Absolute Death Game

With a swish, a translucent protective shield suddenly enveloped him. Han Wenhuan, amidst his panic, looked up and saw that Xiao Buli had cast the Ethereal Armor on him. He breathed a sigh of relief but didn't dare to let his guard down, continuing his frantic run while moving his mouse over the Teleportation Talisman.

However, the talisman had a three-second casting time, and teleportation could be easily interrupted, so it's best not to attempt it unless absolutely necessary.

The boss, Xu Lie, charged on a horse and caught up with a slash from mid-air. With a click, the Ethereal Armor flickered and deformed as if it was about to shatter under the might of the blow, clearly not able to withstand a second strike. Han Wenhuan's heart suddenly surged with fear. How high was this attack power? Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

Before the boss could land a second blow, a knight suddenly charged head-on towards him. The knight was clad in golden armor, and his mount was especially majestic. Not only was it a head taller than ordinary battle steeds, but it also emanated a faint golden halo. Its eyes shone with golden light, and it was draped in golden scale armor—clearly not an ordinary mount.

When the horse was still more than ten meters away, it suddenly reared up. Han Wenhuan instantly realized what was coming; it was the prelude to a general's charge. Although his skills were not top-notch in the studio, they weren't far off, and his instincts made him want to dodge to the side.

However, with warriors blocking both ends of the narrow entry designed for defense, there was no room to evade.

"My life is over!" Han Wenhuan lamented inwardly, just as Xu Lie's blade came slashing down from above.

Giant Spirit's Grasp! An invisible giant hand, like a phantom, suddenly grabbed him and flung him over the low walls on both sides of the passageway. He flew more than ten meters and thumped to the ground, losing one-third of his health points, but escaping the brink of death.

Han Wenhuan was overjoyed, still somewhat bewildered, while Xiao Buli, standing atop the tower, had a clear view. That "Giant Spirit's Grasp" had been unleashed by Zhang Haojie.

(It's getting weirder and weirder,) he thought. Giant Spirit's Grasp is also a unique skill of the Divine Race, and that steed beneath him is clearly a Heavenly Battle Steed. Xiao Buli, who had seen it before during a library dungeon run, realized that this guy definitely had ties to the Divine Race.

Could he have earned it by slaying numerous Divine Race bosses, or was it a reward from a quest related to the Divine Race?

"Old Han, are you alright?" asked Xiao Buli indifferently.

"I'm alright, not dead yet," replied Han Wenhuan, panting heavily.

"Then hurry back to the village and log off somewhere. The rest of you should also head back and log off. There's going to be a bloody battle here, and I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you any longer," he said.

After speaking, Xiao Buli readied himself for the incoming battle, but Xiao Ge surprisingly rejected his suggestion.

"Give me a break, boss. Since choosing to play this game, I was prepared for life-or-death crises. Though I don't want to die or face danger, I won't deliberately flee if it comes. Can I escape for a lifetime after avoiding one encounter? You just focus on your fight; we can take care of ourselves," Xiao Ge said decisively.

Taken aback by Xiao Ge's words, Xiao Buli looked at him, noticing that the young man under twenty seemed much more serious and mature.

"Okay then, be extra careful," Xiao Buli said before turning his attention back to the battlefield at the village entrance.

Han Wenhuan hesitated but couldn't bring himself to flee. He continued to watch the battle from a distance.

The battle surrounding them had descended into chaos. The Black Mountain Bandits regrouped and immediately attacked the breached gate. With heavy casualties among the villagers' militia, those remaining could hardly defend the gate. The situation was critical. Fortunately, Xu Lie and Zhang Haojie were clashing at the entrance, holding the enemy soldiers at bay for now.

However, it was evident to all that once Xu Lie breached the main defense, Black Stone Village would inevitably fall today, so everyone's gaze was fixed on the fight at the gate.

Yet, the battle atop the walls didn't cease. Seeing no way through the gate, the Black Mountain Bandits made another push towards the walls. The defenders on the wall promptly engaged again. But Xiao Buli wasn't too concerned with that combat; with many players and villagers defending, there wouldn't be any problems in the short term.

Instead, he watched Zhang Haojie, wondering how he dared to face off against a Lord boss like Xu Lie alone.

The moment Han Wenhuan was flung away, Zhang Haojie had already charged at Xu Lie, disrupting his advance with one blow. The generals began fighting at the gate. Since it was a non-targeting game, the ranged attackers dared not focus their fire, worried about friendly fire.

This made the battle feel somewhat like a duel between warriors of the Three Kingdoms, with both sides exhibiting formidable strength. Xu Lie was a golden-named boss, whose strength as a Lord-type boss often relied on leading hordes of minor monsters and enhancing their status, compared to solitary golden bosses he might be somewhat weaker.

On the other hand, Zhang Haojie, with his Divine Gear and skills, was a top player among them who could easily solo Silver Name minor bosses and had the strength to contend with a golden boss. As the chaotic battle continued, they were locked in a stalemate.