Although the spiders and fire wolves were so numerous they dazzled the eye, they couldn't actually pose much of a threat to the group.
With everyone working together and coordinating closely, the number of fire wolves was gradually dwindling.
But just as they were sure they were about to win a crushing victory, an enormous fire wolf king slowly strode out from behind them.
Flames roared over its body like surging waves. The heat seemed capable of melting anything, and the overwhelming pressure it radiated was enough to make their blood run cold, as if it could make their very souls tremble.
Seeing this, Genjiro didn't dare hesitate. He quickly cast a detection spell, and in an instant, his face changed dramatically, panic filling his voice.
The panel showed the wolf king's information: Crimson Flame Wolf King, Level LV90. That black-colored level alone meant it was a boss-class monster.
"Holy crap, why is there a level-ninety elite boss here? And it's got a buff that strengthens its kind!"
The wolf king threw back its head and howled. Its voice boomed through the entire space like thunder, carrying an air of boundless majesty and power.
The fire wolves seemed to have received the strongest possible encouragement from their king. Their attacks instantly grew even more frenzied, and their eyes blazed with even greater fighting spirit.
Siyou Qilong gritted his teeth, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. He used a taunt skill and charged fearlessly at the wolf king, trying to hold it back with his own strength.
The wolf king merely swiped a paw, unleashing a tremendous force. Siyou Qilong was instantly knocked several meters back, his body slamming into the hard rock wall with a dull, heart-wrenching thud.
Genjiro shot forward like lightning, moving so fast he was almost impossible to see. He aimed for the wolf king's eyes, trying to find its weak point and land a critical hit.
But the wolf king reacted with incredible speed, as if it could see every attack coming. It turned its head and spat out a stream of scorching flames, which surged toward Genjiro like a vicious fire dragon. He had to dodge with all the agility he could muster, barely escaping disaster.
The bowstring in Peroroncino's hands quivered again and again as he fired arrow after arrow imbued with immense power. But every one of them was mercilessly blocked by the rock-solid flaming shield around the wolf king, unable to pierce its defenses.
Bellriver's hands moved as he chanted a complex spell. Powerful magical light burst forth, but his attacks had little effect on the wolf king. The situation grew perilous, as though a dark shadow had fallen over everyone.
Leaning against the rock wall, Siyou Qilong downed several bottles of healing potion. He looked at Mu Fengyu, who had taken over his tanking role and was holding the wolf king back, and shouted:
"Captain, can't you pilot a Gundam? Quit playing bulldozer and do something useful!"
Mu Fengyu had modified his shield to be so huge that equipping it drastically reduced his movement speed. Even after fighting for so long, he had barely managed to shield his teammates from any of the wolf king's attacks. He'd spent the whole time eating dust behind it.
At Siyou Qilong's shout, a trace of embarrassment and awkwardness crossed Mu Fengyu's face. He gritted his teeth and called back:
"Quit rushing me! I'm bringing out my big toy right now!"
He quickly unequipped his gear. The enormous shield crashed to the ground with a clang, kicking up billowing clouds of dust.
His gaze turned unyielding as his hands flew over the control panel.
A dazzling flash of light later, the imposing silhouette of a giant Arzeus appeared before them.
Mu Fengyu nimbly climbed into the cockpit. A deafening roar burst from the mech's engine, and its immense power made the ground around it tremble.
Mu Fengyu piloted the Gundam like a streak of lightning, charging straight at the wolf king.
Sensing this new threat, the wolf king turned and lunged ferociously at the Gundam.
Mu Fengyu maneuvered the mech with ease, deftly avoiding one attack after another.
At the same time, the weapon in the mech's hands unleashed a steady stream of powerful energy beams. They struck the wolf king, sending brilliant sparks flying.
"Everyone, attack together!"
Mu Fengyu's voice came from inside the mech, brimming with fighting spirit.
His teammates were fired up. They hurriedly put away their weapons and moved away from the wolf king. After all, although the World Tree game prevented friendly fire, the Gundam's attacks could clearly alter the environment across a wide area. What if they got caught in the crossfire?
Under the Gundam's fierce assault, the wolf king gradually fell behind. The flames on its body dimmed, and its movements were no longer as swift and nimble as before.
"Now! Finish it off!"
Mu Fengyu roared. The Gundam's weapons gathered an extraordinary amount of energy and fired it straight at the wolf king. It tried to dodge, but it was already too late.
With a deafening boom, the wolf king let out a desperate howl toward the sky, then crumpled to the ground. Its body turned into a dazzling ball of light and vanished in an instant.
Everyone let out a long breath, their taut nerves finally relaxing.
But before they could savor their victory, a series of low growls suddenly came from all around them.
A new group of fire wolves slowly emerged from the shadows, far more numerous than before. Their eyes glinted viciously, as if they were enraged by their king's defeat.
Genjiro's face darkened. "Looks like this isn't over. Stay alert, everyone!"
"Will this ever end? The boss can summon this many minions right before it dies?"
"We should've cast a silence spell before landing the final blow. Then the boss wouldn't have been able to cause so much trouble."
"Come on, enough talking. We'd better get ready to fight."
Peroroncino drew his bowstring taut again and nocked an arrow, ready for battle. Mu Fengyu climbed out of the Arzeus core, looking a little awkward.
"That fight used up a lot of energy. I can't pilot the Gundam anymore."
Siyou Qilong watched Arzeus slowly disappear and asked in surprise, "It has an energy limit?"
Everyone else was curious too. After all, Arzeus had only been available for a limited time twice, and its price was absurdly high. Aside from its owner, no one knew what it could do.
Under everyone's inquisitive gazes, Mu Fengyu rubbed the back of his head and explained helplessly, "Don't all stare at me like that. Even though World Tree is famous for letting you get stronger by spending money, money, money, and more money, it still has at least a tiny bit of fairness."
As he spoke, he held his thumb and forefinger a reasonable distance apart.
"Divine Arsenal may hit hard and have a huge amount of health, but it's not something you can just take out whenever you want. Its energy recovers over time."
"Like when we fought Michael last time. He used an item to turn himself into a mini-boss, but I still beat him up all the same. Divine Arsenal's energy was almost depleted even then."
"It's been this long, and it's only recovered eleven percent. Taking down the wolf king just now was already its limit."
After hearing Mu Fengyu's explanation, everyone wore helpless expressions. But with the fire wolves closing in, they had no choice but to brace themselves for battle.
Genjiro took a deep breath and looked at the densely packed wolves ahead. "In that case, we'll just have to take them on one at a time. It's our own fault for having no one on the team who learned large-scale Super-Tier Magic."
Before you continue