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Chapter 6 – The Stone Gorilla's Gaze
The barter camp froze instantly. The noise that had just begun to fade vanished, replaced by a suffocating fear. Breaths hitched in people's throats, some even collapsing under the sheer pressure of the monster's aura.
The stone gorilla stood tall, its body looming nearly as high as a two-story building. Its skin gleamed gray, as though slabs of rock were fused tightly with flesh. Every small movement produced a grinding crack like stones scraping together. But its eyes were the most unsettling. Unlike ordinary monsters with savage stares, this creature's gaze gleamed with intelligence. It swept across the crowd—then stopped at one point: Lu Yuan.
"This… is bad," Lu Yuan muttered, lips pressed thin. His main body was hidden behind rubble, yet somehow the monster had locked straight onto him.
The avatar beside him straightened, as if an instinctive defense mechanism had triggered.
[Analysis: Subject identified. Category: Tier-5 Evolved Monster. Classification: 'Stone Gorilla.' Intelligence potential above average—possibly approaching human awareness.]
Manas's voice was calm, as though they weren't facing a lethal threat.
Lu Yuan rubbed his temples. "Tier 5, huh… equivalent to Foundation Establishment, or maybe a bit higher. In other words, I'm in deep trouble."
His tone was casual, but his heartbeat quickened. His lone avatar might endure a few blows, but the risk of permanent damage was high. Worse, every ability used meant burning away his lifespan.
"Damn it, I really hate working hard."
The gorilla raised its colossal arm. Muscles rippled beneath the stone-like hide, then slammed into the ground.
BOOOM!
The earth shook. Tents flew apart. Human bodies scattered like leaves. Cracks spread across the ground; some people collapsed, coughing blood.
Screams filled the air. "Ruuun! We can't fight that thing!"
Many fled, clutching their valuables. Others fell to their knees in despair. Only a few still raised their weapons—though their hands trembled violently.
Lu Yuan sighed. "Humans, always the same… when facing something stronger, most run, some surrender, and only a few resist. And those few are usually the first to die."
The avatar stepped forward, a faint aura radiating as metallic light resurfaced along its arms, forming natural armor from its mutation.
Through their shared consciousness, Lu Yuan felt immense pressure slam into his mind. Controlling the avatar under this strain was like carrying a mountain on his shoulders.
[Warning: mental consumption rising. Potential side effects: headaches, nosebleeds, loss of consciousness.]
"Thanks for making me even more nervous, Manas," Lu Yuan scoffed, forcing himself to stay calm.
The stone gorilla studied the avatar with a calculating stare. Then it rumbled low, as though attempting speech but unable to form words.
Lu Yuan raised a brow. "Oh? So you really are smarter. Can you actually understand me?"
The monster didn't reply. Instead, it lunged, the ground exploding beneath its weight, and smashed its stone-like fist toward the avatar.
The avatar lifted both arms to block. Metal and stone clashed with a thunderous crack, driving the avatar's knees into the dirt. Cracks radiated outward from the impact.
A sharp pain lanced into Lu Yuan's main body. Not as severe as the avatar's wounds, but enough to make his teeth clench.
"I can't win by brute force. But… if I just stall, maybe there's a chance."
[Suggestion: exploit the surrounding chaos to divert the monster's attention. Subject prioritizes the greatest perceived threat.]
Lu Yuan glanced around. People were still panicking—some launching long-range attacks. Fireballs flared, arrows flew, another blade of wind cut through the air—the skinny youth again. But against a Tier-5 monster, it was nothing more than mosquito bites.
"Yeah, exactly. And the only real threat here is me. Damn it…" Lu Yuan muttered bitterly.
The avatar blocked a second blow but was hurled back several meters. Fresh blood dripped from its lips, and the resonant backlash made Lu Yuan's true body spit out a mouthful of blood as well.
He wiped his mouth. "Pff… feels like slave labor."
Then an idea sparked. If the stone gorilla truly possessed intelligence, perhaps there was another way besides fighting to the death.
Lu Yuan locked eyes with the beast. "Hey, can you hear me? If all you want is energy or spiritual stones, I can give you some. No need to destroy this camp."
The monster hesitated, growling low. Beneath the sound was a faint trace of doubt.
[Analysis: non-aggressive response detected. Probability of communication: 12%.]
"Twelve percent, huh? Better than zero."
But before he could continue, someone in the crowd screamed: "Don't let it talk! Kill the monster now!"
Dozens of arrows whistled through the air, striking the gorilla. They bounced harmlessly off its stony hide, but the sting was enough to reignite its fury.
The monster's eyes blazed red. It roared, slamming both fists into the ground. A shockwave blasted outward, hurling everyone away.
Lu Yuan's avatar dug its heels into the earth, struggling to remain upright. His mind felt like cracking glass about to shatter.
"Ahh, damn it! I almost had it!"
The monster fixed its burning gaze on Lu Yuan. This time, its eyes brimmed with hatred. It raised both arms high, preparing a blow that could level a building.
Lu Yuan clicked his tongue. "At this rate, no choice. I'll have to gamble more lifespan."
[Confirm: activating advanced skill will consume at least 10 years of lifespan. Proceed?]
Lu Yuan gave a wry smile, though his body felt unbearably heavy. "Ten years of life… cheap compared to dying."
The avatar raised both arms, metallic light flaring brighter, its body trembling violently. A strange energy enveloped it, forming a new layer of protection.
The monster's strike fell.
BOOOOM!
The entire camp shook. Dust and dirt blasted into the air. The last tents crumbled. But when the smoke cleared, Lu Yuan's avatar was still standing—knees nearly buckling, yet holding back the colossal blow with every ounce of strength.
The stone gorilla's eyes widened. For the first time, shock flickered across its face.
Lu Yuan panted, drenched in sweat. "Hahh… hahh… I hate this… really, really hate doing this."
But at the corner of his lips, a faint smile appeared. "At least… I managed to surprise you."
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