9: Tactical tricks! A little effort can achieve a great result!

Though referred to as a secluded valley, there was no tranquility to be found here.

Only widespread, glowing red rock fissures, charred marks all around, and scattered bones.

“It really is exactly like the illustrations in the history books.”

Ye Ze gazed around, unable to help but speculate:

“If everything is still the same as back then, then the final boss…”

Just then.

A world-shaking roar reverberated through the clouds!

Unlike the boss stages of other dungeons, there were no small monsters, elite monsters, or anything of the sort here.

Only a figure overflowing with demonic energy slowly emerged from the valley.

The moment he saw this boss, Ye Ze gasped:

“Holy crap, a stat monster!”

【Beast King · Red Fiend Lion】

Type: Demonic Beast Mountain Range Final Boss

Quality: Rare ☆☆☆☆☆

Level: 10

Attributes: Strength 145, Constitution 140, Agility 105, Spirit 68

Skills: Demonic Flame Breath, Crushing Impact, Scorching Claw Strike, Lion King Bloodline.

————

Rare 5-star!

Above Rare quality, each quality has additional star ratings, and 5-star is the highest within the Rare tier!

Looking at the opponent's attribute panel, Ye Ze finally understood:

Why has no one ever been able to clear Hell difficulty?

The boss’s stats were simply too overpowered!

In the Newbie Dungeon, the level of professionals who can enter is limited to below level 9.

And facing such a boss.

High attack, thick health, fast speed!

Even if four level 9 professionals teamed up, they might not even be able to withstand a single blow from the Red Fiend Lion.

Ye Ze instantly understood the ‘painstaking efforts’ of the dungeon designer:

They clearly didn't intend for anyone to clear this!

According to historical records, this Red Fiend Lion was the Beast King during the time when N/A campaigned against the Demonic Beast Mountain Range.

To become a Beast King, his combat experience should not be underestimated.

“Hmph—”

The Red Fiend Lion let out a heavy snort, bringing with it a wave of heat.

“Only one person?”

As the final boss of Hell difficulty, he hadn't seen a challenger in a long time.

Not to mention a solo challenge.

But in just an instant, Ye Ze had an idea:

“A bit tricky.”

“But I can try!”

If anyone else who had attempted Hell difficulty were here, they would definitely start cursing on the spot:

One breath from the Red Fiend Lion is enough to obliterate you and your Summoned Beast!

You're a level 3 Summoner, what makes you think you can still try?

But Ye Ze had thought of this point as well.

“Squirrel, summon 20 Shadow Doppelgangers directly and charge the boss!”

20 of them! That requires 400 mana!

This would consume half of the Shadow Squirrel’s current mana.

No textbook would recommend this kind of playstyle!

And upon hearing Ye Ze’s command.

The Squirrel unleashed a flurry of skills without hesitation, and in an instant, 20 Shadow Squirrels appeared before Ye Ze.

“Charge!”

Ye Ze said, then held down the Panda and the Squirrel’s main body, “You two, don’t charge yet.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the 20 Shadow Doppelganger Squirrels reached the Red Fiend Lion.

The latter, however, looked utterly disdainful and spat out a mouthful of Demonic Flame!

“Whoosh—”

The Shadow Doppelgangers, which had consumed half their mana, were completely incinerated.

But Ye Ze’s face lit up with joy instead: “Success!”

This seemingly absurd suicidal act was a common tactic he used in games in his previous life…

‘Skill baiting’!

As the top liberal arts student at the War College, Ye Ze was very familiar with these documented skills.

Demonic Flame Breath was the Red Fiend Lion’s only area-of-effect skill.

And unlike Shadow Doppelganger, this skill had a cooldown!

Facing a large number of Shadow Doppelganger Squirrels, the Red Fiend Lion wouldn’t swat them one by one; using an area-of-effect skill was the best option.

So, with the area-of-effect skill gone, it was Ye Ze’s chance to win!

“Go, Panda, Squirrel!”

At Ye Ze’s command.

The Squirrel immediately burrowed into the ground, merging with the shadows.

This was his innate skill, Shadow Evasion!

He could merge his body into any shadow to move.

A top-tier stealth skill!

However, facing the two epic Summoned Beasts, Panda and Squirrel, the Red Fiend Lion showed no interest whatsoever.

“To dare to attack proactively, you actually have some courage!”

The Red Fiend Lion’s deep voice rang out.

It was not uncommon for some professional teams to directly exit the dungeon the moment they saw his stats.

But he still didn't take them seriously.

With his combat power, facing these two opponents, he only needed one claw strike to instantly kill them!

“Die!”

The Red Fiend Lion disliked wasting time and swiftly pounced on the Panda, ready to end the battle immediately.

But what shocked him was:

This strike felt like hitting cotton.

It caused no damage whatsoever!

The Panda moved his two hands left and right, actually defending against his sharp claws and strangely neutralizing the offensive!

Ye Ze’s expression was agitated: “This is Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds!”

【Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds - lv.10】

【Utilizes clever gravity and softness to neutralize and counter powerful attacks with minimal force!】

【When facing attacks whose strength does not exceed 10 times your own, you can counter 200% of the enemy’s attack damage with your own attack!】

“Smack—”

The Panda pushed back with a backhand, striking the Red Fiend Lion’s crown with immense force.

A faint sound of bone cracking rang out.

Stars appeared before his eyes, and blood flowed incessantly!

If it were a normal attack, it would be impossible to cause such high damage.

But Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds also borrowed the Red Fiend Lion’s own strength, which made the damage much higher!

Moreover, hitting him in the head was particularly fatal!

This was the key point of Ye Ze’s strategy:

Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds cannot counter magic or area-of-effect skills.

But if the area-of-effect skill was baited out, the Red Fiend Lion’s remaining physical attacks would be completely countered by the Panda!

A stat monster boss?

Then I’ll use your own damage to counter you!

“Roar—!”

The Red Fiend Lion fell to the ground, heavily wounded and furious!

As the king of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, he had never been schemed against like this before!

But even in such a miserable state, with only one breath left…

The Red Fiend Lion still had strength, still able to fight!

Unfortunately, the next second, just as the Red Fiend Lion was preparing for furious revenge, his body became completely immobile!

Shadow Squirrel’s [Shadow Bind] took effect!

—By controlling the enemy’s shadow, it achieves the effect of immobilizing the opponent!

If he were at full health, Shadow Bind would never be able to control the incredibly powerful Red Fiend Lion.

But now that the Red Fiend Lion was heavily wounded, he was utterly defenseless…

“Damn! It!!!”

This was the Red Fiend Lion’s last words in this dungeon.

Since he was immobilized, how could he resist?

The Squirrel materialized a dark shadow blade in his hand and fiercely stabbed it into the Red Fiend Lion’s eye.

Even so, the Panda and Squirrel still continued to strike for over a minute.

Only then did the Red Fiend Lion lose his last bit of strength…

【Killed the final boss - Red Fiend Lion, gained Experience +500!】

【Congratulations on being the first professional to clear the Hell difficulty dungeon, you will be ranked first on the N/A Hell difficulty clear leaderboard!】

【Congratulations on your first clear of ‘Demonic Beast Mountain Range’, you have received the Hell difficulty first clear reward: Experience +1000! Exclusive First Clear Treasure Chest *1!】

【Dungeon ended, boss loot will be automatically picked up for you…】

【Ding! Your level has increased to: Level 4!】

【Talent—You have received one ‘Infinite Golden Trait’ draw!】