Just as Shi Feng went after the War Monkey Leader, Zero Wing's ranged classes within Skyline Pass sprang into action.
Ke Le and the other MTs had already weathered the first wave of assault, and the healers in the backline were keeping all fifteen MTs' health stable. What remained was to clear out the charging Red-Eyed War Monkeys.
Hei Zi, positioned in the backline, had already begun chanting a spell, sweeping his staff through the air.
After advancing to first-tier Warlock, Hei Zi's spell damage had increased dramatically. He had also learned a new first-tier skill — Mana Amplification — which enhanced the user's spell effects, boosting their power by 30% while reducing cast time by 30% for 15 seconds.
The magical elements swirling around Hei Zi surged violently, and then he unleashed Star of Light.
Bolstered by Mana Amplification, each Star of Light's area of effect and power had been amplified by 30%.
A dazzling orb of light plummeted from the sky. The Red-Eyed War Monkeys reacted quickly, attempting to dodge, but inside Skyline Pass there was nowhere to go — forward or back. Both sides were flanked by near-vertical smooth cliff faces impossible to climb. Ke Le and the other MTs blocked the path ahead, while more War Monkeys sealed off the retreat. They could only watch helplessly as Star of Light descended upon them.
Defending against Star of Light was utterly impossible. Large-scale destruction magic attacked in all directions — unless one had magic immunity or invincibility, or countered with an equally powerful destruction spell, there was simply no other way.
Boom!
The instant Star of Light struck, damage numbers exceeding 5,000 erupted at its center, with over 3,000 appearing along the edges — instantly wiping out nearly a third of the stat-boosted Red-Eyed War Monkeys' health.
But this was only the beginning. Star of Light persisted for 15 seconds, with damage increasing by 10% each second. In less than five seconds, every Red-Eyed War Monkey within its range had been reduced to ash, leaving the ground littered with dropped items.
A massive swath of Skyline Pass had been cleared out — a rough estimate put the death toll at over a hundred.
"Large-scale destruction magic really is satisfying. If only the cooldown were shorter."
Though Ke Le had witnessed this many times before, every time he saw this earth-shattering spectacle, he couldn't help but feel awestruck.
The ground was covered in loot, and the experience points were skyrocketing — it couldn't get any better.
A level-22 Elite already granted substantial experience, and every monster in White Fog Valley gave three to four times the normal amount — killing one was like killing three or four.
Shield Warrior Ye Wumian jumped straight from level 22 to level 23, his health breaking past 5,000. Everyone else's experience bars surged forward dramatically as well. What would have taken several hours was accomplished in just over ten seconds.
Star of Light was devastatingly effective in battle — not only did it destroy everything in its path, but it also dealt a massive psychological blow to the enemy.
The Red-Eyed War Monkeys outside Star of Light's range hadn't taken a single hit, yet they stood frozen in shock, their previously ferocious momentum dissolving into nothing.
The only pity was that such large-scale destruction magic was exceedingly rare. Moreover, the cooldown was brutally long — a full half hour — meaning it could only be used once in a major battle.
"Stop staring, everyone! All ranged, open fire on those dazed War Monkeys!" Shuise Qiangwei immediately ordered.
Spells and arrows rained down in an instant.
The Red-Eyed War Monkeys were caught completely off guard. They even forgot to raise their weapons to block or dodge, and another dozen or so fell in an instant.
But these Red-Eyed War Monkeys were not so easily dealt with. Once they recovered, they charged at Ke Le and the other MTs with even greater ferocity.
And just like that, both sides plunged into the second round of attrition warfare.