The groves on both sides teemed with dragon spearmen charging towards Lin, all slowed significantly by the Slowing Curse, with a conspicuous fishy hue marking their yoke. Behind them followed dragon mages, numbering over twenty, supporting the vast group of hundreds of spearmen.
"How could I forget the range?" Lin mused, acknowledging the Slowing Curse's extended reach of 3,300 meters, a scale he hadn't factored in. This vast area inevitably drew all monsters within its grasp, resulting in a massive, albeit slow, onslaught.
"This turns out to be an efficient monster lure, though their pace is agonizingly slow," Lin observed as the dragon forces approached in a sluggish advance, granting him ample time to strategize.
The dragon lancers initiated their assault, but Lin's skeleton warriors adeptly withdrew, dodging most attacks. Only a few were caught by the lancers' skills, succumbing to daze once more. Despite this, Lin ensured the dragon spearmen had no further opportunity to harm his warriors.
As Lin prepared for another round of attacks, a significant number of dragon spearmen were eliminated in a devastating blast, leaving none standing. The remaining dragon forces, still affected by the curse, trudged towards Lin, their movements severely hampered.
Lin waited for them to enter his skeleton mages' range before launching a concentrated attack. The skeleton warriors advanced, forming a barrier to keep the spearmen at bay, while transparent shackles appeared, hindering their movement further.
"It's so far away," Lin marveled at the dragon mages' ability to cast from a distance of at least 300 meters, surpassing the range of his skeleton mages. This advantage highlighted the importance of range in mage combat, allowing for safer engagements and strategic positioning.
As the skeleton mages barraged the dragon spearmen with spells, Lin coordinated his attacks, targeting the dragon warriors at the front. Despite the skeleton warriors being used primarily as shields, their robustness bought Lin time to execute his strategy.
A series of explosions marked the end of the dragon spearmen, but the dragon mages remained out of the Corpse Explosion's reach. These mages continued their assault from a distance, necessitating a direct approach from Lin and his skeleton mages.
This engagement was Lin's most challenging dungeon experience to date, showcasing the true rigor of Hell difficulty. Lin's methodical advance through the dungeon contrasted sharply with his previous expeditions, emphasizing a return to cautious, step-by-step progression.
After clearing the vicinity of the fortress and ensuring all external dragon monsters were defeated, Lin prepared for the next phase. The open gates of the fortress beckoned, yet the presence of numerous dragon defenders promised a daunting challenge ahead.
Choosing to tackle the monsters one by one, Lin adopted a meticulous approach, a strategy reminiscent of his earliest dungeon raids. This gradual method ensured the effectiveness of his skeleton warriors and mages against the fortified dragon foes, marking a deliberate shift from his usual rapid assault tactics. Lin's resolve to face the Hell difficulty head-on, despite its demands, highlighted his unwavering determination and adaptability in the face of adversity.