Chapter 92

In the trial illusion, Mu Huiyue looked toward the enemy on the seventh level.

It was a massive monster, its body twisted and knotted together. The center was wrapped in thick vines, forming a ball, while dark purple tendrils lashed out from the outside, each as thick as an arm.

The vine ball in the center floated in midair, oozing viscous black-purple liquid from within, which dripped down the tendrils, hitting the ground below.

The earth showed signs of corrosion, and even from such a distance, Mu Huiyue could still smell a nauseating stench.

The investigator’s wristband displayed the detected information.

[Name]: Plague Demon Thorn

[Attributes]: Insect, Wood

[Race Level]: Low-level Emperor

[Growth Stage]: Mature Phase 2

[Race Introduction]: A race discovered in the A-level secret realm “Source of Contamination,” the ruler of the realm, a special evolved form of the Poison Demon Thorn. It possesses intense biological toxicity and infectivity. It was once the source of a plague, causing widespread death of plants in the area. Its toxicity can also infect extraordinary beings.

The trial illusion of the seventh level is the great threat in the memories of the Withered Glory Spirit Deer. It is the emperor-level species, the Plague Demon Thorn, with strong toxicity and infectivity.

Mu Huiyue had learned about this race in the secret realm investigation report from the Bureau of Affairs. It is said to have initially appeared as the ruler of the secret realm in the A-level secret realm of the Hela region. After entering the Descendence Phase, it quickly contaminated the nearby area and spread outward at an alarming rate.

Even though the Plague Demon Thorn was eventually eliminated by the imperial beast masters, the plague that spread between the earth and plants caused a three-year famine in the Hela region.

Ancient Dayan also once faced the threat of the Plague Demon Thorn. However, on its journey, it collided with the Guardian of the Earth, and before it could pollute the fields, it was completely destroyed by the Withered Glory Spirit Deer.

Without a doubt, this is the most powerful and troublesome enemy in the trial illusion.

The battle power of an Emperor-level race in its mature phase is the pinnacle that a Level 5 Beast Tamer can scarcely reach, especially with the highly effective skill of [Plague] that targets crops.

Once even a small touch occurs, an entire wheat field will quickly become contaminated and sick, leading to a reduced harvest and the clearing of points to zero.

Mu Huiyue looked at the enormous vine ball ahead, constantly dripping venom, clenched her fist, and felt her heart beating rapidly.

It was not fear, but excitement at the impending battle with a strong enemy.

She enjoyed the process of combat, which is why victory felt so joyous.

The human Beast Tamer’s brain was rapidly calculating.

The Plague Demon Thorn was incredibly powerful, as evidenced by the fact that the Withered Glory Spirit Deer had set it as the final trial enemy.

If the Plague Demon Thorn in the illusion were the one from the real world, like the Ultimate form of an Emperor-level species such as the Furious Lava Tortoise, there was no way Mu Huiyue could defeat it right now.

But this was a trial illusion set for Level 5 Beast Tamers, and the Plague Demon Thorn had been suppressed to the second phase of its mature stage. As a wild extraordinary being, its normal hidden energy value had developed little more than a battle general-level species like the Force-patterned Gray Bear.

This was an enemy at the same level as her, powerful yet still within her reach.

The skills of her magical beasts could be effective, and an attack landing would deal damage. This was the foundation upon which her tactical expertise could take effect.

Additionally, she wasn’t without an advantage.

The Plague Demon Thorn had intense biological toxicity and infectivity, but both traits were completely suppressed by the undead-type Ellen.

After all, undead extraordinary beings had a completely different biological structure and were almost immune to biological toxins. Their accompanying death mist could also partially block the transmission of biological toxins.

The first imperial beast master to eliminate the Plague Demon Thorn in the Hela region also relied on an undead-type magical beast to achieve victory.

Furthermore, this trial was not a formal battle, and the only limiting factor was the wheat field’s points.

Before the wheat field’s points were depleted, Mu Huiyue could employ various strategies that would not be allowed in an official fight.

For example, she could have one of her magical beasts enter the [Rest Hut] to recover quickly, while the other used a cycle of endless combat to stall the enemy.

If she could control the Plague Demon Thorn like she did with the Force-patterned Gray Bear, she could win this trial.

Mu Huiyue turned her head and looked at the remaining wheat field points [45/100].

This would be a tough battle, but Mu Huiyue had already glimpsed that small sliver of opportunity for victory.

She excelled at seizing fleeting chances in combat.

“Ellen, White Fang.” She looked at her magical beasts.

The Bonefang Soldier turned his head, slightly parting his lower jaw to reveal a smile unique to skeletons.

He enjoyed being called by his Beast Tamer with such a look—it meant that Huiyue had taken control of the battlefield.

He had a clever and sharp human partner, one who, like him, excelled at using their mind in combat.

The Little Cloud Dog stood upright and let out a low growl full of battle intent.

“Woof—!”

With the Beast Tamer’s command, the Plague Demon Thorn launched its assault. The vine ball suspended in the air suddenly surged forward, spraying countless dark purple venomous droplets.

“Ellen, use Bone Ghost, and bring White Fang into the shadows!”

Dozens of small skeleton illusions appeared on the battlefield. The black mist around the Bonefang Soldier enveloped the Little Cloud Dog, and more black mist spread out, surrounding the Bone Ghost.

The first wave of venomous droplets fell, and the hardened mudstone was corroded, leaving pockmarked holes. The small skeleton illusions darted back and forth, spreading the black mist like smoke, blocking the toxins from reaching the wheat field.

This was also an improvement from absorbing the [Death Mist Gem]. Under the influence of the Death Mist, the Bone Ghost could now interact with the real world in a substantial way.

Mu Huiyue let out a slight sigh of relief. This counterattack was also a test, proving that the idea of using the Death Mist to prevent toxin contamination was feasible!

“White Fang, attack from the side, Ellen, use Phantom Fire!” Seizing the opening after the Plague Demon Thorn released its skill, Mu Huiyue launched another offensive.

The Little Cloud Dog leaped out from the shadows, moving swiftly with Shadow Steps toward the Plague Demon Thorn. Countless thick thorny vines lashed out, about to strike White Fang. Yet, it showed no signs of retreating, instead accelerating toward the enemy.

A burst of ghostly blue flames erupted in the air, and the Plague Demon Thorn, in pain from having its soul scorched, retracted some of its vines. The vine ball floating in the center slightly opened, gathering a dense dark purple aura.

A-level attack skill—Plague!

Using the momentum of its charge, White Fang unleashed a full-force Dark Assault, crashing into the Plague Demon Thorn and causing the floating vine ball to swerve, descending a little.

The thorny vines, which had opened slightly, once again coiled together into a tight mass, and the Plague skill failed to activate.

The Plague Demon Thorn seemed to grow enraged. It lifted its thick, arm-sized vines and struck the ground heavily.

Crack!

The lash caused the earth to tremble faintly, and the entire battlefield space began to distort.

Dark clouds gathered in the air, followed by rain. But this wasn’t ordinary rain—it was contaminated venomous liquid.

The Plague Demon Thorn’s Emperor Domain—Source of Plague!

In the area covered by the domain, all the plants quickly withered and decayed. The grass on the ground gradually disappeared, revealing cracked earth.

The wheat field behind Mu Huiyue was also infected, continuously losing points within the toxic domain.

She clenched her fist inwardly. The most troublesome aspect of Emperor-level species was their domain skills. Without a domain skill of equal rank to counter it, one could only endure all the changes occurring within the domain.

The Source of Plague greatly enhanced the Plague Demon Thorn’s abilities. The floating vine ball emitted a strange, sharp screech and once again sprayed venom.

White Fang, who was retreating, failed to dodge in time and was struck by the venom, which spread rapidly along its tail, turning dark purple.

A summoning array with four layers of beast runes appeared beneath it. Mu Huiyue had White Fang return to the Beast Tamer space to recover in the [Rest Hut].

The rain of venom did not cease, soon melting the ground into a toxic swamp.

On the battlefield, only the Bonefang Soldier remained unaffected. The lethal biological toxins had no effect in the presence of the Death Mist that swirled around the pale white skeleton.

Mu Huiyue glanced at the wheat field, where the points had already dropped to [32/100].

A small skeleton illusion hovered nearby, casting a thin layer of black mist above her head, protecting her from the toxic rain.

“Click.” (Huiyue.)

The Bonefang Soldier turned his head, looking at his Beast Tamer.

The tacit understanding between them needed no words. Mu Huiyue knew that in a toxic domain like the Source of Plague, it was no longer feasible to maintain a long-term kite strategy with continuous control.

The rate at which the wheat field points were decreasing meant they could only survive the next round of attack.

Facing an enemy of the Emperor-level species in its mature phase, with an absolute advantage, how could she defeat it in a single round of offense?

“Click, click.” (I’ll open that vine ball.)

The pale white skeleton looked at the Plague Demon Thorn, its body surrounded by dense Death Mist. Two long leg bones materialized in its hands, and the calcified glow briefly flashed, coating the bone blades in a sharp metallic sheen.

“Click.” (Leave the attack to the little dog.)

Mu Huiyue silently nodded.

In Ellen’s click, the verb “open” was used.

In the previous round of combat, both Ellen and she had gathered enough information, such as noticing the slight opening of the thorn vines when the Plague Demon Thorn released its [Plague] skill.

It didn’t have any other bodily parts; the crucial core was likely wrapped tightly in the thorn vines, forming a floating vine ball shape.

Ellen had clearly noticed this as well. It was just a guess based on combat experience, but it was worth making it the core of their strategy and taking a gamble before the wheat field points reached zero.

“Then it’s up to you, Ellen.”

“Go ahead—!”

At the command of the human girl, Bonefang Soldier, wielding two pitch-black bone blades, instantly vanished from his original position.

The muddy swamp, filled with lethal toxins, was also engulfed in shadows. Bonefang Soldier repeatedly sank into the shadows and quickly reemerged, almost like teleportation, appearing before the Plague Demon Thorn in just a few blinks.

The thick vines came at him from the air. Ellen crouched and dodged the first one, but the other three vines were already waiting for him in the blind spots of his evasion.

The Bonefang Soldier sank into the shadows again, emerging from the shadow of the fallen vine, raising his hand to slash at the fourth vine that followed.

The sharp bone blade sank into the thorn vine, as though it was stuck in thick, soft semi-solid matter, unable to advance further. The fifth thorn vine curled around, its sharp, toxic barbs resembling the fangs of a fierce beast, biting down on its prey.

The skeleton’s bones were crushed by the encircling thorn vine.

However, in the next moment, he reassembled in front of the vine ball, all his bones fully restored, along with the bone blades in his hands.

Undead-type status skill: Remains!