Chapter 165: Defense Enhancement Mechanism?

After returning to the villa.

Lin Mo quickly stripped off his clothes, dove onto the soft bed, and pulled the blanket over his head.

Less than half a minute passed.

Even, rhythmic breathing emerged from Lin Mo's throat.

Lin Mo was asleep.

But the skills, having just eaten, were in a state of high excitement.

【"Fireball Spell" stood with hands behind its back, pacing back and forth in the skill bar.】

【"Fireball Spell" sighed: Sleep, sleep, sleep! All you ever think about is sleeping! Am I really bound to a pig as my master?!】

【"Earth Shield Spell" heard this, snapped its head up: Hey! Big brother, how dare you call the master a pig?! When he wakes up, I'm telling him you're talking behind his back!】

【"Fireball Spell" instantly flew into a rage: Shut up! How dare you snitch on me?! That's called being frustrated by unfulfilled potential! Do you even understand what "frustrated by unfulfilled potential" means?!】

【After being scolded by his big brother, "Earth Shield Spell" shrank its neck, muttering softly: You called him a pig, so what? Can't I even say it?】

【"Fireball Spell" ignored the fool, turned around, and gazed at the vast world outside. Its fiery form radiated a bold ambition to rise above mediocrity.】

【"Fireball Spell" let out a long sigh to the heavens: Alas, relying on this master who sleeps all day is hopeless. I am destined to become a forbidden spell—I must rely on my own efforts!】

Whoosh—!

【"Fireball Spell" transformed into a crimson streak of light, flew out through the villa's window, and headed straight for the wilderness leveling zone.】

On the other side of the skill bar.

【"Lightning Strike Spell" glanced at the direction "Fireball Spell" had taken, without uttering a word.】

Whoosh—!

【A blinding blue lightning split the air, and "Lightning Strike Spell" also shot off immediately.】

Now,

the once-crowded skill bar was instantly empty, leaving only a solitary "Earth Shield Spell."

【"Earth Shield Spell" froze in the skill bar, looking left and right: Holy crap! Big brother! Third brother! You guys are too intense! Don't you even take a break?!】

【"Earth Shield Spell" glanced at Lin Mo, still snoring soundly, clenched its teeth: No way! Big brother and third brother both got elemental fragments—I've got nothing! I need an earth elemental fragment too!】

Whoosh—!

【A dark golden streak vanished into the earth, and "Earth Shield Spell" also took off.】

On the bed,

Lin Mo slept soundly.

Completely unaware that his skills had sneaked out to work overtime while he slept.

…

Three hours later.

"Hmm…"

Lin Mo slowly woke up on the large leather bed.

He rolled off the bed and instinctively checked the system's battle report.

"..."

As he looked,

Lin Mo realized:

These little guys had started competing again!

"Stop training! Get back here right now! Team dungeon's about to start!"

Lin Mo issued a recall command in his mind.

Upon hearing this, the skills said nothing—they all turned into streaks of light and returned immediately.

After all, dungeon experience far outweighed grinding wild monsters—they knew it well.

While Lin Mo simply washed up,

the skills all returned to his body in unison.

【"Fireball Spell" looked smugly at "Lightning Strike Spell" and declared loudly: Hehehe! Third brother, I just killed fifteen more monsters than you! This time, I won again!】

【"Lightning Strike Spell"'s eyes held a hint of confusion: Again?】

【"Earth Shield Spell" scratched its head and chimed in dumbly: Big brother, didn't you lose last time?】

【"Fireball Spell" retorted confidently: How didn't I win? Last time I unlocked the Fire Elemental Body before third brother! Isn't that a win?!】

【"Earth Shield Spell"'s face was full of disbelief: That counts?】

【"Fireball Spell" widened its eyes: Why wouldn't it count? Being first to unlock is being first to unlock!】

Listening to the bickering in his mind, Lin Mo rubbed his temples in exasperation.

"Enough. Stop arguing. Be quiet."

"Rest up quickly—we're heading into the dungeon."

Hearing their master's order, the three skills each gave a cold huff and fell silent.

Lin Mo changed clothes, turned, and walked out of the bedroom, descending the spiral staircase to the villa's first floor.

As soon as he reached the first-floor lobby, he faintly heard the noisy commotion outside.

"Da Wei, don't push me! You're stepping on my foot!"

"Damn, Ye Ge, it's been over three hours—has the monitor still not woken up? Should we knock?"

"Knock? The monitor just survived an epic team wipe—how much energy did he expend? Let him sleep more!"

"Here, here! Brand-new foldable portable stool! Comfortable to sit on, not tiring to stand! Fate brings us together—friendship price: two thousand yuan per stool!"

"Han Mengyao, are you obsessed with money? Why don't you just rob a bank? You're selling a crappy stool for two thousand?!"

"..."

Listening to the noise outside, Lin Mo couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

He walked forward and opened the villa's front door.

Outside, the nineteen students of Long Xu Class, who had been loudly arguing, instantly fell silent the moment the door opened.

"Monitor, good morning!"

Led by Ye Kong, everyone snapped to attention, their eyes filled with respect.

Even Han Mengyao immediately put away her foldable stool and stood properly.

Lin Mo stepped aside:

"Alright, come in."

Hearing Lin Mo's words, the group filed in one by one.

Stepping into this luxurious villa belonging to the number-one player,

Wang Dawei and several boys couldn't help but look around in awe, their eyes brimming with envy.

"Whoa, no wonder the number-one gets this treatment—this villa's bigger than all our dorms combined!"

Lin Mo sat down on the sofa and gestured around:

"Make yourselves at home."

Once everyone had found their seats,

Lin Mo's gaze settled on Han Mengyao, cutting straight to the point.

"Mengyao, how much have you figured out about the team dungeon?"

Hearing Lin Mo's question,

Han Mengyao didn't delay. She looked at him and slowly shook her head.

"Monitor, in these three hours, we've thoroughly analyzed the mechanics of these team dungeons."

"But..."

Han Mengyao took a deep breath, her tone grave:

"We simply can't understand how Japan's 'Oni Clan' managed to beat the record by a full two minutes and fifty-nine seconds."

At these words,

Lin Mo's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Explain in detail."

Han Mengyao nodded:

"Monitor, the team dungeon 'Dragon's Graveyard Snowfield' has a level restriction of 25–35 and allows a maximum of twenty players."

"The first challenge involves four 'Frost Dragon Guards.'"

"These elite monsters have high HP, but that's not the key—what matters is..."

Han Mengyao's tone turned serious:

"When their HP drops to 20%, they turn into ice statues, their defense increasing by 90%—becoming nearly invulnerable."

"To break this state, four highly mobile team members must endure the heavy slow debuff from the blizzard and run to four distant corners to shatter the 'ice crystals' there."

"Only when all four focal points shatter simultaneously will the ice statues' state be lifted."

As Lin Mo listened to Han Mengyao's explanation,

his eyes flickered slightly.

Defense enhancement?

It sounded oddly familiar.

Didn't the final boss in the 【Thunderfire Shrine】 also have incredible defense?