Chapter 29: Only Couples Can Farm Monsters Together!

Though he grumbled inwardly, Wang Chen’s hands did not falter. He drew an ordinary dagger and buried it deep in the ground.

The vexing nature of the mire lay precisely here.

To avoid sinking entirely was impossible, yet to sink quickly was equally out of reach.

Thus!

He could only watch himself slowly descend, enduring an agonizing trial.

Even sending the dagger into deeper earth was equally laborious.

Fortunately, the Dark Guardians, faced with the sudden emergence of the massive shield, seemed to employ the same strategy: first merging into a gigantic stitched form, then attempting to shatter the obstacle before them by brute force.

This afforded Wang Chen ample time to calmly place his dagger.

It was not until the enormous ice shield neared its breaking point.

“It’s done!” Wang Chen tore apart a magic scroll.

“Rock Guard (Silver Grade)!”

A solid wall of stone surged from beneath, lifting Wang Chen and the encasing ice shield, hoisting them from the mire’s grip.

At that very moment!

One Dark Guardian, who was hammering away at the ice shield close at hand, was also abruptly raised by the rising stone wall.

It was startled; the edge of the arched wall sent it stumbling, and it tumbled off the stone.

The other Dark Guardian, lurking in the mire, immediately sprang up, catching the fallen one and helping it land smoothly.

Seeing this, Wang Chen remarked,

“True companions indeed—looks like I’ve run into a monster couple!”

He tore another magic scroll:

“Spring Surge Guard (Silver Grade)!”

A tranquil wave of water enveloped Wang Chen!

Yet within, he felt no difficulty breathing.

This defensive water magic was somewhat less sturdy than ice or earth magics, but it boasted a crucial advantage: unobstructed vision.

When surrounded by ice shields or stone walls, Wang Chen gained protection but also faced danger—like a chick in its shell, vulnerable when the shell finally broke.

Now, however, he could advance or retreat at will, seizing precious initiative.

This allowed him to wait for—

The very moment he’d been anticipating.

Just then, the toppled Dark Guardian rallied, climbing from the mire.

The other realized that the stone wall before it could not be merged with its flesh to form a larger body.

At last!

Wang Chen finally had a chance to observe them clearly.

[Beast’s Eye!]

[Dark Guardian lv17]

[Dark Guardian lv16]

“These two are higher in level than the previous Dark Guardian!” Wang Chen thought grimly.

[Beast’s Eye] was limited in its insight regarding such special entities, showing only [Swamp Stealth] and [Flesh Bonding], without revealing the specific abilities gained from the latter.

Thus, Wang Chen scrutinized the two Dark Guardians, attempting to deduce their abilities based on the creatures whose limbs had been fused.

One Dark Guardian—

Its legs were those of some hoofed beast, appearing powerful, its torso covered in scales.

It seemed that when choosing the body to protect the Dark Heart, the Guardians favored scaled creatures, seeking greater defense.

Its arms were human!

Wang Chen guessed this Guardian might wield powers akin to those of professionals.

Yet fortune had not smiled upon it; only a single human head sat on its neck, likely belonging to the owner of those arms.

The other Dark Guardian—

It too bore hoofed legs.

If both legs were from the same animal, perhaps one condition for pairing among Guardians was sharing some body part from the same origin.

Its torso, again, matched the principle of defense.

Crucially, its head and arms were also human, suggesting it too might possess the abilities of a professional.

It must be remembered—

Humans relied on the powers of professionals to withstand the beasts.

If these creatures possessed some sinister, potent professional abilities—

Then Wang Chen would face a truly thorny predicament.

“If that’s so, I must kill swiftly.”

Wang Chen gritted his teeth!

He tore apart three magic scrolls at once.

“Lightning Spike (Silver Grade)!”

A brilliant lance of white light shot forth, forming a large, oval-shaped stream of radiance!

“Explosive Flame Shot (Silver Grade)!”

A molten blaze erupted, like a fire meteor, crashing toward the Dark Guardians!

“Rock Guard (Silver Grade)!”

Solid stone walls rose!

But this time behind the Dark Guardians.

As previously noted, such defensive magic was both a shield and a constraint.

Wang Chen cast it beside the Guardians to block their retreat, leaving them no escape, forcing them to endure two powerful attack spells head-on.

Stone walls surged behind their hooves; there was no way up, no way down. Stealth was now impossible.

The two attack spells struck suddenly!

The white lightning pierced the right arm of one Dark Guardian, drilling in like an electric auger, nearly tearing off one arm with its violent force.

This was the downside of using human limbs—

Though professional abilities were myriad, human flesh was far weaker than that of beasts.

The molten fire struck the other, exploding into a shower of flames, splattering the nearby Guardian as well.

“Hiss—ah—!”

Both Dark Guardians trapped and wounded howled in fury!

But, limited to human vocal cords, their cries lacked the ferocity of the previous Guardian Wang Chen had defeated.

Wang Chen’s strikes were sharp—

Yet the skills gained through flesh bonding manifested only now!

He saw—

One Guardian’s human head glowed with light; its body sprouted patches of ice crystals, scales formed from snow and frost.

The other, whose right arm was destroyed, bellowed as its body grew a black-brown, horn-like shell.

Wang Chen paused—

Then, with relief, he laughed.

These two Guardians were too cautious!

Even their human parts were chosen for defensive abilities!

“Good! Not afraid of your endurance, only afraid you’ll flee!”

Had these two been as alert as the previous beast, immediately going into stealth and dragging out the fight, the situation would have grown dire.

But perhaps, with a companion present—

They chose to face Wang Chen head-on.

“What does this teach us?”

“Improving oneself is essential; don’t rush to start a family. Be a Sigma man—live a carefree life!” Wang Chen drew a magic scroll. “Let me show you the power of gold-grade magic!”

“Flame Tornado (Gold Grade)!”

A magic circle, far larger than those of silver scrolls, unfolded beneath the Guardians’ feet, and the temperature soared!

Tongues of fire rose, swiftly swelling into a fierce firestorm—like a mad dragon dancing!

In an instant, both Dark Guardians were engulfed!

The one covered in frost—

Its defensive layer collapsed almost instantly.

The scorching flames licked its body, forcing it to roar in agony!