Chapter 1121: The Wolves Are Here
This wasn"t the first occurrence.
The brief gap that had emerged when the group parted ways quickly sealed shut, effectively barricading the truck-sized ants behind the crowd. The onslaught of attacks upon Lin Sanjiu scattered her thoughts, but amidst the chaotic battle, a realization began to crystallize.
These people"s coordinated a.s.saults with the ants weren"t isolated incidents.
The explanation was simple: their synchronized attacks with the ants displayed an exceptional level of skill and seamless cooperation. When the group, whether posthumans or not, surged toward their target, the moment the target activated an ability or used an item, the effects would be systematically pilfered one by one by the lurking ants. There wasn"t a single posthuman in the world who would willingly engage in hand-to-hand combat against foes greatly outnumbering them. Consequently, when the posthuman acted, they unwittingly played into their adversaries" hands, relinquis.h.i.+ng their powers.
Even though Bohemia reacted swiftly and suspected that the effects had been stolen, they had already suffered substantial losses. As for whether they could still utilize Higher Consciousness, neither dared to attempt it.
"What"s our next move?" Lin Sanjiu asked.
Bohemia, fl.u.s.tered and unwilling to use any abilities, replied with palpable frustration, "Just cover me for a moment! I"ll be ready shortly!"
"What"s the matter?"
"d.a.m.n it, I have to remove my outer garments!" Her anger was evident, causing her to snap at anyone. "Try fighting in the outfit I"m wearing!"
Lin Sanjiu found it challenging to take even a single step. She struggled to s.h.i.+eld Bohemia from several attacks. Suddenly, an absurd sensation washed over her—it was as if they weren"t confronting a group of people, but a living jungle or a relentless tide. The attacks seemed chaotic, yet they adhered to a method: there were no openings to exploit, they supported one another, and they ensured that Lin Sanjiu and Bohemia faced attacks from different directions at all times.
To put it plainly, it was like a perfectly executed symphony—flawless transitions, intricate movements, forward and backward motions, subtleties, dynamics—almost impeccable.
In essence, they were ensnared, with no choice but to persevere, one second at a time.
As Bohemia shed her layers of outerwear, her combat prowess surged. She was undoubtedly an experienced fighter who knew how to wear practical undergarments beneath her seemingly c.u.mbersome attire. Lin Sanjiu stole a quick glance at her, but her attention was swiftly diverted by an incoming punch. After narrowly evading the blow, she suddenly realized what had been amiss in her earlier observation.
"Where did you stash your outer clothing?" she shouted, raising her voice.
"Are you screaming at the top of your lungs? If I don"t put it away, they"ll trample all over it!" Bohemia retorted in frustration. "Try fighting in my outfit!"
She hadn"t grasped it yet!
"I mean, how did you stow it away?" Lin Sanjiu pressed. "Did you use a storage item for it?"
When the realization finally dawned on her, Bohemia"s face turned ashen.
To be honest, even if Puppeteer were standing beside her at that moment, she would likely surpa.s.s him in the pale-faced department. Apart from the deceased, Lin Sanjiu had never witnessed such a horrified expression.
"Uh..." Bohemia finally responded when someone nearly kicked her from behind, but all she could produce were incoherent sounds, "Ah! My... my..."
Of course.
The first time Lin Sanjiu summoned the metal gloves, the crowd of people and ants hadn"t yet fully encircled them. However, during her recent use of the [Tornado Whip], she had already employed [Planar World], effectively exhausting it. Although she hadn"t attempted to use it again, she was certain that [Planar World] was no longer effective. It appeared that any ability or Special Item, regardless of type, would have its effect absorbed once used.
Unexpectedly, Bohemia had dropped her guard at this critical juncture, leading to her storage item suffering the same fate. Just like the silver antennae of that ant earlier, it had absorbed the effect. Hindered by the throng, Lin Sanjiu couldn"t discern if the ant had placed the ring from its antennae on the ground to absorb the item"s effect. She couldn"t even determine its whereabouts, as she was inundated by a relentless onslaught of attacks.
"I"m going to find it! I"m going to tear it apart!" Bohemia"s raised voice was on the verge of cracking. "Don"t stand in your grandma"s way!"
She directed the latter half of her exclamation at a burly man charging toward her, but he merely offered a slight smile, quickened his pace, and extended his arms to engulf her within his shadow.
If Bohemia were captured, it would result in a heavy impact on their precarious situation. This hulking man had made appearances in front of her on multiple occasions, and nearly every time, he employed the same tactic. Perhaps he deemed Lin Sanjiu a tough adversary to crack, so he opted to target Bohemia instead.
Lin Sanjiu"s heart clenched, but she gritted her teeth and summoned the [Tornado Whip] once more.
"Are you out of your mind? Using it now means you won"t have it later! You"re giving it away, and you"ll face the consequences," Mrs. Manas shouted.
Yet Lin Sanjiu needed no reminder from Mrs. Manas. She sensed that the moment the whip materialized in the air, the people—a.s.sailants who had been attacking fiercely while maintaining a composed facade—suddenly displayed signs of unease. Their movements wavered momentarily, and regardless of their positions, their gaze s.h.i.+fted toward her.
Lin Sanjiu aimed the [Tornado Whip] at the burly man and shouted, "Clear the way!"
The big man, akin to a bear, fixated on the whip"s tip. His eyes brightened slightly, and during this brief hesitation, she lunged at his waist. Simultaneously, the [Tornado Whip] retracted and returned to her belt. The big man emitted a pained scream, and amidst the sound of ribs cracking, he collapsed onto several individuals behind him. It appeared he wouldn"t be getting up anytime soon.
Finally, the symphony was disrupted, and Lin Sanjiu had to endure the agony that felt as if it had penetrated to her very marrow.
When she had previously employed the [Tornado Whip] as a diversion, it had instilled fear in most of the attackers. However, a few remained swift to react. As she collided with the burly man, her back was left exposed, subject to several brutal attacks. It appeared that these individuals cared little for their companions caught in the crossfire.
"Are you okay?" Bohemia reacted swiftly and had moved behind Lin Sanjiu to s.h.i.+eld her from some of the attacks. Her tone carried a mix of anger and frustration. "What"s going on? I"ve restored my Potential Growth Value, yet I"m still struggling... It must be because of you. Every time I"m with you, I have bad luck! I should have stayed with Lord Puppeteer!"
Lin Sanjiu got up without paying much heed to Bohemia"s questions and coughed a couple of times. "How long can you hold on by yourself?"
"What are you going to do?" Mrs. Manas and Bohemia inquired simultaneously.
This situation couldn"t persist, and Lin Sanjiu had no time for explanations. She simply shouted, "Hide behind me! You have to hold on by yourself!"
"What?" Bohemia, who had hastily withdrawn a small knife, obediently took cover behind her. "What are you planning?"
Before Bohemia could finish her question, Lin Sanjiu summoned the [Tornado Whip] for the second time. She brandished it toward a man clutching an iron rod, causing him to flinch. This pause in their advance prompted several others to hesitate as well, considering it was a Special Item, and Lin Sanjiu had just shouted, making them extra cautious. It was during this momentary opening that Lin Sanjiu executed the same maneuver once more. She didn"t move the whip but employed the metal knuckles to s.n.a.t.c.h the iron rod away from the man, promptly handing it to Bohemia.
"Keep fighting!" someone from the rear shouted. "Our brothers have taken the weapons!"
As Lin Sanjiu raised the [Tornado Whip] for the third time, the contorted faces before her displayed no hint of hesitation. They seemed unyielding to the adage "third time"s the charm," and Lin Sanjiu knew that her "Wolf Comes" technique wouldn"t work indefinitely. Fists, daggers, long rods, and mysterious round iron spheres whose nature eluded her continued to rain down on her, almost allowing her to feel their rugged, searing breath.
Bohemia likely had a sense of Lin Sanjiu"s plan. In the dozen or so seconds since acquiring the iron rod, she had stood silently behind Lin Sanjiu. Except for the m.u.f.fled sound when Lin Sanjiu employed the rod to fend off their a.s.sailants, Bohemia remained silent.
Bohemia likely had a sense of Lin Sanjiu"s plan. In the dozen or so seconds since acquiring the iron rod, she had stood silently behind Lin Sanjiu. Except for the m.u.f.fled sound when Lin Sanjiu employed the rod to fend off their a.s.sailants, Bohemia remained silent.
"You must endure," Lin Sanjiu whispered softly, "I"m going to reclaim what"s rightfully ours."
She couldn"t discern if Bohemia heard her, but she was confident that the Ant Queen had.
Before the Ant Queen could make a move, Lin Sanjiu"s [Tornado Whip] surged ahead. This was her sole opportunity to utilize it, and her only chance for Bohemia to send the contorted beings flying. She resolved to unleash its full potential.
In her desperate urgency and fury, [Tornado Whip] unleashed a power she had never witnessed before. For a fleeting moment, the entire world seemed to darken, and the wind, fragmented, vibrating, and trembling, reconst.i.tuted itself, roaring back to life with a sharp sound capable of rending the universe. As dust swirled, rocks tumbled, and numerous trees creaked and fell, she raised her [Tornado Whip]. Even before she could shout, the distorted faces before her were engulfed entirely by the formidable gust.
"Wait for me!" Lin Sanjiu shouted without looking back, then plunged into the terrifying maelstrom ahead.