An unnamed crimson cloak with Agility +5, slightly long, runs like a red carpet being dragged along, half dragging on the ground, covered with dirt and fungus threads;

An unnamed silver pendant with Agility +4, a bit tight, stuck under the mushroom cap with no spare space, but Puki doesn't need to breathe; otherwise, this pendant would choke him;

Plus a life-sized Great Shield made of ancestral Dragon Scale.

Puki's physique doesn't match, or else a set of helmets, gloves, rings, etc., would have been fitting.

Lin Jun found that the skill equipment adventurers prefer is actually less practical for Puki than plain attribute equipment.

After all, Puki never lacks skills.

The accumulated agility is for this very moment!

Not aiming for the head or heart, Lin Jun only planned to incapacitate him.

[Pain Immunity]

[Shrinking Ground Level 7]

The Blade Whip, with the sound of breaking through the air, deeply pierced into the soil, buzzing endlessly. Shi Wu's figure already moved like a ghostly afterimage, bringing sword light instantaneously to Knight's back.

What kind of ghost skill is this?

Lin Jun completely didn't understand his moving trajectory.

In this brief moment, Knight only had time to dangerously move the Dragon Scale Shield in front.

Screech——!

The left side's three fungal tentacles snapped in response, darting away like cut rubber bands.

Simultaneously, a deep sword mark fiercely engraved itself onto the Dragon Scale.

What's the deal?

Ancient Dragon Scale!

Can this be chopped down!?

Lin Jun repeatedly tested that ordinary swords and even strong bows and crossbows couldn't leave a white mark on its surface.

And yet, this first actual combat resulted in such a ferocious scar!

Meaning without this shield, Knight Puki would have been sliced in half by now.

This guy is so strong!

Lin Jun marveled at Shi Wu's fierce counterattack, while Shi Wu's eyes also held undisguised surprise!

"What kind of shield is this, actually blocked it!?"

Shi Wu twisted his wrist and tried to attack again, but Knight Puki suddenly sprang to escape the follow-up slashes.

In mid-air, Knight swiftly curled his body, instantly rolling the crimson cloak into a ball, retreating at full speed to completely evade the follow-up Sword Qi's attack range.

[Assault Ejection Level 6]

[Rolling Charge Level 7]

"Don't run!"

Shi Wu chased while reaching for his waist pouch, attempting to retrieve a Healing Potion to restore his condition.

However, what touched his fingertips was only cold liquid and sharp glass shards—the glass bottle was too fragile before the Infrasound Attack.

At this point, even without a Healing Potion, retreating was not an option.

Shi Wu's eyes sharpened, his [Wandering Body Step] reached its peak, holding tightly onto the distant figure of the rolling Knight Puki.

Most Pukis couldn't keep up with their speed, only sporadic Landmine Pukis jumped out at Lin Jun's order.

But let alone harm Shi Wu, they hardly impeded his advancing speed.

Without leading him closer to the Puki army, since the surprise attack and decisive strike had failed, it was quickly switched to Plan B!

Knight charged through the cave with Shi Wu all the way, targeting—the Yellow-covered Book's Happy Cottage!

Yet Lin Jun regretted it as soon as he entered the cave.

Regretting wearing this cool but cumbersome cloak.

The cloak snagged on protruding rocks, causing Knight Puki to suddenly halt.

Shi Wu seized the opportunity; a gust of sword wind struck.

Clang——

Another scar added to the Dragon Scale Shield, fracturing Lin Jun's heart; this was the family's strongest shield!

Throwing off the cloak, Knight stopped rolling and escaped into the secret path by bouncing and dodging through the tunnel.

"Is it a trap?"

Shi Wu wasn't dull; he vaguely sensed the sinister intention of this Puki but didn't give up.

Just a little bit more, just a bit before he could cut it down!

As long as he sliced it before reaching its destination!

Ahead lay a mass of demon aura; he clearly felt he was charging headlong into a carefully woven trap.

But——

Distance was enough!

[Shrinking Ground Level 7]

[Wake Jet Level 5]

Shi Wu and Knight almost simultaneously used skills.

With her full-view perspective, even while controlling Knight Puki to escape, Lin Jun could immediately react to Shi Wu's attack from behind.

The emergency escape skill worked, but not completely.

The cold sword edge barely grazed Knight Puki's waist but failed to achieve Shi Wu's intended waist cleave.

Knight's lower legs, along with part of the trunk, were sliced cleanly away!

Yet that's enough!

This is Knight's escape route!

The severed remains gracefully traced a parabolic arc in the air, caught by an Elite Puki, seamlessly slid into the pre-dug ground tunnel.

Shi Wu's subsequent slash only cut into pieces the Elite Puki at the tunnel entrance, failing to capture Knight.

Now Shi Wu stood in the center of the Happy Cottage.

That relentless pursuit, just shy of success, only for the opponent to slip away at the last moment...

This sense of frustration made Shi Wu clench his teeth.

More infuriatingly, three other Pukis in the room twisted their bodies in front of him, full of mockery.

"You..."

Boom——!!!!

Eight rough stone pillars' Pukis self-destructed simultaneously, the entire cave seemingly chomped by a beast, debris stormed like a torrential rain, utterly engulfing Shi Wu's sword-dancing silhouette!

Only the pendant around his neck erupted with a glimmer at the last moment...

...

Overall controlling the battlefield, Lin Jun simultaneously manipulated the ground tunnel, retreated Knight Puki, left with half a torso, and swept the Happy Cottage's position with Detection Skill.

A humanoid life form furiously dug a pit amidst the debris.

As expected, not dead, Lin Jun wasn't surprised.

This level of trap could only handle something like Little Pig's Diamond Level; killing a Level 60+ existence was unlikely.

However, Lin Jun never intended to kill him in the first place.

Lin Jun was prepared for Knight Puki to sacrifice here, but now... it's a breakthrough.

Knight survived, drawing human attention temporarily away from herself.

For Lin Jun, having another layer of disguise naturally meant more safety.

Now, as the victor, before Shi Wu emerges, Lin Jun should seize the spoils!

-----------------

At the fifth level stair entrance, the last light curtain dissipated like stardust under the Mushroom Cannon's heavy bombardment, vanishing into the cold air.

Currently, only a few heavily wounded remained at the staircase's bottom.

Seeing Fifteen couldn't be waited for, despite the slim hope, Solalin organized a breakthrough attempt, taking whomever could move and trying to breach the blockade back to the upper floor.

In such circumstances, cruel as it was, taking the heavily injured along was no longer possible.

Pop——

Pop——

Little Puki feet stepped into the stairs; for some reason, the Mushroom Cannon wasn't used to kill off a few remaining.

The blinded Church Warrior discarded his shield, gripped tightly, swung by feel.

Sadly, being a first-time blind man with insufficient experience, even without Puki dodging, he swung at empty air.

Fungal tentacles entangled, quickly dragging the warrior into Puki's ocean, never to be seen.

"Ha... haha..."

A legless adventurer pulled out his dagger.

At this moment, recalling those terrifying rumors about disappearing adventurers on the fifth floor.

Rather than being dragged into a swamp alive by Puki, better to...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.