Chapter 258: Rotten Titan

Unlike Li Lei, who inexplicably became happy, Wang Kun felt utterly conflicted at this moment.

Lin An still hasn't acted, but just this black bear is enough for him to drink a pot.

The archer kid may seem ordinary, but he's still an Awakened One.

Even if we trick Lin An into eating the Manchineel Flower, how do we deal with the rest of these people?

Mo Ling is nice, but the equipment is also tempting.

But you also need to have the life to 'spend' it.

Seeing him retreat, Li Lei rushed to his side, lowered his voice, and spoke rapidly:

"Trust me! I can handle that pretty boy. You just need to hold off the others for a bit!"

"That bear isn't fast; he can only catch you with skills, and his turning is clumsy!"

"After we succeed, I'll split the equipment with you half and half!"

"Let's bring that little girl and join the base together!"

Wang Kun's face darkened; he hesitatedly looked at Li Lei's excited face.

"Is there a way to deal with these people? If he's really that strong, why would I need to do anything myself?"

According to Li Lei, even if Lin An doesn't eat the Manchineel Flower, he still has a way to settle things.

After killing someone, split half the equipment...

Only a fool would believe that.

If Li Lei could really handle these people himself, how could he possibly give away such great benefits?

Moreover, in his impression, Li Lei's strength isn't much greater than his own aside from a bit better luck—where does this kid get his confidence?

Seeing him silent, Li Lei simply followed his master's orders and spoke repeatedly:

"Don't even think about giving up. I'll tell you straight: I have a killer's mace, and I can definitely take them out!"

"If you dare to give up, I'll immediately expose the Manchineel Flower matter—do you think these people would let you go?"

"This is the apocalypse—don't think you can escape responsibility just because you haven't had a chance to act yet."

"By then, you'll have offended not only that group, but me as well!"

"In that case, I swear on Bing Fourth Rank's name."

"If I wanted to harm you, then I wouldn't share your equipment, and I'd never touch a single finger of Bing Fourth Rank in this lifetime!"

"If you still don't believe me, I can swear on my parents!"

Li Lei spoke decisively, his expression showing no pretense.

Hearing this, Wang Kun froze—he knew this kid liked Fan Bing to the point of obsession.

Such a poisonous oath doesn't sound like a lie.

He remembered that Li Lei, in order to win Fan Bing's favor, had once dared to go to Shang Cheng and battle a Mutant while still at Zero Level, just to get some skincare products.

Although he didn't know how Li Lei finally killed the Mutant, the incident left a deep impression on him.

Wang Kun's heart was already torn; hearing Li Lei say that, he couldn't help but waver.

"What exactly do you want me to do?!"

"You know my strength—I might not even be able to beat that black bear!"

Li Lei smiled confidently and lowered his voice:

"When I say to act, you immediately release your mental power and clear your mind."

"Then you'll know..."

The words had barely fallen when, after just two or three seconds of conversation, a sudden booming roar came from afar.

This tremor was greater than before, as if a colossal creature was slowly moving.

Li and Wang exchanged a glance, their faces drastically changing.

Damn!

These people actually still want to kill a Second Level!

In the distance, the slowest Rotten Titan appeared in everyone's view.

Its body, about four meters tall, resembled an iron tower, shining with a steely-blue metallic luster all over.

Its four arms were as thick as a crane, and each step could easily crush the concrete ground into a deep pit.

The earth shook and mountains swayed, like a monster from myth.

"Meng--!!"

Like a steam whistle, a low, resonant bronze horn sounded.

The Rotten Titan spewed a thick, dark-green mist from its mouth and strode toward the hotel.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The monster saw the black bear that had initially lured it, and its stride instantly accelerated.

Like a speeding train, vehicles and bungalows along the way were easily smashed.

In an instant, a sense of helpless panic rose in everyone's hearts.

"Second Level!"

"It's a Second Level monster!!"

Heart-wrenching.

The survivors on the hotel's second floor turned deathly pale; within half a minute, their mental states swung wildly, with many nearly collapsing.

Although they feared the First Level Mutants, they knew Li Lei and the other could still handle them.

But a Second Level...

They had once seen the scene of troops entering the city battling monsters.

Tank firepower can't kill this kind of monster; instead, this terrifying mutant flattens it with one foot.

Machine-gun fire, grenade explosions—against such mutants they're like firecrackers.

Everyone wants to flee but doesn't know where to go.

Fan Bing's face turned deathly pale; she nervously stared at Lin An's back, wondering whether he would act.

But can so few people really resist this monster?

Not only them—Li Lei also couldn't help wanting to curse loudly.

The gap in strength between second level and first level is like heaven and earth.

Taking the sandworms that once invaded the academy as an example, thousands of players plus nearly forty Awakened Ones could only wait to die in place.

Such monsters are simply beyond what ordinary Awakened Ones at this stage can oppose.

Even those players who claim great strength in the channel need to bring a squad of dozens of Awakened Ones to stand against them.

"What do we do!!"

Wang Kun swallowed hard, instinctively looking at the stunned Li Lei.

In his daze, Li Lei anxiously asked his master:

"Master! Those people really summoned a second-level mutant!"

"Just what strength do they have!!"

Amid the trembling earth, the voice of the one called Master hesitated and sounded:

"It's fine; a second-level mutant is nothing. At my peak I could also slay such monsters."

"And alone!"

"Observe their abilities; perhaps this bunch has some special trick."

"Didn't you earlier guess they wanted to drag you in to fight the monsters together?"

"Master thought it over; you're right."

"But this group is smart; they first showed their strength, then only later lured a second-level mutant."

"That way, after you're frightened and then cooperate with them to strike, once the monster is dead you definitely wouldn't dare to compete with them for the spoils."

"Hmph, the thoughts of petty people."

"Besides..."

"Disciple, don't worry too much."

"The stronger this man is, the more secrets he must hide!"

"That's a good thing for you!"

"Trust Master! At this stage no one could be stronger than Master!"

"You are the Child of Heaven, the protagonist!"

"So you must endure, trick that kid into eating the Manchineel Flower!"

"If he refuses, Master will go all out to help you kill him!"

"Just be careful—don't get hurt at all!"

Li Lei's face shifted colors; hearing Master's encouragement, he regained confidence.

"Right! I'm the protagonist! I've got great fortune on my side!"

"Second level is nothing!"

"Back then, with Master's help, unlike Wang Kun, I also killed a peak first-level monster, didn't I?"

"Master said it's fine, so it definitely is!"

Li Lei took a deep breath to signal Wang Lei not to be nervous, but when looking at the 【Rotting Titan】, his legs involuntarily went weak.

"These outsiders—really aren't they just looking for death!!"

"This time, he decided to speak up first:"

"I know what you want to do! I and Wang Kun are willing to cooperate and strike with you!"

"I can take only one item of the final loot!"

"Five Awakened Ones—perhaps they really have a hope of opposing a second level?"

"Since Master said to endure, I will endure!"

Li Lei secretly made up his mind; he plans to unleash his true strength to help this group kill the second-level mutant.

"Then I'll lower my head again, let Ice Sister suffer to offer the Manchineel Flower, believing I should win the pale face's trust."

Zhang Tie used the jumper corpse's long legs as a rope to bind the jumper corpse, his face strange.

"Is this kid brain‑damaged? I always thought Captain Lin wanted them to act for what purpose?"

"With such petty ability, where does the confidence come from?"

"At the breach on the second level, Lin An watched with interest as the 【Rotting Titan‑Fake】 came sprinting."

"A second‑level intermediate mutant; the 'fake' character behind it sparked a hint of curiosity."

"\"Zhang Tie, cooperate with Gao Tian and see if you can handle it. \""

"\"Of course, don't let Gao Tian really kill it. \""

"\"As usual, capture it alive. \""

"\"If not, I'll step in. \""

Xiong Hanzi forced a bitter smile and agreed; turning his head, he saw Gao Tian's face full of excitement, eager to try.

"Older brother Gao, we really can't hold up..."

Lin An couldn't help but lift the corners of his mouth at Zhang Tie's bitter face.

"If there are members who aren't used and chances not trained, why does he recruit manpower?"

It's better to be a lone ranger than to have to do everything yourself.

Of course, Zhang Tie teaming up with Gao Tian probably can't take down the Titan.

This monster is somewhat special; its damage is too high.

Like a tank-type mutant, Zhang Tie can actually hold it head-on.

But for monsters of this power system, the black bear can at most take two punches head-on before learning Iron Skin.

Under Lin An's 'encouraging' gaze, Xiong Hanzi, bringing Gao Tian, steeled himself and let out a roar, charging straight at the Rotten Titan.

On the second level, Lin An's gaze was calm, his mental power covering the entire arena.

The ring flashed white light, and a dark red long sword suddenly appeared in his hand.