35 30 seconds of overwhelming power
"Must be quick!" Mike dashed up to the third floor like lightning, arriving outside the office where Arthas Bloodscribe was located. "Only one minute left until the Sacrifice Array is activated!" The entire office had been fortified into a stronghold, impregnable.
Arthas Bloodscribe's father, the fourth demon cult leader, had clearly prepared well. His plan was not difficult to deduce: to open a portal to the Abyssal Plane through a sacrifice, summoning a terrifying demon creature to please the demon god he served. Moreover, the chaos created by the arrival of the demon creature would provide Terenas with the perfect cover to escape. It was a plan that killed several birds with one stone. The only cost was his paralyzed, 'useless' son. This trap had been set long ago, only to be activated today when Teranas was in dire straits.
"How cold and heartless, this demon cult leader is willing to kill even his own son, that's too much," Mike thought disdainfully of the demon cult leader. Looking at the office in front of him, a pale blue defensive barrier blocked his path.
[Damage Resistance: 100,000,000]
Mike had stacked 30 layers of Charge Up, which could significantly multiply the damage of magical attacks. With his current Intelligence attribute at 285 points, his Lightning Arrow could deal (50 + 1 * Intelligence) in Lightning damage, plus an additional 15% damage due to the Force of Nature. That meant a single Lightning Arrow could inflict 386 points of Lightning damage! With the multiplier from Charge Up, the damage would be immensely amplified. Even with the limitations due to his lower level, destroying this barrier would be more than feasible. Mike could easily break through this defense.
"Stay calm, after breaking through this barrier, there are other opponents to face, and even Arthas Bloodscribe has the strength of a tier-two Battle Soldier," Mike reminded himself. He was well aware that he was racing against time, with his life hanging by a thread. When he decided to step up, there was no turning back.
"Using Lightning Arrow will clear all layers of Charge Up, and if a fight breaks out, I'll be in danger." Opting not to use Lightning Arrow, Mike chose another skill: Blessing of Lightning.
[Blessing of Lightning (Lv1)]: Casts a Blessing of Lightning on oneself or an ally, adding 20 points of Lightning damage to normal attacks and an additional 25 points to magical attacks. With the 15% enhancement from Force of Nature and the effects of Charge Up, both his physical and magical attacks would carry extra damage. Although not as devastating as Lightning Arrow, it was sufficient for the task at hand. Most importantly, this spell lasted for 30 seconds.
"Resolve all combat within 30 seconds!" Mike pursed his lips, raised his staff, and began his action.
"Blessing of Lightning!"
Endowed with infinite power of lightning, Mike felt as if every move he made had the terrifying force of ancient gods, capable of effortlessly destroying heavens and earth. Without wasting a second, his staff struck the barrier. As he attacked, the barrier vibrated violently, small cracks appearing on its surface.
Inside the office, Arthas Bloodscribe clearly noticed the disturbance outside.
"Fuck, has the city defense department come?"
"How so quickly?" he roared angrily at his father, "Old fossil, didn't you say it would mask the noise?"
"What are you panicking about?" Terenas Bloodscribe appeared calm and collected on the screen, chiding, "Have a little faith. I personally designed this safe house. It can withstand over 100 million in damage. Even if Battle Chiefs come, it will hold them off long enough for the array to activate."
Terenas's words reassured Arthas somewhat. However, the violent shaking did not cease and even intensified.
Thud—Thud—
Countless spiderweb-like cracks spread across the barrier, resembling a finely shattered porcelain vase, ready to break upon touch.
"Can this really hold for a minute?" Arthas Bloodscribe screamed in terror, flailing his arms in panic.
Boom—
With the final strike, the barrier shattered into dust, the defense capable of withstanding 100 million damage was broken in less than five seconds!
"He's broken through!" Arthas Bloodscribe howled, like a cornered beast seeing no escape.
A figure burst through the smoke. Just one person?!
Arthas Bloodscribe raised his hands high, shouting with all his might, "I surrender, don't kill me, I'll tell you everything!"
"It was all his forcing, I never wanted to betray humanity, it was that damned old fossil's doing!"
Without needing 30 seconds, Arthas Bloodscribe surrendered upon confrontation.
Mike glanced at him disdainfully, his contempt clear without words.
Above Arthas Bloodscribe's head, an information prompt appeared:
[Fun Fact: Arthas Bloodscribe's father was once a legendary hero of humanity, but he was led astray by his disappointing son.]
The family dynamics were indeed complex. Son betraying father, father betraying son, turning against each other, a tragic human drama.
Mike wasted no time, raising his staff.
"Lightning Arrow!"
With the enhancement from Blessing of Lightning, the Lightning Arrow carried destructive magical energy and struck Arthas Bloodscribe.
Boom—
The Lightning Arrow struck a blue ripple, canceling each other out.
"Hurry, save me!"
Arthas Bloodscribe's expression was one of struggle, realizing that his tactics to delay time had failed. Everything he had said before, whether it was his surrender or cursing his father, was all to buy time for his escape. But Mike wasn't falling for it. He attacked directly, each move lethal. If it weren't for the special items Arthas carried, which blocked a fatal attack, he would already be dead.
"Just hold on for another 45 seconds!"
On the TV screen, the demon cult Leader's figure flashed by, followed by the sound of a terrifying explosion. Clearly, a battle was also happening there, and Terenas was in a dire situation.
"Why isn't the portal open yet?"
The next magical attack was already being chanted!
Arthas Bloodscribe didn't have the courage to confront Mike directly. Shattering a barrier that could withstand 100 million damage and a Lightning Arrow that destroyed his life-saving special items, in Arthas's mind, Mike's strength was at least that of a Battle Chief. Such a powerhouse was not something Arthas could handle, let alone face directly.
In reality, Mike was only level 10, a tier-one Battle Soldier. If Arthas had been braver and charged at Mike to fight... it wouldn't have changed anything. With the Blessing of Lightning, Mike's output was comparable to the top Battle Chiefs. Although it lasted only 30 seconds, it was enough.
"Come on, 30 seconds of overwhelming power!"
"Lightning Arrow!"
"Lightning Arrow!"
Two consecutive Lightning Arrows shattered two more of Arthas Bloodscribe's life-saving items, and for the first time, true despair appeared in Arthas's eyes.
In a desperate howl, Arthas Bloodscribe cursed, "I curse you, whether your soul is in heaven or hell, I curse you, I am willing to pay with my own soul..."
Mike didn't give him the chance to finish.
"Lightning Arrow!"
The fourth Lightning Arrow, charged with destructive magical energy, struck Arthas Bloodscribe, ending his wicked life.
Boom—
Arthas Bloodscribe was obliterated, leaving only a charred silhouette on the ground. As the intended sacrifice of the Sacrifice Array, Arthas's death triggered a chain reaction that halted the array, forcibly stopping the sacrifice.
Crisis averted, Mike breathed a sigh of relief. On the other side of the large screen, sensing the disturbance here, a sigh was heard. Regardless, they were father and son, and there was some sadness when a son died.
Soon, a venomous, raspy voice came from the screen,
"No matter who you are, you've ruined my plans, and I swear to kill you!"
"Even if I fall into the deepest pits of hell, I'll drag you down with me. Remember, this is a Battle Lord swearing an oath on his life!"
The raspy voice declared, "I! Swear! To! Kill! You!"
Alright, Mike could hear the hatred in those words. But Terenas was not angry because his son was killed; he was furious because his plans were thwarted.