Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 922: Chapter 921: Things Are Not Looking Good

Day by day, time passed.

For Fang Zheng, their battle continued relentlessly.

”Asuna! Get ready to switch! Black Cat, follow my command and prepare to move in!”

Gazing at the BOSS Lord in front of him, now at its last legs, Fang Zheng raised the machete in his hand and gave the order. Hearing his command, Asuna and Black Cat nodded in agreement, flanking the BOSS from left and right.

”Aoba, you take care of the rear defense, Restia and Ester, prepare for the Second Phase attack. Everyone else, fall back and heal!”

Although the Lord BOSS’s health was almost depleted, Fang Zheng remained cautious, his expression serious as he fixed his gaze on the BOSS, not daring to take a single breath.

Their current opponent was the twenty-fifth layer’s Lord BOSS, more formidable than any previous BOSS due to its overwhelming strength. Furthermore, before Fang Zheng and his team entered, an exploration team from another guild had already perished at its hands.

In the Game World, AI also learns from battling with players, meaning this twenty-fifth layer Lord BOSS not only boasted attributes surpassing other Lords but had also gained combat experience from players. This presented Fang Zheng and his team with their first truly formidable adversary.

”One third left... The BOSS is about to go berserk! Listen to my command, no greedy attacks, Eiriri, retreat behind Aoba!”

”—————!!”

Watching as the massive BOSS raised its body again, Fang Zheng broke into a sweat. What troubled him most about this BOSS was its ability to shoot razor-sharp spines from its back like a porcupine, bombarding the entire area.

This also highlighted a significant issue with Fang Zheng’s team.

That was... insufficient defense!

Currently, only Aoba and Seven Seas carried shields; the rest wielded single-handed weapons, which were more agile and faster. Players like Asuna, Black Cat, and Yuki, who were top players, were used to dodging attacks. When your agility was high enough to make attacks MISS, increasing health and defense wasn’t the best choice.

But this time, even Asuna and the others were struggling. The porcupine BOSS’s spines were as dense as a barrage, making it impossible to completely dodge. And during the Second Phase, it went wild, ceaselessly firing spines. In this situation, dodging the spines, while counterattacking and defending against the porcupine BOSS, was nearly impossible.

Consequently, entering the Second Phase, most of Fang Zheng’s team was in a dangerous half-health state, with several like Eiriri almost down to critical levels!

Although the spines’ individual damage was low, the continuous attacks wore them down. To make matters worse, a careless hit from the BOSS now could be fatal!

”————”

As the health dwindled further, the porcupine BOSS neared its final threshold, yet Fang Zheng continued to focus intently on the BOSS. He raised his right hand, gripped his Greatsword tighter, and swung forward!

”Boom!!”

The Shapeshifting blade struck the porcupine BOSS’s head, halting its attack momentarily. Seizing this pause in the barrage, Asuna and Black Cat charged from either side; their Rapier and Long Spear intertwining to create streaks of Radiance, striking the BOSS’s body!

”Crack!”

With a crisp sound, the porcupine BOSS collapsed, the Shield Break symbol appearing on its body. At the same time, Restia and Ester quickly advanced, joining Fang Zheng in another assault on the BOSS.

”Swish———!!”

With a flash of swordlight, the porcupine BOSS’s health suddenly plummeted to zero, yet it wasn’t over! It suddenly struggled, standing up once more. Simultaneously, Fang Zheng saw the gemstone atop the porcupine BOSS’s head emit a series of Light Beams, illuminating everyone!

Not good!

Witnessing this, Fang Zheng was taken aback and promptly issued a command.

”Aoba, Seven Seas, raise your shields! Everyone else, get behind them quickly!!”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s command, Aoba and Seven Seas exchanged a glance, then swiftly raised their shields in front, while the others moved close, seeking cover behind them.

But not everyone got there in time.

To inflict a bit more damage, Black Cat had taken a slightly longer route than the others. As a result, she hadn’t reached Aoba yet when suddenly the red Light Beam shining on her became blindingly bright, and in the next moment, countless spines rained down upon the group!

”Black Cat!”

”Watch out!!”

Witnessing the scene, the girls screamed, while Black Cat sensed the imminent death looming close. She once again lived up to her name ”Black Cat,” reacting instinctively. Just before the spines would pierce her, she leaped nimbly, threading through the gaps in the oncoming barrage, rolling onto her feet and sprinting forward.

However, accidents always happen.

Just as Black Cat landed, the porcupine BOSS’s spine barrage struck again, grazing her. Already exhausted from the prolonged, intense battle, this sudden hit knocked her off balance, sending her tumbling to the ground once more!

”Black Cat———!”

Seeing this scene, the girls screamed instantly, but they could do nothing but watch the Black Cat’s HP rapidly decrease under the stormy assault.

Am I going to die here?

With her hands on her head and teeth clenched, the Black Cat understood that if she didn’t get up now, she might really die. However, she could do nothing because she knew very well that when she fell, she had lost her chance. Even if she got up now, there wasn’t enough time to reach safety again.

I’m going to die!

Thinking of this, the Black Cat trembled all over. She had been in this game world for so long, always fighting, but due to all her victories, she almost forgot that this wasn’t an ordinary game world, but a death game.

Am I really going to die?

”Hinata... Zhuxi...”

Softly whispering her sister’s names, the Black Cat closed her eyes.

At least... death in this world won’t be that painful...

But just as the Black Cat was ready to accept reality, suddenly, a voice sounded in front of her.

”Get out of the way and heal! You idiot, what are you doing frozen there?”

”Huh?”

Hearing this voice, the Black Cat opened her eyes in surprise only to see Fang Zheng standing in front of her, holding his Greatsword, plunged into the ground, and his tall figure completely shielding her like a shield!

”Mr. Fang Zheng...”

”Quick, drink the Blood Bottle!”

”Ah, yes!”

The Black Cat quickly reacted, swiftly taking out a Blood Bottle and drinking it in one gulp. Seeing her HP gradually recover from the red line, she breathed a sigh of relief. But when she turned to Fang Zheng, she immediately became tense again.

”Mr. Fang Zheng!”

She saw that Fang Zheng’s HP was slowly decreasing. Initially, it was full, like hers, but now it had dropped to the yellow zone! If it continues like this...!

”Don’t worry, I’ve calculated it.”

Even so, Fang Zheng’s voice remained as calm as ever.

”This creature’s attack skills can’t last too long. Even if it’s an enhanced BOSS, soon enough... Now! Shinong!”

”Hah...!!”

As soon as Fang Zheng’s words fell, the Porcupine Lord’s attack stopped immediately. Upon seeing this, Fang Zheng also quickly issued a command. Hearing Fang Zheng’s command, Shinong shouted, raised her Long Spear, and threw it forward like a javelin, striking the Porcupine Lord and emptying its last bit of HP!

Next, the Porcupine Lord’s body suddenly swelled like a balloon, and then ”bang!” it burst.

The roaring blast of air scattered everyone’s HP rapidly again. Even Fang Zheng’s HP dropped to the red zone.

Then, accompanied by cheerful music and the appearance of a treasure chest, this level’s BOSS was finally eliminated.

”Phew...”

Looking at the treasure chest in the distance, Fang Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly pulled out a Blood Bottle to start healing.

”I never expected there to be a self-detonating BOSS now; this design is even crazier than I imagined...”

Recalling the fight just now, Fang Zheng was covered in cold sweat. He hadn’t expected the last wave from the Porcupine Lord to include self-detonation. Fortunately, Fang Zheng had calculated the HP safety margin before rushing in; otherwise, that self-detonation might have cost him his life.

As we go further, the BOSS fights get harder...

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng sighed, while the Black Cat watched his back and then stepped forward, speaking softly.

”Thank you... Mr. Fang Zheng. If it weren’t for you...”

”Don’t thank me. We’re comrades fighting side by side, and I don’t want anyone to be left behind here.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand, giving the Black Cat a slight smile. Then he turned his head back, his expression turning serious as he looked forward.

The BOSS attacks are getting more intense, and the old strategies don’t seem to work anymore. Perhaps some changes are needed...