**Chapter 115: Clash of Bosses**
The level of the **[Water Ghosts]** ranges between 12 and 14, keeping in line with the players. However, each of these creatures comes with an elite template, giving them five times the health of regular mobs of the same level.
Among them lurk a few **[Water Ghost Bosses]**. These level 14 monsters have health on par with other bosses of their level, along with a broader set of skills and significantly greater power.
Yet, while the water ghosts are scattered, the players stand united in formation. Snow Leopard had carefully balanced the roles on each ship before departure. Each vessel carries an optimized mix of tanks, damage dealers, and healers, ensuring every ship can withstand attacks independently.
Working together, the players intercept the water ghosts' assault. With their combined focus, the water ghosts soon dissolve into streams of experience points and loot drops.
On the No. 2 warship carrying the princess, the players clash with a fresh wave of water ghosts. Suddenly, a loud splash sounds!
A monstrous figure over three meters tall leaps from the water, landing with a thud on the deck.
**[Water Ghost Leader lv15 (Rare)]**
A rare boss!
A flurry of messages fills the chat room as players scramble to alert their allies:
"Alert! Rare Boss on the second warship—requesting immediate support!"
"Hurry up, or the No. 2 ship might not hold out!"
"Boss Snow Leopard, send reinforcements!"
Snow Leopard reads the incoming messages, frowning slightly. He considers dispatching backup but then pauses as he receives a private message from Su Yu.
After reading it, he chuckles and replies in the chat: "The No. 2 warship doesn't need backup. Instead, those available should assist the other ships."
"Why?"
"What did you say, Boss?"
"Huh?"
The chat room fills with question marks, but the confusion quickly gives way to shock.
Just then, a massive, fiery-red fireball, nearly the size of a basin, crashes down from the warship's second floor, exploding on the **[Water Ghost Leader]**.
---
**-8160!**
The [Water Ghost Leader] is scorched black, its health bar obliterated in an instant. The boss is dead before it even had a chance to retaliate.
"8160 points of damage? Who hit that?" the players exclaim.
They glance down, spotting a glittering loot bag on the deck. Realizing it wasn't an NPC—who don't drop loot—they turn their eyes upward, searching for the source.
Standing on the second-floor deck, cool and composed, is Su Yu, whose mere wave leaves the players gaping in awe.
"8160 points of damage! One-shotting a level 15 boss? Seriously?" Players whisper amongst themselves.
"Is that the true power of the boss, Nemesis?"
"This damage... it's unreal!"
---
Su Yu remains calm, a faint smile playing on his lips. He had merely stacked his **[Fireball Technique]** to ten charges before casting. Given his six-level advantage over the boss, it was no surprise he could take it down so easily.
Noticing the wide-eyed stares from the players on deck, Su Yu waves nonchalantly, calling out, "Nice work, everyone! Just give me a shout if another boss shows up."
The players can only exchange stunned glances, leaving the chat room buzzing:
"Unbelievable! 8160 damage! Nemesis's **[Fireball Technique]** just did 8160 damage and downed a level 15 rare boss in a single hit!"
"8,000+ damage? No way! You better not be exaggerating."
"Not a chance! We all saw it with our own eyes!"
"I was right there! My hands are still shaking."
"8160 damage?! Are you sure you didn't just see an extra 0?"
"Damn! I'm level 12, and I barely do a few dozen points with my fireball!"
"So that's why Nemesis dominates the leaderboard! Guess we finally know the secret: he's insane!"
"Calling him 'Boss' doesn't even cut it. With damage like that, he's on par with top NPCs. How about we call him 'Mr. Nemesis'?"
"Mr. Nemesis? I like that!"
"Agreed! Mr. Nemesis, all the way!"
---
Soon after, Su Yu receives a private message from True Red-Eyed Black Dragon.
**True Red-Eyed Black Dragon**: "Mr. Nemesis, I heard you did over 8,000 damage with a single fireball? One-shotting a level 15 rare boss?!"
**Su Yu**: "That's right. A high-level NPC buffed me up for this one, so I got a little extra firepower."
**True Red-Eyed Black Dragon**: "..."
**Su Yu**: "Haha, just kidding. Tell Snow Leopard we need to wrap this up quickly. Something feels off about this situation."
Su Yu's instincts flare as he considers the water ghosts' attack patterns. Why didn't these enemies wait until they were in direct combat with Duke Lantilus's fleet before launching their assault? This premature attack only makes sense if their goal is to delay.
Moreover, the water ghosts are weak enough that the players can handle them on their own, without intervention from the queen's guards. Su Yu suspects there's more going on here and decides it's best to act quickly.
Determined, he no longer holds back. Using **[Blink Technique]** to teleport between ships, he picks off bosses with precision, each time unleashing an empowered **[Fireball Technique]** or **[Lightning Technique]** that instantly drops them.
Players across the fleet watch in amazement as Su Yu's high-damage strikes, sometimes topping 8,000 or even 10,000 points, rip through the enemies. Silence falls over the battlefield as players look at each other in astonishment, wondering how they could ever match such power.
Thanks to Su Yu's overwhelming support, the water ghosts on all six ships are swiftly defeated. The fleet turns its bow and advances on the water ghosts' boats, initiating an aggressive counterattack.
Within ten minutes, the players capture thirteen boats, forcing the remaining water ghosts to flee. A round of cheers rises as they celebrate their victory.
However, a sense of awe tempers their joy. Su Yu's immense power has left a lasting impression on everyone present. They glance up at him, standing tall on the bow of the ship, and wonder, *Is this guy even human? Maybe he's an NPC spying on us.*
---
But just as the players finish cleaning up the battlefield and prepare to resume their journey, Su Yu's expression shifts, his eyes narrowing.
More than twenty enemy boats, each filled with water ghosts, appear on the horizon, drifting downstream toward the fleet.
The players catch sight of the approaching fleet and begin to perk up. More water ghosts meant more experience points, and if Su Yu set up a few missions, this encounter could bring in substantial rewards.
But Su Yu doesn't share their enthusiasm.
He quickly sends a private message to Snow Leopard: "Snow Leopard, let's not engage these water ghosts. I believe they're only here to stall us."
"Stall us?"
"Yes! Think about it. These water ghosts could easily wait until we're locked in a direct fight with Lantilus's fleet to launch their attack, ensuring we're vulnerable on both sides."
"So, they're attacking now because their allies aren't ready yet, and they're hoping to delay us?"
"Exactly."
Understanding dawns on Snow Leopard's face, and he immediately issues a command in the chat: "Everyone, listen up! Ignore the water ghosts; our fleet is advancing at full speed!"
"All mages to the rear! Use **[Frost Arrow]** to create icy barriers and slow down any water ghosts behind us. Archers, be ready to intercept any enemies attempting to breach our defenses. The rest, stay on standby!"
"But… we're passing up free experience!" some players protest in the chat.
However, Snow Leopard's authority and Su Yu's track record inspire trust, and the fleet swiftly falls into formation. Mages conjure sheets of ice to hinder the water ghosts' advance, while archers remain vigilant, watching for any ghostly saboteurs below the waterline.
The players fall silent, all focused on the task at hand, with newfound respect for the tactical foresight of Snow Leopard and Su Yu.
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