Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 878: Chapter 877: Unimaginable Combat Style!

As a top player, Black Cat was well aware of the stiff time after releasing each weapon skill. She used the scimitar because it had the shortest cooldown, while the greatsword had the longest, a whole three seconds. Don’t underestimate these three seconds; in that time, a player is completely defenseless, and if caught by another creature, it’s essentially a death sentence.

However, facing the attack from a Withered Elite, Fang Zheng made a move that Black Cat hadn’t expected.

He simply let go of his weapon and jumped backward, successfully dodging the Withered Elite’s attack!

”Is that even possible?!”

Seeing this, Black Cat was utterly stunned.

Full immersion games are a bit different from regular online games. Players can throw away their held weapons, but almost no one does so. As previously mentioned, in this game, players don’t have classes. They gain and utilize skills by increasing their weapon proficiency level. If they discard their weapon, it means they can’t attack enemies or use various skills.

Conversely, putting away a weapon significantly increases a player’s speed, since weapons do affect a player’s movement speed. Weapons like the greatsword slow a player down compared to those wielding a straight sword, dagger, or scimitar.

But even so, Black Cat hadn’t expected anyone to use this method to evade an attack, especially against a silver elite!

Wasn’t he afraid of something going wrong?

”Whoa!!!”

The Withered Elite’s attack missed, and as it lifted its hand again, Black Cat saw Fang Zheng suddenly step forward, retrieve the greatsword embedded in the ground, and slash forcefully at the Withered Elite!

”Bam!!”

With this strike, the Withered Elite’s body momentarily stiffened, and a sound akin to glass shattering echoed. Simultaneously, a purple, partially shattered shield icon appeared over its body.

The defense was broken!

The next moment, the Withered Elite’s entire body stuttered and stopped moving as if it had run out of energy. Then Fang Zheng raised his sword again and struck down on the Withered Elite.

Meanwhile, Restia and Ester also sprang into action!

Acting as Fang Zheng’s weapons, their coordination was seamless. The longsword in Ester’s hand and the rapier in Restia’s simultaneously began to shine, striking the Withered Elite’s body together with Fang Zheng’s greatsword!

”Swoosh———!!”

Since a creature’s defenses drop to their lowest after a shield break, players can deal maximum damage. With Fang Zheng, Ester, and Restia working together, they immediately reduced the Withered Elite’s health by a fifth. After landing the strike, they didn’t attack again but quickly retreated.

”Why?”

At this moment, Black Cat suddenly heard a voice beside her. She turned to see that Asuna had somehow appeared by her side, watching the battle in confusion.

”Why what?”

If it were the real world, Black Cat might not acknowledge Asuna at all, as she was an otaku who hated interacting with others. But this was a game, Black Cat’s domain, and here she naturally carried herself with more confidence.

”Why didn’t they continue attacking?”

Asuna watched Fang Zheng and the others in confusion. She had seen clearly that the combined attack just now had knocked off a fifth of the Withered Elite’s health. Logically, another strike could deal more damage, and the Withered Elite’s stiff time wasn’t over. Why were they in such a hurry to retreat?

But the next moment, Asuna understood without needing Black Cat to answer.

”Swoosh!!!”

Just as Fang Zheng and the other two retreated, the ground around the Withered Elite suddenly cracked open, with several roots shooting out like whips lashing outward!

”The Withered Elite actually has such a skill?”

Both Asuna and Black Cat were astonished. They hadn’t fought a Withered Elite before but were familiar with the Withered Treants’ skills. The Treants had a very monotonous attack pattern: swinging the left hand, then the right, followed by a double-fisted ground smash. They hadn’t expected the Withered Elite to have such a skill!

While they didn’t know the attack’s intensity, seeing those roots whip out like whips, it was clear that getting caught inside could mean a certain GAME OVER!

”—————!!”

At this moment, the Withered Elite’s stiff time ended. It let out a roar, clenched its fists, and raised them high to smash down on Fang Zheng and his team.

”Not good!!”

Seeing this, both Black Cat and Asuna felt their hearts skip a beat. They hadn’t encountered the root attack, but the Treants’ ground smash was something they knew well. It was an area attack impacting all players within a few meters ahead, unavoidable, with very high damage!

And now, Fang Zheng and the other two were within the attack range. This strike would surely hit all three!

But the next moment, Fang Zheng made an unexpected move.

Just as the Withered Elite was about to smash down, Fang Zheng’s greatsword gleamed, and he threw it forward, piercing the Withered Elite and interrupting its action again. Simultaneously, he leaped forward, landing in front of the Withered Elite.

He grabbed the greatsword and struck down forcefully at the Withered Elite again!

”Crack!!”

The shattering sound echoed as the Withered Elite’s shield broke once more!

The fluid series of combat maneuvers left Asuna, Black Cat, and the others utterly speechless. Moments later, Aoba trembled as she expressed admiration.

”Amazing... Mr. Fang Zheng...”

”Hmph...”

Black Cat evidently agreed with Aoba’s opinion, but as an eccentric otaku, her reaction wasn’t as straightforward. She raised a hand to cover part of her face in a mysterious pose, speaking dramatically.

”I always knew he wasn’t ordinary. His soul indeed possesses extraordinary strength! It seems I was meant to witness this twist in our fate!”

Despite Black Cat’s typical odd behavior, her trembling voice betrayed her lack of composure.

As for Asuna, she was utterly astounded.

Though she had never teamed up with others, she had watched many players’ battles. Most were awkward, occasionally even ”shameful.” It’s only natural; they weren’t making movies or going for any artistic effect. Everyone was fighting for their lives.

In the struggle to survive, nobody cared if they dodged a creature’s attack with a clumsy roll or a backflip.

However, the current display by this man entranced Asuna, making it impossible to look away. His combat felt like watching a blockbuster film, with Fang Zheng as the lead role, gracefully dispatching enemies...

”Roar———!!”

At that moment, a roar interrupted Asuna’s thoughts. She looked up to see the ground around them cracking, with three normal-sized Treants emerging!

At this point, Fang Zheng sent a message.

”Guys, if you have nothing better to do, could you come help with the small ones?”

”Let’s go!!”

The previous battle had already stirred Black Cat’s passion. Seeing the message, she unhesitatingly grabbed her weapon and charged in. She didn’t dare face a Withered Elite but felt confident dealing with Treants!

Hearing Black Cat’s call, Aoba also hastily drew her weapon and rushed in.

”...........”

Watching their backs, Asuna hesitated momentarily, contemplating, but soon resolved herself, grabbing her rapier and charging into the fray.