Chapter 128: The Final Battle

Upon hearing this, Tauber sneered coldly, gently stroking Lightning’s head. “You really scared me... The one who bit my pet must be the pet of your Fish King, right?”

The tall Fishman snorted disdainfully. “Consider it an honor for your little kitty to be bitten by the Fish King’s pet, hahaha! Now, release me quickly, or tomorrow the Fishman army will descend upon you and wipe you all out!”

“Then let them come,” Lu Kuan replied with a smile from the rooftop. Turning to Tauber, he said, “Since we can’t get any information, Tauber, handle it as you see fit.”

Tauber nodded at Lu Kuan, then lowered his head to Lightning and whispered, “Go.”

At Tauber’s command, the guards around immediately stepped back two paces in unison, giving Lightning more room.

Lightning crouched low, moving steadily as he circled closer to the Fishman. But before Lightning could launch his attack, several players accompanying the Fishman suddenly froze, their expressions stiffening—and then they logged off outright.

Back at the character selection screen, Grasshopper wore a sullen expression.

What a joke—the saber-toothed tiger was at least a level 30 rare pet. None of them could even scratch it. Thinking of his body being torn apart, he decided it was better to log off and hide.

Meanwhile, in the game, Lightning’s figure had already become a blur. Lu Kuan only saw the empty ground whipped by fierce winds, punctuated by occasional low growls from the saber-toothed tiger and strange screams from the Fishmen.

After just over ten seconds, the tiger’s speed gradually slowed. The battlefield was a mess: several players including Grasshopper and the wildly reckless Fishman berserker were reduced to piles of severed limbs.

“Clean this up. Patrol numbers double tonight. The rest of you get some rest,” Tauber said gravely. “Prepare for tomorrow’s battle.”

“Yes, sir!”

Everyone immediately obeyed and went to prepare.

Lu Kuan and his group, who were merely spectators, saw the matter resolved, then jumped down to bid Tauber farewell before returning to the inn in Clearwater Village.

“This is the first time I’ve logged off so late. The night scenes in the game are really beautiful,” Bai Keke said excitedly, spreading her arms and hopping along the road like a charming sprite after the recent ordeal.

The others agreed. Aside from Lu Kuan, Qing Yi was usually the one to stay up late the most in the game, but even she hadn’t taken the time to appreciate the night view.

Standing on the main street of Clearwater Village, the view was far more expansive than at Lava Fortress. The sky was full of stars, with two moons—one large, one small—hanging high, casting a cold and tranquil light.

Beside them, Dai Guang sneakily glanced at A’Kui, then quickly averted his eyes, thinking no one noticed. In truth, everyone saw clearly and laughed quietly, sharing the unspoken joke.

“See you tomorrow then,” Lu Kuan said at the inn’s entrance, addressing the three girls. “A fierce battle awaits us. Rest well tonight.”

They smiled in agreement and entered the inn one by one. Lu Kuan glanced back at the peaceful village before logging out of the game.

After a full day and night of rest, the fatigue from consecutive monster hunts vanished. When Lu Kuan logged back in that evening, he was full of vigor.

From midnight on, players began appearing one after another, seizing the last opportunities to complete tasks—repairing Clearwater’s defenses, patrolling the outskirts, and hunting Fishman scouts attempting to spy.

By around 2 or 3 a.m., Clearwater Village was bustling with players crowding in to undertake missions. Lu Kuan and his teammates logged in early as well.

According to Old Blind’s analysis, the Fishman attack was most likely to come at dawn.

Everyone was barely able to contain their excitement, eager and ready.

This was the game’s first large-scale series mission. Past encounters had been minor skirmishes; now, they were part of a small war. How could they not be thrilled?

“Based on Fishman habits, a surprise attack before dawn is most probable,” Old Blind said quietly as he, Lu Kuan, Tauber, and others stood atop the wall, gazing into the endless darkness. “The temperature is low and moisture high at night, making it far more comfortable for the Fishmen than during the day.”

Everyone nodded. Tauber looked at Old Blind and said, “It’s a pity for the Fishman residents, corrupted by Yuka’s influence, that they’ve begun attacking all land creatures. That’s why they see Clearwater Village as a thorn in their side.”

“Yuka is a malevolent demon sorcerer. His corruption is irreversible,” Old Blind sighed, his gaze turning resolute. “That’s why we must kill him quickly, to save future generations of Fishmen from his demonic influence.”

While the two elders discussed the background story, Lu Kuan and his team had other priorities.

With so many players involved, this was a far cry from the usual small-scale battles. Lu Kuan actively coordinated with several guild leaders within Clearwater Village to devise a more strategic battle plan.

Because Lu Kuan openly revealed his identity as a core mission player, no one opposed his suggestions. After two days of discussions, the players’ formations were well-organized and imposing.

“Old Lu, what do you think our chances are?” Dai Guang asked quietly, his small, nervous voice trembling slightly as sweat gathered on his palms gripping weapon and shield.

It was no wonder. Anyone without experience would be nervous—behind them stood hundreds of battle-ready warriors, while from the dark abyss ahead could emerge enemies tenfold their number.

Lu Kuan replied casually, “About seventy to eighty percent.”

In the previous life, without Lightning and at less than peak strength, Tauber’s last battle had been hard-fought and evenly matched. Now, with everything in place, the situation was far better.

Lu Kuan’s only worry was that the system might detect the players’ ample preparation and silently increase the mission’s difficulty.

The system did this to avoid the challenge becoming too easy, which would kill player enthusiasm. But it inevitably made the mission more complicated.

“But… that’s what makes it fun,” Lu Kuan murmured with a slight smile, looking into the dense darkness ahead.

At 3:30 a.m., rogue players acting as scouts on the Banyan Grassland sent the first enemy report: a large number of unidentified creatures appeared on the lake’s surface.

Ten minutes later, the Fishman army landed, surging toward Clearwater Village like a mighty tide.

Though those on the walls couldn’t see the army’s details, the noisy roars echoing from the darkness, the slight tremors of the earth, and the heavy pounding of countless footsteps were unmistakable to everyone there.

“Clearwater cavalry, follow me!” Tauber shouted loudly, his powerful voice carrying throughout the village. With a light leap, he jumped down from the wall and rode Lightning into the darkness.