As a veteran gamer, Li Miao was naturally a quick study and highly adaptable.
After making a few mistakes at the start, he wised up. His reflexes improved, and he learned to stay alert to his surroundings.
More importantly, Li Miao quickly began to exercise the proactivity unique to players.
SWISH! SMACK!
"ROAR!"
The Beach Fishman, struck by the stone, immediately looked toward its tormentor and charged furiously at Li Miao.
Li Miao chuckled, rolled, and got back to his feet, cleanly beheading it with a single slash.
"These rocks are pretty good for pulling aggro."
After picking up the loot, Li Miao tossed the stone in his hand.
’There’s no item description, but it still works like this... This game is just too realistic!’
He couldn’t help but marvel.
The rubble on the ground didn’t have any item information. In a normal game, it would have been completely useless.
But in this game, Li Miao could use it to lure enemies without putting himself in harm’s way. It was incredibly convenient and effective.
’...I’ve been playing for so long without even realizing...’
After glancing at the time, Li Miao felt he should log off.
Although the manufacturer claimed the virtual reality helmet could perfectly substitute for sleep while gaming, this was his first time using it. It was probably best to get out, check on things, and grab some breakfast.
"Hm?"
However, just as he was about to leave, he noticed some unusual activity on the shore where the Beach Fishmen respawned.
SPLASH!
A huge wave suddenly crashed on the spot where an Ordinary Beach Fishman should have reappeared.
After the wave receded, a huge, muscular Beach Fishman holding a Bone Fork appeared before Li Miao.
[Beach Fishman Leader]
[Tier: Residual Ash]
[Level: 8]
[Talent: Gooey Fish Scales]
[Skill: Bone Fork Throwing, Mucus Spray]
[Explanation: With your hands stained by the blood of Fish People, you should know why it has appeared.]
[Gooey Fish Scales: Scaly skin covered in a thick layer of mucus that slightly reduces incoming damage.]
"Rrrgh..."
The Fishman Leader let out a low, guttural growl. It swung the Bone Fork in its muscular arm, its fish-like eyes scanning the surroundings as it began to pace back and forth.
’A boss spawned?’
Seeing this, Li Miao’s first reaction wasn’t fear; his eyes lit up.
’If I can kill a boss, it’s bound to drop some good stuff!’
At this thought, Li Miao couldn’t help but look down at himself.
Bare-chested, wearing nothing but a pair of tattered shorts on his lower half, he looked worse than a beggar...
Although this "Fishman Leader" looked very strong, Li Miao found his current pathetic state even more unbearable than the danger.
’I’m the first player to log in on launch day, for crying out loud! Starting the game in just shorts is one thing, but logging out with only shorts would be a total loss of face!’
’Besides, who knows when this Fishman Leader will disappear, or when it’ll show up again...’
"Dammit, I’m going for it!"
Li Miao steeled his resolve, rolled up his non-existent sleeves, and decided to put off breakfast. He was determined to slay this Fishman Leader!
’I don’t have class this morning anyway!’
’Go big or go home!’
"Here I go!"
Li Miao weighed the stone in his hand, then gritted his teeth and hurled it at the Fishman Leader.
The stone accurately struck the Fishman Leader on its head.
His aim was excellent, but the problem was...
PLOP.
Thanks to the mucus, the stone just slid off the Fishman Leader’s head and landed on the sand.
"Rrrgh..."
The Fishman Leader scratched its head, shot a dangerous glare around the area, and when it saw no enemy, turned and resumed its patrol.
"..."
Li Miao was a bit dumbfounded.
But he quickly decided to just go in and pull it himself.
The Ordinary Fish People hadn’t respawned yet, but it would be bad if he got swarmed.
Having made his decision, Li Miao crouched down and stealthily crept closer.
The Fishman Leader looked intimidating, but its eyesight seemed poor. Li Miao easily got behind it.
"Eat my blade!"
Seeing his chance, Li Miao’s eyes narrowed. He raised his knife and viciously stabbed the Fishman Leader right in the butt!
The Fishman Leader’s mucus clearly couldn’t stop a direct stab like that.
And so, with a SQUELCH...
"ROOOOAR!!!"
A tremendous roar echoed across the entire shore.
BAM!
Immediately after, a dark figure was sent flying backward like a cannonball, carving a long trench in the sand before finally crashing into a reef and stopping.
’Damage reduction failed... Just my luck...’
Even with his pain sensors drastically reduced, Li Miao still felt a wave of discomfort and winced.
The Fishman Leader was incredibly fast. Unable to create distance in time, Li Miao could only gamble on his Rolling’s success rate.
Unfortunately, he happened to hit the 50% failure chance...
If he hadn’t saved up some Wax Oil to level up twice and add points to his Constitution, he figured he’d probably be dead already...
SWOOSH—
Before he could even get up, Li Miao suddenly sensed something whistling through the air toward him.
He focused his eyes and saw the dull white Bone Fork growing larger and larger in his vision!
Li Miao’s heart leaped in alarm. He quickly tilted his head to the side and heard a loud CRACK.
The reef he had been leaning against was completely shattered!
"Holy shit..."
Li Miao’s scalp went numb. ’Damn it, if that had hit me, wouldn’t I be black and blue all over?’
"ROOOOAR!!!"
However, before he could recover, Li Miao saw the Fishman Leader across from him leap directly toward him.
He quickly rolled to create distance and prepared to counterattack, only to suddenly realize his knife was gone.
Looking closely, he saw his knife was still stuck in the Fishman Leader’s butt!
’Oh crap, I’m screwed, I’m screwed, I’m screwed...’
A chill ran down Li Miao’s spine. He wasn’t stupid enough to try and pull the blade from the beast’s behind right now; that was a suicide mission.
But without his knife, how was he supposed to kill this Fishman Leader?
’A true man’s 1v1 bare-knuckle brawl?’
Glancing at the enemy’s arms, which were almost as thick as his own waist, Li Miao decided it was best not to entertain that idea...
’Gotta run! I’ll reset its aggro and then figure it out!’
Li Miao decisively turned and ran toward the Reef Cave.
As for the knife, he wasn’t worried. He had tested it before: a Weapon bound to his body would reappear in his hand as long as he made it back to a Spirit Candle alive, even if it was lost in combat.
But that was only if he could survive. Otherwise, he’d have to figure out how to loot his own corpse...
Li Miao sprinted toward the Reef Cave.
But unlike the Ordinary Fish People, which would give up the chase after a short distance, the Fishman Leader behind him was relentless.
But after Li Miao entered the Reef Cave, he figured the monster’s aggro should have reset, so he turned to take a look.
It would have been better if he hadn’t. One look made him jump in fright.
Holy crap, the Fishman Leader was still chasing him!
It was about to enter the Reef Cave!
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