Online Game: Lord Of The Wheel Of Destiny

The battle had paused for the moment. Yuan Zhu busied himself collecting carcass cards while Jiang Kai scoured the cracks beneath several rocks, uncovering three elite Lizard treasures.

During the battle at the Eternal Frozen Island, most Fishmen had come from their respective territories to join the fight, leaving no treasure chests upon death. Here, however, the Lizards were clearly defending their home turf, and the elite Lizards had left behind their loot.

After gathering their spoils, the Fire God Squad regrouped outside the central stone formation.

If nothing unexpected occurred, the Warlord-tier Ironclad Lizard would be residing within.

"Let's go in," Jiang Kai said.

Yuan Zhu blocked Jiang Kai, suggesting, "Kai, maybe you should rest for a bit. You must've used up a lot of energy in the last fight."

Jiang Kai shook his head. "I'm definitely tired, but not so much that I can't move. And if we wait too long, there's a chance the target might escape."

"Hunting Warlord-tier beasts requires striking while the iron is hot."

Yuan Zhu understood and, seeing that Jiang Kai could still hold his ground, stepped aside.

The five-man squad maneuvered through a chaotic maze of rocks, slipping past a gap near a large boulder and entering the central stone formation.

As soon as they stepped inside, the group laid eyes on its master.

It was a massive Lizard, over 4.5 meters long, with a back covered in white, rock-like scales.

Its skin was riddled with sharp, triangular protrusions. Though its limbs were short, they were powerfully built, gripping the ground firmly.

The creature's long tail ended in a spherical, bulging mass.

Its brow ridge jutted out prominently, casting shadows over its pale gray eyes, which glared at the intruders from deep sockets while its long tongue flicked in and out.

"It's… it's a white Lizard!" Su Nuanuan exclaimed.

"No way—the first Warlord-tier Lizard we encounter is a mutant?" Yuan Zhu gasped.

Mutant Warlord-tier beasts were far stronger than their ordinary counterparts.

Of course, the stronger the beast, the richer the "loot" it guarded, and the higher the chances of finding top-tier treasures in its chest.

Su Nuanuan quickly raised her wrist to assess the Lizard using her bracelet.

"Phosphorized Warlord Ironclad Lizard, also called a White Lizard. Estimated age: 36 years. Weight: 2 to 2.4 tons. Historical data suggests that Phosphorized Lizards of this size typically exhibit the following attributes: Strength: 380-420, Agility: 190-260, Constitution: 440-480, Mental Power: 100-200."

"The skin on its back isn't just tough, with over 30 points of defense—it's also heavily phosphorized, making it resistant to heat and corrosion and almost impossible to penetrate."

"Even its chest and abdomen are covered with a phosphorized protective layer, offering 15 points of defense and similar heat and corrosion resistance."

Su Nuanuan continued, "Its primary attacks include 'Venom Spray,' 'Tail Hammer Strike,' and powerful 'Claw Swipes' and 'Bites.' Its saliva is highly toxic, with effects varying from individual to individual, making it impossible to prepare an antidote in advance. The venom can corrode most equipment within 5-7 seconds, inflict severe skin damage, and cause fatal infections within 20-30 seconds."

Hearing these stats, Yuan Zhu gulped hard.

"Strength at 400… My god, one swipe, and we're all dead!"

Hu Yan also appeared serious. "And its defenses are insane—15 points on the chest and abdomen? That's just ridiculous."

Jiang Kai glanced at his wrist monitor.

[Beast: Extremely Dangerous!]

The monitor's reading had gone up from "Dangerous" to "Extremely Dangerous," showing just how formidable this creature was.

Jiang Kai began calculating.

As a Level 20 Gambler at the first tier, his stats were as follows: Strength: 80, Constitution: 84, Mental Power: 126, Agility: 186 (enhanced by the Fishman Secret Elixir).

Jiang Kai's attributes were already twice those of most players at his level. His agility, in particular, surpassed many second-tier professions.

But even with his boosted stats, he couldn't compare to this Warlord-tier Lizard.

The Lizard's overwhelming defenses were the biggest concern.

The Chasing Nine Tribulation had a base penetration of 9. With his skill Phantom Throwing Hand, the penetration rose by 30%, reaching just under 12.

Even if he struck the creature's relatively weaker chest or abdomen, it wouldn't be enough to pierce its defenses.

Furthermore, its phosphorized body resisted heat, nullifying the threat of his Quenching Flames technique.

On the other hand, its Venom Spray posed a deadly threat to the Fire God Squad.

This Phosphorized Lizard was a natural counter to Jiang Kai.

"Even the first-tier Nine Tribulations knives aren't keeping up against stronger beasts," Jiang Kai thought bitterly.

"Can we still run?" Yuan Zhu asked nervously.

Jiang Kai shook his head. "Its agility is the lowest of its attributes, but it's still much faster than us. Do you think we can outrun it?"

While Jiang Kai might have a slim chance of escaping, the others wouldn't stand a chance.

The Phosphorized Lizard seemed to have finished evaluating its prey. Slowly at first, it began moving closer, its pace accelerating.

"Don't think too much—it's coming!" Jiang Kai yelled. "Zhuzi, if we can't kill it, we all die."

In the Tiger Squad, Captain Li Biao would protect Yuan Zhu when he wasn't in top form.

But in the Fire God Squad, Jiang Kai took the opposite approach. He continually pressured Yuan Zhu, forcing him to realize that retreating would only lead to his teammates' deaths—or a full team wipe.

Yuan Zhu glanced at his companions.

His old friend Jiang Kai.

His trusted ally Su Nuanuan.

Ruan Yu, who had shared his precious brew.

And Hu Yan, who'd done countless free fortune-tellings for him.

They weren't shielding him. They believed in him.

Back in the Tiger Squad, he had been someone who needed protection. But here, in the Fire God Squad, he was an essential member of the team.

Steeling himself, Yuan Zhu charged forward without waiting for orders.

"EARTHSHAKER STOMP!"

BOOM!

Yuan Zhu's massive frame crashed down beside the Phosphorized Lizard like a cannonball, sending mud flying.

Jiang Kai's lips curled into a faint smile. "That's the spirit, Zhuzi!"

But the Lizard remained unfazed, its legs firmly planted on the ground.

"Captain, I can't knock it back!" Yuan Zhu cried in frustration.

Normally, his attack would create an opening for Jiang Kai to strike or give himself time to retreat.

But now, he was left vulnerable, standing alone just a few meters away from the beast.

Jiang Kai's eyes widened. He had been trying to motivate Yuan Zhu, not send him to his death.

"Zhuzi, run!"

"I…" Yuan Zhu hesitated, trembling with fear as the Lizard recovered its mobility.

Jiang Kai quickly launched his knives.

The blades clanged against the Lizard's iron-like scales, and even a critical hit only pushed the beast back a few meters. Its armor remained unscathed.

Infuriated, the Lizard roared and lunged at Yuan Zhu.

"Why is it coming for me?" Yuan Zhu shouted, turning to flee.

But he was too slow. The Lizard was closing in fast.

Suddenly, a figure darted past Jiang Kai.

"Ruan Yu?" Jiang Kai was stunned.

"I, Ruan Yu, will never back down!"

Charging fearlessly at the terrifying Lizard, Ruan Yu appeared ready to confront it head-on.

Jiang Kai's shock turned to dread.

"Damn it—it's Ruan Yu!"

In his intoxicated state, Ruan Yu's desires and impulses were amplified.

But this wasn't the time for reckless heroics.

The Lizard's venomous saliva could corrode flesh in seconds.

If Ruan Yu got too close, it wouldn't just be a fight—it'd be a death sentence.

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