At once, everyone on the field followed Lin Mo's gaze and looked toward the level 55 Arcane Mage Zhao Ling'er.
For a moment, the Genesis Guild was filled with voices of doubt.
"What does Rulebound mean? As long as we beat that Arcane Mage Zhao Ling'er, he'll let us go?"
"Didn't Smiling at Life say Zhao Ling'er was born without a talent?"
"And she's not high level, all her equipment is bargain-bin junk, and her class is an Arcane Mage with no damage. A little girl this weak who looks like a gust of wind could blow her away, couldn't anyone beat her?"
"Will Rulebound really stop targeting us as long as we beat her? Could it really be that simple? Why do I feel like he's just messing with us?"
"Instead of saying he'll let us go if we beat Zhao Ling'er, isn't it more like he's looking for a way to save face? It's just a pet that can remove crowd control. What does that prove? Maybe he's just borrowing its prestige."
"Exactly! If he really had that overwhelming strength, why not just wipe us out directly? Why give us this so-called chance? What's the point?"
One after another, people spoke.
The doubts began to shift toward Lin Mo's strength.
Because from beginning to end, Lin Mo had never actually made a move.
Just then, several Genesis Assassins exchanged glances.
"Whether it's real or fake, we'll find out!"
"Go!"
Reaching an agreement, the next second, several third-class Assassins in the crowd drew their sharp daggers, activated Stealth at the same time, and silently approached Lin Mo with killing intent.
Assassins, with their stealth and explosive burst damage, had always been the deadliest threat to Mages and Archers.
Because before their enemies could even react, they could quietly get close using Stealth and finish them off with one combo.
Their targets often died without even knowing how.
Although those Genesis Assassins were acting in secret, even the slightest movement was enough for Lin Mo to sense the threat.
"Counting death."
Lin Mo's eyes turned cold.
SSS-rank Illusory World · Stealth Break Strike!
The instant Wrath of Thunder's bowstring was drawn, a streaking arrow fell from the sky and accurately pierced a Genesis Assassin who was completely invisible to everyone.
-347,752 (Critical)!
Stealth Break Strike could directly lock onto targets in Stealth, and dealt an extra 50% damage to stealthed targets.
Lin Mo hadn't even activated his Thunder set skill, nor did he need the buffs from Divine Descent Seraph Siya.
With nothing but his base attack of over 18,000, the terrifying damage was enough to instantly nail the full-health level 56 third-class Assassin Genesis Killer to the ground.
At the same time, the passive effect of the SSS-rank Stealth Break Strike was triggered.
Whoosh!
A revealing halo spread out with Genesis Killer at its center.
The next second, every Genesis Assassin within the halo was revealed.
Since they wanted to see Lin Mo's strength, then he'd let them see the real thing.
Following Lin Mo's mental command, Divine Descent Seraph Siya raised her slender hand.
As the Heart of Eternity on her wrist revolved, two beams of golden light descended onto Lin Mo one after another.
[Ding~ You have received the SSS-rank Light · Holy Light Blessing from Divine Descent Seraph Siya. For the next 8 seconds: Physical Attack +9,520, Armor Penetration +30%, Attack Speed +30%!]
[Ding~ You have received the SSS-rank Berserk · War Trample from Divine Descent Seraph Siya. For the next 8 seconds: Physical Damage +50%, Movement Speed +30%, Critical Damage +30%!]
At the same time...
Buzz!
Lin Mo seemed to become the God of Thunder.
Lightning burst from his entire body.
[Ding~ Set Skill: Thunder Overwhelms All has been activated. During the skill's duration, you gain: Attack +30%, Defense +15%, Max HP +10%, all equipment affix effects doubled, kills trigger Thunder Arrow!]
At this moment, this was Lin Mo at his absolute peak.
The instant all his skills and equipment effects erupted, every Genesis player around him felt an unprecedented pressure.
The Genesis Assassins who had been closing in suddenly realized something was wrong and tried to retreat.
But it was already too late.
Soul Archer SSS-rank ultimate, World-Destroying · Storm Arrow Rain!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless arrows rained down from the sky, covering a huge area in front of Lin Mo.
-363,461 (Critical)!
-364,428 (Critical)!
-367,135 (Critical)!
Three consecutive waves of damage.
Each one exceeded 360,000.
Under the bombardment of over one million total damage, within a circular area with a 50-yard radius and a 100-yard diameter ahead, those Assassins, along with dozens of nearby Genesis Knights and Warriors, were instantly erased.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of white beams shot into the sky.
Nothing remained alive within the area covered by Storm Arrow Rain.
At that moment, the entire battlefield fell into dead silence.
Every doubt turned into shock on the faces of the Genesis players standing outside.
It had to be known. While the Genesis Guild players might not have been among the very strongest in Inferno City, their overall level was still above average.
At a stage where these second-tier players still dealt less than five-digit damage.
Lin Mo's accumulated seven-digit damage exceeded theirs by a hundred times.
Explosive! Earth-shattering!
Liu Kai was so frightened by Lin Mo's terrifying burst damage that his legs went weak and his body trembled.
Only then did he realize: The man with ten thousand victories in Hell Arena, the one who held off five major guilds alone, the great Rulebound, number one on the Heavenly Rankings, his reputation truly wasn't for show.
He really had the strength.
"Holy shit! What kind of damage is that? Even with a hundred lives I couldn't survive it!"
"If we really fight, can the thousand-plus brothers here even last one minute?"
"You're dreaming! Ten seconds at most!"
"We were trying to test whether he was real or not! Great, now we've tested ourselves to death! He was going to give us a chance, and now we've completely lost it!"
The Genesis Guild players felt like the sky had fallen.
Only Wang Junjie got up, patted the dust off his butt, and couldn't help laughing.
"If you'd listened to your elders, you wouldn't be suffering now."
"I already warned you not to mess with Rulebound, but you just wouldn't listen."
"Look what happened. You played yourselves to death. Hahaha! I'm dying!"
Just as the Genesis Guild players were sinking into despair, Lin Mo did not continue slaughtering them.
Instead, he repeated to Liu Kai, "Like I said, if you can escape from her, I'll spare your lives."
Zhao Ling'er. She instantly became the Genesis players' only hope of survival.
Although Zhao Ling'er was convinced by Lin Mo's overwhelming strength.
She still couldn't understand why Lin Mo was helping her, or why he was putting her through this test.
Zhao Ling'er shook her head and said gloomily, "I can't..."
"I can't do anything right. I only hold the team back. I only become a burden to my teammates..."
"I was destined to be a useless cripple..."
Growing more and more insecure, Zhao Ling'er's eyes reddened, and she squatted on the ground, breaking down in tears.
Only then did Lin Mo realize, the reason Zhao Ling'er had "disappeared" after leaving the Divine Tomb dungeon that morning wasn't just because her family had kept her under control.
Part of the reason was that she felt she hadn't contributed anything in the Divine Tomb.
Whenever something happened, she was always the first to die. She couldn't create any value for "Mo," who had always believed in her.
Inferiority. Self-blame. Disappointment. It all had completely driven Zhao Ling'er into despair.
Even at this moment, in the eyes of Liu Kai, Wang Junjie, Zhang Dong, the Genesis Guild players, and even Ling Xiao, Qin Feng, Xia Wanwan, and the others, they couldn't see even the slightest bit of potential in Zhao Ling'er.
Lin Mo still looked at Zhao Ling'er with unwavering eyes and said, "You can."
As he spoke, following Lin Mo's mental command.
Divine Descent Seraph Siya suddenly raised her right hand toward Zhao Ling'er.
Rustle!
As the Heart of Eternity revolved, a surge of golden magical energy enveloped Zhao Ling'er.