Chapter 48: A New Skill

Replacing Luyang as part of the third line of defense, Zhou Le and his companions were excited yet subtly aware of the mounting pressure. Lin Huang, in particular, understood with absolute clarity that this time, it was the real deal. He had become an integral piece in this event, much like a small fragment in a puzzle. This war was the whole puzzle—if any piece faltered, the image would remain incomplete, and failure would be inevitable.

Lin Huang couldn’t control whether others would make mistakes; that was beyond his sphere of influence. But now that he stood in this position, he knew he must ensure that nothing went wrong on his end.

Seizing the brief lull before the next wave of monsters arrived, Lin Huang once again emphasized to everyone the importance of obeying commands.

Zhou Le and the others nodded in earnest, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, not daring to slacken in the slightest.

After issuing his instructions, Lin Huang finally turned his attention to the rare skill card he had just acquired for defeating an enemy above his tier.

It was a green card, bearing a large question mark on its face and nothing else. The reverse side held a brief description:

[Random Skill Card (Rare): Use to receive a random rare skill card.]

[Note: This is a consumable card, usable only once.]

“This card couldn’t have come at a better time—it’ll let me gain an additional skill. The only question is, what kind of skill will I draw?” Lin Huang mused. Up to now, he had only three skills: the blade technique from the ‘Great Wilderness Blade Scripture,’ the ‘Strength’ skill obtained from the Tyrant, and ‘Blood Power’ acquired from Bai.

Actually, ‘Strength’ was a passive skill, and Lin Huang could not activate ‘Blood Power’ at all. Only the blade technique was usable as an active skill. Fortunately, it was a potent technique, allowing him to maximize his combat ability.

Now, with the chance to gain another skill, Lin Huang was naturally delighted, though he felt a tinge of nervous anticipation. Quietly, he communicated with Little Black in his mind: “Little Black, I want to use this random skill card.”

[Are you sure you want to use the Random Skill Card (Rare)?]

“Yes!” Lin Huang affirmed.

As soon as the thought formed in his mind, the question mark on the card began to morph rapidly into various symbols, each flashing by so quickly it made him dizzy.

After about ten seconds, the flashing icons suddenly settled, and the entire card was enveloped in a white glow. Moments later, the light faded, revealing a new card.

[Congratulations, Host. You have received a movement skill: Step on Snow Without a Trace.]

Upon learning he’d gained a movement skill, Lin Huang was overjoyed. He had previously considered, should he survive this ordeal, choosing a good movement skill to complement his blade technique. Now, he had randomly drawn one.

He immediately examined the new skill card.

On the front was a pair of feet stepping on a snowy field, yet the snow showed no sign of depression or disturbance.

Turning the card over, Lin Huang read its particulars:

[Skill Card]

[Skill Name: Step on Snow Without a Trace]

[Rarity: Rare]

[Skill Type: Movement]

[Skill Level: Gold-Tier Movement]

[Status: Usable]

[Note: This skill is a special movement type, with no usage level restriction. Its effect varies according to the user's power.]

[Card Evaluation: Average]

“What an excellent skill!” Lin Huang could barely contain his elation. This movement skill also came with no level restriction; he’d been concerned it might require life energy to activate.

He checked his personal exclusive card and, indeed, a new skill had been added.

[Host: Lin Huang]

[Gender: Male]

[Age: 15]

[Combat Level: None (beyond evaluation lower limit)]

[Skill 1: Blood Power (Level 2)]

[Skill 2: Great Wilderness Blade Scripture (Blade Combat Technique)]

[Skill 3: Strength (Beginner)]

[Skill 4: Step on Snow Without a Trace (Movement)]

[Summoning Authority: Activated]

[Available Summons: 1]

[Evaluation: Still pathetically weak…]

Glancing at the latest evaluation from Little Black, Lin Huang ignored it once more.

Pleased with the addition of a movement skill, Lin Huang withdrew his attention from his inner world. Everyone was standing ready, and no one noticed anything unusual about him.

Soon after, a new wave of monsters breached the second line and charged toward the third. This time, it was a group of Minotaur demons, few in number, and Lin Huang’s group dispatched them with little effort.

Through the morning—about four hours—Lin Huang’s third line of defense endured eleven attacks, all handled with ease. By afternoon, in just over six hours, they faced twenty-two assaults. Lin Huang could clearly sense the frequency of the beast tide’s attacks was increasing.

He wasn’t the only one to notice; Yi Yeyu and Yi Zheng realized it, too, their hearts growing uneasy, for this was hardly a good omen.

As night fell, the beasts grew even more frenzied. Whether it was due to the setting sun or the extraordinary monster that was inciting them, their aggression was unmistakable.

From just after six in the evening to midnight—nearly six hours—Lin Huang and his companions felt the pressure surge. Within those scant hours, they endured forty-six attacks, almost one every seven minutes.

Despite the immense pressure, no one complained. They knew the Gold and Silver Hunters ahead of them were enduring far greater hardship.

Yi Yeyu constantly monitored Lin Huang’s team, worried they might not hold out, but time and again, they proved their strength with their actions. They showed everyone that their small squad, combined, was no less capable than any Bronze Hunter.

At first, a few Bronze Hunters stationed nearby were skeptical, fearing Lin Huang’s group would drag them down. But swiftly, their opinions changed.

Under Lin Huang’s leadership and guidance, the group of youths worked in perfect coordination. Even when the monsters came in greater numbers and chaos threatened, Lin Huang and Bai quickly resolved every crisis.

Lin Huang’s performance drew considerable attention. Though he hadn't even reached the Iron level, he demonstrated astounding power, slaying even third-tier Iron monsters with no more than five strokes of his blade.

Bai, his summoned beast, was equally impressive, capable of dispatching almost any foe with a single blow, save for those with exceptional defensive strength.

Thanks to these two, the twelve-member squad had made it through without incident.

Midnight descended swiftly, but this midnight was nothing like those before. It was, in fact, the most tumultuous Lin Huang had ever experienced since leaving Earth.

Everywhere, the angry roars of beasts mingled with the shouts of humans, and now and then, the crackle of gunfire could be heard.

The latter half of the night saw the monsters’ attacks grow ever more frenzied.

The third line of defense was breached several times, but Yi Yeyu and Yi Zheng arrived just in time to save the situation.

Still, everyone’s spirits sank. At this rate, the collapse of all three lines seemed inevitable; it was only a matter of time…

~~~~~~

[Let me just say something here… Reading novels is a form of entertainment, a way to relax. My prologue featured ‘XX Master’ as a setup for the later introduction of a golden finger, with a bit of playful banter to lighten the story. I had no other intentions. Unexpectedly, it sparked arguments in the review section over that game… To avoid unpleasantness, I’ve deleted those posts. Please don’t take offense, and there’s no need to be upset. Games, too, are just entertainment—no need to take them too seriously. Take novels as an example: no matter how well it’s written, some will like it, some won’t; no work can satisfy everyone. Games are the same—you like it, you like it; you don’t, you don’t. So there’s really no need for such debates. Here, let’s just enjoy the book together. Don’t waste precious time on pointless disputes. Have some water, calm your spirits… Well, that’s all I wanted to say.]