Chapter 46: The Azure Dragon’s Challenge

“Alas, what a pity. If only our levels had been higher then, would we have soared straight to level 200 and been able to capture the Azure Dragon immediately?”

On the afternoon of the fifth day, Kabasiji mused aloud to his two companions, his hands still busy dispatching monsters.

“I just wonder, in that scenario, would it have come down to who had the fastest hands? Whoever snatched the Azure Dragon’s item first would be the one to capture it.

After all, in a party, the final blow doesn’t matter. As long as the monster is defeated while grouped, even if one is kicked from the party, they still retain the right to capture the Azure Dragon.”

“No, you’re overthinking it.

Even if we had defeated the Azure Dragon and leveled up to 200, if none of us were already at level 200 beforehand, there still wouldn’t have been an Azure Dragon available for capture.”

Xue Hu conveyed, ‘speaking’ through a small wooden board.

“Battle pets are considered monster drop items.

If the corresponding conditions aren’t met before the monster is killed, the battle pet simply won’t drop.

The system determines eligibility at the moment just before the monster’s demise.”

“Ah, so that’s how it is.

Well, then there’s nothing to regret. Let’s just keep grinding monsters!”

Kabasiji remarked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“I was originally hoping we could tackle the Azure Dragon again.

After defeating it, we’d surely hit level 200, allowing us to capture it directly.”

“Haha, Kabasiji, my friend, there’s no need to rush.

We’re certainly going to challenge the Azure Dragon again, but definitely not right now.”

Hank clapped Kabasiji on the shoulder, his voice booming with laughter as he spoke.

“As you both witnessed earlier, without specific counter-items, defeating the Azure Dragon is incredibly difficult.

That fellow must have exhausted all his specialized gear, so he’s no longer a concern.

I simply don’t believe he could re-equip himself so thoroughly in such a short time.”

“By the way, I think I heard you call out the opponent’s name just now.

Was that fellow’s name?

He never spoke a word to us, so how did you know his name?”

Kabasiji pivoted, posing this new question.

“Don’t tell me you know him!

That kind of ‘we-know-each-other’ trope is enough with just one instance; we don’t need any more!”

“Ah, well, that… I just happened to run into him one day and overheard it.

It’s nothing important, and in any case, he shouldn’t be able to interfere with our mission now.”

Hank chuckled, skillfully sidestepping the topic before changing the subject.

“The immediate priority is to level up quickly.

While we don’t possess many special items, with the three of us coordinating, defeating the Azure Dragon shouldn’t prove too difficult.”

“Oh, I see.

Then let’s get to leveling up!”

Kabasiji and Xue Hu both discerned that Hank was concealing something.

However, among these individuals, who didn’t harbor a few secrets of their own?

Pursuing the matter further would likely be more trouble than it was worth.

For now, their collective strength was still needed to overcome the Azure Dragon; it wasn’t yet time to reveal their true intentions.

Thus, a tacit understanding passed between the three.

They ceased discussing anything unrelated to leveling up.

Instead, they focused wholeheartedly on grinding monsters.

They merely awaited the white light to flash ten more times, signaling their readiness for a decisive battle against the Azure Dragon!

By the evening of the sixth day, Hank and Kabasiji had long since reached level 200.

The two of them diligently set to work, one at the blacksmith’s forge, the other in the mines.

Xue Hu, however, was still just shy of level 200.

It was too late to go fishing or cooking now; the dishes she could make were too low-level to offer significant benefits.

Consequently, Xue Hu ventured alone into the enchanted forest, tasked with collecting rare items.

There, she would both grind monsters to reach level 200 and search for specific items that could counter the Azure Dragon.

Curiously, it was unclear whether it was expected or astonishing, the Shamatte-styled individual, Yi Ye Zhixia, had neither been reported dead by the system nor reappeared within the trio’s sight.

Indeed, the preceding four days had unfolded similarly, with no one paying much mind to the reclusive figure.

Yet, his solo battle against the Azure Dragon on the fifth day had, inevitably, left an unresolved concern in everyone’s minds.

While Yi Ye Zhixia had expended considerable resources in that fight, leaving him seemingly incapable of further combat, what if?

What if a miracle occurred? Who could possibly contend with that?

Xue Hu merely entertained the thought; actually searching for Yi Ye Zhixia was an impossibility.

The enchanted forest was vast, replete with countless hiding spots, making it futile to seek out someone who might be deliberately evading discovery.

However, given Yi Ye Zhixia’s ability to procure so many extraordinary items, he must have uncovered some truly unique location.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to possess so many things simultaneously; the probability of collecting them all simply by slaying monsters along the way was far too low!

In truth, whether or not Xue Hu reached level 200 held little importance for her.

After all, her objective wasn’t to capture the Azure Dragon herself; she would achieve victory as long as someone in her party successfully captured it.

Nevertheless, appearances had to be maintained.

Having already reached level 199, joining them to capture the Azure Dragon without first ascending to level 200 would undoubtedly arouse suspicion from others.

Within the forest, Xue Hu diligently battled monsters, all the while pondering how she could best aid her companions in defeating the Azure Dragon during tomorrow’s daytime decisive battle.

Crucially, they could not afford to delay; once night fell and the ‘Forest’s Night’ descended, the Azure Dragon’s combat prowess would become incomparable.