Chen Tian moved towards the location of the black pillar of light, his footsteps carrying him several paces forward with each stride. He advanced towards the center of the black pillar, where a colossal altar stood. At the altar's heart, the black pillar pierced the sky. This dark aura made Chen Tian deeply uncomfortable, a feeling as if it were etched into his very bones. His gaze fixed on the pillar, which reached towards the heavens. Based on the previous mission, this entity had not yet fully broken its seal, meaning Chen Tian still had a chance. He opened his palm, and energy coalesced into a brush, which he gripped in his left hand.
According to the mission information, the boss sealed below could only be defeated by mechanics, and even Chen Tian's full power would be insufficient to kill it. Mechanics were mechanics, meant to be dealt with by the system. All Chen Tian could do now was reinforce the altar's seal. As Chen Tian's brush moved, he, a cultivator proficient in array formations, drew upon his three lifetimes of memories. His mastery of formations was no less than his swordsmanship. At a glance, he understood the principle behind the altar's sealing array. His brush drew intricate patterns in the air, which then flowed into the center of the altar. The light of the black pillar suddenly dimmed, and a furious roar emanated from its core: "Brat, you dare to obstruct me! Don't you ever let me break free, or I shall tear you limb from limb!"
Chen Tian replied calmly, "You can try. That is, if you can get out."
With that, Chen Tian said no more. He was locked in a struggle with the boss below. His role was to contain the entity, to absolutely prevent it from breaking the seal. He would hold it back for a while, not intending to let it out just yet. Chen Tian was waiting for Sen Sha to reach his destination; only then would Chen Tian dare to release the boss. Chen Tian's sealing formations continued to strengthen, and the boss below found itself unable to break through for the time being. The black pillar grew progressively smaller.
Meanwhile, Sen Sha was speeding towards a location. As a professional who maximized his speed, Sen Sha moved incredibly fast and soon reached his destination. He looked at the mountain cave before him. The second mission objective was within this cave. This second mission was simple: destroy an item. He was unsure if there would be any danger inside the cave. Sen Sha swallowed, having come this far. Retreating now would be a disservice to Chen Tian. Mustering his courage, Sen Sha entered the cave. The moment he stepped inside, the cave entrance was sealed by a golden barrier, making it impossible to leave.
Sen Sha was not surprised by this situation; it was depicted in the mission details. He proceeded deeper into the cave, the final objective located at the very rear. Just as he was halfway, a squad of skeletal soldiers appeared before him. These skeletons were composed entirely of bone, their eye sockets glowing with green fire as they charged at Sen Sha. These were the remains of players who had died here. In this map, fallen players' corpses remained forever, transforming into skeletal soldiers to guard the area.
When players revived, they received a new body, though whether it was a revival or a fresh start, it was always the same body. Here, however, they were referred to as 'corpses'. A horde of skeletal soldiers attacked Sen Sha, numbering over a hundred. This indicated the sheer number of players who had undertaken this mission before, and it seemed they had all perished here. Sen Sha unleashed his speed, his blade gripped tightly. The long sword in his hand descended swiftly, a blur of motion. Sen Sha's current speed was one-third of Chen Tian's, and Chen Tian's one-third speed surpassed most players.
Sen Sha was a peculiar player, having allocated all his attributes to speed. With an extreme burst of velocity, his figure became an afterimage. The skeletal soldiers were like mere vegetables to Sen Sha, his long sword transforming into a whirlwind of blade light. Under the onslaught, the bodies of all the skeletal soldiers exploded. As Sen Sha's figure reappeared, he had already finished sheathing his blade. Sen Sha's speed was something most players could not contend with, let alone mindless corpses. Sen Sha pressed onward; there was still some distance to the central area, and it was likely to become more difficult from here on.
Back with Chen Tian, his brush slowly vanished. Chen Tian observed the altar before him. The black pillar of light shot into the sky, even more powerful than before. Chen Tian stood quietly to the side, realizing the time was drawing near. With a thunderous explosion, the entire altar erupted, and a shadowy figure flew out from beneath it, soaring into the sky. It was a one-eyed man. His eyes were unlike human eyes; his pupils were rhomboid.
Two curved horns grew from his head, and his hands had transformed into sharp claws. Black claws gleamed menacingly. Black wings unfurled from his back, resembling eagle wings but distinct, for their feathers were mechanical. Chen Tian regarded this boss, noting its unusual nature. The boss's attributes appeared... Chen Tian, with a hint of curiosity, opened the boss interface. A glance at it brought a smile to his face, a smile that seemed to convey something.
The man emerged from the seal and immediately fixed his gaze on Chen Tian, then roared, "Brat, are you the one who has been obstructing me?"
"And if I am?"
Chen Tian harbored no fear of this boss. At most, it would be troublesome. However, since it was a mechanic boss, Chen Tian only needed to stall for time. As long as Sen Sha completed his mission, this boss would die. Everything depended on Sen Sha's speed. Chen Tian's words further fueled the man's rage. He had been sealed for millennia, his body filled with fire, and Chen Tian had now fully ignited his fury. He vowed to tear Chen Tian to shreds and doom his soul to eternal torment.
Chen Tian entered combat mode. A terrifying power emanated from the man, and a dark aura enveloped the entire sky, the earth, and everything around them. Chen Tian and the man were shrouded in darkness. The man calmly stated, "I do not kill the nameless. Tell me your name."
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking for someone else's name? Don't you have any manners?"
Chen Tian sneered. The man laughed, "Brat, do you think I would tell you my name? Since you won't speak, don't blame me."
The man transformed into a streak of light and, in the next instant, appeared behind Chen Tian. His claws extended, and a black, luminous blade shot out. Chen Tian raised a shield behind him. The shield protected Chen Tian. The man's claw struck the shield, causing it to instantly develop cracks. With a creaking sound, Chen Tian knew this would happen. He had not expected the barrier to completely resist the attack. This boss's abilities were clear: it ignored half of the target's defense. Chen Tian had to be cautious against the man's claws.
Chen Tian's health was low. A single claw strike might leave him critically wounded. This boss was beyond Chen Tian's ability to defeat directly. It was a mechanic boss, and there was only one way to deal with it.
Chen Tian's figure vanished. The claw strike missed. The man, seeing Chen Tian move aside, took a step and charged. Chen Tian dared not confront the man head-on, as his abilities were numerous, even possessing two pages of skills. Chen Tian would not engage in a direct fight.
A mechanic boss naturally required a mechanic solution. Chen Tian simply needed to wait.