**Chapter 80: Kill [Mushroom Demon King]**
In the game, quest rewards are particularly generous at multiples of five, such as the 5th, 10th, and 15th rings. For instance, in the main storyline of [The Glory of the Plantage Empire], Su Yu received a house worth millions of psionic coins upon completing the fifth ring.
However, there are exceptions that alter the usual quest flow, like Su Yu's recently completed hidden quest, [The Love of Horses and Horses]. Normally, during the 9th stage of this quest, Tima would die in the duel arena, causing Tina to enter a blackened state. In the final part of the mission, aided by Legion Commander Gracie, the player would enter Tina's soul world and defeat a boss named [Tina's Obsession], completing the hidden mission and earning the final reward: [Village Sword (Gold)].
Yet, Su Yu disrupted this sequence by spending his wealth to cure Tima. As a result, the reward, [Village Good Sword], appeared in the 9th ring, and the boss was defeated without triggering any cards.
Now, back to the present.
The reward Tina offered Su Yu was for the 5th ring of the main story. This reward was exceptionally powerful; considering Tina's rapid leveling, her contribution of 10% experience could significantly enhance Su Yu's progress.
"Tina can level up by as much as 10 levels at once. If I get that 10%, I might jump up two or three levels, right?" Su Yu mused cheerfully.
However, he noticed that Tina was fuming and seemed ready to unleash [Blood Connection] on him. Quickly, he intervened, saying, "Wait a minute, Tina!"
"What?" Tina asked, her large, bewildered eyes looking at him.
Su Yu explained, "It's still too early for [Blood Connection]. Let's save it until we've taken down another batch of monsters so you can absorb the blood essence afterward."
"Okay," Tina agreed, nodding.
Not forgetting to express her gratitude, she presented Su Yu with the reward for the second ring quest. "This is for you. Thank you for helping me eliminate the Hydra tribe!"
Tina pulled out a ring adorned with blue gems from her bosom and tossed it to Su Yu.
"Ding! Congratulations on completing [The Holy Maiden of Oran City (2/100)]. You've obtained [Traveler's Ring (Rare)] and gained 1000 experience points."
**[Traveler's Ring lv12 (rare)]**
- Backpack space +24
- Non-combat movement speed +8%
"It increases my backpack space! This is perfect for me!" Su Yu exclaimed, satisfied.
His current backpack was cramped, having to carry numerous scrolls, potions, and spare armor, not to mention the valuable equipment and skill scrolls dropped by bosses. The [Traveler's Ring] would greatly alleviate his space issues.
"Thanks, Tina! What's our next move?" Su Yu asked, his spirits lifted.
"Hmm," Tina tilted her head, thinking, "There's a mushroom field a few kilometers southwest from here. We can try our luck there."
"Ding! Your main storyline has been updated! [The Holy Maiden of Oran City (3/100)]."
**Quest Requirements:** Assist Tina in eliminating the mushroom tribe in the 'underground cave.' Defeat [Mushroom Soldier] x30, [Mushroom Warlock] x30, [Three Mushroom Soldiers (Elite)] x5, and [Mushroom Demon King (Leader)] x1.
**Quest Reward:** EXP x1000, [Mourning of Fungus (Consumable)].
"Uh..." Su Yu glanced at the quest description, feeling slightly bewildered. "Isn't your talent stronger by absorbing blood? Shouldn't mushrooms be classified as plants?"
"Plants also have sap! The effect is similar. Besides, the mushroom family isn't entirely plant-based," Tina replied.
"Alright then, let's go!"
An hour later, they arrived at the underground cave.
"Mourning of Fungi, I'm hungry!"
The [Mushroom Demon King lv22], towering at 2 meters, donned a massive pale white canopy and charged toward Su Yu and Tina, wielding a rune sword that radiated thick frost energy.
"Tina, let's go!" Su Yu shouted, swiftly dodging the [Mushroom Demon King].
With urgency, he activated a second-order scroll, [Summon Diamond Element], summoning a translucent [Diamond Element] that swung a colossal stone fist at the [Mushroom Demon King]. Simultaneously, Su Yu unleashed a [Lightning Arrow] at the boss.
**351!**
"The damage is decent," Su Yu noted to himself.
As a level 12 player facing a level 22 BOSS, he expected his damage to register in single digits due to the significant level difference. However, since Tina had entered the mushroom territory, she had cast the buff [Tina's Blessing] on him, temporarily raising his level to 20, matching Tina's, allowing him to effectively fight the boss.
Nevertheless, with the [Mushroom Demon King] boasting a staggering 30,000 HP, it would require a prolonged effort to bring it down.
"Ho, ah!"
The [Mushroom Demon King] let out a furious roar, activating its [Order of the Demon King] skill.
A flurry of spores erupted from its canopy, descending to the ground and transforming into nine miniature mushrooms.
These [Mushroom Soldiers] shook for a moment before charging toward Su Yu, following the boss's command.
Su Yu remained steadfast.
As the [Mushroom Soldiers] closed in, he unleashed [Frost Nova], freezing them in place. Immediately afterward, he unleashed a barrage of spells: [Rain of Fire] and [Chain Lightning] in his right hand, while deploying the second-order scroll [Earthquake Wave] and [Lightning Storm] from his left.
Numbers surged as damage numbers flew from the mushrooms, causing their health to plummet. Even before the three-second control effect of [Frost Nova] expired, Su Yu had vanquished the minions of the [Mushroom Demon King]!
What astonished Su Yu even more was that, due to [Rain of Fire] being a six-stage attack, it struck all nine targets simultaneously.
With each damage dealt, the [Desert Emperor's Scepter] in his hand had a 5% chance to summon a [Yellow Sand Soldier]. After the deluge of fire struck, four [Yellow Sand Soldiers] materialized, raising massive sand spears to impale the [Mushroom Demon King].
While the melee units attacked relentlessly, the [Mushroom Demon King] remained focused on Tina, continuing to swing [Mourning Mourning] as it shouted,
"What a ridiculous irony!"
"Apocalypse!"
"Bow before your king!"
"You mosquitoes wound me! I've had enough of you! Now, face the wrath of mushrooms!"
With a furious incantation, the [Mushroom Demon King] resurrected the fallen [Mushroom Soldiers], sending them charging at Su Yu once again.
But Su Yu was ready.
Employing his old tactic, he cast the ice ring to freeze the incoming soldiers, then unleashed another wave of devastating AOE spells. The mushroom soldiers collapsed once more.
Throughout the battle, the health bar of the [Mushroom Demon King] continued to drain slowly but steadily.
"Hope is fading!"
"There must be a mushroom-demon-king—"
The [Mushroom Demon King] bellowed its final lines, its HP fully depleted. The enormous pale white canopy crumbled from its roots and fell to the ground, marking its defeat.
*(End of this chapter)*