Chapter 76

Xu Yuan couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise when he saw the full-server system prompt.

What exactly is this full-server boss system? 

Is it similar to the elite monster mod in Minecraft? It seems unlikely, as the elite mod is already quite strong for the current game environment. Perhaps this full-server boss system is an official addition? 

Xu Yuan was certain that this system appeared because of the death of the Wither—a boss notoriously difficult to kill. If it weren't for the accidental appearance of Dragon Teng, players might not have the chance to see such a boss until much later.

He had previously thought that fragment drawings would appear on relatively powerful monsters. However, aside from the Wither and Dragon Teng, most powerful monsters in the game are not truly at BOSS level. While there are some strong monsters, they are far weaker than these two. Xu Yuan wondered if this all-server boss system would be a new mechanism for dropping Twilight Forest fragment drawings? 

The official might have created this system to enhance player strength—by defeating these bosses, players could obtain fragments needed to enter the Twilight Forest. Gathering enough drawings would indicate that the players are strong enough to venture into that mysterious dimension.

Immediately after the full-server system prompt, Ken found Xu Yuan.

"What is this full-server boss system? Are they planning to produce a boss similar to the Wither?"

Xu Yuan shook his head calmly. 

"I think there are no new bosses yet. It's more likely that they're upgrading existing monsters into boss-level enemies. But that's just my guess."

Ken nodded in understanding.

"Is this update related to the Twilight Forest fragment drawings?"

Xu Yuan confirmed with a nod.

"Yes, it's after we defeat the Wither. That's probably connected."

Ken was silent for a moment before asking:

"Do you know much about the Twilight Forest?"

In Ken's mind, Xu Yuan seemed omniscient, so he naturally inquired. 

Xu Yuan smiled and replied:

"I don't know much about this version of the Twilight Forest."

He didn't mean to sell secrets, but it was the truth. In Minecraft, he was familiar with the Twilight Forest, but in this game, its form was uncertain. Given that this is an online game rather than a single-player experience, the Twilight Forest could have been altered significantly. 

As long as its core essence remains, that's what matters. 

Ken looked a bit lost, but since Xu Yuan didn't elaborate, he didn't press further. 

"So, what should we prepare for this update?"

Xu Yuan paused thoughtfully.

"Just wait for now."

After that, Xu Yuan headed to the basement. He retrieved some iron ingots from the iron farm and handed them over to Ken. 

Ken looked at the large stack of iron ingots, puzzled.

"So many ingots... What are you planning?"

Xu Yuan smiled.

"Select some skilled players and arm them. This boss system will likely be used for land reclamation and defense."

Ken nodded, appreciating Xu Yuan's generosity with guild resources. The guild's members were always motivated by the benefits they received, like the tunnels to the main city or other chapters—quickly excavated thanks to their enthusiasm. 

"Alright, I'll arrange it" Ken said, then left with the ingots.

Xu Yuan casually browsed the forum. The official continued to sell Guanzi (game currency or item), but there was no consultation or detailed information available. He gave up and waited.

Soon, an hour passed, and the system announced again:

||Full-server BOSS system is now active!||

Introduction to the full-server boss system: As the strange aura intensifies, monsters everywhere absorb it and evolve into stronger variants. These bosses have their own nests, followers, and unique abilities. Every kill makes them even more powerful.

BOSS Quest 1: Corpse Tide Quest now available!

||Players can access the quest via the system interface.||

This announcement caused a stir among players.

Dungeon? Boss dungeon? No way?!

With special abilities, they get stronger with each kill... This is crazy!

Shouldn't these bosses be tougher than the Wither?!

Corpse tide...? Maybe it's a zombie boss?

Xu Yuan was initially stunned. He had expected a wild boss encounter but didn't anticipate a dungeon-like copy. Having never entered such a dungeon before, he wasn't sure what awaited inside. But he was certain it wouldn't be easy.

Ken immediately handed the matter to Xiaoyu and then approached Xu Yuan.

"What do you think? Should we prepare quickly?"

Xu Yuan considered for a moment.

"No rush. I want to see what's inside first."

Ken looked at him in disbelief.

"You're planning to do a solo run?"

Xu Yuan explained with a smile.

"I don't intend to fight the boss alone; its HP is probably enormous, and it would take too long. I just want to explore the dungeon to understand the terrain and the monsters inside."

Ken sighed in relief.

"Alright, then be careful."

Xu Yuan nodded and began making preparations. Since the dungeon was large and the monsters inside would be significantly stronger than outside, he planned to avoid direct confrontation. Instead, he wanted to scout the layout and identify the threats through stealth. 

He prepared more than ten bottles of invisibility potion, then entered the dungeon through the system interface.

Choose difficulty: Easy, Hard, Nightmare

He chose Nightmare without hesitation.

As the system confirmed the selection, Xu Yuan's vision blacked out. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark forest.

The entire space was surprisingly open, unlike typical game dungeons. To his surprise, his equipment appeared sealed—he couldn't use what he carried. 

Could this be a feature of the nightmare difficulty, forcing him to develop without relying on gear?

He took out a map. Since the dungeon didn't display coordinates, a map was essential for navigation. Otherwise, he risked getting lost.

He began exploring, discovering that the resources inside were abundant. He mined iron ore to craft an iron sword and armor, vital for such a dangerous environment.

As night fell, the sky darkened rapidly. Xu Yuan sensed something was wrong. He quickly climbed a tall tree, reaching the top to observe the surroundings.

The sky turned a deep red, and distant roars of zombies echoed all around. He saw the dense cluster of zombies—each clad in iron armor, wielding iron swords, axes, and even pickaxes. These zombies possessed a level of intelligence, as they moved with purpose.

Some zombies with axes began chopping trees aggressively. Xu Yuan was momentarily shocked but remained calm. He knew Minecraft's physics—cutting a wooden tree doesn't cause it to fall instantly. However, these zombies kept chopping even after the trunk was severed, which was problematic. Once the trunk was gone, leaves would decay, revealing a secret passage.

He realized this would soon be dangerous; if the zombies kept chopping, the entire tree could collapse, exposing him. He regretted not choosing a taller tree but discovered an even worse problem: all the trees here are dwarf trees.