018 The Deadly Obstacle Race

Liang Yin launched a massive water sphere with perfect aim, striking the shadowy figure squarely in the stomach. With a miserable cry, the creature plummeted from the air. As its wounded body crashed to the ground, Only Then did a certain someone see its true form.

Even fallen, its red eyes blazed with savage light, twin razor-sharp fangs jutted from its enormous maw, and its powerful limbs supported a hulking frame. It was, in every respect, a ferocious, oversized wolf. The sight left her speechless—was the Creator truly so lazy, making even magical beasts hardly different from ordinary animals? Not even their pack behavior had changed.

"If you want a better look, why not come out from behind me? You're supposed to be part of the fighting force, after all." Liang Yin’s gentle, soft voice tugged her out of her thoughts. Embarrassed, she withdrew the hand clutching Liang Yin’s shoulder and timidly leaned out halfway.

"Squeak, squeak!" The sneaky little creature let out two disdainful chirps.

I’m just a fragile weakling who can’t dish out damage or take a hit—I need protection! she wailed inwardly. I’m still a living soul, not just an expendable snack for wolves! Yet, under the combined pressure from Liang Yin and the sneaky little creature, she reluctantly shuffled out from behind Liang Yin, becoming, however unwillingly, half a unit of fighting power.

"These are Silver-Helmed Wolves. They're highly aggressive, travel in packs, and their thick pelts absorb most attacks. Their weakness is the belly," Liang Yin explained. "When they charge, don’t panic. Aim for the stomach."

"You’re sure?" she retreated a step. "My water sphere probably hurts them less than a gentle poke!"

As she spoke, two more Silver-Helmed Wolves leapt forward, doubling the threat.

Liang Yin fired off several swift water spheres, but the wolves that had witnessed her attacks before dodged with ease, charging forward with jaws agape.

On the other side, her own water sphere struck home—but it was as ineffectual as scratching an itch. The wolf was utterly unfazed, springing at her.

Wham! Liang Yin conjured a stream of water to trip the wolf, and with a moment’s hesitation, she blasted its soft underbelly with an enraged water sphere. The wolf howled and collapsed, out of the fight.

"Squeak, squeak!" The sneaky little creature was suddenly heroic in crisis, using its small body and excellent jumping skill to leap onto the wolf’s face, clinging to its fur and covering its eyes. Inspired by the creature’s courage, she brandished her largely useless magic staff and laid into the wolf’s belly with all her might.

The Silver-Helmed Wolf groaned and fell—whether from pain or suffocation, it was hard to say.

The two companions and their pet regrouped, safe for now. Liang Yin hurriedly asked, "Where are your poisons, purges, explosive stones, shattering stones, and all those things? Take them out!"

She was even more frantic. "If I had any, I’d have used them already! Last time you and Erica fought, I threw in everything I had!"

"Well, that’s that, then." Liang Yin gazed up at the sky.

"Squeak?" The sneaky little creature looked up as well.

"What, is there a God up there?" she asked, playing along.

Above, countless shadows silently overlapped. Agile and unscathed, these wolves had just analyzed every defensive move their opponents could muster. Their thoughts were clear, their teamwork seamless—they struck without warning.

Heavens! The wolves are falling from the sky!

Clutching her head, she squatted on the ground, overcome with a wave of despair at the thought that her last, cowardly words might be her epitaph.

Boom! A tremendous crash split the air. She jolted upright and opened her eyes—had Liang Yin self-destructed? There’d been an explosion, and now the wolves were lost in a swirling cloud of smoke. A damp, violent wind nearly lifted the sneaky little creature off the ground; she snatched it up and held it tightly, not daring to let go.

After a long while, the smoke and wind faded. She looked around; the Silver-Helmed Wolves ready to attack moments ago now lay sprawled, red Xs dancing in their eyes. Liang Yin was facedown at the center of the storm.

"Liang Yin!" She rushed over, lifting her up and checking her breath. "Thank goodness, she’s still alive!" Relief flooded her.

"As if I could die so easily," Liang Yin finally managed, pale and drenched in cold sweat, a trickle of blood at her lips. "Thanks to this crisis, I’m one step closer to becoming a high mage."

"That’s wonderful," she replied, grinning foolishly.

"Don’t celebrate too soon. I have bad news," Liang Yin panted. "My last attack, Tide’s Wrath, used up every bit of my magic—and I only pulled it off by overloading the power of the Eternal Staff."

"So…?" Her jaw dropped in disbelief.

"So, from this moment until I recover, our lives—all three of us—are in your hands, only you can protect us now," Liang Yin said weakly.

"This… this isn’t realistic!" If this were an anime, she’d be weeping dramatically.

Clasping her hand, Liang Yin forced a smile. "Please, I want to live to reach Icacia."

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" The sneaky little creature raised a paw, promising to lead the way.

"All right, we’ll make it together!" she declared, gritting her teeth and stacking their three hands together. "We will!"

"Anyone who doesn’t want to become roasted meat, get lost!" she shouted at any opportunistic magical beasts lurking nearby. She stowed away the Eternal Staff, not daring even to breathe loudly, only trudging forward with the unconscious Liang Yin on her back.

Fire spells still held some sway over the magical beasts of these outer woods. With her illusory magic and the Eternal Staff’s formidable capabilities, she conjured flames that looked capable of burning the whole forest, driving many beasts away. She herself dared not show fatigue or pause to rest, but wave after wave of exertion had nearly depleted her. She was running on fumes.

"Squeak, we need somewhere to spend the night. I can’t go on," she muttered, ignoring the creature’s protests and giving it an especially sneaky nickname.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!" The little creature protested again.

"Calm down, calm down," she compromised. "How about this: find us the nearest safe place to stay, and I’ll give you a new name right away. Deal?"

"Squeak…" Its eyes rolled as it considered the offer. It seemed a good bargain—nothing to lose—so it happily agreed to play guide.

"Small brains, slow thinking," she whispered, following it. "I wonder when Liang Yin will recover. As a fragile human, I really need a bodyguard as sturdy as a pillar of heaven."

A distant roar echoed through the woods. Her head drooped in resignation—another beast. With so much food in this forest, why did they insist on eating humans? Couldn’t they snack on smaller magical beasts, or even some plants?

This time, the creature seemed desperately hungry, forgoing the usual circling and attacking directly.

"Tibbers?!" she gasped, dumbstruck at the sight of the burning bear straight out of a video game—a companion and helper to Annie from League of Legends, famous for crushing foes by falling from the sky. The bear looked much like an ordinary brown bear, but flames leapt across its body, charring the ground and filling the air with the scent of scorched or cooked meat.

Well, since you’re made of fire, don’t blame me for bullying you with water magic! She wickedly imagined the bear fleeing in terror as she gathered water magic with the Eternal Staff. Suddenly, lightning struck, and the small water sphere in her hand swelled, rolling and roaring with power, ready to extinguish the bear’s flames and turn it into a shining, ice-cold popsicle.

"If you don’t want to become a popsicle, get lost while you still can!" she taunted.

The bear hesitated, almost turning away, but suddenly seemed to realize something—its roars grew louder and it began pawing the ground like a racecar revving to life.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" The little creature squealed in panic and bolted.

"Hey, you coward, where are you running?" She glanced at her hand—wait, when did her water sphere get so tiny?!

Her energy had run dry, betraying her at the worst moment. Now the water sphere in her hand was nothing more than a blue ping-pong ball.

"Run! Don’t look back!" she shrieked, sprinting as fast as she could.

"Roar!" The flaming bear, undaunted, thundered after them.

The two companions, their pet, and the bear launched into a wild obstacle race through the forest. Leading was the nimble little creature—small and aerodynamic, familiar with the terrain, with a head start to boot. The second-place competitor carried another person, but in a race like this, extra weight didn’t matter. Though she looked exhausted, her pace only quickened, with a real chance of taking first. But the real threat was the third contestant: massive, thundering, and almost impossible to overtake if it caught up.

You idiot commentator! she protested silently. If it catches me, it won’t be a matter of being overtaken—it’ll eat me! Heartless referee, I’m suing you!

Ahem, no threatening the judge!

"Squeak, turn!" she called, spotting a fork ahead. She and the creature each veered off at top speed.

"Howl!" The bear, not as clever as the wolves, hesitated, swaying between them in confusion. Unable to decide, it slammed headlong into a tree.

The world spun, and the unlucky bear collapsed, thoroughly dazed.

So, third contestant, any final words on your defeat?

Woooo… roar, roar, roar! (Who put a sharp turn on a straightaway? That’s cheating! Wait, when did I sign up for this race?)

Well, with that, our third contestant’s remarks conclude. The championship doesn’t matter. Dear viewers, see you next time!

Thunderous applause.

Stardust Chronicle 018_018: Deadly Obstacle Race—update complete!