The air on the island is thick with moisture, each breath saturated with a strong, fishy odor. The humidity envelops you, making it feel as if you're constantly drenched. Ning Yiyi wrinkled her nose in discomfort, voicing her disdain, "It's a very uncomfortable place—smelly and fishy."
In the center of the island rises a prominent mountain peak, crowned by the entrance to the mermaid dungeon. From a distance, a massive waterfall cascades down from the summit, glistening under the sun. The entrance to the dungeon resembles a vortex, continuously swirling like an underwater whirlpool.
Jiang Taotao focused on the mountain peak to orient herself. Inside the island's expanse was larger than expected. After passing through a shimmering water curtain, the team found themselves scattered; the once tightly packed group had vanished from sight.
"Move quickly; our goal is the mermaid dungeon," she urged. "If you can't defeat a monster, avoid it."
Without hesitation, she sprinted forward, and her companions quickly fell in line behind her. The landscape was dotted with pools of water teeming with monsters—half-human, half-fish, their scales glimmering ominously. They were nothing like the enchanting mermaids of folklore; their jagged fangs gleamed coldly in the sunlight, capable of biting through steel.
As they navigated a narrow channel between the pools, a mermaid monster erupted from the water with alarming speed. Reacting swiftly, Jiang Taotao activated her signature knight skill: Provocation! The mermaid, visibly enraged, turned and charged at her, eyes ablaze with fury.
At the same time, Lin Moyu employed his detection technique on the creature.
[Mermaid Soldier]
Level: 19Power: 300Agility: 150Spirit: 200Physique: 320Skill: None
The attributes confirmed it was a typical Level 19 monster—not particularly powerful and devoid of skills. Such wild creatures posed no real threat to them.
"Charge!" Jiang Taotao called out. Without waiting for the monster to close the distance, she raised her shield and barreled forward, covering over ten meters in an instant. With a resounding crash, she collided with the mermaid, sending it sprawling several meters back.
In quick succession, a fireball soared from Lin Moyu's direction, engulfing the mermaid in flames. The creature writhed but did not perish; instead, it launched itself toward Jiang Taotao with renewed vigor. Out of nowhere, Ning Yiyi appeared beside it, her dagger shimmering as she executed Fatal Blow! The dagger pierced the mermaid's scales, causing it to screech and collapse.
Just then, an ice arrow struck, encasing the monster in ice and rendering it immobile.
[You have defeated a Level 19 Mermaid Soldier: Experience +1500.]
[Jiang Taotao receives fish scale x1.]
Lin Moyu received a notification that the mermaid was defeated. Given that they were a six-person team, the experience gained was minimal. As captain, Jiang Taotao would collect all dropped items. However, since this was a trial rather than a leveling grind, Lin Moyu was indifferent to the spoils.
After swiftly dispatching the mermaid monster, the team pressed on, encountering waves of monsters along the way. The closer they got to the mountain, the more formidable the monsters became, with Level 21 creatures appearing as they advanced.
After dispatching a Level 21 monster, Jiang Taotao assessed the situation. "At this pace, it'll take us at least three hours to reach the center of the island, not to mention the time needed to climb the mountain. We're moving too slowly."
"Next time we encounter monsters, Miao Yu, you're in charge of controlling them. If you can't fight, don't engage."
With determination, Jiang Taotao decided to ignore the monsters and accelerate the team's progress. Miao Yu nodded in agreement, "Okay!"
They increased their speed. When confronted with another monster, Miao Yu unleashed her skills to control it: Wind Bind! A gentle gust of wind wrapped around the monster, holding it in place for one minute. With that time, the team made significant headway.
After twenty minutes, they caught sight of the mountain's base. However, as Jiang Taotao had predicted, they were lagging behind. Other teams had already gathered at the foot of the mountain, preparing to ascend.
The waterfall tumbled down from the mountain's peak, and a single narrow path wound its way upward. At the base, celestial mermaid monsters loomed, especially near the waterfall where dense pools of water formed a tangled web.
One team was already battling the monsters, clearing the area to begin their ascent. Jiang Taotao clenched her teeth, contemplating their next move. "If we rush straight up, are we sure we can make it?"
Miao Yu shook her head. "There are too many. I can't control them, and these monsters are all Level 22—stronger than me. My skills might not even work."
Given the higher monster levels and her previous failures, Miao Yu felt the weight of the challenge. Jiang Taotao frowned. If it took at least an hour to clear a path, they'd fall even further behind. Yet charging ahead without Miao Yu's control could spell disaster, risking an ambush by the mermaid monsters.
Caught in a dilemma, Jiang Taotao hesitated.
Suddenly, Lin Moyu spoke up, "Let me handle it."
Ling Zhen scoffed. "Really? What can a Level 17 do?"
Lin Moyu remained unfazed, opting to follow quietly behind, concealing his abilities from the rest, save for Ning Yiyi, who had some inkling of his power.
Ning Yiyi chimed in, "Ling, keep your mouth shut."
Jiang Taotao shot Ling Zhen a warning glance, urging him to stay silent. "What's your plan, Lin Moyu?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"I'll use a skeleton warrior to distract the merfolk."
Jiang Taotao's eyes widened with realization. Lin Moyu's profession as a necromancer came to mind. While she wasn't entirely sure of its capabilities, summoning creatures was undeniably useful. She had observed other teams using summoned objects to lure away the mermaids, and it seemed like a solid strategy.
"Alright, I trust you," she said. "Everyone else, prepare to move. While the monster is distracted, we'll push forward."
Lin Moyu's heart raced as he summoned the skeleton warrior, its bones clattering rhythmically.
"So fast!" Jiang Taotao gasped, surprised at the skeleton warrior's speed as it dashed ahead, closing the distance in seconds and drawing the attention of the nearby mermaid monsters.
Screams pierced the air as the mermaids chased after the skeleton, who evaded their attacks with ease, darting from pool to pool to draw them away.
With a dozen mermaids in hot pursuit, the path ahead began to clear. "Let's go!" Jiang Taotao urged, and the team surged forward.
The skeleton warrior sprinted ahead, leading the mermaids on a wild chase. Within minutes, they reached the foot of the mountain.
However, Lin Moyu chose to recall the skeleton warrior just as it had drawn a large crowd of mermaids away. As the creature vanished, the mermaids were left confused, each glancing around in search of their prey.
Jiang Taotao exhaled in relief. "Good job!"
Ning Yiyi grinned, "That was amazing!"
Duan Gao and Miao Yu nodded appreciatively, acknowledging Lin Moyu's clever tactic.
"Why didn't you do this earlier? We could have made it to the mountain by now," Ling Zhen sneered, full of disdain.
Lin Moyu shot him an incredulous look. Wasn't it common sense to utilize a mage's abilities?
Ning Yiyi snapped at Ling Zhen, "Shut it, Ling! If you're so capable, show us!"
Lin Moyu replied coldly, "This is your last warning."
Just then, a chilling scream echoed from the mountain top. Everyone looked up to see a horde of mermaid monsters descending rapidly, while several teams that had previously advanced began to retreat in panic.