Chapter 960: Chapter 949

“Keuaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!” Richard screamed. He felt like every inch of his bones was breaking and turning into dust as Helenia’s Fragment wrapped around him tightly like a snake.

Richard, the king of the Maserrati Kingdom, had also reached Level 600 over time. As the players often said, he had gone beyond the wall once. However, Helenia’s Fragment was just far too high. Simply put, she was far too strong compared to him.

Crack, crack, crack, crack–!

“Ugh!”

[Your HP has dropped below 60%!]

[Your HP has dropped below 50%!]

[Your HP has dropped below 40%!]

As the notifications rang constantly in his ears, Richard hurriedly issued his order, “G… o…”

Richard was a player. Even if he were forced to log out here, he would only receive a bit of damage, so he thought it would be better for him to be left behind like this.

[The Absolute Monarch’s Battle Intent forces the enemies down to their knees!]

[Your MP will be consumed to suppress the enemies during the skill’s activation time!]

The Absolute Monarch’s Battle Intent was a skill that opened for Richard when he reached Level 600. It forced one’s MP to drop constantly for as long as it was activated. However, Richard could force his enemies to their knees.

Rumbleeeeeeee–!

Black energy exploded from Richard’s bound body and released a pressure that weighed down upon the thousands of Venomous Anacondas chasing after the troops of the Maserrati Kingdom.

Hiiiiiiiiss–

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiss–

Even the strong force Helenia’s Fragment used to tie and press Richard down loosened slightly.

“Hurry…!” Richard urged them once again.

Unfortunately, Richard was a king who was greatly loved and respected by the people of the Maserrati Kingdom.

“Your Majesty, forgive us. For the first time, we will not follow your orders.”

The Maserrati Kingdom housed a legendary NPC who walked a path infinitely close to god. When this man was branded with Absolute Monarch Richard’s Absolute Monarch’s Stigma, he could deal with two of the Swords of the Gods. This man’s name was Rhode, and he spoke about disobeying orders. It was not just him. Even the other elites of the Maserrati Kingdom stopped when their king was caught.

“These idiots…!” Richard shouted. He felt happy knowing they respected him to the point that they would willingly risk their lives for his sake. And he felt sad knowing there was a high chance he would lose them all here today.

“You already know that we will not listen. That’s how much of a good king you are, Your Majesty Richard,” Disaster Specialist Ricor said as he stepped forward. And as one of the main pillars of the Maserrati Kingdom, he took it upon himself to give orders on behalf of Richard. He said, “Rescue His Majesty and slaughter all the enemies!”

Rumbleeeee–!

Ricor, who could send various disasters just by raising a finger, sent dozens of lightning bolts.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang–!

The lightning bolts struck the Venomous Anacondas trapped by Richard’s Absolute Monarch’s Battle Intent while the elite knights charged forward and slaughtered them. Meanwhile, Rhode and the other legendary NPCs leaped forward and began attacking Helenia’s Fragment.

Rhode was currently at Level 620. Since he had received the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma, he could exert a power close to or maybe surpassing Level 700. But even if he had that much power, everyone believed it was still lacking.

The difference between an ordinary mob and a boss mob was still huge. A boss mob at Level 700 could easily overwhelm ten regular mobs of the same level. This was the typical example of being on the same level but having different powers. First, once a monster was classified as a boss mob, one should expect them to possess various attributes and characteristics, such as high HP and almost infinite MP.

Slaaaaaaaaaaash–!

However, Rhode’s cutting power, which had reached the extreme, could rip off one of the scales of Helenia’s Fragments, making her drip blood all over the place.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeck!” Helenia’s Fragment shrieked.

Seeing this, Rhode immediately moved and stabbed her body with all his might.

Stab–!

While Helenia’s Fragment twisted, turned, and struggled fiercely against Rhode’s blade, someone hurriedly rushed in and saved Richard. Immediately after that, the pride of the Maserrati Kingdom, who could produce power comparable to those at Level 640-660 thanks to the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma, jumped in and put pressure on Helenia’s Fragment.

Slaaaaaaash–!

Boom, boom, boom, boom–!

Rumbleeeeee–!

Ricor created several gigantic rocks in the air and sent them flying down on Helenia’s Fragment. Rhode also took this opportunity to slash at the snake’s body once more and inflict more lasting damage upon the monster.

Richard finally returned to his senses and looked around him hurriedly. Even though his MP was dropping quickly, his Absolute Monarch’s Battle Intent had kept the Venomous Anacondas suppressed and allowed the troops to take them down and gradually reduce their numbers easily.

‘If things continued at this rate, then…’ Richard saw a glimmer of hope as he gulped down a potion.

Perhaps he and his allies, fighting actively against the enemies, would be the first to hunt Helenia’s Fragment and clear the first of Helenia’s dungeons. Even a fool would know they could obtain rewards far higher than those from an ordinary boss mob if they could hunt Helenia’s Fragment here.

‘Given the enemies’ speed, we would have a higher chance of dying if we ran away again.’

Fighting amidst the enemies’ ranks and getting out of their way were two entirely different things.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeeck!”

It did not take too long for them to decrease the number of Venomous Anacondas by 1,300. Now, there were only around 1,500 of them left. It was not that difficult for the elite knights, who were seasoned with the sword of the Maserrati Kingdom, to hunt down the Venomous Anacondas since they were rendered immobile by the Absolute Monarch’s Battle Intent.

If things continued at this rate, then everything would be okay.

But then, at that moment, Rhode saw a small light shining from the tip of the tail of the wounded and injured Helenia’s Fragment.

[Sprint.]

[Helenia’s Fragment can sprint at a speed that is three times higher than its original speed!]

Helenia’s Fragment suddenly raised its body and sprinted until it collided with Rhode. It did not stop and continued to run forward, its body slamming against the elite knights dealing with the Venomous Anacondas.

Crack–

Crack, crack, crack, crack–!

“Uwaaaaaaaaack!”

“Keuaaaaaaaaaaaack!”

The attack made by Helenia’s Fragment quickly swept away the elite knights, killing more than 150 instantly.

“I’ll be holding on to these bastards. Go and hunt the fragment first!” Richard shouted. He judged it better to prioritize hunting the fragment than dealing with the Venomous Anacondas.

Hearing his orders, the troops hurriedly bombarded Helenia’s Fragment with their attacks.

“Kihyeeeeeeeck!”

Rhode stepped forward and pressed down on the struggling fragment while Disaster Specialist Ricor bombarded it with the disasters he summoned.

‘I can endure and hold on until they hunt the fragment,’ Richard thought, his eyes constantly checking his MP.

His MP was currently at 40%. They could hunt Helenia’s Fragment before the Venomous Anacondas could move if it were still this much. Once they finished hunting the fragment, it would become easier for them to finish the anacondas. Wounds and scratches continued to appear one after another on the body of Helenia’s Fragment. Just a bit more, just a bit more, and they would be able to kill it.

Richard felt delighted when he saw the wounds covering the entire body of the struggling fragment. However, Rhode, pressing down on the struggling fragment, saw clearly how the corners of the snake’s mouth stretched out and curled into a grin. Rhode’s mind turned as several conjectures flashed in his head.

‘This bastard went for His Majesty with its first attack.

‘There’s a high chance that it has wisdom and intelligence.

‘This bastard deliberately waited for us to gather together.’

Rhode immediately tried to order everyone to disperse, and back away the moment the crazy thought flashed in his head.

Shwaaaaaaaaaa–!

Helenia’s Fragment started to spit green poison all over the place. The poison swiftly entered the lungs of the elite knights of the Maserrati Kingdom the moment they inhaled it.

[Your nerves have been paralyzed!]

[You will be unable to control your body!]

Richard also inhaled the poison. The moment the poison entered his body, he lost strength and was rendered immobile. No matter how hard he tried, he could not move his body. But that was not all; the veins on their bodies had also grown swollen, which made them look grotesque and horrifying.

“Haa… Haa… Haa…” Richard’s breathing started to grow labored.

Baaaaaaaang–!

Richard, who could only look straight ahead with his immobile body, saw Rhode get struck by the fragment and sent flying back with a broken leg.

Plastered on a nearby tree, Rhode stretched his hand toward Richard while struggling to say, “Your… Majesty…”

Helenia’s Fragment immediately stretched its body out and wrapped all of the elite knights, who tried to stop and kill her, all at once.

Craaaaaack–!

Crack, crack, crack–!

The fragment crushed them like it was crushing a tomato. It did not even take one second.

Crack–

Crack, crack–

Spurt–!

Richard fell into the pits of despair as he was forced to watch his precious elite knights die so quickly like that, one after another. These people had stayed with him ever since he built Maserrati. The worst part? He knew that he would not be able to see most of the NPCs who died in this place again.

The Venomous Anaconda, now free from Richard’s hold on them, immediately gathered around Helenia’s Fragment. At that moment, a small ball of light gathered at the tip of the fragment’s tail. Following the fragment’s lead, the gigantic anacondas’ tails began to glow with a small ball of light.

This was the Sprint that they had seen just a few moments prior, the skill that allowed Helenia’s Fragment to sprint at a speed that was three times faster to attack her enemies. When Helenia’s Fragment and these 1,500 Venomous Anacondas used Sprint, Richard was sure everyone here would be wiped out.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeck!” Helenia’s Fragment screeched, delight evident in its voice as it charged forward with the anacondas following right by its tail.

While charging toward him, Richard saw Helenia’s Fragment kill more than fifty of his elite knights. In just a blink, it appeared right in front of him.

“What’s going on here?”

But then, at that moment, an unidentified voice entered Richard’s ears. At the same time, a man, Valentino, fell from the sky. When he landed, he slammed his gigantic square shield on the ground right in front, where Richard was immobile.

Baaaaaaaang–!

The gigantic square shield stopped Helenia’s Fragment and the more than a thousand anacondas coming their way.

Booooooooom–!

Bang, bang, bang, bang–!

Richard heard the sound of the enemies colliding against the huge, sturdy, and broad shield. Surprisingly, the shield did not shake or tremble despite the earth-shattering collision with Helenia’s Fragment and the heavy and powerful gigantic anacondas.

At that moment, a man appeared beside Richard. The man, who was none other than Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor Minhyuk, asked, “Hey, can I kill that?”

In a way, it could be considered stealing if Minhyuk indeed killed Helenia’s Fragment right here and now. After all, the Maserrati Kingdom was the one that initiated the hunt. However, Richard considered this an excellent steal, not a bad one.

Richard jerked his heavy head and nodded. Then, he said, “Pl-please hurry and summon Ben!”

The level of Helenia’s Fragment was beyond Level 700. And that was not all. There were also more than a thousand Venomous Anacondas present. It would be tough for them to deal with the enemies with just the two of them.

But Minhyuk just chuckled. “Grandpa Ben is busy. He told me he would research how many cups of coffee he could extract from an elephant’s dung today.”

“...?” For a moment, Richard had to wonder about the crazy shit that this man in front of him was spewing.

Then, Minhyuk said, “Besides, there’s no need for Grandpa Ben to step out to deal with something at this level.” He paused momentarily before continuing, “Put away the shield.”

Just like an obedient dog, Valentino immediately removed the shield. At the same time, the countless enemies on the other side of the shield immediately pushed forward. The situation suddenly blew up and turned into an immediate crisis.

However, one of Minhyuk’s swords was already covered with the flames of the Supreme Overlord’s Technique.

Crackle–!

The Venomous Anacondas, which the elites of the Maserrati Kingdom had a hard time dealing with because of their high defensive power, melted away when the flames licked their bodies. Even Helenia’s Fragment started to melt from the intense heat of the fire slowly.

Richard had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Minhyuk in the past. But now, he realized that Minhyuk had reached a height so high that he could not even chase after him.