Chapter 233: Mechanism Boss (Huanji Lian)

Bandit Leader (Elite Boss)

Level: 48

Attack:???

Cannot see attributes, a level‑48 humanoid Elite BOSS.

Earlier Lin Huan, at extreme range, fired an arrow and obtained monster info; the quest can be set aside, the BOSS must be killed!

But unlike other BOSSes, this guy isn't alone; he's sitting on a Great Horse Golden Sword in the middle of the road, surrounded by a bunch of underlings.

Damn, sure enough it's Cutting Path Bandits, blocking the road like this.

"Then let's spawn the monster!"

"I'll pull the BOSS alone; you prioritize clearing the small monsters around the BOSS."

Around the BOSS there are about seven or eight ordinary Cutting Path Bandits; if they aren't dealt with, fighting the BOSS later could cause trouble.

After saying that, Su Sheng immediately charged forward, leading the way.

"Hey! This tree I planted, this road I opened! If you wish to pass, leave a toll!"

Su Sheng rushed over and stuck up his middle finger at the BOSS, shouting the classic slogan.

-1!

Taunt!

But the Bandit Leader was suddenly stunned.

Even though hatred was already locked onto Su Sheng, he didn't act immediately.

That's not right; shouldn't that be their line?

So… who really is the bandit?

"Damn kid!"

"You're just asking for death!"

The Bandit Leader was stunned for a full two and a half seconds before reacting, stood up wielding a Great Long Sword, and waved his hand to his underlings: "Kill him for me!"

Bang~

The Bandit Leader's figure flickered.

Shield Rush + Shield Strike!

-1017 (Shield Rush)

-2171 (Shield Strike)

The Bandit Leader is dazed, but Su Sheng is not.

Su Sheng already rushed in first, of course protected by Fireworks Blessing with over ten thousand shield points.

Whoosh whoosh~

Boom!

At the same time, Lin Huan and Li Wenwan's attacks precisely hit the BOSS's nearby underlings.

But those underlings remained indifferent, advancing toward Su Sheng.

Su Sheng frowned at the scene.

What the heck?

Boom boom~

Li Wenwan's Fireball hit those small monsters again.

But they still didn't react...

"No, change the plan!" Su Sheng quickly said.

"Huang Mingxin, watch my health; I'll tank all the monsters. Huan Jie, Li Wenwan, you focus fire to instantly kill those small monsters first, one by one!" Su Sheng said.

I didn't expect that these BOSS and his henchmen formed a shared hatred group.

As the name suggests, they share synchronized hatred; those small monsters follow the BOSS's hatred.

Holding an Elite BOSS plus seven or eight level‑45 small monsters is pressuring even Su Sheng.

Thanks to Xiao Jia Huo's Fireworks Blessing, it should be fine.

Shield Raise!

Defensive Stance!

"Kid! Go die!"

Great Sword Slash, the Bandit Leader swung his Long Sword at Su Sheng's Shield.

The Shield trembled slightly!

Defensive Stance held; after all, not everyone can land a troll‑like perverse heavy hit.

Knight Template Damage Immunity, Defensive Stance damage immunity, plus the Guardian Wristband's "Guardian Resolute" passive, and Shield Block damage immunity.

Furthermore, under Huang Mingxin's buff, Su Sheng's dual defense reached nearly two thousand.

Under these circumstances...

-171

Pitiful white damage.

Su Sheng smiled faintly; since that's the case, it's easy.

As for the other small monsters...

All white damage numbers are only two digits...

But there are many small monsters; a few behind and to Su Sheng's side can still deal three‑digit damage.

The Defensive Stance's damage reduction value can only reduce damage from the front; Shield Block is the same—it cannot block attacks from the side or back.

"Xiao Jia Huo, output!" Su Sheng reluctantly ordered; the fellow's combat desire was far too low.

"Awo~" Suanni let out a low growl and reluctantly jumped down.

Su Sheng also maintained a Defensive Stance, striking the small monsters on his side.

Whoosh whoosh~

Arrow Shot!

Screech~!

Fire Phoenix Cry!

Lin Huan and Li Wenwan also began Focus Fire.

Within the Hate Cohort, as long as Su Sheng pulls the BOSS's hate to zero, they can output without worry.

A pure‑damage Hidden Class combined with a level‑40 Luxury Equipped Ranger makes the output capability absolutely powerful.

It seemed that the small monsters began dying one after another, and Su Sheng himself, cooperating with Suanni, also struck those monsters.

"Damn little thief, stop hurting my brother!"

When the first small monster died, the BOSS let out a sharp roar, and its attacks became even faster.

But aside from the roar, it made no other moves.

Each time a minion died, the BOSS's expression grew a bit more agitated.

Not right...

Su Sheng narrowed his eyes at the situation, fearing that perhaps they couldn't kill all these minions.

Observing the BOSS's behavior, Su Sheng vaguely guessed that if all the BOSS's minions were cleared, the BOSS might change and become harder to fight.

"Huan Jie, prepare to stop; don't clear all these small monsters, leave two! The front can't be broken anyway!"

Su Sheng thought of this and called out.

"Why not clear them all?" Huang Mingxin asked, a bit puzzled.

"The BOSS's state seems off; I suspect that if all its minions die, some mechanism might trigger," Su Sheng explained.

Some BOSSes are indeed quite nasty; this can be seen from the Hate Cohort mechanism, suggesting this BOSS's mechanism is relatively special.

"Got it!" Lin Huan nodded.

Five minutes later...

"Stop!"

As Lin Huan shot down a minion with a single arrow, only two minions remained beside the BOSS, both in front of Su Sheng.

At this moment, in front of Su Sheng stood an angry Bandit Leader, with a minion on each side.

"Kill the BOSS!"

Shield Strike!

-807

Su Sheng raised an eyebrow!

Something's off!

The initial Shield Strike could deal two thousand damage, now it's only eight hundred.

The BOSS's Damage Increase has risen!

Can't see the attribute, but the damage difference is obvious!

Seeing only two minions left beside the BOSS, Su Sheng exhaled a sigh of relief; it seems indeed they can't kill all the BOSS's minions.

Only two remain, yet the defense has risen so much; if all were killed, who knows what mechanism would appear.

"Why is the BOSS so tough now?"

Lin Huan and Li Wenwan, who had begun Focus Fire on the BOSS, also noticed the issue.

They had previously tried Kiting the BOSS; now, compared to that, the damage has dropped dramatically.

"It must be those minions beside it," Su Sheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon hearing that, the three women also showed a look of relief.

It had to be, Su Sheng observed keenly.

If all the minions were truly cleared, it would likely be troublesome.

This is a BOSS with a special mechanism; it's only natural to clear the surrounding small monsters before killing the BOSS.

Didn't expect a trap here; although Su Sheng didn't trigger it, not everyone can observe so keenly,

"Alright, continue Focus Fire on the BOSS; I can hold it," Su Sheng called out…