Battle Strategy: "Monster Tide"

Although bosses were subject to all kinds of restrictions in dungeons, there were quite a few benefits as well.

First came the enhanced adjustments to attributes and skills. The system adjusted the values of dungeon bosses according to the number and levels of players in the dungeon, usually upward. Strictly speaking, none of Mo Fei's subordinate bosses were particularly powerful. The strongest, the Dragon Worship Cult Priest, was only Calamity I, while the weakest Ogre Shaman was merely Skeleton III.

But now that they had become bosses in a forty-player raid dungeon, their attributes had been maxed out. Their health alone had increased severalfold.

Secondly, becoming a raid boss allowed them to use "battle strategies" during boss fights to gain additional advantages.

Ordinary gatekeeping bosses had one strategy point, while final bosses had three.

A boss's own abilities, combined with strategic choices, could make boss battles far more unpredictable and controllable.

At this moment, Murphys began studying the battle strategies available for this fight.

The system generated selectable battle strategies based on each boss's identity, experiences, and current environment.

As a final boss, Murphys had more than a dozen battle strategies to choose from.

Battle Strategy 1: Summon Monster Servants.

Summon monster servants to assist in battle during a boss fight.

Currently available monster servants.

1: Black Whelp Legion. A legion composed of 35 to 45 black whelps, capable of using the Whelp Fireball skill.

2: Dragonkin Guard. A guard unit composed of eight elite dragonkin guards. Dragonkin guards could use Charge and Cleave.

3: Dragonkin Priesthood. A support squad composed of four elite dragonkin priests. Dragonkin priests could cast Bloodlust, Heal, and Dragon's Breath.

4: Black Dragon Raiders. An aerial support squad composed of four black whelps. Black whelps could breathe Explosive Fireballs from the air to attack enemies.

Battle Strategy 2: Phase Shift.

Enter a specific combat form during a boss fight.

1: War Beast. In this form, you could only use melee skills and innate Dragonkind talent skills. Armor increased by 50%, physical damage increased by 50%, and normal attacks gained a Crushing effect.

2: Flame Dragon. In this form, you could only fight using Dragon's Breath and could not use melee skills or Dragon Magic. The power of your Dragon's Breath increased by 50%, and Dragon's Breath gained a splash effect.

3: Dragon Horde Commander. In this form, all friendly units around you received a 30% attribute boost. Gain scene skills: Summon Dragonkin Guard, Summon Black Whelp, Summon Black Whelp Swarm. Scene skills could only be used in the current scene.

Battle Strategy 3: Scene Alteration.

Alter the current battlefield during a boss fight, using changes to the terrain to gain a tactical advantage.

1: Mountain Collapse. Ram the cavern ceiling with full force. Rocks would continuously fall from above, dealing 1–999 physical damage to enemies within the scene. Lasts 30 seconds.

2: Lava Eruption. Strike the ground to activate the lava flames hidden beneath the earth. The ground would intermittently erupt with pillars of lava, dealing 500 fire damage to enemies hit. Lasts 60 seconds.

3: Secret Passage. Open secret passages leading to other areas of the dungeon. You would periodically receive support from monsters in each area. Lasts 180 seconds.

Battle Strategy 4: Special Strategies.

Strategies that could only be used when specific conditions were met.

1: Death Berserk. Usable when health fell below 30%. The threat of death awakened the brutal Dragonkind Instinct within you. You would fight enemies uncontrollably in the most primitive and savage manner. All damage increased by 50%, normal skill cooldowns reduced by 50%, all mana costs removed, and immune to taunts.

2: Summon Ally. Usable when health was below 50% and there was more than one enemy hero on the field. Summon a powerful ally to join the battle. Current available ally: [Hildesanks].

3: Dragon Knight Contract. A Dragonkind-exclusive strategy. Usable when health fell below 30% and the target was a hero. Offer the other party a Dragon Knight Contract. Upon forming the contract, you would become the other party's mount and immediately end the current boss battle.

4: Summon Princess Catherine. A story campaign strategy. Effect unknown. Using this strategy might trigger a plot twist.

Looking over these strategies, Mo Fei fell into deep thought. He had often studied this battle strategy system and had developed several strategic combinations for different types of enemies.

The one he favored most was a combination he called "Monster Tide."

Phase Shift: Dragon Horde Commander + Summon Black Whelp Legion + Scene Alteration: Secret Passage.

Although black whelps were relatively weak in combat, they were ranged units. If forty black whelps fired Whelp Fireballs together, a single volley could easily wipe out any adventurer.

The Secret Passage would refresh a wave of minor monsters every ten seconds, a wave of elite monsters every thirty seconds, and a monster leader every ninety seconds.

Combined with the scene summoning skills granted by Dragon Horde Commander, three minutes would be enough to build an army of monsters in terrifying numbers. Strengthened by the Black Dragon Lord Aura, these monsters' attributes would also increase greatly, making them much harder to clear out. If the enemy was even slightly too slow at clearing the minor monsters, they would be swallowed by the monster army.

This strategy combination would absolutely crush an ordinary adventurer party. The only question was how good this adventurer team was at clearing monsters.

Mo Fei did not immediately settle on a strategy combination and continued watching the enemy's movements.

At this moment, the adventurer team finally passed through the Dragonfire Corridor and arrived at Dragonfire Plaza at the end of the labyrinth.

This was the first boss position. Dragonkin Warlord Boraxus had already been waiting there.

[System Notification: Dragonkin Warlord Boraxus used the battle strategy "Strength in Numbers."]

The effect of this battle strategy was to add a large number of minor monsters and elite monsters to the boss fight, creating a "cluster boss." The drawback was that the boss's own attributes and health would be reduced by 30%.

This was the most suitable choice for Boraxus. He was a command-type boss whose own combat ability was not particularly strong, so a 30% reduction made little difference. In exchange, he gained eight elites, four leaders, two adjutants, and dozens of minor monsters at his side. At least he truly looked like he had strength in numbers.

Seeing the adventurers enter Dragonfire Hall, Boraxus immediately waved his battle banner and charged toward them.

Borlax (Dragonkin Warlord): "Intruders! Scum! You dare invade Lord Murphys's territory? Unforgivable! Unforgivable! Warriors and soldiers of the Black Dragon Legion, come to my side! Let us slaughter every last one of them!"

With the boss's furious roar, the surrounding dragonkin warriors, dragonkin guards, dragonkin raiders, and dragonkin shamans immediately sprang into action.

Those charging charged, those forming ranks formed ranks, and those casting spells cast spells. They were practically a well-trained army.

Yet the adventurer team did not move at all, maintaining their battle formation. Only Midnight Arcane God smiled faintly, flicked his cloak, and strode forward. Facing the dense Black Dragon Legion rushing at him, he raised his staff.

"In the name of the Earth Mother Goddess, I summon the power of Selathen. Spirits of earth, elements of stone, heed my command—"

He drove his staff fiercely into the ground—Earthquake!

Boom! An invisible force instantly spread across the surrounding ground. The earth split and heaved violently, and the dragonkin soldiers staggered about, unable even to stand steady. All of them entered a stunned state.

Seizing the opportunity, Midnight Arcane God raised his staff once more.

"In the name of the Flame Evil God, I summon the power of Ragnaros. Spirits of flame, elements of scorching heat, obey my will—"

He swung his staff with all his strength—Firestorm!

The air suddenly turned scorching hot. Then a vortex of flame appeared in the center of the dragonkin army. The fiery vortex began to spread and spin, releasing howling winds and the piercing crackle of blistering air bursting apart. It grew larger and larger, gradually becoming a firestorm more than fifty meters across, its raging flames sweeping every dragonkin into its depths.