Chapter 148: Fishman High Priest (1/2)

Edward was much calmer in his second encounter against the Fishman High Priest and the fishfolk surrounding it.

The reason the quest before had been difficult was because they had to recover the Sea Sapphire. On the other hand, all bets were off when the quest became a hunting quest, and they could just start nibbling away the horde from the edges.

Naturally, the culling was delayed up to two long days despite the support of other Players, what with elite fishmen including stingray priests, shark warriors, grouper assassins, pufferfish suicide bombers, and salted fishman mummies hanging around. It was only after that that they took down the Fishman High Priest’s personal guards and finally faced the Boss over the central plateau.

Now, the creature of an unknown species of fish stared at the Players encircling it heavily, clenching its fish fin staff as its green face turned solemn. “Mgrlllmgrlrrr (Would you dare to spare my life?!)”

“What is it saying?” Gou Dan asked quietly.

“Don’t know, but from the determined look on its face it probably is demanding for a delightful battle.” Joe guessed.

The Fishman High Priest clearly understood human tongue, but it was just unable to speak it no thanks to its unique fishman throat. “Mrlllmrlrrr (No, that’s not what I said)!” It yelled, pointing at Joe.

Joe looked delighted to be pointed at, and turned to Gou Dan. “Look, it definitely is saying that I’m right!”

The other Players all found Joe making sense as they watched the sight unfold before them, and could not help casting looks of respect at the Fishman High Priest they were encircling—its death was certain, and yet it did not fear its death, and would fight its enemy honorably to the bitter end with the last moments of its life. That certainly left the Players stirred.

Naturally, there was no changing the fate of it dying.

Joe hence drew out the Giant’s Toe, his legendary weapon. “Stand back, everyone. I shall face it in a duel in its honor!”

“Joe, are you going to be alright?” Gou Dan teased behind him. “It is more than ten levels above you.”

“Men don’t say ‘impossible’! Duels are a warrior’s romance!”

But Joe summoned his spirit familiar right after that, which prompted jeers from Gou Dan and the other Players. “Where is that duel you promised?”

“Shut up! My spirit familiar is a part of a duel, go away if you don’t like it!”

Joe energized his sword skill, imbuing the spirit familiar into his sword before assuming the posture for launching Slippery Slash. As one of the few warrior-class skills that was coupled with movement, it was basically a signature move for warriors as they entered the battlefield.

“Grlllmgrlrrr! Mgrlrrrgrlll! (Wait, I surrender! I can take you to the nearest fishfolk settlement, spare my life!)”

In turn, the Fishman High Priest was no longer nonchalant, but had instead raised his fish fin staff with both hands—it was the fishfolk gesture of surrender.

None of the Players present had communicated much with the fishfolk, however, although each of them did kill quite a few fishman. Therefore, what they saw was that the Fishman High Priest was raising its weapon, ready to attack anytime in the face of a great enemy.

“Could it be that you’re saying that you’re not surrendering?! That you would attack to the end even if it burns out your life?!” Joe felt his juices flowing right then, and gave up on his elaborate Sliding Slash in favor of the stronger and more direct Mountain Strike. “I, Joe Paul, acknowledge you as the bravest of the fishkin! Come, let’s duel honorably!”