Chapter 24
C24 – I Want to Kill It!
Tung Yaying was dazed for several seconds before grasping Xie Yang’s implication. Her eyes bulged in astonishment.
“Do you have a plan?”
Other adventurers in the vicinity caught Xie Yang’s words and stared at him, stunned.
Kong Qian, on edge, pressed, “What plan?”
“Kill it,” Xie Yang stated with an even tone.
A hush fell over the crowd.
Those who had been looking to Xie Yang with hopeful eyes now cast them down.
A few let out sighs, shaking their heads in disbelief.
“Kill it? How can we possibly kill it? Is your pet stronger than Mr. Hardie’s Giant Rock Monster?”
That was the question on everyone’s mind.
Xie Yang was undeniably gifted, far surpassing the other adventurers there.
But his pet was still just third rank.
In fact, Xie Yang’s pet wasn’t even on par with the level of the Giant Rock Monster.
If the Giant Rock Monster couldn’t handle the Death Bell Dealer, what chance did Xie Yang’s pet have?
Many adventurers were inwardly scoffing at the idea.
The young man, though formidable, seemed overly confident. To claim he could slay the Death Bell Dealer? Surely, he must be jesting.
Hardie’s face fell, his expression tinged with disappointment. He had just begun to believe Xie Yang had a real solution to their dire situation.
Even Tung Yaying, Xie Yang’s staunchest supporter, was now wavering.
She didn’t see Xie Yang as one to boast without cause.
Yet, the notion that he could take on the Death Bell Dealer was hard to swallow.
A third rank pet beast was significantly weaker than a fourth rank one.
Bridging the vast chasm of power between them seemed insurmountable.
Maybe Hardie was right. Perhaps their only option was a desperate final stand.
Amidst the skepticism, Xie Yang remained composed.
He would have doubted any other apprentice Beastmaster who made such a claim.
With that in mind, Xie Yang refrained from further comment and summoned his Pet panel.
After an intense battle, the Ice Crystal Soul’s Growth Point had climbed to 92%.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Xie Yang expended achievement points to boost the Ice Crystal Soul’s Growth Point to 100%.
The power of the Ice Crystal Soul surged, breaking through to the second layer of the third rank.
With a deft flick of his wrist, Xie Yang conjured a card in the palm of his hand.
He gave a casual toss, and the card transformed into a streak of light that merged with the Ice Crystal Soul standing before him.
The creature shuddered ever so slightly.
The next moment, to the amazement of the onlookers, the Ice Crystal Soul’s aura began to intensify.
A formidable presence descended abruptly, thickening the air around them as if it were solidifying.
Everyone, Hardie included, was rooted to the spot, their faces etched with bewilderment.
“What’s happening?”
“The pet’s aura—it’s significantly stronger!”
“Was it that flash of light?”
“Could it be a Strange Object?”
The term “Strange Object” sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Strange Objects were supernatural items imbued with mysterious powers, born from the cataclysmic era when dimensional rifts collided with our world. Each Strange Object had its unique function: some could bolster the fighting prowess of Beastmasters and their pets, others contained vast spaces for storing items, and there were those that could even prolong the lives of both Beastmasters and pets. The value of these Strange Objects varied greatly depending on their purpose and power, but without exception, they were all exceedingly rare treasures.
It was clear that Xie Yang had used a Strange Object capable of enhancing a pet’s combat abilities. There was no other explanation for the pet’s sudden and dramatic increase in strength.
Xie Yang, naturally, kept the truth to himself. His silence was interpreted by the crowd as an unspoken confirmation of his use of a Strange Object.
For a moment, the adventurers exchanged glances, none of them having anticipated that Xie Yang possessed such an extraordinary and coveted item—a combat-enhancing Strange Object, no less.
It explained his earlier confidence; they had mistaken his assurance for arrogance, not realizing he had every right to be so bold.
As their initial shock gave way to excitement, they began to harbor hope. Perhaps they could indeed endure until help arrived.
With the crowd’s hopeful eyes upon it, the Ice Crystal Soul charged at the Death Bell Dealer. Death Bell Beetles swarmed to intercept, but one by one, they were swiftly encased in ice, transformed into frozen statues by its relentless advance.
The Ice Crystal Soul didn’t even need to unleash a skill.
Such was the vast disparity in strength that the Death Bell Beetles couldn’t threaten the Ice Crystal Soul in the slightest.
Meanwhile, the Death Bell Dealer quickly became aware of the Ice Crystal Soul’s approach.
With the keen instincts of a ferocious beast, it detected the menacing aura of the Ice Crystal Soul and immediately halted, redirecting its attack towards the new threat.
Under the watchful eyes of all, the Death Bell Dealer slightly bowed its head. The massive growth on its forehead contracted and expanded abruptly, emitting a booming sound akin to a death knell.
A fierce, warping sonic wave surged toward the Ice Crystal Soul.
The horrific, ear-splitting noise caused the Soul Power shields of adventurers a hundred meters away to shake violently, prompting a wave of alarmed expressions.
Yet, the Ice Crystal Soul’s countenance remained devoid of fear.
Without a single movement, a vast Ice Shield materialized in front of it, intercepting the path of the sound wave.
The shield was pummeled by the sonic assault, spiderwebbed with cracks.
Teetering on the brink of destruction, the Ice Shield somehow withstood the blow.
The Ice Crystal Soul then counterattacked with a sweep of its hand, sending a blizzard of ice spikes flying, eliciting continuous wails from the Death Bell Dealer as a thin layer of frost formed on its shell.
In this initial clash, the Ice Crystal Soul clearly had the advantage!
The adventurers’ morale soared.
“It’s incredibly strong!”
“We have a chance now!”
“It can actually overpower the Death Bell Dealer. It’s amazing!”
Originally at the third rank, second layer, the Ice Crystal Soul’s strength had skyrocketed to the fourth rank, second layer after using the Bursting Seed Card.
Armed with an arsenal of skills, its combat power was more than enough to dominate the Death Bell Dealer.
Xie Yang wasn’t surprised by this turn of events.
But the onlookers were filled with wonder.
Hardie let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The defensive line was secure, at least for now.
All they needed to do was fend off the swarm of insects and endure until reinforcements arrived.
Kong Qian and the others were elated.
Tung Yaying gazed at Xie Yang with unabashed admiration.
In a moment when everyone else was helpless, this man had stepped forward, reversing the dire situation and rescuing them all from the brink of despair. His decisive action in the face of calamity was nothing short of heroic.
Moo Zhen, ever the straight shooter, couldn’t contain his excitement and gave Xie Yang’s shoulder a hearty pat, flashing a wide grin.
“Way to go, Xie Yang! Just keep that Death Bell Dealer at bay, don’t let it near us, and we’re sure to come out on top!”
Xie Yang shot him a look, then turned his gaze back to the Death Bell Dealer, his eyes reflecting a profound depth.
“I’m going to take it down!”