387 Cunning Fox (1/2)

After plowing for about a quarter of an hour through the twisting tunnels that wound through the volcano, Qin Ruo finally thought that he had found his way forward.

The Flametongue Toads seemed to always be well aware of his position and movement, and were intimately familiar with this network of tunnels. With each move that he made, the Toads drew a little closer toward him.

Qin Ruo didn't know if this was because he had his Frostbarrier up, allowing the Flametongue Toads to home in on the source of cool air, but it certainly saved him a lot of trouble!

At least he wouldn't have to keep bumbling blindly through the tunnels, looking for the Toads so he could finish that task!

In this way, a great many Flametongue Toads were slain in less than twenty minutes, with Qin Ruo using the same trick on each one so that they were incinerated in the lava that they themselves drew forth.

***

The first task had been completed!

The tunnels in Qin Ruo's wake had met with the same fate as the Flametongue Toads, and now only one long and winding corridor remained, leading ahead.

Although he did not know if he had perhaps sealed the only exit out of here, the only thing Qin Ruo could do at the moment was to keep walking! If there was only one path left, he would follow it all the way to the end!

Fortunately, the first stage seemed to have only contained those Flametongue Toads, who perhaps had also been meant to drive him toward this way out. As long as the player did not allow the Toads to rupture both ends of the tunnel they were in, nor make any amateurish mistakes, they should be able to avoid meeting their doom within that maze.

It took several minutes for Qin Ruo to make it through the lightless tunnel and out to the volcano's exterior.

It was sweltering hot outside as well. The volcano, covered in lava flows and belching thick black smoke, seemed to light up the sky from below, coloring it the deep red of roasted flesh.

In the wavering heat, the lava spilled over the scorched ground, following the contours of the volcano's slopes to form a network of darkly glowing rivulets, oozing and winding their way downhill.

As soon as Qin Ruo poked his head outside, he heard a boom nearby!

Before he could duck back inside, several huge balls of fire came roaring in from either side!

Bam! Bam!

The flames washed over his Frostbarrier, obscuring Qin Ruo's view of his surroundings.

However, in that instant when Qin Ruo came under attack, he was able to lock onto the creature attacking him from the left of the exit. It was some sort of fox, and the fireballs were being catapulted from its three fiery red tails.

A Level 55 Wildfire Fox!

Qin Ruo tensed.

When he first began this Hellfire Trial, he hadn't thought much of the monsters he had to face. However, the Level 52 Flametongue Toads had given him quite a scare back there. Now, he knew better than to make light of any of the common Tier 5 monsters he had have to deal with.

Besides, no matter how you looked at it, if these foxes were cunning enough to have set up an ambush for him, there was little question that they would be more of a challenge than those clumsy Toads!

Hunkering down, Qin Ruo weathered nearly ten rounds of the Flameburst as he dashed out from the volcano. If the first salvo was already this intense, he was worried the Foxes might collapse the tunnel mouth.

Boom!

An explosive blast erupted from within the tunnel, and nearly sent Qin Ruo sprawling.

Protected by his Frostbarrier, Qin Ruo was spared the worst of this sudden blast out of nowhere. Looking back, he felt his hackles rise.

”Crap!”

The tunnel mouth had been brought down by a Chain Flameburst from several Wildfire Foxes. Bright red lava came churning out from within.

Qin Ruo stared in astonishment. Certainly, they earned the name 'Wildfire!'

In his moment of hesitation, the Wildfire Foxes continued to press their attack on Qin Ruo.

Digging its claws deep into the ground, the nearest Fox raised its head to emit a peculiar howl. And then, with a toss of its head, it bared its fangs to reveal a mass of Compressed Firebolts, which it hurled at Qin Ruo, still trying to evade the flowing lava.

”Huh?” As he sidestepped a broad channel of lava, he was on edge like never before, keeping an eye on the Wildfire Foxes nearby. People generally described foxes as ”cunning” and ”vicious” creatures, and he was wary of any more unpleasant surprises.

As the Firebolts streaked toward him, the other Foxes seemed to heed the howled command from the lead Fox, and the pack split apart.

One of the Foxes spewed another volley of Firebolts.

The other Foxes seemed to be making some odd motions… all four claws gripping the ground tightly, three tails raised high, they quivered and bared their fangs, heads held low. Every one of them was watching Qin Ruo intently, as though they were—

”Spellcasting?”

Terror gripped his heart as he noticed the familiar sensation of a Tier 5 AoE spell being cast by the four Wildfire Foxes in the back.

A four-fold assault with Tier 5 AoE attack spells?

'You must be kidding!' It was the first time Qin Ruo had ever encountered such a situation: common Tier 5 monsters casting Tier 5 AoE spells. His face twisted into a mask of horror.

Just now, a minor Chain Flameburst from several Wildfire Foxes had caved in an entire tunnel. If he allowed them to finish casting those Tier 5 AoE spells… Heavens preserve him, it could mean unimaginable disaster!

Qin Ruo turned about frantically and then set out on a flat-out run. Summoning Poochie to help disrupt the spellcasting Foxes, he next retrieved a Magic Scroll from his pack.

Obeying his will, Poochie sprang into action. And then the ground shook with a mighty quake behind them.

Thoom!