Chapter 46: Fierce Battle Beneath the Water

Just as the battle was about to erupt, a little fellow appeared by Xiao Yang's side—it was Little Bone.

Now, Little Bone was wearing a set of tattered leather armor, clutching a noticeably scaled-down bone spear in one hand and a small round leather shield in the other, completely striking the pose of a miniature skeleton spearmen-and-shieldman.

The little fellow brandished its weapon and gesticulated fiercely at the enemies surging out from the water ahead, though the deterrent effect was severely lacking no matter how one looked at it, especially since a large portion of the little fellow's head was still submerged in the water.

Xiao Yang noticed Little Bone beside him. It was evidently clear that Little Bone wanted to protect him. With the fight moments away, he had no mind to spare.

Xiao Yang stepped forward, shielding the little fellow behind him.

The battle began. The churning water rapidly closed in on Xiao Yang and violently exploded around him. It was only at this moment that Xiao Yang finally managed to see the true appearance of these monsters hiding in the water.

Gray-white slimy skin, low statures, hunchbacked bodies, and oversized fish heads—they were cave murlocs, the very cave murlocs Robert had warned Xiao Yang to watch out for.

These creatures resembled fish more than humans. Clearly, the opening of the underground fissure had not driven them to complete extinction. The weapons clutched in their hands were bone short-spears, seemingly made by sharpening one end of a large skeletal femur.

A murloc lunged fiercely out of the water, raising its short-spear to attack Xiao Yang. Xiao Yang's movements were severely restricted in this mud-filled, turbid pool. Stomping through the sludge, he viciously swung his weapon, "Sanction of Justice." The leaping cave murloc was batted away by Xiao Yang, falling with a splash into the nearby pool.

However, a greater danger arrived instantly. In a flash, five or six cave murlocs popped up around Xiao Yang. Damn it, these creatures were photophobic, and the Dark-Dispelling Lantern was exceptionally effective at intimidating them.

Xiao Yang had failed to react to this in time; the primary target of the vanguard cave murloc hadn't been Xiao Yang, but the Dark-Dispelling Lantern in his hand.

That cave murloc succeeded. Xiao Yang's Dark-Dispelling Lantern was knocked flying, tumbling into the distant pool. The light of the lantern was obscured by the pool water, and the environment instantly grew dim. Unrestrained by the light, the cave murlocs swarmed out all at once.

Instantly, several damage numbers floated up from Xiao Yang's body.

The damage wasn't high—in fact, it was somewhat excessively low. Much like those skeletal spearmen, these creatures could only rely on their weapon traits to inflict negligible armor-piercing damage upon Xiao Yang. The problem, however, was that Xiao Yang's health pool was currently too low, while at the same time, the cave murlocs converging around him were simply too numerous.

"Little Bone!"

Xiao Yang shouted out for Little Bone. At Xiao Yang's call, Little Bone abandoned its fight with the cave murloc before it and vanished into the shadows.

The situation was perilous. Amidst the encirclement, Xiao Yang's health plummeted to thirty points in an instant. Fortunately, letting go and fighting without reservation—wielding a rusted saber in one hand and "Condolences of Justice" in the other—he engaged in combat with these damned cave murlocs, striking out to his left and right.

It wasn't without good news. Ever since acquiring "Condolences of Justice," this was the first time Xiao Yang had put it to use, and the enemies were finally no longer cold, sluggish undead beings.

These cave murlocs were able to fully, or even excessively, enjoy the cowering effects of both "Condolences of Justice" and the "Blackstone Prison Garrison Regulations." Fairly speaking, their various attributes were not bad, especially considering they possessed the slimy skin trait which reduced incoming damage, though they weren't high enough in level to trigger Xiao Yang's "Elite Killer" title.

Usually, a heavy-strike blow from Xiao Yang would only deal nine or ten points of damage. Taking a blow or two, they could still remain full of vitality and vigor, but their mentality was exceptionally fragile: the first blow dealt damage, the second blow caused them to cower, and the third blow resulted in instant death.

"Slightly higher-tier trash mobs"—that was Xiao Yang's evaluation of these cave murlocs. The only problem was that their numbers were simply too vast, and they kept multiplying as more and more cave murlocs surged in from all directions.

Amidst this chaotic, grueling battle, cave murlocs fell one after another, while Xiao Yang's health continued to dwindle lower and lower.

Thirty points, twenty-eight points, eighteen points—his health was already less than a tenth of its peak state. Yet it was precisely at this moment that Little Bone returned. Little Bone had retrieved the Dark-Dispelling Lantern. Warm light once again illuminated the bottom of the dim underground fissure, and Xiao Yang snatched up the rusted saber he had dropped, took the lantern, and held it high.

Never underestimate the bond between Xiao Yang and Little Bone!

At this moment, the cave murlocs surrounding Xiao Yang exhibited a flicker of agitation and unease within the light of the Dark-Dispelling Lantern, followed by the spreading states of cowering and terror. A ferocious expression crossed Xiao Yang's face, and the "Condolences of Justice" in his hand descended like raindrops. One strike per target, guaranteed to lay a cave murloc flat with every single hit. Before long, this thrilling battle came to an end.

The waters around Xiao Yang were littered with the haphazard corpses of cave murlocs. The surviving cave murlocs had the courage scared right out of them and retreated in a massive, chaotic wave. Little Bone was already busy looting, feeling around in the sludge to fish out the rusted saber Xiao Yang had dropped earlier.

Xiao Yang leveled up, reaching level nine. This truly had been an exceptionally thrilling battle; by the time it ended, Xiao Yang's health had dwindled down to a mere ten points.

The flickering flame of the Dark-Dispelling Lantern steadied itself, proclaiming the departure of danger. Of course, Xiao Yang himself wanted nothing more than to quickly crawl ashore and leave this frigid pool, but after casting a glance around at the floating corpses of the cave murlocs, he silently poured a health potion down his throat and joined Little Bone in looting the bodies.

He couldn't bear to miss out on any potential loot.

Still, it wasn't a major issue. In this chaotic, grueling battle, Xiao Yang had thoroughly terrified those cave murlocs. Before they could drag out an even stronger boss, they definitely wouldn't dare to come looking for trouble with Xiao Yang again.

Even so, as long as Xiao Yang was given a chance to catch his breath, he wouldn't be overly terrified should they decide to bring a stronger combatant.

Don't look at Xiao Yang now lacking fancy skills, a proper class, or a high level; he was still quite capable of fighting, and exceptionally enduring to boot.

Out of combat, World Membrane (Life) began to take effect. Xiao Yang's health recovered at a rate of ten percent per minute. It wouldn't be long before his status was completely restored to full once again.

One had to admit, the epic tier of World Membrane (Life) was thoroughly well-deserved. Although it provided zero attribute boosts, had no effect other than health regeneration, and even required him to exit combat before healing could begin, it was truly wonderful to use!

A mobile health spring—you truly only know how good it is once you use it!