Chapter 49

「Three, two, one…」

As the countdown reached zero.

The massive teleportation array erupted in a blinding blue light.

Immediately after,

a piercing screech ripped through the air.

A shadowy figure shot out from the teleportation array and hovered midair.

【Shadow Wing Demon Lord (BOSS), Lv. 25】

It was a humanoid demon.

It bore a demonic face and had a pair of wings formed from black energy, each flap leaving strange afterimages in the air.

It scanned its surroundings, then locked its gaze firmly on Lin Mo.

【【Fireball】confidently: So you can fly? I can fly too! Die, you bastard!】

Before the Fireball even finished speaking, it shot forward with a whistle.

Yet at the very moment it was about to strike the Shadow Wing Demon Lord,

the demon's figure flickered strangely—the Fireball passed straight through the afterimage, MISS.

【【Fireball】laughed coldly: Huh? Trying to dodge? Please.】

Without hesitation, the Fireball traced a perfect arc through the air and struck again toward the BOSS's back.

【【Fireball】: Hit it, you bastard!!】

Yet the Shadow Wing Demon Lord's agility and evasion were utterly maxed out, far beyond the Fireball's imagination.

No matter how the Fireball predicted or how it curved and accelerated, it could only graze the demon's afterimages—never even touching a single hair.

【【Fireball】mentally shattered: What the hell is this thing? An eel? Don't move, let me blow you up!】

While the Fireball was still battling the air in midair,

the Shadow Wing Demon Lord above seemed to have grown bored.

It narrowed its crimson eyes, fixing them on Lin Mo.

That weak aura, that reliance on elemental manipulation for ranged attacks…

It was all too familiar.

Human. Mage.

In its long memory of slaughter, this frail class was its favorite plaything.

It could no longer recall how many human mages it had torn apart by hand.

It loved watching the look of utter despair and terror on a human mage's face when it closed in.

Roar—!!!

The Shadow Wing Demon Lord let out a bellow.

The next second,

its black mist wings flared violently.

Boom!

A sonic boom seemed to explode in the air.

The Shadow Wing Demon Lord surged toward Lin Mo on the ground at a speed too fast for the eye to follow!

…

Inside the monitoring room.

"Mo'er, watch out!"

Su Wan cried out, instinctively gripping Lin Tianhao's arm.

Even though she knew Lin Mo was protected by the Soul Protection, and couldn't be harmed,

as a mother, seeing this scene still made her heart leap with instinctive dread.

Lin Tianhao's pupils shrank sharply.

Even the usually calm Xu Wenchang leaned forward slightly.

This was the absolute suppression of an agility-type BOSS over a mage!

Without a survival skill, death was certain!

Zhao Lei in the corner smirked slightly.

"Yeah, that's it, go ahead and die…"

…

Inside the Trial Tower.

Facing the Shadow Wing Demon Lord hurtling toward him at extreme speed, Lin Mo's face remained calm.

The next moment,

Boom—!

Two entirely different elemental forces—red and yellow—merged perfectly!

An immensely terrifying heatwave erupted outward from Lin Mo in all directions.

Instantly, black obsidian armor covered Lin Mo's entire body.

Through the seams of the armor, scorching crimson magma flowed like veins, radiating heat that warped the air.

The Shadow Wing Demon Lord slashed its claw at Lin Mo's magma armor.

The obsidian armor, flowing with magma, bore only a few faint white scratches.

Shadow Wing Demon Lord:???

In its eyes, confusion and shock were fully present.

Didn't break the defense?

Is this the hardness a glass-cannon mage should have?

In the instant it was stunned, it saw the slight curve at the corner of Lin Mo's mouth.

In that instant, a shiver of instinct spread through its entire body.

Something's wrong!

Run!

The Shadow-Winged Demon Lord's wings behind it flapped violently, trying to create distance.

However... it was too late.

A large hand wrapped in scalding magma tightly grabbed its wrist.

Lin Mo's voice, carrying a hint of mockery, came through:

"Caught you, little bat."

The Shadow-Winged Demon Lord struggled desperately, its wings behind it flapping wildly, trying to escape the monster radiating terrifying heat.

Yet under the all-stat amplification of the Magma Battle Armor, it couldn't break free at all!

At the same time,

the Shadow-Winged Demon Lord noticed Lin Mo had raised his other hand and placed it on its abdomen; a dark red light point was spinning and compressing frantically.

"You can dodge, huh? Hehe, try dodging this then?"

【Fireball Technique shouted wildly: Awesome! Yes, just like that, kill this damn bat! Blast its guts out for me!】

"Bang."

As Lin Mo's lips parted slightly.

Boom—!!!

The dark red spiral beam erupted at point-blank range!

The massive impact force struck the Shadow-Winged Demon Lord's abdomen, blasting it away.

In that very instant, Lin Mo's eyes became incredibly sharp.

His connection between thought and skill reached its peak at this moment.

All commands were issued instantly through thoughts in his mind.

"Xiao Tu! Raise a wall behind!"

【Earth Shield Technique was already prepared: Received, Master!】

Rumble-rumble!

On the trajectory where the Shadow-Winged Demon Lord was flying backward, the Earth Flow Wall rose from the ground, blocking its retreat.

Bang!

The Shadow-Winged Demon Lord crashed heavily into the earthen wall.

"Xiao Huo!"

Lin Mo issued another order.

【Fireball Technique was already eager: Waiting for this very moment! Take off, you!】

Beneath the Shadow-Winged Demon Lord's feet, dense red circles had already lit up.

A full twenty-three Flame Pillars stacked on top of each other.

Boom—!!!

Twenty-three fire pillars erupted continuously!

Terrifying flames blasted the Shadow-Winged Demon Lord straight into the air!

"Get it!"

【Fireball Technique laughed wildly: Full volley fire! Die for me!】

The fireball that had been frustrated for half a day because it couldn't hit finally found an outlet.

It instantly split into fifteen fireballs in the air.

Facing the boss now controlled in the air by the fire pillars, unable to move, the Fireball Technique no longer needed to predict.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom—!!!

Continuous explosions sounded in the air.

The Shadow-Winged Demon Lord was an agility-type boss; its health pool was already inferior to other bosses of the same level.

Under Lin Mo's extremely high attack and smooth combo, the health bar dropped rapidly.

【Fireball Technique's battle will boiled: Die die die die!】

With the final Fireball Technique striking the Shadow-Winged Demon Lord, it didn't even have time to let out a scream before turning into scattered ash in the air.

Even in death, the Shadow-Winged Demon Lord could not understand.

Why did it, which had roamed the battlefield, end up unable to break the defense of a level 18 mage?

Was I... getting old?

No, this human is too strong.

【Congratulations to candidate Lin Mo! The thirtieth floor has been cleared!】

【Time taken: 24 seconds!】

The broadcast voice echoed within the silent Trial Tower.

At the same time.

A dazzling golden light rose from Lin Mo.

【Congratulations! Your level has increased to Lv. 19!】

Lin Mo deactivated the 【Magma Battle Armor】, brushed the dust from his clothes, and let out a long sigh.

"Haa... Level 19."

He glanced at his own hands, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes.

"Just one level to go..."

"Lightning element, here I come."