On the other side, Zhang Heng and the Elf Prince launched their first wave of attacks, both utilizing the "Burst Arrow" technique. After detonating, the two arrows shot forth at an almost invisible speed, instantly piercing through the Balrog's body. Zhang Heng was using +3 enchanted arrows.

Legolas's arrow was imbued with a green light. These two attacks, let alone the Balrog, might not have been survivable even by the Nine Wraiths combined.

Who knew that two massive rents actually appeared on the Balrog? It let out a scream of agony, but as the fiery glow on its body surged, those two massive wounds healed on their own, as if fire itself formed its flesh. This miraculous healing skill astonished the two archers.

Gandalf roared, "It's useless! Before its fall, it was a son of the Fire God. Flame is life to it, so it cannot be killed by mundane weapons. Only frost weapons can harm it, but even those cannot truly kill it. Unless we are on a mountaintop covered in snow and ice, and completely exhaust its flames... Ouch!" Gandalf was showing off his vast knowledge again, but before he could say more, the Balrog suddenly spewed a torrent of fire directly at him. Startled, Gandalf raised his staff to meet it, and a faint protective barrier immediately materialized, blocking the flame. However, the surrounding temperature climbed higher and higher. Gandalf, taking the brunt of the assault, was suffering terribly, yet he absolutely could not retreat, or everyone behind him would instantly be reduced to charcoal.

Behind Gandalf, a seasoned veteran also took out a small staff. This was a delicate youth named Jing Nian, usually quiet, who now faced the great fire and began chanting. Sure enough, after a few seconds, a small puff of ice mist jetted from his staff. Everyone instantly felt the ambient temperature drop slightly, and they could finally breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"Sorry, Captain took all my frost energy stones, so I can only use frost magic below Level Three. I can only use this Frost Ray to cool things down for everyone," the youth said with a shy smile, then proceeded to use the frost magic several more times.

Gandalf also began chanting loudly: "I am a servant of the Holy Fire, bearing the flame of Annúminas, Fire of Udûn!" As he finished this incantation, a ring of silver flame appeared outside Gandalf's protective shield. This flame continuously absorbed the blue-green fire spewed by the Balrog, and Gandalf’s anxious expression eased slightly.

The people behind him secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but Gandalf roared, "Don't celebrate too soon! This spell will only hold it for about ten seconds. The Balrog is too strong; it is a creature beyond our ability to fight—it is the nemesis of the Gods... Zheng Zha’s companions, I know you are powerful. Use whatever combat power you possess now, or you truly won't have another chance!" With a sharp snap, Zhao Yingkong suddenly flashed behind Gandalf. She instantly entered the Wraith state, her entire body becoming indistinct. Her hands moved crazily at an imperceptible speed, the transparent Sword of Victory and Vows held firmly in her grip.

A sound like tearing wind rushed forth, and a light distortion, about two meters wide, appeared before Zhao Yingkong—caused by uneven air density. This distortion shot straight toward the Balrog, passing directly through Gandalf's shield, and slammed into the exact center of the Balrog's chest.

The Balrog roared wildly. When the distortion struck its chest, the entire area—flame and flesh—shattered inch by inch, as if countless tiny blades were flaying its body. In mere seconds, this distortion punched straight through the Balrog’s body, completely piercing it. The Balrog's chest was nearly blasted away by half, and the void left behind continuously erupted with fire.

Legolas and Zhang Heng exchanged glances. One loaded three arrows onto his bowstring, while the other bent his bow fully. The sheer intensity of their presence momentarily overpowered the Balrog, causing everyone to stare in horror. This was Zhang Heng's "Arrow of Wind" technique, usable only once.

First to shoot were Legolas's three Burst Arrows. The three arrows were loosed simultaneously: the second exploded violently against the tail end of the middle arrow, and the middle arrow, taking advantage of the momentum, struck the tail end of the first arrow as it burst. The speed of that first arrow became utterly incredible. With a snap, it pierced the left side of the gaping hole in the Balrog's chest. As these three arrows were released, Zhang Heng’s Arrow of Wind shot out simultaneously. This arrow, incredibly swift, was even faster than the first of the three Burst Arrows. Though released last, it struck the right side of the Balrog's chest cavity at the exact same instant.

Their coordination was perfect. These two strikes instantly caused the connecting tissue on both sides of the cavity to explode. In an instant, the Balrog's chest had no support left, and the flame surged out violently. The chest cavity was torn open.

"Oh!" Everyone watched clearly as the Balrog's scream intensified, especially after its chest was ripped open. The flame within the Balrog seemed to pour out recklessly, as if it were on the verge of death. The onlookers burst into cheers.

Only Gandalf cried out, "No! The Balrog is enraged! This won't work. Without exhausting its flames, injuries like this won't kill it!" Indeed, the Balrog's flames sprayed out with increasing ferocity. These flames now held the rent chest together, and looking at the healing process, the void in its chest was likely to seal completely again. After that desperate barrage of attacks, Zhang Heng collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. Zhao Yingkong's hands trembled, and the Elf Prince hid one hand behind his back; they could no longer replicate that perfect coordination.

"Thank you all for buying me so much time. Haha, now it's my turn!" A voice suddenly rang out. Though it sounded somewhat arrogant, at the moment the voice sounded, everyone felt the surroundings begin to cool down. Gungnir, whom they had previously ignored, burst through the ice. His lower body had transformed into a mass of frosty mist floating in the air, and his body appeared crystalline and translucent, as if made of ice. He smiled and said, "The genuine article from the Ice Age. Leave everything to me now, haha! Although this move is incredibly powerful, its preparation time is too long, requiring too much energy absorption, haha..." Amidst his laughter, Gungnir began to spin, floating outside Gandalf's protective shield. This Ice Age utilized three CS-grade energy stones; if it didn't yield something potent, using them for this side mission would be a waste. As Gungnir spun outside the shield, he became a vortex of frost storm. The intensely hot hall began to rapidly cool within seconds. Ice coated the ground and the surrounding stone pillars, and the frost continued to spread, even enveloping the group in protection, radiating outward. Only an area seven or eight meters around the Balrog remained unfrozen. In less than ten seconds, the entire hall, thousands of square meters, had transformed into a palace of frost.

This was the scene Zheng Zha arrived to witness. This self-created skill, Ice Age, was truly extraordinary. Furthermore, Gungnir’s current ice-form suggested that his claim of being able to challenge the Heavenly God Squad alone was not an empty boast. Zheng Zha marveled inwardly, realizing he had indeed been arrogant after creating "Explosion" and "Ruin," believing himself invincible. Who knew that once other teams created their own skills, they would also be extraordinary? It seemed self-created skills were significantly more powerful than exchanged ones; things that could be used 100% were truly the original merchandise.

Gungnir knew his own hardships: his genuine Ice Age had a long preparation time, consumed many resources, and had a short duration—all fatal flaws. That was why he had created a simpler version, using only one energy stone, vastly weaker but requiring almost no preparation time and lasting much longer. But now, the arrow was on the string; failure meant death, so he had to use the genuine Ice Age, needing to end the battle within one minute.

Who knew the Balrog’s power was even greater than he imagined? Although its flames seemed pushed back by his frost, his frost could not advance a single step into the fire. If this continued, he would surely die after one minute. But at this point, he couldn't retreat into the shield—it was a one-way protective barrier. So, he could only grit his teeth and hold on. When he saw Zheng Zha riding toward him, he immediately shouted with wild joy, "Zheng Zha, save... Quick, chop it into several pieces! I can freeze and extinguish the weakened fire!"

Zheng Zha galloped over on the skeletal warhorse, agreed with a shout, channeled his internal energy into the Tiger Soul Blade, reshaped the blade's aura to envelop his body, then spurred a second surge of the blade's aura. Reining in the skeletal horse, he made it rear up and brought the blade down toward the Balrog's head... leaping up.