Amid the towering flames, a string of damage numbers appeared above Stitch Monster Pato's head.
Mages truly deserved their reputation as kings of ranged damage.
Unfortunately, after that round, Favid had very little Magic Value left.
At that moment, Zong Shen's crossbow bolt and the short spears of the three Wolf Cavalry also struck the Abomination.
[-12]
[-12]
[-12]
[-34]
Three damage numbers appeared.
Compared to the two mages, their damage was pitifully weak.
The three Wolf Cavalry were especially bad. After their throwing damage was reduced by the target's armor, only a measly 12 points remained.
It was better than nothing.
After that wave of attacks,
without needing Zong Shen to say a word, everyone hurried back into the passage.
Zong Shen included.
They all dashed back into the Corridor, then began frantically hurling rubble, discarded iron railings, old bed frames, and every other bit of junk toward the stairs leading up.
With all seven of them working together,
they soon blocked off the stairs.
Then they quickly retreated to the middle of the Corridor and stopped more than twenty meters from the stairwell.
They quietly waited for the chance to launch their second wave of attacks.
By then, the Abomination's fat body had also begun to lumber down the stairs.
Faced with the obstacles in its way, it seemed confused.
It tried shoving them aside with brute force, but got nowhere.
Then it raised its two arms, lifting the enormous Butcher's Blade.
It began hacking savagely at the obstacles.
It was like chopping vegetables.
In just half a minute, it had hacked everything into pieces.
It lumbered down the stairs.
Zong Shen had figured it out: the thing had no feelings, no will, only a pure instinct to kill.
The instant it stepped into the Corridor,
the second round of ranged attacks came crashing down on it.
Tasia had plenty of Magic Value, so she again fired Double Necrotic Arrow, a powerful spell with a high cost.
Favid had little Magic Value left, so he could only use Small Fireball, which consumed the least.
Unfortunately, the Wolf Cavalry's Capture Net was still on cooldown.
Otherwise, they could have pinned it in place and pelted it with the longer-lasting Fire Rain spell.
A long string of damage numbers appeared above its head.
[-55]
[-55]
[-35]
[-4]
[-4]
[-4]
[-12]
[-12]
[-12]
[-34]
As soon as the second wave of attacks ended, everyone retreated again, this time all the way back to the Prayer Room.
Zong Shen turned around and closed the Runic Iron Door.
Zong Shen had the key to the Runic Gate, but the monster didn't!
As soon as the Runic Gate was shut, its runes began to glow, making it look indestructible.
Zong Shen held the key in his hand.
A smile appeared on his face.
He slowly backed away.
Those two waves of hit-and-run attacks had taken out two-thirds of the Abomination's health.
The Abomination now had 274 health remaining.
As long as he let his two beloved mages get ready, one more wave would finish the Abomination off.
He had already gotten a taste of how good mages were.
A mage with a clear line of fire and enough Magic Value was absolutely a mobile artillery unit.
Just then, the Abomination lumbered up to the Runic Iron Door.
It raised the Butcher's Blade with both hands and began hacking furiously at the door.
The runes on it flashed over and over.
Zong Shen, however, remained perfectly calm.
He brought over a few chairs from the Prayer Room that weren't too battered.
Then he plopped down and crossed his legs.
He also told Tasia, Favid, and Tie Zhu to sit down and enjoy the show.
Especially the two mage companions.
They sat in their chairs, closed their eyes, and entered a meditative state to quickly recover their Magic Value.
Zong Shen was almost ready to get up and personally wait on them.
Both Favid and Tasia had the Magic Effect Amplification skill.
Once they entered meditation, they could recover 33 points of Magic Value per minute.
As long as the Runic Iron Door could hold for a little over a minute, Favid would have enough to cast one Explosive Fireball.
Then another volley of magic would leave the Abomination on the brink of death.
After that, Zong Shen could finish it off with his Hunting Crossbow.
Perfect!
Zong Shen might not have any particular talents,
but he was quick-witted.
He also had plenty of gaming experience.
Since Tie Zhu had no means of ranged attack, he could only tag along the whole time.
By now, he admired Zong Shen immensely.
The blue-quality squad leader Abomination had already lost more than two-thirds of its health so easily.
His lord really was incredible!
Tie Zhu gazed at Zong Shen as if his eyes were about to sparkle.
"My lord, I can't believe we can take on such powerful squad leader monsters now!"
Tie Zhu blurted out.
But Zong Shen only pursed his lips dismissively.
"Know what it means to kite and deal damage?"
"Basic stuff. Basic stuff."
Using the terrain to kite and deal damage was basic stuff, wasn't it?
Zong Shen didn't think much of it.
Besides, clever tactics were only part of it.
Having enough troops was another.
Three Wolf Cavalry, one assassin, and himself—who could barely qualify as a Shield Sword warrior.
Five melee fighters and two powerful mages.
They had already formed a well-rounded combat squad.
In fact, it was quite the elite team.
As long as they didn't stubbornly charge in head-on, they could stay safe.
A little over a minute later,
the runes on the Runic Iron Door began to dim.
It started to creak as if it could no longer bear the strain.
At this rate, it wouldn't hold much longer.
"My lord, I've recovered my Magic Value to 50 points."
Favid opened his eyes.
He reported to Zong Shen.
"Good. Tie Zhu, take the key, open the door, and let the dog out!"
"Arvid, you throw a short spear too."
"Help the mages deal damage."
"Everyone else, hold your positions and stay ready."
Zong Shen tossed the key to the Runic Iron Door to Tie Zhu.
At the same time, he began loading his Hunting Crossbow.
"Everyone get ready. Let's give it one last shot!"
Tie Zhu took the key and jogged over to the door.
By then, the Runic Iron Door was already on the verge of being broken through.
Tie Zhu deftly unlocked it with the key, then immediately melted into the shadows.
The door was suddenly shoved open.
The Abomination strode in.
Zong Shen didn't need to give anyone any instructions. The next instant, their attacks fell like raindrops.
"Boom!"
"Rumble!"
"Whoosh!"
As Tasia and Favid unleashed their magic, Arvid threw a short spear as well.
After a string of damage numbers appeared, Stitch Monster Pato was left with only a sliver of health.
Still, it fearlessly charged toward Zong Shen.
"Time to finish it off."
"Die!"
"Thwack!"
With a sharp twang,
the Hunting Crossbow's string launched the bolt.
It struck the Abomination's massive body.
[-33]
The final damage number flashed.
Stitch Monster Pato turned into a ball of white light and fell to the ground.
It gradually broke apart into five or six different glimmers of light, which lay quietly on the floor!
Zong Shen put away his Hunting Crossbow, curled his lips, and smiled smugly.
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