That wisp of Evil Soul didn't even pause; a mass of black mist merely swept gently forward.

The moment their bodies made contact with the black mist, Benboerba and Babobaben dissolved at a visible rate, as if corroded by concentrated acid.

Their bones, flesh, and scales turned to nothingness in the black mist. Two clusters of grayish-white light rose from where they had disappeared—afterimages of shattered cards.

Su Mu's pupils shrank abruptly.

At this moment, he instantly felt a sense of crisis. This creature's Level definitely exceeded his understanding.

The Benboer Brothers were already level fifteen, with stats comparable to conventional level-thirty monsters. Yet the opponent hadn't even truly attacked—with just a single swirl of black mist, it had instantly killed them.

Immediately afterward, standing before the Evil Soul was the White Bone Demon.

The maiden in plain clothes flew down from White Tiger Ridge, her bone whip lashing out a grayish-white Fire Curtain.

Her combat index exceeded seven hundred thousand, her three transformations complete, an SSS-Level card, making her the strongest fighting force in Su Mu's dungeon.

The Fire Curtain unfurled, blocking the black mist for an instant.

The White Bone Demon's bone whip coiled toward that wisp of Evil Soul, its grayish-white flames attempting to scorch the opponent.

But that wisp of Evil Soul merely paused, and then the black mist contracted and expanded violently.

The White Bone Demon's body flew backward as if struck by a heavy sledgehammer, her grayish-white bones shattering in midair.

Her HP instantly dropped to zero, her body turning into a streak of grayish-white light that was forcefully teleported back into the depths of the dungeon.

But Su Mu noticed that the White Bone Demon had endured one blow from the opponent.

Just one hit, and she was instantly killed. But she had also bought three seconds against the opponent.

Three seconds.

Thoughts raced through Su Mu's mind.

What should he do? What could he do?

Yet that wisp of Evil Soul gave him no time for extra thought.

It had already flown in front of Little Drill-Wind.

Standing in the front sector of Lion Camel Ridge, Little Drill-Wind held a short blade across his chest, his dark cyan scales glinting with a cold sheen.

His combat index exceeded five hundred thousand, making him the most resilient melee unit under Su Mu.

The Evil Soul's black mist surged forward.

Little Drill-Wind did not dodge. He charged into the black mist, slashing out a fierce blade light with his short blade.

The blade light sliced into the black mist, carving open a fissure. But the mist healed instantly, creeping up along the blade instead.

Little Drill-Wind endured the first strike.

A layer of dark cyan Demonic aura surfaced over his scales, holding the black mist at bay. But his HP instantly plummeted by forty percent.

The Evil Soul seemed slightly surprised.

It did not pause, unleashing a second strike right away.

This time, the speed was beyond description—or rather, completely impossible to see clearly, as the opponent was merely a cluster of black mist.

Like black lightning, the black mist penetrated Little Drill-Wind's defense, severely damaging his chest and abdomen.

Little Drill-Wind's body was sent flying, tumbling several times in the air before steadying himself.

A massive gash tore open across his chest, dark cyan blood gushing out.

But he did not fall. Kneeling on one knee with his short blade planted in the ground to prop himself up, he raised his head, his narrow eyes still glinting with ferocious light.

The Evil Soul paused for an instant.

"You indeed have some skill," a raspy voice drifted from the black mist. "However, that is all."

It coalesced the black mist once again, preparing to deliver the fatal blow.

Just then, Little Drill-Wind suddenly roared toward the sky.

"King, save me!"

Hearing this cry, Su Mu's rapidly spinning thoughts paused for a beat.

This was Little Drill-Wind's passive skill... Call for Help.

When he realized his own strength was insufficient, he would actively Call for Help from Lion Camel Ridge. If forced into battle until his HP fell below 30%, it would trigger fleeing and calling for help.

But at this moment, the Green Lion King...

Su Mu looked toward the main peak of Lion Camel Ridge.

The translucent golden lion was prostrated on the throne atop the mountain.

It was only in a semi-embedded state, with less than two-fifths of its full power, and was merely an A-Level card. Equivalent to a severely weakened state, even if it went, it couldn't save anyone.

And once the Green Lion King was shattered, the loss would be tens of millions in purchase costs.

Furthermore, the next loss would be his own Core Card.

Su Mu even felt a twinge of discouragement.

At this moment, the Green Lion King seemed to stir as well.

It slowly stood up from the throne atop the mountain peak, its golden mane burning faintly under the dull gray light of the sky. Its

form was ethereal and frail, nothing more than a translucent outline, but its eyes were alight.

Su Mu looked at it and sighed helplessly.

If this card worth tens of millions broke, then so be it.

He only hoped it could buy one more second of time, holding out until backup arrived.

But Su Mu knew that was virtually impossible.

After all, of that one minute, less than ten seconds had passed so far. Were they doomed?

Just as Su Mu was thinking this,

an icy blue light burst open beside him.

Ye Qingxue appeared beside his dungeon.

Her face was pale and her breathing hurried, but her steps were steady.

The Ice Queen stepped out from behind her, her ice crystal gown sweeping across the ground as frost spread outward. Raising her hand, an icy blue light exploded from her palm, transforming into dozens of icicles that shot toward that wisp of Evil Soul.

The icicles struck the black mist, shattering into a shower of ice crystals. The black mist was frozen for an instant.

But the Evil Soul merely flung an attack into the distance with casual ease.

A tendril of black mist lashed toward the Ice Queen like a whip, moving too fast to see.

The Ice Queen's body was struck, her ice crystal gown shattering as she was thrown backward. Due to the distance, she did not die, but her HP instantly plummeted by ninety percent.

Su Mu's pupils constricted, and he immediately shouted at Ye Qingxue, "Get out of here!"

Ye Qingxue did not leave.

Gritting her teeth, she drew another scroll from her card box.

The scroll was entirely icy blue, inscribed with dense runes and exuding bone-chilling cold.

She crushed the scroll, and an icy blue radiance surged into the Ice Queen's body. The Ice Queen's HP recovered slightly, her ice crystal form coalescing anew.

Su Mu glanced at her.

He felt a surge of gratitude.

Then, looking at Ye Qingxue's stubborn profile, he suddenly thought... since even she hadn't given up, why should he?

Su Mu's mind worked furiously.

The trump cards he could still play right now...

None.

After racking his brain, he realized he had no trump cards left.

Little Drill-Wind was dead, the White Bone Demon had been killed in one hit, Benboerba and Babobaben's cards were shattered, and the Green Lion King was only in a semi-embedded state, completely unable to block it.

The only skill he had left that he hadn't used was Pure World Radiance.

Cleanses negative status effects.

But facing a monster that killed in one hit at this moment, what use was cleansing negative status effects?

Cleanse negative status effects?

Suddenly, an idea flashed across Su Mu's mind.