Jiang Chen's Sword Qi Attack only had a two-meter range. To kill this BOSS, he had to use close-quarters Sword Qi Attacks, but once he got close, he would face its four-meter-long giant sword.
Moreover, in Jiang Chen's view, his Magic Shield might not withstand a full-powered strike from the Underworld King. Although it was a hundred times stronger and seemed quite formidable, facing the Nightmare-level Underworld King gave Jiang Chen no confidence whatsoever. This guy was ridiculously overpowered.
With one step from the Underworld King, the entire cave trembled, feeling as if the earth and mountains were shaking.
Jiang Chen was dumbfounded. Dammit! How am I supposed to play this?
Standing thirty meters away from the Underworld King, Jiang Chen decided to test the BOSS's defenses. He drew his sword. A beam of Sword Qi rushed towards the Underworld King.
-1...
Jiang Chen was completely stunned. What the hell? Just one HP gone? At this rate, it'll take forever to kill this thing!
Even Sword Qi Surging wouldn't be enough. It reduced HP by 100 every 0.1 seconds, meaning 1,000 HP per second, and 10,000 HP in ten seconds.
Huh... It might actually work! I just need 24 seconds to take this guy down!
Jiang Chen licked his lips.
Twenty-four seconds was more than enough. The only thing to watch out for was the BOSS's attack, which could likely shatter his Magic Shield with a single casual strike.
Jiang Chen came up with a plan. He reactivated Sword Qi Surging and reinforced his Magic Shield to its maximum. His stats were fully Upgraded. Only after maxing out his buffs did he charge at the Underworld King.
The Underworld King, seeing Jiang Chen charging, casually raised its Great Sword and launched a Sweep Thousands of Troops attack.
Jiang Chen immediately stopped in his tracks and quickly retreated.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG...
The massive Sword Qi struck his Magic Shield, sending ripples across its surface.
Jiang Chen retreated again, increasing the distance. He looked at his Magic Shield. He was startled; only 8 layers were left. Did that strike just take out 92 layers of my Magic Shield?
Jiang Chen wanted to curse aloud, This isn't a Nightmare-level BOSS! This is f*cking Hell-level difficulty!
It's just too damn overpowered!
If I hadn't reapplied the Magic Shield, I'd be dead already! That was merely the Sword Qi from the attack; the blade itself hadn't even touched him. If that had hit me dead center, I'd have been toast!
Jiang Chen maxed out his buffs again, especially the Magic Shield, restacking it to 100 layers.
Twenty-four seconds... there might just be a chance.
Jiang Chen carefully observed the Underworld King's movements. The previous strike had been powerful but slow—that was its flaw. All I need to do is attack during the openings after its attacks. By attacking during those openings, I can definitely wear this Underworld King down!
Having made up his mind, Jiang Chen went on the offensive again.
WHOOSH...
A figure dashed towards the Underworld King. Seeing Jiang Chen attack it once more, the King wielded its giant sword single-handedly and sent a Sword Qi attack towards him.
The four-meter-long Great Sword descended from the sky...
Jiang Chen quickly dodged.
A good opportunity!
Seizing the chance, Jiang Chen swiftly counterattacked.
4 meters...
3 meters...
2 meters...
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG...
Countless Sword Auras pierced towards the Underworld King, and a stream of -1s appeared above its head.
Of course, there were also countless MISSES.
MISS...
MISS...
MISS...
The Underworld King, holding its sword with both hands, launched another Sweep Thousands of Troops. Jiang Chen rapidly dodged backward. Damn it, this ultimate move again!
Jiang Chen quickly retreated...
Jiang Chen silently calculated the timing. After one move ended, there was a 3-second interval before the next attack. That means I can attack the Underworld King during those three seconds. Three seconds isn't long, but it isn't short either. But for me, it's enough.
Jiang Chen watched as the Underworld King's HP dropped by 1,000 from that last barrage, despite numerous MISSES.
After dodging, Jiang Chen quickly rushed in, exploiting the opening to once again assault the Underworld King. Now, he could only rely on attack frequency to finish it off.
Whenever he saw the Underworld King launch an attack, Jiang Chen would quickly pull back, waiting for the chance to strike during the interval after the attack.
-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1...
MISS, MISS, MISS, MISS, MISS...
Jiang Chen kept repeating his moves, feeling a surge of joy as he watched the Underworld King's health bar deplete.
But in the next moment, Jiang Chen could no longer smile.
He saw the Underworld King lift its giant sword, and its health bar instantly refilled.
Jiang Chen was flabbergasted. What the heck is going on? I've been fighting for ages, and this guy's health just restored completely? So all that was for nothing? This thing is like an indestructible cockroach!
There's just no solution unless I can one-shot the Underworld King. But with the level restrictions inside the Underworld Altar, that's impossible. Who could possibly deal 24,000 HP in a single hit?
Jiang Chen rapidly retreated...
Leaving its aggro range, he stared speechlessly at the Underworld King.
The Underworld King sat back down again.
Jiang Chen pondered. No. Something is very wrong here. If I continue attacking like this, there's no way to kill the Underworld King. I must have missed something.
He recalled the BOSS's profile description:
*The King of the Underworld Altar. No one can kill him unless his Defense Cover is broken.*
This was the profile Jiang Chen had seen when he first encountered the Underworld King.
Unless the Defense Cover is broken... he mused.
Jiang Chen noticed a yellow glow around the Underworld King's body. That must be it! That aura is what makes it unkillable. In other words, to defeat this Nightmare-level BOSS, I have to find a way to break its Defense Cover. But what's the method?
Jiang Chen was at a loss for the moment.
Nightmare-level dungeons weren't so simple; they always involved special mechanics. These so-called mechanics usually meant the BOSS was protected by some kind of power, and this protection—this mechanic—had to be broken to defeat the BOSS. Anyone on Blue Star who played games knew about such mechanics.
Jiang Chen remembered that when he first entered the Underworld Cave, there had been two other passages he hadn't explored. Perhaps the way to destroy the BOSS is hidden in one of them.
With this thought, Jiang Chen quickly headed back, wondering if his suspicion was correct.
Jiang Chen returned to the junction he had passed earlier and entered the cave on the left...