C37 Sneaky Foreign Adventurer

"What's the difference between a boss in the Death Domain and one in the Devil Domain? From the way you talk, it sounds like killing a boss here yields a lot of great loot."

Zhang Ze had limited knowledge of the Death Domain, so he turned to Killing Windchaser for information.

"Looks like it's your first time in the Death Domain. We can chat while we make our way."

The group hastened their pace toward the village. As they ran, Killing Windchaser explained, "If you're familiar with online games, you can think of the Death Domain as an Instance Dungeon. Defeating the monsters inside rewards you with plenty of valuable items. Similarly, taking down a boss in the Death Domain will net you treasures you can't find in the Devil Domain."

"Things like the attributeless Devil Soul Sphere, high-tier equipment, and rare artifacts, to name a few. Essentially, if we can defeat the boss and claim the prize, we're guaranteed a hefty haul!"

"However, it's worth mentioning that while the rewards in the Death Domain are substantial, so are the dangers. As I mentioned earlier, not only are the monsters here tough, but there are also many foreign adventurers with nefarious intentions. Acts of murder and robbery are all too common!"

"I've brought Yueying and Tian on this adventure into the Death Domain not just for the boss rewards, but also to expand their perspectives. Eventually, they'll have to fend for themselves in this perilous place."

Killing Windchaser glanced at Zhang Ze with a grin and said, "I'm not privy to your past or where you come from, but the fact that your family let you venture into the Death Domain alone suggests they're quite optimistic."

Zhang Ze remained silent. He had no family, and his solitary journey into the Death Domain was one of necessity, not choice.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the village, they discovered adventurers already clashing with monsters. Zhang Ze observed that the monsters were actually the villagers, their faces twisted in rage as they battled the adventurers with pitchforks and shovels.

"These villagers must be under some kind of possession to have turned out this way!" Killing Windchaser surveyed the scene and declared, "Let's head in. The boss is likely hidden somewhere inside the village. Whoever finds the boss first gets the chance to take it down."

The group charged into the village, following his lead. The place was a labyrinth, houses huddled together, each one a near-clone of the next. Without close scrutiny, it was impossible to tell them apart.

"We've been here before!" Lau Yueying exclaimed, eyeing a small wooden house nearby. "I remember this cabin. Looks like we've gotten ourselves lost."

No sooner had she spoken than a band of villagers burst from the wooden house. Nine strong, they quickly encircled Zhang Ze and his companions.

"Stay calm!" Killing Windchaser drew his massive sword and planted it firmly on the ground, his voice steady and commanding. "I'll hold the front, Yueying has the rear, with Tian and Mr. Rakshasa in the middle. We fight as we move—don't let those monsters split us up!"

"I understand!" Midsummer Night Dream's voice quivered as he struggled to grip his crystal ball—understandable for a novice adventurer.

Zhang Ze had checked Midsummer Night Dream's stats and found his attribute points were even lower than his own. To prevent the villagers from overwhelming them, Zhang Ze summoned Sword-shield Goblins and Rock Goblins for protection.

The battle was on!

The villagers proved themselves formidable monsters of the Death Domain, their offense and defense exceptionally tough. The goblins could barely scratch them, and Zhang Ze's arrows inflicted a paltry sub-ten-point damage. In contrast, the villagers' pitchforks and shovels dealt hundreds of points in damage to the goblins with each strike.

After a grueling effort, they nearly had one male villager down, but two of Zhang Ze's Sword-shield Goblins had fallen.

Killing Windchaser repelled a villager with a swift sword strike, then glanced over at Zhang Ze, noting his meager attack damage and inwardly shaking his head. "I had assumed that anyone who could rescue Yueying from the clutches of an Iron Tooth Wolf would be formidable, but this..."

Shaking off his doubts, Killing Windchaser swiftly dispatched the three villagers surrounding him and then spun around to assist Zhang Ze.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked down from the heavens!

The lightning struck with such abruptness that Killing Windchaser had no time to react, and was hit directly!

-277! (Dr. Legendary) (Paralysis Effect)

"I've been ambushed!" Killing Windchaser quickly identified his assailant. It was a foreign player clad in a red robe, known as Dr. Legendary!

"Ah, we meet again!" Dr. Legendary taunted Killing Windchaser with a menacing grin, then brandished his magic staff, hurling a fireball that struck Killing Windchaser squarely!

-318! (Dr. Legendary)

Zhang Ze, Lau Yueying, and the rest also detected something amiss, as two foreign adventurers had emerged before them.

One was a blonde archer, the Night Elf!

The other was a bald powerhouse gripping a massive axe, named Harrison!

"You three again!" Killing Windchaser's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with fury. "We spared you last time, and yet you have the audacity to come back for more! You're utterly despicable!"

"And what of it?" retorted the Night Elf with a smirk, launching an arrow towards Lau Yueying, which she deflected with her sword.

Harrison's axe came crashing down on a Sword-shield Goblin, landing a solid hit.

In a flash, the goblin's blood volume was halved!

Zhang Ze was taken aback by the bald man's formidable strength.

The situation was grim. Only four villagers remained to besiege Killing Windchaser, Zhang Ze, and their companions, with three high-level foreign adventurers looming on the outskirts.

Among Zhang Ze's team, only Killing Windchaser was a high-level adventurer. Lau Yueying, Zhang Ze, and Midsummer Night Dream were not.

Another lightning bolt lashed out at Killing Windchaser, paralyzing his just-recovered body for another thirty seconds!

"Damn it! If this keeps up, we might not make it out alive!" Killing Windchaser's brow was slick with cold sweat. The foreign adventurer before him was clearly intent on a massacre. And behind him were two younger members of his family, with Lau Yueying being the beacon of hope for their lineage!

"Yueying, pull back now—leave me be!"

Killing Windchaser retrieved a potion from his system backpack and downed it, a surge of red mist enveloping him. He had activated a state of heightened ability, immune to all negative effects for thirty seconds, though at the cost of taking 20% more damage.

"Sixth Uncle!" Lau Yueying's face was etched with worry. Knowing him as she did, it was clear he was preparing for a desperate last stand.