Is this really a Game?!

Chapter 842 Fighting Elites in the Jungle

"Another, from the left!" Reign's shout reverberated through the forest as Shadow and the others who were standing on the far left of where Reign was quickly jumped to the side as a figure suddenly appeared from below the ground.

The ground exploded, soil and hundreds of rocks scattering through the surroundings, causing some trees to fall down.

Reign, Aelrinder, and the rest of the team sprang into action, responding to the sudden appearance of the underground assailant. The jungle echoed with the clash of weapons, magical incantations, and the roars of monsters that had been disturbed by the commotion.

The creature that emerged was a grotesque amalgamation of rock and soil, a golem animated by dark forces. Its eyes glowed with an ominous light, and its massive limbs swung with destructive force. This was no ordinary monster; it was a manifestation of the lingering corruption that still plagued the jungle.

Reign, with his heightened senses and Aethion's guidance, took a step forward. His hand glowed with a combination of mana and soul power as he prepared to face the corrupted golem. Aelrinder, at his side, summoned the power of the stars, casting a protective barrier over the team.

The battle unfolded with intense ferocity. The golem's attacks were powerful, and its ability to manipulate the earth made it a formidable adversary.

"Leave this guy to me and Aelrinder, get the other two!" Reign shouted as Mia, together with Shadow and Beast, attacked one of the two monsters they had been in the middle of fighting before the golem had appeared.

As for Greenie, Tank, Laura, and Wolf, they took on the other monster that was present.

All nine of them fought against three monsters that were elite high-grade Tier Vs, and each one was a handful and quite difficult to deal with.

They weren't normal elites either, but elite monsters that were further boosted by the corruption, which made them even stronger, akin to a mini-boss. Even though each of them could indeed fight evenly against one of the monsters and even win by going all out, it wasn't worth doing that in the jungle where a monster could appear and attack you at any moment in time.

Reign and Aelrinder coordinated seamlessly, their movements a dance of precision and power. Aethion's guidance echoed in Reign's mind, offering insights into the golem's vulnerabilities and the most effective ways to counter its attacks.

The corrupted golem, sensing the threat posed by the duo, focused its attention on Reign and Aelrinder. Massive fists of rock swung through the air, aiming to crush them. Reign gracefully dodged the attacks, his movements synchronized with the rhythm of Aelrinder's star power.

Aelrinder's starlight-infused spear pierced through the golem's rocky exterior, revealing the dark energy within. The corrupted creature retaliated, summoning pillars of earth to trap the duo. Aelrinder, however, harnessed the power of the stars to dissolve the stone restraints, allowing Reign to counterattack.

Reign's swords, infused with the essence of his soul, cut through the golem's defenses. Each strike chipped away at the corruption, weakening the creature. Aethion's voice urged Reign to focus on disrupting the dark energy that bound the golem together.

As the battle unfolded, Mia and her team faced fierce opposition from the elite corrupted monster they were fighting. Shadow, with his agility and darkness manipulation, darted around the battlefield, launching surprise attacks. Beast, with his bow in hand, launched arrow after arrow on the monster, which was a drake. As for Mia, she used her frost to slow the monster down and her sword to fight at close range.

Towering at an imposing height of 4.5 meters, the monster was a living force of nature. Its scales shimmered with vibrant hues of emerald and gold, seamlessly blending with the lush greenery of its surroundings. The monster was called the Titanthorn Drake and its eyes gleamed with intelligence, hinting at some connection it shared with the jungle.

The most striking feature of the massive drake was the horned crest that adorned its head, resembling the majestic fronds of a towering fern. These thorny projections, each as long as a grown person, are what gave the creature its name. As the Titanthorn Drake moved through the jungle, these formidable appendages could effortlessly snap trees like mere twigs, reshaping the landscape with each powerful stride.

Despite its immense size and strength, the Titanthorn Drake was surprisingly graceful, navigating the dense foliage with calculated precision. It moves with a rhythmic cadence, causing the ground to quake beneath its massive form.

The drake's incredibly powerful body, coupled with its immense speed and hard scales made it hard to defeat, and its power, which was earth manipulation, made that even more difficult.

Greenie, Tank, Laura, and Wolf coordinated their attacks, exploiting the weaknesses of their opponent. Laura's demonic energy formed chains that wrapped around the monster to limit its movement, while Greenie and Tank fought against it head-on, using their immense vitality and endurance to trade blow for blow with it, allowing Wolf to strike from the back with his greatsword and flames.

Standing at a height of just under 6.5 meters, the monster they were facing was called the Arboreal Titan. This colossal being walked on two legs, each step a measured assertion of its dominion over the wilderness.

Covered in sleek, iridescent scales that mimic the hues of the surrounding foliage, the Arboreal Titan seamlessly blended into the natural tapestry of the jungle. Its limbs, sinewy and agile, end in formidable claws capable of slicing effortlessly through both vegetation and obstacles that dare challenge its path.

The creature's head, crowned with a crest of intricate patterns, bears eyes that gleam with a watchful intelligence. Its mouth, adorned with rows of serrated teeth, hints at the predatory nature of this monster. Despite its imposing presence, the Arboreal Titan exudes a certain elegance, moving through the jungle with a careful awareness of its surroundings.

Each step sends ripples of power through the earth, and the jungle itself seems to sway in acknowledgment of the creature's passage. The Arboreal Titan's arms, powerful and dexterous, can manipulate the environment with surprising finesse, whether clearing a path through the foliage or delicately plucking a piece of fruit from the highest branches.

What made it difficult for Wolf and the others to deal with the monster was the fact it could manipulate the trees and foliage around them. It was able to manipulate them in a way somewhat similar to how the corrupted cores were able to, only in a much smaller area.

The jungle echoed with the clash of magic and the roars of monsters. Each member of the team fought against the monsters with everything they had. Of course, everything they had without using their marks or any powers that boosted them greatly.

Back in the central conflict, Reign and Aelrinder continued to chip away at the corrupted golem. 

The corrupted golem, weakened by the relentless assault, began to show signs of instability. Aelrinder's starlight-infused attacks penetrated deeper into its rocky form, disrupting the dark energy that bound it together. Reign, with his soul-infused blades, focused on targeting the corrupted core, aiming to sever the source of the golem's power.

A surge of dark energy emanated from the golem as it unleashed a desperate counterattack. The earth beneath the duo trembled as the corrupted creature summoned forth spikes and tendrils, attempting to ensnare Reign and Aelrinder. Aelrinder's star power countered the assault, creating a protective barrier that repelled the encroaching tendrils.

Reignle leaped into the air with unparalleled agility, his blades dancing through the chaos, deflecting the incoming spikes and cutting through the corrupted tendrils. With a precise strike, Reign aimed for the golem's core, channeling his soul-infused power into a concentrated blow.

The corrupted golem convulsed, its form breaking apart as the dark energy within dissipated. It let out a haunting wail that echoed through the jungle before collapsing into a pile of inert rocks and soil. The corrupted essence, now scattered, began to disintegrate, purged by the combined efforts of Reign and Aelrinder.

As the central conflict reached its resolution, Mia, Shadow, Beast, Greenie, Tank, Laura, and Wolf faced their own challenges against the elite monsters. The Titanthorn Drake's emerald scales shimmered with an ethereal glow as it retaliated against the relentless assault. Shadow's agility proved invaluable as he dodged the drake's powerful tail swipes, while Beast's arrows found their mark, targeting the creature's vulnerable spots.

Mia, with sword, engaged the drake in a mesmerizing dance of precision and speed. Each strike was calculated, aiming to exploit any opening in the Titanthorn Drake's defenses. 

On the other side, Greenie and Tank, the stalwart defenders, endured the creature's blows, providing strategic openings for Laura's demonic energy to bind and constrict the monster. The colossal monster, with its ability to manipulate the environment, made the battlefield a dynamic and unpredictable arena

Wolf, wielding his greatsword and flames, danced between the manipulated trees, countering the creature's attempts to control the surroundings.

The Arboreal Titan responded with swift and precise movements, its claws slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. Wolf, drawing upon his own powers, clashed with the monster in a display of fire and fury. The jungle bore witness to a clash of titans, the very essence of nature warring against a force corrupted by dark energy.

As the battles raged on, the team's synergy became evident. Each member complemented the others, forming a cohesive unit that adapted to the strengths and weaknesses of the monsters they faced.

Mia's team, through coordinated efforts, exploited the vulnerabilities of the Titanthorn Drake. Shadow's shadows entwined with Mia's frost, restricting the monsters' movements and creating openings for decisive strikes. Beast's arrows, guided by precision and skill, found the weak points in the creatures' defenses.

As the battles neared their climax and the two teams were about to finish off their respective enemies, a sudden surge of energy resonated through the jungle. A roar echoed through the jungle, causing them all to gulp as they sensed the immense power contained in it.