Chapter 27-Can This Instance Start Without Me?

First Time Here.

The Goblin King normally summons four Goblin Generals.

But now, there were only two summoning formations.

"It seems like the Goblin King won't be making a move," Li Yao pondered.

This also meant that as long as they took down these two Goblin Generals, the upcoming boss fight would be significantly easier.

Summoned creatures couldn't be revived.

Even monsters had to abide by that rule.

At this moment, Qin Yue still thought she had made a terrible mistake.

The small mobs hadn't even been cleared, and the boss had already summoned two generals.

"Li Yao… maybe we should retreat for now? I'm worried about Mantis Bro and the others…"

The Goblin Generals were the final boss of Master-level difficulty.

Qin Yue had seen them more than once before.

But these two…

Even though they were just summoned creatures, they were at least twice as powerful as any she had encountered before!

Li Yao ignored her.

Between facing two generals with dozens of Goblin Elite Soldiers or fighting four generals at once, the choice was obvious.

[Shackles] was still on cooldown; he couldn't just bulldoze through like last time.

-352

-219

-302

-285

Countless war spears stabbed into the Predator's body.

However,the series of damage numbers barely scratched its health.

With Cracked Earth and Frostbite slowing them down, the elite soldiers could only land attacks on the Predator, which was already quite sluggish.

"Sanctuary."

Li Yao didn't hold back and murmured the spell.

An orange shield of light flared up around the Predator.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The sound of armor scraping echoed as two Goblin Generals, dragging their longswords, entered the battlefield.

Their stats were high—

All three of their main attributes far surpassed the Void Mantis.

But as the saying goes—overwhelming strength can crush all tactics!

The Void Mantis appeared behind one of the generals the moment it stepped into battle.

Its razor-sharp claws tore open a wound the size of a bowl, causing the health bar to plummet.

Just from that brief clash, Li Yao immediately gave the Goblin General an honest evaluation:

A weak, insignificant ant.

Stealth. Vanish. Cracked Earth.

The two Void Pieces moved in perfect harmony.

The general couldn't even resist before letting out a final whimper and dissolving into starlight.

"A shame summoned creatures don't count as boss mobs; otherwise, the Predator's HP would've increased even more."

"But for now, this is enough."

From the moment the two generals entered battle to their demise—

Barely two minutes had passed.

Qin Yue, who had been tense and hesitant, was now buzzing with excitement.

"Haha! So this is Nightmare difficulty? That's it?"

She knew full well that it was all thanks to Li Yao,

but watching the battle unfold—

it was just so satisfying.

The three summoned beasts were mowing down enemies like they were cutting grass.

Any worry she had before had long since disappeared.

Before long, not a single Goblin remained standing on the battlefield.

Then, the Goblin King stood up.

—A few minutes later—

[Overleveled Kill – Boss-Class Creature: Goblin King, Bonus EXP +20%]

[Void Predator has completed Evolution Devour: Max HP +25,000]

The Goblin King lay at Li Yao's feet.

Its eyes filled with unwillingness.

A humiliating death…

With two of its summons missing, it was like having two fangs ripped out.

Its offensive skills were blocked by the Predator.

The Void Mantis and Bluebird only had to mindlessly attack,

and they effortlessly took it down.

Li Yao didn't level up.

After Level 15, the required experience was practically astronomical.

Qin Yue, however, gained a level, reaching Level 12.

Li Yao stored the loot chest in his inventory ring,

planning to open all the rewards once they finished their dungeon runs.

A few minutes later—

The battlefield was cleared.

The two of them stepped into the dungeon exit vortex.

[Congratulations, Professional Li Yao – Nightmare Difficulty Clear!]

[Overall Rating: SSS]

[Contribution Points: 100]

[Reward: Nightmare Chest (SSS)]

In the blink of an eye, they reappeared outside the vortex.

It was 3 AM, yet an enormous crowd had gathered at the dungeon entrance.

Even more people than when they had first entered.

Li Yao was prepared for this.

He grabbed Qin Yue and ran.

At the same time—

The announcements flooded the system.

[Congratulations to Team "None" for clearing Goblin Nest (Nightmare)!]

[Congratulations to Team "None" for breaking the Nightmare clear-time record!]

[Clear Time: 1 hour 32 minutes 47 seconds]

[Team Leader: Qin Yue (Thunder Walker)]

[Team Member: Li Yao (Game Master)]

[Reward: Dungeon Chest Rank +1]

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!"

"They cleared it again! Damn it, that masked summoner from earlier—he really was Li Yao! We got tricked!"

"This is insane! Even with a teammate, he still cleared it faster than before? That makes no sense!"

"A teammate? Qin Yue is the Second Miss of the Qin family! She's an A-rank Mage!"

"Use your brain. An A-rank Mage appearing in a Nightmare clear record? She was nothing but a lucky mascot!"

"Exactly! Mages aren't that special. We've had plenty of A-rank Mages over the years—

but tell me, has any of them ever cleared Nightmare difficulty?"

"That aside… Nightmare rewards are insane.

Just one clear, and Li Yao doubled his clear speed—while carrying someone.

Damn, I wish I could be carried by Li Yao…"

"First, you have to be a girl."

"Second, you have to be prettier than the Second Miss of the Qin family."

It wasn't just the bystanders who were shocked.

Even the big shots of Jiangzhou had rushed to the scene.

They were seriously considering whether to pay any price to put their own people into Li Yao's team.

Nightmare difficulty…

They had struggled for years without success.

And now—

This summoner named Li Yao had forced his way into their view.

A top-tier genius, emerging from this small corner of Jiangzhou.

—Meanwhile—

"W-What?!"

Qin Yue stared wide-eyed at her system panel.

Under the same big tree as before, Wu Shu and the others watched helplessly as their young lady lost her mind.

"What the hell! Why is my Contribution Score 0?!

Why did my reward chest downgrade instead?!"

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Would this dungeon have even started without me?!"

Qin Yue's reward chest was the lowest rank—C-rank.

The record-breaking bonus raised it by one rank,

but the "passive gameplay penalty" lowered it again.

In the end, her chest was still C-rank.

Wu Shu couldn't stand it anymore and quickly consoled her.

"Miss, this is a Nightmare-difficulty reward. Even a C-rank chest is extremely valuable."

"R-Really?" Qin Yue asked doubtfully, turning to Li Yao.

"Young Master Li, what's your chest rank?"

"Thanks to you."

Qin Yue: "Thanks to me?"

"There were only two of us.Your Contribution Score was 0.So mine was 100."

"SSS-rank."

"WHAT?!"