71: The shock of the first kill! The key to the guild era!

When that cold and authoritative full-server announcement echoed throughout every corner of the *epoch* world, like an Oracle from a deity, the entire game fell into an eerie, ten-second absolute silence.

[Full-server Announcement: Congratulations to the team formed by players 'Lin Mo', 'Iron Wall', and 'Summer Rain' for successfully achieving the First Kill of the Level 25 Heroic Dungeon [Wailing Mines]! Achievement unlocked: [Terminator of the Mines]! Reward: Reputation +1000, Gold +100!]

Ten seconds later, the accumulated shock exploded like a nuclear bomb of megaton yield across the official forums, the World Channel, and the Command Centers of all major guilds.

“Holy crap?! What the hell did I just see?! ”

“Wailing Mines? Heroic difficulty?! First Kill?! You have to be kidding me! It’s not April Fools’ Day, is it? ”

“Lin Mo! It’s Lin Mo again! I knew this man could always create miracles! But... three people?! The system announcement clearly states 'team'! This means their number definitely doesn't exceed five people! ”

“Three people cleared the Team Crusher? This isn’t a miracle anymore, this is a divine feat! It's a bug! I demand the GM thoroughly investigate! ”

“Investigate your sister! Do you think the main brain of *epoch* is just for show? Is it that hard to admit someone else is amazing? God Lin is awesome (voice breaking)!! ”

The official forums were instantly overwhelmed and crashed by the tidal wave of players flooding in the moment the announcement sounded. Countless posts sprang up like mushrooms after rain, each title more alarming, and each content piece more shocking than the last.

[In-Depth Analysis! How a Three-Person Team Overturned Our Understanding of Dungeons!]

[Technical Post: Conjecture on Clearing the Wailing Mines Heroic Dungeon, A Review of Lin Mo's Team's Extreme Tactics!]

[Ba Tian Guild's Faces Are Swollen from Slapping! A Hundred-Man Group Is Inferior to a Three-Person Team, The Biggest Joke in History Is Born!]

If Lin Mo's previous solo God Slaying displayed a kind of world-destroying, awe-inspiring "divine might," then this time, leading two previously unknown teammates to breach the "Team Crusher"—which all top guilds viewed as an insurmountable barrier—with the strength of just three people, brought about an even more revolutionary tactical impact, one capable of changing the entire game landscape!

What does this mean?

It means that in the face of absolute tactics and top-tier individual strength, human wave tactics are not invincible!

It means that casual players also have the opportunity to reach the highest level of glory that previously belonged only to major guilds!

... Ba Tian Guild Headquarters, Council Hall.

“Bang—!!! ”

A goblet crafted from refined gold was violently smashed onto the floor by Overlord Mad Saber, shattering into pieces!

“Trash! All of you are trash! ” His face, twisted by rage, turned the color of a pig’s liver, and his chest heaved violently, roaring like bellows, “Two hundred-man elite groups! Hundreds of people! Blocked outside a miserable mine for an entire afternoon, and now, three people just cleared it for me?! ”

“Which one of you can tell me! What the hell is going on here! Huh?! ”

His roar echoed through the hall. The dozens of guild executives standing below were all struck dumb with fear, not daring to take a single breath.

Just moments ago, they were discussing how to further restrict Lin Mo's movement, even planning to spend a fortune on rare tracking items to force him completely out of City of Glory.

The result was that the very next second, a slap loud enough to rupture eardrums was ruthlessly delivered across all their faces!

It hurt! A searing, burning pain!

“G-Guild Master... ” A Mage Captain spoke hesitantly, “According to the report from our public opinion analysts embedded in the forums... everyone outside... everyone outside is saying that our Ba Tian Guild is... ”

“Is what?! ” Overlord Mad Saber’s eyes were bloodshot, like a beast ready to devour someone.

“It’s... it’s a ‘unit of measurement’... ”

“Pfft—! ”

Overlord Mad Saber felt a sudden sweetness in his throat, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood right then and there.

A hundred-man group equals “One Overlord.”

The difficulty of the Wailing Mines is approximately equal to Two Overlords.

And the strength of Lin Mo's team is far greater than Two Overlords.

This is the most popular “Overlord Measurement System” on the forums right now.

An utter disgrace!

... At the same time, Oracle Guild.

In stark contrast to the furious atmosphere at Ba Tian Guild, here, there was complete tranquility.

Luo Li sat quietly on her throne, resting her cheek on one hand, watching the virtual screen before her with keen interest. The screen was looping the system announcement that had shocked the entire server.

“Lin Mo, Iron Wall, Summer Rain... ”

She softly spoke the three names. Her beautiful, intelligent eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, shimmered with an unusual brilliance.

“Guild Master, ” a woman dressed in Assassin leather armor below said solemnly, “The information on Iron Wall and Summer Rain has been confirmed. They are both previously unknown casual players. Their only notable appearance was achieving a First Kill in the Valley of the Dead dungeon alongside Lin Mo, who had not yet revealed his identity at the time. Their skills... can only be considered second-rate. ”

“Second-rate? ” Luo Li smiled upon hearing this, shaking her head. “No. How could people chosen by Lin Mo and kept by his side be merely second-rate? ”

“This only means they possess hidden talents we haven't discovered yet. Or perhaps... ” Luo Li's lips curved into a meaningful arc, “It is Lin Mo who possesses the ability to turn Decay into wonder, the Midas touch. ”

“This man is even more terrifying than I imagined. ”

“He not only possesses the power of a ‘God’, but he also has the potential to... ‘create Gods’! ”

“Pass on my order, ” Luo Li’s gaze instantly sharpened, “Raise Lin Mo’s threat level from ‘S’ class to... ‘SSS’ class! Starting today, all members of Oracle Guild must unconditionally yield if they encounter Lin Mo’s team in the wild, and absolutely must not engage in any conflict with them! Those who disobey will be kicked out of the guild! ”

“Yes! ”

... As for the storm of public opinion raging outside, the three initiators, Lin Mo, Iron Wall, and Summer Rain, were currently unaware of it.

Inside the cavern where the final Boss fell in the Wailing Mines.

“C-Captain... we... we really made the full-server announcement! ” Iron Wall looked at the system prompt, trembling with excitement. His honest face was flushed crimson, and he was incoherent.

Summer Rain also covered her mouth, her clear, beautiful eyes sparkling with tears. She had never imagined that one day she would be able to engrave her ID upon the glorious history of the server, just like those legendary Gods!

“This is just the beginning. ”

Lin Mo had a faint smile on his face. He patted both of their shoulders, gesturing for them to calm down.

“Instead of focusing on that empty reputation, let’s see what the Lord of the Mines has prepared for us... the real surprises. ”

His gaze fell upon the dazzling radiance beneath the massive corpse of Boss Gru.

The First Kill drop from the final Lord—that was the real prize!

The three immediately gathered around. When Lin Mo picked up all the spoils one by one and displayed them in the team channel, Iron Wall and Summer Rain’s breathing instantly hitched!

[Helm of the Enslaved (Purple · Excellent)]

[Boots of the Underworld King (Purple · Excellent)]

[Gru's Hammer of Destruction (Purple · Excellent · Weapon)]

[Skill Book: Armor-Breaking Roar (Rare)]

[Mine Treasure Map (Special Item)]

A full three pieces of Purple equipment! This even included a weapon! Plus a rare skill book and a treasure map!

“We're... we're rich! ” Iron Wall stared at the incomparably imposing great hammer, practically drooling.

“This... this drop rate is too exaggerated! ” Summer Rain was equally stunned.

“Heroic First Kills have an extra drop bonus, ” Lin Mo explained, feeling quite satisfied himself.

“Alright, old rules. ” He cleared his throat. “This [Armor-Breaking Roar] is a Warrior's area-of-effect defense reduction skill. Iron Wall, it's yours. ”

“Heh heh, thank you, Captain! ” Iron Wall happily learned the skill.

“The helm and the boots are both Level 25 Purple Warrior gear. Their stats are better than what you currently have, so put them on too. ”

“Got it! ” Iron Wall immediately equipped the new gear, completely upgrading his equipment. His stats soared, making him look imposing, like a God descending to the mortal world.

“As for this war hammer... ” Lin Mo’s gaze fell upon the best quality weapon.

Iron Wall’s heart instantly jumped into his throat.

“Although I really want it, ” he looked at Lin Mo, his eyes firm, “the rules cannot be broken! Captain, this hammer should go into the team vault! ”

“That’s right, Captain, ” Summer Rain chimed in, “We agreed on this. ”

Seeing their clear and resolute eyes, Lin Mo smiled.

“Rules are rigid; people are flexible. ” He shook his head and directly traded the war hammer to Iron Wall. “You are the team's only Tank. Your strength is the strength of our entire team. Take it. ”

“But... ”

“This is the Captain’s order. ” Lin Mo’s tone was beyond dispute.

Iron Wall looked at the war hammer glowing purple in the trade window, his eyes stinging. He finally nodded heavily: “Yes! Captain! I absolutely won't fail your trust! ”

After distributing the equipment, the team's atmosphere was more harmonious and amicable than ever before.

Finally, Lin Mo's attention fell on the mysterious [Mine Treasure Map].

“Let me see what this final surprise is. ”

Smiling, he chose to activate it.

However, this time, what appeared was neither equipment nor an item, but a heavy treasure chest emitting an ancient bronze luster!

[The Ultimate Treasure of the Wailing Mines]!

“There’s a treasure chest too! ” Iron Wall and Summer Rain both grew excited.

“Open it! ”

Lin Mo took a deep breath and slowly opened the chest under the expectant gazes of the two teammates.

There was no light soaring to the sky, nor were there any shocking special effects.

The moment the chest opened, an ancient, palm-sized token, seemingly carved from bluestone, lay quietly inside.

Engraved on the token were just two ancient seal characters—

[Stronghold].

[guild stronghold token (Unique Item)]

Type: Special Item

Effect: Upon use, allows the player to select a major city and establish their first Guild Stronghold.

Description: The key to starting an era, for which countless heroes and valiant figures have shed blood and piled up corpses.

The instant Lin Mo saw the token's attributes, even as someone who had lived two lives, his heart leaped violently!

Iron Wall and Summer Rain beside him, after a brief moment of confusion, instantly realized what it was. Both simultaneously gasped, their faces filled with unprecedented shock and... wild ecstasy!

A guild stronghold token!

This... this was the legendary item, the Guild Creation Token, that was enough to drive all guilds mad, making them willing to wage guild-annihilation wars just to seize it!