The Vortex Vanquisher fulfilled its purpose, shattering inch by inch and dissolving into a shower of golden fragments that filled the air.
Gyrus the Goblin's corpse lay face-up on the ground, the gaping hole in his chest—pierced straight through—proclaiming the absolute end of his life.
With his death, the viscous, corrupting psychic field that had permeated the cavern receded like a swift tide.
"Roar... Huh?"
On another battlefield, Frost Troll Korrak's heavy club, halfway through a charged swing, abruptly froze in midair.
He glanced down at his frost-covered giant hands, then looked up at the murderous Aeldara opposite him.
The crazed bloodlust in his eyes faded, replaced by a clear yet foolish confusion.
Who am I?
Where am I?
Why am I fighting this Elf woman who reeks of death?
Before his simple mind could even form answers to these philosophical questions, Aeldara's longsword, wreathed in death runes, had already carved a chilling arc through the air.
The troll's newly lucid head, its face contorted in a terrified expression of "I don't want to die," soared into the sky.
Meanwhile, Yeti Noinam also regained its senses.
It stared at the Paladin opposite, who was shouting "Divine Grace Abounds!", then glanced at the Elven Mages surrounding it, unleashing a barrage of fire spells. An instinctive terror of heat surged through its being.
No longer a fearless puppet, it now wanted nothing more than to find an ice cave and cool off.
"Awooo—!"
The Yeti let out a piercing shriek, dropped its weapon, and turned to flee.
However, its mountain-like body was too clumsy. Paladin Baroque swiftly pierced its Dark Core with a precise Sword of Judgment.
As for the endless monster army, with their "King" dead, they descended into utter chaos.
They stopped charging the Elven frontline and instead milled about aimlessly, even turning on each other.
The Elf Army seized the opportunity, pressing their advantage. The battle devolved into a one-sided slaughter.
"We've won!"
"Praise Her Majesty the Queen! Praise the Great God!"
The surviving Elves embraced each other in excitement, their victorious cheers echoing through the cavern.
However, Lin Qingyue's group of four—the greatest contributors to this victory—now stood gathered around the goblin's corpse, their expressions mixed, showing not a shred of joy.
"Sis, what's going on?" Lin Xiyue poked Gyrus's body with the tip of her sword, her face etched with confusion. "The BOSS is dead. Why haven't we gotten the notification that the Dungeon Purification is complete?"
"It's strange," Su Wan said, her gaze sweeping over the corpse and the surrounding environment. "Once the Dungeon Core is destroyed, the spatial fluctuations should weaken immediately, but nothing here has changed at all."
Xia Lian added in a low voice, "And during the College Entrance Exam, when a Dungeon Core was purified, I was teleported out right away."
Lin Qingyue remained silent, her eyes fixed on Gyrus's corpse with a probing intensity.
Strange things happen every year, but this year has been especially weird.
During the College Entrance Exam, I just cast a Healing Spell on Farina, and she was somehow "purified."
This time, I even summoned Lord Zhongli for a physical Transcendence with his spear. The system told me the BOSS was dead and gave me the EXP, but the quest isn't finished?
Could it be... this whole Purification thing has some hidden prerequisites? Or maybe it only counts if you finish the BOSS with a Holy Light attribute attack?
Grumbling internally, Lin Qingyue decided to put her theory to the test.
"Let me try something."
She extended her hand, a soft Holy Light glowing in her palm, and cast a [Healing Spell] on Gyrus's corpse.
A pinkish glow settled over the body.
The expected System notification—"Purification Complete"—never came.
Instead, the flesh around the bloody hole in the corpse's chest began to squirm, showing faint signs of healing.
"What the hell?!"
Lin Qingyue snatched her hand back at lightning speed.
What am I doing? Am I desecrating his corpse or trying to revive him?
"Sis, what are you doing?!" Lin Xiyue stared at her in horror. "Are you trying to bring him back to life just to fight him again?"
"Just testing the Purification mechanics..." Lin Qingyue scratched her head, slightly embarrassed. "Looks like the Holy Light healing approach won't work."
"Then try something else?"
She pondered for a moment, then extended her hand again toward the corpse and unleashed a Skill she had personally modified.
"Cleanse Spell!"
A cherry-blossom-pink orb of light shot out, splattering precisely onto Gyrus's green face, which still bore the imprint of a shield.
A flash of light.
Gyrus's corpse was instantly spotless. Even the holes in his clothes were repaired, making them look brand new.
His once filthy, greasy face was now so clean it practically reflected light.
Even his few tufts of messy hair had been dyed a vibrant cherry blossom pink and meticulously styled into a handsome middle part.
Lin Xiyue: "..."
Su Wan: "..."
Xia Lian silently took half a step back, covering her eyes as if her aesthetic sensibilities had suffered a devastating blow.
Lin Qingyue examined the "meticulously groomed" corpse, her own face twitching uncontrollably.
Great. No Purification effect, but the humiliation factor is maxed out.
This didn't work, that didn't work... What the hell am I supposed to do? Do I have to grind his bones to dust?
Just as she was at her wit's end, Ilanier and Aeldara approached.
The Queen's face was still pale, but after a brief rest, she could move freely again.
She looked at the four girls huddled around the pink-haired, middle-parted corpse, puzzled.
"Miss Qingyue, what are you all doing? Isn't the battle over?"
"Your Majesty, we've run into a small problem."
Lin Qingyue spread her hands helplessly.
"Although this guy is dead, it seems... he hasn't been truly 'Purified.' The crisis of the world fusion isn't over yet."
"Not Purified?"
Ilanier's delicate brows furrowed. She extended a slender finger, and a stream of pure silver radiance flowed from its tip, landing on Gyrus's corpse.
As the radiance swept over the body, Ilanier's expression changed abruptly.
"Something's wrong. This body... it's empty."
"Empty?" Lin Qingyue froze.
"Yes." Ilanier's expression grew incredibly grim. "I can sense that only the most basic remnants of life energy remain in his body. That vast, foul, chaotic soul... is gone."
The soul is gone?
Lin Qingyue's heart skipped a beat.
A golden cicada shedding its shell?
But the System clearly showed a kill notification and even awarded EXP!
Just as everyone was struggling to understand, a sudden change occurred!
The meticulously cleaned, stylishly coiffed corpse on the ground began to convulse violently without warning!
"Watch out!"
Aeldara immediately shielded the Queen, her silver great sword once again in hand.
Lin Qingyue and the others instantly assumed combat stances.
Gyrus's corpse swelled and contorted in a twisted, unnatural manner.
His recently repaired tuxedo ripped apart inch by inch, torn asunder by bulging muscles.
Beneath his skin, the bone-grating sounds of shattering and restructuring echoed through the air!
Some living thing was multiplying and reconfiguring itself with frantic speed, seemingly moments away from bursting through flesh and bone!
Lin Xiyue watched the scene, straight out of a horror film, and wrinkled her nose in disgust, gripping her shield even tighter.
The next moment, a thick, ink-like black mist erupted violently from Gyrus's seven orifices, instantly engulfing his entire body!
From within the mist came scalp-numbing gnawing sounds and the wet squelch of slithering slime.
Everyone instinctively retreated, warily staring at the churning, expanding cloud of darkness.
"Is this guy ever going to stay down?" Lin Xiyue crouched low in a standard defensive stance, her voice dripping with disdain. "Can't he just die properly?"
"Doesn't look like it. I have a... very bad feeling," Su Wan said, her fingertips already gathering a chilling frost.
"Isn't it normal for a BOSS to have a second phase?"
Lin Qingyue quipped calmly, but her gaze was sharp enough to pierce through the black mist.
The mist churned for over ten seconds before finally settling.
Like a filthy curtain, it slowly parted to the sides.
A new, twisted, and massive silhouette appeared before them.
The moment they saw that thing, everyone present—including the battle-hardened Elf Knights—forgot to breathe.