Chapter 29: The Rooster's Crow Cast in Shadow

Huang Yunshuo was attacking on one side, while Morning Dew and Light Frost attacked from the mountaintop. The two of them managed to trap the eight chicks in the middle of the valley. Because of the hate-link mechanic, every time, all eight chicks would swarm toward a single target, giving Morning Dew and Light Frost a chance to maneuver. Whenever Huang Yunshuo was at his limit, she would quickly fire an arrow to draw their attention, allowing Huang Yunshuo to use a spray to heal, and then, once ready, charge back in to regain aggro.

With her agility exceeding thirty, Morning Dew and Light Frost could easily evade the chicks' pursuit, and up to now, not a single chick had managed to touch her. The whole ordeal was nerve-wracking; every attack Huang Yunshuo made risked being surrounded and taken down by several chicks at once—there was no room for recklessness. If all the chicks bit him in one round and his health wasn't full, he’d be done for on the spot.

After using four out of five fifty-health sprays, only three chicks remained in the valley, one of which had already been shot down to a sliver of health by Morning Dew and Light Frost. She deliberately approached the three chicks; one was still slowed and lagging behind its companions as it rushed toward her. Huang Yunshuo dashed forward, and with three consecutive sword strikes, brought down the slowed chick.

He then charged at the healthiest chick, slashing it with his sword, while Morning Dew and Light Frost’s final arrow finished off the wounded one. She put away her crossbow and began recovering her arrows.

Now that it was a one-on-one, Huang Yunshuo no longer worried. Although he was at half health, his high attack and speed more than made up for it. By the time he brought down the last chick with his fifth strike, he’d only been hit twice, leaving him with seventeen health.

“High agility really pays off. Not a single chicken in this dungeon has managed a critical hit on me so far.”

Huang Yunshuo sat down, feeling a bit exhausted and lightheaded. As he waited for his health to recover automatically, he picked up the eight hundred copper coins scattered on the ground.

“Pick them up! We split the coins in this dungeon fifty-fifty,” Huang Yunshuo called.

With a light smile, Morning Dew and Light Frost strode over, her long legs moving quickly yet gracefully, and crouched to gather the coins with practiced elegance.

Huang Yunshuo couldn’t help but steal glances, feeling a refreshing joy in his heart.

Soon, both their health and Morning Dew and Light Frost’s arrows were fully recovered. She traded three out of her five sprays to Huang Yunshuo, keeping two for herself in case of emergency, and ready to rush over to heal him if needed.

“The only thing I’m certain about is its defense—ten points. As for its attack, at least fifty. Health might be five hundred, but I’m not sure,” Huang Yunshuo said to her. “In a minute, it’ll all depend on your slowing effect. If you slow it enough, I can kite it. Otherwise, if I have to trade blows, I won’t last five hits.”

Morning Dew and Light Frost’s expression tensed slightly. Whether they could clear this disaster-level dungeon hinged on this attempt—there would be no second chance, as Huang Yunshuo had no more dungeon entries left.

At the end of the valley stood a rooster as tall as a ten-year-old child, chest puffed out with pride. Its comb was a fiery crimson, its neck long and thick, legs sturdy and powerful, with talons gripping the earth. A tail of iridescent feathers arched magnificently, great wings beating the air with force.

Its eyes swiveled warily, and its head darted about, ever on guard. Its hooked beak resembled that of an eagle far more than a chicken—one peck, and the pain would be unimaginable.

Behind it loomed an enormous shadow—the projection of the disaster-level boss, Cock-a-Doodle-Luo. It looked every bit as formidable as its reputation.

“Prepare to die, you bastard!”

Gritting his teeth, Huang Yunshuo charged in.

Cock-a-Doodle-Luo’s eyes instantly blazed red. With a thunderous beat of its wings, it took to the air and shot toward Huang Yunshuo, striking fiercely at his head with its beak.

Thanks to his high agility, Huang Yunshuo seized the initiative. He raised his iron shield to block, and slashed hard at Cock-a-Doodle-Luo’s neck with his sword.

Fighting such a massive rooster, Huang Yunshuo needed to target its vital spots. Against smaller or lazier monsters, he’d just struck wherever was convenient, but Cock-a-Doodle-Luo, if it truly had five hundred health, would be impossible to beat with that approach.

-45! -18!

Cock-a-Doodle-Luo lunged so quickly that Huang Yunshuo’s sword struck its chest rather than its neck, but luck was on his side—a critical hit triggered.

-31!

Cock-a-Doodle-Luo’s beak crashed into the shield, sending a powerful jolt through Huang Yunshuo, but with eighty-seven strength, he stood his ground.

“Fifty-five attack, ten defense, three hundred fifty health! Not bad, easier than I expected!”

In an instant, Huang Yunshuo sized up Cock-a-Doodle-Luo’s stats and broke into a confident laugh.

“Go for it,” Morning Dew and Light Frost said. With aggro firmly on Huang Yunshuo, she could begin her own assault.

Six consecutive arrows struck home, dealing a total of sixty damage and reducing Cock-a-Doodle-Luo’s movement speed by thirty percent. Huang Yunshuo instantly felt the pressure ease.

He’d already used one healing spray and was still badly wounded. The boss’s attacks hit for nearly a third of his health each time—if not for his agility letting him dodge twice, he’d already be dead.

Cloaked in a pale, chilling mist, Cock-a-Doodle-Luo could no longer keep up with Huang Yunshuo—now, it could barely move.

Huang Yunshuo healed up and prepared to press the attack.

Suddenly, Cock-a-Doodle-Luo let out a piercing crow.

Before Huang Yunshuo’s disbelieving eyes, it soared into the air and landed ten meters away—right in front of Morning Dew and Light Frost.

-44!

She gritted her teeth against the numbing pain in her arm and fled toward Huang Yunshuo, pulling out a spray to heal herself.

-88!

A critical hit.

In an instant, Morning Dew and Light Frost fell to the ground. The healing spray tumbled from her hand, still two-thirds full and unused.

“Damn it,” Huang Yunshuo cursed, grabbing the dropped potion and spraying himself.

Flapping madly, Cock-a-Doodle-Luo, still under the slowing effect, scattered feathers everywhere. Huang Yunshuo was blasted backward by the barrage, his recently restored health plummeting from one hundred to forty. Forced to use another healing spray, he ran in circles around the boss, waiting for his health to recover.

After expending its two skills, Cock-a-Doodle-Luo seemed to have no more tricks.

Huang Yunshuo, now healed, charged in. Shield up to block the peck, he drove his sword into the rooster’s neck.

-38! -16!

-62!

Damn it, another critical peck!

With only twenty-eight health remaining, Huang Yunshuo was ready to cry. He’d had a chance for two consecutive attacks, but now he was forced to retreat and use one of his last two healing sprays.

Cock-a-Doodle-Luo, with three hundred fifty health, had already lost sixty to Morning Dew and Light Frost’s arrows and more from Huang Yunshuo’s furious assault—roughly eighty remained. Not bad.

After waiting for his combo cooldown and using another potion to climb back to one hundred and two health, he prepared to attack.

But before he could reach the boss, Cock-a-Doodle-Luo repeated its earlier trick—soaring skyward, it suddenly landed right in front of Huang Yunshuo, beak striking out.