his hand aimed at the Target, and he stabbed fiercely.
"Screech—"
The Arach, busy escaping and exposing its Buttocks, immediately let out a mournful cry. The shrill shriek made the big Men behind it touch their own Buttocks with lingering fear.
"Die, die..."
At this moment, the Assassin was like an incarnation of a Buttocks-stabbing maniac. His sharp, cold dagger continuously Thrust towards the same spot on the Arach, determined not to stop until he had stabbed its buttocks.
The Assassin, acting like a madman, also ignited the Barbarian's bloodlust. With a wild laugh, he continued to swing his Sabers, charging towards the other three Arach like the Death God's Scythe.
"Screech, screech—"
The glory of the Arach tribe, the only Arach Hero, Ayudasi, who successfully captured Prey with Spider Silk, finally couldn't withstand the crazy buttocks-stabbing from the escaped Prey. After letting out a sharp sound that was indistinguishable from a scream or an exhilarated cry, its entire soft large belly suddenly burst open, and colorful, disgusting Liquid flowed all over the Ground.
"Hockley, you bastard, one is escaping!"
The Assassin, burning with anger, clearly Plan/Intentioned to kill all these Arach. Ignoring the disgusting Liquid splattering onto his Body, he pointed at an escaping Arach and roared loudly.
"Alright, I'll leave this to you."
The Barbarian, his blood boiling, let out a roar. He threw down the Arach In Front of him, which was already covered in Scars, and with a fierce push of his foot, his entire Body suddenly shot up into the sky...
"Huh? Where'd he go?"
After a long time, the figure of the high-leaping Barbarian seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Only the figure of the Arach, running further and further away, remained, gradually disappearing into the depths of the dim corridor. Everyone simultaneously raised their Gaze. On the sturdy crypt Ceiling, a headless, muscular Body was hanging, its feet constantly struggling. In the eerie crypt, it looked particularly terrifying and... mischievous.