Chapter 314: Shadow Legion, Abyss Massacre!

The first layer of the abyss was filled with the lowest-tier creatures of the World 13—level 76 Hell Octopods.

Zhang Yue watched as the obedient Skeleton King lured over a large group of Hell Octopods. He raised his staff and began casting spells.

Combining the already pre-stacked three layers of Grip of Thunder.

The staff waved.

SS-Rank Rare Skill: Thunderstorm!

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Countless bolts of lightning descended from the sky, densely striking the group of Hell Octopods.

The next moment, an area-wide damage of up to 24.62 million instantly annihilated all the Hell Octopods, whose total HP was only 1.8 million+

[Ding~ You killed [Hell Octopod] x29. Gained 1.45 million experience points and 2.32 billion energy]

At the same time, the massive body of the Armageddon Black Dragon swooped over from above.

ROAR—

Using SS-Rank Skills: Annihilation Dragon Flame and Annihilation Dragon Breath, just two AOE skills delivered 1.279 million + 1.218 million group damage, granting Zhang Yue 25 more kills.

Elsewhere, the Phantom Predator triggered the effect of [Shadow of Hell] five times through five kills, summoning five shadows.

It then used the SSS-Rank Rare Skill: Shadow of Darkness, summoning one shadow every 3 seconds.

In less than half a minute, there were already 15 shadows gathered around the Phantom Predator.

All shadows inherited 100% of the Phantom Predator's attributes and benefited from its special effects such as Shadow Hunt, Critical Strike, and Lightning Speed.

At this moment, the Phantom Predator unleashed another SSS-Rank Rare Skill: Dark Body, increasing its critical strike rate by 50%, critical damage by 100%, and all shadow normal attack damage by 100%.

Next, under the influence of Dark Body, all the shadows began spreading out, freely hunting for prey.

Even though they couldn't use skills and could only rely on normal attacks, the shadows' damage output was explosive.

They possessed the same speed as the Phantom Predator, zipping across the battlefield like lightning.

Upon encountering an Octopod, they stabbed directly with their daggers.

SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH!

Critical strikes landed one after another.

Each hit dealt 450,000 to 500,000 critical damage, numbers wildly popping above the targeted Hell Octopods.

By comparison, the single-hit damage wasn't overly shocking because it was purely from normal attacks.

However, the shadows, like the Phantom Predator itself, had already reached the peak of speed and enjoyed a 350% extra attack speed bonus.

At maximum attack speed, they could attack four times per second.

Four strikes were enough to kill one Octopod.

Thus, the 15 shadows, like demons from hell, left nothing alive in their path.

On average, they brought 15 Octopod kills per second for Zhang Yue, the boss.

And these were just the shadows.

The Phantom Predator itself had even higher kill efficiency because it could use skills.

Night Reaper!

Shadow Assault!

Deadly Shadow Strike!

One SS-Rank Skill after another dealt 2.5 to 3 million critical damage per hit, instantly taking down an Octopod with a single strike.

While other adventurers needed to form teams of three to five to hunt Hell Octopods, Zhang Yue was simply bullying them.

Octopod kill x28!

Octopod kill x33!

Octopod kill x39!

Across the vast first layer of the abyss, the level 76 Hell Octopods were no more significant than ants. Before Zhang Yue, they were as insignificant as dust.

On the same map, adventurers grouped in small parties of three or five to hunt Hell Octopods were stunned, questioning if they were dreaming.

"Holy crap! I must have gotten up too fast this morning; am I hallucinating? Why does it feel like so many shadows are flashing before my eyes?"

"Could it be… not a hallucination? I'm seeing the same thing…"

The time-limited challenge allowed for three hours.

Yet, after just half an hour, a map-wide announcement appeared:

[Map Announcement] (Abyss First Layer):

[Ding~ Attention all adventurers: All map monsters have been cleared. Please wait 10 minutes for the map to reset]

"What the heck? Where are the Hell Octopods? All of them are gone??"

"Holy crap! This is the first time I've heard of someone clearing a map to the point of reset…"

"Wiping out all the Hell Octopods…"

As the adventurers on the first layer of the abyss were dumbfounded, another announcement followed:

[Ding~ Due to the mass slaughter by adventurers, the Octopod race has been enraged. Level 76, 11-star boss Octopod Queen has spawned. Adventurers are urged to slay it]

The boss announcement instantly excited countless adventurers.

"An 11-star boss! Jackpot! Let's go, brothers, kill the boss and get god-tier gear!"

But just as they were rushing…

[Map Announcement]:

[Ding~ Congratulations to adventurer [Zero] for killing the map boss [Octopod Queen]...]

At that moment, the entire map fell silent.

"Brother Zero, Father Zero, Grandpa Zero… please, leave us commoners some room to survive!"

———

Meanwhile.

Zhang Yue gazed at the lifeless 11-star boss, Octopod Queen, lying before him.

At this moment, the Armageddon Black Dragon stood on the Octopod Queen, letting out a victorious roar.

The Phantom Predator and its 15 shadows surrounded the Bug Queen.

Only the Skeleton King, wielding a sword and shield, obediently stood by Zhang Yue's side.

Zhang Yue couldn't help but sigh: "You guys are too fast. At least let me get the last hit…"

Zhang Yue hadn't even had time to make a move. As soon as the boss spawned, his three "sons" had already killed it.

No exaggeration.

The Predator and its 15 shadows combined dealt 27 million damage per second.

The Predator alone contributed 10 million per second.

Just the Predator's damage output alone was enough to nearly one-shot the boss with 40 million total HP.

Adding the Armageddon Black Dragon and the Skeleton King's Hell Shield, which absorbed damage and released it as 2.3 million damage, the boss was essentially "instantly" killed.

At this moment, a sweet system prompt rang in Zhang Yue's ears:

[Ding~ Due to your mass slaughter, clearing all map monsters, the Abyss First Layer challenge is prematurely completed. System rating: 100 points]

[Ding~ Congratulations on receiving the Abyss First Layer challenge rewards (highest rewards based on rating): 100 million experience points, 600 gold coins, 150 billion energy, and [12-Star Abyss Set Equipment Selection Box] x1]

Perfect timing. Zhang Yue was worried about where to find monsters to hunt next, but now he didn't have to grind the first layer anymore. He could go straight to the second.

The system was considerate regarding the perfect rating rewards for the first layer.

A 12-star set.

According to strategy guides:

Ratings of 60–80 rewarded 8-star abyss equipment.

Ratings of 80.1–90 rewarded 9-star abyss equipment.

Ratings of 90.1–95 rewarded 10-star abyss equipment.

Even a rating of 99.9 only gave 11-star equipment.

Only a perfect score could reward 12-star gear.

And in history, people who obtained 12-star equipment were incredibly rare.

"Looks like when I clear the World 13, I can also snag a full 12-star abyss set."

This set would be perfect for the Skeleton King.

Otherwise, Zhang Yue worried that the Skeleton King, neglected for too long, might rebel and stab him in his sleep one day.

With that thought, Zhang Yue collected the spoils from the Octopod Queen and proceeded to the second layer of the abyss.

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