Chapter 205: Is This What They Call a Speedrun?

Inside the underground temple.

The ground was littered with yellow sand formed from Kuangshaduxie, and the ashes of the High Priest, reduced to nothing.

In the skill bar.

【【Fireball Spell】, wreathed in blazing flames, closed its eyes in rapture: "Ah… this is the art of destruction!"】

【【Fireball Spell】raised its head haughtily: "See that? Without my ultimate firepower, how could that damn priest have died so fast? I am the undisputed absolute core of this household!"】

Upon hearing this.

Xiao Bing immediately became displeased.

【【Ice Spike Spell】snorted with disdain: "Hmph, stop slapping glory onto your own face."】

【【Ice Spike Spell】tilted its snow-white chin slightly: "If not for my Death Soldier legion absorbing the targeting mechanism, where would your chance to output even be?"】

【"Undoubtedly, I am the unquestioned absolute core of this household."】

【【Fireball Spell】burst into flames with rage: "Hah! Even if I'm restrained, I can still burn through that pathetic cage! Do you even understand what absolute destructive power means?"】

At this moment.

As the loyal subordinate, 【Earth Shield Spell】immediately stepped forward to support.

【【Earth Shield Spell】shouted loudly: "Exactly! Besides, even without your Death Soldier legion, it's not guaranteed the targeting would've hit the Master—what makes you the core?"】

In the corner of the skill bar.

【【Lightning Strike Spell】glanced at them coldly and let out a dismissive scoff: "A bunch of idiots."】

As the skills were about to argue again.

Lin Mo sighed wearily:

"Enough. Be quiet."

Instantly, the skill bar fell silent.

Lin Mo's tone was calm:

"In this battle, Xiao Bing truly played an indispensable role."

"Without your massive Death Soldier legion perfectly avoiding the targeting mechanism, we would've wasted a lot of time."

Upon hearing Lin Mo's praise.

【【Ice Spike Spell】glanced smugly at Xiao Huo: "Hear that? The Master says I'm the top contributor!"】

Then,

Lin Mo shifted tone, yet kept his voice steady:

"However, Xiao Huo, Xiao Lei, and Xiao Tu—you're equally indispensable."

"Without your damage skills, even if you survived the mechanism, you couldn't clear it in such a short time."

"After all, we're aiming for a speedrun."

Lin Mo smiled faintly inside:

"Each of you is vital. Each is irreplaceable. Understood?"

Upon hearing this.

It was the ultimate mastery of "balancing the water."

【【Ice Spike Spell】, though dissatisfied at not claiming sole glory, could only huff haughtily.】

【【Fireball Spell】snorted, its arrogance unchanged but its flames dimmed.】

【【Fireball Spell】: "Since the Master says so, I'll spare you, little brat."】

【【Earth Shield Spell】nodded frantically: "Master's right! Everyone in this household is important!"】

【【Fireball Spell】suddenly changed tack: "Still, I don't need, nor do I care to be mentioned alongside that little brat. My firepower alone can crush any mechanism."】

Hearing Xiao Huo's resentful tone.

Lin Mo's voice grew deeper:

"Fine, Xiao Huo. There'll be plenty more chances for you to prove yourself."

"This household doesn't raise slackers, nor does it care about seniority—only performance matters."

Lin Mo expertly PUA'd them:

"Whoever kills fastest, who kills most brutally—that's the boss."

"Understood?"

In the skill bar, the skills instantly perked up.

【【Fireball Spell】's eyes blazed with battle lust: "Hmph! I won't let you down! I'll take care of every monster from now on!"】

【【Ice Spike Spell】also eagerly pledged: "Master~ I'll work hard! Crush them all!!"】

Seeing this, Lin Mo nodded in satisfaction.

He loved seeing this kind of frenzied internal competition, thriving and vibrant!

A family must hustle together—uniformly, fiercely!

…

Meanwhile.

The members of Dragon Order Class remained in deep shock.

Wang Dawei swallowed hard.

He stared at the hundreds of frost death soldiers still standing, radiating terrifying cold, and the dozens of ice giants as large as hills.

"My god…"

Wang Dawei turned to Ye Kong:

"Ye Ge, have you ever seen a summoner at the same level summon this many monsters?"

"This quantity… this size…"

"It's equivalent to a pure 40-man summoner squad at our level, isn't it?"

Ye Kong also shook his head with a bitter smile, sheathing his Tang blade.

"Don't ask me—I'm still dizzy."

Han Mengyao chuckled lightly, scanning the group:

"Actually, you've got it wrong."

"Huh? What's up, big sis?"

Han Mengqing asked curiously.

Han Mengyao sighed softly:

"Summoners at the same level aren't even worthy to be compared with Lin Mo."

"You seem to have forgotten—Lin Mo's skills are all high-grade skills."

"Summoner, a late-game class, has no way to compete with Lin Mo, who wields high-grade skills at this stage."

"High-grade skills, at this stage, are a dimensional downgrade."

Upon hearing this.

The group suddenly realized.

"Damn! We forgot—our class leader uses high-grade skills!"

Wang Dawei slapped his forehead.

But it wasn't their fault.

After all, in their world, high-grade skills were utterly out of reach.

They still instinctively treated Lin Mo as an ordinary peer.

In reality, there was no comparison at all.

After all, Lin Mo was a four-element magic king disguised as a level-30!

…

Hum—

As a flash of light shimmered.

The countdown ended.

They were teleported to the third trial.

【You have entered the third trial: Desert Maze.】

It was a complex labyrinth formed by massive stone walls.

Inside the maze, repulsive 【Bloodthirsty Sand Worms】 surged up from the ground like tidal waves.

"Go!"

Lin Mo wasted no words.

He raised his hand and unleashed a Flame Storm to clear the area.

The sand worm swarms, which would've been extremely difficult for ordinary teams, couldn't even approach his body.

And,

Under the dimensional downgrade of high-grade skills,

the stone walls of the maze were simply smashed through.

Pure, unreasonable speedrun.

【Third trial cleared!】

【Time: 23 seconds!】

……

The teleportation glow flared again.

【You have entered the fourth trial: The Guardian's Antechamber.】

It was a relatively small, enclosed hall.

Two towering statues of the 【Sand Warden Colossi】 awakened.

They wielded massive swords, radiating overwhelming pressure.

Lin Mo's gaze flickered slightly.

"Little ones, kill them!"

【'Fireball Spell': Die, you bastards!】

【'Earth Shield Spell': Die, you second bastard!】

【'Lightning Strike Spell': Die.】

【'Ice Spike Spell': Kneel.】

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

The two incredibly resilient colossi shattered into rubble in an instant under the barrage of spells.

【Fourth trial completed!】

【Time elapsed: 15 seconds!】

The other members of the Dragon Order class barely got a chance to act.

Ye Kong was utterly numb.

Is this what speed-clearing means?

His Tang blade was drawn and sheathed, drawn and sheathed again…