Chapter 26
The six Fierce-Toothed Leopards’ sturdy muscles tensed as they gathered their strength and pounced fiercely at the scrawny Dilias.
《Sword Skill · Assault》
This is a sword skill that involves dashing a certain distance toward the opponent before delivering a slash. It is the most basic close-combat sword skill for a swordsman. Once mastered, one can decisively cancel the follow-through and execute a new strike, just like this—
《Sword Skill · Fang Thrust》
The moment the slash changed into a thrust, the leopards dodged to the left and right, opening their bloody maws to bite at Dilias’s shoulders simultaneously.
“As if I’d let you succeed!”
《Sword Skill · Tiger Leap》
Stabbing the sword tip into the ground, Dilias used the force of the thrust to leap forward, then pulled the dull sword out of the mud.
The Fierce-Toothed Leopards, having overshot, braked sharply, their claws digging into the ground as they turned around.
To an onlooker, this was an evenly matched fight. Not because Dilias was exceptionally strong, but because the leopards were holding back.
What were these six leopards wary of? Despite their numerical advantage, they didn’t use their full strength to bite, nor did they even use magic.
Magical beasts of this Orichalcum rank usually use some low-tier magic. Fierce-Toothed Leopards typically use electric shock magic to paralyze their opponent’s nerves, then use their sharp fangs for physical attacks like tearing and biting. Lina’s magic shield couldn’t withstand multiple Third Tier magic attacks; Dilias’s defeat and consumption were only a matter of time.
The Fierce-Toothed Leopards before him were highly suspicious. Neither using electric shock magic nor pouncing with full force, it was as if they were frolicking with Dilias. This gave rise to a thought in Dilias’s mind.
—If they are all illusions… they would try to avoid contact, right? After all, when sword and claw clash, the likelihood of being exposed increases.
It was just a guess. Testing it with his life would be the stupidest thing to do. Dilias wasn’t dumb enough to open his chest and welcome a magical beast’s pounce.
“Roar!”
Roaring, the Fierce-Toothed Leopards launched another attack at Dilias.
Dilias pretended to retreat, vigorously circling through the forest, no longer using sword skills to consume stamina. If he really stood there fighting back and forth with illusions, it would be meaningless.
This is extremely likely to be magic manipulated by humans. The Misty Forest is just a gimmick, possibly just using the perennial mist to cover up the fact that there is a special barrier.
But verifying his idea first was the most important thing.
《Sword Skill · Moonlight》
Blue sword energy sliced toward the Fierce-Toothed Leopards, simultaneously chopping down a large tree. The leopards behind, caught off guard, couldn’t stop in time. Several leopards passed through the tree roots and branches, ignoring spatial obstructions.
The truth is revealed. This kind of magical beast couldn’t possibly use powerful spatial magic.
They are all fakes, all illusions.
Dilias stopped moving, paying no more attention to these Fierce-Toothed Leopards.
Sure enough, seeing their prey no longer resisting, the leopards just circled around him, and after a while, lowered their heads and left.
Having successfully shaken off the illusions, Dilias could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
But the current situation was still not optimistic—he was separated from his teammates, lost his support, and didn’t know how many dangers awaited him next.
Checking his equipment, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the dull sword. Scratches from thorns and bushes left many wounds on his hands. His small white jacket and warrior leather pants had also become tattered and needed some repair.
After running for such a long distance, even Dilias couldn’t tell where he was.
It was just that the mist here was thinner, letting through a small beam of light.
