I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

The battle reached its climax.

When the Lake Spirit's health dropped below 30%, its massive body trembled violently, and the [Filthy Aura] that enveloped the entire area changed color from dark green to deep purple, becoming even more viscous and ominous.

The debuff icons on Li Wu and Hua Zitong's status bars also changed accordingly.

[Deeply Corrupted]: When deeply corrupted, all healing received is reduced by 99%, and 2% of maximum health and mana are lost per second.

"Oh no!" Hua Zitong's face instantly darkened.

At a rate of 2% health loss per second, she could only last a maximum of fifty seconds. With healing reduced by 99%, Li Wu's [Healing Arrow] was completely ineffective.

Even more deadly is that the Lake Spirit's attack pattern has become increasingly frenzied.

It no longer follows a fixed skill cycle; a dozen or so [resentment tentacles], like a swarm of demons, lash out from all directions without warning, sealing off most of the room for dodging.

puff!

Hua Zitong was caught off guard and was lashed hard in the waist by a tentacle. She staggered back a few steps, and her health bar dropped again.

"I'm almost out of mana!" Li Wu's voice also carried a hint of urgency.

Purifying, dealing damage, and healing—the high-intensity operation of multitasking is a huge test of his mana. Even with basic mana restoration potions and Siphon Arrows to tide him over, his mana bar is already on the verge of collapse.

While dodging a tentacle that swept overhead, he gulped down the last bottle of blue potion.

We must finish this quickly!

Li Wu's eyes turned fierce. He abandoned all unnecessary movements and focused all his attention on the longbow in his hand.

Draw the bow, aim, and fire!

Two [Explosive Burning Arrows] tore through the air again and struck the Lake Spirit.

-598!

-615!

Lake Spirit's health slowly dropped to 10% amidst the raging flames.

Seemingly sensing a threat to its life, the lake spirit let out a final wail. Its liquid-based body suddenly collapsed, and all its tentacles retracted back into its body.

Immediately afterwards, a gaping hole appeared in the center of its massive body, like a gaping maw of an abyss, generating an irresistible suction force that pointed directly at Hua Zitong, who was closest to it!

Hua Zitong felt a sudden tightness under her feet, and her body was uncontrollably pulled by that force, sliding towards the giant mouth of the lake spirit.

"I've been caught!" she cried out, struggling to plunge her longsword into the ground to steady herself, but to no avail. The blade drew sparks as it scraped against the hard altar, and she was still being dragged along.

Once you get dragged into it, the consequences will be unimaginable.

At this critical moment, a resolute glint flashed in Hua Zitong's eyes.

"Holy Light Protection!"

She gave up resisting, letting herself be sucked into that gigantic maw. Just before she was about to be swallowed, a dazzling golden light burst forth from her body, completely enveloping her and forming a sacred and inviolable golden cocoon of light.

The lake spirit's devouring power collided with the cocoon of light, as if it had hit an unshakeable mountain, and could not advance any further.

Hua Zitong bought Li Wu the most precious five seconds!

"Now! Kill it!" Hua Zitong's voice came from the cocoon of light, weak but incredibly firm.

Li Wu didn't need any reminders.

The moment Hua Zitong activated [Holy Light Protection], he already understood her intention.

He took a deep breath and poured the last of his mana into the arcane bow in his hand.

Om-!

The bowstring was stretched to its limit, groaning under the strain.

Two arrows materialized on his bowstring, their dark red flames burning more intensely than ever before, as if they were about to ignite the surrounding air!

Go to hell!

In Li Wu's eyes, all that remained was the enormous body of the Lake Spirit, frozen in place due to its failed attempt to devour.

Let go!

Boom! Boom!

Two more [Explosive Burning Arrows]!

Without even looking at the result, he drew the bow again, relying on muscle memory!

Boom! Boom!

The last bit of magic, the last two arrows!

Four destructive flames, almost simultaneously, precisely struck the lake spirit's gaping maw—its most vulnerable core!

-1299! (Critical Hit!)

-1279! (Critical Hit!)

-1102! (Critical Hit! Weakness Exploit!)

-1125! (Critical Hit! Weakness Exploit!)

A series of terrifyingly red damage numbers jumped out from above the Lake Spirit's head.

"roar……"

The screams of the lake spirit came to an abrupt halt.

Its massive body, like a punctured balloon, suddenly stiffened, and then began to collapse and disintegrate from the inside.

Countless distorted and tormented faces emitted silent screams from the black liquid. In the end, along with the filth and resentment, they turned into countless purplish-black specks of light and dissipated into the air.

The world fell silent.

Splash!

A small pile of spoils, shimmering with various colors, fell to the center of the altar. Among them, a fist-sized, translucent heart radiating pure white light was particularly eye-catching.

A pure heart.

The mission is complete.

Li Wu and Hua Zitong both breathed a sigh of relief. As their tense nerves relaxed, a huge sense of fatigue instantly washed over them.

Before they could even catch their breath, a crisp and pleasant system notification sound resounded throughout the world of "Origin Realm".

[Server-wide announcement for Area 21: Congratulations to the teams 'Seeing Through the Mist' and 'Searching for the Mist' for successfully achieving the world's first kill of the level 10 dungeon [Shadow Lake Island]!]

The instance "Shadow Lake Island" is now officially open. All players who have reached level 10 can challenge it.

As a first-clear reward, players whose "Seeing Through the Fog" and "Searching for Fog Among Flowers" skills level up by 1, receive 1 "First Clear Lucky Chest", 500 reputation points, and 1 luck point!

……

The announcement was played three times in a row.

The entire starting villages in District 21 were instantly in an uproar.

"Holy crap?! First kill?! These two pro players have quietly achieved another first kill of a level 10 dungeon!"

"Shadowed Island in the middle of the lake? Where is that?"

"Damn it, we're still fighting tooth and nail for a piece of ordinary equipment, and they've already got the first kill in the level 10 dungeon? How are we supposed to compete like this?!"

……

Li Wu and Hua Zitong were unaware of the commotion outside.

Two soft golden beams of light descended from the sky, enveloping them.

Warm energy flowed throughout his body, sweeping away all fatigue and injuries, and his level increased from LV12 to LV13.

Hua Zitong deactivated the [Holy Light Protection] state and looked at Li Wu with an extremely complex expression.

Shock, admiration, and a hint of...gratification that she herself couldn't quite explain.

"We're...famous again," she said softly.

"Um."

Li Wu's reaction was indifferent, as if he hadn't heard her speak at all.

His attention was completely drawn to his personal attribute panel.

Luck: 11.85 (Equipment +1)

That little bit of luck value from the system reward has already been added.

At that very moment, the [Devouring Fortune Jade Pendant] on his chest, which had remained completely still, emitted a faint, yearning warmth.