Chapter 98: Reversal A surge of frustration burst from Tristan’s lips, a succinct "Shit!" that reverberated in the chaotic turmoil. His mind spun in disbelief –– what in the name of the goddamn game was that Golem’s devastating power?! The reality was a far cry from his expectations, leaving him on the precipice of screaming his frustration to the heavens. The unexpected strike had caught their healers off-guard. The defenses they had been relying on were evidently insufficient against the colossal Golem’s single devastating blow. The possibility of their healers using their [Teleport] ability to evade the attack had been dashed, leaving them defenseless in the face of the Golem’s overwhelming assault. For a fleeting moment, Tristan’s mind seemed to go blank, a rare occurrence for a seasoned player like him. This encounter marked the first instance where he had encountered a Golem capable of unleashing such monstrous destruction upon healers who had surpassed level 80. The sheer power of the Golem’s AoE attack was staggering, obliterating their healers with ruthless efficiency. The horrifying realization struck Tristan –– if their mages happened to be clustered nearby, they, too, would have been consumed by the destructive force. "XIAXIA!" The veins on Tristan’s forehead throbbed with the intensity of his rage, his voice reverberating with anger. His shout was a desperate plea, a call to action that punctuated the chaos surrounding them. In the blink of an eye, his halberd was in his hand, its glinting blade an extension of his frustration. His voice thundered with command, rallying his forces. "Abandon the Golems! Target their master! Bring down that damned fucking CAT!" Their DPS warriors reacted with a swift change of tactics, resolutely shifting their abilities. Their [Blink] skill was moved to a prominent slot on their skill slots. Evading the Golems’ reach, they surged forward, directed by their newfound goal –– the eradication of Lord Schrodinger himself. The four DPS embodied a variety of combat styles: a brawny barbarian, an agile swordsman, a masterful blade master, and a steadfast knight. Each warrior possessed formidable physical prowess and a balanced defense, creating a well-rounded team. Their collective battle cry reverberated through the air, an intimidating declaration of their intent as they directed their weapons toward Lord Schrodinger’s vulnerable point. Yet, before their strikes could find their mark, Hilda’s mighty hammer swung, causing a shockwave that sent them hurtling in different directions. The force of her blow drastically reduced their HP, leaving them staggered and gasping for breath. "Weak!" Hilda’s voice boomed, her disappointment evident. Despite her restraint, the level discrepancy between them remained insurmountable. "Try again if you grow some more balls!" Trepidation painted the expressions of the damage dealers as they comprehended the peril they faced. Another swing of Hilda’s colossal weapon would be their undoing. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮 Among the spectators, Tristan, Tiffany, and their mages watched in disbelief. Their initial confidence shattered in the face of Hilda’s overwhelming power. Tristan clenched his jaw. "Disperse and regroup! Restore your health!" The absence of items and dedicated healers meant that their DPS would have to rely on their limited recovery skills. Though it came at the cost of dwindling MP and the inability to use their more potent abilities, they had no other option. With another strike from Hilda’s hammer looming as a dire consequence, their only recourse was to retreat temporarily, buying themselves a precious opportunity to heal and rethink their strategy. As the tide of battle shifted against them, realization dawned upon Tristan like a spark igniting fury in his eyes. Lord Schrodinger and Hilda were the pivots of this disparity and the intensity of his glare fixed upon them. His mind raced, struggling to fathom where Xiaxia had unearthed such extraordinary allies. Did she hire them, or were they merely chance encounters? In his urgency to devise a counterplan, Tristan failed to recognize that he lacked crucial information. The concealed levels of Lord Schrodinger and Hilda, obscured by the [Ring of Level Concealment], left him assuming their strength based solely on their exhibited abilities and power. The presumption that they were level ninety-plus further fueled his frustration. To compound the chaos, a fresh wave of Golems materialized, distinct in appearance and color. Their unique features hinted at an array of diverse skills and capabilities, heralding another layer of complexity to the battle. "Fuck me!" Tristan’s expletive was a raw expression of his mounting desperation. This new batch of Golems abandoned the languid pace of their predecessors, launching a blistering assault on their DPS. Their speed and ferocity left little room for retaliation, systematically eliminating their targets one by one. Amid the maelstrom, Tristan’s voice was a strained growl directed at Lord Schrodinger. "You . . . !" The revelation that Lord Schrodinger’s arsenal included such a formidable array of Golems sent shockwaves through Tristan’s already taxed psyche. Each successive appearance of new Golems deepened his exasperation and anxiety like the relentless pounding of a drum. As the Elemental Titan unleashed another round of destructive AoE magic, targeting their mages positioned at the rear, Tristan’s world seemed to contract around him. He was trapped within the relentless onslaught, grappling with the fact that this battle had spiraled beyond his control. "Evade!" Tiffany’s voice rang out, an urgent command as she and her companions swiftly triggered their [Teleportation] abilities, disappearing from the Elemental Titan’s devastating assault. Tiffany materialized again, her eyes scanning the battlefield for signs of her teammates’ survival. A fleeting sense of relief washed over her as she confirmed their safety. However, that relief was abruptly extinguished when her gaze shifted to their mages, ensnared by a swarm of encroaching Golems. "Defend the mages!" Tiffany’s scream carried desperation, her plea echoing across the tumultuous battleground. Yet, her exhortations were met with chaos as their DPS struggled to hold back the relentless tide of the new Golem variants. A jolt of realization struck Tiffany’s core. This wasn’t how it was supposed to unfold. They had come to this battle expecting their numerical advantage to tip the scales in their favor, but the reality was a stark reversal. The enigma of Lord Schrodinger’s Golem army and Hilda’s power gnawed at Tiffany’s mind. How many could he conjure? How could they be both so formidable and versatile? A sharp whistling heralded a projectile’s descent, crashing into Tiffany’s abdomen. Agony lanced through her, her HP dwindling before her eyes. She clenched her teeth, her eyes narrowing at the source of the attack. "Who’s laughing now, huh?" Scarlet’s voice was a taunting melody. "You bitch!" Tiffany’s retort was venomous. "Healers, heal me!" Scarlet’s laughter rippled through the chaos. "Healers? Oh dear, they’re quite indisposed at the moment." Tiffany’s realization landed like a punch to the gut. Their healers, crucial lifelines in battle, were no more. Without items to mend their wounds, their options were perilously limited. "Time to start running," Scarlet’s voice held a victorious edge as she cast another spell, her intent unmistakable. Tiffany’s own incantation intermingled with the air, forming a protective shield against Scarlet’s impending attack. But in her focus to parry the impending assault, she failed to register the ominous presence behind her. In a blinding instant, reality crashed down as Tiffany sensed a looming shadow engulfing her. When she turned, panic surged as she met the gaze of a colossal Golem, its rocky fist descending upon her with unstoppable force. "Tiffany!" Tristan’s voice pierced the chaos, a desperate cry that reverberated through the battlefield. In an instant, Tiffany’s form shattered into particles, her demise complete.