Twenty skeleton warriors pushed forward, undeterred. No matter the strength of any enhanced elite monster, a simple ascent would lead to the random demise of Kaka.
In truth, no monster could withstand five seconds of this relentless onslaught.
"There's nothing particularly strange about this dungeon," Jiang Taotao mused, surveying the scattered, sparse monsters and the painfully slow experience gain.
"It's far more effective to gather a group and burst them down at the base."
He hadn't summoned additional skeleton fighters; any more would just waste time. Jiang Taotao had never imagined that creating a dungeon could be so effortless. Typically, during dungeon runs, she bore the brunt of exhaustion.
The knight was supposed to stand at the forefront, vigilantly absorbing the monsters' aggression while protecting the team. But now, all she had to do was follow behind, devoid of any real responsibility.
"Necromancer—the profession is a bit overpowered," she thought silently, a realization mirrored in the expressions of Duan Gao and Miao Yu beside her.
As they ventured deeper, they entered a winding passage reminiscent of a cave. The dungeon's humidity was far more oppressive than outside, its air thick with a foul, rotting stench. Ning Yiyi had been covering her nose since their entrance.
After navigating the passage for some time, they finally emerged into a vast cavern.
Upon descending from the passage's end, they beheld over fifty skeletons. In the center coiled a giant python.
The boa constrictor stretched at least thirty meters long and boasted a girth exceeding one meter. Its pitch-black scales glinted like armor, reflecting an ominous metallic sheen.
The arrival of Lin Moyu and his team caught the python's attention; its enormous eyes fixated on them, promising devastating retaliation should they dare descend.
A detection spell flared to life.
[Mermaid Queen's Pet Snake (Elite Leader)]
[Level: 23]
[Power: 3600]
[Agility: 5500]
[Spirit: 3000]
[Physique: 5000]
[Skills: Slash, Death Coil, Venom]
The sheer size of the python, dubbed the Mermaid Queen's pet snake, was both amusing and alarming.
This creature surpassed every monster Lin Moyu had encountered before, boasting attributes that eclipsed even those of the Goblin King. Its agility nearly matched that of the skeleton warriors.
"Leave it to me," Jiang Taotao declared without hesitation.
Lin Moyu shook his head in response.
As if on cue, the skeleton warriors surged forward, diving into the fray.
Lin Moyu refrained from summoning more skeletons; he deemed the current twenty sufficient.
One by one, the skeleton warriors leapt into battle against the colossal python.
The serpent, agile and fierce, retaliated, sending several skeleton warriors flying with a swift strike.
Skill: Slap!
The python's tail lashed out, sweeping away multiple skeleton warriors in a single motion.
Half of the twenty skeleton warriors were sent sprawling from the initial assault. The python's unexpected agility left the remaining warriors struggling to maintain their footing.
It slithered rapidly through the cavern, its powerful tail continually battering the skeleton warriors away.
Though the skeleton warriors managed only minor strikes, they didn't sustain significant damage, their impressive defense holding firm against the python's might.
Jiang Taotao's voice rose in alarm, "What should we do? It's too agile!"
"It's fine," Lin Moyu reassured her.
A shimmer of light emanated from his palm as he gestured toward the giant serpent.
Skill: Slow Curse.
A wave of red light flooded the cave, accompanied by a soft, ominous hum—a sign of something dire unfolding.
A red shackling pattern manifested above the python's head, drastically reducing its speed.
Now the skeleton warriors could swiftly engage the beast.
With a frenzy, they unleashed their big knives, slashing fiercely against the python's armored scales.
Skills detonated, inflicting significant damage.
Blood sprayed as scales shattered beneath their assault.
The python howled in agony.
"Is that a curse?" Jiang Taotao inquired, her eyes locked on the red marking.
"Yes," Lin Moyu affirmed, a spark of satisfaction in his gaze.
A necromancer was not merely a summoner but also a formidable mage.
With its speed crippled, the giant python had no choice but to engage in close combat with the skeleton warriors.
Ability: Death Coil.
The python's skill ensnared several skeleton warriors, squeezing tightly with bone-cracking force.
The resulting sound was horrifying, but the warriors remained unharmed.
In fact, the entangled skeletons continued their assault, blades slicing down on the python relentlessly.
Desperation coursed through the giant serpent as it released a venomous spray, filling the cave with a noxious odor that made their stomachs churn.
Though the venom tainted the skeleton warriors, Lin Moyu sensed only minor injuries. Their balanced attributes offered resilience against the assault.
The python flailed, trying everything within its power to shake off the relentless skeleton warriors, but its efforts were futile against the curse that had stripped it of its greatest advantage.
After two grueling minutes, the giant python collapsed, defeat glaring from its eyes.
[Kill the pet snake of the Mermaid Queen at level 23, experience +50000]
[Obtain silver-level armor, Snakeskin Armor.]
[Obtain an intermediate monster crystal nucleus.]
Jiang Taotao couldn't believe her eyes; a smirk played at the corners of her mouth. "Is that it?"
"Yep," Lin Moyu replied, a hint of pride lacing his tone as he jumped down, landing firmly at the cave's edge.
Jiang Taotao and the others stood momentarily dazed, struggling to process the swift victory.
Ning Yiyi beamed brightly; the more powerful Lin Moyu became, the more ecstatic she felt.
"Stop staring; let's move!" she urged, leaping down gracefully like a butterfly, her elegance contrasting Lin Moyu's unceremonious descent.
Finally snapping back to reality, Jiang Taotao and the others followed suit, hopping down into the cave.
As they crossed through, the sight of a radiant blue sun met their eyes, revealing a magnificent palace ahead.
The Palace of the Mermaid Queen.
All traces of the foul stench vanished, replaced by a delicate fragrance.
The environment transformed drastically; the area was pristine and well-maintained.
Before them, a detachment of guards patrolled the path leading to the palace gates.
Each guard was a trio of armored mermaid soldiers wielding formidable tridents.
No one dared use detection spells, knowing that doing so would attract unwelcome attention.
"1, 2, 3…"
Ning Yiyi counted, her eyes widening. "There are 60 patrol teams, totaling 180 mermaid monsters!"
Her voice trembled slightly at the staggering number.
Jiang Taotao added, "And they all seem to be enhanced elite monsters."
Confronting such a horde would be no small feat. It would be a challenge to engage even one at a time.
Based on her past experience, Jiang Taotao would typically lure the three monsters in the corner, clearing them gradually.
Time-consuming, yes, but much safer.
Ning Yiyi turned to Lin Moyu, worry creasing her brow. "With so many monsters, what's the plan?"
Lin Moyu felt a surge of excitement at the sight of so many foes. The more, the merrier.
"Simple," he declared confidently.
Without hesitation, twenty skeleton warriors surged forward, their sudden appearance drawing the mermaid soldiers' attention.
The soldiers pursued the skeletons, caught off guard by the unexpected tactic.
Was he truly trying to lure all these monsters away?
That seemed reckless.
As the skeleton warriors drew the monsters away, Lin Moyu's detection technique activated.
[Mermaid Elite Sergeant (Enhanced Elite Monster)]
[Level: 22]
[Power: 2200]
[Agility: 1400]
[Spirit: 1000]
[Physique: 2400]
[Skill: Dizzy Sweep]
With a clear understanding of the elite mermaid sergeants' attributes, he felt a newfound confidence.
Soon, all 180 mermaid elite sergeants were drawn together by the skeleton warriors.
The warriors then charged straight toward Lin Moyu, bringing the monsters along for the ride.
Jiang Taotao's hair stood on end; Lin Moyu's plan was reckless beyond measure.
The skeleton warriors halted 60 meters away from Lin Moyu, then turned to unleash their skills.
The mermaid elite sergeants responded with their own attacks.
The shimmering halberds in their hands cut through the air, aiming for the skeletal fighters.
Skill: Frenzied Strike.
Ability: Stunning Sweep.
The two skills collided, illuminating the cavern with brilliance akin to fireworks.
Given the skeleton warriors' superior attributes, especially when utilizing their explosive skills, they easily overwhelmed the elite mermaid sergeants.
With a decisive clash, one elite mermaid soldier crumpled to the ground.
"Cover your ears!" Lin Moyu warned Ning Yiyi urgently.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, quickly complying.
Before Jiang Taotao and the others could process the command, a thunderous explosion rocked the cave, nearly toppling them.
Then, a series of explosive sounds reverberated.
Skill: Corpse Burst!
As the thunderous sounds echoed and cascaded through the cavern, dozens of mermaid elite soldiers fell beneath the barrage.
Lin Moyu's heart raced; the chaotic scene before him was intoxicating.
"Let's go!" he called out, charging into the fray alongside Jiang Taotao and Ning Yiyi.
Kill 180 mermaid elite soldiers, experience +200000!