Chapter 431: Swamp Slaughter
Chu Yuan quickly retreated to the side while tossing a stone into the substance. That thing, which looked like a thin layer, not only swallowed the stone without leaving a trace but also made no sound at all.
The thickness of the floor panels between levels was just so-so, but this layer of mud had turned the ground into an unfathomable swamp.
The mire continuously eroded the floor, forcing Xu Huo and Chu Yuan to retreat rapidly. Just as they turned to leave, a ghostly black figure suddenly rushed out from the shadows, appearing right in front of them. Its lips twisted into an unnatural grin as it swung a fast blade at Xu Huo.
"It's the one following Dr. Deng!"
"Watch out, brother...!" Chu Yuan immediately pulled out a crossbow, but unexpectedly, the blade changed direction mid-swing and came slashing toward him instead!
Chu Yuan reflexively moved back, but because the Black Shirt Player had faked him out, he retreated in the opposite direction from Xu Huo. The two were tied together by a rope and couldn't separate far, putting them at a serious disadvantage under the opponent's swift attacks.
"Kill the idiot first!" the Black Shirt Player shouted with a laugh. However, before the blade could reach Chu Yuan, Xu Huo kicked out!
The Black Shirt Player used his blade to block, but this kick, enhanced by his trait, carried tremendous force. He staggered back several steps and began to doubt Xu Huo's strength. "You're not a D-rank player?"
Xu Huo's performance was completely different from what he had shown on the third underground level. He smiled without speaking and beckoned with his hand.
This made the Black Shirt Player more cautious, but before he could react, Xu Huo threw a ceramic doll at him.
Out of caution, the Black Shirt Player dodged. The ceramic doll smashed against the wall and shattered, releasing a nauseating, thick stench.
All four people present immediately put on protective masks and defensive items.
That's right—there was another player blocking them at the other end of the corridor.
Xu Huo tossed out "Plant's Lament" into the air, then smashed Chu Yuan's lamp. Next, he manipulated the "Omnipresent Strings" he had already deployed to strangle the neck of the player behind them, then used the "Irresistible Straight Ball" to shatter the Black Shirt Player's protective mask. He also smashed two ceramic dolls against the wall.
Accompanied by piercing screams, both players' movements froze for a moment, especially the one being strangled by the strings. Taking advantage of this, Xu Huo pulled out the prop sword "Let You Run Six and a Half Meters First" and swung it!
That player used a special glove to remove the strings, deftly blocked the prop sword, and pushed back with force. Seeing Xu Huo stumble back three steps, he laughed and said, "Your reactions are pretty fast, but your skills aren't good enough!"
As he finished speaking, he charged at Xu Huo with increased speed, sending out a steel wire lasso like a lariat aimed at his neck.
Xu Huo was forced to retreat into the mire, tossing out two marbles. However, they only grazed the opponent's arm before being swallowed by the ground.
"We're trapped!" At the same time, Chu Yuan, who had also failed to avoid the mire, found himself pinned in place. Directly ahead was the Black Shirt Player whose protective mask had been destroyed. He shouted while throwing out a toy hedgehog.
The toy hedgehog had no lethal power, but as soon as it hit the ground, the Black Shirt Player, who was already right in front of them, was suddenly teleported ten meters away!
"I'm out of ideas. Do you have a way out?" Chu Yuan turned back and asked.
"Take off your protective pants," Xu Huo said quickly, then kicked off his protective boots, grabbed the strings, and lifted himself into the air.
Chu Yuan's protective shoes were attached to his boots, making them easy to remove. He unfastened the buckles, and with him holding onto Xu Huo, they were naturally pulled out.
However, the two players weren't about to give up easily. The Glove Player stood on a floating board above the mire and called out to Xu Huo and Chu Yuan, "Performer's Spotlight!"
This was a trait. Xu Huo wasn't affected, but he clearly felt Chu Yuan freeze. Looking down, he saw that even his eyeballs had stopped moving.
By now, the mire had spread across the entire corridor. The Black Shirt Player suddenly shifted from one side of the corridor to the other, swapping positions with the Glove Player and once again surrounding Xu Huo and Chu Yuan.
The corridor was pitch black, but the two Black Shirt Players moved through the darkness without any hindrance.
Xu Huo estimated that the distance to both sides exceeded three meters, so he attached a Silent Figure to himself and threw a ceramic doll to each side.
When the dolls flew out of the Silent Figure's soundproof range, the Black Shirt Player caught his without any trouble, while the Glove Player took a moment to react before opening his.
The overwhelmingly foul stench swept through again. The Black Shirt Player, whose protective mask had been destroyed, couldn't help but twitch his expression. At that moment, Xu Huo had already grasped the Crimson Sword and swung two slashes through the air—one cutting off the Glove Player's raised right hand, and the other slashing at the Black Shirt Player's face.
The Black Shirt Player, who could teleport across the mire, dodged the strike. But the Glove Player, who could neither hear nor see, wasn't so lucky. His entire palm was severed, disappearing along with his glove into the muddy ground.
Unsure if the opponent's clothes were props, Xu Huo had aimed for the exposed wrist area.
With one successful hit, he quickly followed up with two more slashes. However, this time, they only cut through the opponent's clothes without causing substantial damage.
The Glove Player, having lost a hand, decisively retreated. But Xu Huo had already closed in behind him, carving a square opening into his back with a few strikes.
If the protective suit could be breached, it meant the Glove Player could be cut again. The opponent slid on his floating board toward the corridor exit and shouted, "My trait doesn't work on him! Come help!"
This was clearly directed at the Black Shirt Player, who didn't hesitate. The next second, he blocked Xu Huo's path, raised his hand, and the mire on the ground quickly climbed up the walls, lunging toward Xu Huo.
Xu Huo couldn't dodge in time and was hit on his left arm. That substance, besides being nearly identical to a swamp, was also highly corrosive. Blood dripped from the wound.
By then, Chu Yuan had regained consciousness. He threw another hedgehog at the Black Shirt Player and raised one palm in a rejecting gesture, shouting, "Relationship Breakdown!"
This time, the Black Shirt Player was not only sent ten meters away but also bound by an invisible force, unable to return quickly.
"Run, run!" Chu Yuan turned back and said. "These people have bad intentions. There'll definitely be more backup soon!"
Without a word, Xu Huo retreated from the corridor. Once on solid ground, he pulled out a lighter and aimed it at the corridor:
"Ding!"
"Boom!"
The gas-spewing muddy ground instantly ignited. A fierce firestorm rushed toward both exits. The two Black Shirt Players still in the corridor were engulfed in flames. Xu Huo and Chu Yuan, who had just left the corridor, sprinted forward as well, but they were still thrown off their feet by the shockwave after running only a short distance.
Chu Yuan hit his head and found blood all over his hand when he touched it. He turned to lash out at Xu Huo, but seeing the other stand up expressionlessly, he silently swallowed his words.
Xu Huo brushed the dust off his clothes, as if what he had just experienced wasn't a life-or-death struggle. He said casually, "Let's change locations. More players will come looking for us."
(Chapter End)