"A Wind System magic archer — based on the 'Rapid' and 'Precision' enchantments on that single arrow alone, this Wind System magic archer has reached at least the fifth-level mage rank," Derinkoort's voice echoed in Lin Lei's mind. "With the power of this archer's bow, within fifty meters, even if you dodge you'll still suffer grievous injuries. Run!"
Lin Lei's heart jolted.
"Surrender all your valuables, and I'll spare your lives." A frigid voice rang out, and then over a dozen figures in green emerged from the distant mountain forest. Each of them held a bow, with a short blade hanging at their waist. They stared coldly at Lin Lei and the other two, steadily closing in.
The speaker, however, never showed himself.
Lin Lei and his companions exchanged glances. None of them surrendered their belongings; they simply watched the dozen-or-so figures warily.
"Fire!" The cold voice commanded. The Wind System magic archer behind them was clearly decisive — since Lin Lei's group hadn't surrendered, he immediately ordered them killed.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh…
Without warning, the archers loosed their arrows simultaneously. Over a dozen shafts streaked through the air at blinding speed. Lin Lei, Kava, and Matt dove for cover instantly. Kava raised his massive war blade to intercept the incoming volley.
Lin Lei cast the Wind System auxiliary spell "Rapid," and his body flowed gracefully out of the way. Even now he had the presence of mind to glance at his two companions. Matt was being extremely careful, constantly dodging while using his short blade to parry when necessary.
Kava, on the other hand, was reckless. Clutching his enormous war blade, he lacked agility. He relied on the blade and a thin layer of Battle Qi coating his body for defense. The arrows from those dozen archers were, admittedly, not all that powerful — a fifth-level warrior like Kava could handle them.
"Die! All of you!" Kava roared, charging toward the archers with his massive blade raised.
Far away, hidden among the tree branches, the Wind System magic archer watched this and a glint of killing intent flashed through his eyes. He drew his powerful bow to full moon once more, silently chanting the two auxiliary spells "Rapid" and "Precision." The green glow at the metal tip of his arrow gradually brightened.
Kava roared as he rushed toward the archers, but barely halfway there, he suddenly noticed a green light flare up ahead. Before he could react, an arrow was already upon him. A cold sweat broke out across his back, and he frantically swung his war blade to block. But—
Pfft!
The arrow pierced straight through Kava's skull, sending brains and gore splattering.
"Ahh…" Kava stood frozen, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had blocked it with his war blade — how had the arrow still killed him? Consumed by endless confusion and utter incredulity, the light in Kava's eyes dimmed completely, and his massive body collapsed like a mountain crumbling to the ground.
In the distance, Lin Lei's heart shuddered.
"The Wind System auxiliary spell 'Precision' — it's 'Precision'!" Lin Lei, who studied Wind System magic, understood perfectly. This auxiliary spell allowed a Wind System magic archer to make slight mid-flight adjustments to an arrow's trajectory.
For instance, an arrow that should have been blocked by Kava's war blade could shift just enough to pierce through his skull instead.
"Wind System magic combined with a powerful bow — truly terrifying," Lin Lei thought with a chill. But in the very next instant, he began silently reciting a magic incantation.
"You two might as well come out quietly." The cold voice drifted from the distant forest, and the dozen archers jeered triumphantly. Wind System archers were terrifying long-range attackers — not only did they need formidable magic, but also enough physical strength to draw those powerful bows.
Lin Lei's eyes flashed with killing intent as he regarded the archers in the distance like men already dead.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!—
Without warning, the ground shook. Earth spikes erupted from beneath the archers' feet, one after another. Their sharp, earth-yellow-glowing tips pierced through thighs and abdomens. Blood pooled on the ground, and screams filled the air.
Earth System fifth-level spell — Earth Spike Formation!
"Ahhh~~" Screams erupted one after another.
Dozens of earth spikes burst from the ground simultaneously. Standing over a meter tall, these razor-sharp protrusions could impale a person in an instant. The dense thicket of spikes descended like a sudden catastrophe, plunging the dozen archers into an agonizing nightmare.
"Chief, help — someone help!" One archer, an earth spike driven brutally through his crotch and into his body, shrieked in agony.
"Ahh, ahhh~~~" Another, his thigh pierced clean through, writhed on the ground screaming.
Of the dozen-plus archers, four died on the spot, and nearly ten more were critically wounded. Their fighting capability was virtually annihilated.
"An Earth System mage!"