Ming presented another box of potion, thrusting it into the somewhat dazed Smith's hands, and instructed, "You must remind my puppets to take their medicine on time. Consider yourself a semi-physician."
"Alright."
Smith, clutching the box of potion, hastily followed behind Raoul and Kyomoto Jiro, frequently reminding them to take their magic medication.
Ming drew out his spear, glancing toward the direction from where the Psychic Giant Eagle had disappeared. It appeared that Cardel wouldn't be returning any time soon. Subsequently, he charged into the zombie horde with his spear, stooping to sweep, simultaneously breaking the ankles of the berserk zombie soldiers.
Several hundred zombie soldiers, under his concentrated attack alongside Raoul and Kyomoto Jiro, all collapsed crippled and disabled. Now only the cunning Zombie Doctor Cardel remained!
A swift battle was necessary as he realized his mental and physical exhaustion was increasing at nearly double the rate before.
"Your froglets saw Cardel passing by. Da Vinci wanted to activate its collectability, but it lacked the energy to stir its ability," he sighed. "Our journey was interrupted earlier, and my abilities have been sealed."
Merlin hopped up, brushing past Cardel's hand. After landing, it looked towards the retreating Cardel, wanting to tell Ming, "This guy is immune to toxins and viruses!"
"Merlin advises you to be careful!"
"As expected..."
Ming turned towards the returning Cardel. Just like Merlin, this character played with poison; his immunity to toxins was not surprising.
"Hehe..."
Cardel, looking at Ming and the others charging ahead, had his attributes elevated. His agility had already surpassed Raoul's, making him akin to a runaway wild horse.
"Come here."
Ming pulled Smith by his side, "Don't be scared, you'll be fine. Just remember to protect your head."
"?"
Smith was slightly bewildered, "You say I'll be okay, yet you tell me to protect my head. So, am I safe or not?"
Why did it feel like his fate was once again accelerating in a downhill direction?
"Hehe..."
Zombie Doctor Cardel was about to rush right in front of him.
"Hold on!"
Ming raised his hand, signaling Raoul and Kyomoto Jiro to stay still. Simultaneously, they drank the potion to replenish their energy.
The distance between the two sides was now 30 meters.
20 meters.
10 meters.
"Boss?"
Smith was getting anxious. The enemy was almost on top of them, and yet their seemingly confident boss remained motionless. What on earth was he planning?
Just as Smith was puzzling over this, he suddenly felt himself being hauled forward by Ming... he felt like a shield!
"?"
Smith was taken aback. Had he been played?
"Don't be scared, you'll definitely be okay!"
"I am scared!"
5 meters.
3 meters.
"Hehe~~"
Cardel raised his syringe to use his skill, emitting a golden aura from his body, invincible!
Ming promptly pushed Smith forward. In that instant, Smith's face turned pale as he yelled, "Boss, it's asking me again if I'm willing!"
"Say yes!"
"I'm willing! I'm willing!"
After Smith finished yelling out his willingness, Ming pulled him back and tossed him aside, immediately ordering the two Emperor-level puppets behind him, "Pin him down for me!"
Being invincible merely meant not getting hurt, it didn't mean he couldn't be pinned down!
"Roar!"
"Humph!"
"Charge!"
The three of them lunged forward simultaneously. Ming, taking advantage of Cardel's momentary stupor due to the lack of a target, clung onto his legs, pulling forcefully towards himself.
Raoul, from the right, angled a punch at Cardel's face, which due to the tremendous force caused him to stoop. Kyomoto Jiro, from the left, pounced diagonally, his robust right arm slamming into Cardel's neck, throwing him onto the ground.
At this moment, Cardel's invincibility wore off.
"Inject the poison!"
Ming immediately went forth to inject him, pushing the medicine in, and shouted, "Kyomoto Jiro, keep him pinned down for me!"
Splutter!!
Raoul, pressing on Cardel's head, forced open his mouth to start pouring in the toxin. Of course, Ming knew that Cardel was immune to toxins. He was just trying to divert his attention, to allow himself more opportunities and time for bridging.
Snap!
Ming placed a single hand on Cardel's forehead, commencing the bridging process.
1 second...2 seconds...6 seconds...10 seconds...
Bridging failed!
At this point, both Raoul and Kyomoto Jiro were at the end of their physical and mental strength. He himself was also drained.
Ming immediately looked towards Smith, "Smith! Come over and take the medicine!"
Smith, who was tossed out just now, rubbed his head that had hit the ground. He immediately crawled and rolled over, opening the medicine vial with both hands and one by one, stuffed them into Raoul and Jiro's mouths.
"Watch out!"
"Ah!"
Ming warned. Smith got kicked in the face by one of Cardel's legs which had wriggled free, sending him flipping through the air before rolling onto the ground motionless.
"Damn it!"
Ming immediately rose to his feet, instructing his subordinates, "Hold him down!!"
At the same time, he unclenched his left hand, "I don't believe that I can't bridge you with my money ability!"
"Give me energy!"
Loose fist!
Tight fist!
[50,000 gold coins disappeared…]
[90,000 gold coins disappeared…]
[…]
[150,000 gold coins disappeared… Energy +1500.]
"Let me bridge!"
Ming extended his right hand and placed it on Cardel's forehead, commencing the bridging process.
1 second…4 seconds…9 seconds…
Bridging failed!
"Damn it!"
"take the medicine!"
Ming took out the potion and poured it down his throat. He noticed that Smith wasn't moving. Was he knocked out by that kick just now?
At this moment, Smith's body started to tremble, spasming all over. Ming realized it was because Smith hadn't replenished his energy and stamina in time after being dazed by the kick, leading to the manifestation of symptoms when both his stamina and energy hit rock bottom!
There was no time to think. Ming immediately opened the potion and handed it to Raoul and Kyomoto Jiro.
Boom!
Just as Raoul and Kyomoto Jiro were both exhausted, Cardel broke free from their grip and threw a punch at Ming.
Ming swiftly dodged, but his left shoulder was still hit, sending him flying backward. The potion was still clutched in his hand, and Ming inwardly cried out!
[Puppet Raoul's energy and stamina hit zero, and illness manifested.]
[Puppet Kyomoto Jiro's energy and stamina hit zero, and illness manifested.]
[…]
At this moment, Raoul and Kyomoto Jiro lay flat on the ground, completely motionless.
"..."
Ming just has alone facing Cardel.
"Hahaha~"
Instead of charging at Ming, Cardel jabbed his syringe into the skin of the downed Raoul, drawing blood! He then injected it into his own body.
"Are you kidding me?"
Before Ming could get up, Cardel was already upon him, ready to unleash his ability with the syringe.
"Tent!"
With a whistle, a tent materialized, enveloping both him and Cardel.
[The tent's effect is triggered, and the opponent's ability is silenced]
"Hahaha!!"
Ming laughed, got up, and extended a broken bowl, "Give me money!"
Ding~Received 1 gold coin.
"Hehe~"
Cardel suddenly rushed forward, jabbing with his syringe.
"Give me more money!"
Ming put away the broken bowl and pulled out a potion, trying to exploit a moment of hesitation to give him an injection. However, he found his energy level almost depleted and couldn't cast his ability at all.
Drink the potion! He immediately bit open the potion and poured it into his mouth. At that very moment, the recovered Cardel stepped forward, swung his fist, and sent Ming flying to crash against the tent wall.
"You're so fast!"
Ming clutched his aching chest. He knew that Cardel's speed had increased again. He must have absorbed some of Raoul's attributes after injecting Raoul's blood into his body. And it seemed to be agility, considering he wasn't that fast just now.
Ming activated [Fancy Footwork], rolling to the right to avoid Cardel's stomp. He quickly rolled back to his feet and raised his shotgun to fire.
Whack! The shotgun was slapped out of his hand by a swipe from Cardel!