Chapter 977:
The Shaolin monk, Wudang Taoist, and the old leader of the Qiantang Sect—all close-combat DPS—almost universally wield the Starfall Dragon Slayer sword, which is highly effective against the Black Dragon. This round of attacks dealt significant damage. However, the arrival of close-combat classes triggers an event!
When the Black Dragon detects more than fifteen nearby enemies, it unleashes an AoE skill.
Raising its head towards the sky, it roared, “Prepare for the apocalypse!”
Many in the group had already seen this move back in Westwind Town.
Robb shouted at the same time, “Dodge the red circles on the ground!”
The elites of the group were quick to react. Upon hearing Robb’s command, they immediately repositioned, as if they disappeared during their swift movements.
Everyone instantly moved away from the red circles on the ground. And shortly after, meteors fell from the sky, striking precisely where the red circles were. As such, everyone successfully dodged the fiery meteors.
Those who had seen this move before were unfazed, but the heroes and Eastern warriors experiencing it for the first time were shocked. They thought to themselves, “If not for Godfather’s (Robb’s) guidance, we would’ve been down by now.”
Robb loudly declared, “The apocalyptic meteor won’t be triggered again soon. Second, third, and fourth squad close-combat DPS, engage! Ranged DPS, keep up the mana-efficient attacks, no interruptions.”
Upon hearing Robb’s call, Kante, who had been eager to join in, got excited. Though he didn’t have enough strength to join the main squad, now it’s finally the turn for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th squads. With a battle cry, he charged into the battle arena wielding his Demon Steel longsword. Taking the fight seriously, he utilized his skills as a magical knight, delivering both physical and magical damage.
Shisu is also in the group. Her martial arts skills aren’t good enough to make it to the main squad, but her Sword of Waves sword technique released seventeen or eighteen strikes on the dragon in a blink of an eye.
“People under the dragon’s wing, move!” Robb yells.
He had predicted a wing sweep from the Black Dragon’s minor movements. However, not everyone in squads 2, 3, and 4 are elites; some were slow to react. For example, the leader from the Eighteen Divinations is far less agile on land than at sea. Though he heard Robb’s command, he couldn’t react in time. The dragon wing swept through, and while the experts dodged sideways, he and several others were struck and thrown far, landing lifeless.
Robb commands, “Logistics team, move the bodies and prepare for revival after the battle.”
The logistics team rushed in and carried away the bodies, making room for the already prepared reserve soldiers to pick up the fallen weapons and take their places.
“In the outer ring, axemen, crossbowmen, magicians, longbowmen! Fire!” Upon Robb’s command, the long-ranged troops in the outer ring of the battle formation opened fire simultaneously.
These long-ranged troops were far less capable in single combat compared to the first, second, third, and fourth brigades up front. Their equipment was also much inferior; after all, top-tier gear couldn’t be issued to everyone.
However, the sheer number of these long-ranged units made up for it. They were arranged in multiple circles on the hillside. Even if their individual attacks were not that powerful, the combined volley of hundreds of archers was a force to be reckoned with.
Miss, Resist, 1, Resist, 245, 85, Miss, 324—various numbers danced wildly above the Black Dragon’s head. Of course, only Robb could see these numbers; nobody else could perceive them.
Furthermore, Robb soon found it impossible to keep track, as the myriad numbers accumulated into a jumble too dense to read. He had no choice but to fixate on the Black Dragon’s health bar.
90 million, 87 million, 84 million.
When the Black Dragon’s HP dropped below 81 million, Robb roared, “All melee classes, fall back! Keep 50 yards away from the Black Dragon; all long-range attacks, cease fire!”
Though the troops didn’t understand why, they unconditionally obeyed Robb’s command. Instantly, all melee units began to retreat, and long-ranged units stopped their attacks. However, some couldn’t halt in time and released one last spell or arrow.
Just as the Black Dragon’s HP dropped to 80 million, its massive body abruptly turned dark red. Its original black scales began to turn red and sprouted numerous, spike-like protrusions.
One archer who couldn’t stop in time released a final arrow that hit the dragon just as it transformed. With a crack, the arrow shattered, and the archer who shot it stiffened, bled from all seven orifices, and collapsed, dead.
Several more archers and magicians who couldn’t stop in time also fell.
“It’s Thorns!”
“Damn, the backlash damage from this thing is several times higher than the damage we originally dealt.” The melee DPS who had quickly retreated upon Robb’s command successfully escaped the radius of the firestorm. However, a few who were slower got hit by the fire ring and instantly turned into corpses.
Fortunately, the ring of fire lasted only an instant, and the burning ceased. Otherwise, their bodies would have turned to ash.
As long as the corpses remained, they could be resurrected.
The support troops quickly carried the fallen away from the battlefield.
After the fire ring had ceased, the spikes on the dragon’s body retracted, and its backlash effect was gone.
Robb loudly announced, “The Black Dragon has entered its second phase! Melee DPS, re-enter the battle! Ranged DPS, continue to maintain a mana-efficient rate of fire!'”
The DPS units that had just retreated 50 yards turned around and re-entered the battlefield.
The ranged DPS units also readied their bows and arrows, or began chanting spells once again.
After going through that previous phase, everyone’s faces had turned pale. Robb’s commands had to be executed immediately and decisively upon hearing them. Any moment of hesitation could lead to instant death.
Though death meant resurrection, dying was still embarrassing, to say the least.
“Listen carefully to Godfather’s commands!” someone yelled out.
Then, everyone roared in unison, “Listen to the commands, execute decisively, or there’s only death.”
Upon hearing their shouts, Robb couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: How wonderful it would be if I had such obedient subordinates in the real world as well.
Hi! If you’ve enjoyed my content and would like to show your support, please consider making a contribution to my Ko-fi page. Your generosity would mean the world to me. Thank you!
https://ko-fi.com/maxoofie