Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Limit
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Apart from Jiang Fang, several other powerful individuals in Black Tortoise's innermost combat circle activated their transcendent talents.
Previously, they had only appeared slightly stronger than regular high-tier professionals. However, at this moment, they demonstrated a gap that was almost unbridgeable.
Faced with the Frozen Fishman Lord in its energy absorption state, these experts launched even more ferocious attacks.
A shield wielder slammed his heavy shield against the Frozen Fishman Lord's tentacles, creating an opening for his companion. The ally deftly dodged through the dense forest of writhing limbs, plunging a sword into the Frozen Fishman Lord's back.
Nearby, a man wielding a broadsword severed tentacle after tentacle. Beside him, his teammate's eyes gleamed silver as they seized the opportunity to dart to the Lord's left leg, slashing its ankle over ten times in rapid succession.
Jiang Fang's spear clashed repeatedly with the Frozen Fishman Lord's trident. Behind him, the healers frantically waved their staffs, ensuring his survival.
"The War God Hall experts don't just excel individually; their teamwork is flawless," Jiang Kai marveled.
Surprisingly, Black Tortoise inflicted heavy damage on the Frozen Fishman Lord in less than five minutes.
It was evident that Black Tortoise understood the longer the Frozen Fishman Lord remained in its energy absorption state, the greater the disadvantage for their guild.
By now, the Frozen Fishman Lord's once-imposing scales were riddled with cracks, and its body bore countless wounds.
Suddenly, it let out a furious roar. The scales on its back began to vibrate, emitting a rustling sound.
"It's coming! The Extreme Frost Storm." Hu Yan shouted, his eyes wide. "Last time, Black Tortoise Guild was wiped out by this move!"
The Frozen Fishman Lord raised its golden trident and swept it horizontally, forcing all nearby enemies to retreat. Then, gripping the trident firmly, it spun it rapidly in its hands.
Two appendages on its forehead began to glow red.
The trident's rapid spinning created a vortex, whipping up a gale filled with icy shards.
"So cold… s-s-so c-c-cold…" Jiang Kai shivered uncontrollably.
His once-agile body felt sluggish and stiff. His muscles froze, and his joints locked.
Simultaneously, countless Frozen Fishmen' foreheads also lit up with red light. They opened their gill slits wide, greedily inhaling the frigid air.
Even the Frozen Fishman Lord itself absorbed the frost storm, covering its body in a glistening layer of icy armor that looked like a silver-plated shield.
The Third Elder observed the scene coldly, his voice low as he questioned Huang Tong beside him.
"What's the status of the commander and general-level kills?"
Huang Tong responded quickly, "Elder, before the Frozen Fishman Lord activated the Extreme Frost Storm, we successfully eliminated six commanders and thirty-nine generals. We've met our pre-battle target."
"The most troublesome aspect of the Extreme Frost Storm is its buffs to the commanders and generals. But we planned for this, deliberately eliminating as many high-tier Frozen Fishmen as possible beforehand."
The Third Elder didn't respond immediately. He simply continued to stare at the battlefield with intense focus.
After the Extreme Frost Storm, the maddened Frozen Fishmen fought even more ferociously. Wielding their ice tridents, they charged at Black Tortoise's three defensive lines with reckless abandon.
The icy armor significantly bolstered their defenses, while the humans' reduced mobility due to the storm's effects made the battle all the more challenging.
With this shift, the tide of the battle turned. One after another, Black Tortoise Guild members fell to the Frozen Fishmen' icy weapons.
Even the War God Hall experts were affected by the Extreme Frost Storm. Their movements lost their earlier fluidity, and their stamina was rapidly depleting.
Finally, the Third Elder spoke with a heavy tone.
"This is the Frozen Fishman Lord's final struggle—its most ferocious and dangerous counterattack."
He added, "Even if we succeed in killing it, we'll have to exhaust every ounce of strength."
Huang Tong nodded gravely. "Yes, I've already issued the order. No matter the cost, we must kill the Frozen Fishman Lord!"
Jiang Kai narrowed his eyes.
For over half an hour, Black Tortoise's operations had seemed meticulous and orderly. Yet, after the Frozen Fishman Lord unleashed its Extreme Frost Storm, their casualties surged.
Death came much faster now.
At the same time, Black Tortoise's remaining forces threw everything they had into killing the Frozen Fishman Lord.
"Kill it!"
"We must secure the skull this time! Fight to the death!"
"Even if I die, hold the line! Jiang Fang, don't let our sacrifice be in vain—kill it!"
However, even Jiang Fang and his team weren't faring well. The Extreme Frost Storm significantly hindered their movements, and their earlier exertions had taken a toll.
Most noticeably, the two healers in their squad were visibly faltering. The glow of their staffs dimmed with every passing second.
But they knew the Frozen Fishman Lord was also at its limit.
Both sides had entered a state of frenzy. It was now a matter of who could outlast the other.
"Die!" Jiang Fang roared, dodging the Frozen Fishman Lord's trident and driving his spear into its gills.
The Frozen Fishman Lord let out a shriek of agony and swiped at Jiang Fang with its clawed hand.
Jiang Fang gritted his teeth, refusing to let go.
"Die already!"
But just as he drove his spear deeper, the Frozen Fishman Lord's claw struck him, sending him crashing into the ground.
At the last moment, Jiang Fang's armor shimmered, absorbing much of the impact.
He rolled to the side, evading the Frozen Fishman Lord's follow-up attack.
"FOCUS FIRE ON THE GILLS! QUICKLY! THE MAIN FORCE CAN'T HOLD ON MUCH LONGER!" Jiang Fang shouted.
The War God Hall combatants heeded his call, launching a desperate assault on the Frozen Fishman Lord.
One after another, figures charged forward, some inflicting significant damage, others falling to the Frozen Fishman Lord's retaliation.
Within minutes, Black Tortoise's main forces were on the verge of collapse, and more than half of the War God Hall experts lay gravely injured.
"We haven't killed it yet?" Huang Tong's eyes widened in panic.
At that moment, the Frozen Fishman Lord took advantage of Jiang Fang's single-minded focus on offense.
The golden trident pierced through Jiang Fang's chest armor.
Suspended on the trident, Jiang Fang's armor dimmed. His body went limp, his head turning slightly to the side, eyes filled with regret.
"So close… just a little more…"
As Jiang Fang fell, the healers behind him were overwhelmed. Two Frozen Fishman generals swiftly ended their lives with icy tridents.
"Damn it, just a bit more!" Huang Tong roared.
Now, only a single shield-bearer remained among the War God Hall experts. Surrounded by seven or eight Frozen Fishman generals, he was at his breaking point.
Meanwhile, the Frozen Fishman Lord collapsed onto one knee, its gills heaving violently. It, too, was at its limit.
"Damn it!" the shield-bearer growled, his eyes bloodshot. "If I'm going down, I'm taking you all with me!"
But before he could act, several icy tridents pierced his back.
On the outskirts of Eternal Frost Island, the remaining human squads stared helplessly at the carnage.
Li Biao supported a wounded Yuan Zhu, his gaze fixed on the island.
He let out a long sigh. "I didn't expect the Frozen Fishman Lord to be this strong. Against any other King-level boss, it would've fallen by now."
Chen Yueling shook her head. Despite her injuries, she ignored Nuannuan's efforts to bandage her.
"What a shame. We were so close. But that Extreme Frost Storm… it's too devastating. Strengthening the Frozen Fishmen while crippling us? It's broken beyond reason. Black Tortoise's defeat will set Huaxia's progress back by months."
Nuannuan stared at the island, her voice trembling.
"We were so close… If only there were nearby experts, they could intervene. Even if they don't take the skull, they could help Black Tortoise for Huaxia's sake!"
Li Biao shook his head.
"Foolish girl. Do you think it's that simple? The island is overrun. Who could possibly get in now?"
But just then, someone shouted, "Look! What are those three doing?"
Nuannuan followed the direction of the pointing finger.
Three figures were dashing across the ice lake toward Eternal Frost Island.
Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized one of them.
"Jiang Kai!" Yuan Zhu shouted.
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