"Hard to say?" What did that mean? Was that a polite refusal? Wu Ziyi asked, looking perplexed, "What's so hard to say about it?"

Before Gu Chen could reply, Lin Yuan chimed in from the side. "What else could it be? We're talking Hell Mode here! The difficulty is insane. No team has ever managed to clear it yet! One wrong move, and everyone could wipe!"

"I'm not afraid," Wu Ziyi quickly stated.

"That's not the issue," Lin Yuan retorted.

"Then what is?"

"Gotta pay more."

"..." Wu Ziyi considered for a moment. Asking for more money now... wasn't entirely unreasonable. After all, he had no real connection with Gu Chen. Despite being classmates for three years, they had barely spoken more than a handful of sentences to each other during that entire time. To put it bluntly, before today, even if they'd passed each other on the road, Wu Ziyi wouldn't have bothered to greet Gu Chen. In this current party, the only one with any actual friendly connection to Gu Chen was Lin Yuan.

It was almost certain that after this run, Gu Chen's performance would shatter existing Novice Dungeon clear records. When that happened, people wanting to team up with him would be countless. Gu Chen would surely take Lin Yuan along for the Hell Mode run, but would he include Wu Ziyi? That was highly questionable. So, viewed differently, paying more now was actually a chance to secure a spot ahead of time. If he waited until after this run was over, he likely wouldn't even get the chance to offer more money later.

"How much more?" Lin Qingqing asked directly from the side.

"Hell Mode Novice Dungeon run: one hundred thousand coins per person," Gu Chen stated his price.

From eight thousand to one hundred thousand—Wu Ziyi's eyelid twitched; he almost couldn't believe he'd heard correctly.

"That's not expensive," Lin Qingqing said after a moment's thought, deciding quickly. "Count me and Su Ran in. I'll borrow the money as soon as we get out."

"Heavens! One hundred thousand coins? You don't think that's expensive?" Su Ran gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.

"One hundred thousand isn't chump change, true," Lin Qingqing reasoned, "but think about it: an SSS-rank evaluation, plus the first-clear bonus for Hell Mode... is it really expensive then?"

Su Ran went "Oh," then added in a small voice, "But... we don't have that kind of money!"

"Borrow it!" Lin Qingqing insisted. "There are tons of loan platforms these days. Just mention you need funds, and they'll be falling over themselves to lend to you." Getting an SSS rank meant bonus points for the exams, and combined with the Hell Mode first-clear rewards, admission to a higher academy would be practically guaranteed. For people like them, who couldn't even find a team after standing in the plaza all day, spending one hundred thousand coins now essentially meant securing a spot in a higher academy within the next ten days or so. It was like a pie falling directly from heaven—an unbelievable stroke of luck.

Wu Ziyi made up his mind too. "Count me in as well. I'll transfer the funds as soon as we're out." Lin Qingqing and Su Ran, who couldn't even afford basic gear sets, had agreed without hesitation. Wu Ziyi, whose family was considerably better off than theirs, had no reason to refuse.

Gu Chen nodded, taking it as settled.

Lin Qingqing, still appearing slightly anxious, pressed further, "So we have a deal, right? You can't back out after we finish this run."

Gu Chen shook his head. "Don't worry. Even if those people outside offered me a million coins each, I wouldn't take them."

Su Ran looked surprised. "Why not?"

Gu Chen stated plainly, "When I was trying to form a team back in the plaza, they ridiculed me, mocked me, and deliberately ostracized me." "I intend to make them regret it. I want them to understand that underestimating me then was the biggest mistake they could have made." "Since they dismissed me then, well, too bad. I have no interest in playing with them now. Their chance at an SSS rank? Gone. The Hell Mode first-clear rewards? Also gone." "For those who showed me malice, I've never subscribed to the idea of repaying evil with kindness. Me? I never forget a grudge."

I never forget a grudge. Taken at face value, such words might suggest a petty, narrow-minded person incapable of great things. Yet, hearing Gu Chen state it so frankly, it instead conveyed a sense of defiant arrogance and bold nonchalance. Su Ran and Lin Qingqing listened and then nodded vigorously, clearly empathizing with his sentiment. They wholeheartedly agreed with his stance.

Amidst their conversation, the fifteen minutes passed quickly.

Within the main hall, a low, guttural snarl suddenly echoed from the altar area further in. Immediately after, heavy footsteps began approaching. The BOSS had appeared, and accompanying it was another large wave of Sunken Guards.

[Otherworldly Race: Black-Robed Deacon · BOSS] [Level: LV.7] [HP: 9100] [Attributes: Strength 86, Agility 79, Constitution 86, Spirit 81] [Skill I: Gray Mist Curse] [Skill II: Umbral Assault] [Skill III: Damage Transfer]

Upon the raised altar at the far end of the hall, a tall figure draped in black robes, its face obscured, stepped forward. Standing behind it were two Level 5 Guards, three Level 4 Guards, four Level 3 Guards, and a throng of eighteen Level 1 Guards. The Black-Robed Deacon was tall and unnaturally slender; though humanoid in shape, its proportions were distinctly unsettling. Shrouded entirely in black robes, its true form remained completely concealed.

Vwom! The Black-Robed Deacon raised one hand, its voluminous sleeve billowing unnaturally. With the gesture, tendrils of gray mist began to coalesce in the air. Silently, the entire main hall filled with a pervasive, hazy gray mist, tinting everything within sight a deathly, lifeless gray. Even perched on their high vantage points, Gu Chen and the others could not escape being enveloped by the spreading gray mist. Instantly, everyone's vision blurred, their minds grew sluggish, and their limbs felt incredibly heavy, as if filled with lead.

[Gray Mist Curse]

The BOSS had only just appeared and was already unleashing its skills! Without hesitation, Gu Chen bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. The sharp, piercing pain instantly cleared some of the mental fog. Though only Level 7, thanks to the inherent boosts granted to BOSS-type monsters, the Black-Robed Deacon's primary attributes were nearing 90, and its HP exceeded the nine thousand mark. These stats were even higher than his Epic One-Star Dracula's! Simply monstrous!

"Focus fire on the BOSS. Hold skills for now," Gu Chen instantly commanded Dracula. With Dracula's speed, the lesser guards posed little immediate threat—they likely couldn't even touch him. So, Gu Chen decided to ignore the adds for the moment and have Dracula probe the BOSS with basic attacks first.

BANG! BANG! BANG!... Although also enveloped in the gray mist, Dracula seemed least affected by its debilitating effects. Almost the instant the command registered, the cold muzzles flared, sending a stream of bullets towards the black-robed figure. Suddenly, a crystalline white light flashed across the Black-Robed Deacon's form. The volley of bullets struck it dead on. Zero damage! Its health bar didn't budge an inch; the attack had dealt absolutely no damage. Simultaneously, one of the nearby Level 5 Guards suddenly reeled as if struck, its health bar instantly dropping by about a fifth.

The BOSS skill, [Damage Transfer]! As long as other Sunken Guards were present, the Black-Robed Deacon could transfer any damage it received onto them.