"Chew it up… chew chew…"
He casually grabbed a handful of rice and chewed it, his pure black vitality and stamina reaching their peak once more.
The White-Haired Lion-Monkey's attacks were chaotic, but there was a brief opening for counter-attack after each strike.
It was also weak to fire, so gaining the initiative was crucial.
Attacks had to be decisive; one couldn't let its unsportsmanlike tactics disrupt their mindset.
Furthermore, the "Ichimonji" skill was highly effective against the White-Haired Lion-Monkey's chaotic whirlwind slashes.
While the headless ape was in its revival and reboot phase, with no health bar appearing yet, Chun Hei quickly reviewed the strategy notes for the White-Haired Lion-Monkey's first phase.
*Thump thump thump*—!!
The headless corpse, having regained mobility, shuddered and stood up. It grabbed its severed head with its left hand, its right hand grasping a rusty, broken saber stuck nearby. The body staggered forward towards Chun Hei.
"A true miracle of medicine."
Despite the shocking sight, the viewers were amused.
'So weeb.'
'Bring your head to me.'
'Real Charge of the Head'
'Split up and act.'
'Take the lead.'
…
The viewers' imaginations ran wild, and the live stream was filled with merriment.
"You're all show-offs, watch me…"
*ROAR*!
Chun Hei hadn't finished speaking when he was stunned by the headless corpse's 'roar', leaving him disoriented. He was then cleaved in two by a sweeping sword strike.
[INCOMPETENT]
"…"
Silence.
The scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The headless corpse sprayed a mist of blood from its fist-sized neck, paralyzing Chun Hei.
At first glance, it resembled an enhanced version of the Blood Mist Slaughter, its roar even more preposterous than when it had its head!
The second phase of the White-Haired Lion-Monkey delivered a severe blow right at the start. The music turned eerie, and coupled with the splattering blood, the entire scene was enveloped in a sea of red!
From the playful antics of the first phase to the terrifying and somewhat gory combat of the second, Chun Hei truly felt the weight of this boss that had blocked all players for two days.
*Swish*—
The White Ape Swordsaint leaped high, landing with a distorted strike!
Chun Hei instinctively raised his sword to block.
*Clang*!
A deafening roar, like a bomb exploding, erupted. Chun Hei, sword and all, was driven half a foot deep into the mud. He had no doubt that if it weren't for the sturdiness of the Zi Ying Sword, this heavy cleave would have split him in two.
Each chop and sweep contained an unimaginable, monstrous force, surpassing even the "Embrace Me to Death" attack from the Nightmare Red Man for newcomers.
*Screech*!!!
Immediately after, the White Ape Swordsaint lunged towards Chun Hei's face with a tilted body, its neck emitting a grating roar… no, it was the screech of countless bloodstreams frictioning with the air.
In an instant,
A torrent of blood mist transformed into sharp blades, and Chun Hei, without even time to react, died on the spot once more.
[INCOMPETENT]
With both lives depleted, Chun Hei revived from a nearby Guardian Ape Shrine.
Bathed in blood and tears,
Facing the first phase of the White Ape Swordsaint again, Chun Hei had become much more at ease.
There's one aspect of "Sekiro" that is highly commendable: once players defeat a boss, they face no pressure when encountering them again, giving the impression that a former defeated foe will forever remain so.
Thus, Chun Hei, at the cost of only one vitality bar, reached the second phase once more.
While the White Ape Swordsaint with its head preferred unconventional tactics in the first phase, in the second phase, perhaps due to the absence of its head, it focused solely on swordsmanship.
This headless corpse, staggering as it walked, seemed to fight like it was drunk, its movements unpredictable, its strikes swift and precise with terrifying brute force. Each swing seemed to twist the very air around it.
It was incredibly unsettling!
What was even more dreadful was the blood gushing from its severed neck, staining its chest a vivid crimson, making it a ghastly sight against its other whitened fur!
For the next half hour, the White-Haired Lion-Monkey demonstrated its prowess as the White Ape Swordsaint to everyone.
Of course,
After a full half hour of bloody baptism, Chun Hei did not gain nothing.
Through several close encounters, even overcoming his fear to climb onto the White-Haired Lion-Monkey's severed neck for a closer look, he finally discovered the truth—
A centipede, nearly two meters long, was hidden inside the White-Haired Lion-Monkey!!
The Insect-Possessed · White-Haired Lion-Monkey!!
"No wonder, no wonder this guy is so hard to kill, it even felt invincible!"
Chun Hei stared warily at the hundred-legged centipede, pulled out by his cybernetic arm's spear attachment and exposed to the air, its fangs bared and claws extended. A shiver ran down his spine.
'I'm genuinely terrified.'
'So damn scary!'
'The old thief was quite restrained in Sekiro; in Dark Souls, this White Ape would have had its skin peeled and tentacles sprouting long ago.'
'You know the old thief well.'
'Oh my god, so unsettling, I'm getting goosebumps.'
'It feels like Sekiro's monster designs aren't purely visual pollution, but rather a stark visual impact, something truly shocking.'
'With a cackling laugh, it would be even more authentic.'
…
Amidst the flurry of terrified comments, some smarter, more rational viewers analyzed: 'If the centipede is pulled out, then defeating the second phase of the White Ape Swordsaint will pass?'
"It seems that way!"
Hearing the viewers' suggestions, Chun Hei, who had just consumed some rice, was at full status. He also consumed some enhancers to significantly boost his attack power and damage to the White Ape Swordsaint's posture.
*Swish*!!
He leaped forward, Chun Hei, wielding the Zi Ying Sword, began to dance with the headless White Ape.
After so much practice, he had deciphered the White Ape's attack patterns. Whenever the White Ape stood tall and swung with all its might, the moment of a perfect deflection would cause it a brief stagger, like using a thousand pounds of force to deflect four ounces.
This was the perfect opportunity for him to steal some damage!
*Clang clang clang clang*!!
*Clang*—
After several rounds of parrying, Chun Hei seized the opportunity for a perfect deflection, skillfully maneuvered behind the White Ape's blind spot, and unleashed a barrage of attacks on its posterior.
*Chiff chiff chiff*!
After several repetitions, Chun Hei, relying on the Blood Mist Slaughter technique, the Floating Bridge, Ichimonji, and the continuous buffs from the rice, finally maxed out the White Ape Swordsaint's posture.
"Now!"
He roared, as if using all his strength, leaped high, climbed onto the White Ape Swordsaint's neck, drew his spear, and with a strong thrust—
*Hiss hiss hiss*—!!
The hundred-legged centipede, fangs bared and claws extended, was covered in viscous blood and writhed wildly at the severed end.
*Crack*!!!
With a single sword strike, the disgusting culprit was severed in two. The characters that had been absent for three days finally appeared!
[SLAY]
[Obtained: Combat Memory: Great Serpent
A memory of fighting a peerless strongman.
By sitting at the Ghostly Sculptor's Idol and facing the combat memory, attack power can be increased.
The Great Serpent, having sustained a fatal blow, did not die due to the presence of the Undying Parasite...]
[Obtained: Slimy Butterfly Wing
A pair of slim, delicate wings from a butterfly.
Can be used as a tool when equipped to the Cybernetic Arm.
The contents within the Great Serpent's belly were somewhat dissolved.
Possesses the "Finger Whistle" technique.
Those who use this technique will have holes in their fingers; this pair of slim wings bears such markings.]
"Slimy Butterfly Wing…"
Chun Hei stared blankly at the description of the acquired item, his mind reeling.
Remembering the words of the Sculptor before his departure, a tragic past slowly surfaced in his heart.
…
(Shura ending is included, other endings will also be present. This is the normal progression, just heading towards Shura, within three chapters.)