215: 【Crimson Liberation - Extreme】

Chapter 215: Crimson Liberation: Extreme

As soon as the battle chess game began, large groups of enemies appeared simultaneously in all four corners of the map.

"Brothers, the first wave of enemies will take about 2 rounds to approach the first line of defense.

Those guarding the first line of defense need to be vigilant; as for everyone else, you can use this opportunity to Charge up properly.

Remember to save your burst skills and the like, as the first peak of enemy numbers will be around the 10th round."

Captain 21 reminded everyone.

For Shi Li, it didn't really matter.

His defensive position was quite deep, and he wouldn't encounter any elite enemies air-dropping nearby until the first wave of troops peaked around the 10th round.

Before that, he could prepare very easily.

First, the Fennec Fox Girl's 0 attack could still be very effective here.

Through attacking, the Jumping Dragon Guard began to gain Charge.

Then, the Charged Jumping Dragon Guard summoned 3 Little Tiao Tiaos.

These Little Tiao Tiaos were used as sacrifices for the Red Blade Maiden.

Allowing her to sharpen her blade in advance and progress towards activating Crimson Liberation.

After 3 Little Tiao Tiaos, all subsequent energy of the Jumping Dragon Guard was used to summon Jumping Girls.

In 10 rounds, the Fennec Fox Girl restored 150 energy to the Jumping Dragon Guard.

30 points were used to summon Little Tiao Tiaos, and the remaining could summon 2 Jumping Girls.

By the time Shi Li completed these tasks, other defensive lines had already begun to face the tide of enemies.

"B4 area, hold steady!"

"The 3rd mobile Healing team, immediately go support the C3 area."

"The blockers in the D5 area, collectively contract, fighting while Retreating."

Several captains were issuing commands to their respective areas of responsibility.

As for Shi Li, he seemed quite at ease.

Although the air-dropped enemies were elite monsters, their numbers were small, but they were powerful and formidable.

However, Shi Li unleashed a Vast, combined with other cards' group attacks, and dealt with them in no time.

After all, the Jumping Girl had 20 attack; otherwise, why would her energy cost be so high?

"Don't relax! The second wave of troops will peak in 5 rounds!

Those who haven't dealt with the current enemies need to increase their output!"

Captain 21 surveyed the entire situation; overall, their team's performance was relatively stable.

Looking at Shi Li's side, he had already successfully dealt with the elite monsters and was starting to deal with the newly air-dropped minions.

Both blocking cards had healthy HP, seeming to be fine.

"Wang Defa's battle chess pieces are very strong; holding off the enemies in front is not a problem.

But when the BOSS arrives, it's hard to say—"

She could only hope that the worst-case scenario wouldn't happen.

Because the BOSS's landing spot was random, and after landing, it would choose the most direct path forward.

And Shi Li's defensive point was the furthest defensive point from the main force, without a doubt.

If the BOSS really randomly landed on Shi Li's side, then they would just have bad luck in this game.

So, as the 24th round arrived, the entire map began to shake.

Rumble—

"Attention everyone, the BOSS is about to appear!"

At Captain 21's loud reminder, everyone showed grave expressions.

"Watch your feet, where the cracks appear!"

"If cracks appear nearby, be careful not to be knocked up by the BOSS!"

Other captains also reminded everyone.

The BOSS emerged from underground, and its deployment itself would come with damage.

"Those who spot the BOSS, report its location quickly, mobile team prepare!"

To deal with the BOSS, Captain 21 specifically arranged a small team of flying battle chess pieces that could ignore terrain.

They had damage, Healing, and even a tank.

"It seems to be here with me."

Shi Li reported the location.

"What?!"

Captain 21's face froze instantly.

Indeed, according to the Golem's Murphy's Law, the less you think about it, the better; once you think about it, things go wrong.

The mobile team was arranged in the very center of the combat zone to arrive as quickly as possible.

But this center was not a 100% perfect location; it meant the most central point from which they could reach other locations within 1 to 2 rounds.

Only Shi Li's location was too far, requiring 4 rounds.

Moreover, to Balance the defensive strength, the mobile team's configuration of battle chess pieces was not very large.

It was just meant to assist nearby defensive forces in striking when the BOSS appeared.

If they faced the BOSS alone, they definitely couldn't win.

To defeat the BOSS, they still needed to rely on the main force near its deployment point.

However, Shi Li's side now only had 3 battle chess pieces; in Captain 21's view, their combat power might even be inferior to the mobile team with 5 battle chess pieces.

"Mobile team, proceed immediately!"

"The 3 closest defensive points, each send 2 battle chess pieces to support!"

In desperation, she could only issue such an order.

"But the battle chess pieces cannot cross the terrain and simply cannot reach there!"

"Team Leader! Ground forces need to use the passages, it will take at least 6 or 7 rounds to arrive!"

"And if too many are drawn away, our defensive points won't be able to hold!"

Such an order immediately raised questions from nearby defensive points.

In fact, drawing away forces wouldn't be too big of a problem; even if some monsters leaked to the end point of the Soul Crystal, there were still team members responsible for Charging who could provide some combat power.

But the problem was whether they could make it in time.

"Never mind, just go first!"

Captain 21 knew this fact all too well.

She could only say she was trying a desperate measure.

Thus, the 24th round ended, and the 25th round arrived.

Rumble!

During the deployment phase, the shaking of the map became even more violent.

A long crack appeared where Shi Li's battle chess pieces were originally located.

The crack covered the entire 2-grid passage and extended 6 rows forward from the origin.

However, Shi Li was well-prepared and had Retreated 1 round in advance.

More specifically, the Red Blade Maiden and the Jumping Dragon Guard Retreated.

The Fennec Fox Girl, carrying an entry that increased alert range and reduced Movement ability, couldn't fully Escape, barely landing at the end of the crack.

There was nothing to be done; the Fennec Fox Girl only had a Movement distance of 3.

The Jumping Dragon Guard's second-level summons were similar, as their positions were even further forward.

However, it was fine for the Jumping Girl to exit; it just so happened to help the Jumping Dragon Guard fully restore her HP, ready to fight at full strength.

Boom!

Immediately after, the ground broke open, and the massive figure of a Rotten Flesh Sandworm appeared.

With its appearance, the conditions of the stage also underwent new changes.

"Victory Conditions: Protect the Soul Crystal from being destroyed / All enemies eliminated."

"Failure Conditions: Soul Crystal destroyed / Soul Crystal not activated on time / All allied units eliminated."

The 30-round limit was removed, meaning that completing the Soul Crystal's Charge within 30 rounds was no longer enough.

They also had to prevent it from being destroyed by the BOSS and defeat the BOSS.

"King of the Underworld"

Listen to the Wind, Attack 150, 20000 / 20000, 0 / 100

Movement Distance 0, Attack Range 1

"Underworld Behemoth - Passive": The King of the Underworld extends infinitely forward each round until it hits a target, extending at least 2 grids forward each round. "Rotten Flesh Regeneration - Passive": If the King of the Underworld takes more than 2000 total damage in a single round, it gains Healing equal to the excess amount.

"Limb Escape - Passive": The King of the Underworld reduces the number of occupied grids by 2 for every 1000 HP lost.

"Unstoppable - Passive": The King of the Underworld "Knocks Over" obstructing targets when deploying and extending.

"Corrupted Body - Passive": The King of the Underworld has "Unstoppable" and "Magic Immunity" effects, Alert Range +5.

"Corrosive Surface - Passive": Adjacent targets to the King of the Underworld cannot restore energy. "Terrain Destruction - Passive": Terrain passed by the King of the Underworld becomes "Corrosive Gas Tunnel."

"Corrosive Gas Attack - 0 ~ 100% Energy": The King of the Underworld simultaneously attacks targets in front of it within 4 grids. For every 2 grids of "Corrosive Gas Tunnel" present, it consumes 5 energy and increases True Damage by 20.

("Knock Over": Forces the target to be "Knocked Back" backward, dealing 30 damage for every 1 grid "Knocked Back." If the target's HP reaches 0, the King of the Underworld continues to extend.)

("Corrosive Gas Tunnel": Impassable. Flying units passing through or occupying it lose 30 HP per round.)

This BOSS has a very special mechanism, requiring someone to block it in front, otherwise it will go straight through to the Soul Crystal.

The 30 damage per "Knock Over" primarily targets the first deployment phase; if a battle chess piece stands at its deployment origin, it will be continuously "Knocked Over" until pushed in front of its head.

The Fennec Fox Girl was like this; because she was too close to the deployment origin, she was "Knocked Over" 4 grids, dying on the spot.

And due to the presence of "Unstoppable," it will at least "Knock Back" its obstructing target by 1 grid.

However, the Red Blade Maiden, possessing "Unstoppable," could be immune to the damage caused by "Knock Over."

But this was the BOSS's home turf, so under the mechanism, "Unstoppable" could immune damage but not immunity to being forcibly Knocked Back.

Then this BOSS, as a Listening Wind System unit, also has a very special mechanism.

That is, although it extends every round and reduces occupied grids from its tail when losing HP, from another perspective, its middle segments remain Still.

Meaning, no matter what, this guy gains 30 Charge every round.

Additionally, its active skill mechanism is somewhat similar to the Rage System, with higher attack power the more HP it loses.

It's also an AOE skill.

This skill will reach its peak when the Corrosive Gas Tunnel reaches 20 grids, meaning when it loses 10,000 HP.

A full 400 True Damage, 4 grids would be 1600 points.

Quite astonishing.

Furthermore, it possesses super strong regeneration ability; as long as it's not instantly killed, it can regenerate.

With the help of Rotten Flesh Regeneration, even if the Red Blade Maiden's Crimson Blaze could deal 4000 damage, it would be futile.

The amount exceeding 2000 would be automatically replenished by the BOSS, meaning it would gain 2000 Healing at the end of the total rounds.

Calculating this, even if the Red Blade Maiden went all out to kill it, it would take ten rounds.

"Brother Wang Defa, please hold on.

Take turns using battle chess pieces to block its advance; we are reinforcing you immediately."

Captain 21 said, handing the first action right to Shi Li.

In her opinion, there was still a glimmer of hope.

Because the Jumping Dragon Guard could tank the BOSS for 3 to 4 rounds, and the Red Blade Maiden could also tank for 1 or 2 rounds.

This added up to 4 to 6 rounds.

Of course, the condition was to take turns tanking, not all at once.

This would be enough to hold out until the ground forces' reinforcements arrived.

"But even if reinforcements arrive, it's useless, right? Who can tank this BOSS?"

"Yeah, and after reinforcements arrive, they still need to set up their formation."

"The BOSS's super alert range is very disadvantageous for positioning."

But voices of giving up hope had already emerged within the team.

If the BOSS directly collided with the main force, there might still be a chance.

But in the current situation, for Shi Li alone to tank the BOSS for at least 7 rounds, was that realistic?

However, it was at this moment that everyone suddenly saw a red light soaring into the sky and crashing down onto the Red Blade Maiden.

"It's here."

Leo had seen this move before; they also called it the battle chess piece's innate hand card here.

And after being chess-ified, the effect of Crimson Liberation: True remained unchanged.

It still reset HP to 300 / 300 for 3 rounds, and the skill had no cost.

However, for the Red Blade Maiden, whose base HP was already 200 / 200, the change wasn't very significant.

battle chess pieces generally have more HP; under various conditions, there are indeed Rage cards with 300 HP.

But what Leo didn't understand was why Shi Li activated this transformation state so early.

In his opinion, it should be activated when the Red Blade Maiden was about to collapse, right?

If activated now, the transformation effect would fade by the time the mobile team arrived.

How could they cooperate then?

In his view, the only explanation was that Shi Li wanted to tank the BOSS head-on.

With only 200 HP, she might die from one normal attack from the BOSS, plus a "Knock Over," and another skill.

With 300 HP, she could tank for one round.

However, whether she tanked or not, it didn't really affect the situation.

Yet, Shi Li's next actions left everyone a bit bewildered.

He actually arranged for the Jumping Dragon Guard to tank the BOSS, and then the Red Blade Maiden immediately Retreated.

The Jumping Dragon Guard tanked the BOSS for 3 rounds, but unfortunately, the BOSS had an entry that prohibited Charge, preventing it from accumulating energy again to summon Jumping Girls for Healing.

Moreover, the Stasis state itself was a pre-determined exit state; giving it HP was futile, it would still die.

The key was that the Red Blade Maiden hadn't participated in output for these 3 rounds, becoming a deserter, always hiding behind the Jumping Dragon Guard and observing.

This made everyone even more incomprehensible.

Especially the captains; they were still hoping the Red Blade Maiden could deal some damage to the BOSS.

However, when the 4th round arrived, just as the effect of Crimson Liberation: True was about to disappear.

Shi Li actually played another innate hand card.

"Rage, deep crimson."

"Crimson Liberation: Extreme: When the effect of Crimson Liberation: True disappears, extend and enhance its effect, resetting HP to 300 / 300 for 3 rounds."

A red light even more dazzling than before once again crashed down from the sky.

"What?!"

Everyone didn't expect a second transformation!