Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1360: The Eerie Dark Shadow

Yang Xinxin's suggestion held considerable logic. After a brief deliberation, Lancelot gave his assent.

Exchanging their contact details, Yang Xinxin then began inquiring about Lancelot's current understanding, particularly concerning the established rules.

Zhang Yi observed that throughout their conversation, the private soldiers from the Lhamin family accompanying Lancelot nervously scanned their surroundings, as if anticipating a sudden emergence from the encroaching darkness.

"Let's discuss this further inside," Lancelot proposed, gesturing towards a nearby structure.

The group proceeded into an vacant room. Once the door was secured, Lancelot commenced his account of their harrowing experiences.

"A remarkably peculiar creature inhabits this place, much like the rules we encountered upon our arrival. It exhibits a predatory behavior towards individuals, and we've already suffered over a dozen casualties from its attacks," Lancelot stated with a somber tone.

Zhang Yi's brow furrowed slightly. "Even with your presence, you were unable to shield them?"

Lancelot's gaze deepened.

He lowered his voice, explaining, "There is simply no effective means to combat it. That entity... it is impervious to harm!"

"To date, the sole method that proves effective is maintaining direct visual contact. While observed, it remains immobile. However, the instant it evades human sight, it lunges with astonishing speed."

"We have exhausted every conceivable strategy, all to no avail."

"Moments ago, upon hearing the commotion originating from this vicinity, I suspected potential leads and thus ventured here to investigate."

The earlier clamor was, naturally, a consequence of Zhang Yi's offensive actions.

Lancelot had only recently arrived, and his summation covered the extent of his knowledge.

Yang Xinxin nodded thoughtfully. "It appears that to surmount this challenge, we must adopt an proactive approach, striving to decipher the underlying mechanics governing the NPCs. Therefore, let us divide our efforts!"

"Much like navigating a game, it is through persistent experimentation that the optimal strategy for completion is uncovered."

Yang Xinxin's declaration carried a certain grimness.

Even Fatty Xu instinctively flinched upon hearing her words.

The reason was simple: in games, death often allows for respawning.

However, they were all living beings, and demise was final.

It was thus inferred that they would likely deploy the private soldiers under their command as vanguard units, testing the waters and unraveling the game's intricacies.

Observing Lancelot's contingent, not a single member of the Knights of the Round Table had sustained losses. Clearly, they had been employing the Lhamin family's private soldiers as a buffer against those NPCs.

"Very well, let us maintain constant communication. For the benefit of all, I trust there are no hidden agendas," Lancelot cautioned.

Yang Xinxin affirmed, "Naturally. At present, our objectives are unified."

"The fortunate aspect is that these entities are not numerous. We have only encountered two or three thus far. Consequently, if we can devise a method for their elimination, resolution should be swift," Lancelot added.

Having reached a consensus, they egressed the dimly lit chamber and proceeded into the subdued corridor.

Lancelot's group veered left, while Zhang Yi's party took the right path.

They remained curious about when they would encounter the 'mental patients' alluded to in the game's stipulations.

As they rounded a narrow bend, a humanoid silhouette materialized in the distant shadows.

It stood utterly still behind a doorway approximately ten meters ahead, exuding an unsettling aura.

Judging by the door's dimensions, the figure stood at least two meters tall, its frame gaunt like a desiccated corpse, with long arms hanging unnaturally at its sides.

However, the most disturbing feature was the anomaly where its head should be: a colossal sphere, grotesquely disproportionate to its body, replaced any semblance of a skull.

Its presence was abrupt and unmoving, resembling a preserved specimen, effectively obstructing a significant portion of the passageway.

Fatty Xu nearly cried out in alarm, but Old You swiftly muffled his voice.

Zhang Yi had already drawn his firearm and advanced, discharging it without hesitation.

Unless it was a supremely skilled superhuman adept at masking its aura, any entity within his sensory range would be detected by his Mind Domain via subtle spatial distortions.

Yet, Zhang Yi perceived no discernible presence emanating from this creature; it was simply standing there, utterly motionless.

"Bang!"

The Sacred Silver projectile streaked towards the figure, but passed through its form as effortlessly as water through a sieve, eliciting no effect whatsoever.

Yang Xinxin remarked, "It appears we have encountered the very 'mental patient' Lancelot described!"

Zhang Yi's expression turned frigid. The White Owl in his grasp began to condense formidable Void Power, dark tendrils of energy coiling like nascent thunderbolts.

The second attempt also proved futile.

Unyielding, Zhang Yi conjured a Dimensional Gate directly beneath the figure's feet, intending to draw it into his Dimensional Space.

However, the shadowy entity remained completely unaffected, standing serenely above the ethereal vortex.

Since even this assault proved ineffective, Zhang Yi, who had initially intended to store it within his dimensional space, was compelled to abandon the idea.

The situation defied logical explanation; it was simply too peculiar.

However, Yang Xinxin firmly grasped Zhang Yi's arm, her voice a soft murmur, "Brother, there's no point in trying further. Lancelot mentioned that this sort of entity is impervious to attacks."

Zhang Yi contemplated the unsettling nature of this bizarre space and how his offensive capabilities had been utterly nullified.

With no other recourse, he lowered his firearm. "Xinxin, what course of action do you propose?"

Yang Xinxin glanced behind her and instructed one of the soldiers, "You remain here and maintain constant vigilance over it."

The soldiers accompanying Zhang Yi were all elite and fiercely loyal warriors from the Pagyi family, displaying an utter disregard for their own lives.

Upon receiving Yang Xinxin's command, the soldier immediately advanced, fixing his gaze upon the unmoving, large-headed dark silhouette in the distance.

Meanwhile, Yang Xinxin signaled for the group to begin a slow withdrawal, ensuring they moved back until the strange creature was no longer within their line of sight.

She herself did not retreat but stopped a short distance away, her attention fixed intently on observing the unfolding events.

The soldier steadfastly kept his eyes open, yet human eyes inevitably tire. Before long, he found himself blinking involuntarily.

At that precise moment, Yang Xinxin, Zhang Yi, and the others witnessed with startling clarity: the instant the soldier blinked, the unsettling dark shadow materialized directly before him!

It became clear then that its darkness was not due to shadow; it was an entity intrinsically, pitch-black from its crown to its toes!

Though it possessed human-like limbs and a torso, its overall appearance was more akin to a skeletal, gargantuan ape. A sphere of pure blackness capped its head, devoid of any discernible facial features, resembling a dark, lamp-like orb perched atop its form.

The soldier's blink lasted less than a tenth of a second, and within that fleeting instant, the creature was upon him.

A shiver traced its way up Zhang Yi's arms at that very moment.

"It didn't move; it simply teleported directly in front of that soldier."

Any physical movement would invariably generate spatial disturbances, creating air currents akin to ripples, which would be impossible to conceal from Zhang Yi's acute senses.

Yet, on this occasion, he had perceived absolutely nothing!

This profoundly disturbing phenomenon sent an actual chill through Zhang Yi's heart.

This entity was seemingly unkillable. Should it decide to target him, his life might not be in immediate peril, but the sheer creepiness of the encounter was undeniable.

If Zhang Yi felt such unease, then Zhou Ke'er and the others positioned behind him exhibited expressions of sheer terror, their faces ashen with dread.

The unsettling dark shadow loomed over the soldier, its immense height casting him in shadow. It remained silent, making no discernible movement.

However, the soldier's body had already become rigid with sheer terror, cold sweat coursing down his brow.

He was paralyzed, instinctively yearning to turn and implore Zhang Yi and the others for assistance.

"Don't look away!!"

Zhang Yi's urgent cry echoed out, but alas, it was already far too late.