Chapter 629 Armored Elephant

A few days had passed since Xia Nan's group left the valley.

They were not far from their final destination, Bloodcast Keep, and occasionally found traces of intelligent life in the dense woods and hills along the way.

Following the Barbarian Forgan's advice, apart from traveling and daily maintenance training, Xia Nan had devoted much of his energy over the past few days to developing his own combat technique.

As for the results he had achieved so far—

He could only say it was nowhere near as simple as Forgan had made it sound. It was far harder than he had imagined.

After all, he was not the kind of peerless genius who could inexplicably comprehend a top-tier combat technique just by watching beasts hunt or observing natural phenomena like swaying branches and spreading ripples.

The rational mindset cultivated in his previous life instinctively drove him to approach combat technique development in a more systematic, relatively scientific manner.

First and foremost, the most crucial step was determining a direction.

Regarding the quality and grade of a self-developed combat technique, Xia Nan had always been self-aware. He certainly did not expect to invent anything on the level of [Gravity Control] or [Ember Echoes].

Striving for that tier was completely unrealistic.

In his view, if the actual quality of his technique could reach the level of [Fang Hunt], that would be the absolute best-case scenario.

In reality, as long as it could meet two or three of his prerequisites and reach the quality of [Spinning Slash], he would be more than satisfied.

Only after establishing that baseline could he proceed to the type of combat technique to develop.

The constraint here was that it could not overlap with the functional combat techniques he already possessed.

Damage-augmenting types like [Heavy Tide] and [Gravity Etching] were actually fine. Even if he developed another similar technique, he could stack their usage without it going to waste.

What he truly needed to avoid was a movement-type combat technique like [Fang Hunt], which already held an absolutely core position in his combat system.

If his final creation turned out to be the same type, regardless of whether the two conflicted, it would severely impact his already established fighting style and waste his time and effort.

Right now, Xia Nan's idea for this self-developed combat technique was a defensive or offensive type.

The former could synergize with his Snake-Scale Arm Shield, further enhancing his comprehensive combat capabilities and increasing his margin for error.

The latter would diversify his offensive methods, giving him an additional option besides [Spinning Slash] in standard combat.

Additionally, damage-augmenting and status-enhancing combat techniques were also within his scope of consideration.

As far as planning this self-developed combat technique went, Xia Nan's preparations were exceptionally thorough.

But upon reaching the practical phase, he was met with endless difficulties.

To put it bluntly, he did not even have the faintest clue how to begin.

How exactly were combat techniques formed?

If it was just a simple, fixed routine of sword swings, why would it be integrated into a proficiency system? And why would reaching Mastery inexplicably reward the user with physical attribute boosts or even Feats?

To develop a combat technique, did he need to persistently practice a set of fixed movements, or did he need a mysterious, elusive moment of epiphany to turn inspiration into reality?

While Xia Nan's strength far exceeded that of Class Holders of the same Class Level, he had been in this world for less than two years. His foundation was still somewhat lacking. Without sufficient training experience with various combat techniques, he naturally lacked an understanding of their universal traits.

Fortunately, he was traveling alongside a Transcendent Tier powerhouse whose Class Level bordered the Legendary rank, an extraordinary existence with whom he shared a master-and-apprentice relationship.

Admittedly, for fear of negatively impacting Xia Nan's established combat style and habits, Forgan refrained from giving any rigid, practical guidance.

However, whenever Xia Nan encountered problems during training and technique development, Forgan always provided complete and clear answers.

Compared to his usual solitary training, Xia Nan had gained an immense amount over these past few days.

"You're too anxious. Relax, take it slow," Forgan said, sitting by the campfire and gazing across the clearing at Xia Nan, who had just finished his training.

From Forgan's perspective, Xia Nan's pursuit of "improvement" was entirely too urgent.

Unlike his past self, who had thirsted for revenge, Forgan knew from their time together that this young Adventurer, not even twenty years old, lacked any obsessive goal to strive for.

Simply put, he lacked drive.

If an ordinary Adventurer had amassed such a foundation at his age, they would have long since grown so arrogant they would not know their place in the world. They would walk with their noses to the sky and become regulars at every major tavern and casino.

They would never pour the vast majority of their free time into dull, monotonous training like he did.

Forgan did not deny that Xia Nan's absurdly fast rate of improvement was largely due to this extraordinary self-discipline.

But sometimes, especially when creating a combat technique required inspiration and creativity, it was better to properly slow down. Setting aside a few days to completely forget about training and quests, and simply doing what one loved, might actually provide the needed epiphany.

Xia Nan, of course, understood exactly what Forgan meant.

But if he truly wanted to relax completely and pursue his so-called fetish—uh, hobbies—

It might not be very convenient with the Barbarian around.

Regardless, Forgan made a valid point.

They were only a few days away from Bloodcast Keep. Even without hunting goblins, there was no harm in slightly easing up on his tight training schedule.

At this thought, Xia Nan looked down at the Winter Wolf, Fanny. She was wagging her tail furiously and running in circles around him, occasionally nipping at his trouser leg and dropping into a play bow to invite him to join her.

An idea stirred in his mind.

Based on his experiences in the [Dream Weaving Corridor] dreamscape, the origin of [Fang Hunt] came directly from a certain half-blood Barbarian's observation of the uniquely colored Winter Wolf, Kalosh.

He might not be able to replicate that legendary experience, but spending more time with Fanny, who was also a Winter Wolf, might just yield some results.

Considering the sun had not fully set and their travel for the day was over, he accepted Fanny's enthusiastic invitation.

After getting the Barbarian Forgan's nod of approval, he left the camp with the Winter Wolf.

Although she was highly intelligent and growing rapidly, it had been less than two years since her reincarnation from a wolf spirit.

Perhaps out of the natural instincts of a Winter Wolf, she usually acted aloof and proud.

But when she was around someone close to her, Fanny's mannerisms and behavior reverted to what one would expect for her age.

Seeing Xia Nan accept her request, she let out an excited whimper, her tail wagging so hard it looked ready to launch her into the sky.

Once they left the camp, she darted straight to the front.

She would sprint far ahead, realize Xia Nan had not kept up, and excitedly run all the way back to rub against him twice before dashing off again.

She repeated this cycle tirelessly, reveling in the game.

Xia Nan, with his outstanding Perception, could acutely feel the Winter Wolf's affection for him and naturally harbored no negative thoughts or emotions.

He simply accommodated her, quickening his pace and reaching out to rub her soft, cool, furry head whenever she ran back to him.

This was not like playing fetch or walking a dog on a leash in his past life.

He called it taking her out to play, but when the world in question was a fantasy continent filled with supernatural powers, and the location was a dense woodland teeming with beasts and monsters, things were different. When the two playmates consisted of a highly skilled veteran Adventurer and a monster Winter Wolf reincarnated from a spirit, their version of "play" was naturally far more hardcore—and much more thrilling for both of them.

—Xia Nan intended to take Fanny hunting.

He had no specific target in mind.

Monsters with high Challenge Ratings needed to fall within a strength range he could safely handle, while harmless, ordinary beasts were perfectly fine too.

The main point was simply to enjoy the process of hunting and fighting alongside Fanny.

"Squeal—"

The animal's cry stopped abruptly.

An unlucky wild hare, foraging in the bushes, had been spotted by the passing Winter Wolf.

Before it could even react and flee, a flash of icy light tore through the air, and sharp fangs snapped its neck.

"Great job, Little Snowflake!" Having learned Fanny's nickname from Forgan, Xia Nan was generous with his praise. He encouraged the little wolf as she trotted over to claim her credit, vigorously rubbing her head. Fanny narrowed her eyes in pure comfort, her swaying tail kicking up a cloud of dust behind her.

He tied the hunted wild hare to his waist and considered pressing a bit further ahead with her to see if they could find anything else.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, Xia Nan paused, his gaze instinctively shifting to the northeast.

Fanny's reaction trailed half a beat behind. Her pointed ears snapped upright, and her relaxed body instantly tensed as her wolfish eyes locked onto the exact same direction.

Only then did the distant roar of a monster and the furious shouts of intelligent beings finally drift through the air from the depths of the northeastern woods.

A thick, pungent stench of blood saturated the air.

By the time Xia Nan and Fanny rushed over, the battle had already entered its final throes.

Massive oak trees, thick enough to require two people to embrace, had been snapped in half by brute force, exposing their splintered fibers. The ground was littered with craters of varying sizes, some pooling with crimson blood that had not yet seeped into the soil.

A fully armed Adventurer Squad was on the brink of total annihilation.

A Swordsman clad in Plate-Chain Composite Armor lay dead, half his body slumped in a crater. The thickest, most defensive metal plate over his chest was completely warped and caved in, his fractured ribs piercing through his skin.

The Rogue in light leather armor had suffered a far more gruesome fate. His left thigh was completely snapped, exposing pale, jagged bone, and his head had been thoroughly crushed. Splashes of blood stained the earth around his corpse.

A pale-green-skinned half-orc Adventurer had survived slightly longer, relying on the tenacious vitality of his race. Even with his spine trampled to pieces and his organs reduced to mush, he had still been wailing and clawing at the dirt, desperately trying to crawl away. He only breathed his last just as Xia Nan arrived.

Of the four-person Adventurer Squad, the only survivor was their archer.

Unlike the traditional image of a lithe and agile ranger, this archer possessed the stocky, muscular build of a frontline Warrior. His bald head was smeared with blood, and his bulging muscles stretched his clothes taut.

He was severely injured as well. A Wooden Longbow lay on the ground beside him as he leaned against a crooked pine tree. His chest was slightly sunken in, his breaths short and ragged, as if he might expire at any second.

Xia Nan had not witnessed the entire battle, but with his keen Perception, he could roughly gauge the squad's strength through the Fine quality of their gear, the residual combat traces on the ground, and the faint aura emanating from the sole survivor.

Their average Class Level was probably around Level 4?

Meanwhile, the culprit responsible for pushing this squad of Class Holders—a team that would be considered "veterans" in almost any context—to the brink of annihilation stood in the very center of the clearing.

—A grayish-brown giant elephant with a shoulder height of nearly five meters, draped in thick, layered, wrinkle-like hide!

From a distance, it looked like a massive boulder resting on the ground.

The overlapping, thick plates of hide wrapped around its body like a natural suit of armor.

Its coarse surface and four pillar-like, muscular legs effortlessly supported the tremendous weight above.

It possessed no tusks; instead, the end of its trunk formed a hardened, shovel-like structure with sharp, tough edges.

Xia Nan had never seen such a monster with his own eyes in the real world.

Yet, he did not find it unfamiliar in the slightest.

The colossal elephantine body, the layered carapace, the bizarre, shovel-like trunk—

Its highly recognizable appearance allowed him to identify the behemoth at a single glance, thanks to his dedicated studies of the Monster Compendium:

A Level 5 Challenge Rating, a herbivorous monster native to the hills and woodlands of the northeastern continent—the Armored Elephant!

He found it rather strange.

According to the information he had memorized from the Monster Compendium, despite its massive size and combat-ready appearance, this creature was actually incredibly docile.

Even if attacked by foolish predators, it usually only relied on its enormous body and thick carapace to passively defend and drive them away. It rarely initiated an attack.

And based on his observations, as long as even one member of this Level 4 Adventurer Squad had kept their wits, they would never have chosen the Armored Elephant as their prey. Its Challenge Rating was higher than the squad's average strength, making the fight far too risky.

Coupled with the fact that Armored Elephant loot held little economic value, there was absolutely no reason for the two parties to clash.

Yet, looking at the scene before him—

"HRRROOONK!"

Its eyes were a bloodshot crimson.

The deafening trumpet violently snapped Xia Nan out of his thoughts.