Never Mind The Status, Just Keep Up

Jiang Taotao glanced between Lin Moyu and Ling Zhen, her disdain for Ling Zhen's actions palpable. It was frustrating; without any output, playing a copy of Nightmare felt utterly hopeless. Trials couldn't be completed, and every team was now hunting for mages, making Ling Zhen exceedingly popular.

This was exactly why Ling Zhen chose this moment to strike, putting Jiang Taotao in a difficult position. Without Lin Moyu, the average level of the team would rise, but finding a low-level replacement was easier than securing a mage.

Ning Yiyi wanted to voice her thoughts, but Lin Moyu gently pulled her back, signaling her to remain silent. She understood what Ning Yiyi was about to say: if Lin Moyu were asked to withdraw from the group, Ning Yiyi would undoubtedly follow suit.

Lin Moyu stayed quiet, observing the situation as it unfolded. The choice was now in Jiang Taotao's hands.

After a moment of inner turmoil, Jiang Taotao made her decision. Her gaze locked onto Ling Zhen. "Ling Zhen, you should withdraw from the group."

Ling Zhen's confidence wavered. He had expected Jiang Taotao to side with him. "What? If I withdraw, your trial will be canceled! Don't you want to enter Chuang 02 Seminary?"

Jiang Taotao's voice was steady but firm. "I want to enter, but you've forgotten my profession." As an elf knight, she adhered to a personal code of honor, one that Lin Moyu had helped solidify in her heart. She couldn't just let Lin Moyu go.

Ling Zhen smirked, clearly dismissing her resolve. "In that case, don't come crying to me later." He then exited the team, confident that he would find another group easily, given the current mage shortage.

Lin Moyu rose slowly. "Let's enter the instance."

Jiang Taotao froze momentarily. Did Lin Moyu not understand the tension surrounding them? The fighting had ceased, and no one dared approach the copy.

As Lin Moyu stood up, Ning Yiyi followed eagerly, her energy infectious. "Sister Taozi, let's enter the dungeon!"

"What?" Jiang Taotao blinked in confusion.

Lin Moyu walked toward the copy, urging, "Follow me."

Ning Yiyi bounced after him, exuding a blind faith in Lin Moyu's judgment. Lin Moyu had declared they could enter, and she believed it without question.

Duan Gao and Miao Yu hesitated, unsure of what to do. Jiang Taotao pondered the gravity of their choice. At least with her presence, they wouldn't face any immediate danger; the opposition likely wouldn't dare attack.

"Let's go." As the captain, her command held weight. Duan Gao and Miao Yu stepped forward, joining her.

Jiang Taotao approached Lin Moyu, gripping her shield tightly, her nerves evident. The five of them moved toward the dungeon, drawing attention from the people of Sakura Country.

"Go back! Don't get close!" they shouted, arrows strung and staffs raised.

"Shenxia people, retreat immediately!" The tension in the air was palpable; any approach would surely be met with aggression.

Ignoring their warnings, Lin Moyu pressed forward. Jiang Taotao's heart raced, her anxiety mounting alongside Duan Gao's and Miao Yu's. Only Ning Yiyi seemed unfazed. "Don't be nervous; it's going to be okay!"

"Brother, what are you planning?" someone from the opposing side shouted, their urgency evident.

"Come back quickly! Something bad is about to happen!"

"Let's protect our team!" They all knew Lin Moyu; without his summoned skeletons, they wouldn't be standing there.

Ling Zhen sneered from a distance. "Fools, are you courting death?"

As Lin Moyu disregarded the warnings, the people from Sakura Country unleashed their skills—arrows flew, spells erupted, and a barrage of attacks came raining down.

Jiang Taotao raised her shield, bracing for impact, but Lin Moyu pointed forward.

Suddenly, twenty skeleton warriors materialized beside him, forming a protective barrier that absorbed all incoming attacks.

Everyone was stunned into silence.

"How many skeletons are there?" someone gasped.

"Is this some sort of profession?" another wondered.

The skeletons stood firm, absorbing the onslaught without faltering. "Into the copy. Nightmare difficulty," Lin Moyu declared calmly, unaffected by the chaos around him.

Jiang Taotao felt a sense of reassurance wash over her, inspired by Lin Moyu's composure.

The five of them vanished into the dungeon alongside the skeleton warriors.

"They went in!"

"Five people entering a dungeon…"

"It must be Nightmare difficulty!"

"Nonsense! Normal difficulty wouldn't serve any purpose; it has to be Nightmare!"

Uncertain murmurs spread among the crowd.

With Lin Moyu inside, the external conflict reignited, neither side daring to approach the dungeon.

Inside the mermaid dungeon, Jiang Taotao finally let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "He really made it in!"

Ning Yiyi laughed. "I told you, just trust Lin Moyu! Don't worry."

Jiang Taotao frowned, "Even though we're in, we still lack any output. How can we tackle this dungeon?"

Ning Yiyi, an assassin but only level 19, knew her output wouldn't suffice. Jiang Taotao, as a knight, was also limited under the current conditions, and Nightmare difficulty would challenge them further.

"Don't worry! There's still Silent," Ning Yiyi reassured her.

"Silent? But he's only level 17!" Jiang Taotao was skeptical.

"He's got his skeletons, and they're incredibly powerful!" Ning Yiyi insisted, her enthusiasm infectious.

Indeed, the skeletons seemed formidable—tough and fast. Jiang Taotao couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

"Alright, I hope their output is enough. Miao Yu, keep me healed, and control the battlefield as best as you can."

Miao Yu nodded confidently. "Don't worry, Sister Taozi!"

Duan Gao began prepping his buffs, but Lin Moyu had already advanced ahead.

The skeleton warriors couldn't gain buffs, so there was no sense in wasting time.

Soon, they encountered their first monster: a mermaid more than two meters tall.

Lin Moyu activated his detection skill.

[Mermaid Elite Warrior (Enhanced Elite Monster 737)]

Level: 21

Power: 2000

Agility: 1200

Defense: 800

Physique: 2200

Skill: Scream

With a determined thought, the skeleton warriors surged forward, several unleashing simultaneous berserk blows.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The elite mermaid warrior collapsed in a shriek.

[Kill a level 21 mermaid elite fighter, experience +10,000]

[Get fish skin*10]

Duan Gao, still focused on buffing, was caught off guard by the sudden notification. "What just happened? Why did I gain experience all of a sudden?"

Jiang Taotao's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Lin Moyu.

This was a Nightmare dungeon monster—an enhanced elite creature. Under normal circumstances, even a perfectly configured team would take a minute or two to bring it down. Yet, in a matter of moments, Lin Moyu's skeletons had annihilated the beast.

Lin Moyu's skeletons weren't just tough; they were swift and incredibly powerful.

"Is this what it feels like to get spiked?" Jiang Taotao murmured in awe.

Ning Yiyi's delight was palpable. "I told you, Silent's skeletons are incredibly strong!"

With that, she darted forward to keep pace.

Duan Gao shouted, "Wait! I haven't even buffed yet!"

"Forget the buffs—just keep up!" Jiang Taotao ordered, sprinting after them.