After experiencing the previous events, no one doubted Hill’s identity as a strategy team member anymore.
With my deliberate indulgence, team command had fully fallen into Hill’s hands.
Though Hill spoke little, her instructions always perfectly coordinated the team for optimal performance.
This gave Doran and the others a deeper appreciation of her abilities—and even more curiosity about the Irresponsible Guide Team.
Under everyone’s united efforts, the Fallen Treant Lord’s HP quickly dropped toward 80%.
Red Coral was about to remind the team when she thought of something and glanced at the tall figure casting a heal on the low-HP frontliners.
Sure enough, the next second, the clear, cold voice rang out.
“Everyone, prepare your CC skills. Follow my command.”
Though unsure why, everyone complied, silently readying themselves.
Soon, under the barrage, the Fallen Treant Lord’s HP hit 80%—a point where it would normally cast Devour Tree in prior difficulties.
Devour Tree granted super armor, immune to all interrupts—that was the puzzle for the team before.
But this time, as HP fell to 80%, the Fallen Treant Lord acted unusually. Its massive trunk suddenly shimmered with black luster—the precursor to skill activation.
Faster than the glow, Hill’s voice came.
“CC it.”
Her calm, flat tone felt reassuringly authoritative.
The instant she spoke, everyone unleashed their controls—from physical Shield Bash and Heroic Strike to magical Silence Orb and Frost Bind, everything available.
Though the boss had high tenacity against CC, it couldn’t withstand the sheer volume. One skill interrupted it; the black ripples vanished, and it slowly coiled around a nearby tree to devour.
Too many words would ruin Hill’s cool image, and Doran and Red Coral enjoyed the break—so under my explanation, everyone understood: the boss had tried to cast Corrupting Ripple.
A new ability on Nightmare-and-above: damages on hit while reducing target armor resistance.
Auto-casts at 80% and 60% HP; frequency increases below 50%. Very annoying.
But under Hill’s command, it was no issue.
Using the previous method to trap the boss in the altar, everyone went full DPS, smoothly interrupting Corrupting Ripple mid-cast.
Before long, HP dropped below 50%. A shockwave hit; the prepared front line braced without breaking formation.
Along with the shockwave, treants, flower sprites, vine monsters, and more crawled from the barren soil around.
Without hesitation, warriors and knights rushed to grab these rear-threatening mobs, leaving Shuiyan solo on the boss.
“Be careful—these mobs aren’t weakened.” Hill warned.
Even without her reminder, the frontliners felt the mobs’ increased intensity from shield and armor impacts.
Good thing the boss was pinned, minimizing threats—but one thing was crucial.
“Now.”
As the boss’s glow started, the prepared backline unleashed CC, and Shuiyan slammed her Giant Shield forward.
The fierce barrage not only interrupted Corrupting Ripple but halted Devour Tree’s heal entirely. The Fallen Treant Lord shook its trunk; thick branch-arms swung wildly.
Even after resolving it, no one slacked—below half HP, it no longer cast every 10% drop but auto every 3 minutes.
Thanks to Hill’s commands, the next few interrupts were close but safe.
Tormented, the Fallen Treant Lord roared furiously, stomping the ground in rage—while gray light shimmered again.
This time, it succeeded.
Despite saving CC for the tell, the boss’s tenacity rarely shone, resisting all controls.
Gray-black ripples exploded outward from the boss, vast range hitting even the backline—dropping everyone 50% HP. Without weakening, it would’ve shredded squishies.
Worse for the front: higher defense, but frontline positioning meant constant danger.
Bullhead and Scarlet Rain were hit hard—holy knights busy, priests topping the main tank.
Already low HP, Corrupting Ripple shaved another quarter, plus armor debuff—facing summoned treants, flower sprites, and vines, their lines neared red.
As they reached for precious instant heals, soft light suddenly bathed their heads—not just them, but all frontliners, instantly boosting HP.
“Group Heal… one that clears debuffs?”
Doran noticed her HP rise and debuff vanish while tanking a mob hit. She glanced at the tall figure lowering her staff nearby.
Group Heal was rare, but her guild had a few priests with it. But one that group-healed and dispelled? Doran had never heard of it.
In early game, such a priest—gear and skill aside—would be any guild’s priority nurture target.
Group Heal was secondary; the group dispel massively raised team fault tolerance in key dungeon moments.
Plus her top-tier command, reactions, and gear—Doran instantly wanted to recruit her…
But that urge faded fast. If so easy, why had countless guilds’ high offers gone unanswered?
Though the thought died, curiosity didn’t.
Did this girl have more aces? How many such experts in that strategy group?
Curiosity extended to another.
How’d she connect to the strategy team? How many secrets did she hide?
And…
Wasn’t this little brat slacking too hard this time?
Doran couldn’t help glancing over. After a casual Shadow Word, the petite figure secretly munched cakes when no one looked.
Just switch to thief stealth to eat, and with that money, buy more scrolls for DPS!
Though Doran’s tsukkomi burned, it didn’t faze the slacker’s fishy plan—and she even interrupted the boss with a Silence Orb.
Things progressed smoothly after. Clearing the summoned adds, the team regrouped and poured attacks on the boss.
With nearly double the CC, the boss’s tenacity barely mattered.
Even occasional Corrupting Ripple hits? Hill’s Group Holy Heal fixed it quick.
Thus, the weakened boss became a punching bag. Its final Corrosive Impact dodged, its fate was sealed.
Yet as HP fell, the Fallen Treant Lord didn’t screech miserably like before—instead, like a dying elder, its movements slowed.
At zero HP, black bark peeled from the trunk, restoring it to a normal ancient tree—rooted in the altar.
“Huh? It’s down? Why’d it turn like that?”
“Without the ripples, feels easier than Hard.”
“Is this Abyss? Not that tough.”
Everyone chattered, stowing weapons—until Seaside Yoyo spotted it. “Wait—why no clear success prompt?”
The team realized something was off.
“Yeah, why hasn’t it ended?”
“Bug?”
“No way—this is Epoch.”
Their confusion got a cute voice answer.
Having Evin and Nightwish loot gear and items, I explained leisurely, “Because there’s still plot next.”
That’s why Normal/Hard one tier, Nightmare/Abyss another—the difference right here. Obviously, many in the team didn’t know.
“More plot? We beat it already?”
“Yeah, isn’t this the mutation source?”
Surprised murmurs—but Doran shook her head.
“Of course not. You think Abyss is that simple?”
“If it were, why are guilds stuck on Nightmare?” Red Coral giggled, winking—her beauty mark making it extra charming.
Everyone woke up. Yeah, it fit—never truly grueling, nor felt Abyss-level hard.
“So what now?”
Before the question finished, a clear, cold voice echoed in chat.
“It’s coming.”
What’s coming?
Curious, everyone followed Hill’s gaze.