25 Abnormal Difficulty

As strength gathered on Wang Shuo's palm, his hands began shaking at a strange frequency. The Green Dragon Staff oscillated like a spring, leaving afterimages within a small area.

This move was the third stance of the Three Mountain Staff Technique—Mountain Shaking.

The Mountain Shaking stance focused on defense and offense. Although its pure defense was not comparable to the Mountain Traversing stance, it could transfer the opponent's strength back to the user at the moment of impact.

Wang Shuo chose not to use the more defensive Mountain Traversing after analyzing his circumstances.

At this moment, he had already lost the initiative. If he simply defended, he would be completely passive.

If his opponent's strength wasn't weaker than his, it would be challenging for him to turn the tables.

Should he remain passive, he would be taking a thorough beating and placing his hopes on the possibility of his opponent making a mistake. So he might as well take a gamble.

With the middle mystic-tier Mystic Turtle Armor protecting his body, coupled with his own strength, Wang Shuo was confident that he could take this attack head-on.

But if he kept on defending, he would still lose. So he had to break out of this predicament as soon as possible. Even with the Mystic Turtle Armor, he might not be able to withstand a prolonged beating.

Thus, the Mountain Shaking stance was the best choice.

While it was not a killer move, it would buy some time.

Clang!

A tremendous force slammed Wang Shuo onto the ground.

At this moment, a blue light barrier emerged and absorbed most of the force like a sponge.

Although Wang Shuo's back shook slightly, there was no further damage.

This was the first time he experienced the defensive power of the Mystic Turtle Armor. Even he was shocked.

From the power of the attack, the bull-hoofed monster was only slightly weaker than him. Its Physique was roughly around 4.3.

Although he had also defended himself facing the immense power of his opponent, he only took minimal damage, effectively highlighting the defensive prowess of a middle mystic-tier armor.

On the other hand, the moment the weapons collided, a strange vibrating force shook the bull-hoofed monster. It channeled through the giant ax into the monster's body. Then within moments, half of its body went numb, and it stumbled a step back.

During this short stumble, Wang Shuo seized the opportunity to regain his footing and instantly sweep his staff right across.

Crack! The Green Dragon Staff struck the bull-hoofed monster's thick, rock-like left leg, immediately twisting and deforming it.

A pained 'Moo!' boomed as it staggered a few steps before barely managing to stabilize itself with the giant ax.

However, Wang Shuo didn't have the slightest intention of showing mercy. Just as the saying went, 'Take their life while they're ill'.

The shadow of the staff whipped along like the wind as it knocked away the hasty defense from the giant ax. Wang Shuo jumped up a few meters and smashed down fiercely with the momentum of his descent.

Roar!

The bull-hoofed monster suddenly let out a menacing roar, and a transparent sound wave visible to the naked eye burst forth.

Once again, the Mystic Turtle Armor released a light blue barrier, keeping Wang Shuo unaffected.

The bull-hoofed monster maniacally waved its arms to block the attack. But unfortunately, its muscles were no match for the lethal strike from a mystic-tier weapon.

Furthermore, this strike pushed the limits of the Mountain Splitting stance of the Three Mountain Staff Technique.

The Green Dragon Staff broke both of its arms as quickly as breaking dry weeds. Then without pause, it smashed the head of the bull-hoofed monster.

[You killed Minotaur Berserker Neville Castaneda (Projection).]

[You receive Projection Treasure Chest x1.]

Wang Shuo stood holding his staff, panting heavily. As he listened to the thunderous cheers of the audience, an inexplicable sense of excitement pumped through his veins.

It was not because of the cheering but because he was gradually infatuated with the thrill of fighting.

"Am I a closet battle maniac?"

Suddenly, the cheers disappeared. Wang Shuo left the arena once again.

As he thought back to this battle, the racing of his heart slowly calmed down.

While less than a minute long, the short battle was more profound than all the battles in the past few days combined.

This was the first time he had suffered such a massive loss since entering the game.

His past experience in games and novels planted a subconscious assumption of big guys as muscular and simple-minded idiots.

Coupled with the other party's initial actions, he had completely relaxed his guard.

Unexpectedly, this minor oversight almost caused him to fall into a desperate situation.

His victory this time was not due to his adaptability but purely based on his superior strength (equipment and attributes). With the same power and equipment, it was hard to say who would have won.

"Our ancestors were wise! You can't judge a book by its cover. I must remember this lesson!"

After reminding himself to be cautious, Wang Shuo opened the Projection Treasure Chest.

[After opening Neville Castaneda's Projection Treasure Chest, there is a chance to obtain an item from him.]

[Berserker Breastplate]

Grade: Upper Yellow Tier

Enchantment: Strength +1

Description: Berserker's Exclusive Set 1/3

Note: Gathering the entire Berserker Equipment Set will grant additional War Cry +1 and Strength +1.

[Berserker Greaves]

Grade: Upper Yellow Tier

Enchantment: Earth Trample +1

Description: Berserker's Exclusive Set 1/3

Note: …

[Berserker Giant Ax]

Grade: Upper Yellow Tier

Enchantment: Slash +1

Description: Berserker's Exclusive Set 1/3

Note: …

[Colossus Potion]

Grade: Yellow Tier

Description: Replenish all the stamina lost within one hour.

[Pendant of Blessings]

Description: This is a pendant given to Neville Castaneda by his father. It contains a father's most profound blessings.

"Phantom assassin, berserker… Are these the classes in this game?"

Wang Shuo casually chose the Berserker Greaves, and then he dwelled in thought.

After all, this was a novice village, so it was not unusual for there to be monsters.

But for classes to appear was odd.

With doubts circling his mind, Wang Shuo opened the forum. He was shocked to discover that the 500 chat rooms from yesterday dwindled to less than 200.

The forum was in a state of chaos.

"It's over. I can't pass the third trial at all! Damn it. I almost died in the first challenge with my 2.4 Physique. There are still forty meters to the door. I'm probably dead!"

"No way! I'm at 1.7. Is it hopeless for me then?"

"Shit! Is it really that bad?"

"Just look at the number of people in the room. Not a single one of those big shots who claimed to clear the second trial have said anything else. Today, so many of them have disappeared. Something must be wrong!"

"No, you can't just think of the bleak situations. Maybe they've cleared it? Do you remember what that big shot once said? There are only three levels in the newcomer trial!"

"Come on. You're too naive. Even the big shots at 2.4 are in despair. What are the chances of all those missing players clearing the trial?"

…

Wang Shuo fell into deep thought.

"All of them clearing… It's not impossible!"

A sudden thought surfaced in his mind. Be it the Shadow Assassin or a Minotaur, they were both 'projections'.

This was completely different from the previous two trials.

"When I was in the arena… was I also a projection?"

Wang Shuo recalled the exchange with the three races in the second trial. They had all sworn to ensure that he would pass the second trial safely and enter the third trial.

Initially, he thought that this was just a trap. As long as the players completed the race transformation and reached the third trial, the races would accomplish the Temple's task. After which, the life and death of the players would no longer matter to them.

But from another perspective, these three races from the second trial might be investing in the players.

Since it was an investment, they would definitely want something in return.

Working so hard and investing in a player just to send them to the third trial to die was illogical.

What were they after?