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Chapter 18: Elite Team? Total Annihilation!
"Good to you all from here on out."
Miste stepped aside to open the path to the instance.
It wasn't long before players took the lead, notably one named Judy who had awakened a B-grade talent. And the small group following him also followed closely into the instance.
Then, players huddling together touched the transport fracture to ensure they landed close to each other within the instance.
It was only after most groups had entered that individual players like Sterl gradually approached and touched the fracture.
[You have discovered the instance Starfall Wasteland, current vacancies 37/100, Enter/Do not enter?]
"Yes."
Sterl nodded without hesitation. freёwebnoѵel.com
Immediately, he saw the fracture before him suddenly expand, enveloping him in a starry sky.
Once Sterl came to his senses, he found himself standing on solid ground again.
[Welcome to Starfall Wasteland.]
[Your entry method is via the teleportation circle within the borders of the Divine Mountain Empire.]
[Notice: Please be cautious of players who arrive via different teleportation circles.]
Upon arrival, Sterl was slightly dazed by a series of messages from the game system.
He immediately felt that this instance was no simple matter!
According to the system, the entrance within the Divine Mountain Empire was just one of the pathways into Starfall Wasteland.
At this moment, there were players from other pathways in the instance. These people could very well be hostile towards Sterl!
This was far from a simple instance restricted to players above level 20!
There was even content involving player combat...
Sterl felt that the difficulty of the instance was probably much higher than what Miste, the leader, had envisioned. At the same time, the rewards could potentially be much greater.
While pondering, he surveyed his surroundings.
The environment matched the name of the instance, Starfall Wasteland, with Sterl stepping on dry, cracked soil, and sparse weeds visible in the distance.
It seemed to be nighttime within the instance.
Above, several bright galaxies were visible, dazzlingly brilliant.
Under the starlight, visibility was as good as during the day.
Sterl quickly noticed that in this desolate area. There was almost no cover in this desolate area. There were only a series of sunken underground pits, not knowing what is hidden, which made people feel inexplicably uneasy.
Shush! Shush! Shush!
At that moment, Sterl noticed a group of player figures appearing nearby. He instinctively took a defensive stance but relaxed slightly the next second, recognizing them as acquaintances, albeit barely.
They were that group... what were they called again?
Anyway, they were an elite team composed of seemingly powerful players.
Since the instance warned to be wary of players from other entrances, those from the same entrance naturally became allies by default.
Sterl pondered. He planned to show goodwill towards the players who come later, such as saying hello.
However, those players merely glanced at him disdainfully before showing signs of disgust.
"Why do we keep running into those wanting to ride on our coattails?"
"Just rejected a bunch of losers outside. Here inside the instance, it's like dealing with clingy pests."
"Forget about that guy. Apart from us, most people are just cannon fodder anyway."
"We still don't know how to get pet eggs in this instance. Let's find a place to lie low for now." fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.
...
The group looked at Sterl as if he were a piece of trash, turning around without hesitation and walking away.
Sterl was slightly speechless. He had wanted to communicate, wondering why he, who entered the instance later, was teleported here before this small group.
At this moment, he no longer wanted to impose himself on those who clearly weren't interested. So he chose a direction opposite to theirs, ready to leave.
Shush! Shush!
Before Sterl could take a step, a burst of light shone around him. More players were teleported in. About seven or eight in total, all of them solo players.
These newcomers were quite eager, showing surprise and joy upon seeing the elite team, wanting to rush over and attach themselves...
Suddenly—
A short burst of air!
From one of the ground's holes, a creature burst out. Its neck wrapped in a pure black cloak, its head resembling that of a cheetah, wielding a sinisterly curved blade in its hand.
From afar, Sterl saw its attributes.
[Name: Jackal Warrior]
[Type: Elite Monster]
[Level: 20]
[Constitution: 30]
[Strength: 35]
[Agility: ???]
[Spirit: ???]
[???]
[???]
Lacking detection skills, Sterl could only know so much.
The next second, the Jackal Warrior charged into the elite team like a wolf among sheep, swinging its blade like the wind!
In just one second, this monster slashed out a blade of light mixed with terrifying black energy, directly awakening a player named Hale, a C-level talent in the player team...
Cut it both ways!
Blood splattered everywhere!
The upper half of that player didn't even have time to react before falling tragically to the ground. His intestines, heart, kidneys scattered all over, followed by a few short, tragic screams...
Dead on the spot!!
"An elite monster? Level 20?"
"Weren't we told we wouldn't have to fight bosses? How is the difficulty of this instance so outrageous, facing a level 20 elite monster right after entering??"
"Limiting it to players below level 20, but the monster allocation is this exaggerated??"
The faces of the players in the elite team twisted in extreme shock and anger!
They instantly realized that the difficulty of this instance was far beyond what they had anticipated!
"Run!"
"Focus fire!"
"How are we supposed to fight this??"
"Fight back? We can't outrun a speed-type monster!"
In a moment, the elite team was in disarray!
Each had their own thoughts. Some wanted to run. Others wanted to fight back... But facing a level 20 elite monster, they had no chance of resistance.
With a swing of its blade, the Jackal Warrior sent a player's head flying into the air.
The next second, the creature twisted its body to dodge a fireball and countered with another slash.
A spleen ruptured!
The player who was hit screamed in agony, feeling powerless all over. He was bitten off by the monster's cheetah head and his carotid artery was severed.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Three players were already dead.
Those who wanted to run, despite a few seconds of delay from their comrades, found it utterly futile!
The Jackal Warrior, with swift steps and its curved blade, unleashed waves of black energy, slicing several players into minced meat.
Less than a minute had passed since they entered the instance.
The elite team, which had just been mocking Sterl and feeling superior, was completely annihilated!
And the elite monster slaughtered them as easily as if they were chickens!
The solo players watching were petrified.
Such experts were wiped out just like that? Completely obliterated?
Keep in mind, these were among the strongest of the 100 players, aside from Judy who had awakened a B-grade talent!
What a joke!
If this group couldn't survive... what chance did they have?
The solo players' morale completely shattered.
They fled in panic!
Run! Run for their lives.
"Don't kill me! Help!"
"How could this happen? Why do we have to die just after entering the instance!"
"Miste, you traitor! I won't let you off even as a ghost!"
...
Players had no passion for not entering the dungeon just now, and they regretted and despaired one by one!
Unfortunately, against a speed-type elite monster and the vast difference in raw power, the players stood no chance of survival.
After slaughtering the "elite" squad, the Jackal Warrior turned its attention to the ordinary players. Some scattered people were more clever and had already run away, living a few more seconds.
But those who were slower to react were instantly massacred by the elite monster!
This monster flashed multiple dark rays of light. It activated a skill, turning into seven or eight afterimages, slashing in all directions.
Like a meat grinder, five or six players were sliced into a rain of blood and flesh.
Those who had fled earlier were also caught up with, one by one falling to the Jackal Warrior's blade.
Finally, the elite monster's eyes glowed with a blood-red light, its body surrounded by a blood-red aura that kept intensifying.
It seemed to activate another skill, showcasing terrifying acceleration as it charged at its last prey!
"Howl..."
In the eyes of the monster, a human-like bloodlust shone.
Closer! Just a bit closer! Soon I shall satisfy my thirst for killing!
It looked at the figure with a mocking smile.
Run? How could you possibly outrun me!
The Jackal Warrior swung its arm, the blade light spreading at an incredibly fast speed!
Under the skill's enhancement, the red aura surged like a devouring demon!