Pretending To Be A Boss

The expression on the Zudun Giant's face was even more naive than when Song Que smiled.

"Alright, I've got it."

The Sacred Tree is the totem of the Zudun Giants?

Tang Xian was hearing this for the first time.

Although he could remember it in his mind, he still instinctively wanted to take out paper and pen to jot it down.

Of course, now was not the time for a stroll or academics.

[We are looking for the person who stole the totemic flame, have you seen them?] The Zudun Giant curiously looked at Tang Xian.

Though his appearance was terrifying, his demeanor was definitely classifiable as that of a simple and honest character to humans.

As naive as a child.

"I know where they are, I'll take you. But you have to let me sit on your shoulder first."

Upon hearing Tang Xian's words, the Zudun Giant was overjoyed and immediately lifted his hand, sending Tang Xian flying toward the mountaintop like a sesame seed.

Fortunately, he landed securely on the shoulder, though the landing was less than graceful.

"Head straight west. Fast! Don't let those two get away!"

[Okay!] Though the Zudun Giant agreed, each movement was still extremely clumsy.

Tang Xian got up and squatted on what felt like the mountaintop of a shoulder, spitting out the mix of mud and vegetation that had gotten into his mouth.

The wrath of the Zudun Sacred Tree. Herds of beasts in frenzy, spreading Zudun Giants. The world overturning, the sky and earth collapsing.

On the lands of the red soil forest, a terrifying natural disaster was unfolding.

No creature could escape unscathed; such was the fury of a catastrophe-level boss.

The entire red soil forest, even the borders, would turn to ruins as time passed!

The figures of s004 and Black Serpent finally emerged. They could no longer maintain their stealth in such harsh and even deadly conditions.

The Zudun Sacred Tree had now fully entered a state of rage.

It could no longer sense its own Soul Crystal; after all, it was just a plant.

And the Zudun Giant, though it had the word 'human' in its description, was considered a fool amongst the mining area's creatures.

Tang Xian could already smell s004 and Black Serpent.

Their frantic escape couldn't outpace the strides of the Zudun Giant, no matter how hard they sprinted.

This massive creature, though cumbersome, covered great distances with each step due to its sheer size.

The distance between the Zudun Giant and the two evolved beings was slowly shrinking.

But Tang Xian was not satisfied with the rate of this reduction.

s004 held a Soul Crystal glowing with a purple light; even he, always so composed, now showed a wild ecstasy in his eyes.

The Soul Crystal of a disaster-level boss, amidst the current struggle between two fortresses for the rights to pioneer the eighth layer, was unimaginably valuable.

"Put that thing away, into the equipment bag!" Black Serpent instructed.

s004 nodded, even though it was his first time witnessing such a dazzling Soul Crystal, he was not overly attached.

The two of them maintained their rationality and composure.

Their speed was fast, though not faster than the collapsing ground, but with their agile movements, they could navigate between the broken and suspended earth and stone.

Black Serpent even summoned a bridge made of ice crystals, crossing straight over the collapsed space.

This cheat of a path had already taken them out of the disaster zone.

Though the entire red soil forest was affected, the tremors and collapses were noticeably less severe in the outer region.

Just a little longer, and this hunt would earn the two men honor for Lincoln Fortress's first Hunter's Group.

And indeed bring an invaluable treasure to the evolutionary zone.

Their footsteps quickened even more.

Tang Xian watched from behind, calculating the time the Zudun Giant would need to catch up to them.

"No, this won't do. Although the distance is shrinking, by the time we reach the Zudun Giant's attack range, those two would have reached the teleportation area!"

Tang Xian was confident he could defeat the two S-rank test subjects, after all, they were still human.

But under the current circumstances, they would certainly not choose to fight him.

The crystal from a disaster-level boss was now the most valuable object in the world.

In this situation, they would undoubtedly choose to escape the epicenter and head straight for the teleportation rift as quickly as possible, leaving the mining area behind.

Participants in the hunting festival were not allowed to carry portable teleportation rifts.

They all used automatic teleportation rifts set for six days and twenty-three hours.

Besides, fleeing to the teleportation area was considered a forfeiture of the hunt's remainder.

But it wasn't a disqualification, scores would still be tallied; they would just have fewer days compared to others.

Yet the crystal of a disaster-level boss, that purple glow, could overshadow any score.

And their current direction of escape was unmistakably towards the teleportation rift station.

"Unless someone can stop them for a while, it'll be too late even if the Zudun Giant catches up!"

Tang Xian realized he was out of options.

But then, he suddenly thought of a possible solution, albeit a painful one.

"Throw me—"

Just as Tang Xian resolved to risk his life again, he abruptly stopped.

For it seemed s004 and Black Serpent had halted.

In the darkness of night, he couldn't see what was happening so far away, but his sense of smell told him the two had stopped.

...

...

Zhong Xiuran felt he was particularly unlucky today.

He had already settled in an outer position, too lazy to participate in the hunt.

But he hadn't expected to encounter such a massive earthquake.

No, this was more than an earthquake, it was like the heavens were shuddering.

Half of the traps he had set up were destroyed by the quake, and half as many traps meant half as much money!