Chapter 1174 - 580: Slow Technique_2

Noticing that the priest was using the body of "Algae Scale" Dodd for the ritual, Xia Nan hesitated not a bit and charged towards the fishman priest with a howl.

"Swish!"

"Shhhhh!!"

They were all seasoned adventurers with ample combat experience, so how could they not understand the principle of "spellcasters first".

It was at the moment when everyone realized that the battle was inevitable and that they had to crush the fishman troops in front of them to possibly find a way out and prepared for combat.

The remote shooters among the adventurers, along with a few spellcasters, had already aimed their firepower at the distant fishman priest.

From force field missiles infused with magic particles to self-spinning wooden arrows ensconced in swirling winds.

The adventurers’ long-range attacks poured towards the fishman priest.

In response, the elderly priest named "Uek" remained remarkably calm.

There was no need to actively cast spells; the two tall fishman commanders beside him had already protected him behind them.

Holding fish spears that spun like propellers in front of him, the gravel on the ground was swept up by the strong wind, layers of glowing Blue light rippled out at high speed from the fish spears almost forming a circular phantom, and gradually expanded outward, finally forming a semi-transparent defensive energy shield.

"Bang!"

"Boom!!"

Arrows fell like rain on the shield’s surface, dispersing all kinetic energy upon impact, a few specially infused arrows caused ripples on the shield’s surface, and finally perished along with three successive magic missiles, shattering into light particles.

Such cooperative defense obviously took a great toll on the physically robust fishman commanders as well, panting heavily, their gill flaps on the back of their necks moved unnaturally.

Yet in the meantime, they effectively blocked the adventurers’ first round of ranged attacks on Uek.

As for the second round...

Clearly, for these temporarily assembled adventurers, there was no time for that now.

Because the fishmen had taken this opportunity to completely surround the adventurers on the coast.

"Ahhhh!!!"

With the surface of his skin covered in faint red flame light, his muscles swelling as if inflated, Iron Grid led the "Furious Tide Battle Gang" at the forefront of the team, swinging his massive iron hammer, whipping up a mist of blood in the fishman minions ahead.

Pure blood elf Sefeng received a boost from a teammate with restricted casting ability, his footsteps left fleeting phantoms behind, significantly enhancing his agility and speed attributes, turning each nearby fishman into severely injured, incapacitated foes.

"Sword of Vengeance" had an even more harmonious teamwork; given the overly chaotic situation, as a precaution, Druid Hai Yin, under orders from their captain, had long since transformed into an albatross and soared into the sky, providing timely aerial support for his teammates;

Striped Catman Sasha and Barbarian Aken collaborated, the former nimble and swift, the latter fierce and powerful, one attacking, the other wandering, creating considerable damage among the fishmen.

Lorin’s position was slightly more scattered, positioned slightly away on the side of the team.

It wasn’t because she had a Lone Wolf combat style like Xia Nan’s.

The red-hot current emitted from her mastered battle skill, [Scorching Temperature Domain], relentlessly roasted any enemy daring to approach, while her scimitar left streaks of flame in the air, turning fishmen into corpses.

Half orc Alton stood as usual at the back of the battlefield, his melodious harp music echoed, providing stamina replenishment and boosting morale for all adventurers on the field.

Ellison wielded his dual short blades, guarded beside the small figure, protecting this augmenter who played quite a significant role in the team battle.

The Sha Hua fishmen had clearly greater numbers, but the adventurers were not few either; over thirty were seasoned seafarers, though slightly weakened, they managed to withstand the fishmen’s encirclement, even showing signs of gaining the upper hand in the scenario.

Multitasking, Uek muttered the sacrificial ceremony’s prayer under his breath while keenly observing the battlefield situation.

Realizing the disadvantage looming on his side, he pondered strategies.

Suddenly, a faint sense of danger surged in his mind.

Subconsciously turning his head, he looked towards the originally blind spot in his rear side.

He saw a wolf-shaded dark shadow, already circled behind him without knowing when.

Its trajectory was uncertain, seemingly targeting him, but also possibly heading towards "Algae Scale" Dodd’s body.

Uek initially paid it no heed, dismissing it as just another competent wanderer among the adventurers.

Until the spell cast by two fishman priests hidden beneath the sea surface fell directly onto this adventurer.

The pink one was supposed to be [Human Immobilization Spell], avoided with an astonishing speed that barely allowed for bodily rigidity to occur, nearly instantaneous immunity;

The Green radiance that landed on him transformed into green vines entwining his body, briefly slowing his movement, but he easily broke free afterward.

Undoubtedly possessing combat experience and ability far surpassing ordinary adventurers, the black-haired young man enveloped in the shadowy wolf form even continuously resisted two spells while his burst power and mobility allowed him to bypass the elite guards initially blocking his path.

"Exceedingly swift, has certain resistance bonuses towards control-type spells."

Considering the differing reactions of the two spells on him, the black-haired adventurer likely had resistance in spiritual aspects.

Throughout Uek’s long life, he can’t count the number of times he has battled adventurers.

He had already analyzed, from the tests by the fishmen, the style characteristics of this adventurer who gave him a vague sense of danger even before engaging.

Constantly thinking, combined with the battlefield situation, Uek devised his optimal solution.

"Buzz..."

Magic radiance flickered at the Bone White Staff’s tip, an exceedingly complex magic model instantly took shape under the sketching of condensed spiritual power.

Magic power infused within, forming a conspicuous pink energy light on the battlefield.

——3rd Ring·Transformation·Slow Technique!

The effect of this spell was not complex, even straightforward.

Anyone hit by the spell without passing the check would have their personal time flow slowed to a certain extent, making movements sluggish, reactions delayed, like pressing the 0.5x speed button.

The spell itself was not damaging, but its control effect, even without being enhanced, could simultaneously affect six targets, making it the fishman priest’s spell of choice in the current situation.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The pink light concentrated at the staff’s tip, locked onto targets under Uek’s mental control, transformed into six comet-like light groups with long trails, drifting speedily yet hard to evade in the air.

They gently landed on six adventurers Uek had decided upon when analyzing the battlefield situation.

Namely Lorin, Iron Grid, Sefeng, Sasha, Xia Nan, and the shadowy adventurer who attempted to leave the island with crew at the dock but was forced to stay due to the ship’s damage.

Choosing these six was not arbitrary.

Uek’s selection criteria considered their roles in combat, the likely outcomes following the spell taking effect, and the adventurers’ success rate in spell immunity checks.

Like Lorin, Iron Grid, and Sefeng, even without clarification, their teams’ responses revealed their core statuses; if a significant blow was dealt to these central figures, it would evidently weaken the overall morale of the adventurers.

Similarly to Striped Catman Sasha and Xia Nan, despite not holding core positions among the adventurers, their combat effectiveness put them in a category worth targeting.

And crucially, both of their fighting styles leaned towards agility and dexterity.

Should the [Slow Technique] be successful, it would evidently have greater impact compared to other equally effective adventurers.

As for the shaded middle-aged man...

Talk about misfortune.

He was the captain of a notably potent adventurer team, held a core status, and also showcased a wanderer-like agile combat style, emphasizing wandering and evasion.

And so became Uek’s breakthrough point for turning the tide of the battle.