Chapter 232: The First Alter!
Buzz!
The instant he activated the skill, Zich vanished from where he stood, leaving only an afterimage behind.
In the next moment, the skeleton that had been standing on the left suddenly appeared in his original position.
BOOM!!
Unable to change direction in time, the Bone Armored Rhinoceros impaled the skeleton upon its massive horn, shattering it instantly.
Meanwhile, Zich had already appeared over ten meters away with a satisfied look on his face.
This was his first real combat use of Spirit Exchange, and the skill flowed even more smoothly than he had imagined.
Without wasting even a second observing its effects, he rushed toward the rhinoceros from the side the moment the exchange was complete.
Its frontal armor was too thick. Its back was equally well protected.
However, to allow neck movement, every defensive beast inevitably possessed a section of soft tissue beneath the jaw where the neck connected to the forelimbs.
The Bone Armored Rhinoceros immediately sensed the danger.
"MOOOO!!"
It turned violently as its enormous front hoof slammed downward.
Zich instantly sidestepped just in time. A heartbeat later, the ground exploded apart.
Broken stones shot outward like arrows.
One fragment grazed his shoulder, tearing a long rip through his black clothing.
The difference in strength was simply too great, even for someone like him whose stats were monstrous for his level.
Zich couldn’t confront it head on. So he gave a mental command to the two skeletons.
The remaining two skeletons lunged simultaneously from opposite sides.
One grabbed the rhinoceros’s tail. The other wrapped itself around its hind leg.
The result was obvious.
Bang!
Both skeletons were instantly flung away.
But Zich had never expected them to truly restrain a Level 30 magical beast.
Half a second was all he needed.
Sliding beneath the creature’s massive body, he drove his weapon upward along the edge of the bone armor, piercing deep into the exposed soft tissue.
Slash!
Blood sprayed outward. The Bone Armored Rhinoceros let out an ear splitting scream.
Zich did not stop because the first wound wasn’t deep enough.
And so he continued to stab the exposed tissue over and over again. It was only after the blade completely tore open the flesh beneath its neck that the rhinoceros finally lost its strength.
Its enormous body stumbled forward dozens of meters before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
Boom!
Dust filled the air, blanketing the surroundings in a thick cloud.
For several moments, Kane and his teammates stood in complete silence, their mouths twitching as they struggled to process the scene that had unfolded before them.
A Level 18 Summoner, without asking for anyone’s help, without even summoning his true main combat summons, had personally killed a Level 30 Bone Armored Rhinoceros using only three skeletons and a movement skill none of them had ever seen.
For the first time since he stepped into this place, every trace of contempt disappeared from Kane’s face.
While the others were stunned, Zich was seemingly in his own world.
Before him was the familiar screen announcing his kill.
[Ding! You have slain a Level 30 Bone Armored Rhinoceros.]
[Ding! You obtained: Bone Armored Rhinoceros Spirit Orb.]
A gray white Spirit Orb condensed above the corpse before silently flying into Zich’s chest.
Almost simultaneously, a tombstone took shape in his graveyard.
It had been a long time since he had truly killed something, so there was a sense of satisfaction that came with it.
Moreover, simply hunting magical beasts while searching for the Beast Altars would simultaneously accomplish several of the objectives he had originally entered Myriad Beast Mountain to achieve.
Only two more levels remained before reaching Level 20.
Looking down at the dead rhinoceros, Zich suddenly felt that this beast tide wasn’t so troublesome after all.
Just then,
BOOM!!
A colossal pillar of dark gold light suddenly pierced through the clouds from a distant mountain peak.
The entire northeastern region was instantly illuminated by its radiance.
Every player’s token began vibrating.
[The First Ancient Beast Altar has fully awakened.]
[First Trial: King of the Outer Mountains.]
[Defeat the Beast Altar Guardian to obtain the First Trial Mark.]
[Guardian: Level 50 Three Headed Blood Python.]
The moment everyone read the final line, the excitement caused by the hidden event instantly faded.
Level 50.
Even though everyone inside Myriad Beast Mountain was among the younger generation’s elite, no ordinary team could hope to defeat such an existence.
"Level 50?"
"We are cooked?"
"This is the second time I’m coming here, and something like this has happened!"
’Another material!’ Zich’s eyes glowed with excitement.
While the others were in despair, he was actually excited. Why wouldn’t he be? In just his first few minutes, he had already obtained a powerful monster, and now a Level 50 Three Headed Blood Python had simultaneously appeared as well!
Without wasting time, Zich immediately sprinted toward the direction where the dark gold pillar had appeared.
On his way, he encountered a few monsters, and they were all slain before they could even attack.
By the time Zich and Kane’s group arrived at the valley, it was no longer quiet.
Besides the Locke Family’s team, three other parties had already arrived one after another. The most eye catching among them was a young man dressed in dark gray light armor.
This Person was Adrian Vil, a level 26 Beast tamer and a member of the Vil family.
The Vil Family was also one of the renowned player families of the First Layer. Although Adrian had not participated in this year’s Chosen Tournament, he still enjoyed considerable fame among the younger generation.
Each team deliberately kept its distance from the others, and no one dared approach the center of the valley.
Because at the very end of the valley stood an ancient altar, surrounded by countless enormous beast bones.
Its surface was covered in beast shaped carvings whose meanings had long since been lost to time, while a nearly tangible dark red barrier enveloped the entire structure.
As everyone observed the altar, a system notification appeared simultaneously before every player.
[The First Ancient Beast Altar Trial has begun.]
[Trial Objective: Defeat the King of the Outer Mountains.]
[Guardian: Level 50 Three Headed Blood Python.]
[The participant with the highest contribution upon the guardian’s defeat will receive the First Trial Mark.]
[Leaving the trial area before the guardian is slain will be regarded as voluntary surrender.]
The moment they read the final two lines, the previously calm atmosphere immediately changed. The trial required everyone to face a Level 50 monster together.
But there was only one final reward.
That meant that until the Three Headed Blood Python fell, they were allies.
But the instant it died... every single one of them would become a rival.