The White Wolf flipped backward midair. A white energy orb gathered in its jaws. It spat the orb—crackling with lightning—straight at Soulshadow Tianyou and Loli Monkey.
"Little Monkey! Blink away!" Soulshadow Tianyou shouted.
She sensed danger the moment the wolf leaped back. Her foot had already slammed into the sand, propelling her into a swift retreat.
"Got it!" But Loli Monkey reacted slower. Only upon seeing the white lightning orb did she scramble backward.
*Boom!*
The orb exploded before them. Blinding white lightning flashed past both girls. The blast hurled them several body lengths away.
Soulshadow Tianyou’s health plummeted. Her health bar flashed red—only two segments left.
Loli Monkey’s health held higher. Her bar turned dark yellow, half full.
But—
"Master! I can’t move!" Loli Monkey cried in panic.
Soulshadow Tianyou whipped around. Loli Monkey stood frozen, residual lightning crackling over her body. A lightning icon glowed above her head.
Paralysis status!
One glance told Soulshadow Tianyou why she wasn’t affected—her gender-shifting magic ring granted immunity to all debuffs.
"Master!" Loli Monkey strained to shout, twisting her head.
*Roar!*
Soulshadow Tianyou gritted her teeth, face darkening. The White Wolf lunged at Loli Monkey in an instant.
Paralyzed, Loli Monkey couldn’t dodge. With half health left, one hit would kill her.
Just as the wolf’s fangs neared Loli Monkey, Soulshadow Tianyou spun and hurled her two Crescent Moon Sabers.
The blades barely grazed the wolf. Their returning strike triggered an instant one-second slow.
The wolf’s lunge slowed slightly—but momentum carried it forward.
In that split second, Soulshadow Tianyou slid beside Loli Monkey and shoved her aside.
They swapped positions. The wolf’s jaws snapped at Soulshadow Tianyou instead.
"Master!" Loli Monkey crashed onto the black sand, propping herself up to shout.
"Damn it..." Soulshadow Tianyou had no reply. Her violet eyes locked onto the wolf. Long ears stood erect. Silver hair whipped in the wind.
"Do you think a mere data boss can block my path? Never!"
In this game—this half-life—players always terrified data-born monsters more. Soulshadow Tianyou knew that truth.
Having never met another player, she wouldn’t let a boss end her here.
Her game life as Soulshadow Tianyou. His as Zhuo Tiancheng. Neither would end now.
"Blink!"
Tianyou vanished in white light before the wolf’s eyes.
The wolf’s jaws snapped shut on empty air. Its chin hit the sand. It looked around, bewildered and targetless.
Above it, small mushrooms rained down. They exploded on impact.
Slow mushrooms. Low damage, but they stacked a continuous slow buff.
The wolf jerked its head up to counter—too late.
*Boom!*
A landmine-style Poisonous Mushroom struck its forehead. Purple mist erupted.
"Not over yet!" Soulshadow Tianyou’s voice echoed from above.
A figure burst through the mist. She leaped, clutching a Poisonous Mushroom, and slammed it onto the Ram Skull Mask.
*Boom!* Another explosion. Purple mist flared again.
Soulshadow Tianyou and the wolf flew backward from the mist—in opposite directions.
Soulshadow Tianyou yanked her Fangblade Shortsword and plunged it into the sand. She skidded to a stop, prone. Her Deep Forest Wolf Cloak coated in black sand. Her breasts pressed uncomfortably into the ground.
The wolf landed steadily on all fours. It stood quietly nearby, watching her.
"It worked..."
Soulshadow Tianyou flipped up swiftly, dusted off the sand, and smiled.
The wolf’s health had dropped sharply. Only four dark yellow segments remained.
But its calmness unsettled her.
Bosses usually raged when low on health—attack and speed surging. Yet this wolf showed no fury. No loss of reason.
"Master." Loli Monkey crept toward Tianyou.
"To achieve this much... impressive, human." The wolf’s voice turned colder, girlish. Calmer. Its Ram Skull Mask blazed with red light.
"Seems I was right..." Tianyou muttered bitterly.
Monster bosses had more than rage mode...
A far deadlier state existed: second transformation...
