Don't Make Me Use My Ultimate
Flame Storm's damage was every bit as fierce as expected. One wave took down five or six players who were low on health, and another knocked out three to five more. By the time the third Flame Storm was spent, twelve or thirteen players with adventurer templates were dead, nearly half their number.
Haha, let's see what you do now. Your tank is still standing, but you've lost nearly half your DPS. I'm confident I can outlast you even if it turns into a battle of attrition. Too bad I can only use Flame Storm three times, or a few more blasts would probably finish you all off.
Long Ao Jiutian, however, did not despair. Instead, he glanced at Phoenix beside him. "Do it."
Phoenix nodded and suddenly raised the sword in her hand.
"Warriors, this world needs you. It is not yet time for your eternal rest. Awaken, warriors, awaken, in the name of the Holy Light!"
Mass Resurrection!
Beams of holy light rained down, shining on the players lying on the ground. They promptly rose to their feet, six of them at once, all resurrected with full health and mana. Then several druids used combat resurrection skills to bring back three more, turning the situation around again in an instant.
Holy shit, they have that skill too? That's not scientific! Xiao Yu was dumbfounded. Hero templates are way too broken! They're worth far more than five population. At least twenty would make sense!
Of course, he did know how powerful hero skills were. Every player with a hero template could learn an ultimate skill, and its effects could often change the course of a battle.
While he was stunned, another round of attacks landed on him.
Xiao Yu finally came to his senses. This was no time to complain. He needed to figure out how to get through the immediate crisis first.
He had used all three charges of Flame Storm. Powerful as the skill was, it had a limited number of uses. The only skills he had left were Great Blazing Fireball, Path of Burning, and the newly unlocked Elemental Gate. Elemental Gate was an ultimate skill he could use only once.
Lagrios, the Balrog Lord: "Spirits of flame from the Elemental Realm, your master needs your aid! In the name of Lagrios, open the gate to the Fire Elemental Plane!"
Boom! A magic circle appeared on the ground, with a huge vortex of flame at its center. It was the gate to the Elemental Plane. Fire elementals, lava golems, magma monsters, and flame lizards emerged one after another. Dozens poured out at once and pounced on the surrounding adventurers.
The adventurers did not run. Instead, they pulled out magic scrolls and tore them open one by one, sending beams of white light at the elemental creatures.
White flashes of Greater Banishment swept through the elemental creatures. Before the creatures from the Fire Elemental Plane could join the battle, they were thrown back into the Elemental Plane one after another.
What the hell? Greater Banishment scrolls? Those premium items cost 200 apiece at the auction house, and you just threw away dozens of them? You really do have money to burn.
Wait. A blue sun for a guild emblem, extravagant spending, and that leader who acts like an edgelord... Damn, could this be the legendary Qingyang Studio?
Xiao Yu finally remembered the background of the Light of Dawn Guild. It was most likely the legendary Qingyang Studio.
The studio was somewhat well known in professional gaming circles and had an air of mystery about it. That was all because it was apparently founded by a rich heir. It was not primarily concerned with making a profit and never accepted outside commissions. Qingyang Group had established it solely to advertise the company.
The blue sun was the group's logo. Since the studio had deep pockets, its players had the best equipment and items. Rumor had it that the rich heir himself not only had excellent gear, but also possessed professional-level skills. On top of that, most of the guild's members were company employees, so everyone followed orders and knew how to work together. Their combat strength was ridiculously formidable. Apparently, the rich heir himself was the guild leader. Could it be Long Ao Jiutian?
Top players and big spenders are both terrifying in the gaming world, but when the two become one, it's no longer as simple as one plus one equals two. This is going to be bad! Xiao Yu thought heavily.
While he was distracted, his health continued to drop, and he had entered the P3 phase.
New skills unlocked again. This time they were Meteor Storm and Body-Burning Blast. Unlike the limited uses of Flame Storm and Elemental Gate, Meteor Storm was a channeled skill that lasted a long time.
Lagrios, the Balrog Lord: "In the name of Lagrios, burn, earth! Burn, sky! Burn, all things in this world!"
The Balrog Lord pointed the Hammer of the Balrog straight at the heavens. A dark cloud like a mass of flames began to gather overhead, and meteors flew out of it one after another, crashing toward the ground. Each one dealt over ten thousand fire damage, enough to instantly kill an ordinary player.
Unfortunately, every member of this adventuring party had stacked more than 200 fire resistance. Not to mention the two hero players, Long Ao Jiutian and Phoenix, even an ordinary adventurer would only lose half their health if hit.
The meteor shower continued for a while, but only two or three unlucky players were struck two or three times in succession and died before they could be healed. The rest had a scare but came through unharmed.
Damn, this isn't looking good. Xiao Yu truly panicked this time. Do I have to use that move? No, I can't. It would teach Long Ao Jiutian a lesson, but I'd be finished too. I'm still counting on this account to make a living. Taking his enemies down with him sounded impressive, but unless he had no other choice, Xiao Yu did not want to do it. He would at least give it another try. He let the system control the Balrog Lord temporarily while he sent a message directly to his opponent.
Raglios, the Balrog Lord: "Hey, friend, leave a little room today so we can meet again tomorrow. How about giving me a way out? Don't say I didn't warn you. Don't make me use my ultimate."
Long Ao Jiutian (Dark Avenger): "Haha, scared now, are you? 'Don't say I didn't warn you'? Who are you trying to bluff? Go ahead and use your ultimate. You think I'm afraid of you? Save your breath. I'm determined to win this time. Killing you will add at least one star to my hero level. Whatever tricks you have, bring them on. I'll take them all." With that, he blocked Xiao Yu.
Fuck, he's leaving me no way out!
Xiao Yu hurriedly switched back to the game interface. As he continued channeling meteors down on the players below, he cursed up a storm. But everything he shouted was censored by the system or turned into system lines dripping with edgelord theatrics.
Things like "Foolish mortals, you shall pay for your insolence," and "Lowly ants, tremble before me, the mighty Lord of Flames."
Those lines are pretty cool, but you're the one trembling right now, Long Ao Jiutian thought smugly as he looked at the enormous Balrog Lord before him. He found it rather funny that the other party's appearance had nearly intimidated him earlier. He swung the Blade of the Dark Avenger hard once more.
The battle continued. Xiao Yu watched his health fall to just over a million, putting him in the execute phase. The other side had unleashed all manner of ultimate skills, and he would probably be dead in a few minutes. Xiao Yu knew he was utterly doomed today.
Am I, the mighty level 60 three-skull dungeon boss, the Balrog Lord, really going to fall here today?
Even if I die, I won't let you get off easy. You're so brazenly trying to destroy my livelihood. If I have to die, I'll at least take a few of you with me. Anger flared in his heart, and a vicious resolve took hold. Xiao Yu looked at the smug Long Ao Jiutian before him and suddenly made up his mind. You think I'm bluffing? Hmph.
He abruptly used his most destructive skill.
Body-Burning Blast: Detonates the caster's remaining health, producing a violent explosion that deals fire damage to surrounding enemies equal to the remaining health. Damage gradually decreases with distance from the explosion. The closer an enemy is, the greater the damage they suffer. Requires five seconds to cast.
Raglios, the Balrog Lord: "Foolish mortals, you think you have won? Hmph, do not celebrate too soon. Though I shall fall here, this world shall one day burn!"