Schroeder the Scholar was a little farther away, but he was also affected by the Flesh and Blood Plague. As a more resilient Qualified, he could hold on for dozens of seconds longer and immediately shouted, "Quick, close the princess's lead coffin!"

Hidden Snake and Crazy Zen, who had not been infected by the Flesh and Blood Plague before, were now also affected, their skin itching, bodies restless, and heartbeats quickening.

However, both had seen major battles before. Upon confirming they would be fine for the time being, they immediately lunged at the lead coffin!

Mad Rhino Luz stepped forward, and the Ring of Shock slammed the ground, sending out a wave of air that slowed both Hidden Snake and Crazy Zen!

Hidden Snake and Crazy Zen simultaneously attacked Mad Rhino Luz, but the difference was that Hidden Snake was giving it his all, while Crazy Zen was just going through the motions, somewhat distracted.

The natives didn't notice this, and even if they did, no one was in a position to punish him at this moment.

Because Schroeder initially worried about alerting the enemy, had kept all the Blood Ring Guard soldiers waiting in the dark vine area!

As for Schroeder the Scholar himself, he was also under threat—

Bai Pu, holding a shield in his left hand and a long saber in his right, charged directly at him!

"I can hold on for 5 minutes... I must kill this scholar and close the lead coffin before the plague affects me further!"

"I can hold on for about two minutes... I must kill this invader and close the lead coffin before the plague affects me further!"

Bai Pu and Schroeder locked eyes.

Though the place was dim, aided by the surrounding nightlight moss, they could distinctly feel each other's determination to kill!

Schroeder roared, "Blood Extraction!"

His left hand's five fingers hovered over Bai Pu, his right hand gripping his left wrist. Clearly, this magic had been practiced by Schroeder to the point of being second nature to him.

It could expand its range to form a group attack when facing black beetle swarms or narrow down for a more powerful single-target attack against someone like Bai Pu!

Bai Pu felt his blood boiling, its flow surging, as blood gushed from his ears and nose!

[You have taken dark attribute magic damage; your talent skill: Adaptive Evolution has stored a new form: Black Rock Body.]

Bai Pu immediately deleted his "Negative Body" against attributeless magic damage and switched to Black Rock Body!

He instantly felt his blood flow slowed by half, with a hint of an obsidian-like sheen between his muscles and skin!

Originally, Schroeder's Blood Extraction could draw 150 points of life value per second from Bai Pu, putting him in the pain of having his blood drawn, a type of control effect!

But now, the damage caused per second was only around 75 points, and the pain was greatly reduced!

Bai Pu could completely withstand the Blood Extraction and charge at Schroeder, slashing out with his blade!

Schroeder unexpectedly drew a noble rapier from his waist, clashing with a clang against Bai Pu's long saber, then thrust the rapier like a viper while casting magic with his left hand: Blood Ripple!

Bai Pu just avoided the rapier's thrust, only to be struck by a powerful force, sending him flying!

So Schroeder was not merely a magic system-enhanced leader; he also had notable agility, and his one-handed swordsmanship was quite refined! This should have some connection with his travels on the European Continent.

Of course, Schroeder still primarily focused on Meditation Specialization; his proficiency in one-handed swordsmanship was among the best for a mage, but compared to a full-time close combat-enhanced leader, it still fell short, objectively at an advanced level between 5 and 6 as Bai Pu estimated!

Such one-handed swordsmanship could merely ensure Schroeder wouldn't be cut down by an assassin's random strikes when approached, not enabling him to wield a one-handed sword and slaughter all around.

Bai Pu rolled and stood up, the iron spike shoulder guard flashing blue as he activated the Charge Skill to rush at Schroeder again!

This time, Schroeder unleashed new blood magic. With a sudden clench of his right fist, he shouted, "Erosion Blood Burst!"

The blood Schroeder had absorbed formed a small sphere, exploding suddenly with the activation of the Blood Burst Skill! Bai Pu only had time to block it with the Spider Demon Tower Shield, being knocked back once more.

Though the Spider Demon Tower Shield blocked the explosive impact, it did not mitigate dark attribute magic damage. Bai Pu took this hit, his life value dropping by over two hundred points!

In other words, without the shield, without the "Black Rock Body," the mixed damage from this blow might have exceeded 600 points!

Any Awakened without defense skills in a non-tank profession would have died on the spot from this strike—the critical point is, this was a terrifying area magic!

Of course, such lethality was also because Schroeder leveraged his formidable blood magic mastery, concentrating the Blood Burst's range into an extremely small area, enhancing its lethality! Comparable to Bai Pu's [Unstable Shield]'s "Cannon Bombardment" effect.

However, after taking this blow, Bai Pu actually smiled.

Because he saw the dawn of victory.

The battle had lasted over a minute.

Schroeder the Scholar was increasingly unable to control the deep influence of the Flesh and Blood Plague on himself!

That circular spell mark between his brows grew ever brighter, seemingly burning, inch by inch dissipating!

Know that Schroeder the Scholar was on the second level of the Blood Ring Pyramid; the efficacy of his Blood Ring Curse Seal was among the strongest.

He could not hold out much longer before he'd spiral into a berserk state of indiscriminate attacks like the flesh-bound giant wolf!

A mage losing curse seal control, becoming completely deformed—even an enhanced leader—how big a threat could he pose?

Look at General Ralph, who lost control before Schroeder, completely deforming, locked in brutal combat with the flesh-mutated giant wolf, their savage forms tearing at each other!

"Damn... how can you persist so long in front of the Flesh and Blood Plague's mother? And your slave too!" Schroeder the Scholar shouted angrily.

Schroeder had too many puzzles, beyond the question he shouted, another was vexing him: how could a seemingly weak (only Level 3) opponent endure under his full-scale blood magic assault for so long?

Of course, Bai Pu had no obligation to answer.

Seeing the Blood Ring Curse Seal between Schroeder's eyebrows completely dim, his body trembling violently, Bai Pu suddenly stood firm.

His frame, like a solid city wall, seemed that the ravages of blood magic had merely dusted off insignificant particles on it.

Bai Pu stored away his long saber and shield, retrieving the Blood Mist Butcher's Chainsaw Sword.

"About 3 minutes left."

Bai Pu unleashed all his trump cards!

Genetic Fragment Fusion, Pure Blood infusion into himself, raising basic power and endurance to levels capable of wielding this terrifying chainsaw sword.

The fierce eye of the Giant Tuo, open.

Scorpion-tailed Lion's Sting, open.

A+ Level Artifact: Raging Fury, open!

Bai Pu charged suddenly, one slash, the blade vibrating at high speed, emitting a chainsaw-like buzzing resonance!

Additional Skill: Cutting activation, the next strike damages the target's armor value by 30 points, inflicting severe damage!

Even though Schroeder was an enhanced leader with extremely high spirit attribute, his body was deforming but hadn't lost all reason like General Ralph.

He had merely lost his blood magic casting ability.

His remaining cognitive ability tightened his grip on the noble rapier to meet the attack!

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