The Desert Lizardmen possess a highly unique ability: they can sever their tails when on the brink of death, and the severed tail will retain the ability to move for a period of time.

Moreover, as long as the severed tail is not destroyed, it can hatch into a new Desert Lizardman after a period, retaining all previous memories.

This is a survival strategy of the Desert Lizardmen, one they only use as a last resort.

After severing the tail, their original body will quickly perish, and the tail is also one of their vital points.

"Poisonous Snake Spike!"

Duke's magic power was no longer sufficient to use Gravity Slowdown again, so he immediately activated the demonized item, Poisonous Snake Spike, with a bit of magic force.

After activating the item, a cobra composed of green energy appeared, rushing towards the remaining end of the Lizardman's tail on the ground.

Duke wasn't sure if he would make it in time, but he could only try his best.

The Poisonous Snake Spike flew out instantly, and upon reaching the target, it exploded, lifting countless yellow sands.

A gust of wind blew through, revealing the situation there to everyone.

A large pit had been blasted there, its entirety appearing charred, with green liquid flowing, while the yellow sand inside continued to corrode, emitting a sizzling sound.

Only half of a tail was left in the pit, the second half completely gone, with the remaining part still being corroded.

Duke and his companions rushed over to check, discovering that the tail was actually a container, housing a much smaller Desert Lizardman.

The small Desert Lizardman was already dead, half of its body had disappeared.

It was the first time Duke and his group encountered such a creature, but with a bit of reasoning, they understood the function of the Lizardman's tail.

They only left one tail, while another tail had already escaped.

Once this tail returns to the tribe, it will surely lead to a massive pursuit by the Lizardmen, possibly even attracting the personal chase of the Lizardman leader.

"Go!"

Duke made a decisive decision, slicing off the heads of two Lizardmen swiftly with the Black Sword before turning to run.

They must leave now, before the reinforcements of the Lizardmen arrive. Once entangled, it would be very troublesome.

These Desert Lizardmen can move freely through the sand, their speed incredibly fast, making them particularly troublesome for many Wizard Apprentices.

While Duke could sense the position of the Lizardmen with his perception ability, the others couldn't.

If they were caught, Simon and the others would likely perish under the Lizardmen's siege in a matter of moments.

Duke and the others immediately dashed away, fleeing into the endless desert behind them.

...

Desert Lizardman Tribe.

A tail emerged from the ground, seemingly extremely fatigued, crawling on the ground with utmost effort as if to reach the tribe with the last of its strength.

A lurking sentry nearby quickly noticed the tail, immediately jumping out, grabbing it and rushing it into the tribe.

Inside the stone house of the Lizardman leader, the three-meter-tall leader used sharp claws to slice open the tail's outer layer, unveiling the small Lizardman inside.

The Lizardman leader listened impassively as the small Lizardman recounted the events, then roared angrily, sending dozens of Desert Lizardmen charging toward the oasis, vowing to slaughter those four damned humans.

In the stone house, the small Lizardman lay weakly on the ground, its breath faint, its survival dependent on luck.

Normally, after a Desert Lizardman's tail is severed, it would take at least a month to hatch automatically.

The leader's act of directly opening the tail inflicts significant harm on the Lizardman, and the survival rate is extremely low.

However, for the safety of the entire tribe, the Lizardman leader deemed the sacrifice worthwhile.

The Lizardmen quickly arrived at the oasis, a place very familiar to them as an essential water source.

The scene was chaotic, battle traces evident, but the four humans were nowhere to be seen.

The Lizardman leader arrived at Duke's last known departure point, unable to see any footprints since Duke hadn't forgotten to erase them when leaving.

Some scent still lingered in the air, but locating the enemy based on these scents in the desert wouldn't be easy.

The Lizardman leader finally decided to dispatch a ten-member team to hunt for clues and pursue the enemy.

He couldn't easily leave his territory, as there wasn't just one Desert Lizardman tribe nearby.

If he left, his own tribe risked being devoured by other tribes, necessitating his presence to guard the place.

The Lizardman team set out quickly, chasing in the direction Duke and the others fled before the scent completely dissipated.

...

Duke and his companions ran at full speed, with Duke overseeing the rear, erasing footprints in the sand as he went.

They ran for about three whole hours, the sun already risen, the temperature exceedingly high.

After three hours of intense running, except for Duke, Simon and the others were running out of stamina.

Lacking Duke's formidable physique, they were on the brink of exhaustion.

Duke thus found a shaded spot behind a sand dune, letting them rest temporarily, rehydrate slightly.

Abel, after a brief rest, used Eagle Eye to check, confirming that no Lizardmen were currently in pursuit.

Everyone was slightly relieved, knowing that tracking a target in the desert is difficult, as wind and sand obscure most traces.

"Though the process was somewhat fraught, at least we secured two heads and some information about the Lizardmen," Duke said.

Their team of four only needed to submit four Lizardmen heads to complete the task.

With just two remaining and ample time, they still stood a chance.

Simon still carried some weight, expressing gratitude once more: "It's all thanks to you, Duke, otherwise I…"

The threat of impending death isn't easy to bear, likely leaving a shadow in many people's hearts.

However, Simon recovered quickly, and the group began discussing subsequent plans, mainly seeking Duke's opinion.

Duke's prowess was evident as the strongest among them, maintaining composure always, never seen in a panic.

"We definitely can't go back to that oasis, we've already alerted them. But we can venture elsewhere, eliminate two more Lizardmen using the same method. Once the task is complete, we can find a place to hide, waiting until the assessment ends…"

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