92: Lord of the Rivers, the Hydra!

The whirlpool in the underground dark river spun to its extreme, resembling a bottomless, dark-green abyss ready to suck in everyone's souls. The terrifying pressure originating from the primordial era also climbed to its peak at this moment, becoming so heavy that the squishy classes in the team even felt a slight difficulty breathing.

"Gurgle... gurgle-gurgle..."

Accompanied by a grating sound of bubbling water, one... no, three grotesque heads violently emerged from the center of the whirlpool!

All three heads were serpentine, but their forms were distinct. The one on the left was entirely scarlet, with what looked like magma flowing between its scales, exhaling scorching sulfurous air with every breath; the middle one was dark purple, its eyes flickering with malicious light, and drops of Deadly Poisonous mucus that could corrode rock dripped from its fangs; the one on the right was covered in ice-blue crystalline scales, and every breath it took condensed fine frost in the surrounding air.

Fire, Deadly Poison, and Frost!

Three completely different, yet equally lethal, attributes converged on a single monster!

Following this, a massive, suffocating body slowly rose from the river. It was a serpent's body as huge as a small mountain, covered in thick, armor-like, dark-green scales. And at its neck, besides the three heads that had already emerged, there were six other neck stumps resembling hideous tumors. Clearly, it once possessed more heads!

[Lord of the Ten Thousand Snakes Pit, Hydra (Weakened and Sealed)]

Level: 45

Type: Lord/Ancient Creature

Life Value: ???/???

Skills: ???

Description: A survivor of the ancient god war and one of the former Protectors of the Naga race, imprisoned here for unknown reasons. Each of its heads wields the power of an element, possessing world-destroying might. The long period of sealing has worn away most of its power, but even so, it remains the undisputed master of this body of water.

"L-Lord-level BOSS!"

"The Nine-Headed Serpent Hydra? Isn't that a monster from mythology?"

"Life value and skills are all question marks? How are we supposed to fight this!"

The moment they clearly saw the BOSS's attributes, even this group of top national experts couldn't help but gasp, their faces filled with shock and solemnity.

They had anticipated that the guardian BOSS of the second layer would be strong, but no one could have imagined it would be strong to this extent! It was directly the legendary Nine-Headed Serpent! Although it was in a weakened state, the word "Lord" was enough to explain everything.

"Don't panic! It's just a weakened and sealed fellow, what is there to fear!" Blazing Red Lips shouted, forcefully suppressing the shock in her heart. The lava staff in her hand was already radiating a blinding firelight. "I don't care how many heads it has, just burn it to ashes!"

"Roar—!"

Seemingly enraged by Blazing Red Lips's provocation, or perhaps simply hating all creatures that trespassed into its territory, the Hydra's three massive heads simultaneously lifted and let out a deafening roar.

The next second, world-destroying attacks descended!

The middle Deadly Poison snake head suddenly opened its gaping maw, and a thick stream of purple venom sprayed out like a high-pressure water cannon, forming a wide-ranging fan-shaped barrage that completely engulfed a large area in front of the team!

[Deadly Poison Torrent]!

"Immovable as a Mountain! Iron Wall! Shields up! Everyone else, retreat! Those who can't dodge, activate damage reduction!" Lin Mo's orders were lightning-fast.

Immovable as a Mountain and Iron Wall roared and simultaneously stood at the very front of the team, their two tower shields acting like two indestructible city gates, firmly blocking the frontal impact of the venomous torrent.

"Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle—"

The corrosive venom made contact with the shields, producing a chilling sound, and the two men's health bars plummeted visibly.

"Drinking Alone Under the Moon! Summer Rain! Stabilize the MT's Life!"

Two beams of holy light instantly illuminated, and [Divine Prayer] and [Healing Circle] landed simultaneously, like two Life whips, forcefully pulling the two Tanks' health lines back from the brink of death.

However, this was only the beginning!

Just as the Deadly Poison Torrent was spraying, the flame snake head on the left took a deep breath, then violently spewed out gigantic Fireballs the size of washbasins!

[Lava Fire Rain]!

The Fireballs rained down from the sky, covering the middle and back ranks of the team indiscriminately like dense artillery fire.

"Mages activate shields! Hunters back-step! Rogues sprint! Disperse! Everyone, move!" Lin Mo's voice was slightly hoarse from the rapid commands.

The team instantly fell into Chaos; the light of explosions, splashing venom, and the holy light of Healers intertwined, making the scene dazzling yet deadly.

"Boom!"

A Fireball accurately struck the ground beneath a Warlock who was slightly slow in movement, and the terrifying damage of -8554 instantly killed him!

"Damn it! That damage is too ridiculous!" Someone couldn't help but curse.

"It's not over yet!" Every Calculation's voice carried a hint of panic.

The frost snake head on the right had also finished its incantation. What it spewed was not a physical attack, but a visible ring of ice-blue light!

[Extreme Cold Aura]!

The aura spread extremely fast, instantly sweeping across everyone on the battlefield.

"-1500!"

A fixed damage number popped up above everyone's heads. The damage wasn't high, but its attached effect was nasty!

[System Notification: You have been affected by "Extreme Cold Aura". Movement speed is reduced by 50%, and attack speed is reduced by 30%, lasting 10 seconds!]

Group Slow!

This single effect instantly dropped the entire team's mobility to freezing point. The [Lava Fire Rain], which they could barely dodge before, now became like a death warrant!

"Boom!" "Boom!"

Two more flashes of fire, and a Mage and a Hunter fell to the ground.

Less than thirty seconds into the fight, the team had already lost three members! An atmosphere called "despair" began to spread in everyone's hearts.

"H-how do we fight this?"

"The damage is too high, the range is too wide, and it comes with a group slow. There's no way to dodge!"

"The MTs can't hold on much longer either; the venom's damage over time is too terrifying!"

For the first time, panicked voices appeared in the team channel.

"Everyone shut up!"

Lin Mo's angry roar, like a clap of thunder, instantly suppressed all the noise.

"A group of people who call themselves experts, being beaten like this by a BOSS that only knows three basic moves, don't you feel ashamed?"

His voice was cold and stern, mercilessly chastising everyone.

"Immovable as a Mountain! Where is your [Desperate Stand]? Iron Wall, is your [Intervene] off cooldown? Blazing Red Lips, is your [Blink] for sightseeing? And you, the Ranged DPS! Just standing there taking hits, don't you know how to output damage?!"

The series of questions made everyone lower their heads in shame.

Yes, they had all been intimidated by the BOSS's appearance and its world-destroying skills. They had actually forgotten that they were also battle-hardened experts, and forgotten that they still had countless skills they hadn't used!

"Now, listen to me!" Lin Mo's voice regained its composure, but the power contained within it lifted everyone's spirits.

"This BOSS's attack pattern is very simple: the three heads take turns casting skills, and the cooldown for each skill is about 15 seconds. We just need to survive the first burst, and then we'll have a chance to breathe!"

"Immovable as a Mountain, Iron Wall, the two of you split up and stand on the left and right, Taunting in turns to share the damage of the Deadly Poison Torrent! If one person's health line is in danger, the other immediately fills in!"

"Healing group, abandon everyone else and focus entirely on the Tanks! Everyone else, drink your own potions, use your own damage reduction. If you die, it's because you're weak; don't count on others to save you!"

"All Ranged DPS, output at maximum distance! Don't stand together, spread out into a fan shape! Every Calculation, where are your traps? Freezing, slowing, throw them under the BOSS's feet to limit its melee capability!"

"All melee, including me, follow me!"

Lin Mo's instructions were like a machine gun, laying out a completely new battle plan in just a few seconds.

His words seemed to possess a magic that instantly dispelled the fear in everyone's hearts and reignited their fighting spirit.

"Yes! Guild Leader!"

Everyone responded in unison, their voices full of determination.

"Kill!"

Lin Mo roared, his figure flashed, and he activated Ghost Shadow Step, transforming into a wisp of smoke and charging proactively toward the BOSS!

His target was not the three flaunting snake heads, but the Hydra's colossal, mountain-like body!

"Is the Guild Leader crazy? What is he going to do?"

"Melee attacking the BOSS's main body?"

Everyone was stunned by Lin Mo's action.

However, in the next second, they understood Lin Mo's intention.

The moment Lin Mo approached the Hydra's body, he suddenly leaped upward, and his dagger savagely stabbed into the crevices of the BOSS's thick scales. Following this, he actually clung to the BOSS's body like a gecko, rapidly climbing upward!

His target was those six grotesque neck stumps!

"Roar!"

The Hydra clearly noticed the ant daring to climb onto its body. The three snake heads roared furiously, trying to twist their heads to attack Lin Mo.

But its body was too enormous, and the speed of its neck rotation simply couldn't keep up with Lin Mo's agile movements!

"Now! Everyone, focus fire on the middle Deadly Poison snake head! Silence it for me!" Lin Mo's voice came from atop the BOSS's body.

"Fire!"

Blazing Red Lips shouted, and the Fireball she had prepared for a long time shot out.

With Lin Mo drawing the BOSS's attention from the front, the Ranged DPS environment instantly became much safer. Beams of world-destroying magic and arrows, like the flames of vengeance, overwhelmingly bombarded the most disgusting Deadly Poison snake head in the middle!

"-12540! (Critical Hit)"

"-8955!"

"-7841!"

A series of terrifying damage numbers frantically popped up above the Deadly Poison snake head's head.

Stung by the pain, the Deadly Poison snake head let out a mournful shriek. The second wave of Deadly Poison Torrent, which was about to be sprayed, was forcefully interrupted!

"It worked!"

Everyone's spirits lifted!

At this moment, Lin Mo had also successfully climbed to the Hydra's neck. He looked at the hideous, tumor-like stump before him, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

[Rend]! [Poison Blade]!

The dagger in his hand, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, plunged fiercely into the stump!

"-5884! (Weak Point Attack)"

"-125 (Poison)"

"-125 (Poison)"

A staggering damage number appeared!

Simultaneously, a dark-green venom, following the wound, surged wildly into the Hydra's body!

[System Notification: Your talent, Endless Poison Source, has caused a suppression effect on a Lord-level creature. Poison damage is increased by 100%!]

"Roar—!!!"

A never-before-felt agony made the Hydra let out a scream of extreme pain. Its nine necks were the source of its power and also its most vulnerable vital point!

Lin Mo's attack precisely struck where it hurt the most!

"Success!" Lin Mo rejoiced in his heart.

He had found the correct way to fight this BOSS!

"Everyone listen up!" His voice rang out in the team channel, filled with barely suppressed excitement. "The weak point of this BOSS is the stumps on its neck! All melee, find a way to climb onto its body and attack those stumps! Ranged group, continue to suppress the three snake heads and interrupt their casting! We are going to slowly carve it to death!"

A tactic that was both insane and seemingly the only viable option was formally established at this moment!

A multi-dimensional siege battle centered around the ancient behemoth Hydra had officially begun!