The Only Player in ‘Child of Stardust’
Chapter 199 - 142: The Four Heavenly Kings Besiege the Novice Village_2

Chapter 199: Chapter 142: The Four Heavenly Kings Besiege the Novice Village_2

Everyone else also gained experience, leveling up a few times each.

The Treasure Chest Monster’s body gradually disintegrated into nothingness, subsequently exploding into various equipment and items scattered across the ground.

Everyone was stunned; there were about a dozen items!

The game items’ quality, like "Child of Stardust," was categorized into common, fine, rare, perfect, epic, legendary, and mythic, each quality corresponding to a specific color. Most of the equipment on the ground emitted a white glow, but there were also a few green and blue items.

How could there be so many?!

"Huh?" At this moment, Huo Yan Luo’s gaze sharpened as she crouched down and picked up a badge glowing with green light.

Once in hand, the glow quickly faded, revealing an exquisite, red badge adorned with a flame symbol.

This was a Fire God Church ID.

"This..." Everyone immediately realized what had happened.

Many extraordinary individuals had arrived here before them, but they had all been devoured by the Treasure Chest Monster!

"So devious." Beastman Will frowned, "A level 25 Treasure Chest Monster could potentially kill even level 30 extraordinary persons caught off guard. Placed where items are usually found, it could ambush a large number of careless individuals."

By now, there was no need to guess. It had to be the Demon King’s doing, using their Reality Distortion Ability to modify the setting here, turning a treasure chest into a murderous Treasure Chest Monster to kill as many extraordinary persons as possible!

"We can’t fully trust the strategy guides now." Jiang Wuming sighed, showing no fear despite the trap; after all, he could be revived even if he died.

"I’ve already informed everyone. Thankfully, the Control Bureau’s technology is top-notch, and we can receive a signal even in this cursed place," Beastman Will said.

This message could save many lives.

Everyone quickly divided up the loot and then returned to the fork in the road, taking the left path towards the BOSS room.

"The BOSS fight is next. I’ll give you an enhancement item," Bai Lang said as she took out a simple white Jade Pendant, "It provides a 5% boost to all attributes and grants you the ability to fly."

"Nice item." Zhou Yuan put on the Jade Pendant and instantly felt his strength increase significantly, along with the ability to fly at will.

"Here’s something for you."

Huo Yan Luo then pulled out a pair of fingerless gloves, red-brown in color with fiery red patterns carved on them.

"These gloves can store fire skills in advance and release them instantly without casting time when needed. They currently contain three skills: [Flame Sword], [Purgatory Fire Ring], and [Burning Heaven Star Palace]. If things get out of hand, use [Flame Sword]; avoid using the others unless absolutely necessary," she instructed.

"Got it." Zhou Yuan nodded.

Soon, they approached the area where the Shadow Panther resided, and at that moment, everyone smelled a strong scent of blood in the air, their expressions changing slightly.

This level of blood scent indicated that at least a hundred people had died!

"I’ll scout ahead."

Zhou Yuan looked serious, motioning for everyone to stay put. He leaped onto a tree branch and sped forward like an arrow.

Shortly after, his vision suddenly expanded, revealing a clearing.

In the clearing...

Corpses lay in every direction, blood flowing like rivers.

Everywhere he looked was a sea of crimson.

Countless incomplete corpses were piled together, forming several small mountains of flesh and blood.

A black panther was napping on a bed made of bones.

Zhou Yuan remained silent.

The teleportation points in the game world were random. Though the majority were sent to towns or other safe areas, with over thirty million players, someone was bound to be teleported to dangerous wilderness.

Even extraordinary persons had a high chance of death if their powers were sealed, not to mention ordinary people living in a peaceful society, who had no ability to handle crises.

These people... were just unlucky enough to be teleported to the Demon Forest and ran into the Shadow Panther.

The other BOSS areas were likely also soaked in blood.

Zhou Yuan didn’t dwell on it and took action.

[Shadow Assassin Cloak] equipped.

[Avenger] title changed.

An eerie blue light appeared in Zhou Yuan’s hands.

It condensed into a magnificent blue crystal longbow.

—[Loreta’s Ultimate Technique].

Four large arrows emitting an eerie blue glow were nocked onto the bowstring. As he drew, the bow and arrows expanded, becoming even more visually impactful.

He released the string.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

The four blue arrows streaked through the air, exploding with a roar, radiating moonlight-like brilliance.

The combined effects of numerous equipment and items made this strike cause terrifying damage, reducing the Shadow Panther’s health by two-thirds.

It woke up, roaring in pain, with the arrows blowing several large holes in its body, blood gushing out.

Bang, bang, bang, gunfire rang out, hitting the Shadow Panther’s limbs precisely, shattering bones and spraying blood.

Since the Shadow Panther hadn’t yet located Zhou Yuan’s position, these shots were still considered stealth attacks, triggering the "Avenger" title’s critical hit effect.

The Shadow Panther’s health nearly depleted in an instant, its limbs pierced, rendering it immobile and helpless on the ground.

"Close call, almost got it in one shot."

Zhou Yuan quickly returned and called his teammates, and upon seeing the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, everyone’s faces darkened.

Jiang Wuming, Bai Lang, and Will each attacked, adding to the damage, and finally, Huo Yan Luo delivered the finishing blow with a fireball, extinguishing the Shadow Panther’s life.

Her level thus increased to 19.

The other three reached level 16.

After killing so many monsters, Zhou Yuan’s level also increased, reaching LV30. However, this wasn’t his true rank, just his player level within the game world, which would disappear upon leaving the game world.

After the Shadow Panther died, it dropped an excellent quality item named "Bloodthirsty Shadow Boots," which increased movement speed when worn and had a skill that significantly boosted speed for a short time.

No one needed this item badly, so Zhou Yuan kept it to sell later.

"I’ll cremate them." Huo Yan Luo sighed at the sight of the corpses.

Brilliant flames ignited, quickly spreading across the area, reducing the corpses and blood to ash.

"Sigh, anomalies. Sigh, transcendent beings. Sigh, this world."

Jiang Wuming felt melancholic. The number of lives lost in this anomaly was unknown; each was a life with its own story. But transcendence and anomalies were cold, cruel, and merciless.

•

After killing the Shadow Panther, the group continued forward, exploring meticulously. The major BOSSES in the Demon Forest were all slain one by one.

Zhou Yuan’s game level rose to 34.

[Region Collection Progress: 87%]

Only the core area remained.

Zhou Yuan didn’t relax; instead, he became more vigilant.

The hidden special storyline in the Demon Forest required killing the Demon Tree King and entering its core to trigger it.

However, the Demon Tree King was a level 36 BOSS, two levels higher than Zhou Yuan, making it a tough challenge.

The group cautiously entered the core area, and from a distance, they saw the enormous, sky-covering Demon Tree.

As they moved closer, the density of the Demon Trees increased, and a wave of blood scent wafted over.

Before the Demon Tree King, dozens of corpses lay on the ground, their deaths gruesome.

In an untarnished spot, a figure holding a curved Burning Hunter Knife slowly stood up.

It stood about three meters tall, wearing elaborate metal armor, crouched low like a predator ready to pounce.

From within its helmet, menacing red eyes glowed fiercely.

[LV65·Demon King Hunting Dog, One of the Four Heavenly Kings.]

Zhou Yuan’s vision went dark.

What the hell, level 65!

That’s unfair!

One of the Four Heavenly Kings camping at the newbie village, who could handle that!

"Run!"

Bai Lang acted immediately, using wind-based Divine Skills to summon a strong whirlwind that lifted everyone into the air—since they had already killed all the BOSSES, they didn’t need to worry about being attacked mid-air.

The Demon King Hunting Dog slashed out, a crimson Sword Energy tens of meters long flew towards them, disrupted the rising air currents, and then exploded with a bang, blasting everyone in different directions.

"Flame Sword!"

Zhou Yuan stabilized himself, shouting as the fingerless gloves he wore lit up with fiery light. The next moment, a dazzling flame rose from the sky, spreading intensely and evaporating the fog that perennially shrouded the Demon Forest’s canopy.

A massive Flame Giant Sword, as huge as a mountain peak, pierced downwards, resembling a lava torrent cascading from a volcanic chasm!