Chapter Twenty-Seven: Mantis Ootheca

Name: [Juvenile Shadow-Eater] (Leader/Frozen)
HP: 137/280
Attack Level: Strong (35)
Defense Level: Average (15/Head disabled -50%)
Attack Speed: Extremely Slow (Debuffed)
Alert Range: Normal
Skills: Continuous Leap (Disabled), Overdraw: Enhanced Slash (*3.0)
Description: The mantis-type Shadow-Eater is renowned for its ferocious and rapid attacks. Its life cycle metamorphosis has boosted its combat capabilities several times over. It can perform continuous enhanced slashes on a single target, and combined with its lightning-fast movement speed, it often causes its prey to die suddenly without even realizing it.
[Hint: The Hard-Shell Shield dropped by the Ant Broodmother can provide some resistance against Enhanced Slashes.]

...

Seeing the true attributes of the mantis leader, Yu Jin personally experienced what could be called a pleasant surprise.

Xiao Xifeng, driven to a state of reckless despair, had flipped the table, but the result was a massive, effortless windfall for Yu Jin. Not only did it restrict the mantis leader’s feared lunge ability, but it also created the extra conditions needed for Yu Jin to increase his damage. Looking back at the damage logs, he confirmed that the mantis leader he had knocked away with his charge not only suffered a similar fate but, due to the secondary collision caused by his ten points of Strength, had fallen into a state of severe injury, rendering it completely unable to fight.

This meant that Xiao Xifeng had essentially "peeled and washed" two medium-sized insect nests and served them to Yu Jin on a platter, complete with the high rewards of a main quest chain.

What a good guy!

As he pummeled the defenseless mantis leader, Yu Jin felt an increasing urge to present Xiao Xifeng with a "Good Guy" award. Ever since he entered Killing Island, he hadn't met a single person who didn't cause him trouble. Huo Ze wanted to kill him; Repeater Chicken wanted to kill him; Tomorrow Has Rain instigated Sweeping Thousand Armies to drive him away and humiliate him. Even when soloing the ant leader, he had to guard against someone swooping in to steal the kill. It was nothing like this, where Xiao Xifeng was willing to use precious items just to create such a comfortable combat environment for him.

Faced with such a considerate person, Yu Jin was truly at a loss for words, so he took a moment to say, "Give my thanks to your whole family!"

Then, he swung his active soft-tissue biochemical arm, personally sending off the frozen-faced "good guy" Xiao Xifeng—a final act of kindness, one could say.

As for what Xiao Xifeng might think later, that was not for Yu Jin to worry about. Besides, one doesn't fear one more louse when already covered in them. He didn't see any problem with having one more enemy, and he could easily snatch some more Killing Points along the way—why not?

As things stood, only three players remained in the freezing domain: Yu Jin, Not a Pro, and Lu Renjia.

Not a Pro watched with a wry smile as Yu Jin wildly abused the mantis leader while patiently waiting for the freezing effect to dissipate. Meanwhile, Lu Renjia, who discovered he hadn't died and had actually been saved by his nemesis, felt a tumult of mixed emotions. There was a time when he hated Yu Jin to the bone, and after entering Killing Island, he had imagined taking revenge, but this current situation left him at a loss.

*You might as well have just killed me...*

Lu Renjia thought helplessly, just before receiving a system broadcast.

[Broadcast: Foundation reserve employee "D1106" has successfully destroyed a medium-sized insect nest!]

It really was him!

Although they had guessed the outcome, both Not a Pro and Lu Renjia were still astonished. Yu Jin had walked this path single-handedly, earning more Killing Points than both of them combined. They both concluded that he must be the player with the highest score.

"Three Killing Points just for free. Tsk tsk, I probably won't encounter such a good thing ever again!"

With his total points now reaching nineteen, Yu Jin suddenly felt an interest in earning more. Although he didn't yet know what Killing Points were used for, having more points certainly couldn't be a bad thing.

...

Additionally, the mantis leader dropped a very interesting special item.

...

[Enhanced Juvenile Shadow-Eater Egg] (Growable)
Type: Special Item
Function: Cultivate a mantis-type enhanced juvenile Shadow-Eater.
Description: This is a living Shadow-Eater egg. Hatch it with your blood to complete the ownership ritual, then nurture it with Shadow-Eater blood to make it grow rapidly, reaching or even exceeding the level of a juvenile Shadow-Eater in a short time.
[Hint: This item can be exchanged for 5,000 Credits after the assessment if not hatched.]
[Hint: This item and its hatched offspring cannot be taken out of this assessment space.]

...

"Five thousand credits? Ten times that of the spider egg! Good grief, if it weren't for the fact that this thing's effect is so good, I would have traded it. The biggest problem is that it can't be taken out of the assessment space... That is absolutely the most annoying sentence I've heard lately!"

Yu Jin grumbled, then used his Direwolf Gauntlet to prick his finger and pressed it against the egg. He didn't pay attention to the incubation process immediately, instead wondering if he might have contracted the special virus residue from the Direwolf Gauntlet. By the time the egg hatched and a fist-sized, tender green little mantis popped out without any strange system alerts, he finally put his mind at ease.

"This is the second time you've saved me. Thanks, brother."

Finally free from the freezing state, Not a Pro cupped his hands to Yu Jin in a gesture reminiscent of a greenwood hero. In contrast, the conflicted Lu Renjia merely nodded in thanks, his gaze drifting toward the tender green mantis resting in Yu Jin's palm.

"This thing dropped from the mantis leader. It can be raised to provide combat power, but it can't be taken out of the assessment space."

Yu Jin sighed, placing the dazed little mantis onto the corpse of the mantis leader to let it feed on the blood and accelerate its growth. He then used this time to locate the other mantis leader, which was still in a state of severe injury.

"I heard you guys also received the main quest?"

"Yes. According to the instructions, the Shadow-Eater nest entrenched in the factory is a crucial target that must be cleared for the island's reconstruction, so we chose to team up with Xiao Xifeng. Ha, but it ended in a falling out."

"So, you only came here to rebuild the island?"

"Yeah, aren't you?"

"Interesting. I'll explain later. Pro-brother, you... and Lu Renjia, finish it off, so I’m not the only one completing the main quest."

"Thanks!"

"Many thanks..."

[Hint: You participated in the kill of the leader-level boss "Juvenile Shadow-Eater," gaining a large amount of contribution points and one Killing Point.]

[Hint: You have completed the third stage of the main quest "Reconstruction," gaining four Killing Points and the future title to a luxury apartment. Please search the abandoned factory as soon as possible to start the next stage of the main quest.]

[Broadcast: Foundation reserve employees "D037," "D1106," and University preparatory student "U998" have successfully destroyed a medium-sized insect nest!]

Having gained another five Killing Points, Yu Jin was far in the lead on the hidden leaderboard, with the second-place player barely having over ten points.

Many closed-beta players began calculating exactly how many points Yu Jin had amassed. Others were more concerned that Yu Jin had finally stopped soloing the nests. Even though he had cleared the second medium-sized nest just over ten seconds ago, the fact that he was willing to stop fighting alone suggested his strength might not be enough to tackle a large insect nest. This brought a sense of relief to those players, who thought that at least Yu Jin's strength wasn't infinitely terrifying.

...

"D037? Isn't that Not a Pro? The first step to a victorious reunion!"

Not a Sword Immortal said excitedly, teasing his own little mantis: "When we meet, I'll have a strong backer too! Daoist, say something!"

"This old Daoist thinks that if we keep dallying, the main quest might get snatched away!"

...

[Broadcast: University preparatory student "U102" has successfully destroyed a medium-sized insect nest!]

"Although I'm a little bit behind that guy, I'm not bad either!"

Cup of Wine Thickening, who had also soloed a medium-sized insect nest, felt a swell of achievement. A medium-sized nest that would normally require many players working together, she had handled all by herself.

Although the process was thrilling and quite long, at least the rewards were good.

Putting away the venomous fangs dropped by the spider leader and luckily discovering a Sun Badge that increased HP and Sanity, Cup of Wine Thickening curled her red lips into a pleasing smile.

"Beautiful! Truly beautiful!"

A voice drifted leisurely from the shadows, causing Cup of Wine Thickening's expression to change instantly: "Who's there? Come out!"

"Don't worry, I have no malicious intent. Otherwise, you would have been ambushed by me half a minute ago."

Emerging from the shadows, Bitter Wind and Rain removed his cowboy hat, bowed gentlemanly to Cup of Wine Thickening, and then flashed a handsome smile: "I just feel that traveling alone is too dangerous, so I wanted to find a partner with decent strength. I wonder if Miss Cup of Wine Thickening would do me the honor?"

Bitter Wind and Rain's invitation was captured by the live stream, and many players looked forward to seeing this attractive pair team up; if nothing else, it was at least easy on the eyes.

"Sorry, I have no plans to cooperate for now."

"Miss Cup of Wine Thickening, there is no need to refuse so quickly. Most of the assessment goals have been completed, but there are still over sixty players left. Once the third Shadow Storm officially arrives, the combat risks will inevitably increase significantly. Without a companion to look out for you, you can neither guarantee your own safety nor steadily acquire Killing Points. I wonder, how far are you from ten points?"

"That's none of your business!"

"Fine! Since Miss Cup of Wine Thickening insists on refusing to cooperate, let's try a different approach. Until I find the next insect nest, I will stay at the edge of your vision. That way, we aren't exactly cooperating, but we can still look out for each other."

"Hmph... I'll count to three. If you keep babbling, don't blame me for taking action!"

"Don't, don't, let's talk this through. I'm just being kind, why must Miss Cup of Wine Thickening be so heartless?"

"Because you look like you can't be trusted."

Cup of Wine Thickening said, her eyes clearly stating, "I am very serious and this is not up for discussion." This forced Bitter Wind and Rain to give up his persistent pestering, and with a smile that was awkward but remained graceful, he retreated back into the shadows.

"Look at that attitude! If someone tries to use me as a tool again, this parasitic crossbow is going to draw blood!"

Cup of Wine Thickening wrinkled her delicate nose, then gripped her crossbow and continued on her way...