The Shadow Crocodile''s attacks came frustratingly close to hitting John, but each time, he managed to dodge just in time.


    This only enraged the beast further.


    John was employing a kiting strategy, leading the boss away from the swamp where it had significant advantages.


    To have a fighting chance, he needed to draw the Shadow Crocodile onto drynd.


    The Shadow Crocodile, being a mire-based boss, detested the dry terrain.


    Additionally, the trees in the forest greatly impeded its vision.


    It angrily used its tail to clear the nearby trees, smashing them down effortlessly.


    Many who had hidden among the trees and failed to escape in time were instantly turned into white light, disappearing from the battlefield.


    When they reappeared outside the arena, they still wore expressions of lingering fear.


    It was terrifying, truly terrifying! Was this the power of a tinum-tier boss? A single sweep of its tail left them with no chance to resist! All the trees were ttened, revealing arge open space.


    It was then that John finally got a full read on the Shadow Crocodile''s stats.


    [Name: Shadow Crocodile (Boss)]


    [Level: lv50]


    [HP: 15000000]


    [Strength: 176971]


    [Stamina: 137915]


    [Defense: 178057]


    [Speed: 789]


    [Skills: Death Roll, Intimidation Roar, Mountains Crumble, Venomous Dorsalspike, Blood Rage…]


    The long list of stats was dizzying to behold.


    No wonder it''s a tinum-tier boss; its HP was ridiculously high, and its defense was terrifying.


    Even with his current attack power, John could barely manage five-figure critical hits.


    With the boss having a total of 15 million HP, it would take forever to whittle it down with his damage alone.


    No, he had to think of another way; otherwise, it would be too slow! Even if his MP and HP could hold out, his stamina definitely couldn''t.


    After repeatedly failing to catch John, the Shadow Crocodile went into a frenzy!


    Its sharp ws struck the ground incessantly, sending uprge sprays of mud that instantly obscured the view of the distant spectators.


    Isabe stood on a distant hillside, observing themotion at the forest''s edge.


    The massive clouds of dust and debris from the battle had captured everyone''s attention, drawing all those within the secret realm to the scene.


    After all, a tinum-tier boss was not easy to kill, and everyone hoped to get thest hit and reap the massive experience rewards.


    However, the ferocity of the battle was so terrifying that they had no chance to intervene.


    They could only lurk nearby, waiting for an opportunity.


    Isabe quickly moved toward the battlefield, positioning herself at a safe spot on the edge.


    But soon, she felt a powerful presence approaching from afar.


    She looked in that direction and saw a young woman standing on the treetop not far from her.


    That was... Amelia from House Belmont?


    Amelia noticed Isabe as well.


    The two nodded slightly, acknowledging each other, then turned their attention back to the battlefield.


    They both wanted to see what this man was truly capable of.


    Could he really have killed Rean, who was hailed as the Alliance''s greatest genius?


    What audacity!


    They had witnessed everything that had happened so far and couldn''t help but admire John''s agility.


    Despite noting from a noble family, he possessed such excellent movement skills, and he had managed to kite the boss for so long, eliminating many of the surroundingpetitors in the process.


    Truly extraordinary—Rean''s death was not without reason.


    The people hiding in the forest were restless, waiting for John to defeat the boss so they could swoop in and steal the kill.


    John was well aware of the many eyes watching him, but he had no time to deal with them.


    Even with his movement skills pushed to the limit, he had narrowly avoided the boss''s attacks multiple times.


    But soon, he noticed that the boss''s speed seemed to slow down, yet the sense of danger intensified.


    Instinctively, he quickened his pace, sprinting forward.


    Boom!


    In the next moment, the Shadow Crocodile opened its massive jaws, and a pale green beam struck the spot where John had just been.


    The ground exploded into arge crater, the surrounding earth hissing as it was rapidly corroded.


    The corrosive effect spread quickly, extending seven or eight meters before finally slowing down.


    Nearby trees turned yellow and withered at a visibly rming rate.


    It was poisonous breath! John''s face tightened with determination as he sped up even more.


    The Shadow Crocodile, taken aback by its missed attack, grew even more irate.


    It elerated, charging towards John with renewed ferocity.


    The moment hade!


    John turned and dashed towards tworge boulders, his body inevitably smeared with mud.


    The bleeding debuff continued to stack, now costing him ten health points every ten seconds.


    Repeatedly fooled by John, the vertical pupils of the Shadow Crocodile had turned a deep, furious red.


    Using its tail for leverage, it leapt towards John in a fierce pounce.


    "Teleportation!"


    Unable to dodge in time, John could only activate his skill, shing forward a rapid 120 meters.


    Though the skill now entered a five-minute cooldown, its timely use had saved his life—a worthwhile trade!


    Meanwhile, the Shadow Crocodile, in hot pursuit, crashed towards him but ended up perfectly wedged between therge stones.


    The hard boulders trapped the crocodile''s soft underbelly; it thrashed angrily, trying to break free, only to find itself utterly immobilized.


    "Phew..."


    John stopped at a safe distance, a slight upward curve forming at the corners of his mouth.


    Sess!


    The positioning of therge stone was just right.


    Aheady a solid stone slope.


    Due to the violent impact, the Shadow Crocodile''s belly was firmly caught between the stones, although its tail still thrashed behind it.


    The surrounding trees had beenpletely cleared away, and with its short limbs, the Shadow Crocodile couldn''t pry the stone off its stomach.


    It could only il beside it, scratching deep grooves into the ground.


    The gap between the stone and the Shadow Crocodile''s belly was just wide enough for two people to squeeze through.


    Seeing the boss sessfully trapped, John felt a slight sense of relief.


    "Thorned Rock Serpent!"


    John summoned the serpents again, and the two massive snakes coiled around the Shadow Crocodile''s limbs.


    He slipped into the gap between the boss and the boulders, plunging his de into the boss''s soft underbelly.


    Roar!!


    The Shadow Crocodile let out a wail as the de pierced its abdomen.


    1967896!


    The boss''s HP visibly dropped, causing the surrounding onlookers to grow restless once more.


    Now that the boss was immobilized, it was practically a stationary target!


    They only needed to cast their spells mindlessly.


    Some couldn''t wait and rushed out of the forest, heading towards the boss.


    But before they could get close, the Shadow Crocodile''s massive tail swept them off their feet, turning them into white light and vanishing from the field.


    Even when trapped, the boss''s attack power was not to be underestimated!


    Those who were teleported out were met with ridicule from the onlookers; their failed attempt was a ssic case of trying to gain without risk and losing everything in the process.


    The remaining onlookers became even more cautious.


    They stayed at the safest distance,unching ranged attacks at the boss.


    However, most of their magical attacks did pitiful damage.


    Even with critical hits, the damage was only in the five-digit range, which was insignificantpared to John''s damage.


    With a roar, the Shadow Crocodile''s fury unleashed shockwaves that toppled the onlookers hiding nearby.


    Countless pebbles rained down upon them—tiny, but numerous enough to cause significant damage.


    Many saw their health bars drop by half in an instant, prompting a frenzied scramble for healing potions.


    Yet, high above, Isabe and Amelia remained unaffected, observing everything from a safe distance.


    Massive damage numbers exploded against the boss:


    467896! 764537! 1346578!


    The Shadow Crocodile''s HP plummeted visibly with each hit.


    90%! 80%! 50%!


    At the moment the health bar hit 50%, the Shadow Crocodile ceased all movement, merely lifting its head slightly as if gathering some mysterious energy within its maw.


    "This is bad!"


    Isabe''s pupils shrank as she swiftly retreated.


    Amelia, sensing the imminent danger, turned and fled the scene.


    Those who were wise followed suit, but some decided to stay.


    A pale green orb slowly formed in the mouth of the Shadow Crocodile, which then, with a forceful exhale, shot skyward and exploded into countless droplets of green liquid that rained down over an area nearly two hundred meters in diameter.


    It was a toxic downpour.


    Screams of agony filled the air as those touched by the green liquid suffered immediate, severe decay.


    Even a mere ssh was enough to rapidly rot their flesh, causing their health bars to plummet dramatically.


    In a panic, some tried to retreat, but it was already toote.


    Almost without a chance for salvation, they disintegrated into white light and vanished on the spot.


    The toxicity of the attack was terrifyingly potent.