Chapter 266
Class 6 leveling took about four months. Gathering materials for the ballista bolts against the Rainy Devil was tougher than expected.
Dark is still working hard on making the ballista bolts. As thanks, I gave him front-row tickets to a live show, and he cried tears of joy.
"It took longer than expected, didn't it?""The experience table got steeper in the latter half."
Next is Class 7, which will make leveling even tougher.
Even Lady Esmeralda found Class 6 leveling quite challenging. However—
"But we've gained skills worthy of the effort.""Eager to test them out?""Of course!!"
Through the process of growing stronger, she eventually reached the point where she could defeat Wind Dragons one-on-one without a vanguard, giving her a strong sense of progress. She hasn't acquired her unique skill yet, but—
"This time, you can go all out and fight to your heart's content.""Yes! I've been looking forward to this ever since Liberta explained it!!"
I completely understand that feeling. When playing a game, realizing you've become stronger makes you want to test that power. For Lady Esmeralda, stepping into legendary territory for the first time might amplify that desire.
"I haven't acquired my unique skill yet, but I can still feel how strong I've become!""We have the spirits to thank for that. Truly, I'm endlessly grateful to them."
Given three months, the spirits' sheer numbers allowed them to gather the skills we needed, one after another.
Except for ancient equipment from Mimic Armor or scrolls only found in later dungeons, they provided everything thoroughly.
While forming a clan and recruiting NPCs unlocks exploration commands, allowing automatic scroll and material gathering with sufficient levels and equipment, achieving this scale of collection so quickly would normally be impossible.
Potions are steadily accumulating too, so we can use them without worry.
Simply holding regular live shows or events as thanks seems almost too little for how hard they work. The spirits have desires like money or influence, but our interactions feel genuine and relaxed without ulterior motives.
Since they've helped us, we want to repay them fully. That mutual respect defines our relationship.
If Azhdaha revives and rampages, these spirits will be in danger too. Having spent time together, I've grown close enough to firmly believe we must prevent that at all costs.
"Alright, it's done.""Is that the Five Dragon Dungeon's wreath?"
That's why I hope this verification yields good results.
What I've been diligently crafting is a wreath with five-colored flowers: yellow, gray, light blue, orange, and purple.
"Exactly. The wreath from the Class 7 Five Dragon Boss Rush Dungeon—Thunder Dragon, Steel Dragon, Ice Dragon, Magma Dragon, and Fang Poison Dragon."
We're tackling a boss rush dungeon again, but this time it's the highest-level one possible in the spirit realm: Class 7.
The danger is incomparably higher than the previous boss rush. But for verifying cash shop item drops, this dungeon is the most efficient.
"Ingrid.""Yes.""You're the key to this dungeon's strategy. As we discussed, I'm counting on you.""Understood. Leave it to me."
We've maximized safety and success probability. Ingrid has learned additional skills, and our preparations are thorough.
"Then let's begin."
After confirming everyone's readiness with nods, I activate the dungeon.
This dungeon's battlefield is an arena—the unchanging rule of boss rush dungeons.
"The clouds are forming!""Amina, start singing!! From here, speed is everything!!"
However, some boss gimmicks still apply. First up: the Thunder Dragon. The thunderclouds it uses appear.
In the Wind Dragon dungeon, the Thunder Dragon positioned itself directly under these clouds, but in the boss rush, it emerges from them.
Moreover, it appears already electrified from the start.
"Breath attack incoming!!"
On top of that, it attacks first by peeking out from the clouds. Knowing this, someone moves immediately at Lady Esmeralda's warning.
"Mii-chan! Pii-chan!! Please!!"""Leave it to us!!""
Two Golems smoothly position themselves in the breath's path.
Wielding massive shields matching their size, they stand firm, using their multi-legged stability to resist being blown away.
"I'll make new Golems after this!! So hang in there!!"""Yeah! We'll do our best!!""
Performance-wise, the Angler has reached its limit. Dedicated to defense, it can barely keep up; against stronger monsters, it falls short.
Dark is too busy for Golem crafting. Other alchemy-skilled spirits are also swamped, so it was postponed. But seeing the Angler withstand the breath, I realize it's at its limit.
As Mii-chan and Pii-chan's shield defense against the breath ends, something is launched with a tremendous roar.
"Hit it!!""Nice!!"
Lady Esmeralda's new magic, Ice Cannon. It generates and fires ice projectiles—powerful but notoriously slow, making it hard to land.
Plus, it's single-target, unsuitable for area attacks, so against fast monsters, it's often just a novelty.
But ignoring mana cost, it becomes monstrous.
"Continuing!!"
Next is Revolver Spell. This magic skill has a twenty-minute recast time but allows six consecutive uses of one magic skill at max level—a vicious skill.
Depending on the magic skill, mana cost varies. Firing six Ice Cannons in a row consumes nearly 30% of Lady Esmeralda's mana even now.
But firing six high-power spells consecutively is so fearsome that mages cherish it despite the cost.
However, high firepower means nothing if it doesn't hit. This magic isn't for increasing accuracy but for making evasion harder.
It doesn't apply to non-physical magic like lightning, fire, wind, light, or dark, but only to earth, water, and ice magic with mass—a slightly unique skill.
Its name is Catapult, a skill that significantly boosts the speed and power of mass-based magic spells.
Visually, magical runes form a tube, and spells passing through accelerate.
But it doesn't persist; each activation only applies to one spell, consuming acceleration energy.
It's often paired with high-power, slow earth projectiles, but it also synergizes well with ice magic.
But here's a question: unless you have a special skill, you can't activate multiple magic skills simultaneously.
You can cast spells consecutively but not in parallel—like firing a Fireball with your right hand and a Waterball with your left at the same time.
So, Lady Esmeralda's sequence was: activate Catapult, activate Revolver Spell, activate Ice Cannon.
But this way, Catapult only applies to the first shot, not subsequent Ice Cannons.
You might think to land the first shot and use the opening for the rest, but—
Even if staggered, hitting the Thunder Dragon still hiding in the clouds is tough.
Yet, Lady Esmeralda's Ice Cannons kept firing rapidly, all striking the Thunder Dragon directly.
Twelve consecutive shots—double Revolver Spell's capacity.
"I shot it down!!""Lady Esmeralda, use Mana Charge to recover until the Steel Dragon!! Provide support if needed!""Understood!!"
All ice projectiles, accelerated by Catapult, denied the Thunder Dragon any chance to dodge. A single barrage inflicted critical damage—a vicious combo.
With levels raised and Class 6 leveling后半戦 (latter half), this opening attack削 (reduced) the Thunder Dragon's HP by 90%.
The trick lies in the Double Spell skill.
This skill allows simultaneous activation of two magic skills, except for parallel activation skills like Double Spell itself.
Normally, it's seen as doubling attack power, but its true nature is far more ruthless.
Combining Double Spell with Magic Stock enters cheat territory.
The sequence for the rapid-fire 12 Ice Cannons is:
Stock three Double Spells via Magic Stock. Double Spell's mana cost isn't high, so stocking is relatively cheap.
Release the first stocked Double Spell to activate two Revolver Spells. This allows six consecutive uses for two subsequent spells.
Then activate the remaining two stocked Double Spells.
You can't stack Double Spell with itself, but via Double Spell into Revolver Spell, you can chain 24 consecutive magic skills.
With this foundation, it's simple: use Double Spell combinations to create 12 sets of Ice Cannon and Catapult.
Thus, two cannons fire high-speed ice projectiles.
This isn't infinite due to Magic Stock limits, but with mana-based pattern combinations, it unleashes absurd firepower.
We FBO players named this mana-cost-ignoring, firepower-focused combo:
'Happy Trigger Combo.'
While its maximum power falls short of Nell's Gold Smash, its continuous annihilation firepower—with maxed magic stats—makes this rain of supreme magic spells the most feared.
With enough mana, it can turn any place into a scorched plain.
Even the unfinished Lady Esmeralda reduced the Class 7 boss—enhanced in the boss rush—to near death upon appearance.
"Fortune's Summoning!!"
Nell activates her skill upfront, followed by us vanguards—Claudia and me—rushing to the Thunder Dragon's landing point for an easy kill upon touchdown.