The shrill crackle of gunfire shattered the solemn silence of the temple.
With a thunderous roar, Meng Hao unleashed a relentless torrent of bullets, as if ammunition were as plentiful as air.
In mere moments, the exquisite figure of the girl before him was riddled with lead.
And yet—strangely—no blood spilled from her body. Instead, wisps of black smoke rose from her wounds.
Meng Hao had already sensed something was off.
The sudden appearance of such a stunning beauty on a forsaken island? Highly improbable.
More so, inside a witch's temple of all places.
Before entering, he had received a system warning of a forthcoming trial.
It was obvious now—this was the test.
"A test of seduction?"
"How childish."
"Women only slow down the speed at which I draw my blade."
Under the furious barrage of bullets, the beautiful girl was blown backward.
As the smoke thickened, her once-soft skin shriveled, her youthful face creased with wrinkles, and liver spots bloomed across her features.
"Am I not beautiful enough for you?"
She had transformed completely—a hideous crone, her form cloaked in a suffocating black miasma.
She lunged at Meng Hao with gnarled, clawed hands, her murky eyes filled with malice.
"Damn it. She's immune to physical damage!"
Within seconds, his MP5 had spat out over forty rounds.
He only had 400 in total. If he wasted them all here, death was certain.
"Retreat!"
Meng Hao spun on his heel and bolted.
But the old witch pounced like a starved beast, merciless in her pursuit.
He careened down the spiral staircase, leaping onto its smooth rail to gain speed.
The witch, seemingly weightless, floated down from above, cutting him off.
"No!"
Meng Hao dashed into the main hall, only to find the heavy doors still sealed shut.
He was trapped.
Behind him, the witch descended again, her black smoke now seeping into every crevice of the grand chamber.
"Was I not beautiful enough to be loved?"
Her raspy voice sent chills down his spine.
The air turned frigid, sapping his stamina with every breath.
Panicked, Meng Hao yanked out the Super Redhawk revolver and fired.
Bang!
The bullet knocked the hag back—but there was no damage notification.
His shots merely staggered her, unable to inflict true harm.
"This is bad…"
For the first time, despair crept into his heart.
Had he truly met his end here?
Her form was wispy, spectral. She wasn't even fully corporeal.
Clearly, her attacks were magical.
"Think, Meng Hao. Think!"
Frantically searching his inventory, he recalled a certain item.
"The Vagabond Cloak!"
It was a silver-tier magic cloak that could shield its wearer from spells.
Without hesitation, he swung it over his shoulders.
[Vagabond Cloak: A silver-tier item made from enchanted materials. Repels all magical effects. Shields from the elements and magical assaults alike.]
The moment the cloak enveloped him, the biting cold subsided.
His stamina drain ceased.
Across the hall, the witch's face contorted with fury at the sight of the red cloak.
"Why… why don't you love me?"
Her voice sharpened, laced with hysteria.
She lunged again, claws extended.
This time, Meng Hao didn't fire.
Bullets were useless.
"It's all up to you now…"
He crouched, wrapping himself tightly in the cloak.
The moment her shadowy claws met the enchanted fabric—
Szzzt!
Screeeeech!
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the chamber as she was hurled backward.
Where her fingers had touched the cloak, blue smoke hissed and rose—the dark mist around her partially cleansed.
[-50 HP]
Seeing the damage notification, Meng Hao's heart surged with hope.
"Yes! It works!"
The cloak didn't just block her magic—it hurt her in return.
The witch's eyes burned with hate as she raised her hands and thrust them toward the temple doors.
Creeeaaak…
With a groan of stone, the massive doors opened.
The last golden rays of sunset pierced the mists and spilled into the temple's heart.
Meng Hao's heart leapt.
Had he passed the test? Was he free to leave?
But as he turned, hope twisted into horror.
Outside the temple, hundreds of twisted beasts stood waiting.
As the doors opened, they rose in unison.
They had once been animals—monkeys, boars, deer—but now, they were malformed, cursed abominations.
It all clicked.
The strawberries, the red flowers—they were all cursed by the witch.
And now… the beasts too.
"My darlings," the witch rasped. "Tear him apart!"
At her command, the monstrous horde charged.
Meng Hao's pulse skyrocketed.
"Not good—time to move!"
Seizing the momentary chaos, he bolted through the doorway.
The MP5 roared to life, spitting fire and fury.
Ratatatatata…
[-80 HP]
[-100 HP]
[-120 HP]
Caught off guard, the monsters reeled beneath the barrage.
Dozens collapsed in his wake.
In that brief moment of hesitation, Meng Hao tore through their ranks like a lightning storm.
His boots flared with speed—
[Agility Boots: Movement Speed +20%]
Faster than the eye could follow, he raced down the path, monsters in hot pursuit.
He was close—just five minutes from reaching his base.
With his goblin guards aiding him, he could survive this.
But just as he reached the cursed brambles—
Disaster struck.
The thorny bushes, once lifeless, suddenly writhed to life.
Countless spines burst from their branches, lashing toward him like grasping claws.
Surrounded.
Trapped between a wall of thorns and a stampede of beasts.
"Iron Axe!"
Meng Hao drew his weapon, gloves glowing with power.
Engage!
"Those who stand in my path—die!"