Free Web NovelChapter 69: Chapter 69: Flame Horn Rhino
The team rested behind a low ridge of black stone.
The Flame Horn Rhino remained in the distance, its massive body half-covered in red stone plates. Flames rose from its horn in slow waves. Every time it exhaled, sparks scattered across the burned plain.
Qin Yuheng reviewed their condition.
[Heat Exhaustion]
Qin Yuheng: 21%
Qin Yuchen: 28%
Qin Lian: 27%
Qin Mo: 34%
Qin Mo pointed at his number.
"This is a very persuasive number."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Yes. It means we cannot afford a long detour."
Qin Mo paused.
"I dislike how you used my suffering as evidence."
Qin Yuchen studied the boss.
"Level 22. Higher than Blood Moon Alpha."
Qin Lian said, "But alone."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"And fire-type. We prepared resistance."
The biggest danger was the charge. If the Flame Horn Rhino hit directly, even Wei Chen might struggle to block it. Their team had no heavy shield. They had to fight through movement, terrain, and joint attacks.
Qin Mo looked at the ground.
"The burned plain has heat cracks. If we lure it over weak ground, I can trigger a collapse pit. Not deep, but enough to disrupt footing."
Qin Yuheng’s eyes brightened. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Good."
Qin Mo sighed.
"I contributed to my own danger."
The plan was built around three stages.
First, lure the rhino into a cracked zone.
Second, use formations and terrain to break its charge.
Third, attack horn base, leg joints, and under-throat flame channel.
Qin Yuheng would draw attention. Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian would attack joints. Qin Mo would trigger the ground formation. Everyone would carry Heat Shield Talismans active during close combat.
The battle began with Qin Yuheng stepping into the plain.
He struck a stone with thunder, creating a sharp crack.
The Flame Horn Rhino raised its head.
Its eyes burned orange. freёwebnovel.com
It charged.
The ground shook.
Qin Yuheng waited.
Waited.
Waited.
Then Thunder Shadow Flash.
He vanished from the charge path.
The rhino crashed past him, but it did not lose balance. Its hooves dug into the earth, turning faster than expected.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
Agile despite size.
The rhino charged again.
This time, Qin Mo activated the first ground mark.
The earth cracked beneath the rhino’s front hooves.
It stumbled.
Qin Yuchen struck the left knee joint.
Qin Lian cut the right rear tendon.
The rhino roared.
Flame burst outward from its horn.
The heat wave slammed into them.
Heat Shield Talismans flashed.
[Heat Exhaustion rising.]
Qin Yuheng used War Thunder Advance, forcing himself through the heat wave instead of retreating. His sword struck the horn base.
Crack.
A small fracture appeared.
The rhino became enraged.
It lowered its head and swept the flaming horn sideways.
Qin Yuheng leaned back, the flame passing inches from his face. The heat singed his hair. He countered with a thunder thrust into the under-throat flame channel.
The rhino recoiled.
Qin Mo shouted, "Second mark ready!"
Qin Yuheng led the rhino toward the cracked zone.
This was the most dangerous part.
The rhino focused entirely on him now, charging repeatedly. He used Thunder Shadow Flash to avoid fatal hits and War Thunder Advance to maintain footing when shockwaves struck. The combination strained his body, but his control had improved.
At the right moment, Qin Mo activated the second ground formation.
The burned earth collapsed under the rhino’s front legs.
Not enough to trap it fully.
Enough to force it down.
Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian moved instantly.
Sword and daggers struck the wounded joints.
Qin Yuheng leaped onto a stone ridge and then down toward the rhino’s head.
The rhino raised its flaming horn.
Qin Yuheng’s Black Thunder Pattern Sword met it.
Thunder and flame collided.
The cracked horn base split wider.
Qin Yuheng gritted his teeth and drove more thunder into the blade.
"Break."
The horn cracked.
A burst of flame exploded outward.
Qin Yuheng was thrown back, rolling across the hot ground.
Qin Yuchen shouted, "Brother!"
"I am fine!"
This time, it was mostly true.
The rhino staggered, its horn damaged, flame aura unstable.
Now was the time.
Qin Mo used his final prepared ground mark.
Qin Lian struck the rear tendon again.
Qin Yuchen pierced the knee joint.
Qin Yuheng used Thunder Shadow Flash to appear beneath the beast’s throat.
He thrust upward into the flame channel.
Violet-gold thunder erupted inside.
The Flame Horn Rhino roared, tried to rise, then collapsed heavily.
A Tower message appeared.
[Flame Horn Rhino defeated.]
[Floor Boss slain.]
[Achievement unlocked: Crossfire Breaker.]
[Heat Exhaustion reduced by boss flame collapse.]
Qin Mo lay flat on the ground.
"I am cooked."
Qin Lian checked him.
"You are not."
"My spirit is."
The drops appeared.
[Flame Horn Rhino Core x1]
[Broken Flame Horn x1]
[Flame-Tempered Armor Fragment x1]
[Burning Grassland Boss Chest x1]
Qin Yuheng stored the rewards.
They did not linger.
The boss’s death caused the surrounding flames to weaken, opening a path toward Stonefire Boundary.
After another hour of travel, they reached the black-red cliffs.
The mission panel appeared.
[Main Mission Completed.]
[Stonefire Boundary reached.]
[Side Missions completed.]
[Floor Boss defeated.]
[Calculating evaluation...]
Qin Mo sat down at the boundary line.
"If this is not SSS, I will personally insult the sun."
The panel flashed.
[Final Evaluation: SSS]
Qin Mo nodded.
"The sun is spared."
Return light rose around them.
Qin Yuheng looked back at the Burning Grassland.
Fire had tested endurance.
But they had crossed it.
Floor 6 was complete.
