The light at the canyon's end grew ever brighter.
The roar of boulders faded—replaced by an even heavier echo.
The true master of the rabbit warren had arrived.
The earth shook, stones tumbled, and a beast the size of a calf emerged. Its red eyes burned like fire, fangs longer than short swords, its back armored in thick slabs of stone—like a monster in plate.
"Dungeon Boss—Shatter-Armor Rabbit King!"
Someone screamed.
The medic's hands shook, almost dropping his kit. The hunters went pale, not even daring to notch arrows.
Their team was already broken. After so many deaths, only one shieldbearer remained, hunters gasping. The only one keeping composure—barely—was the swordswoman.
She clenched her blade, ready to charge.
But a hand pressed her shoulder.
"You fall back."
The black-haired boy's voice was low, steady, with a firmness that brooked no refusal.
The swordswoman froze, meeting those deathly calm eyes.
It was him—the Residual Blood Maniac.
"But you…"
"I'm lighter," Xu Zhu raised his stick. "If I die up front, no one else gets dragged down."
Her chest clenched. She knew he had only 1 HP—but that back looked steadier than any shield.
…
The Rabbit King lunged, its massive body shattering stone, storming forth like thunder.
"Ahhhh!" a hunter screamed, stumbling backward.
Xu Zhu did not retreat.
His eyes locked on the beast, the wind in his ears tightening suddenly.
"Residual Edge."
His heartbeat stopped for a beat.
Then his stick lifted, his foot landing on a crack in the stone. His body twisted under the giant shadow, stick thrusting into the seam beneath its jaw and shell.
Boom!
Air split apart. The Rabbit King's momentum stalled, its massive body slamming sideways into the canyon wall.
"Hit!" someone cried.
But Xu Zhu knew—it wasn't enough. The beast's armor was too thick. His strike only staggered it.
The Rabbit King roared back to its feet, stone shell cracked, raw flesh beneath bleeding. Its fury ignited—the red eyes almost spewing fire.
Its second charge was even faster.
"Move!" Xu Zhu barked, stepping forward alone.
The swordswoman almost grabbed him, but froze. His foot planted firm, body nailed to the ground. His entire aura changed—not desperate survival, but the blade of a drawn sword.
Stick raised high, gaze like steel.
"Even with one drop of blood… it's enough to kill you."
The wind stopped.
Xu Zhu's world slowed again.
The Rabbit King's charge broke into frames in his sight: red eyes, fangs, momentum, pressure—all magnified at death's edge.
"Now!"
He spun, driving the stick straight into the crack of its wound!
A thunderous crash. The Rabbit King screamed, collapsing, its bulk quaking the ground.
System prompt flashed before his eyes:
[Defeated Shatter-Armor Rabbit King! EXP +500! Rare Drop: Stone Armor Fragment ×1]
Silence.
The team's breaths broke apart. They had seen it—1 HP, killing the dungeon boss, and surviving.
The swordswoman's gaze trembled, then softened. She laughed, but tears welled.
"The real mad one… isn't you."
Xu Zhu withdrew his stick. His voice was quiet: "I just had no other choice."
…
A pillar of light shot skyward—the dungeon cleared.
Outside, forums and world chat exploded.
[HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT!!!]
[Residual Blood Maniac! Soloed the boss!]
[He's insane!]
[One HP killed the dungeon boss!]
[First in the server! Epic reversal!]
Posts surged to the top, clicks skyrocketing—100k, 200k, 300k… the name "Residual Blood Maniac" carved deep into every player's mind.
…
At the dungeon exit, the swordswoman stepped to his side, staring at him intently.
"My name is Ling Xue." She held out her hand, eyes unwavering. "From today on, I'll follow you."
Xu Zhu looked at her hand, silent for a few seconds.
At last, he didn't refuse—just nodded slightly.
In the canyon's fading winds, the black-haired boy's back was lonelier than anyone's, yet brighter than all.
—That night, the legend of the "Residual Blood Maniac" truly began.