The awakening of the Lava Giant was like a volcanic eruption, causing the entire Lava Cave to tremble. A searing wave of heat swept over them, and Lin Xiu felt as though his skin was about to be scorched.
"Stick to the plan!" Lu Chen roared, raising his greatsword as he charged at the Lava Giant.
Su Yu quickly retreated, drawing her longbow to its limit. An arrow gleaming with a cold light pierced through the air, striking the giant squarely in the eye. Meanwhile, Bai Zhi began chanting an incantation, and a pale blue barrier enveloped the group, insulating them against the intense heat.
Lin Xiu activated Stealth, circling behind the giant. His target was the core on the giant's back, which was its weak point. However, just as he prepared to launch his attack, the ground beneath his feet suddenly split open, and scorching lava spewed upward!
"Watch out!" Bai Zhi's warning rang out, accompanied by a Heal that landed on Lin Xiu, neutralizing a portion of the damage.
Lin Xiu scrambled away in a clumsy roll, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. This was no game; a single mistake could cost him his life!
"Newbie, don't lose focus!" Lu Chen's voice came through as he struggled to fend off the giant's attacks. "Remember, you're an assassin. You need to be like a shadow!"
Lin Xiu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He activated Stealth once again, approaching the giant with even greater caution. He could feel his own heartbeat, hear the flow of lava, and even smell the scent of sulfur in the air.
Now!
Lin Xiu leaped upward violently, driving his dagger fiercely toward the giant's core. Yet, the instant before the blade was about to connect, the giant's body suddenly burst with a blinding, searing light!
"Fall back!" Su Yu's voice carried an unprecedented level of urgency.
Lin Xiu instinctively jumped backward, but he was still a fraction of a second too late. The scorching shockwave blasted him into the air, causing him to crash heavily against the rock wall. He felt as though every bone in his body was shattered, and his health bar plummeted to the bottom in an instant.
"Heal!" Bai Zhi's voice echoed as a warm glow enveloped Lin Xiu.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Chen brought his greatsword down hard upon the giant, finally dealing a substantial amount of damage. Su Yu's arrows rained down like a storm, each one striking the giant's joints with pinpoint accuracy.
Lin Xiu struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He knew he couldn't hold the team back. He activated Stealth once more, approaching the giant with heightened wariness.
The battle reached its climax. Lu Chen's armor had been baked to a glowing red by the intense heat, yet he stubbornly resisted the giant's assaults. Su Yu had very few arrows left, but she maintained her lethal precision. Bai Zhi cast Heal one after another, her mana nearing total exhaustion.
Lin Xiu finally found the optimal opening. He held his breath, channeling all his strength into his dagger, and drove it deep into the giant's core!
"Boom!"
With a deafening crash, the Lava Giant's body began to disintegrate. Molten lava splattered everywhere, and the entire cave shook violently.
[Experience Points acquired: 5000]
[Level increased to Level 10]
[Rare material acquired: Flame Core Crystal]
Lin Xiu collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. He had never experienced a battle so thrilling and perilous.
"Great job!" Bai Zhi hurried over excitedly. "We did it!"
Lu Chen also wore a rare smile. "Not bad, newbie. You've proven your worth."
Su Yu put away her longbow, a hint of approval flashing in her heterochromatic eyes. "Stronger than I expected."
Lin Xiu looked at his hands, feeling the surging power within his body. He knew this was only the beginning. In this world, countless unknown challenges awaited him.
"Where to next?" he asked.
Bai Zhi smiled mysteriously. "The third Dimensional Dungeon, 'Frozen Throne'. I heard there's a rare ice-attribute gem there..."
Lu Chen interrupted, "Let's head back to the city to rest and regroup first. We need better gear, and..." He glanced at Lin Xiu. "The newbie needs to learn some new skills."
The four of them exchanged smiles and walked out of the cave. The lingering rays of the setting sun washed over them, stretching their shadows long behind them. Lin Xiu glanced back one last time at the Lava Cave, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
This journey to another world seemed far more magnificent than he had ever imagined.