Chapter 20: Fierce Battle

Dong! Boom—!

This impact far exceeds the previous ones, no longer a probing strike, but a raging force that seeks to uproot the Stone Fortress.

The entire Stone Fortress reverberated with a rumbling sound, the main gate shuddered violently, the rune aura on the wall that had just faded suddenly flared, its brightness blinding. The Shelter Control Panel's Protection Value number surged: 【Protection Value: 1185/1200】!

One impact directly reduced the Protection Value by 15 points!

"Not good! At this rate the fortress alone can't hold for long!" Li Qingxuan's heart sank; even the rune‑reinforced Stone Fortress seemed so fragile.

He straightened his body sharply, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, "We can't let it keep battering the gate! We must go out, draw it away or try to subdue it!"

"No! Too dangerous! Its Constitution is far higher than yours!" Li Feifei cried out, instinctively grabbing Li Qingxuan's arm, her fingertips icy.

"There is no other choice!" Li Qingxuan turned his hand, gripping her tightly, conveying unwavering resolve, "We can't let it keep draining the fortress's Protection Value! We still need the materials to build the City Wall."

He spoke at breakneck speed, leaving Li Feifei no chance to retort: "I won't be harmed. To survive in this world, one must keep getting stronger."

Li Feifei saw the almost burning madness in Li Qingxuan's eyes and knew any counsel now would be futile.

She bit her lower lip hard, nodded heavily, her voice tinged with a suppressed sob yet unusually clear: "I understand! You… you must be careful!"

"Don't worry!" Li Qingxuan gave her a brief but firm look, donned his Armor, and his hand gripping the Thunder Pattern Iron Spear bulged with blue veins.

He didn't head for the main gate being battered madly; instead he sprinted to a relatively concealed small emergency exit door at the rear of the Stone Fortress.

That door, likewise rune‑reinforced, was smaller and could bear far less pressure.

Li Qingxuan inhaled deeply, flicked the latch swiftly, his movement quick and silent.

"Squeak—"

The door swung open violently, leaving a gap just wide enough for one person.

Almost simultaneously, the mingled scent of blood and strong rot outside the door surged into the nostrils like a tangible mass, choking one almost to suffocation.

In the dim twilight, the massive Black Goat, as big as a small hill, faced the main gate, frantically pounding it with its terrifying black hooves; each impact made the entire Stone Fortress tremble.

Opportunity!

Li Qingxuan, like a coiled leopard, burst out of the doorway in an instant, landed and rolled, his motion seamless and soundless.

He pressed against the cold, rough stone wall of the fortress, the Thunder Script Iron Spear angled toward the ground, its tip faintly crackling with tiny electric arcs.

Distance to the target: less than ten meters!

The creature seemed wholly immersed in its frenzy of destroying the main gate, unaware of any movement behind it.

Its twisted skull bore a torn gaping maw that opened and closed incessantly, emitting an indecipherable low whine and gasp; viscous transparent saliva dripped to the ground, corroding the soil and rising in thin white smoke.

Li Qingxuan held his breath, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.

He gathered his whole strength into his legs, aiming at the creature's relatively weak, black‑fur‑covered hind‑leg joint!

Now!

He thrust his foot down hard, his body like an arrow released, bearing relentless resolve and icy killing intent; the Thunder Pattern Iron Spear tore the air, emitting a sharp whoosh, its tip's electric arc flaring brightly, striking the target!

"Give me—break!" The spear tip pierced through!

The expected gritty resistance of piercing tough hide never appeared; at the joint covered with writhing black fur, that seemingly dense "skin‑fur" contracted and withered instantly the moment the Thunder Pattern Iron Spear's electric arc touched it, as if meeting its nemesis!

"Zila—!"

A harsh electric crack rang out! The spear tip pierced the suddenly fragile defense without hindrance, driving deep into the massive, ancient‑tree‑like hind‑leg joint gap!

"Moo‑ao—!"

A wail far more mournful and painful than any previous roar erupted from the Black Goat's torn maw!

That sound was no longer a physical or Spiritual Shock, but filled with profaned agony and rage!

The massive body lurched, its charge toward the main gate abruptly halted.

Its stabbed hind leg twitched violently, trying to lift, but the injured joint couldn't bear weight, so it dragged heavily on the ground.

Opportunity!

Li Qingxuan's eyes flashed with brilliance, his strike landed, and he showed no desire to linger in battle!

He knew that given the creature's terrifying Constitution, this spear thrust would be far from lethal, perhaps only a flesh wound.

What he needed was to create chaos, draw hatred, and pull the battlefield away from the fortress's main gate!

He ripped out the Thunder Pattern Iron Spear, spraying a plume of black blood thick as tar and reeking of iron; simultaneously he thrust his legs, the whole body darting sideways like a wraith, while gathering a Soul Arrow and firing it at the creature, emitting a sharp whistle from his mouth!

"This way! Beast!"

The taunt was like pouring oil on fire!

The Black Goat's terrifying head snapped toward Li Qingxuan, its torn maw flaring open in a roar, viscous transparent saliva cascading down like lava, corroding the ground and sending up billowing white smoke.

Its remaining three legs surged powerfully, the massive body bearing a rage that would crush everything, thundering toward Li Qingxuan!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground quaked violently under its trampling, each step leaving a deep pit, mud splashing.

Its twisted, coiled massive horns hung low, like two giant hammers for breaching a city, pointing straight at Li Qingxuan!

Li Qingxuan's heart hammered, adrenaline surging to its peak.

He pushed his speed to the limit, sprinting across the relatively open ground around the Stone Fortress, using the fortress and obstacles to dodge attacks.

The Thunder Pattern Spear trailed behind him, its tip's black blood snaking across the ground in a broken trail.

"Dong!" A half‑person‑high stone was smashed to fragments by the Black Goat's massive horn, shards scattering like bullets!

Li Qingxuan crouched and rolled, narrowly evading the flailing horn, and simultaneously thrust a spear backward, its leaping electric arc striking precisely at the Black Goat's wounded hind‑leg ankle on the ground!

"Zila!"

Another bolt of lightning ripped the night sky! The electric arcs danced wildly over the wound, provoking even fiercer muscle spasms!

"Moo‑wo—!"

The Black Goat let out another howl of pain, its pursuit lagging slightly.

The excruciating pain and numbness from the current made its already enraged, chaotic will even more ferocious, yet also disrupted its target lock.

By the fortress window, Li Feifei nervously clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palm.

(PS: Send some free love-powered electricity; this gives the author more motivation, please)