Valley of Death.
The sudden emergence of the [Death Red Bird] dealt a significant blow to the major force, forcing everyone to retreat to the entrance of the valley.
With this repositioning, ranged players finally had room to attack, and frontline warriors and knights could better ensure their defense lines held fast.
United in purpose, they eventually repelled both tides of monsters.
Yet, looking at the glowing orbs of rewards scattered on the ground, no hint of joy could be found on anyone's face.
This assault had taken a heavy toll on the hundred-strong group.
Over thirty players had been expelled from the dungeon.
Among the fallen, Sebastian's apparent departure was the most regrettable.
Everyone assumed he had been banished from the dungeon, evoking feelings of melancholy.
Especially the members of the North Wind Team, their faces grim, emotions weighed down as if hit by a profound blow.
But the dungeon's conquest had to go on. After regrouping, the only way forward was ahead.
Elsewhere, Sebastian was in high spirits.
By now, he had covered most of the distance and could even see the vortex exit at the end.
Along the way, his gains were impressive, acquiring a plethora of Unique-grade items.
Scrolls, skill books, equipment, and more; they were beyond count.
Suddenly, before him, an eagle covered in blue scales appeared in the sky, its piercing eyes radiating a bloody glow.
[Azure Scale Eagle]
[Level: 13]
[HP: 13,000]
[MP: 52,000]
[Skills: Scale Armor Defense, Gale Assault, Sonic Attack...]
...
This was an elite-level monster, boasting higher attributes compared to others of its level.
As expected, the challenges on the latter part of the path were distinctly more formidable.
However, Sebastian was undaunted.
With Breeze's distraction, he had the freedom to unleash his skills, not to mention the array of Unique-grade scrolls and other items at his disposal.
In no time, the [Azure Scale Eagle] initiated its attack, diving from the sky in a powerful descent, bringing with it a tumultuous gust of wind loaded with menacing force.
Without hesitation, Breeze opened its maw, emitting a beam of white light.
The light detonated mid-air, transforming into a biting cold wind, howling and slowing the advance of the attacker.
Simultaneously, Sebastian, clutching his golden wand, began chanting a spell. "Ancient God of Flame, bestow upon me your supreme power of blaze, and cleanse this world of all its malevolence..."
As the incantation echoed, under Sebastian's guidance, the golden wand erupted with a searing aura.
Boom—
From the wand, a burst of flame fiercely lunged out, its intense heat distorting the very space around, heading straight for the [Azure Scale Eagle].
Instantly, a blue luminescence enveloped the eagle, forming a cerulean barrier.
Crash—
The flame collided with the barrier, sparks flying, releasing a deafening blast.
-1054!
The blue barrier was shattered in an instant, inflicting over a thousand points of damage.
Sebastian's gaze was unwavering, as he chanted another skill.
Meanwhile, the injured [Azure Scale Eagle], now enraged, flapped its wings ferociously, speeding towards him.
At that moment, Breeze decisively positioned itself in front of Sebastian.
Exhaling gusts of icy winds, it persistently lowered the surrounding temperature, delaying the adversary's onslaught.
From behind, a freshly chanted Sebastian unleashed another sphere of flames, which struck the [Azure Scale Eagle] with unerring accuracy.
-2154
Critical Hit!
This strike triggered a spell critical hit, dealing over two thousand points of damage.
The [Azure Scale Eagle] faltered, its blue scales cascading down.
In a seamless collaboration between man and wolf, five minutes later, the monster was utterly vanquished, disintegrating into myriad specks of light.
Sebastian, once more, procured a Unique-grade item.
After replenishing his HP, Sebastian continued onward.
With the augmentation of Unique-grade equipment, Sebastian's damage output was evidently amplified.
And with Breeze by his side, he had no concerns of monsters interrupting his skill casts.
An hour later, Sebastian finally reached the end of the path.
Standing there, he saw the vortex exit floating in the air.
Entering it would take him out of the secret realm.
But before that, he was to confront the ultimate Boss.
Slowly raising his head, he saw the once-clear sky now overcast with ominous clouds, shrouded in gloom.
Roar—
In the next instant, glimmers of golden light sparkled from the vortex exit, and a massive creature, standing at a staggering three meters, emerged.
It resembled a tiger, its entire body covered in golden fur, its face fierce, displaying razor-sharp fangs.
[Golden Tiger King]
[Level: 20]
[HP: 50k]
[MP: 300k]
[Skills: Roar of the Forest, Deadly Bite, Golden Radiant Sanctuary, Fierce Charge…]
…
Sebastian's heart raced as he beheld the Boss with its staggering 50k HP, swallowing hard.
This Boss was quite formidable.
It was a good thing they were in the secret realm where the creature's attributes were limited.
Outside in a regular dungeon, this Boss would likely have far more than this HP.
That's because the difficulty of the secret realm adjusts according to the number of entrants.
Facing the [Golden Tiger King], Sebastian immediately began chanting a skill.
Meanwhile, Breeze was already primed for action.
Like a bolt of white lightning, it charged forth, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
Awooo—
With a wolf's howl, Breeze's fur bristled.
It breathed out a chilling wind and, with astonishing speed, swiped with its sharp claws.
-1258
-1054
-1194
Three consecutive attacks landed on the [Golden Tiger King], inflicting significant damage.
Roar—
The [Golden Tiger King] bellowed in rage, its entire form aglow with a golden light.
With a mighty swipe of its paw, it aimed at Breeze.
Using its agile form, Breeze narrowly dodged the attack.
By then, Sebastian's assault had been unleashed.
A fearsome torrent of flames plummeted from the sky, emanating an overwhelming force.
Sensing the impending danger, the [Golden Tiger King]'s body suddenly shone brighter.
[Golden Radiant Sanctuary]
A blinding golden light formed a barrier, shielding its massive frame.
-815!
Boom—
The flames descended, but only inflicted eight hundred points of damage.
Sebastian's gaze darkened, and without hesitation, he began channeling the [Ice Domain] he had previously acquired.
Seizing this opportunity, Breeze launched another assault.
-845
-716
Shielded by the golden aura, the damage inflicted by Breeze seemed to diminish.
Gritting under the pain, the [Golden Tiger King] raised its paw and slammed it heavily onto Breeze.
-846
The impact directly dealt over eight hundred points of damage, forcing Breeze to retreat.
Whooosh—
Suddenly, a biting cold wind swept through, bringing with it heavy snowfall.
The temperature plummeted, and a freezing aura enveloped the entire area.
-1000
The [Golden Tiger King] instantly took 1000 points of true damage.
However, Sebastian's aim wasn't just for this minor damage—it was for the entire Ice Domain.
Within the icy realm, Breeze's attributes would be significantly enhanced.
It was as if Sebastian was bestowing a buff upon it. But that wasn't all.
He then produced an item.
It was a crystal emitting a serene blue glow, seemingly beautiful at first glance. Yet it had an unexpected name:
[Explosive Crystal].