22: Cooperate

As the battle time increased, the strength of the Thorn Rats everyone faced also began to rise gradually, escalating from the initial Soldier Rank Low Grade cannon fodder to those just entering the Middle-rank Soldier Grade. Furthermore, as the group continued their slaughter, the strength of the replacement Thorn Rats kept increasing.

The group's kill efficiency also began to slow down as the enemy's strength increased. Thorn Rats that could originally be instantly killed in one move now had improved defense and vitality, making the original attacks somewhat insufficient.

This situation was particularly evident with Zhao Xuan, the star competitor of the North City Gate. When facing those Soldier Rank Low Grade Thorn Rats, both the Thunder Crystal Beast's own attacks and the chain attacks of the blue lightning emanating from its four claws could instantly kill the Thorn Rats.

However, as the Thorn Rats' strength increased, the four claws carrying blue lightning could still instantly kill enemies, but the scattered lightning chains now required two or three consecutive triggers to eliminate a Thorn Rat that previously only needed one attack.

As a result, Zhao Xuan, whose kill count was far ahead of everyone else and was rapidly widening the gap, suddenly slowed down.

Although he was still significantly faster than the other Beast Tamers whose kill speeds had also slowed due to the enemy's increased strength, at least he no longer gave people the feeling that they were powerless to catch up.

In this situation, Zhu Yan, who had not slowed down her own rate of slaughter from beginning to end, became quite noticeable.

Zhu Yan maintained her original rhythm, swiftly moving through patches of shadow.

Before the Thorn Rats could even notice, a Spider Lance pierced directly through a vital spot. Afterward, regardless of the target's fate, it transformed back into a shadow and vanished, leaving the mortally wounded Thorn Rat to despairingly await death on the spot.

Bizarre, precise, cold, cruel... these adjectives arose in the minds of the Beast Tamers who witnessed this scene.

At the same time, a sense of relief that such an existence was on their side also rose in everyone's hearts.

Zhao Xuan, who saw this scene from the side, had a flash of interest in his eyes, realizing he had unexpectedly encountered a highly potential junior after being invited back this time.

However, it was clearly not a good time to talk to her now; they would have to wait until the beast tide temporarily ended.

Thinking this, the endless stream of Thorn Rats became somewhat annoying in his eyes. He urged the Thunder Crystal Beast to increase its attack frequency; the blue lightning became more dazzling, and the attacks grew increasingly ferocious, resulting in the deaths of large numbers of Thorn Rats.

Slowly, although the strength of the Thorn Rat horde was gradually increasing, it ultimately did not exceed the limit of Middle-rank Soldier Grade, which put a certain amount of pressure on the group without completely overwhelming them.

Just as everyone thought the situation was stabilizing, a low roar suddenly came from the rear of the Thorn Rat horde. Immediately afterward, a gigantic Thorn Rat slowly appeared, emanating a terrifying aura that surpassed even the strongest Thunder Crystal Beast on the field.

This rat tide actually skipped over the Soldier Rank High Grade Thorn Rats and directly dispatched a General Rank Thorn Rat.

The appearance of this gigantic Thorn Rat greatly boosted the morale of the Thorn Rats; they attacked with increased madness and desperation, as if they had taken stimulants. They even directly endured damage from the Spirit Beasts just to land a vicious bite on them.

Perhaps because the two Spirit Beasts had killed too many Thorn Rats, the General Rank gigantic Thorn Rat immediately locked its target onto the Thunder Crystal Beast and the few other Spirit Beasts, like Zhu Yan, who had slaughtered large numbers of Thorn Rats.

Of course, its primary target was the Thunder Crystal Beast, which was the strongest and had the highest kill count.

Seeing this, Zhao Xuan’s expression finally became serious. Although the giant Thorn Rat had definitely not received the same level of nurturing and resources as his carefully cultivated Thunder Crystal Beast, it was still General Rank, giving it a level advantage against the Thunder Crystal Beast, making it a decent opponent.

He had come here this time specifically to try and help the Thunder Crystal Beast achieve a breakthrough, so he naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.

The Thunder Crystal Beast sensed the threat, and the lightning covering its body intensified as it actively charged toward the gigantic Thorn Rat. The moment the two collided, air waves churned.

"I'll handle this guy. You go deal with those low-grade Thorn Rats and don't let them accumulate too much or get too close to the city."

After saying this, he commanded the Thunder Crystal Beast to meet the enemy.

Hearing Zhao Xuan's words, some Beast Tamers, due to insufficient strength, some who felt it was unwise to clash head-on with the gigantic Thorn Rat so early, and others who were simply giving him face, all drove their Spirit Beasts to surround the ordinary Thorn Rats nearby, preventing them from interfering with the main battle.

Xu Yan was just about to command Zhu Yan to clear out the ordinary Thorn Rats nearby when a Voice Transmission reached his ear.

"Kid, how about letting your Spirit Beast join my Thunder Crystal Beast and play with that big rat? Don't worry, with me here, your Little Spider won't be hurt."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yan abruptly looked in Zhao Xuan's direction and found that the other party was also looking at him, the corner of his previously expressionless mouth seeming to lift slightly.

Seeing this, Xu Yan nodded toward him, then commanded Zhu Yan to merge directly into the Thunder Crystal Beast's shadow.

In the short time the two exchanged glances, the Thunder Crystal Beast and the gigantic Thorn Rat had already clashed several times.

Compared to the Soldier Rank Thorn Rats, this General Rank gigantic Thorn Rat possessed the Earth Attribute, manipulating the surrounding soil to cover its fur with a thick layer of Mud Armor.

Although the Thunder Crystal Beast was powerful, the gigantic Thorn Rat ultimately had a strength suppression advantage, and coupled with that layer of Mud Armor, it was tough and thick-skinned. After several consecutive clashes, the Thunder Crystal Beast failed to inflict significant damage.

Just as the Thunder Crystal Beast and the gigantic Thorn Rat collided again, in the instant they were locked in a stalemate, a Spider Lance emerged from the Thunder Crystal Beast's shadow, stabbing fiercely toward the gigantic Thorn Rat's eye—the only spot not covered by the Mud Armor.

Facing Zhu Yan's attack, the gigantic Thorn Rat immediately closed its eye, covering the vulnerable area with an eyelid that also had sand and soil attached to it, in order to block Zhu Yan's strike.

Seeing this, Zhu Yan applied the effects of Curse and Potent Poison to her Spider Lance. When the lance pierced the eyelid but could not advance further, the Curse and Poison effects were immediately triggered in the opponent's eye, effectively blinding one eye in a short period.

The gigantic Thorn Rat, whose eye was severely injured, immediately shifted its target to Zhu Yan, but it was intercepted by the Thunder Crystal Beast at its side.