Chapter Twenty-One: The Fierce Demon Mask (Second Update) Please vote and add to your favorites
As a rare monster bearing a pink name, the Steel Barbarian Rat was filled with helplessness. Ostracized as an outcast among its kind, it was never accepted, not even by the lowest, most incompetent white-named ordinary monsters. It could never become the leader of its tribe, regardless of its strength. Recognition within the group was unattainable, dooming it to a solitary existence under a cursed star.
Now, even with immense power and in the absence of other leaders, the Steel Barbarian Rat could only avoid provoking or being attacked by its kin; yet, none would pay it any heed, nor follow its command. Observing the shifting expressions on the Steel Barbarian Rat’s face—now possessing a certain degree of intelligence—Liang Jing felt immensely relieved. Fortunately, these mutated rats ignored the Steel Barbarian Rat entirely. Otherwise, the danger posed by this rat swarm would multiply several times. Rogues are not frightening; what’s terrifying is a rogue with sophistication.
Moreover, these “rogues” were already perilous enough to leave nothing but bone fragments behind in a moment of carelessness.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three steel balls, forty millimeters in diameter and half a pound each, shot through the air at breakneck speed, like cannonballs, straight toward the menacing Steel Barbarian Rat. Liang Jing could imagine that, if struck, the Steel Barbarian Rat—whose steel-like fur supposedly reduced damage—would be left barely clinging to life, if not killed outright.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of steel balls obliterating flesh rang out again, blooming into blood-red fireworks. Yet Liang Jing’s face showed no satisfaction, for the steel balls had struck other ordinary mutated rats, merely stirring chaos among the swarm. Sensing the danger of the steel balls, the Steel Barbarian Rat, heedless of its companions’ lives, erupted with incredible speed and instantly escaped the attack range.
Damn it!
Again!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Damn! Once more, the steel balls hit other ordinary mutated rats in the swarm. Liang Jing suddenly realized things had become troublesome, feeling as if he had no way to strike without collateral damage. Under his [Violent Throw] assault, the Steel Barbarian Rat stayed within a small area, never straying far, its eyes even flashed with mocking intelligence—a high level of cunning! If Liang Jing killed too many mutated rats in a short span within one area, it would surely arouse the vigilance and fury of the remaining mutated rats, escalating the danger.
Watching as the Steel Barbarian Rat forced its way through the crowd of ordinary mutated rats, drawing closer with every step, its tiny black eyes glinting with bloodlust and excitement, Liang Jing thought to himself: Fine! I’ll wait for you to break away from the swarm. Let’s see how you use the ordinary mutated rats as obstacles and bait then.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Screech!
Liang Jing’s eyes narrowed. True to its name, the Steel Barbarian Rat possessed explosive power. As soon as Liang Jing caught it breaking ahead of the swarm and unleashed [Violent Throw], the Steel Barbarian Rat thundered down with all four claws, bursting forth with lightning speed to dodge the steel balls.
Seeing the surge of mutated rats pouring in like a tidal wave, Liang Jing made a decision. He began attacking with steel balls, one after another, at a steady pace, to draw the Steel Barbarian Rat’s enmity. With increasing speed, he gradually distanced himself from the rat swarm, veering away from their direction. Behind him, the Steel Barbarian Rat snarled and bared its teeth in rage, relentlessly pursuing Liang Jing without slowing.
He intended to lure the Steel Barbarian Rat away for a one-on-one duel, escaping the peril of the rat swarm.
Originally, Liang Jing was sprinting across an eight-lane concrete road, hefting hundreds of pounds of heavy equipment like a wild bull, leaping over a two-to-three-meter-wide ditch and landing in a lotus field, its soil cracked under the harsh sunlight. Whoosh! He continued his barrage, provoking the Steel Barbarian Rat behind him, spurring it into a furious chase. His legs churned like two giant windmills, their rhythm shifting at incredible speed. Even on the uneven, soft ground of the lotus field, his pace surpassed that of Zhang Hu and the others on the highway, and was much faster than the rat swarm. He steadily drew farther away from them. The dried, yellow lotus leaves scattered in his wake, fragments swirling in the air like a tornado had passed through, while the Steel Barbarian Rat behind him kept pace, even threatening to overtake him.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bang! Bang!
Two mutated rats were slaughtered by Liang Jing’s steel balls, their white essence absorbed into his body. With those two distant rats gone, no ordinary mutated rats remained; Liang Jing had escaped far beyond the range of the swarm.
Ding…
[Violent Throw]: Unleash your full strength to hurl a weapon at the enemy, causing severe damage. Primary level: 100%.
Liang Jing rejoiced: his proficiency in [Violent Throw] had reached the primary level's limit. With the right miracle, he could break through to the intermediate level, making the skill even more formidable.
Swish!
Like a heavy clockwork machine, Liang Jing abruptly halted, dropping the heavy burden from his left shoulder—Ling Qinghe and the canvas bag. He tossed aside the massive weapon on his back, [Baroque’s Lament], and ignored Ling Qinghe beside him. After a moment’s hesitation, he pulled a mask from his bag and put it on.
The mask covered only the upper half above the mouth. At a glance, it looked fierce and sinister, with a protruding brow, pointed nostrils, and red light glowing from the eye sockets—enhancing vision and protecting the eyes, giving off a demonic gaze. The forehead was engraved with rippling, wave-like patterns, lending the mask a vicious yet mysterious aura.
It didn’t frighten the Steel Barbarian Rat, but it startled Ling Qinghe, whose eyes blinked with mixed emotions.
“[Sinister Ghost Mask], Quality: Green (Excellent),
Agility +5,
Spirit +9,
Chaos 7%,
Skill: Spirit Blade Wave,
Requirement: Spirit 10.
Description: Crafted from the head of a red-haired stinger fly and coated with mysterious lacquer, it possesses some of the fly’s abilities, affecting life with spiritual power.
Spirit Blade Wave: Powerful spirit force erupts in waves, continuously slicing at the target’s soul and inflicting immense damage.”
The Steel Barbarian Rat saw Liang Jing stop and ramped up its pace, its muscular limbs moving at a rapid, high-frequency rhythm, showing no intention of pausing. It charged like a leopard in pursuit, seemingly unaffected by the [Sinister Ghost Mask].
Under the twin suns, the Steel Barbarian Rat’s body was slick and shiny, covered in needle-like black fur that shimmered with dark light as it moved. The dense layers of steel bristles seemed to offer impressive defense. As it drew closer to Liang Jing, its small, glossy black eyes flashed with a hint of satisfaction—Liang Jing saw it clearly, as if the creature possessed very human intelligence.
But Liang Jing couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. No matter how intelligent, could it match a human? Many scientific experiments use white mice precisely because of their intelligence, but even after mutation and evolution, their minds could never rival mankind—the “ancestors” of such games.
Boom!
Screech!
As Liang Jing and the Steel Barbarian Rat drew closer, the rat’s body seemed to swell, muscles bulging beneath thick steel fur, reminiscent of a strongman after a dose of spinach; its speed nearly doubled.
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At last, it’s here. Took some cold medicine, but my head still feels awful…