Fatal Shot
chapter-71

"Mutant Giant Python (Level 50 Commander, Solo)! Species code: JMS-30987. HP: 95,000. Skills: None. Danger Level: High!"

The NPC Scout announced the stats of the Giant Python on the equipment as fast as he could.

There was no mistake. It was a Commander monster, but it was actually a solo-type monster.

In War, most Commander-grade monsters had a lot of minions, which was where the word "Commander" came from. However, this was not absolute. In truth, there were also monsters that were used to living and acting alone. These monsters were generally stronger than normal Elite monsters, and they did not have minions hanging around to protect them. Like this monster.

In the system categorization, this monster would be marked with a "Solo" symbol, which meant that players did not need to worry that a group of kamikaze minions would suddenly appear from their flanks in the midst of the battle. Since there were no minions, these types of monsters were generally weaker than true Commander monsters. Of course, in terms of individual strength, these types of Commander monsters were anything but weak.

This Giant Python was a Level-50 mutant. Although it did not become substantially stronger, like humanoid NPCs when they reached Level 50, it was definitely still a lot stronger than monsters in the Level-40 range. Regardless, it was probably not difficult to deal with.

The ship's hired crew members reacted quickly. Five of the NPCs raised their submachine guns at the same time and started shooting at the exposed head of the Giant Python. However, the bullet damage from submachine guns was on the weaker side. As the bullets flew at the body of the Giant Python, several of them actually bounced off its mud-covered scales, with the damage dealt being only two-digit amounts. Its defense was not broken.

However, the Giant Python was infuriated by this, and it slithered its over ten-meter-long body toward them. As it moved, vegetation that was around the height of an average human was pressed flat against the ground.

"Block it!" With the two swords clutched in his hands, Neutron Star cast Thunder Leap Slash against the Giant Python. After all, he could not allow that bastard to get to the group, as that could endanger the lives of the two NPCs who were their mission.

Bang!

The impact produced by the Level-30 skill of Light Armor Warriors, Thunder Leap Slash, sent the mud and dried leaves beneath Neutron Star's feet flying. At the same time, he flew toward the Giant Python with lightning speed and dealt a normal attack.

−479

A normal attack that would have dealt at least a thousand damage on a pirate could not even deal a few hundred damage on the body of the Giant Python. It really is a Commander-grade monster.

Moreover, after enduring the pain, the Giant Python counterattacked immediately.

Boom!

The giant snake raised its head high into the air before slamming it downward with great strength. Neutron Star retreated a few steps as if his body had been hit with a giant hammer.

−3010

3,000 damage actually appeared above Neutron Star's head. That hit from the Commander-grade Giant Python took out almost half of his total HP of around 7,000 straight away.

What crazy high damage! Neutron Star can't take it!

Gamers knew that the Tank character was the key to beating a boss in a game. As long as the Tank could withstand the damage, then no matter how strong the boss was, it could be defeated in the end. But the damage done by the Giant Python was far too high. With Neutron Star's attack-oriented equipment, there was no way he could withstand it.

However, he had never been the Tank of the team; the real person who absorbed damage on the team had already raised an alloy shield and rushed toward the monster, coincidentally blocking the giant snake's next headbutt.

Big Pineapple's body had already received several buffs from White Crescent. His defense and HP had already improved quite significantly.

−947

One could not help but lament just how shocking Big Pineapple's defense was. He was able to reduce the damage that had taken out almost half of Neutron Star's HP to below 1,000—not even one-tenth of his total HP.

Moreover, his positioning was also exquisite. The giant snake's large body was now stuck between two huge trees, and it could not use its body to wrap around him.

"Attack!"

Without needing any instructions, everyone on the scene knew that now was the time to throw everything they had at the monster. Especially since they already knew, based on the information provided by the Scout, that the Giant Python was probably a Commander monster that did not have energy attacks.

Although its physical strength seemed great and its attack damage was high, it did not have long-range attacks, so it posed no threat to Manipulators and Snipers standing on the backline.

The staff in Red Queen's hand started to be surrounded by flames. From its top, five fireballs appeared consecutively, and every one of them struck the Giant Python's body, burning the area hit and charring it into black charcoal, inflicting over 1,000 Normal damage and burning damage over time.

The basic skill of Manipulators could not only be released through normal means, but they could also be released after Energy Condensation, which strengthened the skill. For example, after spending some time to guide the Fire Manipulator skill Fireball, it could be morphed into high-damage skills like Giant Fireball or Chain Fireball, which consecutively spewed fireballs. The skill that Red Queen was currently using was the latter.

On the other hand, Glazed Ice raised her hands and created a ring of ice beneath the Giant Python. The Level-25 skill of Water Manipulators, Ice Ring, apart from dealing decent damage, could also greatly reduce attack and movement speed.

As for Neutron Star, whose HP was replenished by White Crescent, he rushed forward while holding two alloy swords and slashed vertically on the snake's side.

However, the Giant Python was no idiot. After it was hit by the highest damage—which was around 5,000 HP dealt by Red Queen—and felt all that pain, it immediately gave up on attacking Big Pineapple. It turned around and stared straight in the direction of Red Queen in anger with its yellowish-orange eyes glowing like lightbulbs.

Using common gaming terms, this was because the damage output was so overpowered that the "aggro shifted."

Under such circumstances, what was required was a Tank with a taunting skill to regain the aggro. However, War did not have any powerful taunting effects set up. But there was a skill with a similar effect.

The shield in Big Pineapple's hands was raised and swung violently at the Python's head.

Shield Bash. Level-15 Heavy Armor Warrior Skill. Deals an extremely painful hit on the monster. The pain effect is non-existent against players, but hitting certain correct body parts will cause a short stun.

As one of the trademark skills of Heavy Armor Warriors, Shield Bash could be regarded as a godly skill in both PK and PvE situations. Although it did not have the effect of a taunting skill, most monsters that were hurt by it would attack the Heavy Armor Warrior who had dealt the blow in a frenzy, and they would no longer change their target to anyone else. The ability to attract aggro was definitely top-class.

As expected, after getting hit by Big Pineapple's Shield Bash, the Giant Python turned its gigantic head back around and hissed in anger with its red tongue before exerting even more strength and power than before, aiming to tackle Big Pineapple.

"F*ck!" Big Pineapple exclaimed and hastily straightened his shield.

At the same time, with both his hands gripped tightly behind the shield, he cast the Level-40 Heavy Armor Warrior skill, Immovable Mountain.

Bang!

−1525

Over 5,000 damage appeared above Big Pineapple's head. However, even though he had received such a heavy blow, both his legs sank into the mud covered with rot and dry leaves. He did not retreat even a little bit. Instead, he stood firmly in place.

Immovable Mountain. Level-40 ultimate skill of Heavy Armor Warriors. For a period of time, defense increases greatly, movement speed decreases by a certain amount. At the same time, it greatly reduces the force of impact felt by the body.

This Level-40 Heavy Armor Warrior skill could also be called a godly skill. When familiarity of the skill reached a certain level, it was even possible for Heavy Armor Warriors to hold off the impact of giant monsters weighing over a dozen tons and not be sent flying.

As its rage-fueled tackle failed to send its prey flying as per its expectation, the Giant Python became even more erratic. It moved its body, thick as a bucket, and tried to wrap around him. But in this case, it was difficult for its over-ten-meter long body to move, since two trees on two sides blocked its path. It could not get around the 1.8-meter alloy shield to wrap up Big Pineapple.

Big Pineapple was not tall, but he purposefully used an extremely large shield. This made it so that his entire body was behind the shield, and it was impossible for the Python to directly attack him. Moreover, the giant shield also made it impossible for the Giant Python—a beast that could devour lifeforms several times its size because it could open its mouth to over 150 degrees—to put the shield directly into its mouth.

As the Giant Python attacked Big Pineapple, the attacks of the others behind it did not stop even for a second. The five NPC crew members' submachine guns had already cleared their first magazines. They quickly reloaded with new magazines that they carried on their bodies and continued the attack.

Red Queen did not use any other skills. She only continued to fire off consecutive Chain Fireballs. In truth, when the familiarity level of a basic skill reached a very high level, the damage per second was not that much inferior to an ultimate skill.

Black Panther did not move. He raised his sniper rifle and waited calmly beside the two NPCs. Big Pineapple, who was initially set to follow the two NPC scientists, had already gone to face the monster, so he temporarily took over the role.

Bang!

Feng Luo held his M110 up. He had been aiming, but now, he finally grasped the opportunity when the Giant Python raised its head and opened its mouth to fire a double armor-piercing round into its mouth that emanated an acrid smell.

−7899!

Red damage!