"You're the one who said I wasn't contributing, that's why I went to attack Boon Fong," I retorted, raising my voice indignantly. "I just wanted to help, that's all."
Just then, Boon Fong let out a loud cry. He gripped his long sword in a reverse hold with both hands and raised it overhead. The sword began absorbing energy from its surroundings. Then, Boon Fong leaped into the air and thrust the sword towards the ground. Ice spikes erupted from the ground in all directions around him – front, back, left, and right.
Zi Qian looked at Boon Fong ahead, then glared at me and said, "That's not helping; that's hindering."
"I already said I didn't mean to!"
I had gone to attack Boon Fong with sincere intentions to help them. Even if it wasn't very smooth, Zi Qian shouldn't have spoken to me like that.
But thinking about it carefully, if I hadn't charged out earlier, perhaps Xin Hui wouldn't have gotten hurt.
"Stop arguing, we're a team now. Whatever it is, let's defeat Boon Fong first before..." Xin Hui trailed off abruptly. She stared at Boon Fong ahead and shouted urgently, "He's coming towards us! Run!"
Boon Fong arrived in front of us, raising both hands high. The long sword was absorbing energy from the air. Seeing this, Xin Hui and Zi Qian simultaneously jumped backwards.
I want to contribute to the team. I don't want to be the one Zi Qian calls the 'black sheep'.
Because of that thought, I had no intention of dodging Boon Fong's attack. Instead, I adopted a defensive stance, intending to take his ice spikes head-on, but was forced back five or six steps.
Xin Hui hurried over and supported me as I was still stumbling backward, saying, "Boon Fong always remains in his final pose for a few seconds after using the ice spikes. You're hurt, step aside for now."
I looked at the red marks on my legs, then checked my health bar. It was still green, not even reduced by a third.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
"Wang Wu yi, what were you doing just now? You clearly had time to dodge the attack, why didn't you avoid it?" Zi Qian also came to my side, angrily questioning me.
"I want to prove that I'm not here to be a hindrance!"
After saying that, regardless of what they said next, I mustered my courage and launched an attack at Boon Fong before he could prepare his ice spikes again.
By this time, Boon Fong had already completed the preparatory motion for his ice spike attack. Just as I charged towards him, he thrust an ice spike directly at me. Seizing the moment, I jumped upwards with all my strength, avoiding the ice spike on the ground, then used the force of my descent to bring my sword down hard on him.
Boon Fong's sword clattered to the ground with a clear, sharp sound.
I looked at the health bar above Boon Fong's head. It was gone.