Buzz—!
Space was violently torn apart by an invisible force, and dense Shadow energy spread through the air like ink, forming an extremely unstable vortex.
The next second, a battered figure stumbled out of the distorted vortex and fell heavily onto the cold stone floor.
It was Lin Mo!
[Time Remaining for Mission: 00 minutes 03 seconds] [Time Remaining for Mission: 00 minutes 02 seconds] [Time Remaining for Mission: 00 minutes 01 seconds]
In the upper right corner of his vision, the blood-red countdown left a final afterimage on his retina before finally hitting zero.
"Mentor!"
Lin Mo didn't even have time to catch his breath or care about the agonizing pain that felt like his body was falling apart. He used his last ounce of strength to spring up from the ground, letting out a hoarse roar toward the precarious figure in the center of the hall.
At this moment, the Shadow Sanctuary had completely transformed into a desperate prison of ice!
Terrifying cold air, like a living tide, surged frantically, wave after wave, from the little girl named Lina. Her curled body was completely encased in a thick layer of phosphorescent blue ice crystals, resembling an exquisite yet sorrowful work of art.
And Mentor Karsas's situation was even more perilous.
He was half-kneeling on the ground, his entire right half, from his arm to his shoulder and chest, completely frozen by the terrifying frost, turning into a lifeless gray-white.
His remaining left hand was still pressed firmly against Lina's back, but the Shadow energy he was transmitting was utterly insufficient, crumbling before the fully unleashed might of the "frost's sorrow" seed.
His Life aura was as faint as a candle in the wind, seeming ready to extinguish at any moment.
Hearing Lin Mo's voice, Karsas's eyes, which had turned dull and gray, slowly and laboriously lifted.
When he saw his disciple, covered in blood yet holding a plant burning with dark red flames, a spark of unbelievable vibrancy finally erupted in his stagnant eyes.
"You... you actually..." His voice was so weak it was almost inaudible.
"Don't speak!" Lin Mo's eyes were bloodshot. Without the slightest hesitation, he darted forward and slammed the [earth fire stamen], which still carried the temperature of magma, onto Karsas's still-functional left hand!
"Use it!"
[System Notification: Mission time is up, initiating mission settlement...]
[System Notification: Key mission item [earth fire stamen] detected and submitted, settlement judgment changing...]
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have completed the first stage of the Hidden Main Quest [The Fading Legacy]—[Emergency Rescue]—within the time limit!]
[System Notification: Mission Rating: Godlike! You completed this impossible miracle with a will and wisdom unimaginable to mortals!]
A series of system notifications exploded in Lin Mo's ears like heavenly music!
Success!
He won the gamble!
Karsas looked at the strange object in his hand, which radiated an intensely scorching Yang aura, and a fierce desire to survive erupted in his eyes.
He hesitated no longer, mobilizing the last shred of energy in his body, and forcefully pressed the [earth fire stamen] toward the source of the cold air on Lina's back!
"Using Shadow as the medium, guiding the earth fire as the furnace!" "Burn away this... Withered... frost!"
Karsas used his final strength to let out a solemn low roar.
Boom—!!!
A dark red, scorching energy, seemingly from the earth's core magma, violently burst forth from the [earth fire stamen]!
It, along with a phosphorescent blue, absolute zero energy seemingly from the icy hells, used Lina's body as the battlefield to launch the most primal and savage ultimate confrontation!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!!!
The entire Shadow Sanctuary was instantly submerged by red and blue light!
Half was the scorching heat that incinerated all things, and half was the bitter cold that froze the soul!
Two diametrically opposed extreme forces collided and annihilated each other frantically within the small space, releasing terrifying energy shockwaves capable of tearing steel apart!
The air was wailing, and space was distorting!
Lin Mo was violently flung away by the residual chaotic energy, crashing into a distant stone wall and spitting out another mouthful of blood.
But he paid no attention, his eyes fixed firmly on the center of the battlefield, his heart filled with tension and anticipation.
He could clearly see that the phosphorescent blue ice was rapidly melting and evaporating under the scorching heat of the dark red earth fire!
Meanwhile, the dark red earth fire was also quickly dimming under the freezing effect of the phosphorescent blue ice!
This was a war of attrition where the forces were equally matched!
"It's not enough... just a little short!"
A trace of despair appeared on Karsas's pale face.
He could feel that although the power of the [earth fire stamen] was immense, it was ultimately rootless, while the seed of [frost's sorrow] possessed endless regeneration capabilities!
If this continued, the moment the earth fire stamen's energy was depleted would be the moment all three of them were completely frozen solid!
"Mentor! Control the earth fire's energy, don't let it disperse!"
Just at this critical moment, Lin Mo's voice rang out like thunder!
He endured his severe injuries, leaped up from the ground, and slammed both hands onto the floor!
"Endless Poison Source... activate!"
Buzz—!
A pure, dark green energy, carrying a strong aura of Corrosion and Wither, poured frantically from his palms, wrapping itself precisely around the center of the battlefield like a living viper crawling along the ground!
What Lin Mo intended to do was not join this energy confrontation! He was going to become the... referee of this duel!
"Wither!"
He roared, applying the power of the "rule" he had comprehended from the [poison godhead fragment] without reservation to the phosphorescent blue frost energy!
Instantly, the endless regenerative ability of the [frost's sorrow] seed seemed to be violently choked by an invisible shackle, its recovery speed plummeting by 90%!
As one diminished and the other grew, the previously balanced scale tipped decisively at this moment!
"Corrosion!"
Lin Mo roared again, applying the armor-piercing property of the toxin to the dark red earth fire energy, causing its penetration and destructive power to instantly surge!
Boom—!!!
The dark red earth fire, as if injected with a stimulant, let out a deafening roar, transforming into a raging fire dragon.
It tore through layers of frost defense with irresistible momentum, slamming violently onto the phosphorescent blue "seed" deep within Lina's soul!
"Wuu—!!!"
A shriek of pain and unwillingness, unlike anything a human could produce, burst forth from the seed.
The next second, all the cold air rapidly receded like an ebbing tide, gathering back into the seed.
The phosphorescent blue light on the seed's surface quickly dimmed, finally transforming into a dull, inconspicuous ice crystal, once again falling silent.
The crisis was averted!
Thud!
Karsas could no longer support himself and fell backward onto the ground, gasping for breath. The layer of solid ice on his body also cracked inch by inch and fell away.
As for the little girl named Lina, the ice crystals on her body had completely faded. Although she was still unconscious, her complexion had regained a hint of color, and her breathing stabilized.
The entire Shadow Sanctuary finally returned to its former tranquility.
[System Notification: Due to your outstanding performance, Mission Rating has been upgraded to: Miracle! You have gained a massive amount of experience!]
[System Notification: Your level has increased to 19!]
[System Notification: Your level has increased to 20!]
[System Notification: You have achieved the highest reputation level with the Shadow Sanctuary: Revered!]
[System Notification: You have received a gift from your Mentor—Skill Enhancement Scroll (Rare) x1!]
[System Notification: You have obtained the follow-up clue for the Hidden Main Quest [The Fading Legacy]—[Withered Snow Domain Map Fragment] x1!]
The string of system notifications, like the most magnificent symphony, finally allowed Lin Mo's taut nerves to completely relax.
Two levels gained consecutively!
An unprecedentedly rich reward!
He felt his vision darken, and a wave of exhaustion originating from the depths of his soul overwhelmed him. His body went limp, and he collapsed.
After an unknown amount of time, when Lin Mo opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a soft stone bed.
Mentor Karsas was sitting beside his bed, watching him with an extremely complicated look in his eyes.
"You're awake." Karsas's voice was still weak, but he sounded much more robust.
"Mentor... Lina, is she..." Lin Mo struggled to sit up.
"Don't worry, she is fine." Karsas held him down. "The [earth fire stamen] and your power have temporarily suppressed the seed. Although it hasn't been eradicated, it has bought us enough time."
Lin Mo sighed in relief, only then realizing that every part of his body seemed to ache.
"What you did this time... was excellent." Karsas looked at Lin Mo, his eyes filled with approval, and even a hint of... awe.
"Even now, I cannot imagine how you managed to break into the Howling Cave alone in half an hour and kill a Level 28 Rare Lord... This can no longer be described as 'genius'; this is simply... a miracle."
Lin Mo only smiled weakly and offered no explanation. Only he truly knew the danger and madness involved.
"This is what you deserve." Karsas handed him a purple glowing scroll and an ancient map fragment that seemed to be made of ice.
"The [Skill Enhancement Scroll] allows you to increase the level of any one skill by one, with a certain chance of gaining an additional special effect.
As for this map fragment... it records the only path leading to the Withered Snow Domain.
That place is the source of [frost's sorrow] and the location of the greatest nemesis of our Thorn of Shadow lineage.
To truly save Lina and completely finish the quest [The Fading Legacy], we will have to make a journey there someday."
Lin Mo nodded heavily, solemnly placing these two important items, which held the key to the future, into his backpack.
"Rest well, my child." Karsas stood up and gave him a deep look. "Everything you have done for the Legacy, the Legacy will surely repay you.
Starting today, the treasury of the Shadow Sanctuary will be unconditionally open to you."
Having said this, Karsas turned and left, leaving the space to Lin Mo alone.
Only when the Mentor's footsteps completely faded did Lin Mo finally let out a long breath and open his attributes panel.
Gaining two levels in a row finally brought him to Level 20!
Without hesitation, he immediately equipped the purple Excellent breastplate that had caused a nuclear explosion of discussion on the forums—the [molten heart breastplate]!
[molten heart breastplate] (Purple · Excellent) Slot: Breastplate Level: 20 Physical Defense: +120 Magic Resistance: +100 Constitution: +30 Strength: +25 Special Effect One: [Molten Heart]: All your attacks gain 10 bonus Fire Damage. Special Effect Two: [Unyielding]: When your Life drops below 30%, you gain a Fire Shield that absorbs 500 damage for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
The terrifying attributes instantly raised his survivability by more than one grade!
After completing all this, he finally had time to focus on his backpack and check the greatest reward from that thrilling BOSS battle!
The spoils of the Wailing Queen Medusa!