C-rank at Last
The Corpse King's health was decreasing slowly and steadily.
It tried to recover by Soul Drain, but the White Bone Spirit kept killing skeletons from the flanks. The Corpse King had just absorbed a little blood when it was hit back by several more blows.
It attempted to control Little Drill Wind with its Death Gaze, but Little Drill Wind's Demonic Qi Sensing detected the fluctuation of the stare in advance and dodged to the side.
Health dropped to 50%. Bone Storm erupted again.
Dropped to 30%. Corpse King's Command triggered.
All the skeletons, including the hundred that were charging towards Flower-Fruit Mountain, simultaneously turned and pounced on Little Drill Wind. They no longer dodged or defended; it was a completely suicidal charge.
The White Bone Spirit's fiery curtain spread out again, covering a large area and burning the suicidal horde of skeletons to pieces.
A cold glint flashed in Little Drill Wind's eyes. He accelerated with all his might, his figure transforming into a bluish-black afterimage as he charged straight at the Corpse King's skull. The Corpse King raised his bone claws to block, but Little Drill Wind slid past beneath the claws and, with a low slash, struck the Corpse King's cervical vertebrae.
That is the junction between the bone wings and the torso, and also the weakest point of the Soul Flame.
The blade was infused with demonic energy and twisted violently.
The Corpse King's massive body suddenly froze. The dark golden crown shattered, the seven soul gems broke simultaneously, and eerie green Soul Flames erupted from the cracks in its skull.
It let out a deafening wail, its bony wings drooped limply, and its seven-meter-tall frame began to collapse.
Little Drill Wind leaped up from the collapsed pile of bones, and with a backhand slash of his short sword, completely cleaved the Corpse King's skull in two.
Corpse King, die.
The remaining skeletons, losing their command, faltered. The White Bone Spirit's curtain of fire spread out again, covering the entire cemetery and burning the remaining skeletons to dust. Little Drill Wind turned and charged into the remnants, cutting them down like grass with each slash.
Wave 10: Total annihilation.
The fifteenth wave arrived quickly.
The last five waves of Nightmare difficulty were actually easier than the earlier ones.
One engages in melee combat to finish off enemies, while the other provides ranged area-of-effect attacks. Even as the number and strength of monsters continue to rise, this coordinated approach presents virtually no pressure. Little Drill Wind is responsible for clearing elites and bosses, while White Bone Spirit handles intercepting split attacks and clearing the field. One provides single-target burst damage, while the other provides area-of-effect suppression.
The fifteenth wave resulted in total annihilation.
Nightmare Edition, completed.
Su Mu stood there, looking at the shattered bones and embers of Soul Flames scattered on the ground, and slowly exhaled. He glanced at the time; about two hours had passed since he entered the Nightmare instance.
During those two hours, he used the phrase "Years Like a Blade" fifty times.
After the fortieth time, his skill with the Years Like a Blade technique improved once again.
The time catalysis for non-living units has changed from two years to four years for the upgrade from level two to level three.
It was used fifty times, forty of which were on the Stone Left Over from Mending Heaven. It took forty years to accumulate before level two, and each catalysis after level two took two years, so ten times would take twenty years.
The total age of the Stone Left Over from Mending Heaven is over sixty years.
With a thought, Su Mu's consciousness sank into the Dungeon Space.
At the summit of Flower-Fruit Mountain, that dusty gray stone stands quietly on the top.
But unlike before, the surface of the stone now has a very faint, warm luster, like moonlight. The mysterious patterns are no longer just faintly flowing, but clearly appear on the stone surface, like a miniature star map.
[Name: Stone Left Over from Mending Heaven (Core Card)]
[Grade: C]
[Level: 1]
[Blood: 58000/58000]
[Defense: 580]
[Attributes: Heaven and Earth Spirit Stone / Remnants of Mending Heaven / Essence of Sun and Moon]
[Note: A unique rock atop Flower-Fruit Mountain, existing since the beginning of time, has been nourished by the essence of sixty years of the sun and moon, containing a spiritual embryo, possessing boundless potential. The birth of the Lingming Stone Monkey is still some time away.]
Grade C.
His health skyrocketed from 7,000 (D-rank) to 58,000, and his defense increased from 70 to 580. More importantly, he gained the "Essence of Sun and Moon" attribute. Su Mu's eyes lit up as he looked at the panel.
This is a great start.
The Stone Left Over from Mending Heavens finally began to transform from an "inanimate object" into a "spiritual object." Once it truly gave birth to the Lingming Stone Monkey, Sun Wukong was born, and his greatest weakness was completely remedied.
He glanced at his level.
[Level Up: 13 → 14]
Little Drill Wind leveled up to level 14 simultaneously. White Bone Spirit also leveled up to level 11 in this battle.
[Name: Corpse Demon White Bone Spirit]
[Rank: SS]
[Level: 11]
[Blood: 264000/264000]
[Attack: 23200/23200]
[Defense: 13600]
[Agility: 20800]
[Combat Index: 219600]
[Skills: Bone Claw Rend, Command of the Dead, Bone Reassembly, Transformation - Humanoid, Thousand-Faced Transformation]
The last twenty waves of the Nightmare difficulty were actually easier for Su Mu than the earlier ones.
The synergy between Little Drill Wind and White Bone Spirit has been established: one focuses on melee attacks to finish off enemies, while the other provides ranged area-of-effect damage.
Even with a large number of monsters, a strong BOSS, and a high combat index, there is almost no pressure with this kind of teamwork.
After the Nightmare Boss fell, it dropped a level 1 Corpse King Card, a level 1 Bone Knife, and various materials.
Su Mu carefully put away the Corpse King Card.
This thing can be used to create the Nether, since it needs some powerful undead monsters.
As for the bone knife, he glanced at its stats and saw that it was just an ordinary F-grade weapon, but its shape gave him a new idea.
He still has enough Soul Power.
Su Mu exited the instance.
A dark red light curtain expelled him. As soon as he regained his footing, he felt dozens of gazes fall upon him.
"They're out!"
"Look at his level... level fourteen!"
"What? Level fourteen? Wasn't he level thirteen before he went in?"
"He went in at level 13 and came out at level 14? What wave did he reach in the Nightmare difficulty?"
"At least the tenth wave! The experience from the tenth wave in Normal Lair isn't enough to go from thirteen to fourteen, and it's only about tenth wave in a nightmare nest."
"A level 13, F-rank core card, soloing Nightmare difficulty, reaching wave 10 or higher?"
How did he do that?
Outside the entrance, dozens of eyes fell on Su Mu.
The burly man with the thick beard opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time. The hooded young man leaned against the railing, his eyes slightly narrowed, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Level fourteen." Someone took a deep breath. "He cleared the Nightmare difficulty."
"I might not have finished the game, but I've at least reached wave ten or higher. That's terrifying."
"But he dared to solo the Nightmare difficulty dungeon, and even made it to the tenth wave or higher, so he might really have some trump card."
"Even so, a level 10+ dungeon master who can solo Normal Lair, at least ten waves of Hard Lair, and at least ten waves of Nightmare Lair through sheer skill is already worthy of respect."
"Yes, in the world of dungeon raiders, strength reigns supreme. His move today has silenced everyone."
The discussions rose and fell, but the tone had changed from initial mockery to admiration, even a hint of awe.
Su Mu ignored the stares. He walked straight through the crowd and went to a quiet rock on the outskirts, where he sat down against the stone wall.