Wang Wu shook his head nearby, and Zhao Hu let out a sigh.

A Wang and Scarface Liu exchanged a look, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

"Tie Dun," Lin Feng spoke, his voice not loud, yet everyone fell silent. "Are you sure?"

Tie Dun turned around and looked at Lin Feng.

He took a deep breath and nodded vigorously, his voice raspy yet firm: "Last time. Trust me."

Lin Feng didn't say anything, only nodding in response.

Tie Dun turned back and closed his eyes, standing in place for a full ten breaths.

Then he opened his eyes. This time he didn't hesitate, nor did he stop to look around; every step he took was fast and steady.

Arrow Eye quickly carved arrows onto the rock wall, and the group followed closely through the narrow cave passage.

Fifteen minutes. Thirty minutes. Forty-five minutes.

The cave passage grew wider, the rock ceiling higher, and the stalactites more sparse.

The fluorescent glow of the moss grew dim, replaced by a dim, yellowish light emanating from ahead, resembling firelight.

Tie Dun's pace quickened, almost to a run.

He rushed out of the cave passage and stood in an open underground space, spreading his arms and letting out a long howl toward the ceiling: "We're here! What did I tell you! What did I tell you!"

Everyone filed out, and the view before them suddenly opened up.

It was a massive underground plaza, spanning several hundred square meters.

The floor was paved with smooth stone slabs engraved with complex patterns, with energy faintly flowing through them.

Several thick stone pillars ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) stood around the plaza, carved with reliefs of grotesque creatures baring fangs and brandishing claws with hideous expressions.

In the very center of the plaza was a stone staircase leading downward, its end vanishing into the darkness, making its depth impossible to discern.

But no one's gaze was on the stairs.

Beside the stairs stood a stone statue.

It was a three-meter-tall stone giant, grayish-black all over, its surface covered in cracks and traces of moss, as if it had stood there for countless years.

Its right hand gripped a massive battle-axe, its blade even larger than Tie Dun's shield;

its left hand held a tower shield that covered nearly half its body.

Heavy chains were wrapped around it, winding from its shoulders to its waist, and from its waist to its ankles.

The moment everyone stepped into the plaza, the statue moved.

Cracks burst across the statue's surface, spreading in all directions like a spiderweb.

Gravel fell in showers, revealing dark gray skin with a metallic luster beneath.

The chains clattered as they slid off the statue, striking the ground with a shower of sparks.

The battle-axe slipped from the statue's hand, smashing a deep pit into the ground before being gripped once more by a massive hand.

The stone giant opened its eyes.

They were a pair of dark red eyes, without pupils or expression, only two beams of burning light.

It looked down at the group of uninvited guests standing at the edge of the plaza, slowly raising its battle-axe and holding its tower shield across its chest.

A light screen appeared above its head.

【Gatekeeper Gruen (Rare)】

Level: Lv35

Everyone gasped in shock.

A Level 35 Rare Boss appearing on the very first floor? And right next to the entrance to the second floor?

Tie Dun's mouth hung open, Zhao Hu gripped his sword hilt, and Wang Wu and Arrow Eye simultaneously drew their bows and notched arrows.

Jiang Yelan's figure had already quietly vanished into the shadows.

Tie Dun laughed instead, turning around to face the group with his chin held high:

"This is the entrance to the second floor! The settings in Blue Star games don't apply here!"

Everyone looked at each other; Tie Dun had a point. This was the first time a Dungeon had appeared in the Nightmare World.

Who said the Gatekeeper of the first floor had to be weak?

Who said the monster levels on each floor had to increase sequentially?

This wasn't a game; there were no developers, no balance—only the raw, unreasonable laws of survival.

Lin Feng didn't join the discussion. He stared at Gruen, his gaze sweeping over the massive tower shield, the wrapped chains, and the battle-axe larger than a person.

A Level 35 Rare Boss must have at least one basic attribute that has broken past sixty.

Judging by its size, shield, and build, it was most likely constitution.

He had researched the special effects of constitution awakening back on Blue Star—base health granted by constitution is doubled, stamina is doubled, flight time is doubled, block probability increases by 20% when holding a shield, and damage taken after blocking is reduced by 20%, with an additional 50% reduction if it's ranged damage.

But he had the "Shield Break" from his strength awakening—when an attack hits a shielded target, it ignores the defense provided by the shield and all defensive special effects.

Lin Feng withdrew his gaze and turned to face the group.

"It's a Level 35 rare monster, so it must have an awakened attribute.

It's likely constitution, so its health bar will be extremely long, its block probability will be high, and its damage reduction after blocking will also be high." He paused.

His gaze swept across the faces of Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Wang Wu, Arrow Eye, Su Yurou, A Wang, and Scarface Liu.

"The tactics are as follows: I will be the main attacker, initiating with skills;

Tie Dun and Zhao Hu will draw aggro from the front; Arrow Eye and Wang Wu will provide ranged DPS; Ye Lan will flank from behind; Yu Rou will provide healing."

Lin Feng spoke quickly: "Go."

Tie Dun was the first to charge out. Zhao Hu followed from the side. Arrow Eye and Wang Wu spread out to the left and right. Jiang Yelan disappeared.

Gruen moved, its battle-axe swinging down and smashing into Tie Dun's shield. "Clang—" Tie Dun was knocked back, his health bar dropping by 100.

Su Yurou's Healing Spell followed immediately.

Gruen's second axe swing struck toward Zhao Hu, who raised his shield to block but was also knocked back.

Lin Feng was in no hurry to close in. He raised his right hand, and twenty streaks of crimson light condensed at the tip of the Wildfire Spear—【Blazing Spear Light】.

The twenty spear lights were like a meteor shower, raining down upon Gruen.

Gruen raised its tower shield. "Clang clang clang clang clang—" The spear lights struck the shield surface one after another, bursting into clusters of sparks.

Each time a spear light hit, a tiny number popped up over Gruen: -22, -21, -19... All twenty spear lights hit, but they only took away less than four hundred health.

Against Gruen's ridiculously thick health bar, this damage was almost negligible.

Gruen tanked all twenty spear lights without even moving an inch.

It lowered its head, those dark red eyes looking at Lin Feng as if to say, "Is that all?"

Lin Feng lowered his spear, not wasting any more spear lights. He needed to change his approach.

"I'll take the front; you guys find an opening."

After Lin Feng spoke, the five stacks of Windchaser on his 【windchaser boots】 were instantly filled. He activated 【Shadow Step】 from his 【shadow dance legguards】, and with a shift of his feet, his figure turned into an afterimage, charging straight at Gruen from the front.

Gruen raised its shield to block. Lin Feng's spear struck the shield's surface. "Clang!" A successful block.

A faint light shimmered on Gruen's body—【Charged Counterattack】 was in effect!

Each successful block grants one stack of charge, up to five stacks. Each stack increases the damage of the next attack by 5%.

The second spear thrust came from the side. Gruen turned its shield. "Clang!" Two stacks of charge.

The third spear thrust came from the other side. Gruen turned its shield again. "Clang!" Three stacks of charge.

Fourth spear, "Clang!" Four stacks. Fifth spear, "Clang!" Five stacks.

Gruen's shield was too fast; every time Lin Feng thrust his spear, it could block with precision.

With five stacks of charge reached, Gruen's next attack damage was increased by 25%. It moved, its battle-axe swinging down at Lin Feng with the bonus, its speed startlingly fast.

Lin Feng didn't meet it head-on, sidestepping to dodge. The battle-axe grazed his shoulder and smashed into the ground, shattering the stone slabs and sending debris flying.

Lin Feng retreated a few steps, no longer attacking head-on. Gripping his spear with both hands, he suddenly slammed the Wildfire Spear into the ground.

【Beacon Fire Prairies】!

With him as the center, a circular fire shockwave with a ten-meter radius erupted, and the blazing flames engulfed Gruen.

"-0!" Flames ignited on Gruen, and a dark red mark appeared on its chest.

【Prairie Fire Mark】!

Lasting sixty seconds, the marked target takes an additional 10% damage when attacked by Lin Feng.

At the moment the skill was released, a faint layer of flame protection also appeared on Lin Feng, reducing damage taken by 10% for sixty seconds.