Lin Rui opened his panel for a look:
[Spiritual Energy: 0]
[Skill: Water Floating lv2: Years of life on the water have endowed him with excellent fishing skills, fish catch rate +20% compared to other lords’ subjects]
He’s a very ordinary farmer within the territory, but the news he brought back was quite unusual.
"Why did so many little fishmen suddenly appear?" Lin Rui asked curiously.
Knight Roger responded: "Within the civilization, little fishmen might be found near any body of water. These little fishmen are weak and timid, usually hiding underwater near the shore, preying on lone women and children by dragging them underwater to eat. Even an ordinary farmer with a dung fork can stab three or four of them to death. But for such a large number of little fishmen to suddenly appear and actively attack buildings, it usually means there’s a Little Fishman Hero in the lake."
"A hero?" Everyone paused instinctively upon hearing this word and looked over with concern.
In the Heavens and Myriads of Realms of the Era of Civilization, heroes are a term bathed in golden brilliance, shining with radiance.
The path to glory must be walked by heroes, eventually sitting upon the throne, overlooking all the people.
It’s said that to rule over the world, lead the unified six, and explore the Other Plane, a hero must lead the way.
Therefore, every plane has legends and renown left behind by countless heroes, earning the admiration and reverence of generations.
Lin Rui asked in shock: "Heroes can appear even among such weak little fishmen?"
Roger shrugged and said: "Every species has the potential to birth heroes. Little fishmen come from fish eggs, laying them by the thousand, and their presence can be found in every corner of civilization. With so many, a few heroes are bound to appear. It’s said that Little Fishman Heroes are the most numerous among all species."
"Let’s go, let’s check out the lake."
Lin Rui waved a large hand, full of spirit, leading three knights toward the lake. The bright heavy plate armors of the three knights shimmered in the sunlight, looking majestic and powerful, enhancing their group’s momentum.
Their opponents, however, looked much weaker. A group of fishmen about a meter tall held their fish forks, patrolling the lakeside. To call them little fishmen is a stretch—they’re better described as dried fish. Their limbs were very thin, with blue scales clinging to their bones, perfectly embodying the term "emaciated."
[Fork-Holding Little Fishman: Ordinary-level Wild Monster]
[Life Value: 70 (60+10)]
[Spiritual Energy: 10]
[Skill: Cruel Bite, fish have a memory span of only 7 seconds, so they feel no fear, kill or be killed by it. If a little fishman’s attack hits seven times, it triggers a bleeding effect, Life Value -1/s, lasting 7 seconds. (Note: Attacks from different individuals can stack)]
These don’t seem as weak as Roger made them out to be. Especially with their Cruel Bite skill, which activates a devastating persistent bleeding effect upon a little fishman hitting you seven times, even if from different individuals.
It’s vital to note that there are hundreds of little fishmen now, and knights might inevitably trigger that persistent bleeding effect from Cruel Bite in battle.
If it weren’t for Lin Rui’s Waist Binding, even Excellence-level troops couldn’t avoid casualties.
Roger said: "Lord, please be cautious. With a Little Fishman Hero leading them, the little fishmen’s abilities significantly enhance."
"Where is the Little Fishman Hero?" Duncan asked, examining his warhammer as he looked around: "Slay the hero, and these little fishmen will pose no threat."
Roger said: "Definitely hiding in the lake, won’t easily show himself. Let’s clear out these little fishmen first to make him angry enough to come out."
"Let’s do it then." Lin Rui raised his right hand, and a fine, long ice needle, crystal clear, appeared in his palm, glowing with a gentle blue light while floating in the air.
Even before it could be pierced down, Roger felt a faint pain in his waist, giving Lin Rui a wistful look with mournful eyes.
Next moment, "Awoo!" Roger let out a howl, charging with axe spear into the midst of the little fishmen.
The little fishman was still in the air when its body was torn apart by spiritual energy, scattering a few coins with a clatter.
[Ding, your subordinate Elite Knight Roger has killed a monster, Fork-Holding Little Fishman. As a lord, you gain 10% experience. Experience +1.]
[Ding, your subordinate Excellence Level Knight Duncan has killed a monster, Fork-Holding Little Fishman. As a lord, you gain 10% experience. Experience +1.]
[Ding, your subordinate Excellence Level Knight Lusen has killed a monster, Fork-Holding Little Fishman. As a lord, you gain 10% experience. Experience +1.]
To think killing little fishmen would also yield coins and resources! While under ordinary circumstances the drop rate would be virtually negligible, Lin Rui’s luck is beyond measure!
In mere moments, the three knights slaughtered over a hundred little fishmen, resulting in the fall of hundreds of coins and resource units.
Lin Rui seemed to glimpse a golden, sparkling path to wealth being paved before his eyes.
From now on, call me [Emotionless·Lin·Midnight Little Fishman Butcher·Civilization Mainland Little Fishman Terminator·Rui·Biggest Jester of the Lucky Goddess·Wealth-Building Expert·Golden Pansy]
If in the future several more teams of ordinary-level troops could be brought together, just slaughtering little fishmen everywhere would be enough to snatch even the Lucky Goddess’s underwear clean off.
The delightful clinking sounds continued for over ten minutes before the clear lake water finally surged violently as a huge whirlpool formed.
Then, a massive wave crashed toward the shore, filled with little fishmen crawling out from it, brandishing their fish forks as they charged towards Lin Rui and the others.
Amid the densely packed waves of little fishmen, a green fishman stood out boldly.
Not only was its color markedly different, but its physique was entirely unlike that of the other frail little fishmen.
It was plump and obese, its belly large enough to fit more than three Lin Ruis, its huge arms thicker than the thighs of several knights, and the two whiskers dangling from its mouth were thick and firm, resembling two tentacles. Most conspicuous of all was its mouth full of sharp teeth, topped with a small green dome hat.
Roger shouted: "The big monster is here! Green hats make one stronger, and it wears its green hat on its head unabashedly—it’s definitely a monstrous one!"