Chapter 131: From Madness to Standing Tall

Zhao Nan gasped for air, struggling to retrieve a bottle of instant health potion. He stuffed it into his mouth and, using his final ounce of strength, bit down hard to shatter the glass. The liquid poured down his throat, while some spilled from the corner of his mouth, sliding down his neck like blood.

His health bar instantly restored to full, and the gruesome wound on his body healed rapidly. Physically, he was now capable of movement, yet he remained lying on the ground, still feeling as though he could not breathe. He had never experienced such a sensation before—a soul-tearing agony, as if every drop of blood in his body had been drained away, leaving him weak, dizzy, and pale.

Suddenly, the little Ice Phoenix let out a mournful cry. It took flight from the ground, following the direction in which the Countess of Roses had disappeared, and plunged into the dense fog. Zhao Nan bit his lip, and a deeper, more vibrant liquid seeped from between his teeth. This was real blood, welling up from his heart, impossible to suppress.

A deafening roar erupted. The massive tumor of flesh, formed by the fusion of two or three hundred monsters, had sprouted an ugly, colossal head. Limbs tore their way out from the mass, and dark green fluid dripped from the ruptures, creating a harrowing sight.

Level 23: Mutant Demon Leader.

Its name glowed in gold, marked with the "Mutant" prefix. This was a king-tier monster whose strength far exceeded its level. Once the Demon Leader had fully broken through its membrane, it roared at the heavens again. It lowered its head, its eyes glowing with a fierce, crimson light, and scanned the ground. Spotting a target, it swung its massive claw without hesitation.

A flicker of madness flashed in Zhao Nan’s eyes. He gripped the Soul-Eater Staff tightly and pointed it forward, unleashing a burst of skill light.

Just as the massive claw was about to strike, a large, pale-cyan barrier of light materialized above Zhao Nan’s head. It was not a skill he had cast.

Simultaneously, the sound of a resonant, clanging zither echoed through the air. Zhao Nan instinctively looked for the source. Not far away, a small figure stood quietly, her snow-white hair dancing in the wind. A zither stood upright beside her; she cradled it with one hand while the other moved across the strings with such velocity that only blurred afterimages remained, casting a faint cyan glow.

The one who had blocked the attack of the mutant demon leader was this little girl—Ye Anya, whom he had met in the village. Seeing her, Zhao Nan was reminded of his promise to Finina to find her, and a fresh wave of agony wrung his heart.

"Run!"

The voice was urgent and clipped, as if she had exhausted all her strength. Her expression was etched with worry, and sweat beaded on Ye Anya’s forehead. The barrier holding back the demon’s claw remained as steady as a mountain. Suddenly, the Demon Leader’s other claw elongated violently and swiped toward where Ye Anya stood.

Ye Anya’s face turned even paler, draining of all color. At that moment, Zhao Nan released two powerful whirlwinds against the ground, using the recoil to slide across the surface. He reached the girl just before the attack landed, scooped her up, and continued sliding for another twenty or thirty meters before coming to a stop.

He set Ye Anya down, his face dark and silent. He gripped his staff and turned back toward the beast.

Ye Anya tugged at his sleeve, struggling to articulate the words: "Don't..."

"I won't die. Until I find her, I will never die!"

Though spoken to Ye Anya, to the little girl, it sounded more like Zhao Nan was telling it to himself.

"Level 23, level 33, it doesn't matter what level it is..."

Zhao Nan gritted his teeth. The puncture wound on his body had long since healed, but the resentment in his heart, now impossible to contain, surged forth. He gripped his staff like a sword and swung it with all his might.

The world within fifty meters turned a deep, icy blue.

"Ice Domain!"

A black beam shot from the tip of the Soul-Eater Staff, striking the Demon Leader squarely and instantly reducing its health by 20%. It was the staff's innate special skill, Death Ray, though it failed to trigger the effect that would have depleted 50% of the monster's health.

Ignoring whether the bonus effect triggered, Zhao Nan roared and charged forward.

"Wings of Flashing Wind!"
"Thorn Vines x2!"
"Forceful Wind Blade x2!"
"Flame Dragon Strike x2!"
"Meteor Fire Rain x2!"
"Soul Roar!"
"Ice Domain!"

The sky grew dim, and a light drizzle began to fall. Ye Anya stood where she was for over an hour. During this time, she witnessed a terrifying battle. The man fought like a madman, never pausing for a single moment. She lost track of how many skills Zhao Nan had unleashed.

The large platform, which had been half-intact, was now completely gone. The surrounding pillars and decorative carvings had been reduced to stone dust. Empty blue and red potion bottles littered the ground like seashells left behind by a receding tide.

The drizzle intensified.

The Demon Leader suddenly went still. Its health had been completely depleted. Every chunk of flesh on its body trembled, as if chaotic currents were rampaging within, and then the massive frame exploded. Pieces of flesh and blood rained down, mixing with the downpour and staining the surroundings a sickly green.

Zhao Nan’s Soul-Eater Staff clattered to the ground. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees. He tilted his head back, the green rain dyeing his hair before being washed clean by the torrential downpour. Taking down this mutant king had exhausted nearly all his recovery potions and drained every ounce of his stamina.

Rainwater streamed down his hair, soaking his face before sliding off. Zhao Nan let out a mournful cry toward the sky.

Rain pattered against the zither, the sound clear and rhythmic. Ye Anya sat on the ground, ignoring the downpour. Despite her youth, her expression was somber as she extended her slender fingers to play.

The sound of rain, the melody of the zither, and the rhythm of breathing filled the air. Zhao Nan knelt in silence, soaked to the bone. His health, which had nearly hit rock bottom, began to recover slowly with time.

The zither continued to play through the heavy rain, through the light drizzle, until the storm finally ceased. The rain had come and gone in sudden, shifting waves, and though it had stopped, the sky remained overcast.

Zhao Nan stood up, his voice raspy: "Enough... I can... stand on my own."