The Puppet’s Challenge

The Level 30 puppet possessed 500,000/500,000 HP and a physical attack range of 1700-1800.

Merely a five-level difference resulted in a monumental disparity in the puppet’s attributes. Had they not discovered a method to counter it, they likely wouldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds against this formidable foe.

Despite their preparations, the puppet’s additional speed-boosting skill significantly intensified the pressure during its ten-second bursts. Although this was its only skill, the puppet could unleash it every two minutes, each time placing immense strain on Chris.

While the puppet’s agility remained unchanged, its terrifying speed completely deprived her of any opportunity to maneuver behind it and deal damage.

Potions only lasted for thirty seconds on players. However, for NPCs, their effects were magnified far beyond a mere fivefold increase.

This was a compensatory mechanism, as NPCs couldn’t consume potions during combat; thus, the effects on them lasted twenty times longer than on players—a full ten minutes.

Yet, the puppet’s HP was exceptionally high, requiring over ten minutes to defeat. Therefore, both of them had to meticulously manage their time.

After consuming the mutated potion, Chris immediately charged forward. Upon seeing her approach, the puppet activated its skill without hesitation, rapidly closing the distance to attack.

However, Chris had anticipated the puppet’s immediate skill activation, having learned it from their first attempt. She promptly raised her sword, parrying the initial strike.

Despite her block, the puppet’s immense speed and power knocked Chris back two steps. Yet, she was well-prepared, subtly shifting her weight and quickly regaining her balance, all while attempting to circle behind the puppet to unleash her attacks.

The puppet’s first burst was handled with relative ease, as both of them were ready. Lin Shenyue focused entirely on keeping Chris’s HP full, aiming to alleviate pressure later on.

As the puppet’s initial burst ended, Chris felt a considerable sense of relief. She continuously circled behind the puppet, only getting hit roughly once every ten seconds.

Lin Shenyue, relying on her ten-second healing and twenty-second healing spell, was able to consistently restore Chris’s health.

When the puppet initiated its second burst, Lin Shenyue gave Chris an early warning. With this preparation, Chris found it significantly easier, taking over 4,000 less damage during that phase, thanks to Lin Shenyue’s assistance.

During their first attempt, Chris had lost nearly 10,000 HP immediately when the puppet activated its skill. Then, during the second skill activation, she lost another 6,000+ HP.

Adding to this, they hadn’t used mutated potions back then. Consequently, when the puppet unleashed its third skill at the four-minute mark, Chris instantly lost another 5,000+ HP. Combined with the regular damage taken, her HP plummeted to below 4,000.

Now, with both of them having consumed mutated potions, Lin Shenyue’s healing output had increased, and Chris’s defense and HP were higher. This allowed Chris’s health to remain largely stable during normal combat.

Under Lin Shenyue’s careful calculations, the puppet’s HP steadily dwindled.

When the puppet’s health dropped to half, six minutes had already elapsed. Lin Shenyue’s brow furrowed slightly; this meant they would need to continue fighting for several minutes after the potion’s effects wore off to finally defeat the puppet.

Without the potion’s benefits, not only would it be harder to tank, but it would also require more time. This implied they would have to endure another one of the puppet’s powerful bursts.

Ultimately, this indicated that Chris would likely be left with critically low health. If an NPC were to fall in battle, they wouldn’t simply revive like players.

Lin Shenyue quietly calculated in her mind, confirming that Chris wouldn’t be able to withstand the final moments. The weakened attack power meant Chris would have to endure the puppet’s skill at the twelve-minute mark and still fight for a while longer to defeat it.

This additional time was something Chris absolutely could not survive.

Unaware of the impending danger, Chris remained entirely focused on the puppet before her, temporarily unable to spare a thought for anything else.

Lin Shenyue pondered for a moment, ultimately deciding to use her invincibility skill, though not immediately. This was to ensure Chris’s survival; a skill could be reused the next day, but if Chris died, there would be no next time.

As the ten-minute mark arrived and both their potion effects vanished, the puppet still had over 40,000 HP, which was precisely within Lin Shenyue’s expectations. Without the potion’s benefits, Chris immediately took over 5,000 damage, her HP plummeting to just over 4,000.

This sudden drop in health startled Chris, and a thought of retreating flickered in her mind.

Noticing Chris’s hesitation, Lin Shenyue quickly urged,