Chapter 14: Scraping? I

Deep within the Gubao.

The once sinister corridor was now undergoing even stranger changes.

The rotten, damp odor in the air gradually faded, replaced by a sweet, metallic stench like fermented blood.

The skull lamps along the walls, burning with deep blue flames, suddenly flared violently, their color shifting from deep blue to dark purple.

“Something’s wrong!”

Xia Qingyue, leading the group, abruptly halted.

She stared fixedly at the churning mist ahead, then scanned the changing surroundings.

“Captain, what’s wrong?”

Zhang Kai, behind her, looked bewildered and asked instinctively.

Xia Qingyue kept scanning all around, as if verifying repeatedly, then finally spoke:

“The Abyss has transformed…”

At those words, the expressions of the others froze instantly.

Everyone knew exactly what “Abyss transformation” meant.

“A…Abyss transformation?”

Zhang Kai’s legs went weak; he fumbled frantically for his [Return Scroll].

A faint glow emitted from the scroll—but nothing happened.

“The Return Scroll isn’t responding… it’s really Abyss transformed.” Zhang Kai’s voice trembled, his eyes hollow with despair.

Despair spread through the team.

Liu Weiwei, the timid priestess, had already covered her mouth and was sobbing; even the burly Wang Meng’s grip on his shield shook uncontrollably.

“What do we do?”

Zhang Kai looked at Xia Qingyue, then at Lin Mo.

Before entering the dungeon, the group had looked at Lin Mo with disdain, seeing him as a spoiled heir burdened by wealth.

But after enduring relentless battles, Lin Mo had now, in many ways, replaced Xia Qingyue as the team’s anchor.

“Young Master Lin…”

Zhang Kai’s voice cracked, thick with tears: “W-what do we do now?”

Lin Mo stared at the pitch-black path ahead, silently exasperated.

What the hell kind of luck is this?

Eighteen years passed, and finally I get a divine hand—and I run into a one-in-a-hundred-thousand chance the moment I step out?

My luck really is unmatched.

An Abyss dungeon? That’s something only a full elite team stands a chance to clear.

【‘Fireball’ is greedily devouring the Abyss energy in the air!】

【‘Fireball’ trembles with excitement: This scent… this taste of violence, destruction, corruption! So exquisite!】

【‘Fireball’ lets out a wild laugh: Hahaha! Now this is a real dungeon! All those previous ones were child’s play! I feel my blood burning—this is the call from Hell!】

【Current Mood: Extreme Excitement (Abyss-type monster damage +200%!)】

Watching this utterly chaotic skill, Lin Mo sighed.

So it thrives when faced with stronger foes, huh?

But even with +200% damage, it’s not guaranteed to beat an Abyss Boss.

Lin Mo brushed off the snack crumbs from his hands and said calmly:

“Enough with the gloom.”

“Since the way back is gone, we have no choice but to press forward.”

Xia Qingyue took a deep breath, gripped her staff tightly, and her gaze hardened:

“Young Master Lin is right. Crying won’t help—we fight!”

“Listen up, everyone! Tighten formation, protect Young Master Lin—we charge in!”

…

The path ahead was brutal.

The Abyss-transformed monsters not only had skyrocketed stats but also became wildly aggressive.

Monsters that once fell to a few fireballs now required heavy firepower to eliminate.

Fortunately, Lin Mo’s “Ziyun Set” had an absurd cooldown reduction, and with the ‘Abyss damage +200%’ buff from his little fireball, the team pushed through with narrow escapes all the way to the dungeon’s deepest chamber.

Lin Mo’s level reached Lv.6; everyone else reached Lv.5.

Before a towering black gate, ten meters high.

“We’re here.”

Xia Qingyue’s voice was hoarse. “The Boss is inside.”

Boom—

Before anyone could push the door, the massive gate slowly swung open on its own.

A terrifying pressure surged out instantly!

In the center of the hall, seated upon a throne of piled bones, sat a monstrous figure.

【Abyss·Bone Knight (Boss), Lv.5】

Clad in tattered black heavy armor, its helmet held no face—only two flickering purple soul flames.

In its hand, a two-meter-long greatsword; beneath it, a skeletal warhorse wreathed in Ming fire.

“Intruders…”

“Roar—!!!”

A terrifying, guttural voice echoed through the hall.

With that roar, a wave of killing intent slammed into them.

Instantly, Zhang Kai and Liu Weiwei struggled to breathe, their courage to raise their weapons nearly shattered.

Even the ever-steady Wang Meng’s grip on his shield trembled violently.

Though merely a Lv.5 Boss, its terrifying Abyss aura was countless times more dreadful than any monster they’d faced!

【‘Fireball’ is ecstatic: This is a worthy opponent! Let me face it!】

Xia Qingyue forced down her fear, swung her staff, and shouted:

“Don’t panic! It’s only Lv.5! With Young Master Lin here, we still have a chance!”

“Wang Meng, take the front! Lin Mo, get ready—”

Before she finished speaking.

Lin Mo didn’t even raise his hand.

Whoosh—

A streak of orange-red light shot past the group, straight toward the Bone Knight on the throne!

Boom—!!!

A deafening explosion shattered the empty hall.

With the terrifying +200% Abyss damage bonus, this fireball’s power was staggering.

“Hit… it hit!”

Zhang Kai’s face lit up; he clenched his fist.

But the next second, his smile froze.

The smoke cleared, the flames died.

The Bone Knight still sat motionless on its throne, posture unchanged.

Around it, a translucent, swirling purple shield glowed with cold radiance.

That attack hadn’t even cracked the shield’s surface.

【‘Fireball’ froze: ???】

【‘Fireball’ disbelieving: No penetration? This was my enraged attack with +200% damage! This isn’t logical!】

“Roar—”

The Bone Knight slowly raised its head; the two soul flames glowed with mockery.

Then it mounted its skeletal warhorse, spurred the beast hard, and charged toward them, wreathed in blue Ming fire.

The ground trembled!

“Watch out! Wang Meng, block it!”

Xia Qingyue shouted immediately.

“Aaaah! I’ll fight you to the death! Unmovable as a Mountain!”

Wang Meng’s eyes turned bloodshot; he roared and slammed his tower shield deep into a crack in the floor, his body glowing with earthy yellow light.

The next instant, the five-meter-long greatsword crashed down upon the shield.

Clang—!

“Puff!”

Wang Meng, shield and all, was flung backward, spewing a gout of blood midair before crashing heavily against the wall over ten meters away.

“Wang Meng!”

Liu Weiwei screamed and rushed toward him.

How could this happen... even Lin Shao’s fireball couldn’t break through...

Zhang Kai’s face turned ashen.

Lin Mo stood in the center of the formation, not overly alarmed, only slightly frowning.

This is troublesome...

Xiao Huo, don’t stop—drive it back, don’t let it get close.

【『Fireball Spell』roared: Don’t tell me! I’m not done with it!】

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Flames erupted through the hall, explosions never ceasing.

Under the relentless barrage of Fireball Spell and Multiple Exploding Fireballs, the Bone Knight was forced back step by step.

But when the flames cleared...

The purple-shimmering shield remained intact.

Lin Mo watched this scene, his gaze darkening.

It seems this shield must be broken before this boss can be killed.

【『Fireball Spell』fell silent, staring fixedly at the shield.】

【『Fireball Spell』fell into deep thought: Why? Why won’t it shatter?】

【Status: Deep Thinking (seems like it’s growing a brain... intelligence is climbing the heights...）】

...Is it about to awaken?

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow.