Conflicted… deeply conflicted.
When she saw the Crimson-Backed Centipede, its body severed in half and severely weakened, Karen’s eyes instantly lit up.
This BOSS, whose strength was close to the Third Tier, had actually been wounded to such an extent by the aftershocks from the Nine-Tier Senior.
What a heaven-sent opportunity!
But there was a problem. Karen lowered her head again to look at her own battle-worn equipment, then glanced back at her three First Tier teammates behind her…
Uh, even if the Crimson-Backed Centipede was seriously injured, it still had at least the strength of a Second Tier Adventurer.
So, with these three… it was still!
Conflicted!
“If we don’t strike now, when will we?” Truth urged Karen again, completely unbothered.
After all, with her here, what was there to be afraid of?
“I mean, even if you’re a lot stronger than a typical First Tier priest, the battles today have been really intense. Let’s not even talk about my condition—are you sure your mana can recover in time?”
“I’m always at my best!”
“But we’re not! That centipede isn’t just an Elite, it’s a BOSS, a whole different level! What if, even badly injured, it can still kill you three in a single blow? There’s no way we can just charge in!”
Karen earnestly explained to Truth, but the latter just turned her head away, looking at her with undisguised contempt.
“Tsk, coward…”
“Huh?!”
Karen was stunned. Since becoming a knight, this was the first time anyone had dared call her a coward.
“I’m not scared! I’m just worried about your safety. If you were all Second Tier Adventurers, I’d have rushed in already!”
“So… fine, I don’t care. You guys decide whether to fight or not. If we can’t beat the BOSS, I can always run away one hundred percent, but as for you all—good luck!”
“No problem. Let’s put it to a vote. Raise your hand if you agree to take down the BOSS.”
As soon as Truth finished speaking, she raised her hand first and then shot Anderson a glare.
“Uh…” Anderson didn’t dare not to raise his hand.
Kovado hesitated for a moment before following suit.
He remembered Truth had said she liked people with ambition, and with Karen here, there shouldn’t be any problems.
So the vote was unanimous. Karen hadn’t expected this at all.
Are First Tier Adventurers nowadays really this bold? Challenging a Second Tier BOSS?!
“Aren’t you afraid the BOSS will just swat you all—”
“Relax.”
Truth suddenly cut off Karen’s worries and motioned for her to crouch down.
Then, standing on tiptoe, she whispered in Karen’s ear:
“There’s no need to worry about our lives. My bodyguard is nearby. She can teleport over at any moment to protect us all.”
“Really?”
Not really, but Truth nodded earnestly, which finally gave Karen enough confidence.
So that Nine-Tier Senior has been secretly protecting us this whole time? Why didn’t you say so earlier!
“Alright, let’s move out. Target: defeat the Crimson-Backed Centipede!”
With her safety guaranteed, Karen led the group toward the Crimson-Backed Centipede’s territory without hesitation.
The four of them were filled with fighting spirit.
If they could take down the Crimson-Backed Centipede, their names would soon spread across the entire Dea Plateau!
“Chaa!”
The next second, Karen—at the very front—was instantly whipped ten meters away by the Crimson-Backed Centipede, who had already sensed the intruders, and couldn’t get up again.
“Eh?!”
Anderson and Kovado were stunned. This was totally different from what they’d imagined.
Shouldn’t Karen be struggling at the front, with them attacking crazily from the back?
How did the team’s core get instantly downed by a wounded BOSS right at the start?!
“Run!”
The two of them bolted, while the Crimson-Backed Centipede, half its body missing, gave chase.
Fortunately, since it was not in a dungeon, they could run out of the BOSS Room at any time, giving Anderson and Kovado a chance to escape.
Unfortunately, Truth wouldn’t let them get away:
“Don’t leave the BOSS Room! Aren’t you two ranged attackers? Keep your distance and take turns drawing its attention. As long as it doesn’t go berserk, you can kite it with ease. Buy me some time—I’m going to heal Karen.”
Truth knelt beside Karen and focused on healing her, wrapping Karen’s body in mist.
Even the broken ribs slowly started to mend.
At the same time, “Enhanced Senses” and “Lens Shield” were cast on Karen, who gradually regained her senses.
“You’re buffed, go!” Truth, having gained another batch of Healing Experience, urged her on.
“R-really? Alright, I’m going!”
Soon, Karen, now mostly recovered, raised her greatsword and charged out again.
While the Crimson-Backed Centipede was chasing Kovado, she landed a heavy blow right on its wounded tail.
The effect was outstanding!
And then she was swatted away by the Crimson-Backed Centipede once again.
Luckily, her shield absorbed some of the damage, and Enhanced Senses helped her protect her vital spots, so she didn’t lose consciousness this time.
“Hang in there, I’m coming!”
After Anderson and Kovado managed to lure the Crimson-Backed Centipede away again, Truth rushed over for another round of healing.
From then on, Karen just kept repeating the cycle: sneak attack the wound—get knocked away—Truth heals—continue sneaking attacks, grinding down the Crimson-Backed Centipede’s health bit by bit.
Gradually, three hours passed.
“Last hit, Karen!” Truth called out.
Karen had lost count of how many times she’d been knocked flying.
Her armor was in tatters, and even the sweat-soaked underclothes beneath had tears in them.
A few more hits and she’d probably be exposed.
She had no idea how much health the Crimson-Backed Centipede had left.
All she knew was that Truth’s skills seemed to cost no mana at all—she was like a Mobile Fountain.
Anderson and Kovado, after this marathon, had finally figured out the Crimson-Backed Centipede’s Hatred Mechanism.
Now, they kited it at the maximum distance, waiting for Karen to finish it off.
After Truth healed all her cuts and internal injuries one more time, Karen gathered all her recovered mana into her Runic Greatsword.
The next moment, scorching red light enveloped the blade.
With a shout, Karen dashed out, gripped the sword with both hands, and slashed a red arc right into the Crimson-Backed Centipede’s back!
“Clang!”
Finally, after more than three hours of grinding, the Crimson-Backed Centipede let out one last pained screech and collapsed.
In the center of the field appeared a Treasure Chest adorned with faint golden patterns.
“Yes!”
Anderson and Kovado ran over excitedly to examine the centipede’s corpse, while Karen sprawled out on the ground, with Truth squatting nearby to continue healing her.
“I’m alright, you can rest now.” Karen said, panting heavily.
“No way. I have to heal every single one of your injuries!”
“Eh? Uh, okay… But you really are a strange priest, you know.”
Most priests would only heal someone just enough so they wouldn’t die, then use a healing potion for the rest.
That way, they could conserve as much mana as possible for the next wounded ally and emergencies.
But Truth was obviously not an ordinary priest.
She didn’t even carry any potions, and she used her mana like she didn’t care about it at all.
Plus, she was completely calm no matter what happened—was that confidence from having a Nine-Tier Bodyguard? Karen wondered.
But then, Truth’s disbelieving shout rang out:
“I… what the—!”
“Eh, what?!” Karen sat up, bracing herself on her hands, startled.
Did I just hear that? Did the young lady just swear?