The place where the arrow struck turned black before tendrils of darkness started spreading. In just a few seconds, the entire massive crystal structure of blue and gold was covered with thin tendrils of black that suddenly glittered brightly before
*Crackkkkk!*
A huge, shrilling, and cracking sound occurred as the entire structure suddenly cracked loudly before bursting open.
The entire thing shattered with a loud bang while giant scorpions poured out in waves, numbering roughly a hundred.
“Party starts,” Valentina grinned and glanced at Almond. “Let’s see who kills most.”
“Sure,” Almond smiled as he summoned Galvaren and Sylvia.
“These are Epic-rank monsters. Don’t be careless, brats,” Rudra said before his legs pumped, and he jumped, landing directly in the middle of the group as several of the scorpions took to the skies with a powerful smash that whirled out waves of glassy, cracked blue aura.
The others also dashed ahead, except for Bianca, Valentina, and Almond.
Bianca switched out to her sniper rifle while Valentina took out a bow.
“Galvaren and Sylvia, go.”
Galvaren was equipped with the Grimlord Apocalypse Set, while Sylvia didn’t have any, but she was in her combat form with vines and wood forming an exoskeleton around her.
When Sylvia entered the fray, her quirks immediately benefitted everyone.
‘The scorpions are pretty strong. It’s been a while since I saw Epic-rank monsters,’ Almond thought with a smile.
[Hell Vein Scorpion]
-Rank: Epic
-Level: 55
-Stats:
-Physical:
↳[Strength: 455|Health: 510|Stamina: 420]
—Mental:
↳[Mana: 430|Focus: 420|Perception: 420]
Each one was three meters tall and five meters long, not including the size of its curved long tail with a dreadful sting.
‘Galvaren, proceed to one-shot them in a chain. I will be reducing your targets’ vitality so you can do it.’
‘Eat that line of four scorpions first,’ Almond’s eyes glinted as he halved four scorpions’ Health instantly as an unseen ethereal blade passed through them.
Galvaren smashed his sword into the ground and used the latest skill he learned himself—Infernal Maw!
A huge fissure of Lava extended from the sword straight below four scorpions before it surged like a long maw and snapped shut with a flash—A loud explosion rang, shattering all four scorpions as their magic cores rolled up.
Epic and higher-ranked monsters had magic cores instead of magic crystals. The cores looked perfectly round with condensed magic power, blue and gold mixed energy whirling inside.
“Wow, your summon can one shot? And he is wearing a high-tier Epic armor set too…how envious,” Valentina blinked rapidly a few times in shock as she also released an arrow that pierced through a scorpion before striking another.
Both monsters turned black before melting, leaving behind their magic cores.
‘That was not all,’ Bianca narrowed her eyes as she shot a bullet from her rifle before glancing at Almond. ‘This brat did something from here.’
Her bullet pierced through five scorpions straight before exploring on the sixth one.
Meanwhile, Rudra and Liang were one-shotting the monsters as well. One used cracked glass-like mana that could break all magic, while another used fists of lighting that unleashed lightning dragons and infernal tigers.
Damian Silverfang looked like he was taking a stroll, wiggling around monsters while his fist lightly struck each of them, making them slow or, rather, heavy as they couldn’t move once he struck them. His hits also reduced their defense as cracks would spread from the point of impact.
Following Damian, Vice guild master Ray would hit them with his claw gauntlets, finishing them off.
Alexander and Cassandra would release powerful bullets one by one on each monster, every shot aimed at their head.
It appeared as if Alexander embedded a special bullet inside, and Cassandra followed up with her shot next, which resulted in the complete demolition of scorpions from intense, compact explosions.
Sun Zhou used a staff, and Guolan Zhou used a handfan. Sun was mostly using a Weapon Art, imbued with fire and wind elements, while Guolan’s attacks had lightning and water elements.
Both of them caused just as much destruction as Rudra and Liang, if not more.
Bianca and Valentine used a rifle and bow, respectively, to kill the monsters from afar and cancel attacks of monsters with their precise and timely attacks.
Galvaren and Sylvia worked closely to finish off the monsters that Almond weakened as he simply stood with his hands behind his back, only observing.
Reducing the attributes of these monsters wasn’t affecting him in the slightest anymore.
‘It seems that I don’t consume willpower anymore when it comes to reducing these monsters’ attributes. Nice.’
In just a couple of minutes, all Hell Vein Scorpions were dead and Almond also had an absolute treat watching these powerful Adventurers fight, especially the three old monsters.
Damian Silverfang was also powerful, though he didn’t show much of his moves, but Almond had a feeling he was close to the old monsters’ level in some areas.
‘And a good haul of Spirits. Yum.’
Almond sucked all spirits and started their production in Spirit Forge Factory, while Liang Zhou kept all magic cores. Continue your journey with empire
Since the dungeon was in his clan’s territory, he’d keep all magic cores.
“James and Aarav will give me a good deal for these,” Liang chuckled. “Magic Cores are rare for now, and they contain much more refined energy.”
“You better sell me half of them,” Rudra snorted. “Don’t forget that GAA has given you good deals before.”
“Tsk, fine. But I’ll sell them to you at the same price as I sell to that duo.”
“No problem.”
…
The party passed through two more exotic areas, with the same blue and gold liquid creating exotic structures, but only bigger ones.
They took a rest after completing both areas.
“Hey, why aren’t you doing anything?” Bianca asked with slight annoyance.
“What do you mean?” Almond blinked.
“Admiral Rudra said you are more powerful than her, so she wants a competition,” Damian said with a light smile. “But you haven’t made a move yourself yet, or maybe you did.”
“He did?” Sun raised his left eyebrow.
“Did he?” Guolan raised her right eyebrow.
“He did,” Liang’s eyes glinted. “But they were unseen moves.”
“Indeed,” Bianca nodded as she glanced at Almond, “He can weaken monsters.”
‘She figured it out,’ Almond could only wryly smile as he said to Admiral Rudra.
‘It was bound to happen,’ Admiral Rudra said. ‘It’s better if they see the effect but can’t figure out the rule or power behind it. She only knows you can weaken them, not that you can harvest them, and that too without Mana. You’ve greatly improved in maintaining your aura and hiding your stats. Good.’
‘Haha, yes. If I don’t want anyone to see my stats, they can’t,’ Almond replied before his eyes glinted with curiosity as he internally thought. ‘Well, I can’t say the same for others if I want to check them out.’
Before Almond could proceed with his curiosity, Valentine continued with her demand, “I want to see you fight!”
Clicking her tongue, she added, “Aren’t you an expert in swords? Why don’t you use it?”
Almond chuckled and replied, “Didn’t feel the need to use it so far.”
“Humph, I admit I would have a tough time against you with your summons, but I need to see you fight,” Valentine said as she rolled her eyes. “Fight with your sword next time.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Hearing that response, Valentina could only ground her teeth as she turned her head away. “Annoying.”
‘Well, I’m also curious, brat,’ Liang Zhou thought as he smiled and opened his mouth.
“Read the next chapter.”