At this moment, his eyes were bloodshot, his entire eyeball, including the pupil, was a complete crimson.
But within his furious, crimson eyes, his vision was not blurry; instead, it revealed a clear lucidity.
The crimson glow swirling around him was also vastly different from the blood mist when he consumed crimson shards.
"System, whatâs going on with me? This feels like the Berserk state from consuming crimson shards, but why am I so clear-headed?"
[Ding, congratulations Host for your explosive luck! Youâve unlocked the crimson orbâs hidden effect: a 0.5% chance to gain Berserk Mode ability.]
"Thatâs incredible? What are the specific effects? Explain them clearly to me."
[Berserk Mode: Temporarily increases all stats by 10% for two minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.]
"My current physique is over 30 points. After using Berserk Mode, I can directly increase all stats by another 3 points."
"Wouldnât that mean I can easily defeat the Wolf Spirit Lord, hahahaha."
[Ding, the Wolf Spirit Lordâs Strength attribute is in the 40-45 range.]
"Uh."
"Itâs fine as long as my other attributes can crush him. Iâll fight him all the same, besides, I still have my Sprout Team."
He didnât mind being teased by the system; his mind was only focused on how to toy with the Wolf Spirit Lord to death later.
Meanwhile, the Wolf Spirit Lord on the other side witnessed Vikram killing the Giant Rhino and consuming the Crimson Fruit.
While curious about the item he consumed, it also felt the oppressive sensation emanating from his body just now.
It had seen that crimson power many times and was not afraid of it, only puzzled as to why Vikram didnât seem to have his rationality affected by it.
As the Wolf Spirit Lord was contemplating, the figure directly jumped down from the slope, a loud "bang" echoing as Vikram landed steadily.
Facing the Wolf Spirit Lord standing in the ruins, his heart was completely calm at this moment.
Suddenly, as if thinking of something interesting, his mouth spread into a wide grin, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, which made the Wolf Spirit Lord feel somewhat bewildered.
Then, Vikram made a new move.
He picked up a piece of rubble and threw it from outside the ruins. The stone passed through the ruinsâ gate and flew towards the Wolf Spirit Lordâs forehead.
As a Purple Epic-grade Wolf Spirit Lord, it naturally wouldnât care about a small stone. It didnât dodge or evade, allowing the small stone to land on its head.
It wanted to see what Vikram was up to.
Seeing the stone accurately hit its dog head, the Wolf Spirit Lord remained unmoved, and Vikramâs smile grew wider.
"Sure enough... it canât come out. Or rather, it doesnât dare to come out?"
Vikramâs smile slowly deepened as this thought became clearer in his mind.
The snow-covered wind swept across the ruinsâ entrance, carrying loose frost and dust into the silent confrontation between man and beast.
Just as the Wolf Spirit Lordâs golden pupils narrowed slightly, a small figure suddenly stepped forward beside Vikram.
The Warrior Sprout emerged from behind his leg, its tiny blade already drawn.
It tilted its leaf-covered head upward, glaring fearlessly at the towering monster inside the ruins. Then it stamped its foot once on the frozen ground â a childish yet resolute gesture of challenge.
Seeing its companion step out, the Guardian Sprout followed without hesitation. Its vine-bound shield was raised high, the cracked surface faintly glowing with residual energy from previous battles. It positioned itself half a step in front of Vikram, instinctively forming a defensive stance.
Behind them, the Healer Sprout swayed gently, releasing soft green motes that drifted like fireflies in the falling snow. The lingering fatigue from earlier combat quietly faded from Vikramâs muscles.
For a brief moment, the scene became strangely absurd.
On one side stood a colossal purple-grade overlord of the ruins, a creature radiating ancient savagery and overwhelming strength.
On the other side, outside its territorial boundary,
stood a calm human... and three knee-high plant warriors staring it down with unwavering hostility.
The Wolf Spirit Lord let out a low, rumbling growl.
Its claws flexed against the stone floor, gouging deep marks as suppressed rage built within its massive body.
Yet its feet never crossed the invisible line at the ruinsâ gate.
Vikram laughed softly.
"Look at that... even if you have rules you canât break."
"Jie jie jie," Vikramâs eyes narrowed into slits, and he cackled foolishly, baring his teeth.
His guess had been confirmed, and now was the time to annoy the Wolf Spirit Lord.
He bent down, scooped up another stone, and hurled it toward the ruins. Almost immediately, his Sprout Team followed his lead.
The Warrior Sprout lifted both hands, struggling to carry a pebble nearly the size of its own head before flinging it forward with all its might.
The Guardian Sprout, unwilling to fall behind, crouched and flicked stones forward using a whip-like vine, its cracked shield clutched proudly against its chest.
Even the Healer Sprout, normally gentle, shook its leaves vigorously, causing small glowing seed-pellets to scatter like harmless projectiles.
Inside the ruins, the Wolf Spirit Lord looked momentarily speechless at the childish spectacle.
With an impatient swipe of its massive claw, the first stone shattered into dust before reaching it. But this time four stones came at once. Before the beast could properly react, one struck its right eye, another smacked squarely into its snout,
and one more bounced awkwardly across its face.
"Grrrr... Ow," the Wolf Spirit Lord cried out in pain, covering its eye. Its other eye glared fiercely at Vikram, wanting to tear him to shreds.
Seeing the effect, Vikram grinned wider. He slowly turned around, lifted his coat, and patted his raised backside with exaggerated provocation.
"Come bite me."
Although the Wolf Spirit Lord didnât understand his words, it clearly understood the action of patting his butt.
At this moment, its hostility intensified.
But facing Vikram, who was smiling broadly outside the ruins, it could do nothing but bare its teeth and growl a warning.
Just as he turned back, not yet ready for the next attack, he noticed the Wolf Spirit Lord starting to threaten him with muffled "woo-howls."
How could he tolerate this?
His Sprout Team immediately imitated his chaotic assault.
Warrior Sprout began tossing stones in rapid succession like a miniature catapult.
Guardian Sprout swung its vine in circles, sending pebbles spinning unpredictably toward the beast.
Healer Sproutâs glowing motes flickered faster, the tiny light-seeds pattering harmlessly yet persistently against the Lordâs fur.
The attacks barely caused pain, but they were deeply humiliating. It made it feel like Vikram was treating it like a monkey.
Gradually, the ferocity in the Wolf Spirit Lordâs gaze intensified. Veins bulged beneath its thick fur as rage swelled within its massive frame.
Its arms crossed defensively, muscles expanding grotesquely as it began swatting away the endless barrage.
Finally, it threw its arms wide and released a thunderous roar that shook the ancient ruin, "ROOOAAARRRâ!"
Vikram didnât even flinch "Oh? Roaring so loud? Then have some more."
The flying stones were indeed blocked by its two arms, but Vikramâs hands hadnât stopped moving.
In the next instant, seven or eight pebbles flew in erratic arcs... And several of them shot straight into the Wolf Spirit Lordâs wide-open snarling mouth.
"One unit of stone can be broken down into thirty small stones. I can fight you all day."
Vikram boasted loudly, his hands moving nonstop as pebble after pebble flew toward the furious beast.
Beside him, his Sprout Team enthusiastically joined in.
Warrior Sprout tossed stones with exaggerated effort, sometimes even stumbling from the recoil.
Guardian Sprout used its vine like a sling, sending sharp pebbles spinning through the air.
Healer Sprout drifted close, scattering faint green motes that shimmered like harmless sparks â more of a teasing distraction than an actual attack.
"Ugh!"
The Wolf Spirit Lord turned its back and clawed the stones out of its mouth, its black wolf face now flushed red with rage and humiliation.
Finally, after a long stalemate, its cunning eyes flickered with calculation.
Without warning, it retreated deeper into the ruins, vanishing around a corner.
"Hm?"
"Why did it leave?"
"I havenât even had enough fun yet..."
Vikramâs playful expression slowly faded into caution.
"No... this bastard is extremely cunning. Last time I almost died because of its tricks."
He immediately activated the biological detector. The blinking signal proved the truth, the Wolf Spirit Lord had not gone far at all.
"Hiding around the corner?"
"Heh..."
Vikram crouched low and signaled his Sprout Team. Warrior Sprout tightened its grip on its tiny blade. Guardian Sprout raised its cracked shield defensively. Healer Sproutâs glow intensified slightly, preparing to sustain them.
Inside the ruins, the Wolf Spirit Lord crouched silently behind the stone turn, its lips curling into a sinister grin.
Its plan was simple. Pretend to withdraw... lure the human inside... then strike with a killing ambush.
A strange, low chuckle escaped its throat.
"Heh heh heh..."
"What are you laughing at?"
A familiar human voice suddenly echoed from directly behind it.
"Tell me too. Iâd like to laugh as well."
The Wolf Spirit Lord stiffened.
Turning its head sharply, it saw Vikram already inside the ruins, standing just behind it, a newly hollowed gap in the ruin wall marking his unexpected entry point.
Behind Vikram, the Sprout Team had also slipped in quietly. Guardian Sprout guarded his flank like a tiny sentinel. Warrior Sprout pointed its blade straight at the beast, eyes blazing with fighting spirit. Healer Sprout hovered between them, radiating a steady healing aura.
The Lord scratched its head in visible irritation.
This strange ability of Vikram, making walls "disappear", was becoming increasingly troublesome.
Realizing its trap had been exposed, the beast abandoned subtlety.
With a ferocious snarl, it lunged forward, a giant claw sweeping down like a falling boulder.
At that exact instant, Guardian Sprout slammed its shield upward, slightly deflecting the trajectory.
Warrior Sprout leapt in from the side, striking the claw joint to disrupt its momentum.
Using that split-second opening, Vikram stepped backward calmly and slipped out of the ruin boundary again.
The massive wolf claw tore through empty air.
The Wolf Spirit Lord froze at the invisible limit.
Though rage burned in its eyes, its feet still refused to cross that unseen threshold.
But Vikram was not bound the same way.
With a mere thought, the Iron sword flashed back into his hand.
Seizing the moment of confusion created by his Sprout Teamâs interference, he thrust forward like lightning, the blade shooting through the ruinâs boundary straight toward the stunned Wolf Spirit Lord.
"Ow!"
A short but bone-deep wound appeared on its fur-covered hand.
The blade enchanted with a bleeding effect was remarkably effective; blood trickled out, and even the Wolf Spirit Lord could not ignore such a wound.
It retreated rapidly, leaving Vikramâs attack range, licking its wound as it entered the depths of the ruins.
This kid only knew how to cheat; it wasnât stupid, it would just hide in the ruins and not play with him anymore.
It thought to itself, "If I canât beat him, canât I at least run away?"
Vikram, seeing that the Wolf Spirit Lord in his biological detector had truly gone far, was a bit surprised.
But it was no pity; since the Wolf Spirit Lord was ignoring him, he would just go into the ruins and steal things; he would surely find a way to lure it out.
Then, he rushed straight into the ruins and began to search everywhere.