The Warriors, Mages, and Archers fought with impeccable coordination. Their relentless attacks left the Lightning Ape completely disoriented.
When the undead army took action, its momentum was unstoppable.
Three legions worked in perfect harmony. The Skeletal Berserk Warriors led the charge, engaging and containing the target, while the Skeletal Great Mages and Skeletal Marksmen delivered consistent damage from the rear. This seamless synergy amplified their collective combat strength.
Lin Moyu observed with quiet satisfaction. But he knew this overwhelming force was most effective against groups of enemies. Against a single target like the Lightning Ape, the potential of his troops was only partially realized.
However, against groups of enemies, his Corpse Explosion spell was the ultimate game-changer.
The Lightning Ape, unable to escape after crashing down, was crashed by the unyielding assault. Desperately, it tried to retreat to the safety of the swamp, but the Skeletal Berserk Warriors clung tenaciously to its legs, thwarting its escape.
With a final, despairing cry, the Lightning Ape fell.
[Killed Lightning Ape, EXP +2,820,000]
[Obtained Lightning Crystal Fragment]
[Lightning Crystal Fragment: collect five Lightning Crystal Fragments to fuse into a Lightning Crystal.]
With Lin Moyuâs current strength, even a level 45 hell rank dungeon posed no challenge. The real limitation wasnât the difficulty but the dungeon's level restriction. Without it, he would have eagerly tackled level 50 or even level 60 dungeons. Higher-level dungeons promised more EXP and superior rewards.
Still, equipment held little interest for him. His primary focus was leveling up, as the benefits were unmatched. Each level increased the strength of his undead legions substantiallyâfar surpassing the value of any treasure.
After crossing the Lightning Swamp, the path ahead was smooth sailing. There were no monsters or dancing lightning, only an unsettling stillness. The silence was so profound that Lin Moyu momentarily wondered if he had stepped into an entirely different dungeon.
He walked for over ten kilometers before something caught his attentionâa streak of lightning.
A slender bolt connected the churning storm clouds above to the ground below. At its base stood a colossal sword, over a hundred meters long, thrust into the earth with the tip pointed skyward, crackling with lightning.
The sight sent a tingling sensation coursing through Lin Moyuâs body.
Without warning, a bolt of lightning leapt from the swordâs tip and struck him directly.
His Bone Armor flared brilliantly, accompanied by a rapid succession of sharp, cracking sounds. For the first time since the second class awakening, Lin Moyuâs Bone Armor showed signs of damage.
It wasnât the sheer power of the lightning that surprised him but its relentless, rapid-fire attacks. In a single second, Lin Moyu estimated the lightning had struck him over a thousand times. The barrage was so intense that the sound alone made his ears ring.
Quickly, he reapplied the Bone Armor.
The lightning, however, didnât relent. Within moments, the armor was damaged again.
Lin Moyuâs gaze locked onto the giant sword as he strode forward, his expression calm but thoughtful. Each time the Bone Armor was about to break, he immediately restored it.
He tried adjusting his path, but the lightning seemed to track him, striking with unerring accuracy.
It became clear there was no escape; the lightning had locked onto him completely. Speed, directionâit didnât matter. Dodging was impossible.
Left with no alternative, Lin Moyu resolved to endure. His spirit reserves were vast, so he could continuously reapply the Bone Armor without concern for depletion.
âThis speed... it's impressive.â He muttered, âGood thing the attack power isnât too high. Otherwise, this might be a real problem.â
Increasing his pace, he closed the distance to the giant sword. His increased speed seemed to provoke the sword; it trembled violently, and the lightning intensified.
The bolts striking him grew thicker, their impacts louder and more forceful. The Bone Armor broke more frequently now.
âItâs getting stronger.â Lin Moyu observed.
Previously, Lin Moyu had to reapply the Bone Armor every five seconds. Now, it was every three.
Still, this change made little difference to him. An attack that couldnât instantly pierce through the Bone Armor posed no real threat.
Unperturbed, he pressed forward with steady, unwavering steps.
Before he realized it, Lin Moyu stood before the colossal sword.
Reaching out, his hand moved toward the sword. The sword was shrouded in an endless cascade of lightning, flowing over its surface like a luminous waterfall, scarred land around it.
The sword stood alone, embedded upright into the earth.
As Lin Moyu gazed at it, an inexplicable sense of loneliness washed over him.
âYouâre lonely.â He murmured softly.
Without hesitation, he extended his hand, piercing through the waterfall of lightning to touch the blade.
In an instant, the cascading lightning vanished.
The unrelenting lightning strikes ceased, and silence engulfed the space. For the first time since crossing the swamp, no sound filled the air but Lin Moyuâs steady breathing.
Then, a deafening thunderclap shattered the stillness.
Before him, a towering figure emergedâa giant composed entirely of lightning. It gripped a massive sword, its presence radiating a divine and oppressive aura.
Lin Moyu watched as the lightning giant unleashed a series of devastating strikes. Each attack carried an overwhelming power, obliterating colossal beasts with ease, reducing them to nothingness.
He could feel the force of the giantâs blows, even through the vision. It was God-level.
âThis is... a God. The Lightning God.â Lin Moyu muttered, his mind racing, âAnd those... are Desolate Beasts?â
The vision revealed the fragment of history embedded within the sword. It depicted a grand battle, one where the Lightning God clashed against the Desolate Beasts, slaying a large number of them.
From this vantage, it seemed even mightier than Bai Yiyuan and Yan Kuangsheng.
But was it truly so? Lin Moyu didnât believe it.
Yan Kuangsheng simply lacked the proper technique; with it, he too could fell Desolate Beasts with ease.
The visionâs scene shifted, and a new figure emergedâa terrifyingly large beast
âDesolate Beast King!â
Lin Moyu recognized it instantly. The impression it had left on him was unforgettable.
He vividly recalled how Bai Yiyuan and Yan Kuangsheng had fled at the mere sight of it, and how a single strike from the beast had grievously injured Meng Anwen. Its overwhelming power was undeniableâimpossible to ignore.
The Desolate Beast King lunged at the Lightning God. At that moment, the vision shattered.
A chill ran down Lin Moyuâs spine. The realization struck him like thunder: the Lightning God had died.
Just like that, the mighty God was slain by the Desolate Beast King.
The colossal sword emanated a desolate energy, as if mourning its masterâs fall. Lin Moyu felt its sorrow, an echo of the devastating loss it had witnessed.
The sword seemed to be trying to convey something, a plea buried deep within its aura.
Lin Moyu spoke softly, âYouâre lonely. I understand. Perhaps one day, Iâll find a way to awaken your master.â
As his words fell, the enormous sword began to shrink rapidly. In moments, it was the size of a palm, resting quietly in his hand.
[Lightning Godâs Sword: sword of the Lightning God and a key that can open the Lightning God's Palace.]
At last, he had obtained the key.
Lin Moyu cradled the Lightning Godâs Sword gently, âDonât worry, Iâll keep my word.â
The sword pulsed faintly in response, its emotions clearâa profound loneliness, tinged with sorrow.
Lin Moyu could relate. He remembered the year his grandmother passed away, and his sister left for the Xiajing Academy. The loneliness during that time had been suffocating.
The quieter you became, the lonelier you felt. The lonelier you felt, the quieter you became. It was a vicious cycle, one Lin Moyu understood all too well.
âŠ
Roar!
A deafening beastly roar tore through the air, and lightning surged across the sky.
From above, a massive eagle, over thirty meters in size, swooped down. Its entire body crackled with lightning, radiating an extraordinary and oppressive aura.
[Thunder Eagle (hell rank boss)]
[Level: 48]
[Strength: 60,000]
[Agility: 60,000]
[Spirit: 20,000]
[Physique: 70,000]
[Skills: Thunder Struck, Thunderstorm of Annihilation]
[Traits: 50% Lightning Elemental Damage Reduction, 50% Physical Damage Reduction, Enhanced Speed, Health Enhanced]
Lin Moyu carefully put away the Lightning Godâs Sword. As he did, the lingering sense of loneliness dissipated completely.
Now, he had friends, teachers, and a sister. The bonds he had formed over time had freed him from the vicious cycle of solitude.
A faint smile appeared on his face, and the undead army materialized on the ground, ready for battle.
Skeletal Great Mages and Skeletal Marksmen formed a precise formation, locking onto the Thunder Eagle soaring above.
The Thunder Eagle wasted no time. It launched its attack, spitting out a massive orb of lightning. The orb detonated upon impact, transforming the ground within a thousand-meter radius into a seething sea of electricity.
The undead army stood unshaken amidst the storm of lightning. Though the attack was powerful, it was far from enough to annihilate the undead army.
Lin Moyu's undead legions had always been resilient against sustained damageânow, more than ever.
With the healing provided by the Lich Generals, any damage was instantly negated.
The Skeletal Great Mages unleashed a coordinated barrage of Elemental Explosion on the Thunder Eagle.
Simultaneously, the Skeletal Marksmen released their arrows. The projectiles pierced the air, vanishing for a moment before stabbing deep into the Thunder Eagleâs body.
Both attacks were lock-on typesâonce the target was locked on, evasion was impossible.
The Thunder Eagle shrieked in pain as the attacks tore into it.
Its wings beat furiously, summoning a deafening storm of thunder. Bolts of lightning rained down from the heavens, crashing onto the undead army below.
The ground splintered, debris flying in all directions. The sheer destructive force of the attack seemed overwhelming.
Yet, it still wasnât enough.
The skeletons stood their ground. Since the second class awakening, they had grown immensely stronger, their resilience seemingly limitless. Lin Moyu still hadnât discovered the upper bounds of their combat power.
Relentless and unyielding, the skeletons pressed their attack in waves, leaving the Thunder Eagle no time to recover.
Finally, the creature let out a piercing cry of defeat, and it turned to flee, lightning crackling in its wake.
âYouâre not getting away!â Lin Moyu shouted.
With a sharp crack, Lightning Wings unfurled on his back, glowing brilliantly as he launched into the air in pursuit.