Chapter Twelve: The Boss's Reward

“No matter what, we can’t waste this experience. Even if it means dying once, we have to fully understand this guy’s skills and attack patterns!” Swordstar, the team leader, spoke with unwavering determination, though his chest still ached from the harsh blow he’d just taken.

Li Ren chuckled to himself. What a bunch of fools—still not running? Waiting to be thrashed?

Indeed, he was right. The three before him were fully prepared to be crushed, just waiting for him to make his move.

Without further ado, Li Ren turned and charged at the mage. These so-called “Archmages,” always acting invincible—it was impossible to understand what possessed them to be so full of themselves.

He looked down on this group the most. Naturally, he would teach them a proper lesson.

The mage, seeing Li Ren still some distance away, remained calm. He had plenty of life-saving skills, and at this range, held the advantage.

Mage Star stood in place, chanting his spell. Li Ren sneered coldly.

Let me show you what true magic is!

“True Magic Blade!”

A massive blade, brimming with astounding force, shot out from Li Ren’s side, hurtling straight for Mage Star. The speed was astonishing; before Mage Star could finish his spell, the blade had already pinned him to the ground.

Swordstar and Hunterstar looked on, their faces frozen in disbelief and shock, as Li Ren strode over and picked up the blade that had skewered Mage Star.

Indeed, the so-called “True Magic Blade” was simply throwing a giant knife—of course, with immense strength, or it wouldn’t deserve the name.

Mage Star was finished.

Swordstar, filled with grief and rage, raised his greatsword and, as if he’d lost all reason, charged at Li Ren. Li Ren, having retrieved his blade, didn’t even bother to look as he took the blow head-on!

Well, he lost a layer of bone chips—small comfort, but comfort nonetheless.

Swordstar unleashed a skill, but recovering for defense would take a moment. Li Ren wasn’t foolish enough to just stand there and take the damage.

He swung his massive blade horizontally.

With a loud smack, Swordstar and Hunterstar were sent rolling together, crashing into a nearby colossal pillar. Swordstar, frothing at the mouth from the violent impact, was nearly out cold, his eyes rolling back. Hunterstar, used as an unintentional cushion, fared no better—the force nearly sent his heart leaping from his chest.

That was the end—their purpose had been served.

Li Ren finished them off with a single strike each. The battlefield was left littered with broken remains.

Li Ren felt a surge of delight; to trample these players as a boss was endlessly amusing. He wondered if they’d talk about this later—but even if they did, what did it matter? He could torment them again if needed.

He approached the bones these players left behind after resurrection. Activating his innate skill, he converted all their remains into blood crystals. Among the four crystals, the bright white spark within was clearly more pronounced this time.

He took them all without hesitation. Instantly, his experience soared, pushing him past level 38 and halfway to the next. Unsurprisingly, he gained attributes once more.

Though the absorption was minor—only a 1% trigger, amounting to 5% of some attribute—his strength and intelligence both increased by ten, and, unbelievably, his luck even rose by one, bringing it to minus two! Tears welled in Li Ren’s eyes—who knew when his luck would finally reach positive numbers? Luck never seemed to go above 15; at 5% per absorption, he’d need over twenty such events, and that was assuming every victim had at least one point in luck. Of all the attributes he’d absorbed, luck was by far the hardest to obtain.

He shook his head, sighing—a clear case of feigning discontent after reaping unexpected gains.

Meanwhile, on their way to the Archmage’s underground chamber, Swordstar, Shieldstar, and Magestar’s faces all turned ashen. They glanced at their attribute panels, faces dark with anger.

There was no doubt; the system notification they’d just received was true.

As they walked, the system had prompted: “Due to unknown reasons, you have permanently lost 10 attribute points.”

Already frustrated, this new blow was almost too much to bear. If it weren’t for the system’s assurance that the quest was still possible, they might have broken down completely.

Shieldstar, face drawn, looked sorrowfully at his remaining ten luck points. He had started with eleven, which was why he’d been lucky enough to obtain a full Spider Set. Now, losing one for no reason was a terrible blow—luck was nearly impossible to increase! He never imagined he’d be as lucky as Sauron, with equipment that boosted luck. In this quest, he’d lost the most, and suffered the worst—drained to death, and still too embarrassed to mention it to the others.

“Five seconds until you are teleported out of the instance and may choose your reward,” the system chimed in Li Ren’s ear. He stood silently, a touch of anticipation in his heart. Since arriving in this world, he’d never really expected any rewards; tormenting players, gaining experience, and absorbing attributes was already more than enough. Yet now, having done all that, the system was about to reward him further—what a delight.

Five seconds later, atop Skull Mountain, Li Ren reappeared at the spot where he’d first been sucked in.

“Please select your reward: immediate advancement opportunity, increase all attributes by 20%, or gain a random upgradable new skill.”

Li Ren stared, dumbfounded.

Each reward was unbelievably tempting!

Immediate advancement meant he could acquire the advancement attributes at level 40 two levels early, and again at level 40, reaching the rank of Skeleton Guard at only level 120. With more such dungeons in future, his attributes would always be at least ten levels above the players—a full tier higher. No matter how many players came, they’d be crushed.

An all-attributes boost of 20% was also astonishing. With his Skeleton Guard bonuses, he already had 5000 points; an instant 1000-point increase was insane.

As for the new upgradable skill, it seemed less impressive, though it likely referred to his attribute absorption ability; all other skills were basic to this monster tier and couldn’t be upgraded.

Li Ren knocked his skull a couple of times, almost vexed by such good fortune. Which reward should he choose?

He paced back and forth, unable to decide.

“This is just too agonizing!” he wanted to shout, wishing the system would just pick one for him rather than torment him like this.

After a long struggle, his gambler’s instinct won out. Gritting his teeth, he chose the third option. His heart pounded as he brought his bony hands together in prayer—a bizarre sight, considering his chilling skeletal appearance.