This Text Adventure Game is definitely poisonous
Chapter 198 - 170: The Swamp Across the Door_1

Chapter 198: Chapter 170: The Swamp Across the Door_1

This creature is called the "Merfolk Voodoo Ceremony". Its level is not high, only between 5 to 7, and it has a pitifully low HP, mostly ranging from five to six hundred points. However, it is the true sentient creature among the Merfolk. Not only can it control other Merfolk’s actions to a certain degree, but it also possesses a very tricky ability: spreading plague!

This Merfolk mage can bless other Merfolk with a plague-like mutter type spell. This plague is harmless to the Merfolk, and it doesn’t usually break out. But once someone kills a Merfolk carrying the plague, they will contract the plague, which will continuously decrease their HP at the rate of 5 points per second for 60 seconds.

Moreover, this plague can infect others within a range of two meters, turning them into another source of infection, thus continuing the cross-contamination process...

This spell could be seen as the nemesis of the Zerg strategy. Because if you contract this plague, the only way is to immediately flee for open ground for isolation and wait for the plague to run its course before returning.

However, the soldiers on the front lines are densely packed. There is no room to disperse, so if one falls ill, basically the whole line will be infected.

The players are fine, the lowest HP they have is in the hundreds, so even if they endure a bout of plague, it won’t be life-threatening, and there is enough time to react, to quickly create distance, and avoid further infection.

But the normal soldiers are in trouble. The average person’s HP is only around a hundred points. Once they get the plague, they will drop dead within 20 seconds. For most, this short time is simply not enough for them to react.

"Oh no, tell the regular soldiers to stop! Don’t open fire!"

Seeing that a layer of green fog began to emerge from the Merfolk under the spell of the Merfolk wizard, Mu You looked anxiously at Zhang Yang and said.

"What?" Zhang Yang was stunned.

Mu You explained the effect of the curse plague as quickly and straightforward as possible. After hearing this, Zhang Yang’s face changed dramatically, and he hurriedly opened the intercom to pass on this information.

The command center was shocked upon receiving this message and immediately issued new orders to each front line.

However, they were still one step too late. The transmission of information always takes some time. By the time the order was conveyed to every front line, most of them had already entered the firing range and started exchanging fire.

And when they started firing, it was as if they had hit a hornet’s nest.

Green fog appeared on some soldiers or players everywhere, and in no time it was transmitted to those around them.

The orders were timely enough; once they knew this could be spread, the infected people ran as far away as they could, and those around also dodged as far as possible, cutting off the source of infection as quickly as possible.

Because of a lack of experience, many people still got infected on a large scale at the beginning.

Players who had Dispel Magic spell or items were the first to use them to help their companions dispel the plague. For those who didn’t, especially ordinary people, the damage of a single plague, as high as 300 points, could not be restored even with others healing them constantly. The number of deaths on the front lines began to rise rapidly.

Even in the line held by Mu You, one of his long-range teammates opened fire before Mu You could say anything. As a result, he contracted the plague, and the six people, all gathered in one place, got infected in an instant.

Thankfully, they were all players and there were only six of them. The plague wasn’t as impactful given the vast front line.

"What do we do now?" Zhang Yang asked, looking at Mu You.

This plague is indeed troublesome. If you attack, you get infected and keep losing HP. If you don’t attack, you’ll be overrun by the Merfolk. Either way, the problem persists.

"There’s not much that can be done, we have to fight."

Mu You shook his head, looked at the green fog on his body, "Good thing is, this thing doesn’t stack. Since we’re already infected, let’s go full firepower. Old Liu, make sure to keep up the healing, have the healing potions ready, and if you can’t hold up, retreat to recover your HP."

Everyone else gree. The best course of action for now was to deal with this wave of monsters as quickly as possible.

Mu You was the first to nock an arrow onto his bow, loaded an exploding potion, and shot it into the sky. The arrow followed a beautiful parabolic path, like a missile, precisely bombed a Merfolk wizard’s head. One exploding arrow was enough to wipe out these squishy casters.

Then, another three exploding arrows took out all the Merfolk wizards within the range of the line.

Everyone else also took the time to fire at them, following the same strategy as before.

Liu Chen, being a support person, naturally had healing magic. Occasionally he cast a healing light wave to continually boost everyone’s HP. Along with occasional healing potions, they managed to keep the team’s HP stable.

Soon, they managed to defend against this wave of attack.

However, other lines of defense weren’t so lucky. Facing this plague effect, having a lot of people actually became an obstacle. At the beginning, everywhere was a scene of widespread panic, causing great tumult.

Fortunately, human wisdom and adaptability are unparalleled in comparison to the Merfolk. After the initial chaos, each defensive line quickly adjusted and, by relying on a reasonable positioning and combination of spells, managed to maintain the rhythm and did not continue in chaos.

This wave of attack was eventually successfully defended against by all units, but it was a hard-fought victory.

The heavy casualties upset the mood throughout the defensive lines.

Moreover, the continual high-intensity assaults had filled the overall front line with a sense of tension. Everyone started to worry about what to do next. If the Merfolk’s charges increased at this intensity, not to mention holding on for a day, the following one or two attacks would be enough to demolish all defenses.

Fortunately, things did not develop in the worst direction. The upcoming Merfolk onslaught not only failed to intensify, but it quickly diminished instead.

In the end, the Merfolk no longer launched large-scale attacks and instead scattered around, trotting ashore individually.

Zhang Yang was pleased to see this: "I guess our godlike players have made a difference!"

Mu You and the others did not rush to leave, but stayed on the front line to observe for a while. As a result, the Merfolk could not organize another effective attack, which Mu You found rather a shame. It was hard to come across such efficient experience-grinding opportunities in the future.

Then, this part of the 19th Division was taken over by the army.

Mu You was thus able to retreat and rest. After a continuous afternoon in battle, he indeed felt a little tired.

After meditating in the rest room provided by the military for more than an hour and fully recovering, Mu You logged in to the game for a while.

At this time, Zhang Yang unexpectedly knocked on his door and walked into his room.

"There’s a secret mission, I wonder if you would be interested in participating."

"Oh? What is it?" Mu You asked.

Zhang Yang closed the door before sitting down and speaking softly: "The godlike players across the gate sent back a message, saying that they discovered an Ancient Altar of the Merfolk. This is what continually attracts Merfolk, and they also discovered people from the Ten Commandments on the other side..."

Zhang Yang said with a serious look: "According to the information from the godlike players, on the other side of the gate is a massive swamp in the depths of the Star Spirit World, and this altar is likely activated by players from the Ten Commandments. The godlike players are trying to dismantle it, but they are intercepted by people from the Ten Commandments. Moreover, this group of people seem to have gone mad, confronting our side without regard for their own lives, and the godlike players are currently entangled and unable to extricate themselves..."

"You mean we need to send support, right?" Mu You understood immediately.

"Yes, but not just anyone can go as support. The swamp connected to the other side is located in the depths of the Star Spirit World, where there are numerous venomous magical beasts and dangers abound. Ordinary players going in would just be delivering themselves on a platter. So the superior’s intent is to form a few elite teams composed of players above level ten."

Zhang Yang took a breath before saying earnestly: "Let me make it clear, this mission is very dangerous. Nobody knows what we’ll encounter on the other side, so it’s not mandatory. The superiors just want us to inform the players above level ten. If they don’t want to go, they can directly refuse..."

"I’m going, definitely going!"

Mu You nodded and agreed immediately. He was regretting that he hadn’t slain enough monsters earlier. Now, being able to go directly to the Merfolk’s lair was to his liking.

As for the danger, he was not too concerned. He had numerous life-saving moves, and besides, it would soon be nightfall. After a day of inactivity, his vampire skin could finally be used. During the night, disregarding the suppression of levels, by attributes alone, he was no less than a common godlike player.

"Okay, then. This is for you."

Zhang Yang seemed not too surprised by his choice. He took out a box from his body and handed it to Mu You.

"What’s this?" Mu You opened it and saw a blood-colored magatama inside.

[Blood-sucking Magatama: Can freely suspend and move the weapon in your mind, transforming into a high-speed rotating hidden weapon when shot out. When striking a creature, it quickly absorbs its blood and turns it into your HP. The further the magatama is from the controller, the weaker the control. Maximum distance is one hundred meters.]

He felt familiar looking at this thing. After a brief recollection, he immediately remembered: the mysterious weapon that surrounded the Blood Emperor seemed to be this same item.

Indeed, Zhang Yang explained: "This was sent back by the Blood Emperor through someone. He said that if you decide to enter the gate, this thing can temporarily be loaned to you to save your life."

Mu You nodded, not pretending to be modest, and accepted the box. He had personally witnessed the Blood Emperor’s battle before. This thing was as useful as a flying sword and it could absorb blood. With this item at his side, his security would indeed be greatly enhanced.

"And there’s this."

Zhang Yang then took out another card. On the card was a familiar rune, the same as the transmission mark tattooed on his hand right now.

"This is a transmission mark. After getting through the gate, activate the mark near the gate. This way, if you die, you can immediately resurrect at the gate, and you can directly return by going through the gate." Zhang Yang said.

"Does this thing... cost money?" Mu You asked, remembering that this thing had a selling price of 50 years.

"Of course not."

Zhang Yang laughed: "A transmission mark will be given for free to everyone who decides to participate in this mission. To the nation, you elite players are all treasures. It would be a huge loss if any of you died, so of course, we have to ensure your protection."

Mu You nodded and accepted the card, but had no intention of using it. He had already activated one of these, and using another one would overwrite the resurrection point at the wooden house.