Infinite Life
[Shu Yi, we're in a very dangerous situation right now. Although we're using the Lord's Manor as a cover to keep the other two bosses away, this advantage can't last. We need to finish this quickly! The sooner we take down this Lich, the easier the rest of the battle will be!]
Bai Xiaowen's analysis was clearly imprinted in Li Shuyi's mind. Therefore, Li Shuyi did not hesitate to perform the Demonfire Dance this time!
Sizzle...
The blade flashed with fire, each strike dealing additional fire damage, and the Lich Ebizer's Life Value plummeted!
"Hateful..."
The Lich Ebizer raised his withered fingers, and a layer of frost shield, with four small pieces of ice armor, spread around him.
[Frostguard: Reduces damage taken from the next four melee attacks and freezes the target.]
Bai Xiaowen said in a deep voice, "Shu Yi, stop."
Several bandits struck the Lich in [Frostguard] in succession, causing him to freeze abruptly as large patches of ice flowers formed on his skin, leaving him rooted to the spot. However, each attack also removed a piece of the Lich Ebizer's fine ice armor.
The four bandits were frozen one after another, but the Lich Ebizer's shattered ice armor was also completely depleted.
The Lich Ebizer's next skill, [Ice Burst], was activated. The four frozen bandits Burst like broken mirrors, their blood congealing into ice shards that spilled all over the ground.
The Lich Ebizer originally intended to use this skill to trick Li Shuyi, but Bai Xiaowen's Insight quickly thwarted his plan. Li Shuyi only paused for a second before resuming her high-speed attack.
With all its skills on cooldown, this magic-based boss, possessing high Divine Might but lacking any real power, is quite helpless when surrounded by a group of melee Han Empire and high DPS like Li Shuyi. The Lich Ebizer can only attack by swinging its wooden staff.
His strength stat is 21 points, which is pathetic for a level 6 Boss Tier. Each normal attack deals only about 20 damage. Bai Xiaowen doesn't even need the Skeleton Sword-and-Shield Soldier to tank the damage; any bandit could easily withstand Ebizel's staff.
The Lich Ebizer let out a shriek:
"Servants! Come quickly to help your master!"
Outside the Lord's Manor, Jericho, the Terror Knight Commander, suddenly launched a [Dread Charge], crashing into the Lord's Manor's wall and smashing a huge gap in it, riddled with cracks! Jericho's greatsword slashed horizontally, striking the load-bearing pillars on the first floor of the Lord's Manor one by one.
Three swords, severing three pillars!
The foyer of the Lord's Manor collapsed with a deafening roar!
The battlefield on the second-floor hall suddenly collapsed, and all the bandits, Li Shuyi, and even the Lich Ebizer fell into a pile of rubble, with dust filling the air!
Jericho, the Terror Knight Commander, charged relentlessly towards the Lich Ebizer, Double Slash greatsword strikes that triggered another [Double Strike], slaying yet another bandit in a shower of blood.
The other bandits were Stun by his imposing presence and, filled with fear, retreated backward.
However, at this moment, Bai Xiaowen suddenly stood in front of Jericho.
Four Skeleton Sword-and-Shield Soldier pounced in unison, each grabbing one of Jericho's Bone Warhorse by the leg!
The powerful impact dragged the four Skeleton Sword-and-Shield Soldier along the ground, their Life Value slowly decreasing. However, the Skeleton Sword-and-Shield Soldier were fearless summoned creatures, still clinging on desperately.
This self-destructive delaying tactic was also remarkably effective; Jericho's speed was reduced by more than half. His once formidable charging momentum was gone.
"What are you waiting for? Surround him!" Bai Xiaowen shouted sharply. "If he rescues the Lich, we'll all die!"
With a long Howl, a layer of crimson light enveloped all of Bai Xiaowen's side. The powerful buff, granting a 20% increase in attack speed and attack power to the entire group, filled all the bandits with strength.
After activating the [Howl] skill, the Wolf King Raging Claw pounced, unleashing Rend and Bite skills in succession. Jericho, being Bonefolk creature, is immune to bleeding, which somewhat diminishes the effectiveness of Rageclaw.
However, Rageclaw's leading by example emboldened the other bandits, who Howl forward with howls, slashing with their scimitars and greatswords.
On another battlefield, with the Rageclaw [Howl] buff, Li Shuyi and her companions were even more efficient in their attack on the Lich Ebizer, whose Life Value plummeted like an avalanche!
After forty seconds of the Demonfire Dance, Li Shuyi finished her move, and the "Burst" effect of the +7 [Demonfire Jade Pendant] was activated!
With a deafening roar, the Lich Ebizer, whose Life Value was already at rock bottom, was completely reduced to a pile of bone fragments. Above his remains, a Golden Treasure Chest appeared.
Li Shuyi swiftly retrieved the treasure chest. Without pausing, she took two quick steps to assist the group in surrounding and killing Jericho.
"Miss Charlotte, you're incredibly brave..." Seeing that Li Shuyi's Life Value was less than 2/3 but she was still attacking relentlessly, Bonita quickly used [Holy Hand] to restore some of her Life Value.
The next second, Chain Lightning from the distant tower exploded once more! Two bandits with insufficient Life Value were instantly electrocuted into blackened skeletons and collapsed to the ground. Without the cover of the Lord's Manor, Lord Maki on the West Tower resumed his ranged magical bombardment.
Jericho lost his speed advantage, but his strength as a level 6 Boss Tier remained. His greatsword suddenly spun around, and the fierce sword wind was like a sharp blade cutting through the air, transforming into a terrifying Flesh Whirlwind with a radius of four meters and a diameter of eight meters!
After the Flesh Whirlwind, nearly ten bandits who had been surrounding Jericho were all killed instantly, including Bai Xiaowen's four Skeleton Sword-and-Shield Soldier —none of them survived! This was Jericho's ultimate move!
Moreover, this ultimate move will definitely trigger the passive effect of "Blood Enslavement"! Some of the dead bandits turned into Ghoul, and some into Skeleton Soldier, howling as they pounced on the crowd, plunging the scene into chaos.
Fortunately, Bai Xiaowen had warned Li Shuyi and Rageclaw to retreat beforehand, thus avoiding a disaster.
Suddenly, a ghostly figure appeared behind Jericho, leaping out from the pile of rubble and slashing at the back of Jericho's neck.
It was the Shadow Assassin who seized the brief moment of vulnerability after Jericho unleashed his ultimate attack, suddenly appearing and launching Assassination skill to deliver a fatal blow to Jericho.
However, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, hitting the Shadow Assassin precisely!
The lightning bolt dealt devastating damage, and coupled with the Shadow Assassin's vulnerability to magic damage (+50%), he was instantly killed! The Ambush they had been planning vanished.
"We must take care of that mage, Maki!" Li Shuyi said.
"I'll go," Bai Xiaowen said in a deep voice. "You guys continue to besiege Jericho. His Divine Might is limited, and he has no chance of using that move again in a short time! I'll take care of Maki."
"You alone? That's too dangerous. At least bring Rageclaw with you," Li Shuyi said.
Bai Xiaowen shook his head. "Only with Rageclaw present can he set a good example; otherwise, the morale of these bandits will collapse in no time! It's alright, I can handle Maki by myself."
He didn't say one more thing: Rageclaw's presence could protect Li Shuyi, a high-damage dealer. If Li Shuyi became Jericho, the Terror Knight Commander, as the primary target and couldn't dodge, Rageclaw could block a crucial blow for her.
Bai Xiaowen deliberately separated a portion of his Divine Might to connect with Bonita. Although Bonita is only a level 4 Elite Tier, her three skills are all very powerful and capable of changing the course of a battle.
However, Bonita's combat skills were somewhat questionable, and Bai Xiaowen needed to remind her to use the correct skills at crucial moments. In any case, the tactically vital skill [Protective Holy Seal] and the ultimate move [Divine Grace Descent] should not be used lightly.
Without Bai Xiaowen's order, Bonita could simply use [Holy Hand] to raise the health of important allies. After all, it was just a minor skill.
At this moment, in the central square, the Undead Legion that had rushed in from all directions had already Suppression the bandits to retreat step by step, their morale plummeting.
Bai Xiaowen charged toward the West Tower. He was agile and dodged several undead soldiers from the Bonefolk and Corpse Demonfolk. He charged toward Maki, the lord of Redleaf Fief, all by himself!
At this time, with the Lich Ebizer dead and the Terror Knight Commander Jericho entangled with Elite Tier bandits, Rageclaw, and Li Shuyi, command of the Undead Legion in the square naturally fell into the hands of Lord Maki.
Upon seeing Bai Xiaowen rushing towards him, Maki revealed an ugly sneer, then raised his hand and abruptly gave an order.
A series of dark shadows drifted in like smoke, shrouded in thick mist, brandishing sharp, hard black claws, and lunged at Bai Xiaowen, blocking his path.
These shadowy creatures are different from the slow-moving skeletons and Zombie; they belong to another major category of Undead Species creatures— the Soulkin. Among them are Vengeful Spirit and ghosts, some with Elite Template and others with Standard Template, and none of them are very high-level.
Although Bai Xiaowen was a level 3 Hero Class, agility wasn't his strong suit, and he was blocked by these Soulkin creatures. He fired his gun, but the Soulkin creatures all had a racial passive ability that reduced physical damage taken by 50%, so the gunfire had little effect.
Bai Xiaowen took a breath, raised one hand, and a ball of flame burned in his palm. At the same time, powerful flame energy gathered in Bai Xiaowen's right hand.
Lord Maki, atop the tower, waved his wand, and a thin bolt of lightning descended from the sky. His purpose was simple: to use the instantaneous paralysis of lightning magic to interrupt Bai Xiaowen's seemingly powerful skill.
However, the necklace around Bai Xiaowen's neck emitted light, and a layer of holy light shield bloomed on his body!
This is the active skill that comes with [The Arbiter's Resolve]: a radiant shield with an absorption value of 40 points!
Lightning struck, but the electric force was neutralized by a shield of light. Bai Xiaowen's movements were without hesitation; with a slap of his right hand, a surging wave of flames engulfed all the dozen or so Soulkin creatures blocking his path!
Kusanagi-Style Ancient Martial Arts - Orochi Nagi!
A full three seconds of Blazing Heat flames incinerated all of the dozen or so Soulkin creatures into nothingness. Don't forget, Soulkin creatures receive a 50% amplification when hit by magic!
"Whoa!"
"The lord has used this trick again!"
The bandits yelled and screamed, their morale somewhat restored, and they felt they had a chance of winning again.
With a single strike of the Orochi Nagi, the path was cleared, and Bai Xiaowen quickly rushed over, the distance to the tower shrinking rapidly.
"Guards! Stop him!"
Several tall undead soldiers rushed out from near the West Tower, wielding swords and shields, and blocked the entrance to the first floor of the tower.
These undead shield soldiers were clearly Elite Tier individuals with thick skin and tough bodies. As a summoner, Bai Xiaowen had no way of killing these guys without summoned creatures by his side. Even if he used the Orochi Nagi again, he wouldn't be able to kill them.
However, when Bai Xiaowen reached the foot of the tower, he ignored the undead shield soldiers, crouched slightly, and then suddenly leaped up!
With Bai Xiaowen's current agility rating of 15, her jump height after a running start is approximately two to three meters. For an Earth in another timeline, this height would be enough to Overwhelming Crush an Olympic champion.
However, two or three meters is still too low for this tall tower.
However, Bai Xiaowen's jump was unusually high, rising a full five meters!
He has activated the Gold Equipment [White Eagle's Assault] with its active skill: Swooping Flight! After activation, his jump ability is doubled, and the damage of his next kick is increased by 50%!
Bai Xiaowen leaped to the second-floor window, kicked it open, and rushed inside.
After entering, Bai Xiaowen quickly ran to the third floor of the tower, the floor where Lord Maki was located. Whether it was the Undead Guards blocking the door or the undead guards who were already defending the first floor of the tower, they were all left behind by his unexpected move.
There is no best skill, only the best user.
On the third-floor balcony, Bai Xiaowen met Maki. Gunshots rang out, forcing Maki to abandon his support for Jericho Terror Knight Commander, and turn to deal with Bai Xiaowen's attack.
Both of them primarily used ranged attacks, and in the confined space of the tower, they couldn't maneuver or dodge, so they could only take damage head-on. Maki's lightning spells were indeed powerful, but Bai Xiaowen's constitution was now as high as 20, with 250 Life Value (Eclipse Dominator Badge +50), and the Warlock's Robe added an extra 4 points of magic resistance. Even if she took Maki's lightning head-on, the damage wasn't too outrageous, and she could barely withstand it.
However, Maki was, after all, a level 5 Boss Tier, two levels higher than Bai Xiaowen. In this exchange of blows that lacked any real skill, he still held the advantage.
The sound of footsteps echoed as the undead guards on the ground floor and at the entrance ran up the stairs. In just over ten seconds, they would appear on the third-floor balcony and join the attack on Bai Xiaowen.
"Hehehe... You're the lord of White Stone Town, aren't you? I saw you once a few years ago," Maki said with a confident smile. "That female swordswoman who killed Lord Ebizel seems to be your sister, named Charlotte? How interesting. After you and your sister die, I will resurrect you as the dead and make you my loyal servants."
Bai Xiaowen calmly fired, steadily reducing Maki's Life Value: "Judging from your appearance, you haven't been fully infected by the Necrotic Plague yet? Why are you willing to become a lackey of the undead?"
"A mortal like you could never understand the determination of a spellcaster in the pursuit of knowledge..."
Maki waved his hand and said, "As long as the soul exists, what does it matter if I become Lich? It's just a change of life form. As long as I can have unlimited time to pursue knowledge, that's enough!"