Chapter 382 - 327: Surprise Attack

Chapter 382: Chapter 327: Surprise Attack

"Tch... With a scrawny frame like yours, whose throat do you think you can slit?"

A large man scoffed at the Assassin’s words.

He took a swig of wine and said with a look of disdain.

"To be honest, I can’t stand you Assassins. Always skulking around like rats... If I see one of you in the wild, I’ll beat them down."

"You’d better sleep with one eye open tonight."

"Stop bluffing. If you’ve got the guts, let’s go at it right now."

"Bring it on!" ℴℴ𝘮

"You think I’m afraid of you?!"

The two of them were at daggers drawn, neither willing to back down in their war of words.

"Place your bets! Place your bets!

An Adventurer who loved nothing more than stirring up trouble immediately started jeering from the side.

"Assassin versus Warrior! I’ll give you two-to-one odds on the Warrior! Bet on the Assassin, and I’ll give you great three-to-one odds!"

The rest area immediately erupted into chaos. Many people pulled out handfuls of Silver Coins to join in on the fun, and the scene threatened to get out of control.

The sight was enough to make the guards on duty nearby have to go over and maintain order.

But after shouting themselves hoarse for a while and realizing it was useless, they simply joined the heated betting themselves.

Amidst the chaotic background noise, the members of the Marcus Squad exchanged glances.

"I can’t believe that man in black really doesn’t kill."

Gray rubbed his chin. "It almost makes me want to take the Challenge myself..."

"The strangest thing is that guy can actually pass through the light curtain to the second level of the ruins, too."

Marcus said thoughtfully, "Does it count that we were the ones who woke him up first?"

"Let’s just hope he doesn’t just wander through one of those light curtains and end up in the human world," Valles said.

"Now that would be interesting."

Zelir chuckled softly. "There are so many masters in the human world. I’d love to see how they measure up against the man in black."

’Defeating a Middle Level Swordsman in three strikes is certainly impressive. Still, he had personally seen an Upper Level Swordsman who could unleash Sword Qi during the last Monster Hunting. He wondered how this man in black’s strength measured up.’

The squad had reached the entrance. Valles, noticing Gray was falling behind a bit, gave him a tug from his bird’s back.

"What are you dawdling for? Keep up."

"I was actually thinking of placing a bet... Betting on the Warrior is basically a sure win." Gray shook his head with some regret and looked away.

The group steered their Land Birds and passed through the oval light curtain in an orderly fashion.

Accompanied by a cool, slight feeling of resistance, the world around them turned upside down in the next second.

It was the same familiar, dense subterranean forest, filled with a primitive, wild aura.

Luminous fungi and fluorescent pink plants illuminated one another, and thin wisps of mist drifted in mid-air.

A scent mixing the fragrance of plants and damp earth washed over them.

The squad members were already used to the experience of teleporting through the light curtain.

However, for the Land Birds beneath them, which had never left the surface world, the change was quite a shock.

The sudden, drastic change in scenery startled the normally docile Land Birds.

"GWAK?!"

The mount under Zelir let out an anxious cry, its two legs instinctively turning to flee.

It wasn’t just his; the other Land Birds had also fallen into various states of commotion.

Zelir immediately pulled the reins tight, checking his mount’s impulse to run.

"Shhh... easy there, little fella."

He leaned down and soothed it with a gentle voice while lightly patting the Land Bird’s neck.

Under its master’s comfort, the Land Bird gradually calmed down from the terror of the sudden environmental shift.

The crest feathers that had stood up in alarm slowly lowered, and its large eyes curiously surveyed this brand-new underground world.

"Alright, let’s move out."

Marcus tugged his reins and led the squad to the very front, taking on the role of vanguard.

Even while riding the Land Birds, the squad maintained its arrowhead formation.

Marcus was at the point, with Gray and Hill protecting the left and right flanks, respectively.

Valles was positioned behind Marcus.

Zelir, meanwhile, held the rear.

With a series of low "GUK-GAW" chirps, the five Land Birds set off.

The squad began to race through the subterranean forest.

Each time their wide, fan-like feet came down, they crushed the soft ferns.

Emerald-green juices splattered everywhere, leaving clear footprints in the muddy ground.

"Everyone, be careful."

Marcus’s resonant voice came from the front.

"Watch your step! Don’t let the Land Birds step on any acid traps hidden by leaves, or any Trap Vines!"

"Understood."

These little contraptions were quite common in the antechamber area of the ruins’ first level. Though not lethal, they were a real hassle.

Traveling by Land Bird was far more efficient than going on foot.

The first time the squad made the return trip, it had taken them almost a full day.

At their current speed, it would take half a day at most to reach the Ruined Temple, and they would still have plenty of Physical Strength.

The Land Birds’ long, sinewy legs pumped rapidly as they ran.

Even when they encountered small pits or rougher terrain, they navigated it with ease, thanks to their excellent balance and jumping ability.

A cool, refreshing breeze whistled past their ears, alleviating the stuffy heat of the underground ruins.

Just a little further ahead was the entrance to the Central Courtyard Garden.

Suddenly, a sharp, whistling sound from above pierced the tranquility of the forest.

Of the five squad members, Hill was the first to react.

She instinctively snapped her head up and glimpsed a long, thin black shadow plunging downward.