Chapter 43 – The Alpha Falls

Chapter 43 – The Alpha Falls

Cheng Yang’s heart raced with urgency, but the speed of his Magic Missile spell was fixed at one per second. With minimal attack speed bonuses, he could only suppress his anxiety and fire another missile.

The alpha jackal completely ignored the incoming magic attack, single-mindedly focused on gnawing through the tree. As expected, Cheng Yang’s attack struck true once more.

Without any detection skills, Cheng Yang couldn’t see the alpha’s remaining health. He estimated that as a late-stage first-tier creature, it could withstand at most four of his attacks. Two more hits would finish it.

But time was running out. The tree beneath him creaked ominously, its roots giving way under the relentless assault. As it toppled, Cheng Yang gripped the trunk with one hand while launching another Magic Missile with his bone staff.

Even in mid-fall, Cheng Yang’s combat instincts ensured the missile found its mark. Instead of fleeing upon landing, he leaped upward, aiming for a branch of the falling tree. Five bloodthirsty jackals closed in from all sides.

This was a calculated risk. If the branch broke, Cheng Yang would be completely surrounded. The alpha jackal’s eyes gleamed with mockery – in its view, this was suicidal behavior.

Cheng Yang’s expression hardened as he assessed the situation. The four jackal lieutenants were nearly through the branch. It was time to gamble.

He fired a Magic Missile at one lieutenant just as the branch snapped. Landing on the ground, Cheng Yang found himself immediately set upon by the remaining three.

One missile took down the injured lieutenant, but the others were upon him. Razor-sharp fangs aimed for his throat. Though he knew the game-like rules of this world meant throat injuries weren’t fatal, the visceral threat still sent a chill through him.

Dodging the throat attack, Cheng Yang couldn’t avoid the bites to his thighs. His health dropped by 24 points. The pain was excruciating, but Cheng Yang’s mind remained clear, analyzing the situation.

These lieutenants had attack power of at least 12 points – formidable even among first-tier magical beasts. Escape wasn’t an option; they’d get another attack as he turned.

Instead, Cheng Yang pulled out a prepared potion and drank it in one gulp. His health instantly refilled.

Though it felt wasteful using a medium potion for his relatively low health pool, Cheng Yang knew no price was too high for survival.

Another Magic Missile took down a second lieutenant, but the remaining two bit into him again. His health dropped another 24 points. This time, Cheng Yang didn’t immediately drink another potion, instead finishing off the third lieutenant.

By now, his health was dangerously low. The alpha jackal seemed confused by Cheng Yang’s resilience but still didn’t intervene. Seizing the moment, Cheng Yang downed a mana potion, restoring his health once more.

With renewed vigor, Cheng Yang finished off the last two lieutenants, though his health was again halved. The alpha finally realized something was wrong – its pack was being slaughtered while this human remained standing.

Cheng Yang gave it no time to react. In a flash, he closed the thirty-meter gap and unleashed a final Magic Missile. The alpha jackal fell without even putting up a proper fight.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Cheng Yang surveyed the carnage. The battle had been perilously close. Any misstep in potion timing could have meant his death.

But there was no time to rest. Hundreds of ordinary jackals still roamed the area. For Cheng Yang, farming lower-level magical beasts was more efficient for spirit energy gain.

After downing another medium health potion, Cheng Yang turned to face the approaching horde. The ordinary jackals, unaware of their leaders’ demise, charged blindly toward the scent of their alpha.

What followed was a one-sided massacre. Cheng Yang’s speed and lethal attacks made quick work of the weaker beasts. He led them in circles through the confined area, systematically thinning their numbers.

Though a few stragglers broke off, Cheng Yang paid them no mind. One or two posed no threat. The real challenge lay in maximizing his spirit energy gains before the next wave arrived.