Talent Awakening: I, the Weakest Awakened, Start with Dragonfire Spell

Upon learning of the BOSS's presence, the pace of Howard and his four companions quickened considerably. 

Guided by Mike, they wove through a dense foliage until they arrived at the entrance of a cave, where a rotating purple radiance beckoned.

The moment they set eyes on the luminance, both Howard and Judy exclaimed in unison, "A dungeon! We've actually stumbled upon a dungeon!"

Ordinary maps weren't bound by such luminous constraints. 

The presence of this glowing aura signified that within the cave lay a distinct, special space -- a dungeon.

"A dungeon, you say? Haven't we hit the jackpot this time?" Mike, who had previously only noticed the BOSS and missed the glowing aura, was now brimming with excitement. 

He hurriedly shared details of the guardian BOSS, a towering Werewolf, standing thrice the height of an average human.

[Werewolf Guard] (BOSS)

[Level: 50]

[Tier: Diamond]

[Description: A sentinel of the Werewolf lineage, entrusted with the solemn duty of guarding the treasures buried by the Werewolf clan beyond their domain. Only those who have participated in the takedown of the Werewolf Guard are deemed worthy of entering the treasure trove.]

[HP: 235000/235000]

[Attack Power: 7100 -- 7750]

[Defense Value: 5100]

[Skills:

Savage Claw Barrage: Leaps swiftly to unleash a series of five successive claw attacks on a single target within 10 yards, inflicting 110%, 120%, 140%, 170%, and 210% damage respectively.

Deathclaw Strike: Each strike has a 10% chance to induce bleeding in the target, reducing HP by 300 points every second.

Bloodlust: Upon slaying a target, enters a state of Bloodlust, enhancing attack power by 10%, increasing attack speed by 15%, and boosting movement speed by 20%. This state lasts for 30 seconds. Each additional monster slain extends the duration of this skill by 10 seconds.]

"Such formidable skills!"

"The synergy of a high-damage single-target skill, a universally effective passive skill, and an enhancement skill -- it's quite the well-rounded combination."

Although Nick and Mike, hailing from prominent clans, might not have had the ability to partake in the battlefield at this moment, their discernment was still sharp. 

With a single glance, they recognized the immense strength of the Werewolf Guard.

They were just thankful that the Werewolf Guard didn't possess a skill to reset cooldowns upon killing, for if it had, overwhelming it with sheer stats would have been their sole option.

Yet, as it stood, the Werewolf Guard could still be overpowered with a coordinated assault.

"Standard protocol: Nick and Mike, you handle the crowd control, while I'll focus on dishing out the main damage."

Without a moment's hesitation, Howard clutched his wand and strode towards the Werewolf Guard, simultaneously unleashing his skill -- Fireball!

The sweltering heat swiftly coalesced into a blazing orb that, with a speed that rivaled thunder, hurtled towards the Werewolf Guard.

Simultaneously, Mike faded into invisibility, dashing towards the Werewolf Guard, while Nick, wielding his blade, circled nearby, ready to pounce the moment it was subdued.

BOOM--

"-1422!"

The fireball exploded ferociously upon the Werewolf Guard, the damage digits floating close to four figures. 

The force of the impact even pushed the Werewolf Guard back a step.

The pained Werewolf Guard instantly let out an enraged roar. 

In the blink of an eye, with its eyes now a bloodthirsty red, it locked onto Howard.

In the ensuing moment, the Werewolf Guard crouched slightly, its legs brimming with pent-up energy, then suddenly, like an arrow released from its bow, it lunged at Howard with a speed so terrifying that the group could hardly track it with their eyes.

In a split second, Howard's reflexes kicked in. His pupils sharply contracted as he retreated, swinging his wand to conjure the Frost Arrow Spell, aiming directly in front of himself.

Just as the icy arrow, brimming with cold energy, cleaved through the air, the Werewolf Guard reached Howard. 

A sharp, crisp sound echoed, and the beast was immediately enveloped in a chilling aura, transforming into a statue of ice.

"Such impeccable aiming skills!"

"How could he possibly hit the Werewolf Guard at that speed?!"

Witnessing this, both Nick and Mike were astounded, and even Judy gave a side glance of admiration.

Only Abby, with unwavering trust in Howard, was already prepared. 

In a flash, she switched her elemental attribute, releasing a roaring rocket toward the frozen Werewolf Guard.

In reality, Howard's prowess wasn't about aiming; it was anticipation!

He recognized that since he initiated the first attack, the Werewolf Guard would naturally target him. 

To strike the swiftly-moving Werewolf Guard, all he needed to do was launch an attack right in front of him. 

With overlapping trajectories, how could he possibly miss?

The explosive collision between fire and frost, two diametrically opposed elemental forces, erupted in a powerful blast.

It was fortunate that the Werewolf Guard was a boss-level adversary, inherently powerful. 

While it wasn't shattered into pieces, it still took considerable damage, getting thrown back several steps.

Before the Werewolf Guard could retaliate, taking advantage of its temporary rigidity, Mike swiftly appeared behind it. 

Deploying his skills in rapid succession -- Toxicity, Backstab and Chisel Strike -- his razor-sharp dagger plunged into the Werewolf Guard's spine.

A soft, squelching sound resonated.

Almost the instant the dagger penetrated the Werewolf Guard's body, a luminescent green aura enveloped the beast. 

The notification of poisoning resonated in the ears of Howard and his team.

Upon hearing the notification, Howard and his team breathed a sigh of relief.

With the Werewolf Guard's attributes weakened, the battle was now in their favor!

Furthermore, the Backstab skill also had a controlling effect.

Howard and Abby continuously unleashed their skills, their offensive barrage flowing like an endless river, crashing relentlessly upon the Werewolf Guard.

Wind Blade Spell, Frost Arrow Spell, Fireball... coupled with ever-changing elemental arrows.

The myriad elemental properties combined in succession, igniting Elemental Reactions, which further amplified the damage dealt to the Werewolf Guard.

However, compared to a LV50 monster, Howard's attributes were somewhat inferior. 

Were it not for their ability to restrain the Werewolf Guard, rendering it vulnerable to constant blows, its health bar would probably have hardly diminished.

The power of teamwork was undeniable. 

If Howard had faced the Werewolf Guard boss alone, there was a high likelihood he wouldn't have succeeded.

After all, the cooldown times for the Frost Arrow Spell and Gravity Spell weren't short. 

Had they allowed the Werewolf Guard even a brief window to unleash its skills during those interludes, even Howard, equipped with top-tier gear, would have struggled to withstand its onslaught.

Yet, with teammates by his side, the trio's control skills intertwined flawlessly, leaving no room for the Werewolf Guard to counterattack.

Even if occasionally a skill missed its mark, Judy was there to ensure that the Werewolf Guard's initial attacks hardly scratched Howard's team. 

They would simply wait for the cooldown period to pass and then seamlessly resume their strategic assault.

Thus, the Werewolf Guard's health steadily dwindled.

With the Werewolf Guard's health bar nearing depletion, anticipation gleamed in the eyes of Howard, Abby, and the rest.

The rewards from a LV50 Diamond-grade Boss would undoubtedly be bountiful.

And what's more, following the boss's defeat, they still had the promise of dungeon exploration awaiting them!

However, at that very moment, an abrupt flurry of footsteps resonated in the ears of Howard and his companions.

"Someone's approaching?!" As an assassin, Mike had an acute sense of hearing. 

Without hesitation, he ceased his control over the Werewolf Guard. 

With a swift wave of his hand, a luminescent powder sprinkled down, cloaking him once again in invisibility.

The expressions of Howard and the others tightened. 

Yet, they were still embroiled in fierce combat and couldn't afford to be distracted.

Moments later, Mike's voice abruptly broke the tense silence, "Damn it, a group just showed up nearby. 

They're all wearing clothing marked with a blood-red insignia -- looks like they're all from the same Mercenary Guild. 

They're heading straight for us, probably aiming for this dungeon! Boss, what should we do?"

Upon hearing this, Nick couldn't help but shudder.

In the wilderness, the might of a Mercenary Guild was not to be underestimated!

For they were ruthless.

Even when confronted by major clans, these mercenaries would never back down. 

Like a pack of ravenous wolves, once they set their sights on you, you'd have to pay a hefty price to slip away unscathed.

Judy's brow furrowed slightly, murmuring, "We need to speed things up. Let's try to defeat the Werewolf Guard before they get here."

As her words fell, Judy clasped her hands together, rapidly forming hand signs.

[Ding! Congratulations to the awakened Howard, who is now under the influence of Judy's skill -- Radiant Flame. When attacking a target, the target will suffer from Radiant Flame's burn, losing 500 HP every second and experiencing a 20% reduction in defense for 30 seconds.]

"An attack with added burn effect and reduced defense! What a formidable skill!"

"Heh, if I could be simultaneously bolstered by both Aisha and Judy's skills, I feel like I could sweep through monsters unhindered."

With the enhancement of this new skill, such a thought couldn't help but emerge in Howard's mind.

Aisha's skills primarily focused on protection, while Judy's were about amplifying damage output. 

If both could assist a single individual, the boost would indeed be monumental!

However, Howard recognized that now wasn't the time to dwell on these thoughts. 

His expression turning icy, he immediately activated Mighty Thunder. 

In an instant, countless flashes of lightning shimmered and swirled around him, casting him in a godly aura, reminiscent of the Thunder God himself, as he charged towards the Werewolf Guard.