“Boom, boom, boom!”
As the massive mechanical forces clashed from both sides, a series of explosions reverberated across the underwater continent.
At the critical moment, all of Akdas’s attack routes were completely intercepted by Han Yuze using the same tactics. Simultaneously, it was evident that two separate waves of aerial machines had converged from both sides, closing in on the Crusaders duo unnoticed.
Just before inflicting massive damage, Akdas employed the recoil shot from his secondary profession as a firearms expert. With a swift sideward flip propelled by the recoil force, he narrowly evaded.
Champs, on the other hand, showed no intention of dodging. She cast the Priest’s level 55 skill, Soul Faith, on herself, harnessing the full-body Invincible state to withstand the entire wave of damage. Swiftly, she followed it up with a significant heal on both herself and her ally, stabilizing their health.
With Champs acting as a support, Akdas found a moment of relief. Releasing several smoke-emitting machines, he initiated a self-detonation sequence amid the rolling clouds, adjusting his position while rapidly setting up a new array of machinery.
This responsive strategy was executed flawlessly, maintaining a stable pace of output. Unfortunately, at this moment, Akdas faced not just Han Yuze alone.
Just as the strategic deployment reached its crucial point, the sudden emergence of a runic field disrupted all of Akdas’s anticipated moves.
The mechanical spider horde, upon contact with the ignition-enhanced field, inevitably burst into flames.
Struggling against the slowing effect induced by the ignition, the usually advantageous explosive mechanical units were now detonating successively due to the intense heat, presenting a magnificent and dazzling fireworks show right in front of them.
Akdas hadn’t anticipated that the Rune Master on the opposite side could create a terrain disruption so swiftly. Annoyed, he glanced at their positions, hesitated for a moment, inevitably contemplating a change in tactics.
However, while he intended to redirect his attacks, Han Yuze appeared reluctant.
“Disturbing our support, did you bother to ask my opinion?”
A series of lightning strikes followed, as Han Yuze controlled the long-range machines to intercept Akdas, smirking slightly as he asked the question.
Though this type of lightning attack didn’t cause significant damage, once hit, it induced a brief numbness effect. In the holographic world, it was undoubtedly a disturbance effect that could greatly affect fine-tuned operations.
Yet, this was clearly just a preliminary action to bring Akdas’s attention back.
Simultaneously with this sentence dropping from Han Yuze, other miniature machines by his side immediately launched an attack without hesitation.
Like Rune Masters, the power difference between a Mechanical Engineer and a Rune Master primarily lay in the number of mechanical operations a player could perform. If Akdas had controlled around 20 previously, the densely packed machines around Han Yuze numbered more than 30 now.
It was undeniably an astonishing quantity, but having been teammates with Han Yuze for so long, Akdas knew well that this person’s limits were far beyond this.
Amidst this intense bombardment, he swiftly maneuvered through it all. Amidst chaos, he directed a group of machines to block the primary output area, reminding in the team voice chat, “Champs, watch for my signal. When we charge next, directly activate the Guardian Prayer, and I’ll cover it with a big shield.”
Guardian Prayer was the Priest’s ultimate skill, the highest-level skill attainable at level 75 in the previous version. Once activated, during the period of the protective buff, all excess healing would be converted into a shield around the character, superbly shielding the main damage-dealing position during crucial moments for an explosive output effect.
Akdas’s words clearly signaled the intent for a forceful attack.
Though Champs didn’t particularly like Akdas, she maintained her principles on the battlefield.
She remained vigilant about her teammate’s position.
At that moment of the charge, the Guardian Prayer was activated, resulting in an instantaneous burst of high-level healing.
As Akdas’s health filled up, he was instantly enveloped in a thick shield, capable of withstanding a very powerful wave of explosive damage for a short period.
With his defense completely maxed out, Akdas did not hesitate to activate all of the mechanic’s skills that increase mechanical damage.
He was determined to use this wave to eliminate his opponent, while controlling nearly the maximum number of machines he could handle, all roaring out at once.
Both being Mechanical Engineers, Han Yuze’s ability to produce impressive output as earlier implied he was well within Akdas’s explosion range.
At this distance, even the most extreme maneuvers were nearly impossible to avoid.
Seeing Han Yuze securely locked within the output circle, Akdas’s sharp gaze carried a smirk.
However, this smirk froze slightly and swiftly disappeared.
Despite being in the heart of the firepower, Han Yuze showed no sign of trying to escape, contrary to Akdas’s expectations.
If it were someone else, it might be understandable to be overwhelmed by such a massive attack. But with this man, everything seemed off!
Indeed, Akdas’s intuition was confirmed.
An ice-cold field emerged right at close range.
Freeze.
In an instant upon touching the field, all the machines in mid-air and on the ground froze solid.
And in this fleeting moment, a sudden chill swept past.
How was it possible that there was another massive army of machines in the rear?!
When did Yu Weize arrange this ambush?!
Champs cautioned, “No skills to heal you, dodge on your own.”
Akdas was bewildered too. It was his powerful strike, yet he found himself caught in the opponent’s output trap.
But there was evidently no time for contemplation now.
Quickly gathering his thoughts, Akdas reacted lightning fast.
Just as the final group of machines hadn’t touched the icy field, he deftly dodged and called back the machines to counter-attack. With precise shots, he swiftly took down all the dozen or so machines from the ambush.
However, because it was completed too smoothly, that sense of uneasiness also became more and more intense.
That feeling, it was just like a newbie mechanic was operating.
No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t seem like something that Yu Weize could do.
Wait, a newbie?
Suddenly realizing something, Akdas subconsciously looked at the position of the rune master, and just happened to meet Jiang Shi’s smiling expression.
So those sneak attacking machines just now were actually…
Oh no! I’ve been tricked!
Akdas finally realized it at this time, but it was obviously too late.
The effect of the ice field lasts for only 1 second every 5 seconds, but Akdas’s brief distraction had already left Han Yuze with enough room to play.
In the air and on the ground, only debris remained after the machines of both sides clashed.
Akdas’s plan was completely ruined, and his all-out, desperate charge turned into a complete joke.
The rune field once again rose silently, as if it had been expected, blocking the only possible retreat route for the two Crusaders.
Akdas still tried to counterattack, but he was unable to complete his tight mechanical deployment.
Every attempt he made was immediately crushed by Han Yuze’s mechanical army.
Are you not reconciled? Akdas was naturally not reconciled, but even if he was not reconciled, what could he do?
Before he was completely out, he looked deeply at the rune master.
As everyone knows, in addition to having unique additional skill effects, the craftsman profession can be used by all professions.
This is undoubtedly common knowledge that all players in the Genesis know, but it is precisely such common knowledge that is sometimes more easily overlooked.
After all, how many people can do it in such a thrilling and intense duel, while ensuring superb operation, and still be distracted to use those craftsman props that do not belong to their own professional skills?
But just now, this runemaster not only flawlessly coordinated support using the Rune Field but also had the capacity to manipulate over a dozen machines, playing that move with Yu Weize.
Such focus and multitasking were bordering on terrifying!
However, there was no time left for Akdas to contemplate further.
Clearly holding the upper hand, Han Yuze had no reason to sympathize with the opponent’s frustration. He ruthlessly eliminated both of them from the competition.
Han Yuze seemed quite satisfied with the recent collaboration, “Not bad, even after such a long time without cooperation, our synergy is still as strong as ever.”
With materials scattered all over the ground, Jiang Shi waved dismissively, “Quickly, let’s go.”
Just as the final 20 seconds countdown began, the protective barrier that had been slowly shrinking suddenly accelerated its pace.
“Here we go.” Han Yuze also quickened his pace, striding alongside and rushing towards the final area.
On the other side, others were also swiftly moving toward the designated safe zone.
During this process, they naturally noticed the changes in the rankings once again.
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands and Mad Stomp, who were previously in first place, hadn’t had the same luck as Jiang Shi and his team. Along the way, they encountered only scattered lower-ranked combinations. Despite eliminating several groups in succession, they were far outmatched in terms of score accumulation by the Crusaders. During this last countdown period, they could only watch as the Crusaders instantly soared from fifth to first with seven silver coins.
Seeing themselves pushed directly to the second position and glancing at the remaining ten seconds of the event, Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands tried to console herself, “Not bad, though the luck was poor, at least it’s a front-runner.”
Mad Stomp glanced at the figures that appeared in the distance, “Look, here come the lucky ones.”
Due to the sudden acceleration of the shrinking zone, the remaining dozen or so groups were inevitably pushed together.
At this point, they had clearly seen each other, but due to the scarcity of remaining time, they nodded in acknowledgment. Contrary to the previously tense atmosphere, they remained peaceful and refrained from engaging further.
It was meaningless to fight now; resting was a better option.
Three, two, one… Zero!
As the countdown ended completely, the rapidly shrinking protective barrier behind them finally came to a halt.
Simultaneously, the players, who had been sprinting all along, suddenly found their bodies flickering with a strange glow, then, one by one, they transformed into bubbles and melted into the sea.
Among these players was Scavenger. However, because she wasn’t eliminated by being killed, this process successfully preserved all the hard-earned materials accumulated in her backpack. It was a satisfying departure.
In the final scene that hadn’t lasted for more than a few seconds, only six people remained.
The first-ranked Seven Silver Coins guild’s high-level materials, along with Yu Weize combination;
The second-ranked Blood Rose Guild’s Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands and Mad Stomp combination;
And the third-ranked Rattlesnake guild’s Snake Scorpion Curse and Nobody combination.
Although they had never encountered each other, they had been closely monitoring the changes in the rankings.
Snake Scorpion Curse and Nobody naturally guessed who eliminated the other two teams from their guild. Considering the “business partner” identity of the high-level material holder, Jiang Shi and Yu Weize’s expressions were somewhat complex.
A tense silence prevailed as they exchanged glances.
Finally, Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands cleared her throat, “Well, everyone’s done well to stay till the end. But it seems there’s more to come based on this situation? Looking at the decor here, it seems to be an altar?”
“Yes, an altar,” Snake Scorpion Curse withdrew his gaze from Jiang Shi and Yu Weize, scanning the surroundings. “Hidden boss.”
As seasoned players, they could all guess the intentions of the planners at this point.
Without dwelling on the grudges from the previous event, they immediately and decisively formed a team as soon as the team list could be switched.
In the team voice chat, Nobody asked, “It’s probably going to start the next phase soon. Who’s going to lead? Old Poison, want to do it?”
Snake Scorpion Curse replied, “It’s better to have support in command.”
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands was speechless, “You could just name me… And aren’t you a support, using a pharmacist profession, right?”
Snake Scorpion Curse remained unfazed, “The whole server knows I’m a DPS.”
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands: “…”
Seriously, even though you use a support profession, you’re playing as a DPS, right?!
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands looked at Han Yuze, “There’s only me as a healer. I’m afraid I might get distracted later. How about you?”
Han Yuze replied, “No problem, my runemaster can manage to support with healing for a while. You command, you can handle it.”
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands looked at Mad Stomp.
Mad Stomp: “Sure, command. You can trust me.”
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands: “…”
Are all these professional players just looking to slack off?
She looked around and glanced at Jiang Shi for a moment, hinting at a smile.
Before she could speak, Jiang Shi responded, “I’m just an ordinary player. There are so many experts here, I don’t dare to speak.”
Is he pretending?
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands couldn’t hold back any longer, “You’re an ordinary…!”
Before the word “fart” could leave her lips, the familiar system sound suddenly rang out again.
The players watching from outside saw the six people who had formed a team, and before they could be amazed by Seven Silver Coins unexpectedly securing the first position on the leaderboard, the emotionless words seemed to pierce through the screen, echoing eerily and mysteriously in the square, carrying a numbing sensation rising from the depths of their blood, quickly spreading throughout their bodies.
[Ding-dong! Congratulations to the six brave warriors for completing the trial challenge. The cursed underwater city of Moniankechi will forever remember your names.]
[Next, please become the sacrifice to the sea god, Krichensis.]
[Hehe… The ceremony is officially starting.]