"Windstride Slash!"
Mike moved like the wind, leaving afterimages in the air as he appeared behind a minotaur, tapping it lightly on the back of the head with his staff.
-264!
The minotaur collapsed, dissolving into specks of white light and dropping a small pile of copper coins.
"The monsters on the first level are generally between levels 1-10. They're too weak for me, and killing them won't even net me any experience," Mike noted as he looked towards the depths of Thunder Valley.
From deep within, the sounds of thunder and roaring winds spilled out, sending shivers down the spine of any listener.
It seemed something monstrous was stirring in Thunder Valley, causing creatures to flee their territories in panic.
Mike's eyes sparkled with anticipation for the upcoming battle. "It's that big guy inside that might actually make this interesting."
With his SSS-tier talent, Eye of Truth, no secrets could be hidden from Mike. The information about the Minotaur Battle General was laid bare before him.
[Minotaur Battle General, a creature that should not be on the first level, summoned by the sixth demon god of the Abyssal Plane!]
Monster: Severely Injured Minotaur Battle General
Description: Due to forcibly crossing into the Tower of Truth, it has sustained severe injuries, significantly reducing its level and attributes!
Lv.20
HP: 65,000
MP: 21,000
Physical Defense: 300
Magic Defense: 9999
Skills: ...."
Note: This creature, carrying special items, was sent solely to hinder Thor's progression!
Special Item [Inhibition Orb (SS-tier)]: Raises the holder's magic defense to 9999, immune to magic damage below ten million, and reduces damage from magic attacks above ten million by 90-99%!
Looking at the description of the Minotaur Battle General, Mike couldn't help but chuckle. "So, they're specifically targeting me."
Due to a server-wide announcement, the whole world knew that [Thor] had transitioned into a Stormweaver. The demon god, aiming to block Thor's path of growth, sent a creature focused on magic defense.
Indeed, as an SS-tier item, the Inhibition Orb was incredibly powerful. Magic damage below ten million was completely nullified, and any damage above that threshold was reduced by at least 90%!
Holding the Inhibition Orb, the Minotaur Battle General is a mage's nightmare, Thor's archenemy, the ultimate mage buster!
For a mage to take down the Minotaur Battle General, they'd need to deal over ten million in magic damage in a single hit!
In other words, this beast isn't something a mage can handle alone; they'd need to rally a group of physical damage Classes, using sheer numbers to whittle it down bit by bit. This battle was destined to be tough, with those less gifted wisely steering clear, careful to avoid drawing its attention.
Those with stronger talents, however, rushed over, eager and ready for the challenge. Of course, they too had to band together to stand a chance against the Minotaur Battle General. Going solo would be a death wish!
Mike didn't bother with such calculations. He was fine going it alone.
"Windstride Slash!" A gust swept by as Mike appeared a hundred yards away, taking down another minotaur.
"CD 0.5 seconds, maximum single dash distance up to 150 yards!" Mike was quite pleased with Windstride Slash. Converted to speed, Windstride Slash's limit is 300 yards per second, roughly 670 miles per hour!
It was precisely because of this limit that Mike chose Windstride Slash, and the skill hadn't let him down. As he sped forward with Windstride Slash, Mike didn't stop stacking [Charge Up], his trump card against the Minotaur Battle General.
Immune to ten million magic damage? Don't underestimate him! Despite the level restrictions, the magic damage he could deal was enough to one-shot the Minotaur Battle General.
Mike moved like the wind, but not quietly. On two high grounds surrounding Thunder Valley, observers saw a blur rush into the valley and immediately sent a message:
"Group One, pay attention, a Warrior has entered Thunder Valley alone!"
Mike's dashing skill was easy to recognize, Windstride Slash, a close-combat dash skill unique to Warriors.
Upon receiving the message, the members of Group One remained unfazed, some even seemed to relish the thought.
"Another one biting the dust."
"That's a creature summoned by a demon god, and he thinks he can solo it? Dream on!"
"Even we, with our A-tier talents, have to humble ourselves and team up for the challenge. Who does he think he is, trying to solo the boss, Thor?"
"Give me a break, Thor's a mage, not a warrior!"
...
Outside Thunder Valley, on a clearing, about a hundred people were scattered around, chatting casually and cracking jokes about the warrior who had just dashed into Thunder Valley.
This group, known as "Thunder Valley Squad," consisted of talents from all over, with the weakest among them boasting an A-tier talent!
James stood in an inconspicuous corner, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Back in Florida, he was a shining star, the darling of his school, with countless resources at his disposal. But on a national, even global scale, what did an A-tier talent amount to? There were always bigger fish!
Others had better talents, better equipment, better resources. They had it all!
What could James possibly use to compete with these prodigies? Clenching his fists, a flash of defiance sparked in his eyes. He was desperate to become stronger.
"Attention everyone, we're about to head out!" someone announced.
"Right, let's not let that earlier warrior beat us to the boss kill."
This joke sent everyone into a roar of laughter, filling the air with a relaxed vibe. The hundred talents got ready, slowly advancing deeper into Thunder Valley under the command of an S-tier talent.
...
Outside Thunder Valley, two figures appeared one after the other.
"Jessica, I thought you said we weren't coming to Thunder Valley?" Cain asked, following behind Jessica, puzzled.
"I'm worried Mike might have already gone in!" Jessica frowned, her expression anxious. "I gave him the map. If he's gone into Thunder Valley, wouldn't that be my fault?"
This was no way to repay a favor; it felt more like she was setting Mike up! Jessica had to make a trip to Thunder Valley, even if she couldn't find Mike, at least she'd have tried.
"Cain, you go back. I'll walk a bit further inside."
"Listen to yourself, Mike is your classmate, but he's also my good buddy!" Cain rolled his eyes. "Besides, dying in the Tower of Truth just sends you back to the Core City of Truth, what's there to fear?"
Though Cain spoke lightly, the weakness period after death was quite lengthy; a death meant wasting the whole day!
Jessica didn't argue further, instead pointing to a pet on her shoulder.
"This little guy can sense danger and avoid it. It'll lead us on the safest path, avoiding too many monster encounters."
The monsters inside Thunder Valley were high-level, and aside from the boss, the other creatures were not something the two could easily handle. With the guiding pet, Jessica felt confident enough to explore deeper.
"Stick close to me and don't get lost," Jessica instructed.
"Got it!" Cain nodded eagerly, urging them to start their journey.
Together, they slowly made their way deeper into Thunder Valley.