Chapter 49: Got You, Little Bat

“Three, two, one...”

As the countdown reached zero.

The massive teleportation array erupted in a blinding blue light.

Immediately after,

a piercing screech tore through the air.

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

【Shadow Wing 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 left eerie afterimages in the air.

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

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

Before the Fireball Spell had even finished speaking, it shot forth.

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

the demon’s form flickered strangely, and the fireball passed straight through the afterimage—MISS.

【‘Fireball Spell’ sneered: 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 Spell’: Hit it, you bastard!!】

But the Shadow Wing Lord’s agility and evasion were utterly overwhelming, far beyond the Fireball Spell’s imagination.

No matter how the Fireball Spell predicted its path or accelerated to turn, it could only graze the demon’s afterimages—never even touching a single hair.

【‘Fireball Spell’ 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 Lord hovering above seemed to have grown bored.

It narrowed its crimson eyes and fixed 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 fragile class had always been 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 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 Lord surged toward Lin Mo on the ground at a speed too swift for the eye to follow!

In the monitoring room,

“Mo’er, be careful!”

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

Even though she knew Lin Mo was protected by ‘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 contracted sharply.

Even the usually calm Xu Lao leaned forward slightly.

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

Without a survival skill, death was certain!

In the corner, Zhao Lei’s lips curled slightly.

“Yeah, that’s it, go ahead and die...”

Inside the Trial Tower,

facing the Shadow Wing Lord’s rapid approach, Lin Mo 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 hardened and coated Lin Mo’s entire body.

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

The Shadow Wing Lord slashed its claw at Lin Mo’s lava armor.

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

Shadow Wing Lord: ???

Its eyes filled with confusion and shock.

No penetration?

Is this really the defense of a fragile mage?

In that moment of hesitation, it saw the faint smile curling at Lin Mo’s lips.

In an instant, a primal shudder swept through its entire body.

Something’s wrong!

Run!

The Shadow Wing Lord flared its wings violently, trying to create distance.

But... too late.

A massive hand wrapped in molten lava seized its wrist.

Lin Mo’s voice, laced with mockery, came through:

“Got you, little bat.”

The Shadow Wing Lord thrashed wildly, flapping its wings furiously, desperate to escape this monstrous source of unbearable heat.

But under the full-stat boost of the lava armor, it couldn’t break free at all!

Meanwhile,

the Shadow Wing Lord noticed Lin Mo had raised his other hand and placed it against its abdomen—a dark red point was spinning and compressing violently.

“You can dodge, huh? Heh, try dodging this one!”

【‘Fireball Spell’ screamed: Awesome! Yes, like that! Kill this dead bat! Blow its guts out!】

“Pop.”

As Lin Mo’s lips parted slightly,

Boom—！！！

A dark red spiral beam exploded at point-blank range!

The immense force slammed into the Shadow Wing Lord’s abdomen and blasted it backward.

In that instant, Lin Mo’s gaze sharpened to a razor’s edge.

His mind’s connection to his skills reached its peak.

Every command was issued instantly through pure thought.

“Little Earth! Stand against the wall!”

【‘Earth Shield Spell’ had already prepared: Received, Master!】

Boom boom boom!

Along the Shadow Wing Lord’s flight path, the 【Earth Flow Wall】 erupted upward, blocking its escape.

Thud!

The Shadow Wing Lord slammed hard into the earth wall.

“Little Fire!”

Lin Mo gave another order.

【‘Fireball Spell’ had been waiting impatiently: Finally! Take off, you bastard!】

Beneath the Shadow Wing Lord’s feet, countless red circles had already ignited.

Twenty-three overlapping 【Flame Pillars】 stacked atop one another.

Boom—！！！

Twenty-three flame pillars erupted in rapid succession!

The terrifying fire blasted the Shadow Wing Lord straight into midair!

"Take it down!"

【『Fireball Spell』 laughing wildly: Full Salvo! Die, you bastard!】

The fireball that had frustrated him for so long by missing its target now finally found an outlet.

It split instantly into fifteen fireballs in midair.

Facing the boss, now immobilized in the column of flame, the Fireball Spell no longer needed to anticipate.

Boom boom boom boom boom—!!!

A continuous barrage of explosions erupted in midair.

Shadowwing Lord was an agility-type boss, its health inherently lower than other bosses of the same level.

Under Lin Mo’s extremely high damage and fluid combos, its health bar plummeted rapidly.

【『Fireball Spell』 brimming with battle fury: Die die die die!】

As the final fireball struck Shadowwing Lord, it didn’t even have time to scream—it turned to ash, scattering into the air.

Shadowwing Lord could not understand even in death.

Why had it, a warrior who had ruled the battlefield, failed to break the defense of a mere level-18 mage?

Had he… grown old?

No, this human was simply too strong.

【Congratulations, candidate Lin Mo! You’ve cleared Floor 30!】

【Time: 24 seconds!】

The announcement echoed through the silent Practice Tower.

At the same time.

A brilliant golden light rose from Lin Mo’s body.

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

Lin Mo deactivated the 【Lava Battle Armor】 state, brushed the dust off his body, and exhaled deeply.

“Phew… level 19.”

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

“Just one more level…”

“Lightning element, here I come.”