C21 Summoned Mastiff

Lee Kai, unnoticed in the distance, was taken aback. This guy was audacious, brazenly using a skill. Didn't he fear being detected? After all, if the inhabitants of this world caught wind of the skill's existence, it would mean certain death for him.

A fog began to envelop the surroundings. Within moments, the entire area was shrouded in a dense mist, obscuring everything even at close range. Lee Kai's eyes widened as he scanned the area. "Silence. My senses are dulled."

"Zzzt, zzzt, zzzt..."

"Is that the sound of electricity?" The noise was unmistakable. "The only electronics around here must be the surveillance gear. This guy's got concerns too. But as for aerial surveillance, no worries there. It's impossible for them to see through the thickly wooded forest and this heavy fog."

"Wang Han, is this the best you can do? Hiding and sneaking around for an attack? You're no longer fit to be my adversary!" Bai Ya lifted a hand to his mouth, pushing a strip of flesh into it, his eyes gleaming with the ferocity and bloodlust of a Wild Wolf, yet still marked by caution and carefulness.

Wang Han remained silent in the fog. In a fight to the death, what good were extra words? He wasn't the protagonist; his Mouth Cannon wouldn't take anyone down, so better to kill quietly. Why bother with so many questions?

Bai Ya's taunt went unanswered, but he knew Wang Han was about to strike hard. He understood Wang Han well. Unlike Lee Kai, Wang Han's Newbie World was an incursion. From the first world, they clashed, two figures locked in a relentless battle, like sworn enemies fated to meet. Having crossed paths three times in just five worlds, their connection could only be described as a twisted fate.

Wang Han's major advantage was his explosive power. With that, coupled with his impressive abilities and speed, he managed to entangle himself with Bai Ya in every world.

Bai Ya, on the other hand, held significant advantages. His strength and stamina far surpassed Wang Han's, and now he had acquired a lineage that enhanced his reaction speed, allowing him to counter his opponent's sudden bursts. Under normal circumstances, he was more than capable of taking down Wang Han.

Some people seem to be born under a lucky star, while others aren't so fortunate. Wang Han is one of those exceptionally lucky individuals. His opponent had somehow acquired the ability to become invisible from an unknown world, along with a slew of irritating skills. Since their last encounter, Wang Han has found himself consistently outmatched.

The dense fog obscured their sight, giving Bai Ya the home-field advantage. Yet, Bai Ya showed no inclination to retreat. He remained motionless, aware that any sound he made would invite an attack, as it would mask the subtle noises Wang Han made while moving.

It wasn't time for Bai Ya to strike back; it was the beginning of being overpowered. Last time, his opponent had used this tactic to mask the sound of his movements, leaving him injured in an instant and nearly losing his life to Wang Han.

The two adversaries faced each other, neither daring to let their guard down. But the time for inaction was over.

"I can't linger here too long. It's an Active Skill deployed by the enemy, and within their domain, my fate is not my own. I need a strategy. One option is to hold that guy off and find a way to escape. The other is to take him out directly. Without him, the fog will likely clear. But to be safe, the first option is better. I'm still unsure which platform each of us belongs to. If I kill someone from my own platform, the other might retaliate."

With these thoughts racing through his mind, he released his sole Active Skill that could enhance his combat prowess. Shrouded by the fog, no one outside could discern what was happening. Even if there was a sudden surge in heat signatures, they couldn't be certain it wasn't his doing. Wasn't the fog itself a testament to that?

Summoned Mastiffs began to materialize around Lee Kai as he activated his skill. Accompanied by their deep barks, they positioned themselves at his side, their thick black fur rippling with each movement.

Their imposing stature matched the height of Lee Kai's thighs. Their deliberate paces showcased their powerful muscles and hefty bones. Describing them as 'well-built' might seem like an understatement, but it was an apt description nonetheless.

Lee Kai's eyes sparkled at the sight of the animal. Dogs have always been a favorite among men, and large breeds are particularly cherished. Lee Kai was no different; he adored dogs, especially the larger ones. If it weren't for the fact that he wasn't the only one in the studio, he would have already bought a few to keep as pets.

He gave the mastiffs that bumped into him a vigorous rub on their heads before checking their attributes.

Mastiff

Category: Familiar

Rarity: Common

Duration: 3 hours

Health: 100%

Strength: 9

Agility: 7

Stamina: 9

Intelligence: 2

Charm: 3

The attributes left Lee Kai astounded. Intelligence aside, since they were merely animals, the other three attributes were significantly superior to those of an average human. In fact, their strength and stamina were nearly double that of a normal person. By comparison, his own strength and stamina didn't even match up to a single mastiff.

Name: Lee Kai

War Code: 94272312

Level: LV.1 (Leveling up helps gain more platform information)

HP: 100%

Mana: 60

Strength: 8

Agility: 13

Stamina: 8

Intelligence: 6

Charm: 7

Feeling somewhat disheartened, Lee Kai began to question the man who had sold him the skill. "Wasn't it said that a summoner's early-stage skills aren't very powerful? Why does it seem pretty decent to me? Suddenly having so many helpers feels quite good." He watched the mastiffs circling him and once again reached out to pet these delightful creatures.

Summoning Circle – Mastiff (Active): Summons a beast with strong combat abilities to aid in battle, consuming 10 mana with each use. This was the skill he had traded for earlier. Compared to the basic summoning circle (Active), this skill's combat capabilities were not just average, but significantly stronger. The creatures summoned were no mere animals, but formidable beasts. Was it because of these two factors that he had familiars with such impressive attributes? Then why were they considered not strong? Was it because they didn't deal direct damage like other skills, or because skills of the same level could easily defeat a mastiff? After pondering for a moment, Lee Kai concluded that this must be the reason.

After briefly pondering the issue, he dismissed it from his mind. Having issued commands to the mastiffs telepathically, he stealthily concealed himself and crept toward the source of a faint sound.

At the time of Lee Kai's summoning, Wang Han and Bai Ya were already embroiled in combat, sparked by a somewhat laughable cause. Wang Han was on the verge of a successful ambush when a sudden roar disrupted his steps, causing a noise that alerted Bai Ya. But it's hard to fault him; anyone in a silent, eerie forest would be startled by such a roar. Yet, when compared to Yu Han and Wang Xin's encounter with a cat, whose cries were far more jarring and terrifying, Wang Han's reaction seemed mild.

The clash of weapons echoed as Bai Ya, with his bloodied mouth, faced the oncoming Wang Han. "Is your mental fortitude so fragile that a few shouts expose you?" he taunted.

"Still as talkative as ever, Bai Ya? How have you managed to survive this long? Or do you think you can defeat me with your Mouth Cannon?" Wang Han retorted, parrying Bai Ya's blade and swiftly stepping back, intending to vanish into the dense fog. Fleeing after a missed strike wasn't in his nature; he was determined to try again if at first, he didn't succeed.

But Bai Ya was no fool. He wouldn't allow Wang Han to slip back into the fog. Opportunities and surprises didn't come around every time. This time, the shout had betrayed Wang Han's position, and Bai Ya knew such a chance might not come again.

With a forceful stomp, Bai Ya surged forward, dirt and leaves scattering behind him, his presence marked by the scent of blood and a gust of wind. In an instant, he was before Wang Han, his blade descending sharply.

"You want to leave? I won't hold you back. Go ahead, if you think my blade won't harm you," Bai Ya thought, his resolve as sharp as his weapon.

Wang Han certainly didn't entertain such thoughts. He wasn't a master at evading, so it was impossible for him to simply disregard Bai Ya's attacks. Moreover, he couldn't afford to let Bai Ya land a hit on him. Just as he was aware of his own capabilities, he was equally knowledgeable about Bai Ya's abilities. Bai Ya had an acute sensitivity to the scent of blood. The youngster in the tree had already picked up on this, so there was no way Bai Ya hadn't noticed as well. His lack of action was a deliberate ploy to draw Wang Han out. Otherwise, the individual who appeared to be a newcomer would have already fallen victim to this bloodthirsty predator.