novelraw Chapter 185-2: Spirit of the Stars, the Dread Stinger Serpent (2)
Chapter 185-2: Spirit of the Stars, the Dread Stinger Serpent (2)
In his case, the Star-Chasing Corridor had ninety-nine branching choices; for this Dread Stinger Serpent, there had only been three…
“This guy’s faith sure is unwavering!”
He was about to step into the portal when his veteran gamer instincts gave him a sudden warning.
The Dread Stinger Serpent was obviously a boss-tier monster.
And in the brightly lit maze, the Dim Shadow’s stealth boost was nearly nonexistent.
Would a powerful boss really fail to detect the Dancer’s stealth?
Lin Xun thought that was extremely unlikely, even if by chance it hadn’t noticed, it would be a fluke.
After a brief consideration, he switched Shells.
[You possess the Shell of the Corrupted Earth Giant!]
[You lift the Ancient Dragonfang Greatclub in your hand and stride boldly into the portal…][You feel your senses blur, and the scene before you transforms violently.]
[Before you can see your surroundings clearly, a savage shadow lunges at you with blinding speed.]
[Its scythe-like forelimb slices through the scales at your waist, leaving a bloody gash that nearly disembowels you.]
[You have suffered a serious wound!]
[The Regenerating Scale Armor of the Dragon Rider rapidly knits itself whole again in the blink of an eye.]
[You also get a clear look at your lightning-fast attacker, it is the Dread Stinger Serpent!]
“Of course. While I was following behind it, it must have already noticed me, this boss was lying in wait to ambush me!”
Lin Xun silently thanked himself for switching to the Earth Giant’s Shell.
If he’d tried to tank that sneak attack with the Dancer, he’d be dead for sure.
[You let out an earth-shaking roar and swung your weapon down at the monster…]
[The Dread Stinger Serpent twisted aside, deftly dodging your powerful strike and darted backward with blinding speed…]
[You raised your greatclub to pursue, only to see the serpent spread the bony plates on its back. It craned its head back, then suddenly snapped forward, two thin black spikes shot out with a piercing shriek and impaled your body.]
[You bellowed in pain, the agony searing through you!]
[You tore out the spines embedded in your flesh. They were slick with green slime, and where they’d struck, your flesh hissed and bubbled as it corroded, making the pain nearly unbearable.]
[You lumbered forward to close the distance again, but the Dread Stinger Serpent refused to meet you head-on. It kept retreating in circles around you.]
[As it retreated, it repeatedly fired its corrosive spines, steadily worsening your injuries…]
Lin Xun had assumed the Dread Stinger Serpent was an agile melee assassin. He hadn’t expected it to be a boss specializing in ranged attacks.
“Hmph. You think you’re the only one who knows how to kite?”
Without hesitation, Lin Xun summoned the Three-Headed Lion.
[With a crisp whistle, you call forth the fierce, burly Corrupted Three-Headed Lion!]
This time, he didn’t order the Three-Headed Lion to attack but instead issued the rare ‘Guard’ command.
[You possess the Shell of the Knowledge-Seeking President of the Direct Vision Association!]
[The Corrupted Three-Headed Lion padded forward, planting its huge body firmly in front of you as a living shield.]
[The Dread Stinger Serpent shot another volley of acid-tipped spines, but the lion blocked every projectile with its flesh.]
[The Three-Headed Lion flexed its muscles, squeezing out the spines. The wounds quickly healed over, forming a solid wall of muscle and bone that shielded you completely.]
[You raised your staff and began to chant…]
[A lattice of pure white light rose up from the floor, encasing you in a second layer of protection.]
“Trying to play kiting tactics with me? Let me show you what a fortress-mounted cannon looks like.”
Lin Xun smiled faintly and activated Falling Starlight.
[You lifted your staff and chanted again…]
[…]
[The Dread Stinger Serpent fired spine after corrosive spine, but the Three-Headed Lion blocked them all with its hulking body.]
[Endless starlight erupted!]
[When the light finally dimmed, the Dread Stinger Serpent was covered in wounds. Green blood pooled all around it.]
[It let out a few pitiful screeches and feebly fired another spine volley, but the shots were much slower and weaker than before. The Three-Headed Lion batted them aside easily.]
“Not dead yet? That’s one thick health bar…”
Lin Xun decided not to use Falling Starlight again, this skill consumed way too much mana.
He kept hiding beneath the Three-Headed Lion, unleashing smaller spells in a relentless barrage.
[…]
[With a pure white spear piercing its deformed body, the Dread Stinger Serpent finally collapsed.]
Lin Xun quietly waited for the game to display the text showing the loot drop.
But after a long moment, nothing happened.
[The Dread Stinger Serpent’s eyes dimmed. Its torn, wounded corpse lay motionless and silent.]
“So, trying to play dead, huh?”
The game text hadn’t shown You have defeated XXX, which meant this monster wasn’t dead yet.
Lin Xun wasn’t about to be fooled by such a cheap trick.
[You raised your hand. The Stored Spell Treasure Ring glowed, and two enormous spears formed of runic characters shot forth, impaling the enemy and pinning it firmly to the ground.]
[The Dread Stinger Serpent jerked violently, trying to lunge upright, but the spears held it fast. Its struggles gradually weakened…]
[You have defeated the Spirit of the Stars – Dread Stinger Serpent. Experience greatly increased.]
[You obtained: Fading Chunk Spirit Essence of Insight x1]
[You obtained: Corrosive Spine of the Stinger Serpent (Material)]
[You obtained: Essence of Star Faith (Item)]
[You looked down at the battered, scarred corpse…]
[Spirit of the Stars – Dread Stinger Serpent Shell: A favored scion of the stars bearing the title Spirit of the Stars. Only the core races of the starborn are granted this proper designation. Yet it is merely one among countless Stinger Serpents, an ordinary little specimen. It died to unknown sorcery that pierced its body. Compatibility: 57% (+45%)]
[You looked into the distance, at the sole structure visible, a magnificent hall encircled by countless dazzling stars.]
[Do you wish to step forward and enter the Star Spirit Palace?]
Lin Xun did not rush to enter the Star Spirit Palace and claim his rewards.
Instead, he opened his inventory to inspect the newly acquired loot.
[Corrosive Spine of the Stinger Serpent (Material): The thickest, hardest spine harvested from the Stinger Serpent. The barbed tip is wickedly sharp. Any weapon forged from this material will possess tremendous lethality.]
[Essence of Star Faith (Item): A shard of star-cold radiance. Only creatures of the most unwavering faith in the stars can condense this pure essence of devotion. It typically forms within the bodies of favored creatures, for few mortals can attain such steadfast belief.]
[Using this item will increase your devotion to the Radiant Stars.]
Lin Xun’s face darkened.
What was he supposed to do with this thing?
He wasn’t a follower of the Radiant Stars, obviously, he couldn’t use this item.
“Increases devotion…”
Lin Xun pondered for a moment. He had a suspicion that this ‘devotion’ might be a prerequisite for triggering certain quests under the Radiant Stars Oath… or perhaps a condition for using certain divine powers.
If the Radiant Stars faction had a devotion mechanic, did the Omniscient True Knowledge faction have something similar?
He speculated for quite a while but couldn’t figure it out.
Pushing aside these distracting thoughts for the moment, he clicked to move forward.
[You step ahead, drawing near the grand palace wreathed in stars…]
[The Corrupted Three-Headed Lion followed closely at your side, ever vigilant to any threat.]
[You climbed the stairs before the palace, ascending step by step…]
[Suddenly, you halted. You noticed a stone stele standing at the entrance of the hall, identical in form to the one you had seen in the Star-Chasing Corridor, only this time, the inscription seemed different.]
[You walked closer and read the words carved into the stele, “Only those whose faith is unwavering shall receive the favor of the gods.”]