[You have killed the Corpse Werewolf, gaining Combat Experience.]
[You have killed the Corpse Werewolf, gaining Combat Experience, Level up!]
[...]
[You found 3 X loosened Wolf Fang.]
[You found 7 X Withered Wolf Hide.]
After killing several Corpse Werewolves, Rogel deactivated auto-exploration and surveyed the surrounding environment through his game perspective.
Soon, he discovered a path extending outward from the house.
[You proceed along the forest path.]
[As you advance, gunshots ring out and bullets come your way. You instinctively transform into black mist to dodge them.]
[Through Skeleton Manipulation, you sensed several figures hiding in the shadows, ambushing you.]
[You pull out the Skeleton Spirit Staff, transforming into Dead Abandoned Heavy Cavalry, and commence massacre.]
[In no time, a group of humanoid-looking corpse-like creatures were stripped of their skeletons, leaving behind shriveled skins lying on the ground.]
[Their attire resembled that of Hunters.]
[You spared one, used the Memory Fish Scale to attempt communication, but gleaned no useful information. The fellow was like a fool.]
After glancing at the experience prompt and gathered loot, Rogel furrowed his brow again.
Nothing useful had been picked up along the way.
However, experience was gained, so he could make do for now.
Rogel reloaded his save to reset the usage of the Memory Fish Scale, patiently continuing exploration.
[You found an altar in the forest, with a Roaring Dragon Head Secret Statue not far from you.]
[Secret Statue—Hand of the Dense Forest has awakened.]
[Then, you turned your eyes back to the altar.]
[On the altar is a withered Wooden Hand holding a Purple Scroll, underneath which lies a golden shimmering Treasure Chest.]
[The Wooden Hand grasping the Scroll has only three fingers, with its index finger seemingly pointing in a certain direction.]
[Beside the altar are several large withered hands jutting out from the ground, appearing to harbor hidden dangers.]
Old routine, probably more Monsters underground.
Rogel summoned Bone Spirit and the Wraith General Clone.
[You cautiously instructed the Clone and Bone Spirit to retrieve the Scroll.]
[Faithfully carrying out your secret orders, the Bone Spirit swiftly advanced, struggling to reach the Purple Scroll.]
[This action awakened the sleeping Monsters!]
[With a rumbling noise, the ground around the altar trembled, skeletal hands jerked rigidly, smacking the ground, then propping up several Monsters emerging from below!]
[Withered Forest Guardian]
[Type: Monster]
[Quality: Elite]
[Level: 20]
[Tier: Extraordinary]
[Explanation: The Forest Guardian was once a brawny muscleman of the forest, but has now become a skinny hound, which makes it very frustrated.]
Rogel almost sprayed out when he read this explanation.
Skinny hound?
Looking at the Monsters on the screen… it is indeed so.
There were four Forest Guardians, towering yet extremely thin and wasted.
Three Forest Guardians wielded weapons made from thorny wooden vines entwined into Meteor Hammers.
The remaining Forest Guardian held a staff with a vine appearance.
[The four Forest Guardians roared, then swung their weapons, charging at you in attack!]
Seeing this, Rogel was unafraid.
If it's a fight, then so be it; there are four Forest Guardians, but he has more people on his side.
[You summoned the remaining Bone Spirits. After equipping the crafted gear, the ten Bone Spirits had some combat capability, at least not getting killed in one hit.]
[The Forest Guardians have no bones. You abandoned using the staff in your hand, taking out Long Fang, and handed the Brocade Wood to the Wraith General.]
[There are four Forest Guardians, three with Meteor Hammers and one Mage, while you have twelve combatants, overwhelmingly outnumbering them.]
Twelve against four, the advantage is mine!
Rogel began the clash without hesitation.
[The staff-wielding Forest Guardian roared, forcefully planting the staff into the ground, starting to chant a spell.]
[Sensing something amiss, you commanded Bone Spirits and the Wraith General to hold the front three, while you transformed into Blackmist and flew towards the Forest Guardian, launching an attack.]
[You inflicted significant damage on the Forest Guardian, its body becoming ragged.]
[The Forest Guardians attempted to aid, but you took out the 'Horn of Dead Abandoned' token and blew it.]
[Woo——]
[With a low horn sound echoing, you were astonished to find that the Wraith General and Bone Spirits were affected, yet the Forest Guardians merely paused momentarily, before coming your way as if unaffected.]
Seeing this, Rogel felt a jolt in his heart and thought, "This is bad."
His intention was to use the Horn of Dead Abandoned to control the Forest Guardians, buying time for his own output.
Otherwise, once the staff-wielding Forest Guardian used its skill, things would certainly not look optimistic.
And he had prepared for his own people getting affected.
But he never expected that the Horn of Dead Abandoned would have no effect on these Forest Guardians!
What's going on? Do these guys have no souls?
[The Forest Guardians attacked, leaving you no choice but to create distance, seeking another opportunity.]
[However, combat opportunities are fleeting.]
[During the time you created that distance, the staff-wielding Forest Guardian finally finished its skill chant.]
[In an instant, a powerful force erupted, massive blackened dried thorns rose from the ground, spreading out from beneath the Forest Guardian's feet.]
[The terrifying Attack Power instantly annihilated your Bone Spirits!]
[You used Fog Flash to shift to a safe spot.]
[The Wraith General Clone, however, was gradually falling under the attacks of three Forest Guardians, you could only cautiously contain them.]