Chen Mo's body streaked through the air, leaving a blur that was almost imperceptible to the naked eye.
Lord Illfang's odachi, stirring up a bloody wind, swept towards them.
It wasn't a sword, but a moving wall of death and steel, pressing down on everyone.
The breath of all survivors hitched at this moment.
However, Chen Mo's movements defied the laws of physics.
The instant the odachi reached his body, he folded backward at an incredible angle, the blade almost grazing the skin of his nose.
The sharp wind left a faint red mark on his face.
Immediately after, he slammed his hands to the ground, engaged his core, and, like a cheetah coiled to its maximum, performed a backflip.
One rotation.
Another rotation.
Finally, his feet landed without a sound, and he stood steadily behind the BOSS.
The entire sequence was fluid, full of both violence and beauty.
...Monster!
Someone, it was unclear who, squeezed out these two words from their throat.
The survivors' eyes bulged, their minds blank.
That was no longer an action a player could perform; it was a scene that only existed in top-tier CG animations!
Lord Illfang's massive body sensed the threat and turned with a roar.
But, it was too slow.
Chen Mo's sword had already been thrust forward.
The blade of Blade of Perseverance, like a cold moonlight, plunged without the slightest deviation into the most minute gap in the BOSS's waist armor.
Pfft!
-1076! Critical Hit!
A string of crimson numbers frantically shot up above the BOSS's head!
Its already dwindling HP bar was directly gouged out by this single strike, leaving only a thin sliver of health, as if it would vanish with a breath of wind.
Kirito!
Chen Mo's voice rang out, without turning, as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice.
Kirito shuddered, jolted awake from his extreme shock.
He sprang from the ground, grabbed a red potion, violently crushed the bottle's neck, and poured the liquid into his mouth.
His HP instantly returned to a safe level.
I'm coming!
Kirito let out a beast-like growl, gripping his longsword, and charged towards the center of the battlefield as if staking everything.
Lord Illfang, thoroughly enraged by the intense pain, roared and raised its odachi.
But a dark figure had already blocked its path.
Clang—!
Kirito gripped his sword with both hands, using all his strength to parry the BOSS's thunderous blow.
Terrifying immense force transmitted through the sword, the flagstones beneath his feet cracked inch by inch, the bones in his arms groaned, and the web of his hand instantly burst open, warm blood staining the sword hilt.
But he didn't retreat.
Not a single step!
Switch!
Kirito screamed the word with his last reserves of strength!
Now!
Chen Mo's figure appeared beside Kirito as if teleporting, Blade of Perseverance tracing a deadly arc in the dim light.
This time, it wasn't a thrust.
He twisted his wrist, reversing his grip on the longsword, and poured all his strength, through the bulging of his muscles, unreservedly into his arms.
Hah!
A muffled roar.
The muscular definition of Chen Mo's arms was clearly visible through his clothes.
Blade of Perseverance, from bottom to top, did not 'slash,' did not 'cleave,' but rather 'impacted' the BOSS's heavy chest armor with the most primitive, most brutal method!
Boom—!!!
An indescribable, terrifying power erupted at the point of contact!
Lord Illfang's mountain-like heavy body was actually lifted clean off the ground by this single blow!
In the air, it tumbled, weightless!
Everyone went crazy.
Their brains completely crashed.
A player... with pure strength, sent a floor BOSS of over ten levels... flying?
Is this even... a human being?!
However, Chen Mo's attack wasn't over yet!
He slammed his feet into the ground, which exploded in response!
His entire being transformed into a cannonball fired from its barrel, soaring into the sky, chasing the BOSS still tumbling in mid-air!
A brilliant golden light began to fiercely gather on the blade of Blade of Perseverance.
That was the radiance of a Sword Skill.
No!
The purity and condensation of that light far surpassed any known Sword Skill!
What is that...
Argo's pupils contracted to pinpricks; her instincts as an Information Broker sent a shiver down her spine.
It was a power that had never been recorded, unknown to anyone.
In mid-air, Chen Mo adjusted his posture, raising his longsword high above his head.
The golden light converged and compressed in his hand, finally transforming into a pillar of light that pierced the darkness.
It's over.
He declared.
His voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly in everyone's ears like a divine oracle.
Blade of Perseverance, carrying world-destroying power, vertically pierced through Lord Illfang's head, chest, abdomen... from top to bottom!
Roar—!
The BOSS let out one last roar, full of unwillingness and despair.
Its HP bar completely hit zero.
Its massive body began to disintegrate in the air, scattering into billions of blue data fragments, like a grand, melancholic snow, drifting down.
Chen Mo's figure slowly landed amidst that blizzard of data.
His longsword returned to its sheath, emitting a crisp 'click' sound.
The entire throne room fell into a deathly silence.
You could hear a pin drop.
A few seconds later, the cold system notification finally echoed throughout the hall:
Congratulations! The First Floor BOSS, Kobold Lord Illfang, has been defeated!
The Second Floor passage has been opened!
You gained 3000 experience points!
You gained 15000 ke'er!
Special Reward: Midnight Coat
Golden leveling light pillars descended from the sky, enveloping every survivor.
But, no one cheered.
No one celebrated.
Everyone's gaze, like iron filings drawn by a magnet, was fixed firmly on the black-clad figure in the center of the arena.
Kirito leaned on his sword, gasping for breath, as if a scorching magma surged in his chest.
He thought he had understood this man.
But that one sword strike just now shattered all his perceptions, along with his ridiculous pride.
Asuna and Mito clung tightly to each other, their bodies still trembling uncontrollably.
Mito...
Asuna's voice was tearful, "We... we once teamed up with a player like that?"
Mito could only force a bitter smile, shaking her head with all her might.
Strong?
No, that word was an insult to that man.
He was a monster outside the rules.
A monster... in player's skin.
Argo walked up to Chen Mo, her voice for the first time losing its usual composure, tinged with a dryness.
Was that... an original Sword Skill you just used?
Something like that.
Chen Mo responded indifferently, as if he had only done a trivial thing.
He turned, his cold gaze sweeping past everyone, landing on the dispirited figure in the corner.
That once high-spirited knight, Diabel.
Now, he was like a dog with its spine removed, slumped on the ground, his eyes vacant, muttering to himself.
His plan, his ambition, everything... had been completely annihilated by that one sword strike.
Chen Mo slowly walked towards him, step by step.
Shadow completely enveloped Diabel.
Diabel.
Chen Mo looked down at him, his voice devoid of any warmth.
Now, let's settle the score for you hiding information and causing the deaths of so many people.