?


    "INDESTRUCTIBLE!"


    The moment he was engulfed by the venomous fluid, Oleg used his skill to protect himself.


    Even so, the highly corrosive venom continued to emit terrifying hissing sounds.


    As soon as Oleg''s "INDESTRUCTIBLE" skill ended, he would die in the venom.


    However, Oleg''s extensivebat experience allowed him to remain calm in this moment.


    In every crisis, there was opportunity.


    "Splurt, it''s not you who caught me, but me who caught you!"


    Oleg exerted all his strength, counterattacking by stabbing his magic sword into the Crimson Serpent''s body, this time, he sessfully plunged the entire de in!


    Suddenly, the Crimson Serpent writhed in agony! It tried to shake Oleg off, but how could he miss this golden opportunity?


    "Feel my wrath, Splurt...!"


    "BLAZE! STEED!"


    Oleg mercilessly shed along the Crimson Serpent''s body, tearing open a narrow wound and, simultaneously, the scorching zing stallion burned its way into the monster''s insides!


    "AAAAAAHHH!"


    The searing pain caused the Crimson Serpent to roll on the ground in agony. Oleg took the opportunity to escape, quickly wiping away the corrosive venom from his body, but he still suffered some burns.


    —(This strategy can work!)


    Oleg observed from the sidelines for a moment, not rushing to attack again.


    Currently, he needed to catch his breath and recover some strength; besides, his "INDESTRUCTIBLE" skill could not be used continuously in a short time.


    But gradually, Oleg noticed something wrong with the Crimson Serpent. As it twisted its body, its dark scales and snake skin cracked open, and a "reborn" Crimson Serpent emerged from the old skin!


    —(Damn...!)


    Oleg hurried forward, but it was toote. New scales immediately grew on the Crimson Serpent''s surface, erasing the narrow wound Oleg had left.


    However, Oleg was not discouraged; he could tell that the Crimson Serpent had only seemingly recovered, and the heavy blow it had sustained earlier was still affecting it.


    "Hiss... Oleg... I indeed underestimated you..."


    The Crimson Serpent gasped for breath; apparently, shedding its skin and regrowing scales had drained its energy.


    "Hiss... Let me... increase the difficulty for you... Hehehehe!!"


    As its words fell, the Crimson Serpent''s body suddenly swelled into a spherical shape. It raised its head high and violently spat out a bizarre orb into the air, which flew towards the bounty hunters!


    The strange orb quickly disintegrated in the air, and Oleg finally saw that it wasposed of countless venomous snakes. As the orb dispersed, a "snake rain" was about to descend upon the bounty hunters!


    The "snake rain" itself posed limited danger, but it would significantly slow down everyone''s escape. In this way, the "Poison de Rat King" would quickly catch up to them!


    Splurt''s cunning tactics enraged the already exhausted Oleg, who could no longer hold back. He had to kill Splurt immediately and then rush back to support everyone!


    "S—P—L—U—R—T!"


    Oleg charged at the Crimson Serpent with near fury! And this was precisely the reaction Splurt wanted to see.


    —(Keep using "ze Steed," Oleg... Before long, you''ll be consumed by its mes!)


    .


    In the midst of the bounty hunters, a sharp-eyed archer detected an anomaly in the night sky and immediately shouted for everyone to brace themselves for defense!


    Tyler looked up, spotting the elongated objects descending all around and, upon closer inspection, determined they were venomous snakes, not demons.


    — (Still, the sheer number of them... There must be hundreds... If they hinder our retreat, we''ll be in trouble!)


    At that moment, Tyler thought of the mages.


    Compared to the archers'' pinpoint attacks, the mages'' area-of-effect spells would be more suited to efficiently eliminate the airborne serpents.


    However, the night''s prolonged battle had left the mages with depleted reserves of magic, rendering them unable to follow Tyler''smand.


    "Tier-1 Fire Magic: Ring of mes!"


    To Tyler''s surprise, the mages bravely stepped forward on their own ord.


    The first to unleash her spell was Emilia!


    As Emilia''s incantation echoed through the air, a swirling circle of mes rapidly ascended, immediately incinerating many of the serpents.


    The other mages followed suit, casting their own spells in session.


    "Tier-1 Fire Magic: Multiple Small Fireballs!"


    "Tier-1 Lightning Magic: Forked Lightning!"


    "Tier-1 Water Magic: Frost Breath!"


    "..."


    Various rapid-casting spells illuminated the night sky. Some mages, drained of their magic power, copsed in a stupor, but theirrades quickly scooped them up and carried them onward.


    Witnessing this disy, Tyler felt a profound sense of respect.


    These "elites," handpicked by Oleg, may be considered novices within the ranks of second-tier upations, but their aptitude andbat prowess were befitting of their elite status.


    Even more valuable was their unyielding camaraderie and unity.


    — (We can do this, we can escape!)


    The immediate danger of the "snake rain" was averted, and the bounty hunters resumed their sprint, aiding one another.


    However, it wasn''t long before the darkness enveloped them again, as a chorus of squeaks echoed from all directions at an even faster pace!


    An indeterminate number of carrion rats, varying in size, had caught up with them. Among them lurked a gargantuan figure,parable to an elephant in size...!


    "Defensive formation! Everyone, switch to defensive formation immediately!"


    Tyler''s voice grew hoarse as he shouted. The immense silhouette was undoubtedly the Poison de Rat King, as described by the branch chief.


    The bounty hunters would suffer countless casualties if caught in their current disarrayed formation by the swarm of rats.


    Just five minutes ago, Tyler believed they could escape, but that optimism was shattered in an instant.


    — (What do we do? If we just defend, we might not be a match for the Rat King and its minions...)


    — (Forcing our way through won''t work, as we don''t have the advantage in terms of speed and will be surrounded again...)


    — (Is there really no other way out...?!)


    Tyler nced in the direction of the branch chief, where Oleg was still locked in fiercebat with the Crimson Serpent King, the sky above illuminated with a fiery glow.


    It was impossible to wait for the branch chief to return and provide support. Tyler had to find a solution on his own!


    Countless thoughts raced through his mind, including the idea of escaping alone and avenging hisradester.


    However, Tyler didn''t choose that path. He gazed at the character "T" etched on his palm and spurred his steed toward the Poison de Rat King, ready to confront it head-on!


    "Garbage-eating Rat King! If you''ve got the guts,e and kill me first!" (Evilkindnguage)


    Tyler fired an arrow straight at the Poison de Rat King, then ignited the magic stone in his hand, luring the rat horde to chase after him!