You Call Securing the Backline "Nuking the Boss?"
Bella sensed that her brother had undergone a transformation.
Previously, her brother had been a dedicated and serious individual.
He imposed stringent standards upon himself, maintaining a rigorous training regimen while also adhering to a consistent fitness program.
He was exceptionally composed and rarely indulged in frivolous jests.
Moreover, her brother was always careful not to speak definitively.
Although he always fulfilled his promises, he generally refrained from prematurely committing to any specific actions.
Even with his formidable capabilities, he still exuded a sense of tension, maintaining a perpetually poised demeanor.
However, the present brother radiated composure, confidence, and a subtle, indefinable sense of humor.
Her brother had actually started making jokes.
While the former brother evoked a sense of coiled tension, like a sword on the verge of being unsheathed, the current brother felt more amiable and approachable.
However, this amiability was not the obsequious kind, not the kind that sought to ingratiate himself with others.
Instead, it possessed a hint of detached indifference, subtly veiled by an aura of "arrogance."
Bella was aware that this characterization of her brother was somewhat inaccurate.
However, this term seemed to be the closest approximation.
It was a sense of complete nonchalance, an ability to calmly navigate nearly any situation, as if all things were meticulously calculated.
Although tinged with a hint of "arrogance," it instilled a sense of reassurance.
Bella explained this transformation to herself by surmising that her brother had relinquished the burdens of the Umbral Syndicate, that he no longer needed to conceal his true self.
Lucas and his companions arrived at the entrance to the Blackwater Grotto instance. Blackwater Creek, in reality, was not a creek at all, but rather a vast expanse of black mire.
The inhabitants of this area were creatures ranging from level 18 upwards.
Some even exceeded level 20.
The intensity of these monsters far surpassed that of ordinary field monsters.
Beyond level 18, monster strength underwent an exponential increase.
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\[Blackwater Grotto]
\[Instance Level: 18~25]
\[Instance Difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare]
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It still maintained only four difficulty levels.
There was no "insane" difficulty level surpassing "nightmare."
Among the eleven instances located near Maplewood City, only one possessed the "insane" difficulty.
While the other difficulties could be overcome with efficient coordination, even without possessing A-rank talents, the "insane" difficulty practically mandated the presence of A-rank talents.
Talents below A-rank made it virtually impossible to conquer an "insane" difficulty instance.
This explained the scarcity of golden-grade equipment.
Only a fraction of players, one in ten thousand, could successfully complete this difficulty, implying that the vast majority of players would struggle to obtain golden-grade equipment.
Before embarking on the instance, Lucas offered instructions to his party.
"This instance is relatively extensive."
"Moreover, it's located within a grotto, limiting the effectiveness of Meteor."
"Bella, acquire rank 1 Gust first."
Lucas was referring to the basic mage spell, \[Gust (One-Star)].
One-star skills could be directly acquired from the skill tree using skill points.
Skills with two stars or more required the acquisition of corresponding skill books.
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\[Gust: Generates a potent gust of wind capable of dispersing mist, miasma, dealing 1-30 damage, and launching all hostile targets within range into the air. Cooldown: 15 seconds, Mana Cost: 150]
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This skill inflicted minimal damage, but its potent knockback effect was favored by mages.
In areas with cliffs and similar terrain, the skill could be used to blow monsters off edges, resulting in environmental kills.
It was a handy spell during the early stages of the game.
Employing Meteor was impractical in this instance; the skill had limitations.
While potent, Meteor could only be effectively deployed in open terrain.
After all, Meteors descended from the sky.
If the summoned meteor was obstructed, the impact damage would be drastically reduced.
Moreover, instance terrain in Epochal World was susceptible to skill effects.
If Bella were to use Meteor here, it was highly probable that the meteor would collide with the grotto's ceiling, causing a collapse.
This would bury them all within the grotto.
This would be akin to playing with fire.
The players would likely be buried alive.
"Replace the memorized Meteor spell with Gust, Fireball, and Underworld Fire."
Bella followed her brother's commands.
She canceled the memorized spell on the Holy Tome and began memorizing new spells.
"Dauntless, cease fleeing at the sight of monsters; your stats can eradicate all monsters except for the BOSS."
"Use this instance as an opportunity to hone your skills, to put the techniques I've taught you into practice."
Lucas intended to expedite Dauntless's transition out of his newbie phase.
"Understood!"
Subsequently, Lucas turned his attention to Winter: "Winter, you… do whatever."
Winter murmured an affirmation.
There was no other response.
However, Winter was somewhat deflated; how were the others given detailed instructions, while she was simply told to "do whatever?"
Winter also anticipated seeing Lucas's masterclass performance.
After all, Winter's curiosity regarding Lucas's capabilities was still intact.
They selected the instance and commenced the encounter.
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As they entered the instance, Lucas and his party members felt their footsteps sink into the ground.
The interior of the Blackwater Grotto consisted of a swamp permeated with black mire.
\[Current Status: Mire Walking – Movement speed reduced by 30%]
\[You are currently within the range of a toxic miasma – You have acquired the poisoned effect]
Immediately upon entering the instance, all party members were inflicted with the \[Poisoned] effect.
Green miasma permeated the surroundings.
\[Poisoned (1 Stack) – Inflicts 1 point of poison damage per second; poison damage increases with stacking layers.]
"Bella, Gust."
Hearing Lucas's command, Bella immediately unleashed the spell stored on the Holy Tome.
A wide-area Gust was unleashed by Bella!
*Whoosh!*
A tempestuous gale erupted!
Instantly, the green miasma within the instance was dispersed.
Bella directly neutralized the poisonous miasma.
Almost simultaneously, the black slime, which was residing within the black mire, was launched into the air by the Gust.
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\[Black Liquid Slime]
\[Level: 18]
\[Hit Points: 5,600]
\[Skills: Acid Ejection, Spike Transformation, Tentacle Strike]
\[Traits: Acid Corrosion – Body coated in acid, causing significant damage to weapon durability.]
\[Description: Slimes residing within the Blackwater Grotto, possessing potent acidic properties.]
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Were it not for the Gust, these black slimes would have been virtually undetectable.
The black slimes concealed within the black mire were exceedingly difficult to spot.
Bella, Winter, and Lucas all had decent equipment.
However, most of this equipment augmented agility, strength, and spirit, but did little to enhance their hit points.
They were still at risk of a swift demise if struck by the monsters from the level 18 nightmare difficulty.
*Whoosh Whoosh!*
It was undeniable that Dauntless had finally distinguished himself.
Seeing these slimes launched into the air, even the most clueless of newbies would have recognized this as an opportunity!
Dauntless adopted a stance and charged forward!
As he unleashed his skills, he simultaneously recalled the mantra that Lucas had taught him.
"Lift before cleaving, follow through with a strike."
"Power Slash!"
After cleaving through one slime, Dauntless immediately rotated his body and swung his cumbersome greatsword at another slime!
Executing a five-segment slash followed by a basic attack proved to be more difficult than he had anticipated.
He had over-displaced, necessitating a rotation!
Rotating to execute a basic attack consumed more than a second.
When performing this action, Dauntless couldn't help but reflect on Lucas's maneuvers at the time.
How did the leader manage to unleash all five segments of the slash and follow up with a basic attack in a single second?
Was he jesting?
*Whoosh!*
The greatsword swung around!
However, before his strike could land upon the black slime, it detonated, dissolving into fragments of light particles.
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Dauntless's damage was excessively high.
The attack from the Power Slash alone was sufficient to eradicate the monsters.
There was no need to follow up with a basic attack.
*Thwack Thwack Thwack Thwack Thwack*
While Dauntless was still pausing, numerous black blurs flickered around him.
\[Thrust] \[Back Attack] \[Swift Light Slash] \[Continuous Thrust]…
The slimes that were still suspended in the air exploded like raindrops.
"Dauntless, you're falling behind; the newbie is outperforming you," Lucas quipped.
Winter retorted with annoyance, "President, could you refrain from standing idle and making idle remarks!"
Lucas and Bella were positioned together.
"How can you say I'm standing idle and making idle remarks? Haven't you noticed that I'm protecting the mage?"
Bella was stationed at the rear of the group.
The closest monster was at least 20 meters away, making it impossible for the slimes to reach her.
From Winter's perspective, Lucas was merely observing from the sidelines, exerting no effort whatsoever.
During the previous instance, his freeloading made Winter uneasy. Now, even with her exerting effort while the leader remained idle, Winter was even more disconcerted.
It felt like she had been tricked into doing labor.
However, Lucas appeared completely oblivious to Winter's thoughts. Instead, he reminded, "Dauntless, you forgot to use Howl of the Dragon."
After being reminded by Lucas.
Dauntless then recalled that Howl of the Dragon should be used before casting skills.
He was too eager to test the five-segment slash followed by a basic attack.
He had forgotten the most fundamental maneuver. After being reminded by Lucas, Dauntless immediately sheathed his greatsword at his waist. The next moment, he unleashed a sweeping draw!
*Whoosh!*
A ferocious sword slash was unleashed, instantly clearing out all slimes within a 50-meter radius.
The fully charged Howl of the Dragon had an extremely wide range, making it perfect for clearing out groups of monsters.
The next second, the mire began to churn!
Behind Bella, a gaping maw emerged from the swamp!
Winter turned her head and saw that her pupils contracted.
What was going on?
She had never heard of a monster like this existing in the Blackwater Grotto.
Was this another new mechanism in the instance?
The mage was about to get cut!
But in the next instant, Winter saw Lucas retrieve a battle spear out of nowhere.
He suddenly unleashed a mage's melee skill toward the giant mouth - \[Skyward Thrust]
After the thrust was unleashed, another Lucas actually appeared behind Lucas.
In front of this Lucas, Bella's exclusive weapon \[Holy Tome] hovered.
Spells flowed from his lips.
"Fireball."
*Boom!*
A Fireball was blasted into the depths of the mouth.
The Fireball exploded!
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An astronomical amount of damage erupted!
One Fireball dealt 120,000 damage.
The magic that was recorded in the Holy Tome were \[Gust] \[Fireball] \[Infernal Eruption].
Since Meteor could not be used in this instance, Bella did not record the Meteor spell.
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\[Black Mire Behemoth]
\[Level: 20]
\[Hit Points: 1,135,000]
\[Skills: Bite, Tail Lash, Roar, Death Bite, Pounce, Meaty Pressure]
\[Traits: Mire Concealment – The Behemoth can sink into the black mire, immune to most attacks, and its movements within the mire cannot be detected.]
\[Description: A giant alligator adept at assassination and ambush; carelessness will result in being bitten and killed by it, making it extremely dangerous.]
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This was one of the three BOSSes within the Blackwater Grotto, always lurking beneath the swamp.
It only emerged after the players' group cleared out the slimes at the entrance.
Moreover, it would use \[Bite] on the unit with the least health in the group as soon as it appeared.
Hitting this skill was almost guaranteed death for squishy targets.
This mechanism has a strong "first-time-kill".
Being hit by it almost guarantees death during the first encounter.
Unfortunately, Lucas was not encountering it for the first time.
After the Fireball exploded, the BOSS's attack was completely interrupted.
At the same time, a Lucas holding a Godslayer Greatsword was summoned in front of Lucas.
Seeing this scene, Winter's pupils contracted slightly.
This familiar ability was her \[Shadowstrike] talent!
This was also the reason why Lucas wanted Winter to join the guild so badly. Former friendships were one aspect.
Another aspect was that obtaining Winter's Shadowstrike was equivalent to having five of himself at the same time.
How could the increase in combat power be just a little bit?
With its attack interrupted, smoke billowed from the BOSS's mouth. Its body began to suddenly sway. The giant tail was swung toward Lucas and Bella!
Lucas hugged Bella and jumped up. The phantom immediately waved the greatsword and unleashed a \[Howl of the Dragon]
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At level 18, and with a full set of silver equipment, Dauntless's Strength stat had already crossed the 4000 threshold.
One howl could instantly deal 200,000 damage.
The giant crocodile's four HP bars were instantly emptied by one.
HP bar format
The level 18 instance was indeed more difficult than before.
Dealing 200,000 damage could no longer kill the BOSS.
Nightmare difficulty instances were not something that could be cleared so easily.
Parties that had cleared their job advancement and had at least one piece of silver equipment were qualified to challenge nightmare difficulty.
Even for such parties, the first BOSS required a well-coordinated DPS output of approximately half an hour to take down.
After being drawn with Lucas's one sword, the BOSS's HP bar turned into gray stone.
This was the status of HP lock.
"Bella, retreat."
The Behemoth roared and the small crocodiles appeared in the swamp.
However, that one drawing of the sword had granted Lucas another phantom clone.
The clone immediately switched to \[Dauntless]'s abilities.
It was another \[Howl of the Dragon Slash]
It instantly slashed away the BOSS's second HP bar.
After this HP bar, the Behemoth BOSS had no more HP lock mechanisms.
Knowing this, Lucas did not give up any chance to deal damage.
Next, the two clones alternated \[Power Five-Segment Slash] followed by a basic attack.
Then immediately use Five-Segment followed by drawing the sword.
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...
Continuous quick slashes.
In just three seconds, the Behemoth BOSS with 1.1 million HP was instantly killed in the swamp.
After the BOSS fell, Lucas looked back at Winter: "I told you I was protecting the mage."
Originally, killing the BOSS was a thing that was worth celebrating.
But Winter choked on her own words after hearing this.
She didn't know where to start with her rebuttals.
Was the meaning of protection, that the mage would be safe as long as the BOSS was nuked?