20: Chapter 2: The Bloodbath Escalates! The Horror of the Mutated Dungeon!

Lin Feng desperately charged towards the southeast!

Behind him, countless writhing branches chased after him like frenzied tentacles!

He glanced back, his heart nearly leaping out of his throat—

Those were no ordinary trees!

Blood-red eyes had opened on the tree trunks!

Sharp wooden thorns had grown from the ends of the branches!

[Mutated Tree Demon (Elite)]

[Level: 5]

[HP: 50]

[Attack: 3-40]

[Defense: 25]

[Skills: Wood Hardening, Entangling Pierce, Tree Demon Summon]

[Description: A mutated product of the Gloomy Forest, possesses rudimentary intelligence, adept at surrounding and hunting]

"Elite monsters! And a whole damn group of them!" Lin Feng felt his scalp go numb.

Textbooks said Elite monsters were at least three times stronger than normal ones!

And these things could even summon!

"Can't stop!"

Lin Feng gritted his teeth. His heavy armor clanged noisily as he pushed his speed to the limit.

But the path ahead... was closing up!

Two Mutated Tree Demons slowly moved, their trunks intertwining, about to block the escape route.

"Charge through!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. His right hand gripped the greatsword, his left hand held in a loose circle before his chest.

Golden-red light began to gather!

"Light Flame Slash!"

He violently swung his left hand forward!

A crescent-shaped golden-red energy blade howled forth!

BOOM!!!

The energy blade viciously struck the two Mutated Tree Demons!

[Light Flame Slash damage dealt: Spirit 64×6=384, mixed attribute damage, actual damage: 49!]

[Critical Hit damage dealt to Mutated Tree Demon: 492!]

The two Mutated Tree Demons let out piercing shrieks, deep bone-visible gashes split open on their trunks!

Elite monsters had too much HP!

"Again!"

Lin Feng followed up with a Light Bullet Technique.

Thud! Thud!

[Light Bullet Technique damage dealt: 15×2=210]

The two Mutated Tree Demons finally fell, dissolving into black smoke.

[Killed Mutated Tree Demon×2, EXP +20×2=400]

[Obtained: Mutated Lumber×4 (Green Materials)]

[Obtained: tree demon essence×2 (Green Materials)]

Lin Feng had no time to check the loot, dashing through the gap between the two demon corpses!

The opening was clear!

But a greater crisis lay ahead—

The moment he broke out of the encirclement, Lin Feng was dumbfounded.

Ahead was an open clearing.

But on that clearing... stood a full eight Mutated Tree Demons!

They formed a semicircle, their blood-red eyes fixed on Lin Feng in unison.

"It's over..." Lin Feng's heart sank.

Blocked ahead, pursued from behind.

He was surrounded!

"Fight to the death!"

The desperate situation instead ignited Lin Feng's ferocity.

He raised his staff and began chanting—actually unnecessary, but it helped him focus.

"Light Flame Slash!"

The golden-red energy blade flew out again!

This time it swept horizontally, targeting the three Mutated Tree Demons in the front row!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three tree demons were hit simultaneously, large chunks of wood splintering off them.

[Damage dealt: 49×3]

But their HP only dropped by two-fifths!

"Too tough!" Lin Feng gritted his teeth.

He retreated to create distance while continuously casting Light Bullet Technique.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Light bullets rained down on the tree demon group.

But the effect was limited.

The tree demons began to counterattack!

They swung their thorn-covered branches, lashing out like whips!

Lin Feng desperately dodged, but the heavy armor was too cumbersome.

Crack!

A branch struck his breastplate, sparks flying!

[Damage received: Attack 35 - Defense 85 - Damage Reduction 15 =]

Thankfully, it couldn't break his defense.

But the wooden thorns on the branch left deep scratches on the breastplate.

"This won't work..." Lin Feng's mind raced.

mana was rapidly depleting.

Light Flame Slash cost 6 points per use, Light Bullet Technique cost 20 points.

His total mana was 64 points, and he had already used a third.

And there were still seven tree demons!

"Need to change tactics."

Lin Feng put away his staff and drew the greatsword from his back.

Since his physical defense was high, close combat it is!

"Hah!"

He actively charged into the tree demon group, greatsword sweeping!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The blade struck the tree demons, emitting dull thuds.

[Damage dealt: 73-25=48]

The damage was pitifully low.

But Lin Feng's goal wasn't damage output, it was—drawing aggro!

Sure enough, the tree demons' attention was completely drawn to him.

Seven or eight branches lashed out simultaneously!

Lin Feng dodged left and right, using his breastplate to tank what he couldn't avoid.

[Damage received:]

[Damage received:]

[Damage received:]

The advantage of heavy armor was displayed to the fullest!

"Now's the time!"

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Feng suddenly jumped back, raising his staff again.

"Light Flame Slash!"

The golden-red energy blade exploded in the center of the tree demon group!

This time it was area damage!

All seven tree demons were hit!

[Damage dealt: 49×7]

Rumble!

Three tree demons with low HP fell on the spot!

[Killed Mutated Tree Demon×3, EXP +20×3=600]

[Current EXP: Level 4 (4876/500)]

Almost there!

Lin Feng's eyes lit up.

He dodged the attacks of the remaining four tree demons while continuously casting Light Bullet Technique.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Four light bullets accurately hit the same tree demon.

[Damage dealt: 15×4=420]

That tree demon's HP hit zero, collapsing with a crash.

[Killed Mutated Tree Demon×1, EXP +20]

[Level Up! Level 5!]

Golden light enveloped his entire body!

A warm current surged through his limbs and bones!

[All Attributes +3, Free Attribute Points +15]

Lin Feng didn't hesitate, allocating all points to Spirit!

[Spirit: 82 (↑3+15)]

[Spell Attack: 41 (↑75)]

[mana: 82 (↑150)]

"Awesome!"

A sense of power surged in his heart!

Now the base damage of Light Flame Slash was: 82×6=492 points!

Adding the Glory Corona bonus, the actual damage might exceed 450 points!

"Continue!"

Lin Feng fought with increasing ferocity.

The remaining three tree demons no longer posed a threat.

The Light Flame Slash + Light Bullet Technique combo finished them all off in two minutes.

[Killed Mutated Tree Demon×3, EXP +20×3=600]

Lin Feng gasped for breath, looking at the loot scattered all over the ground.

Mutated Lumber×12, tree demon essence×8, and some miscellaneous Materials.

"Not a bad haul..." He grinned.

But the grin soon froze.

Because ahead... came another big guy.

It was a giant tree demon, five meters tall!

Its trunk was so thick it would take three people to encircle it, its branches hung with skulls—both human and monster.

[Tree Demon Chieftain (Chieftain Rank)]

[Level: 5]

[HP: 300]

[Attack: 6-80]

[Defense: 40]

[Skills: Wooden Armor, Frenzied Flogging, Root Cage, Death Shriek]

[Description: Ruler of the Mutated Tree Demons, possesses terrifying destructive power]

"Chieftain Rank..." Lin Feng's mouth twitched.

Was this luck too "good"?

Just finished fighting Elites, and now a chieftain?

And these stats... 3000 HP, 80 Attack, 40 Defense!

"Run!"

Lin Feng made the judgment instantly.

Can't win!

But the moment he turned, the ground suddenly shook!

Rumble!

Countless thick roots burst from the earth, instantly forming a cage around him!

[Skill: Root Cage]

[Effect: Restricts target's movement, lasts 3 seconds]

"Damn it!" Lin Feng's face paled.

He swung his sword at the roots.

Clang!

The roots were harder than steel, leaving only shallow sword marks.

The Tree Demon Chieftain slowly moved closer, each step making the ground tremble.

It raised a branch thicker than a thigh and viciously swung down!

Lin Feng couldn't dodge, only raising his sword to block.

BANG!!!

A tremendous force hit him. Lin Feng was sent flying backward, crashing into the Root Cage.

The impact made his internal organs churn.

"Dammit..." Lin Feng spat out a mouthful of bloody foam.

He knew he had to go all out now.

"Holy Healing Ring!"

Lin Feng activated the healing skill.

A pale golden ring expanded from him, covering a ten-meter radius.

[HP Recovery per second: Spirit 67×1=67]

[Gained Temporary Shield: Can absorb Spirit 67×5=335 points of damage]

Much more comfortable.

But the Tree Demon Chieftain's attack came again!

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Three branches lashed down simultaneously!

Lin Feng desperately dodged, but still took one hit.

[Damage received: Attack 75 - Defense 85 - Damage Reduction 15 =, Shield absorbed 335 points of damage]

The shield lost one-fifth.

"Can't just take hits!"

Lin Feng's eyes turned fierce, both hands held in a circle.

Left hand golden-red light—Light Flame Slash!

Right hand pure golden light—Blasting Light Flame Technique!

"Just die already!"

Both skills blasted out simultaneously!

Light Flame Slash aimed for the chieftain's torso, Blasting Light Flame Technique aimed for its head!

BOOM! BOOM!!!

Amidst the violent explosions, the Tree Demon Chieftain let out a pained shriek.

[Light Flame Slash damage dealt: 143 (Critical + Tearing)]

[Blasting Light Flame Technique damage dealt: Spirit 67×5=335, actual damage: 1358 (Critical + Severe Wound)]

Two hits took nearly 2800+ HP!

And it was enraged.

"ROAR—!!!"

Skill: Death Shriek!

An invisible sonic wave spread out!

Lin Feng felt like his head was hit by a sledgehammer, his vision went black.

[Received Mental Damage: HP -50]

[Stunned, lasts 2 seconds]

Deadly!

Two seconds of stun was enough for the Tree Demon Chieftain to do a lot!

Sure enough, it swung all its branches, lashing at Lin Feng like a storm!

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!!!

Lin Feng was tossed around like a punching bag.

The impacts kept draining his HP.

The Holy Healing Ring was continuously restoring him, but the recovery couldn't keep up with the damage.

When the two-second stun ended, Lin Feng's HP had already dropped from 190 to 120.

"Cough..." He spat out blood.

But his gaze grew even more ferocious.

"Again!"

Lin Feng completely abandoned defense, starting a frenzied offense!

Light Flame Slash! Light Bullet Technique! Blasting Light Flame Technique!

Throwing out whatever he had! When out of mana, he drank an Intermediate Mana Potion!

The Tree Demon Chieftain also fought back fiercely, alternating between branch flogging, root entangling, and Death Shriek.

This battle turned into a war of attrition.

To see who would collapse first.

Five minutes later.

Lin Feng was covered in blood, his heavy armor full of cracks.

mana was down to just over 10 points.

The Tree Demon Chieftain wasn't faring well either, its trunk covered in charred wounds, HP down to the last 150 points.

"The final blow..."

Lin Feng tremblingly raised his staff.

"Bla—zing—Light—Slash!"

This time, he poured all his remaining mana into it!

Not 6 points, but 10 points!

The golden-red energy blade was twice as large as before!

Its light illuminated the entire clearing!

The Tree Demon Chieftain seemed to sense the threat of death, letting out a terrified shriek.

But it was too late.

The energy blade viciously cleaved into it!

BOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!

[Light Flame Slash (Overload) damage dealt: 2200!]

[Tree Demon Chieftain HP reaches zero]

The massive trunk slowly toppled, raising clouds of dust.

[Killed Tree Demon Chieftain, EXP +1500]

[Level Up! Level 6!]

Another golden light enveloped him.

[All Attributes +3, Free Attribute Points +15]

Lin Feng slumped to the ground, too exhausted to even allocate points.

He watched the Tree Demon Chieftain's corpse dissolve into black smoke, leaving behind a few sparkling items.

But he had no strength to pick them up.

Too tired.

From being surrounded until now, continuous high-intensity combat for over ten minutes.

Mentally strained to the limit, physically drained.

"Rest... need to rest a bit..."

Lin Feng leaned against the Root Cage—the cage hadn't disappeared yet, but with the chieftain dead, it should dissipate soon.

He opened his status panel and allocated all 15 free points to Spirit.

[Spirit: 100]

[Spell Attack: 50]

[mana: 100]

"Finally starting to look like a mage..." Lin Feng smiled bitterly.

Now at Level 6, with 100 Spirit, he was definitely high among his peers.

But it wasn't enough.

If a Level 5 Chieftain monster was this tough, what about stronger ones later?

"Need to get stronger..."

Lin Feng rested for ten minutes, recovering some stamina.

He stood up and walked to the Tree Demon Chieftain's loot.

[Tree Demon Heart (Blue Material)]

[Use: Advanced Potion/Enchantment Material]

[Tree Demon Crown (Blue Equipment)]

[Effect: Spirit +10, Light Attribute Skill Damage +20%]

[Level Requirement: 6]

[tree demon scepter (Blue Equipment)]

[Spell Attack +40]

[Effect: All Nature-type Skill Effects +25%]

[Level Requirement: 6]

Struck it rich!

Lin Feng's eyes lit up, quickly equipping the Tree Demon Crown and Scepter.

His Spirit attribute rose to 110, Spell Attack reaching 550 points!

"Hunting should be a bit easier now..."

He collected the other Materials and looked around.

The Root Cage had already vanished.

But those mutated thickets... hadn't dispersed.

They still writhed slowly, just no longer attacking.

And Lin Feng noticed figures starting to appear at the outskirts of the thicket.

Other Explorers!

They stood outside the thicket, pointing and whispering, but didn't dare enter.

"What's the situation inside?"

"Seems like the dungeon mutated!"

"Look! There's someone alive in there!"

"Holy shit, he's alone inside?"

Voices of discussion reached him.

Lin Feng's heart sank.

The news of the dungeon mutation had spread.

This meant more people would soon gather.

And then...

"Can't stay here."

Lin Feng glanced into the depths of the thicket.

It was pitch black, who knows where it led.

But it was better than staying here to be gawked at.

If someone recognized him, or if the Blood Wolf Group arrived, it would be trouble.

"Let's go."

Lin Feng packed his things and turned to walk deeper into the thicket.

His steps were firm.

Though he didn't know what lay ahead.

But leaving it to fate was better than waiting for death.

The youth disappeared into the darkness.

Outside the thicket, the Explorers looked at each other.

"He went in..."

"Should we follow?"

"Follow my ass! It's full of mutated monsters inside! You wanna die?"

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Only a few bold ones hesitated for a moment, then also followed in.

The mutation event in the Gloomy Forest began to ferment.

And what Lin Feng didn't know was—

This mutation was far more complicated... than he imagined.