Lin had a strange look in his eyes.
The humanoid mage monster in front of him could not only speak but also summoned him.
The first thing it said upon their meeting was a request for Lin to end its life.
Under Lin's gaze, the mage slowly stood up.
It too was a humanoid monster with a light blue, transparent body, yet its appearance closely resembled that of a normal human.
Its distinctiveness from other humanoid monsters was stark.
Adorned in a robe, which was also a manifestation of energy, it tidied up unconsciously upon rising.
All its actions signaled a conscious being, not a mere monster.
This was Lin's first encounter with such a scenario.
A staff materialized in the mage's grasp.
Lin's pupils constricted slightly.
The staff was not a mere illusion of energy but a genuine equipped weapon.
The mage lifted its head to look at Lin, saying, "If you wish to understand why, defeat me, and I shall reveal all."
The statement was perplexing.
How could it speak after its defeat? Could the deceased still communicate?
Yet, it afforded Lin no time for contemplation.
The staff was raised, and a massive fireball, emanating intense heat, was hurled at Lin at a remarkable speed.
A skeleton warrior promptly shielded Lin.
The fireball collided with the skeleton warrior, erupting in a blast.
Flames scattered in every direction, the skeleton's armor shimmering, warding off all stray flames.
"Such formidable attack power."
The skeleton warrior was gravely injured from just one strike.
This mage was significantly more powerful than the Elemental Leopard King encountered earlier.
After defeating the Elemental Leopard King, a considerable portion of the energy within the dungeon was transferred to this mage.
Furthermore, the energy of the humanoid monster was focused on it as well.
Harboring nearly half the dungeon's energy, it was unsurprising its strength was formidable.
"If you cannot defeat me, I shall eliminate you!" the mage's voice echoed once more as the staff vibrated.
The entire dungeon trembled.
Lin's expression darkened.
The dungeon exits surrounding Ning Yiyi vanished, and the use of dungeon escape talismans was disabled. Escape was not an option.
The choice was stark: vanquish the adversary or face obliteration.
Failure meant death for both Lin and Ning Yiyi.
Skeleton warriors and mages launched their assaults.
The detection technique was deployed, revealing:
[Elemental Archmage (Hell Dungeon Leader)]
Level: 39Power: 10,000Agility: 10,000Spirit: 40,000Physique: 10,000Skills: Wind Shackles, Explosive Flame, Meteor Fire, Silence, Magic ShieldFeature: Significantly enhanced vitality
Despite the skeleton mage's spirit reaching 45,000 points post-enhancement, it fell short in skill comparison.
The mage's skill proficiency was exceptional, evident from the skeleton warrior's severe injury from a mere contact.
In professional terms, strength is not solely attributed to attributes but skills as well.
This Elemental Mage Boss, formerly a mage, retained its professional traits post-demise, highlighted by its extraordinary mental power.
With a spirit attribute of 40,000 points, surpassing the Queen of Elements, it was the strongest single-attribute Boss Lin had encountered. Alongside these five skills...
Lin felt overwhelmed.
Yet, with no retreat possible, a confrontation was inevitable.
The skeleton warrior, sword raised, charged forward, unleashing its skills!
A blue shield materialized around the Boss in response.
Skill: Magic Shield!
The skeleton warriors' attacks upon the shield emitted a dazzling light, causing the shield to distort momentarily before regaining stability.
The resilience of the magic shield was unparalleled in Lin's experience.
The level of the opponent's skills remained uncertain, yet their strength was undeniable.
Flames ignited in Lin's palms.
Skill: Soul Flame!
A flame bypassed the magician's defenses, appearing directly above the Boss.
The Boss, wracked with pain, convulsed violently, yet remained silent.
Skill: Slowing Curse!
Lin's skills were deployed in rapid succession.
Under a red glow, the Boss's speed diminished significantly.
Caught off-guard by the curse, the Boss's expression shifted, revealing a mix of surprise and satisfaction.
The skeleton mage's barrage of attacks ensued, overwhelming the Boss with relentless force.
Fire: Explosive flames!
Water element: Ice storm!
Wind element: Tornado!
Electricity: Lightning storm, intertwining wind, fire, and electrical elements in a chaotic spectacle.
The combined elemental onslaught caused the magic shield to fluctuate wildly before finally shattering.
The skeleton warrior's subsequent strike found its mark on the Boss.
As the battle raged, beams of light targeted the skeleton mage, rendering it mute.
Skill: Silence.
Silence incapacitated the mage, preventing the use of any skills.
Even the Skeleton Mage was vulnerable.
Control skills were Lin's bane.
The emitted light silenced successive skeleton mages, rendering them helpless.
Observing this, Lin withdrew any unaffected skeleton mages.
The skeleton warrior persisted in its assault.
Impeded by the curse, the Boss's retreat was sluggish.
Lin simultaneously employed soul flame, each strike inflicting pain upon the Boss.
Unable to outpace the skeleton warrior, the Boss was steadily overtaken.
A gust ensnared the leading skeleton warriors with chains, immobilizing them.
Skill: Wind Shackles!
The Boss's skillful manipulation trapped numerous skeleton warriors, preventing their advance.
A blue light signaled the reinstatement of the magic shield.
This tactic ensured even the few pursuing skeleton warriors could not breach the shield.
In an instant, the majority of the skeleton warriors were immobilized, each as stationary as a post.
The complexity of controlling skills by both mobs and Bosses was vexing.
With the skeleton warriors bound and the mages silenced, Lin recognized the onus was on him alone.
This marked Lin's first solitary confrontation with a Boss.
0…a plea for support…
Soul Flame remained Lin's sole offensive capability.
Fortunately, the magic shield was vulnerable to it.
Lin persistently activated Soul Flame.
The Boss's agony was palpable, its form trembling ceaselessly.
Brandishing its staff, the Boss initiated a complex ritual beneath its feet, culminating in a pentagram.
Skill: Meteor Fire Destroys the World!
This skill, accessible to level 40 mages post-advancement, unleashed a barrage of meteorites, surpassing any prior assault.
With the skeleton warriors incapacitated, Lin had no choice but to endure the onslaught.
The skeletal armor glimmered protectively, shielding Lin from the devastating impact.
The vast area of effect left no room for evasion.
Resigned, Lin ceased attempts to dodge.
Neglecting the skeletons, Lin resolved to endure to the end.
Amidst the inferno, Soul Flame was deployed relentlessly.
Periodic replenishment from the skeletal armor sustained Lin.
The Boss's resilience was formidable, requiring concerted effort for its defeat.
Especially with Lin as the sole assailant, the struggle intensified.
As mental energy waned, Lin consumed a recovery potion, a precautionary measure now proving invaluable.
The cataclysm subsided after a minute, followed by a beam from the Boss's staff.
Skill: Silence!
Aiming to incapacitate Lin's abilities, the attempt was thwarted by the skeletal armor's immunity to control and negative effects.
Undeterred, the Boss ceased its attempts, opting instead for targeted assaults with Explosive Flames, prioritizing speed and continuity over the broader, but slower, Meteor Fire Destruction.
These relentless attacks, akin to a personal duel, showcased the Boss's tactical adaptability.
Lin, fortified by the skeletal armor's defense, reciprocated with rapid Soul Flame assaults, exploiting the magic shield's vulnerability.
This tactical exchange, a test of endurance, saw Lin maintaining his mental fortitude through strategic potion consumption.
Both combatants, stripped of complexity, engaged in a direct, albeit monotonous, contest of resilience.
Finally, the Boss, overwhelmed by sustained Soul Flame attacks, emitted its first cry of agony since the battle's inception.
Recognizing the significance of this moment, Lin intensified his offensive, seizing the opportunity to triumph.