Chapter 93

"Guy, you're really something." Seeing Gilbert's performance, even Li Huailin, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but comment. It was unclear whether this guy was really reckless or just very confident in his skills, but he charged straight into the defensive formation. However, the effect was excellent; once he broke through, it became much easier for those behind him.

Sure enough, as soon as Gilbert broke through the guards' defensive formation, Marvin and Golem behind him immediately charged in. Marvin wielded a saber, the standard equipment of bandits. Marvin's skills looked good, but the saber's effect on the guards' iron armor was limited. Unless he hit the neck or face, it would only cause injury, not death.

Golem, on the other hand, was much more brutal. Relying on his robust physique, Golem used a massive mace, smashing the guards with a series of "bangs." Just the sound of it was enough to stun someone. Marvin, who was right behind Golem, would then move in to finish off the guards who were either stunned or had dropped their weapons.

"Looks like the battle isn't much of a contest; it's about to end." Li Huailin observed the situation and said, "Although the guards have managed to kill a few bandits with their equipment advantage, the bandits have already broken their formation and are fighting individually. At this rate, it won't be long before they are all killed."

As for the merchants, they were even worse. They had no combat skills and were just swinging weapons around randomly. Against the fierce bandits, they had no chance of survival.

"Is this A-rank quest really that easy? There's no suspense at all. How can regular players make this weak merchant caravan win?" Li Huailin even had time to think about such trivial matters, and he hadn't even considered that people could team up to complete the quest.

Just as he was lost in thought, a strange cry suddenly rang out. Li Huailin turned to see a bandit charging toward him, waving a saber as if to strike.

"Really..." Li Huailin knew he would be involved, but fortunately, he hadn't accepted the quest.

He didn't even try to dodge, standing there waiting for the bandit to strike, mainly to see the damage. The bandit, riding a horse, quickly charged past Li Huailin, leaning to the side and smoothly slashing at his neck.

-88 (Critical Hit).

As they passed each other, Li Huailin checked his combat log and sighed, "Looks like it's just a regular monster with no buffs. A critical hit of over 80 is decent, but it's nothing compared to the Abyssal Dungeon."

Li Huailin had no intention of chasing after the bandit, but the bandit wasn't about to give up. Seeing that his first attack hadn't killed Li Huailin, he pulled the reins, turning the horse 180 degrees, and charged again.

"You'd be better off standing still and attacking me. This back-and-forth just increases the attack interval." Li Huailin muttered to himself as the bandit charged again.

Of course, Li Huailin wasn't about to play along this time. Drawing his bronze sword, he prepared to strike. The bandit's attack pattern didn't change; it was still a charge followed by a saber slash. Li Huailin had already seen this once and knew exactly how to counter it. He raised his sword and slashed at the horse's head as it passed by.

With a "swish," a critical hit of -1610 appeared above the horse's head, and -716 appeared above the bandit's head.

Don't underestimate Li Huailin's frail appearance; his strength, with a 280% bonus, was incredibly high. The sword cut straight into the horse's head, slicing through the entire body, nearly cutting it in half. The same strike also severed the bandit's right foot, causing him to fall off the horse.

As they passed each other, Li Huailin lost 50 HP, the horse was killed, and the bandit was thrown to the ground, unconscious and bleeding.

"Damn, a horse cost me 25 experience points." Li Huailin realized that the bandit's horse and the bandit were counted separately for experience. The strike had killed the horse but not the bandit, resulting in a loss of 25 experience points.

Li Huailin's strike was shocking, but the battlefield was so chaotic that few people noticed. Among those who did, one was Marvin.

"There's a tough one; I'll go check it out." Marvin said to Golem beside him.

"Okay, go ahead. No problem, we can hold here." Golem was enjoying the fight and didn't pay much attention to Li Huailin or Marvin's comment about a "tough one."

Seeing the bandit on the ground not getting up, Li Huailin didn't bother to finish him off. It didn't matter to him who lived or died among these weaklings.

Just as he was about to relax and watch the fight, another bandit charged at him, and it was Marvin, the named bandit.

"A mini-boss?" Li Huailin muttered as Marvin charged.

Marvin didn't say much, just raised his saber and swung at Li Huailin. Li Huailin, of course, didn't hold back, using the same move to slash at the horse.

Marvin, despite looking like a regular bandit, was clearly more skilled. As they passed each other, Li Huailin's strike killed the horse, but Marvin jumped at the last moment, dodging the attack and landing a hit on Li Huailin's chest, dealing 181 damage.

"Indeed, a tough one." Marvin landed a bit unsteadily but quickly recovered, his eyes fixed on Li Huailin.

"Alright, in most mystery novels, the unassuming guy turns out to be the final boss." Li Huailin turned and said, "Come on, let's have a good fight."

"Very well." Marvin stepped forward and swung his saber, aiming directly at Li Huailin's face. A normal person would block, but Li Huailin, being a player, didn't care and swung his sword back at Marvin.

-330 (Critical Hit).

-1630 (Critical Hit).

Both took a hit, and both were criticals, but Li Huailin's attack was clearly more powerful. Marvin's strike on Li Huailin's head had no effect, as players don't bleed, while Li Huailin's strike, though slightly dodged, cut deep into Marvin's shoulder, causing him to bleed profusely, staining both of them red.

"Good, I like this setting." Li Huailin smiled and pulled out his bronze sword for another horizontal slash.

Marvin tried to dodge, but the first injury was too severe, and his body wouldn't respond. He was hit in the abdomen by Li Huailin's second strike.

-709.

Although it wasn't a critical hit, Li Huailin could see Marvin's health bar, and his two strikes had already reduced it by 81%. It seemed Marvin wasn't a boss but just a bit stronger than regular monsters, not even as tough as the monsters in the Abyssal Dungeon.

"How... how is this possible... How can this merchant caravan have someone as strong as you..." Marvin, no longer attacking, clutched his wound and spoke in a broken voice, spitting out blood as he spoke.

"Looks like you won't drop anything good, but since we've come this far, I'll finish you off." Li Huailin raised his sword and thrust it into Marvin, "Why are you so tough!"

"Marvin!" As Li Huailin impaled Marvin, a voice called out. Li Huailin turned to see a sword swing toward his head. Reacting instinctively, he dodged backward, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Stepping back, Li Huailin looked up to see Marvin lying in the arms of the bandit leader, Gilbert, who had just forced him back. However, Gilbert didn't continue the attack but held the bleeding Marvin.

"Marvin, don't die, Marvin!" Gilbert shouted, gripping Marvin's bloody hand.

"Sorry... Leader... I..." Marvin was out of blood, theoretically dead, but somehow managed to speak a few words. However, he didn't finish before his head slumped, and he was gone.

System Notification: Nasir Bandit Gang Reputation Unlocked.

System Notification: Due to killing the third-in-command of the Nasir Bandit Gang, Marvin, the Nasir Bandit Gang's goodwill towards you has increased by 30 points. Current Goodwill: Friendly.

System Notification: Due to killing the third-in-command of the Nasir Bandit Gang, Marvin, the leader of the Nasir Bandit Gang, Gilbert, has increased his goodwill towards you by 40 points. Current Goodwill: Friendly.

System Notification: Due to killing the third-in-command of the Nasir Bandit Gang, Marvin, the second-in-command of the Nasir Bandit Gang, Golem, has increased his goodwill towards you by 30 points. Current Goodwill: Friendly.

"Bandit gangs have reputation?" Li Huailin said in surprise.

"Strange... so strange..." Gilbert, holding Marvin's body, suddenly said, "You killed Marvin, which should be a great favor to our bandit gang, and I should be very happy... but... why do I feel so sad... strange... what is flowing from my eyes..."

Li Huailin looked up to see Gilbert, the leader, with tears streaming down his face.

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