Lin Tianhao wasn't foolish enough to underestimate a boss simply because it possessed only one listed skill. Such designs often concealed the deadliest mechanics. Simplicity was deceptive.
Thwip!He took the first shot.-785! (No Crit)The damage was decent. Then, reality slammed into him.CRACK! CRACK!Two thick, serpentine vines lashed out from different angles with terrifying speed, striking him before he could fully react.-1355!-1355!Over 2,700 HP vanished instantly. Insane! Worse, Tianhao realized the true horror: the Hydra Cypress's countless vines seemed to permeate the entire chamber. There was nowhere safe from its basic attacks. Kiting its auto-attacks was impossible.
Despair threatened, but his hands remained steady, firing arrow after arrow. Two more vines whipped towards him. Tianhao threw himself into a desperate Dodge Roll.Whoosh!The vines cracked harmlessly against the ground where he'd just been."Dodged!" Relief surged. Auto-attacks can be avoided! It demanded pinpoint timing and reflexes, but it was possible. Victory was now a matter of endurance and flawless execution.
Prioritizing survival, Tianhao swiftly equipped the Thicket Longbow. Its +500 HP boost was welcome, but the +2% Life Steal became critical. His Renewal passive, while potent, couldn't keep pace with the staggering burst damage potential of multiple vines. Perfect dodges were his goal, but achieving 100% was unrealistic with his unmodified movement speed. He would get hit.+50! (Life Steal)+16! (Life Steal)+16! (Life Steal)His health bar crept upwards erratically as he dodged, fired, and searched desperately for the boss's weakness. Every creature had one. Hitting it drastically increased Critical Strike chance – vital with his pathetic base 1% Crit Rate from the Savage Boots. Find the weak spot, and he could chain criticals.
His eyes scanned the writhing mass of vines above. Where...? Then, he saw it. Tucked deep within the nest of thrashing tendrils at the Cypress's rear were nine distinct, blood-red vines. Each terminated not in a leafy tip, but in a grotesque, fist-sized, crimson-skull-shaped bud. One of these buds swiveled, locking onto him, its dark hollows forming an unnerving, mocking grin.
Thwip!Tianhao's arrow flew true, striking the grinning skull dead center.-1574! (CRITICAL HIT!)Bullseye! Elation warred with grim focus. Found the weak point. Now, exploit it.Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!Arrows became a deadly stream. The crimson skulls weaved and dodged with unnatural agility, but Tianhao's experience was a predator's instinct. He anticipated their serpentine evasions, leading his shots with uncanny precision.-1574! (CRITICAL HIT!)-1574! (CRITICAL HIT!)-1574! (CRITICAL HIT!)...Weak point strikes turned his 1% Crit Rate into a near-guarantee. Criticals weren't just about damage; each one triggered a larger Life Steal return.+78! (Life Steal Crit)+78! (Life Steal Crit)+78! (Life Steal Crit)...His health stabilized, then began a slow, steady climb. He'd cracked the code. Now it was a war of attrition at a blistering pace of two arrows per second. The Hydra Cypress's massive health bar dwindled steadily under the relentless assault. 20%... 15%... 12%... 10%...
Victory Threshold! Tianhao braced for the final push.
Instead, the monstrous tree shuddered. An intense emerald light, thick as sap, pulsed outwards from its core, washing over every branch, every vine, every grotesque crimson skull. The light coalesced, then surged inwards.
+1,372,320 HP!
Before Tianhao's disbelieving eyes, the Hydra Cypress's health bar didn't just refill; it rocketed from 10% back to 100%.Lin Tianhao: "..." What. The. Actual. F--?!A tidal wave of disbelief and pure, unadulterated frustration crashed over him. This wasn't just unfair; it felt like a cosmic joke. A Level 10 Bronze Boss in the Newbie Zone with a full-heal, no-cooldown reset ability?! This belonged on a Level 200 World Boss, not here! A million virtual grass-mud horses stampeded through his mind.
But giving up wasn't an option. Teeth gritted, heart pounding, Tianhao nocked another arrow. He knew the pattern now. He knew the weak points. He could do this again. It just meant another grueling fifteen minutes of absolute focus.
Fifteen agonizing minutes later, filled with near-misses, desperate dodges, and the constant thwip-thwip of arrows finding their mark...Ding! You have slain the Bronze Boss [Hydra Cypress]! EXP +31,280!Ding! You are the first player to clear the dungeon [Twisted Thicket]! A global announcement will be made. Hide your identity? [Yes/No]"No."
<< GLOBAL SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT >><< CONGRATULATIONS TO PLAYER [SNOW EMPEROR] FOR ACHIEVING THE WORLD FIRST CLEAR OF THE DUNGEON [TWISTED THICKET]! >><< HIS EXPLOITS SHALL BE REMEMBERED! >>(Announcement repeated twice)
The sudden proclamation sent shockwaves through every party currently struggling within the dungeon's earlier chambers."HOLY--! Snow Emperor again?! Solo cleared it?! How is that possible?!""Solo Boss, Solo Dungeon... did he awaken some god-tier talent at Level 1?""More like a hidden class! What 1-Star talent could possibly be this broken?!"...The chatter exploded. Guild leaders slammed fists on tables. The value of a dungeon First Clear was undeniable. Snow Emperor was rapidly becoming a legend... and a massive thorn in their sides.
Ding! You have achieved the First Clear of [Twisted Thicket] on HELL difficulty! Calculating rewards...Rewards Granted:
+1 Set: [Obsidian Treant Armor] (13 Pieces)
+13 Skill Books
+4 Treant Heart (Material)
+35 Elite Equipment Pieces
+350 Gold
+50 Free Attribute Points
+1 Quest Scroll
The cascade of system notifications momentarily overwhelmed Tianhao. The sheer volume... the quality... it was staggering.
The Obsidian Treant Armor Set was powerful – tank-focused, perfect for Shieldbearers, usable immediately due to his First Clear privilege bypassing level restrictions. But it was utterly mismatched for an Archer like him. The 35 Elite and 3 Bronze equipment pieces were mostly tank gear too, offering minor stat bumps at best.
Then, his eyes fell on the stack of Skill Books. And nestled among them, gleaming with an ominous green light, was the prize he'd just witnessed the boss use:Withered Wood's Rejuvenation (Passive Skill): ★☆☆☆☆
Effect: When your HP falls below 10%, you instantly restore 10% of your Maximum HP.
Cooldown: 24 Hours
Mana Cost: None
Proficiency: 0/10 *(Note: Proficiency is gained by sacrificing Skill Books. Each book sacrificed grants +1 Proficiency. Certain unique skills may grant more.)*
Tianhao stared. The boss's infuriating, game-breaking ability... was now his. A lifeline when death seemed certain. The cost to level it – sacrificing precious Skill Books – was steep, but the potential... it was worth everything. A true ace in the hole. He'd earned this, through sheer skill, persistence, and enduring that soul-crushing full heal. This single skill made the entire brutal ordeal worthwhile.