This was already one of Lin Xinyan’s most powerful attacks. How could she possibly hold back against a monster?

The force of the impact showed no sign of letting up. If anything, Lin Xinyan’s power was still growing.

The monster’s scales were even thicker than she’d imagined. After taking that assault, they’d only developed a tiny crack. By now, she’d come up with another plan.

The tornado slammed into it again and again. Even with its enormous build, the monster was forced back several steps by the sheer force.

Then Lin Xinyan’s power erupted once more, doubling in strength. The monster began stumbling backward faster and faster.

Krrrk!!!

A sudden cracking sound rang out. The attack had finally worked!

At that point, Lin Xinyan thought her chance had come. She planned to attack again through the cracked scales and deal the monster even more damage. The tornado was still spinning at full speed. But just as it was about to break through the scales completely, she suddenly froze.

“What?! There’s another layer underneath!?”

She was stunned. Beneath those thick scales lay another layer. After unleashing such a powerful attack, she could already feel herself growing weak, and now she was panting heavily. The extra layer of scales before her had thrown her entire plan off.

Knowing that keeping up this constant output of power would put her at a disadvantage, Lin Xinyan retreated and put a great distance between herself and the “lizard.”

Despite being attacked over and over, the “lizard” didn’t move. It fixed its blood-red eyes on Lin Xinyan in the distance, then threw back its head and laughed.

“Haha… hahahaha…” The laughter was full of pride—and mockery. “Ha! That’s all you’ve got, and you think you can take on me, the great Ge Sila, all by yourself? Know your place! ”

Lin Xinyan didn’t let its words shake her. Her expression was resolute as she frowned at the laughing “lizard.”

It wasn’t wrong. Heroes were generally advised to fight monsters only when their ranks were at least comparable. And even then, several heroes would usually team up against a monster of the same rank. At equal ranks, monsters were almost always stronger than heroes.

Lin Xinyan was a B-Rank Hero, but her actual strength had already reached A Rank. Even so, holding her own against a monster close to Spirit Rank for this long was impressive.

She’d known what she was getting into when she attacked. She wasn’t a match for this monster, but if she could buy enough time for the express train to change course and head back, that would be good enough.

The express train had already turned around and was heading back. Her one remaining concern was gone.

Whenever a monster of Nether Rank or higher appeared, the Hero organization would immediately notify the nearest heroes in the area and send them to the scene. That had been one of Lin Xinyan’s considerations, too.

After laughing to its heart’s content, Ge Sila slowly walked toward Lin Xinyan.

“Freedom feels amazing. I’m already drunk on it. You’re the first human I’ve met since getting free, so why don’t you play with me for a while? You think you can take me on with that kind of strength? What a joke. I was just playing with you before. Now I’m getting serious. Open your eyes and watch closely!”

Lin Xinyan believed the monster. She kept her eyes on Ge Sila, tightening her grip on the Divine Dance Spear. She couldn’t just leave Ge Sila alone. She could only hope the nearby heroes would arrive soon.

She wasn’t going to sit around and wait for her fate. She prepared to attack first.

She stamped down hard and sprang high into the air. Her Divine Dance Spear swept through the air, sending out a shockwave. Ge Sila made no attempt to dodge. It seemed ready to take the attack head-on.

Lin Xinyan didn’t understand why. She’d been about to keep attacking, but just as the shockwave neared Ge Sila, the lizard vanished without a trace.

!!!

The young woman’s heart jolted. Before she could react, a voice came from behind her.

“I’m right here.”

The moment the voice rang out, the young woman hurriedly turned around—only to see a sharp claw already swiping toward her.

!!!

……