After defeating several more monsters, Lin finally welcomed an upgrade. He strategically summoned ten new skeleton warriors, incorporating them into the summoning space, restoring the number of skeleton warriors to 140.
Given the unknown capabilities of the BOSS, it seems prudent to conserve mental power for potentially critical use later on.
The team pressed on, unknowingly conquering the dark realm.
The challenge presented by the monsters in the latter half remained consistent, though they appeared in increasingly dense clusters.
Facing more than two monsters simultaneously became the norm, often confronting four or five at once.
To Lin, this posed no concern as the skeleton warriors bore the brunt of the battle.
Gold-Tiered Fighter Skeleton Warrior, Gold Medal Mage Skeleton Mage.
They are indefatigable, impervious to pain, and devoid of fear in the face of death, epitomizing unparalleled dedication.
"Lin, does it seem brighter to you here?" Ning Yiyi inquired suddenly.
Lin had already perceived the change. As they vanquished more monsters, the once invisible surroundings indeed grew brighter.
The darkness no longer consumed all light. From their position, one could even discern the distant sky's luminance.
The environment wasn't merely becoming brighter; the BOSS statue itself began to emit a subtle glow.
Ning Yiyi, puzzled again, remarked, "Though it shines, why do I sense a deepening darkness?"
It was unmistakably becoming darker, like ink, reflecting light so profoundly.
Each monster's demise released black energy into the atmosphere, part of which vanished into the unknown, while another portion was absorbed by the statue, suggesting the monster deaths might be facilitating the BOSS's awakening.
Lin noted the black energy seemed to drift towards human territories, confirming the weakening of Abyssal power with each Abyssal monster's defeat, thereby strengthening human forces.
"This dungeon seems straightforward, yet the BOSS may pose the greatest challenge," Lin deduced, recognizing the simplicity of their current approach wouldn't suffice against teams in full formation, including Shi Xingan's squad, without significant effort.
Ning Yiyi concurred with Lin's assessment, acknowledging the true challenge likely lay with the BOSS, differentiating the Hell difficulty from the Nightmare level described by Shi Xingan, whose initial briefing hadn't covered these circumstances.
The BOSS statue, though massive at 30 meters, was significantly smaller than its perceived 100-meter stature, prompting even greater caution from Lin due to the potential correlation between size and strength.
With the environment slightly illuminated, Lin could now observe the monster, allowing Ning Yiyi to ease her vigilance.
Yet, the ease of their progress raised suspicions. How could a Hell difficulty dungeon be so effortlessly navigated?
As they continued, monster numbers dwindled, and brightness increased, heralding the near end of night.
With only a few monsters remaining, the BOSS statue's darkness intensified, becoming indescribably profound, yet a faint inner light suggested imminent awakening.
Lin, anticipating the BOSS's revival upon the defeat of the last monsters, advised Ning Yiyi to seek safety at the mountain's base.
Acknowledging her potential hindrance, Ning Yiyi complied, seeking refuge behind a boulder, her presence minimally invasive.
The skeleton warriors efficiently dispatched the remaining monsters, heralding the abyssal darkness's dissolution and the BOSS statue's animated transformation into a black-haired behemoth, dwarfing Lin and his skeletal army.
Despite its imposing size and enhanced abilities, Lin identified its speed as the key vulnerability. Drawing parallels to previous encounters, he strategized to exploit its size against it, launching a coordinated attack with his skeletal forces.
As the Elemental Leopard King, a diminished echo of the Abyss Demon King, engaged, Lin and his warriors prepared for a decisive confrontation, leveraging their attributes and skills against the BOSS's might.