After navigating through layer upon layer of traps, a metallic-finished hall lay before them.
The doors stood wide open, as if welcoming the group inside.
"You, and you! Get in!"
The bald man barked the order, shoving Chen Nian roughly.
"Fine, fine. I'm going in."
Chen Nian raised his hands, resignedly stepping forward.
Qiuya followed behind him, though lacking Chen Nian's fearless confidence, her body shivering and trembling.
Upon entering the hall, no boss appeared.
Seeing this, the bald man beckoned his team to follow him inside.
BOOM!
The doors slammed shut!
Not far ahead, the eyes of a mechanical stone giant glowed red. It stood nearly as tall as a building.
"The boss has awakened! Prepare for battle!"
The mechanical stone giant slowly raised its arm, shaking off layers of dust from its entire body, like a primordial demon god awakening from slumber.
"Boss, looks like we won't get out of here unless we take down this boss..."
"Let them go first. We'll observe the situation!"
Chen Nian and Qiu Ya once again became the vanguard for boss fights.
Once they tested the boss's attack patterns, the rest could launch their assault more effectively.
"Hurry up! If you don't move now, I'll detonate the explosive talismans on your backs immediately!"
"Alright, alright..."
Chen Nian stepped forward, eyeing the boss before him. He tentatively raised his right hand.
Wind Gathering Cannon!
Wind pressure concentrated at his right index finger, slamming directly into the boss's calf.
A hole appeared—the effect was clear!
But the next second, the hole healed... as good as new.
The moment combat began, everyone saw the boss's level.
[Guardian Colossus, Tier 1, Level 80]
"Damn it, an 80-level boss with self-healing! Everyone be careful!"
"Keep your distance and find its weak spot! This monster can't heal infinitely!"
But the stone giant was enraged. It raised its massive sword and swung it in a sweeping arc, the terrifying wind pressure nearly knocking everyone off their feet!
The blow struck Chen Nian squarely.
The nearly ten-meter-long blade sent Chen Nian flying like a cannonball, embedding him into the wall. He lay motionless.
"He actually got hit? What a useless piece of trash!" The bald man roared in fury, then began drawing talismans to attack the statue.
"Bro... you're gone? No way! You were so brave when we crossed that trap!"
Qiuya froze in shock.
In that moment, the world felt utterly lonely, helpless, cold, and merciless.
The only person who shared her plight had been smashed away, her fate unknown.
And now she was forced to fight the stone giant—or else the bald man would detonate the trap, killing her too...
Mommy, I don't want to die, waaah QAQ...
Lost in thought, she didn't notice the stone giant's massive sword already crashing toward her, another deafening boom echoing through the air.
Qiuya was sent flying, landing in the exact same spot as Chen Nian.
"Huh?!"
Qiuya froze in confusion. How come I'm not hurt?
She hadn't felt the impact at all. Instead, something had yanked her out of harm's way, creating the illusion of being knocked back.
"Stay still. Play dead." Chen Nian blinked.
"...You!"
Qiu Ya nearly jumped up in fright, her eyes widening. Was he faking death?!
But she quickly recovered, lying still with her eyes closed.
"Bro, are you okay? How could you possibly be fine..."
"Shut up."
With Chen Nian's terrifying defense, could this mere Level 80 boss possibly hurt him? It wouldn't even scratch him!
He'd come here to play dead precisely to observe the stone giant's weakness.
Its body healed at incredible speeds, meaning there had to be a core or mechanism somewhere. He couldn't be bothered to search for it himself.
Employee and boss—their roles were now reversed.
Qiuya quietly gave him a thumbs-up, as if to say, "Bro, you're so awesome..."
Meanwhile, the bald man's team was locked in fierce combat with the stone giant.
"Those two useless jerks! They're completely useless!"
"Boss, why not try attacking its head? I feel like its weak spot is right there!"
"Alright!"
The group furiously pounded the statue's head, shattering piece after piece until the entire skull lay in ruins.
"Hitting the head doesn't work. Keep searching!"
"Boss, there's a glow coming from its chest! Let's try there!"
They shifted their assault to the chest—and this time, they hit the mark.
After stripping away the outer stone layers, they uncovered a crimson mechanical heart, beating steadily!
The bald man roared, "We found the weak spot! Shatter its heart!"
"Everyone, target the heart!"
The destructive power of Supernatural abilities depended on the level of the "Supernatural" attribute and the "Additional Attack Power" from equipped gear.
Clearly, none among them possessed exceptionally high damage output. Attack after attack exploded against the statue's heart, yet failed to breach its defenses.
"No... we can't do this, bro. Its defense is too high! Our attacks won't break through!"
"We're done for... We're really screwed this time..."
"If only we'd known not to come in. This fucking trap! Shit!"
Fury boiled over, tears welling in some eyes. They knew escape was impossible—the only outcome was being slowly drained to death here.
They might even be chopped into mincemeat by that terrifying greatsword. The thought sent chills down their spines, leaving them utterly hopeless and helpless.
Just as deep despair engulfed them, a leisurely voice suddenly drifted from behind.
"How about I give you a hand?"
Heads snapped around!
All eyes converged on Chen Nian, filled with utter disbelief.
"You... you're okay!"
"You took a direct hit from that greatsword and you're fine?!"
Chen Nian casually brushed dust off his shoulder and strolled forward as if taking a leisurely walk. Qiu Ya, still feigning death behind him, was utterly dumbfounded.
Hey, what are you doing?! Are you crazy?! You still have that Burst Rune on your back... she screamed internally.
"Your attack power can defeat this boss? Are you kidding me!"
"It... its rock armor regenerated! We're done for... completely finished!"
"Bro, if you take down this boss, we're blood brothers for life!" the bald man pleaded urgently.
Chen Nian smiled and raised his finger.
An invisible wind pressure gathered at his index finger.
Seeing this, everyone wanted to call him an idiot.
With this trash wind spell, he thinks he can defeat the Stone Giant and pierce its heart?
Dream on!
He probably couldn't even pierce the rock armor on its chest—what good was that?
Yet a hint of amusement flickered in Chen Nian's smile.
The Calamity Gem's "Defense-Offense Reversal" activated—
[Defense -696, Attack +696]
[Current Attack: 826]
Boom! The Wind Cannon fired.