Chapter 121: Platinum Rank? The Profound Black Clam of the Deep Pool!

Seizing the moment, Wang Chen brandished the Forest Gale in his hand, the tip of the staff crackling with electricity.

“Lightning Barrier!”

Three lightning spheres, linked by chains of crackling thunder, hurtled toward the monstrous toad, spinning fiercely as they struck.

He wasn’t finished yet. He swung the Forest Gale once more, the head of the staff now shrouded in an aura of darkness.

“Praise of Life!”

A black-red chain of death shot out, wrapping itself around the beast. The barbed chain lashed it mercilessly, tightening ever more with each passing second.

For now, the beast’s movement was temporarily restrained.

Wang Chen finally had a moment to examine the creature’s information.

A flash of violet gleamed in his eyes as data surged into his mind.

[Deep Pool Black Toad... Analysis failed... lv32]

[Skill One:... Analysis failed]

[Skill Two:... Analysis failed]

[Skill Three:... Analysis failed]

[Skill Four:... Analysis failed]

Seeing this feedback, Wang Chen was shocked. This was the first time the Eye of the Beast had failed to reveal a creature’s details. It was just like when he had used One Leaf Veil earlier.

This made things all the more troublesome, and that was without mentioning the fact that this was a platinum-tier beast.

It was Wang Chen’s first encounter with such a foe.

“This will be a bitter struggle,” he thought, but he felt no urge to retreat.

He hadn’t yet realized that the strengthening of his vitality had not only enhanced his body, but also shaped his character, making him braver and more battle-hardened.

Wang Chen whirled the Forest Gale again, sending a heavy wave of light sweeping to the toad’s flank.

A flicker at his fingertip, and a vial appeared in his palm. He flicked off the stopper and downed it in one gulp.

Once more, the Forest Gale danced in his hand, another heavy wave of light dropping to the earth and sliding toward the other side of the Deep Pool Black Toad.

Then Wang Chen snapped his fingers. “Hand of Stone!”

A faint sound was followed by two rending groans of earth as the sand below the islet heaved, and two gigantic hands of rock burst forth from the ground.

They formed a pincer, closing around the toad in their stony grip, like an invisible Buddha pressing its palms together to trap and squeeze the beast with all its might.

A crisp crack sounded—soft, yet sharp to Wang Chen’s ears, for it signaled his immobilization spell had failed.

As that brittle, marble-shattering noise rang out, the Deep Pool Black Toad grew restless within the rocky grasp!

Wang Chen pressed his palms together, feeling the squirming, defiant mass resisting the Hand of Stone’s compression.

“Though this toad is a platinum-tier beast, it doesn’t seem physically powerful. The stone hands are more than enough to restrain it,” he thought, focusing on crushing the creature between his palms.

But things did not go as planned. Black light flared from the gaps between the fingers of the stone hands, and in an instant the sensation of the yielding, soft body vanished.

With a thunderous crash, the two stone hands slammed together.

Baffled, Wang Chen had no idea what had happened when, suddenly, black light coalesced before him and the Deep Pool Black Toad reappeared, its massive mouth gaping wide as a pale-pink tongue lashed out at him.

Everything happened in a flash. Wang Chen had no time to dodge; he could only watch as the tongue struck him squarely.

A tremendous force slammed into him. The soft armor on his body deformed instantly, dissipating the impact across his body.

But it wasn’t enough. Wang Chen was hurled through the air.

Luckily, he landed on another sandy islet, avoiding a plunge into the deep pool below—otherwise, he’d have been at the mercy of the toad, master of the waters.

As he flew, Wang Chen heard a tremor behind him. He knew it meant the toad was leaping after him, eager to press its advantage.

A flash in his hand, and a small silver-black bead appeared. He hurriedly popped it into his mouth.

When he landed on the sandbar, he immediately sank into the loose earth below.

The Deep Pool Black Toad followed close behind, its massive bulk slamming down on the spot where Wang Chen ought to have fallen.

Had he not managed to sink into the sand in time, he’d have been crushed like the shattered stone hands.

Through the dotted lines of the sandy soil, Wang Chen could see the toad crouched above him, unmoving.

“It seems I’ve angered it. It no longer intends to retreat to the water.”

Wang Chen pondered, “I have no choice but to fight it head-on. Whether in the water or on the sandbar, I’m always within its sight.”

He twisted his body, surveying his surroundings. “The sandbars aren’t connected. I can’t escape using the Earth-Piercing Pearl without swimming between them.”

“And while using the Earth-Piercing Pearl, I’m vulnerable. If the toad or some other aquatic beast attacks me as I move between sandbars, I’ll be finished.”

With these facts clear, Wang Chen began to devise his strategy.

“The toad escaped from the Hand of Stone just now by using a skill. That means I can identify one of its four skills. Now I need to determine the rest, and break them one by one.”

Wang Chen resolved to wage a war of attrition against the Deep Pool Black Toad, focusing on stalling for time until he had uncovered all its abilities. With his supply of potions, he could afford to wait.

A heavy wave of light flicked from his finger, shooting up toward the toad crouched above him.

Once the light wave nestled beneath the toad, he snapped his fingers.

This time, being beneath the sandbar, Wang Chen had a chance to observe how the Hand of Stone formed within the earth.

He saw the wave of light, like a seed, sprout luminous branches at the snap of his fingers, quickly forming the outline of a hand. The light solidified, reaching upward toward the surface.

Above, the toad only felt a tremor beneath it before a giant rocky hand hoisted it skyward and tightened its grip.

Seizing the chance, Wang Chen leaped out of the sandbar, a flash at his fingertips as a battle flag appeared in his hand.

“Fight by my side! Giant Ghoul!”

He tossed the flag into the air, where it flared with light. The radiant motes gathered, coalescing into a giant ghoul.

The creature stood five or six meters tall, wielding a massive bone club. Its skin was indigo, a beast hide draped around its waist, and beneath its rolls of fat bulged powerful muscles.

Facing the toad, it opened a maw lined with two curved fangs, roared, and swung its club in a frenzy.

Wang Chen directed the Hand of Stone, hurling the Deep Pool Black Toad toward the giant ghoul.

The ghoul gripped its bone club with both hands and brought it down on the oncoming beast.

This mighty blow, infused with the ghoul’s skill, made the club blaze with indigo light, its power swelling. The strike smashed the airborne toad off the sandbar and deep into the mud.

Dazed and reeling, the toad was unable to fight back as the giant ghoul laid into it, raining down blow after blow like a relentless storm.