186: The mastermind behind the battle
The faint light of spatial displacement dissipated, and Lin Mo reappeared on the familiar floating island of Sky City.
Beneath his feet was the cold crystal ground, and in his ears were deafening battle cries and the explosion of magic. The thick smell of blood and gunpowder rushed toward him, instantly pulling him back from the Gods Chosen duel, which had almost transcended the game dimension, into this cruel meat grinder where mortals slaughtered each other.
His battle with Yan Di seemed long, but under the rule interference of the system, the flow of external time was almost static. However, even in this brief moment, the battle situation had undergone subtle changes.
"Poison God Boss! You're back!"
In Shadowless Hall's command channel, Iron Wall's voice carried a hint of uncontrollable surprise. Following closely, greetings from core members like Summer Rain and One Shot Through Cloud also rang out, every word imbued with relief.
"What's the situation?" Lin Mo asked in a deep voice while quickly scanning the battlefield.
His visibility was excellent. His current location was a high ground behind the Guardian Alliance's temporary command post, allowing him to overlook the entire battle situation on Floating Island A-7.
This floating island was one of the key strategic nodes leading to the central main city. It was rich in a rare resource called "Sky Resonance Crystal," which was the core energy source driving Sky City's defense system and large-scale war machines. Therefore, this place had become a highly contested area for both Factions.
At this moment, the Guardian Alliance's frontline on Floating Island A-7 was being completely suppressed.
The Destroyer Faction, led by the "Oracle" Guild, had clearly seized the golden opportunity presented by the simultaneous disappearance of Lin Mo and Yan Di—the two top combat powers—and launched a fierce, overwhelming assault.
Luo Li's command style was as ruthless and precise as ever.
Destroyer Faction players surged from all directions of the floating island like a black tide. Their front line was an Iron Wall composed of countless heavily armored warriors and knights, enduring the Guardian Alliance's rain of arrows and magic, slowly encroaching upon the position. Behind them, the focused attacks of the Mage Corps and the archer units were like the Grim Reaper's scythe, harvesting the Life of Alliance players in swathes.
What was more troublesome was that three massive "Abyssal Magic Cannons" had been set up at the rear of the Destroyer Faction. This new type of war machine, acquired from the Abyss Invasion expansion, could fire a terrifying beam capable of instantly wiping out a hundred-person squad every time it finished charging, inflicting devastating damage on the Alliance's defensive structures.
"It's not looking good!" Iron Wall's voice was filled with gravity. "That crazy woman Luo Li took advantage of your and Yan Di's absence and threw her most elite 'divine punishment' Legion into the fight! Our main front is about to collapse, especially because of those three Magic Cannons; their firepower is too fierce. Our assassin squads have charged several times, but their defenses are airtight."
Lin Mo's gaze instantly locked onto the three menacing Abyssal Magic Cannons.
The cannons were guarded by at least five hundred-person squads, and large numbers of "Shadow Patrols" with extremely strong anti-Stealth capabilities were roaming the periphery. For any assassin to try and approach was utterly delusional.
"Are our casualties heavy?"
"Very heavy!" Summer Rain took over, her tone carrying a hint of exhaustion. "The Destroyer Faction came prepared this time; they seem to have stockpiled a large amount of war resources beforehand. Our logistics are failing to keep up. If this continues, Floating Island A-7 will change hands in less than half an hour."
Once Floating Island A-7 fell, the Destroyer Faction could use it as a springboard to directly threaten the Alliance's temporary headquarters in the central region. At that point, the entire battle situation in Sky City would fall into an irreversible passive state.
"Understood."
Lin Mo's reply was frighteningly calm. He offered no blame, no complaints, and not the slightest hint of panic. The more critical the moment, the calmer his mind became.
War was never a one-person game. But a top-tier strategist was enough to change the direction of the entire board.
"All assassin units, heed my command." Lin Mo's voice traveled clearly through the main command channel to the ears of every Alliance assassin. "Abandon the attack on the enemy's rear line, immediately retreat, and gather at the coordinates I specify."
This command stunned many people.
"Poison God Boss, you want us to retreat? If we charge now, maybe there's still a chance..." an assassin leader couldn't help but ask.
"Execute the command." Lin Mo's tone was unquestionable.
Although filled with doubts, due to absolute trust in Lin Mo's prestige, the Alliance assassins scattered across the battlefield silently disengaged from the fighting like a receding tide, moving in Stealth toward the coordinates Lin Mo had provided.
In the Destroyer Faction command post, Luo Li, dressed in a black gown, floated silently in mid-air, her pale purple eyes coldly watching the battlefield.
"Oh? The assassins on the other side have all withdrawn?" A subtle curve appeared at the corner of her mouth. "It seems our Poison God is back. Is he giving up the struggle and consolidating forces for a defensive counterattack?"
"Guild Leader, should we intensify the attack of the 'divine punishment' Legion and take them down in one go?" the Vice Guild Leader beside her requested instructions.
"No need to rush." Luo Li shook her head, a light of wisdom flickering in her eyes. "Lin Mo never makes meaningless moves. If he withdrew his most critical mobile force of assassins, he must have another scheme. Command the front line to hold their positions and beware of his surprise attack."
She understood Lin Mo too well. He was like a venomous snake hidden in the shadows; you never knew when or from what angle he would strike with his most fatal fangs.
However, this time, Luo Li was wrong.
Lin Mo had no intention of using assassins for any fancy beheading tactics.
As hundreds of the Alliance's top assassins gathered behind him, Lin Mo slowly raised his right hand. A profound, dark green ball of energy, seemingly capable of devouring all light, condensed in his palm.
The power of the godhead fragment was quietly activated.
"Next, my skill will cover the entire battlefield. You have only one mission," Lin Mo's voice was low and clear. "When the Deadly Poison mist rises, put on the 'Heart Cleansing Talismans' I gave you, and then, hunt down the prey that have lost their direction and been stripped of Healer in the mist. Let them know who the true master of this battlefield is."
Having said that, the dark green energy ball in his palm suddenly shot into the sky and exploded violently above the high heavens!
"Divine Skill—Toxic Domain!"
Buzz—
A silent hum resonated across the sky.
The next second, centered on Lin Mo, a visible dark green shockwave spread rapidly in all directions like a tsunami!
It crossed hills, valleys, and the fighting crowds, enveloping almost half of Floating Island A-7 within mere seconds!
In an instant, the world darkened.
The previously clear battlefield was instantly shrouded by a thin layer of green Deadly Poison mist that exuded an ominous aura. Visibility dropped sharply, and a series of negative status notifications began to float above the heads of all Destroyer Faction players caught in the mist.
[You have entered the "Toxic Domain," losing 1,000 Life points per second, movement speed reduced by 10%, and all Healer effects reduced by 30%!]
"What the hell is this!"
"It's Poison God's Domain! Everyone, Priests use Purification, drink anti-Deadly Poison potions!"
A slight disturbance appeared in the Destroyer Faction's formation.
However, this was only the beginning.
Lin Mo stood upon the high ground, his black cloak flapping in the Deadly Poison mist, a trace of cold, dark green divine light flashing in his eyes.
"Rule: Withering!"
The invisible power of the godhead descended like a divine decree.
In an instant, the status bars of all Destroyer players within the [Toxic Domain] frantically refreshed again!
[You are affected by "Rule: Withering." All Life restoration effects (including Healer skills, potions, and equipment effects) are reduced by 90%!]
If the previous [Toxic Domain] had merely caused trouble for the Destroyer Faction, the arrival of [Rule: Withering] plunged them completely into despair!
A 90% reduction in Life restoration effects!
What kind of concept was that?
This meant that their Faction's proud "Holy Light Legion," consisting of thousands of Priests, was almost entirely nullified at this moment!
A [Mass Healer Spell] that could originally instantly top off the HP of a hundred-person squad now barely moved anyone's health bar when cast. Chugging an expensive [Potent Life Restoration Potion] had about the same effect as scratching an itch.
The tanks on the front line discovered in horror that their health bars were continuously dropping, and no matter how hard the Priests behind them tried, they could not prevent them from sliding into the abyss of death.
Panic began to spread like a plague.
"Hold the line! Don't panic!" The commanders of the Destroyer Faction roared until their voices were hoarse.
But it was too late.
The moment their formation showed a crack due to fear and Chaos, hundreds of ghostly figures, wearing special talismans that shielded them from the Deadly Poison mist's effects, silently emerged from the fog.
They were the Alliance's assassins.
They were the sharpest blade in Lin Mo's hand!
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
The sound of daggers sinking into flesh composed a deadly symphony on the chaotic battlefield.
One after another, the squishy rear-line players of the Destroyer Faction turned into white light and returned to the graveyard without even seeing where their enemies came from.
Without Healer, the rear line was as fragile as a sheet of paper before these top assassins.
"Luo Li, it's time for me to take control of your board."
Lin Mo gazed at the battle situation below, which had instantly been reversed, and whispered softly.
The Deadly Poison mist was his chessboard.
And he was the only strategist on this battlefield.