Chapter 21：Illusions Of Time

"The rats on the outer edge dropped some rice, I will go pick them up."

Just as Ye Chen was going to pick up the rice, Xiao Ai killed one of the motionless rats of the edge, and a grain of rice dropped. Immediately, she exclaimed and rushed into action.

At the same time, a grain was dropped by the Durian Bomb Tree.

"Xiao Ai, pass me the grain."

In total, the two of them had collected 10 grains. 

"Alright." Without question, Xiao Ai passed Ye Chen the rice grain. In Ye Chen's inventory, there were now 10 grains of rice.

"Combine into 'Delicious Food'!" After collecting 10 grains, a system option appeared, and Ye Chen chose to fuse them into a perishable item!

"Xiao Ai, be on guard. A huge wave of rats is coming!" Ye Chen cautioned his partner.

Upon usage, "Delicious Food" would release a mouth-watering scent, attracting all of the rats from across the paddy field to one location for 90 seconds.

Every adventurer who had attempted this Instance Dungeon knew of the effects. However, not many chose to do so, other than during their initial few attempts. Indeed, "Delicious Food" attracted a massive wave of rats. However, the results were dismal. If the party could earn back their initial 10 grains investment, it was already a good result. Many times, the 10 grains would result in a negative return.

If Xiao Ai did not possess the Necklace of the White Angel, Ye Chen would not have done so.

By the base of the 2 Durian Bomb Tree, Ye Chen used Delicious Food.

A sumptuous scent wafted with the gentle breeze, spreading and enveloping the field within it. Within an instant, a massive scurrying sound erupted across the golden field. All of the rats were swarming maniacally towards the delightful dish under the trees.

"My God, that's a lot of rats…" Xiao Ai's brain stuttered for a moment as she struggled to comprehend the sight her eyes took in. 

Ye Chen's face twitched as well. His mind had gone on pause as his thoughts churned to keep up. This was different from the situation he saw in the past. The volume of rats swarming towards him was exponentially more dominating than what he recalled. 

As they struggled to react, the mighty army of rats had appeared by their sides!

Under the shadows of the trees, the two astonished adventurers stood. If the army of rats chose to attack them, they would not last longer than a minute even with all of their HP potions. Thankfully, the attack range of the Durian Bomb Tree was wide. The instant the rats entered the area, durians pelleted down, engulfing the frenzied and famished rats within the blinding rays of death.

It was a magnificent sight. A sea of bright light sparkled with crimson numbers fleeting about as the rats perished.

Suddenly, a loud exclamation pierced through the cacophony of explosion. "I can't heal in time!"

As a Level 10 Priestess, Xiao Ai could only use 2 Healing Skills, Spring Rain, and Healing. Furthermore, Healing could not regenerate health for both trees at the same time. Under the merciless gnawing of the unending swarm of rats, the HP of both Durian Bomb Trees were plunging. At this moment, she could barely keep the Durian Bomb Trees by their side alive. As for the one further away, she was helpless.

At this rate, in less than 10 seconds, the other tree would be destroyed by the rats. Without the second tree, the Durian Bomb Tree by their side would not last long under an even more massive group attack as well!

However, not a strand of worry was on Ye Chen as his eyes darted over to the overwhelming surge of rats. He knew the most giant wave of rats was just this initial wave. After which, the numbers would dwindle. They just had to last these 10 seconds, and they would be fine.

"Illusions of Time!"

Swing his staff at the Durian Bomb Tree 2 meters away from him, Ye Chen used the skill he had just learnt!

A beam of gray light descended like a pillar from the Heavens onto the Durian Bomb Tree. Under the glimmer, the size of the Durian Bomb Tree ballooned by several magnitudes. The tree shook uncontrollably as durian bombs rained on torrentially.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Rapid explosions shook the earth, sending pulses of shockwaves across the field. Under the cascading durian bombs, the rats around the second Durian Bomb Tree were reduced to a minuscule ball of white light before they could even react. 

"Wow… What skill is this?" Xiao Ai's eyes and her mouth were frozen wide open in an expression of stunned surprise. Then, she muttered softly. 

"Illusions of Time. The Boss dropped this skill. It will boost the vitality and power of the plants. However, it will last less than 10 seconds." Ye Chen was blase. While the skill was rare amongst the Botanists, the effects were well known. It was impressive to Xiao Ai as she was a greenhorn.

That being said, the prowess of the combination of Durian Bomb Tree and Illusion of Time was unmistakably appalling. Ye Chen only dared to use Delicious Food because of the Illusion of Time.

"OH MY GOODNESS! So many grains of rice!" 

Under the overwhelming DPS of the 2 Durian Bomb Trees, the rats were defenceless and quickly killed. In their place was a sprawling area of sparkling grains of rice, leaving Xiao Ai wide-eyed as she stared in excitement. 

"Pick them up after we clear most of the rats. They will not respawn until some time later. Watch your HP, don't die." Seeing her overflowing excitement, Ye Chen was slightly worried. If Xiao Ai really died, the mission was practically over.

Soon, the first wave of maniacal rats on the map was entirely obliterated. Under the effects of Delicious Food, there were still waves of rats trickling in from afar. However, the numbers and density paled in comparison. The Illusions of Time lasted for another 7 seconds, but the situation still stabilised majorly.

With lesser rats plaguing their minds, Ye Chen and Xiao Ai picked up their loot. Their initial investment of 10 grains was quickly collected back. The remaining 90 seconds of the Delicious Food pass in a blink of an eye, bringing a stop to the swarming rats. In this time, the duo counted their earnings.

A dazzling 38 grains of rice!

"Nice! Let's continue!"

Satisfied and happy was an understatement of how Ye Chen felt in the face of this result. He quickly fished out another 10 grains and made another serving of Delicious Food.

...

At the same time, in another golden paddy field within the Instance Dungeon, the mage team led by The Invulnerable had stopped their attacks. The final countdown had begun for them, and they were about to be transported out of the dungeon.

"HAHAHA! Three hundred sixty seven grains, we are so going to break the record!" The crimson mage, named Rat burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Hmm, well-done everyone. Let's stop here for today. The results will be out tomorrow at 6 P.M. Then, we can go for a huge celebration!" The Invulnerable was very pleased with their gatherings. In his memory, the number of teams that collected more than 300 was countable with his fingers, and every single one of them was the top.

"Boss, I want to get a hostess!" one of the mages exclaimed in excitement.

Before The Invulnerable could respond, 6 pillars of light shone, transporting them out of the golden Instance Dungeon.

...

It had been thirty minutes since Ye Chen and Xiao Ai entered the golden paddy field. Soon, two white lights flashed near the rice field watchman, and Ye Chen and Xiao Ai appeared.

Ye Chen seemed to be in a hurry. When she appeared, she took Xiao Ai and ran to the "Paddy Field Watcher" to report their successful mission.

"Two young adventurers, thank you so much. I didn't expect you to kill so many of the thieving rats and recover so much rice. Here, a gift to show my appreciation!"

The "Paddy Field Watcher" in a farmer costume saw the two and welcomed them happily.

[System Message, you have completed the mission, "The thief in the Fields"]

[System Message, you have gained 213368 experience!]

[System Message, you have levelled up to Level 12!]

[System Message, you have levelled up to Level 13!]

[System Message, you have levelled up to Level 14!]

As multiple messages rang, the blinding light of levelling engulfed Ye Chen and Xiao Ai.

"Fuck! What is going on? Why did they gain so much experience?!" Seeing the peculiar sight, the adventures on their side gasped.

"What? What's with the hullabaloo?" The adventurers who did not witness the scene crowded around in curiosity.

"Xiao Ai, I'm going offline. I will come online slightly later tonight. The dungeon results would be released at 6 P.M., you can collect the reward first. If you have other plans, you can go ahead alone, don't need to wait for me. If you have questions, just check the forums, the answers are all there." Treating the crowding adventurers like transparent glass, Ye Chen spoke to Xiao Ai hastily and went offline.

"Eh, pretty little girl, how did you level up so fast? Tell me, big brother here will bring you along to level up!"

"Beautiful lil sister, ignore this pervy old man. Tell Sister, I will bring you to a fantastic guild!'

"Come on, tell me! I will pay you!"

...

As Ye Chen disappeared from the spot, Xiao Ai was left alone in the epicentre of this mess. The surrounding adventures finally realised what happened and flooded towards here, rattling off by themselves, drowning Xiao Ai with a cacophony of deafening noise.

"ARGH! Fucking noisy! Get! Away! From! Me!!!!!" The elegant, and petite Xiao Ai suddenly snapped. Her face was overflowing with disgust and annoyance as she roared at the top of her lungs.

Facing the booming lioness's roar, the adventurers just stared, open-mouthed. Her scream was so out of character, so far from what they thought of her. Their brains went blank, formulating no thoughts other than to register the shock.

One of the adventurers shook his head vigorously. His ears must be playing tricks on him. Seizing the silence, he approached her. "Mhm, pretty girl…"

"Fuck off." Before he even finished, Xiao Ai's eyes sent knives with her gaze, snapping again.

This time, they all heard her loud and clear.

Ignoring the totem-like, dumbstruck people, Xiao Ai took out the Town-return Scroll and headed back to Titan Megacity.

"God, I'm beat."

As soon as he returned to the city, fatigue flushed her tiny face, turning downcasted. As if she had lost all her strength, she dragged her staff behind her. Her arms drooped lifelessly as she treads down the street like a zombie.

After being stared at by others on the street for a while, Xiao Ai pulled her back up and stretched lazily. Soon, the ball of white light took her away from the streets.