Chapter 39: Lizard

It was a giant lizard nearly five meters long.

Its body was covered in rough, blue-grey scales like rock, and one could feel its powerful defensive power at a glance; eight short and muscular legs supported its bloated and heavy, massive body.

Brown bone spurs like underground crystals extended from the top of its skull and nose all the way to the end of its tail; dark green vertical pupils flickered with faint light, appearing erratic like ghost fire against the backdrop of the mist in the air.

Petrification Lizard—"Basilisk."

Unlike the technological world of his previous life where supernatural power did not exist, for those creatures in the natural world, in the vast majority of cases, just looking at their size was enough to judge the danger level of such species.

But in a fantasy world that truly possessed dragons and magic, who knew if a Flower Elf the size of a thumb was some high-level Professional, or whether she had mastered high-ring spells sufficient to destroy a small town?

Therefore, in order to distinguish these creatures of different sizes and different danger levels, a concept was put forward—

"Challenge Rating!"

Usually, a magic beast with a challenge rating of "1," under the premise of moderate equipment, sufficient supplies, and proper rest.

A reasonably constructed squad composed of four level "1" Professionals can defeat it without casualties.

Of course, this is just the cold rule in an ideal state that made it convenient for players in his previous life to distinguish the strength level of magic beasts.

When changed to reality, whether it is the development degree of the monster itself, whether the body is injured, or the surrounding environment and habits, all have a considerable influence on its danger level and strength level.

Sometimes, for some magic beasts with a certain degree of intelligence, one even has to consider whether they possess combat experience against human adventurers, the equipment and props they carry, and other factors.

But even so, for the strength judgment of a magic beast, one can still distinguish something from its challenge rating.

To give an example, the challenge rating of the Rust Monsters that the half-elf squad encountered last night was "0.5."

And the Hobgoblin that caused the Smelly Fish and Rotten Shrimp squad to be wiped out had a challenge rating of exactly "1" (slightly less).

Taking this as a contrast.

At this moment, not far in front of Xia Nan, the Petrification Lizard dragging its belly and approaching leisurely had a challenge rating of—

"3!"

It requires four Professionals with a professional level reaching "3," under certain preparations, to be able to hunt it without casualties.

This giant magic beast covered in thick scales possesses a capability called "Petrification Gaze" from birth.

Wherever its dark green eyes look, as long as the ability is cast, the creatures within its line of sight will be affected by "Petrification Gaze."

Only those with a strong physique or firm willpower can avoid the fate of becoming a statue.

This extremely dangerous ability allows them to almost run rampant in the dry areas they inhabit.

A glance, and the defenseless prey becomes a statue that cannot move.

And at this time, the naturally lazy Petrification Lizard will crawl over slowly, use its powerful lower jaw to bite the prey's statue into pieces, and swallow it into its stomach.

The secretions in its stomach will also help it convert the food back into its original form, facilitating its digestion.

There is no doubt.

No matter what state the Petrification Lizard before him is in, with Xia Nan's current strength—

To go up is to die.

Therefore, even though he hadn't fought this magic beast yet, just by the fact that Lali and the others were petrified in the blink of an eye, and the half-elf and Wood were fleeing without looking back.

It was enough to make him, the moment he regained his senses, under the urging of the alarm sounding in his heart due to the approach of death,

turn around and run wildly!

The decapitation longsword that had just been drawn was sheathed again, and the trees on both sides retreated rapidly in his vision.

Xia Nan swung his arms violently back and forth, and his two long legs strode rapidly on the meadow covered with fallen leaves in the forest.

"Hoo... hoo..."

He breathed heavily, his brain slightly dizzy under the rush of hot blood.

Occasionally, he could hear the warning hisses of various snakes and insects from the shrubbery he brushed past.

But at this moment, he couldn't care about that anymore, just running blindly into the depths of the dense forest.

And he prayed in his heart that the Petrification Lizard wouldn't catch up.

It's just that Xia Nan miscalculated the greed of this greedy magic beast for meat.

Looking at Xia Nan and the half-elf fleeing in two different directions.

In the dark green eyes of the Petrification Lizard, a light of thinking like an intelligent creature flickered.

The number of prey on one side was one more, but the speed was obviously faster, and the aura became faint and obscure under the cover of the dense forest, making it difficult to capture.

Plus the emerald green light that blocked its Petrification Gaze just now...

This giant blue-grey lizard made a decision almost instantly under the drive of its hunting instinct.

Eight legs as thick as stone pillars bent and stored power.

"Bang!"

The massive and bloated body, at this moment, displayed an explosive power that was far from consistent with its heavy size, with a strong sense of contrast.

It was like a tank covered in stone armor.

The tough and difficult shrubs and thorns, along with the snakes and scorpions fleeing in panic from within, were crushed into powder;

The dense tree crowns shook violently, and the startled birds had only flapped their wings twice before turning into statues and falling to the ground.

Trees were knocked down, and grass was crushed.

Charging and crashing, wood chips mixed with grass seeds flew in the air.

Xia Nan only felt the ground shake violently, and a huge commotion like a train passing by came from behind him.

His heart beat rapidly, and he didn't even dare to look back to see the situation, just accelerating as much as possible.

But the sound of breaking branches became like the footsteps of death approaching, getting clearer and clearer in his ears.

Finally, accompanied by the blue-grey phantom flashing in the corner of his eye.

The sharp wind, carrying the stench of the magic beast's saliva, surged from behind like a gale.

The bloody mouth capable of biting through iron and stone closed violently!

"Hum!"

The only magic item on Xia Nan's body, the 【Dead Line】 ring, triggered automatically—

【Deflection Field】

Neither light nor gas, the free energy in the air was condensed into a translucent ochre-red protective shield in an instant, covering his body.

"Crunch!"

The Petrification Lizard bit into empty air under the deflection of the field, and its powerful lower jaw closed accordingly.

A sound that made one's teeth ache sounded in the air.

It was just defense.

The 24-hour CD of the 【Dead Line】 ring's "Deflection Field" might become a key trump card in an intense battle between equals.

But at this moment, facing such a disparity in combat power between the two sides.

It could only let Xia Nan run two more steps.

In the next second, the giant body of the Petrification Lizard, like a tank, crashed straight into him.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 40 =====