Chapter 137: Furnace King

The insights provided by the Eye of Omniscience not only guided Jeremy on how to secure additional rewards but also offered him unexpected pieces of information.

Jeremy had already discerned that the creature advancing toward them bore the name "Furnace King."

The name "Furnace King" itself suggests a significant connection between this creature and the steel mill's furnaces. It is even conceivable that this monster might have been formed from the very furnaces of the steel mill.

"Jeremy, did you hear something? It seems like something is approaching us." Bonnie said, her voice tinged with concern as she, too, picked up on the advancing sounds of the Furnace King.

With a slightly worried expression on her face, she asked Jeremy, "Did you hear that?"

Jeremy nodded, acknowledging her concern.

"Everyone, prepare for combat. A formidable creature called Furnace King is heading our way. We may not be able to defeat it, so my strategy is to bypass it entirely!"

Given the prompt from the Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy knew that eliminating the Furnace King before entering the instance wasn't an option.

His current situation demanded a high level of skill and powerful weaponry, and he was determined not to forgo any opportunity for additional rewards.

The other three members of the group showed no signs of surprise. They trusted Jeremy's judgment and were ready to follow his lead.

Because they all understood that when confronted with an invincible adversary, the logical course of action was to find an alternative route.

As the four of them braced themselves for what lay ahead, the furnaces around them suddenly ceased operation. Molten steel, in its liquid state, spilled uncontrollably from their containers.

"Quickly, fall back! The temperature of this molten steel is incredibly high! Even with your awakened abilities, you could still suffer severe injuries from it." Jeremy urgently warned.

Prompted by Jeremy's warning, the others swiftly began to retreat.

However, Jeremy himself did not join them in their backward withdrawal.

He needed to witness firsthand the full extent of Furnace King's power. Despite his decision to circumvent the Furnace King, it was crucial for him to gauge the monster's strength.

After all, to exit the industrial district once they completed The Iron Lair instance, he would ultimately need to defeat the Furnace King.

As Jeremy watched intently, a monstrous entity gradually emerged within his field of vision—an amalgamation of various industrial machinery, emitting a continuous glow of red and yellow light and steam from its many seams.

This creature was none other than the Furnace King.

Name: [Furnace King]

Level: [Level 44]

Rank: [Gold]

Special Attributes: [Steel Mill Area Boss, Guardian of The Iron Lair]

[Note: Ice-based attacks can inflict greater damage on the Furnace King.]

He also understood the importance of keeping everyone's focus on finding the entrance to The Iron Lair.

Through their coordinated efforts, the group soon arrived at the entrance to The Iron Lair, located in an office at the very heart of the steel mill.

"It seems there are no other monsters around here. I'll stay behind to hold off those pursuing us. The rest of you, quickly enter The Iron Lair instance.

Once inside, do not rush into action. You must wait for my arrival. Inside the instance, you are not to act without my explicit orders." Jeremy directed.

Jeremy chose to remain outside because he perceived greater risks there.

Although The Iron Lair instance was highly challenging, the initial entry posed less immediate danger. The instance's monsters were likely hidden deep within.

Without hesitation, the other three followed Jeremy's command.

Bonnie was the first to enter The Iron Lair instance, with Emma and Claire close behind her.

After the others had entered the instance, Jeremy indeed encountered a horde of pursuing monsters. He had no intention of wasting time on these monstrous.

After fending off the nearest monster, he immediately used a gemstone to set up a seal.

"I have more pressing matters to attend to! Once I emerge from the instance, I'll deal with all of you."

Having uttered those words, Jeremy proceeded directly into the instance known as The Iron Lair.

The moment Jeremy stepped into The Iron Lair instance, the monsters that had been hot on his trail suddenly froze in place.

Near the office housing the entrance to The Iron Lair, the massive form of the Furnace King reappeared.

With his glowing red eyes fixed on the entrance, the Furnace King spoke slowly, "I have completed the task assigned to me by my master. The rest is up to you."

As the Furnace King finished speaking, a mechanical, raspy voice echoed in his ears.

"I am fully prepared. No matter who enters the instance, they will face eternal damnation. Not a single human will leave The Iron Lair alive."

Upon hearing those words, the Furnace King opted to return to his original position.

The monsters that had been pursuing Jeremy also gradually retreated, reverting to their previous forms. The steel mill returned to its former tranquility.

The furnaces and production lines, which had ceased operation due to Jeremy's presence, resumed their relentless activity.

The furnaces and production lines continuously churned out monsters capable of posing significant threats to humanity. Moreover, the strength and intelligence of these monsters were steadily increasing.

If Jeremy cannot quickly close the instance of The Iron Lair, the threats facing Moonlight City will grow increasingly severe. Ultimately, the entire Moonlight City could be destroyed by the iron army.

However, at the moment, Jeremy is unaware of this information. All he knows right now is that he must obtain more rewards within the instance of The Iron Lair.

Standing at the entrance of The Iron Lair instance, Jeremy's expression turned somewhat grim. To his dismay, he was confronted with an endless expanse of desolate wasteland.

In front of him lay a vast, desolate desert stretching as far as the eye could see, making Jeremy feel as if he had somehow been transported back to the Land of Eternal Night.