Abby cast a glance at Tana, taking in her striking features and graceful poise, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease.
Even though she had immense trust in Howard, the idea of him departing with such an enticing young lady made her hesitant. But this was a matter of life and death!
After a moment of contemplation, Abby finally nodded, “Alright, I’ll wait here for you.”
Tana, seemingly unfazed by Abby’s internal struggle, saw her agreement and swiftly began weaving intricate hand signs at a dizzying pace.
An unusual sound resonated, and shortly after, a faint blue ripple emerged, transforming into a luminous barrier that enveloped Abby and the other two.
Even Mike, under the influence of this peculiar force, was immobilized, standing rigidly on the spot.
Seeing this, Howard felt a weight lift off his chest. In his heart, Abby’s safety was paramount, even surpassing that of Nick and Mike.
With Abby’s safety secured, Howard wasted no more time and urged Tana to proceed.
With a slight wave of her right hand, Tana summoned a gusting force that lifted both her and Howard into the air, propelling them forward with astonishing speed.
The howling wind reverberated in Howard’s ears, and the forceful gales stirred his emotions, invigorating him like never before.
This was his first time experiencing such aerial flight!
Though Tana’s flying speed was impressive, slightly slower than a Dragonhawk’s, they swiftly reached a spring in no time.
As Howard looked around, he noticed the cold mist emanating from the spring, causing him to furrow his brow. Puzzled, he asked, “Mrs. Tana, are there monsters lurking within this spring?”
“Indeed, but you’ll have to deal with those monsters yourself since you’re still in the middle of an assessment,” Tana whispered, “Be cautious. You only have two quarters of an hour.”
“Thank you for the warning, mentor,” Howard nodded in acknowledgment, surveying his surroundings with heightened scrutiny.
The chill was palpable, almost materializing into a dense white mist that shrouded the entire spring, imparting an oppressive ambiance.
After pondering for a moment, Howard decided to approach the spring. Under Tana’s watchful gaze, he stepped into the enveloping mist.
As he entered, the coldness seemed to converge on him from all directions, seeping into his pores and sending shivers down his spine.
Peering through the mist, Howard noticed a cliff near the spring. On its face, various herbs grew. Without a doubt, these were the Moonlight Herb and Clearheart Flower that Tana had mentioned.
Upon closer observation, Howard detected several vines near the cliff.
He promptly drew out his Soul Nurturer and made his way towards the vines.
Along the way, he vigilantly scanned his surroundings, especially the waters of the spring, ready to retaliate at a moment’s notice.
Though Howard possessed special equipment and an MP shield that could fend off certain attacks, he knew he was treading into the heart of the Valley of Fierce Winds.
The monsters here were no trifles. If they had multi-tiered attack mechanisms, any shield with count-based durability would be instantly shattered.
Fortunately, Howard reached the cliffside without any hindrance. Grasping a vine, he gave it a strong tug to ensure its stability before climbing up.
It was then that bubbles began to surface in the spring.
While Howard might be a magus, his years in the orphanage had honed his skills in tree-climbing.
Within a mere few minutes, he had scaled halfway up the cliffside.
Soon, handfuls of Moonlight Herb and Clearheart Flower were swiftly tucked into his backpack.
He wasn’t sure of the exact amount needed to save Nick and Mike, so he opted to gather a bit extra. Even if it turned out to be surplus, he could sell it.
After all, these herbs were of a high grade and would surely fetch a handsome price.
Only after collecting dozens of the Moonlight Herb and Clearheart Flower did Howard, contentedly, contemplate his descent.
One shouldn’t be overly greedy, after all.
But he had lingered too long. .
Unbeknownst to him, a tentacle had stealthily emerged from the spring’s depths, creeping ever so slowly towards him.
In his moment of triumph, noting no sign of any monster around, Howard had let his guard down.
The next instant, the tentacle shot forth, wrapping itself tightly around Howard’s waist.
With a terrifying burst of strength, it dragged Howard into the cold embrace of the spring.
When Howard crashed into the water, the impact was like a boulder splashing down, sending waves rippling outward and producing a thunderous sound. This immediately drew Tana’s attention.
In a flash, Tana’s figure shimmered, plunging into the misty cold fog, her gaze fixed intently on Howard.
However, in that moment, Tana refrained from intervening.
As a mentor, she understood that true potential often surfaces in moments of crisis.
If she stepped in each time her student faced danger, it would only limit their growth.
She would only take action if Howard could no longer hold his own.
Fortunately, Howard didn’t solely rely on Tana. The moment he hit the water, his MP shield enveloped him, preventing any dizziness or potential drowning.
It was during this brief window of protection that Howard identified his assailant—a massive octopus.
But this was no ordinary creature; its tentacles seemed to spread throughout the entirety of the spring.
At its core was a fist-sized nucleus, with a pair of eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.
Sensing Howard’s scrutiny, several more tentacles surged forward, defensively shielding its core.
Thankfully, Howard had already cast a Divination spell.
Moments later, the mystifying octopus’s attributes materialized before him, displayed on a translucent panel.
[Death Octopus] (BOSS)
[Level: 35]
[Tier: Diamond]
[Description: A mysterious octopus dwelling in the chilly springs. Under the assault of the cold, its tentacles have gained the power to control frost, possessing an eerie ability to adapt and evolve.]
[HP: 36000/36000]
[Magic Attack Power: 6720–7780]
[Defense Value: 5100]
[Skills: Death Coil, Venom Embrace, Fatal Blockade, Frostbite Assault, Frost Prison]
“Hmm? What’s going on? Why are this monster’s stats so low?” Upon glimpsing the attributes of the Death Octopus, Howard was taken aback.
He couldn’t believe that a Level 35 Diamond-grade BOSS had such a low HP.
However, the Attack Power and Defense Value of the Death Octopus were significantly higher than other BOSSes of its level.
Clearly, it had traded its HP, much like maguses and archers—those glass cannon classes—in exchange for an increase in Attack Power.
Against such a creature, team-based strategies would fare better.
If a few players could tie down the Death Octopus, the rest could aggressively attack, swiftly taking it down.
Yet, for those attempting to conquer it alone, there’s a strong chance they’d be taken out before even defeating the monster.
With that thought, Howard immediately swung his Soul Nurturer.
Unleashing the Frost Arrow Spell, the cold air swiftly converged, forming an frost arrow that shot through the water, hurtling towards the Death Octopus.
Thanks to the MP shield, Howard was still able to move freely underwater.
However, before the frost arrow could even reach the Death Octopus, tentacles intertwined, forming a massive net that promptly intercepted the projectile.
“-129!”
The faint damage figure emerged, causing Howard’s eyes to widen in disbelief.
What was happening?
Given his attributes, and having absorbed so much of the cold, the damage dealt shouldn’t have been so minimal!
His eyes darted around, and Howard quickly sensed something amiss.
The tentacles of the Death Octopus moved as if they had a life of their own, ceaselessly writhing.
Even when the frost arrow struck them, a mysterious power manifested, mitigating some of the damage.
In that instant, realization dawned on Howard.
Despite the Death Octopus’s seemingly low HP, the ability of its tentacles to mitigate damage made swiftly defeating the creature nearly an impossible dream.
Recalling how swiftly those tentacles had shielded the Octopus’s head, Howard pinpointed the solution — he must target the Death Octopus’s core!
Yet, by now, the Death Octopus had already shrouded its core with its tentacles, forming what appeared to be a solid mass of flesh.
Penetrating this defense to reach the core seemed an insurmountable challenge.
Rumble, rumble!
As Howard pondered his next move, the Death Octopus sprang into action once again.
Numerous tentacles surged within the spring, mustering a ferocious strength as they lunged towards Howard.
For a moment, the surface of the entire spring seemed to boil with activity!
Feeling the overwhelming pressure advancing upon him like a looming mountain, a hint of unease crossed Howard’s face.
Just as he contemplated retreating to put some distance between himself and the Death Octopus, a sharp pain lanced through his waist.
The very tentacle that had ensnared him earlier was pulling him into the oncoming tidal wave of tentacles.
Deep down, Howard knew this was just the initial assault. If this onslaught hit him, a relentless barrage would follow, tearing him apart without cessation.
As Howard prepared to unleash a skill in retaliation, an unexpected thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
If the Death Octopus’s tentacles could resist damage, could they also resist the effects of attacks?
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