Chapter 26: You Are Already Dead!

Not far from the Marsh of the Dead, atop a low hill, a gaunt figure hurried over, threw himself flat against the slope, and peered off into the distance at the marsh.

From within the marsh came the roars of savage beasts, and now and then flashes of lightning lit up the darkness.

“I made it in time, haven’t lost track!” Skinny Monkey breathed a sigh of relief. “Looks like that kid has already clashed with the Dark Guardian. Absolutely reckless—charging headlong into the tiger’s den alone!”

He lay there, waiting patiently for the scavenger squad to arrive.

...

Now.

Wang Chen was sure—the Dark Guardian possessed a certain intelligence. Clearly, it understood his taunt, and all three of its heads roared in fury together.

Since each head belonged to a different beast, their voices were unlike: some shrill, some deep and guttural.

“You can roar all you want, but splitting into three harmonized voices? That’s just showing off now!” Wang Chen’s head buzzed from the clamor, and he covered his ears.

The tip of the Forest Gale Staff sparked with lightning, but this time, instead of forming a barrier, the electricity coalesced into orbs.

“Lightning Barrier—Reverse!”

Three spheres of lightning hurtled forth, crackling violently as they crashed toward the Dark Guardian.

The Dark Guardian braced its feet and lunged toward the rock face.

Wang Chen leapt back, tearing apart a magic scroll.

“Thunder Spike—Silver Grade!”

A spear of lightning, so bright it was nearly white-hot, shot forth, aimed straight for the middle head of the Dark Guardian.

The sound of a weapon piercing flesh rang out, like fabric being torn asunder.

The Dark Guardian, having just landed on the rock wall, lost its balance and fell back into the mire.

But the blow had not struck its head. Its massive arms had crossed before its skulls, blocking the attack.

Deep cracks split its enormous pincers, and the fur on its ape arm sizzled and blackened, emitting the stench of scorched flesh.

All three heads glanced at the wounds on its arms, and six eyes flared with red light, glaring at Wang Chen as a chorus of roars erupted.

“Raaawrr—”

The Dark Guardian charged once more, and Wang Chen shredded another scroll.

“Fireburst Bomb—Silver Grade!”

A magic seal flashed in midair, intricate patterns ignited swiftly with red flames, and a fireball the size of half a man condensed, hurling toward the monster.

The Dark Guardian bellowed, brandishing its pincer. A bluish spectral image took form, snapping toward the fireball.

The blazing orb, its surface veined with molten patterns, exploded as the spectral claw clamped down, unleashing flames that engulfed half the creature’s body.

“That’s exactly what I wanted! If you hadn’t blocked, the blast wouldn’t have spread so evenly!” Wang Chen laughed.

Yet, though his words brimmed with confidence, he didn’t lower his guard. He tore another scroll.

“Fountain Guardian—Silver Grade!”

A magic seal flared above, and a heavy stream of water surged out, swirling around Wang Chen and forming a protective shield tailored to his form.

...

The Dark Guardian, scorched by the fireburst, was in ruinous shape. Most of its body was charred black, and the head on the right had been blown apart entirely.

Its pincer now drooped, powerless—evidently, the unexpected force of the explosion had backfired on the limb that had conjured the spectral claw.

Wang Chen kept his guard up, anticipating another attack.

But unexpectedly, the Dark Guardian’s body suddenly collapsed.

Blood and flesh scattered, sinking into the mire and vanishing from sight.

Wang Chen knew.

This must be another of the Dark Guardian’s abilities: Marsh Burrow.

Now, it was like a great white shark lurking beneath the waves, waiting for just the right moment to leap up and snap the head from an unsuspecting passenger on a boat.

But Wang Chen was no defenseless passenger. He had fortified himself and was already strategizing his next move.

As he pondered, a shadow lunged at him from behind.

Perched on the isolated rock face, he had little room to maneuver, and with his attacker emerging from a blind spot, he couldn’t evade in time.

From the mass of chaotic flesh, an ape arm flashed with yellow light.

A piercing ape’s cry split the air.

“Boom—”

The ape arm struck Wang Chen.

But the watery shield flowing over his body absorbed the blow.

Wang Chen felt as if he were an insect hiding inside a bell when someone struck it—a violent shock that left him dizzy and reeling.

Thankfully, the watery barrier was as deep and steady as the sea itself, dispersing the brute force into gentle ripples and then restoring calm.

Failing to break through, the burrowed Dark Guardian leapt away, diving once more into the mire, beginning another round of stealthy hunting.

Wang Chen steadied himself, crushing another magic scroll in his hand.

“Icebound Shield—Silver Grade!”

Frost billowed from the magic seal, spreading across the rock wall and forming thick layers of ice crystals, wrapping Wang Chen in a sturdy defense.

Thus began a contest of attack and defense between him and the Dark Guardian.

...

Hearing a rustling behind him, Skinny Monkey turned warily.

He saw a group approaching, led by a man with slanted, triangular eyes.

It was the scavenger squad.

Skinny Monkey’s face lit up; he scrambled down from the hill and hurried to greet them.

“Boss! I stayed right on that kid—he never escaped my sight!” He pointed beyond the hill. “He’s picked a fight with the Dark Guardian for who-knows-what reason. He’ll be dead any moment now!”

No one replied, but Skinny Monkey didn’t mind. He kept chattering:

“That kid flings around magic scrolls like they’re nothing—he must be loaded. We’re in for a fat payday!”

...

“Boss, I’m exhausted from tracking him. There’s something odd about that kid…”

At last, Skinny Monkey noticed the group’s strange silence. He looked up, puzzled.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Only then did he see the expressions on his companions’ faces—each one shocked and dumbfounded.

“What’s wrong with you all?” he asked, baffled.

“Are you Skinny Monkey?” After a moment, Baldy spoke, but there was a note of fear in his voice.

“Baldy Biao, quit with the stupid jokes. You don’t recognize me? We play cards and drink together every day!” Skinny Monkey looked at Fu Yunsheng.

“Boss, Baldy’s at it again—give him a good thrashing!”

But Fu Yunsheng stared at him, suspicion and uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

“Skinny Monkey… how are you here?”

Skinny Monkey was thoroughly confused.

“If I’m not here, where should I be? Didn’t you order me to tail that kid?”

Everything seemed inexplicable. What had gotten into his friends? Why were they acting so strangely?

“How are you standing here alive?” Fu Yunsheng frowned, then barked at Baldy Biao, “Go back and take another look. Quick!”

Baldy immediately dashed back the way they’d come.

“What’s he doing?” Skinny Monkey complained, “Boss, I’m really beat. You have no idea—I nearly died of thirst out there!”

“Next time I’ll pack extra water and ration it carefully, but it’s never enough. That kid moves too slow!”

“Oh, right, Boss, do you have any water?” Skinny Monkey took a few steps forward.

“Don’t come any closer!” Fu Yunsheng shouted.

“What’s wrong, Boss?” Skinny Monkey froze, startled by the outburst.

Fu Yunsheng’s eyes were wide as he stared, enunciating each word:

“You’re already dead!”