by Jackson Bale
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Berosus,---Guardian---of---the---second---floor---Level---139
Berosus---is---the---Guardian---and---Second---line---of---defense---against---those---who---wish---to---travel---through---the---Dungeon.---This---monster---was---created---for---the---sole---purpose---of---being---un-woundable---by---the---residents---of---the---second---dungeon---floor.---Berosus---is---covered---in---thick---bone---chained---leather---which---is---extremely---resistant---to---piercing---and---slashing---damage---while---malleable---enough---to---withstand---great---impact---force.---The---only---weakness---to---Berosus---is---his---head,---which---is---covered---in---a---retractable---crystal---dome---that---is---even---stronger---than---his---skin.
Dungeon---Effect:---This---monster---has---been---given---the---[Major---Regeneration]---Passive.
What---the---fucking---hell---is---wrong---with---this---dungeon?---Shouldn't---the---bosses---be---beatable?---Why---the---fuck---would---anyone---give---absurd---regeneration---towards---a---nigh---undamageable---tank.---And---let's---not---forget---about---that---natural---fucking---armor.---An---armor---than---can---goddam---heal---itself.
I---look---back,---towards---Janie---who---is---just---staring,---mouth---open,---at---the---monstrosity---ripping---the---goddam---towns---anal---hole---to---non---existence…
Yup,---I’m---pissed---off.---The---dungeon---clearly---has---fucking---cheat---codes.
“Janie,---do---you---know---any---stories---of---people---with---[Major---Regeneration]---as---a---passive---and---how---such---beings---were---killed?”
Janie---looks---to---me,---closes---her---mouth,---widens---her---eyes,---looks---towards---the---monster,---then---back---to---me---and---her---eyes---widen---even---wider.
“It---has---[Maj-”
I---immediately---start---flicking---my---fingers---in---her---face.---“Less---opened---mouth---surprise,---more---telly---me---how---killy---giant---monster---thingy.”
She---closes---her---mouth---and---to---my---surprise,---immediately---relaxes.
Man,---that---abnormally---high---willpower---stat---you---have---is---pretty---impressive.---I---didn't---know---it---helped---you---control---your---emotions---so---well…---I---wonder---if---it---can---be---trained…
“Trolls---have---that---ability.---It---makes---them---very---hard---to---kill---unless---you---are---able---to---kill---them---instantly…---or---you---bleed---them---until---they---cant---regenerate---anymore.”
I---look---away---from---the---[Priestess]---and---instead---gaze---towards---the---monster.---I---stare---at---it---fiercely,---willing---my---entire---being,---wanting---wholeheartedly---for---my---gaze---to---make---Berosus---explode---into---giant---chunks---of---meat.
And---of---course,---nothing---happens.
“So---the---monstrosity---uses---internal---nutrition---to---heal---itself.---Which---means---I---need---to---make---it---burn---calories…---by---harming---it.”
I---rub---my---eyes.
“Harming---a---nigh---unharmable---being…”
Zorren,---I---swear---I---will---end---your---life---for---this.---You---piece---of---Lizard---poop.---Why---are---you---afraid---of---goddam---flying---of---all---things.---You---can---literally---bitch---stomp---over---twenty---minotaurs---with---ease---but---you---can't---handle---being---a---hundred---feet---off---the---ground.---Motherfucking---useless---pie----oh---I---see---blood…---and---Dragken---is---causing---it!
As---I---fly---closer,---I---am---able---to---see---the---city---and---the---battle---as---it---goes---on.---Arrow---are---constantly---flying---toward---the---monster,---most---bouncing---off,---some---penetrating---enough---to---get---stuck---on---the---hide.---Centaurs---are---running---and---attacking---any---of---the---monsters---eight---legs...---which---is---turning---into---a---dangerous---pincushion---due---to---the---large---number---of---spears---stuck---in---its---legs.
Hmmm,---it---actually---isn't---that---much---bigger---than---the---first---floor---Guardian---Lacerta.---Kinda---reminds---me---of---my---[Skeletal---Guardian]---summon.---Except---slightly---larger---with---ten---tentacles…---and---each---tentacle---probably---weighs---as---much---as---all---of---Lacerta.
“Fuck.”
I---look---towards---one---of---the---monsters---back---legs,---finding---Dragken---as---he---spins---his---halberd---over---his---head---and---slashes,---ripping---into---the---leg---and---being---rewarded---a---spurt---of---blood.
Berosus---reacts---immediately---to---the---pain---and---turns---his---domed---head,---allowing---his---single---eye---to---focus---on---the---actual---threat.
Ten---tentacles---lash---out,---and---to---my---utter---surprise,---Dragken---dodges---most---of---them,---but---still---gets---hit---by---three---which---blow---him---away.---But---the---[Heavy---Halberdier]---just---shakes---the---hit---off,---though---his---armor---does---seem---to---now---look---thinner.
I---look---towards---the---formerly---damaged---limb,---finding---that---the---wound---had---already---healed,---the---only---proof---that---Berosus---had---been---injured---was---the---mark---of---blood---still---on---the---armored---hide.
Fuck.---Fuck.---Fuck.---I---hate---endurance---games.
I---look---back,---behind---me,---finding---that---everyone's---eyes---are---on---me,---all---are---ready---and---armed.---I---frown.
Threm---is---probably---the---only---one---that---might---be---able---to---wound---it.---I---doubt---my---minions---would---be---much---help---unless---I---use---[Undead---Enrage]...---still---no…---unless!
“We're---going---to---help---the---ponies---out.---They---won't---win---without---it.---Lilly,---try---to---restrict---those---tentacles.---Tella,---inform---those---shits---with---bows---to---stop---wasting---ammunition.---Threm,---use---your---most---powerful---skills---to---injure---it.---Doesn't---matter---where.---Just---avoid---getting---hit…---Darrow,---take---the---hits---and---distract---it---as---much---as---you---can.”
I---then---look---at---Janie,---staring---at---me---resolutely,---fearless.---I---smile---towards---her,---mimicking---her---look.
“Me---and---Janie---are---going---to---go---look---for---corpses---in---the---meantime.”
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For---the---tenth---times---in---the---last---couple---minutes,---Dragken---curses---himself---for---being---so---utterly---careless.---He---felt---something---was---going---to---go---wrong,---but---not---this.---The---monster---lives---and---is---now---on---a---rampage.---There---are---fellow---centaur---dead---everywhere---and---all---of---his---strikes---are---being---healed.
“Damn---you!---[Heavy---Rampage]”
Dragken---charges---again---forward,---a---glow---forming---over---himself,---entrapping---his---body.---The---wind---starting---to---whistle.
The---beast---reacts---quickly,---sending---its---extremely---heavy---tentacles---towards---him.
“[Heavy---Weight],---[Trampling---Footing]”---Dragken---activates---abilities,---increasing---his---weight---and---allowing---his---hoofs---to---get---better---traction.
The---tentacles---slam---into---Dragken,---but---his---now---increased---weight---allows---him---to---bear---the---blow---while---[Trampling---Footing]---makes---it---impossible---for---him---to---slip---as---his---hoofs---melt---into---the---ground.
Tentacles---strike---and---Dragken---withstands---it,---barely---slowing---down.
“[Chargers---Impact]”
His---next---skill---activates---which---causes---his---halberd---to---glow---a---deep---powerful---red,---growing---even---redder---as---his---speed---increases.
Dragken---swings,---cutting---and---ripping---through---skin,---through---muscle,---through---bone,---but---ultimately---failing---to---bisect---the---leg.---The---monster---screams---in---pain---and---sends---all---its---tentacles---towards---the---[Heavy---Halberdier].---The---force---of---all---the---tentacles---rips---him---from---the---ground,---sending---him---flying.---He---lands---hard,---hurt,---probably---bruised,
---but---not---broken.---He---quickly---stands---up---and---is---forced---to---block---a---blow---from---a---tentacle.---The---hit---strikes---him---from---the---side,---he---skids---on---the---stone---floor.
Another---one---whips---out---and---strikes---him---from---his---other---side,---he---attempts---to---block,---but---the---impact---rips---the---halberd---from---his---hands.
With---reflexes---honed---from---constant---combat,---Dragken---bends---all---his---knees,---barely---dodging---another---swipe.
He---looks---up,---ready---to---react---to---another---attack..---But---it---never---comes.---Instead,---he---is---met---with---a---rather---disturbing---scene.
*Clank,---Clank,---Clank*
“Hey,---Boss---monster.---I---am---distracting---you.”
*Clank,---Clank,---Clank”
A---Gejan,---one---of---the---lizard---people---who---live---on---the---first---floor---of---the---dungeon,---is---standing---on---top---of---the---monsters---domed---head,---smacking---downward---with---a---massive---black---shield.
The---monster---had---stopped---all---movement,---instead,---its---head---is---looking---upward,---staring---utterly---confused.---Its---tentacles---are---in---the---air,---doing---nothing.
“You---are---distracted”
“Clank,---Clank,---Clank”
“I---am---the---best---distractor!”
“Clank,---Clank,---Clank”
Not---just---his---own,---but---all---eyes---are---on---him.---Every---centaur---is---staring,---listening---to---the---idiot---as---he---stands---on---a---monster---that---could---beat---him---into---a---pulp---with---ease.
“I---am---Darrow---and---nobody---can---distract---as---well---as---I---can.”
*Clank,---Clank,---Clank*
The---monsters---blinks---and---a---tentacle---starts---to---move,---but---a---figure---falls---down---at---that---same---moment,---a---figure---in---crimson---scales,---her---twin---blades---move---impressively---fast,---drawing---the---monsters---blood.
The---boss---screams---and---begins---to---thrash---again.---The---erratic---movement---forces---the---Gejan---named---Darrow---off---the---domed---head.---On---the---other---hand,---the---red---scaled---Gejan,---a---female,---is---what---Dragken---can---only---describe---as---dancing.---She---is---moving,---tapping---the---ground,---her---blades---are---spinning---while---dodging---the---tentacles---by---the---barest---of---margins.
And---even---while---dancing,---she---still---strikes---the---tentacles---as---they---pass---by,---though---none---such---strikes---are---drawing---blood.---Clearly,---her---ability---to---maneuver---around---foes---comes---at---the---cost---of---penetration.
Grunting,---Dragken---shakily---stands---up,---and---moves---towards---his---weapon,---picking---up---his---halberd,---frowning---at---the---now---blunt---edge.---And---then---his---instincts---take---over---as---he---turns---and---raises---his---halberd---to---defend---himself.
The---boss---had---not---forgotten---about---him!
*Clang*
Right---before---his---eyes,---moving---at---a---truly---impressive---speed,---the---tentacle---was---diverted---by---something---that---resembles---a---black---bone---tail.
“Don't---get---distracted---you---old---fart.”
Moving---his---eyes---towards---the---speaker,---he---finds---another---Gejan,---a---small---petite---white---one…---who---is---holding---a---massive---whip---of---bone---from---a---considerable---distance.---She---is---extending---it---and---interrupting---the---monsters---tentacles---as---they---are---about---to---strike---her---allies.
“Weak.---Come---on!---You---call---yourself---a---monster.---Ha,---I---laugh---at---your---monsterness.”
And---of---coarse,---the---vocal---one---is---screaming---and---yelling---at---the---monster---while…---withstanding---the---lashes---as---they---strike---his---shield.---It---takes---a---moment---for---Dragken---to---realize---how---impressive---that---is.---The---shield---isn't---cracking---and---the---Gejan---is---clearly---holding---firm.
Dragken---frowns---as---he---quickly---looks---around.---It---is---rather---clear---now---that---they---are---his---minions…---his---masters---minions.
But---that---still---raises---the---question,---where---is---he?
It---only---takes---a---moment---for---Dragken’s---vision---to---be---moved---downward,---towards---a---growing---pile---of---his---people's---corpses.---A---pile---growing---every---second---as---the---masters---undead---birds---pick---them---up---before---dropping---them---on---the---pile.
A---slight---bit---of---anger---rises---up---within---him---at---the---way---his---people's---corpses---are---being---handled.---The---dead---should---be---respected,---not---disgraced---in---such---a---way.
Unfortunately,---that---anger---is---short---lived---as---he---turns---and---finds---the---three---being---pushed---back,---the---monster---is---starting---to---adapt…
___________________________
Goddamn---this---better---work!---I---only---have---one---chance.
I---extend---my---staff---towards---the---huge---pile---of---corpses,---my---mana---quickly---fluctuating---in---my---body,---converging---mana---fully---active---and---working,---flowing---around---my---body.
I---take---a---deep---breath.
“[CREATE---SKELETAL---GUARDIAN]”
Like---a---torrent---of---water---ripping---open---a---damn,---my---mana---surges---out---of---me---with---impressive---force,---quickly---entering---the---piles---of---bodies.
Skin,---muscles,---tendons,---organs,---everything---not---considered---bone---quickly---melts---away.---A---sludge---forms---at---the---bottom,---but---I---care---little---for---that.---My---eyes---are---focused---upon---my---mana---as---they---enter---the---bones,---disintegrating---them,---creating---bone---powder.
It---takes---probably---a---whole---minute---for---just---that---process.---But---the---next---and---final---one---is---significantly---faster.
The---dust---rises---quickly---into---the---air,---converging,---spinning---in---a---maelstrom.---Then---it---compresses,---creating---bone,---limbs,---legs,---a---body.---A---large---and---impressive---one.
A---[Skeletal---Guardian]---stands---strong---and---tall.---A---literal---tank---of---bone.---Unfortunately,---the---boss---is---still---larger---and---probably---stronger.
“March,”---I---say,---pointing---towards---the---boss,---“and---kill.”
The---[Skeletal---Guardian]---turns---and---starts---walking---slowly---towards---the---boss,---its---many---armored---legs---striking---the---ground---with---clearly---impressive---weight.
A---loud---sound---which---quickly---attracts---the---boss's---attention.
The---boss---turns---its---head,---finding---my---minion---moving---towards---it.
The---monster---opens---its---mouth.
*Mhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa*
A---very---loud---screeching---sound---comes---from---the---beasts---mouth,---a---challenging---sound.---Of---one---alpha---predator---to---another.
Of---coarse---my---alpha---predator---has---no---vocal---chords.---Instead,---I---direct---my---minion---to---walk---faster…---which---isn't---very---much---faster---than---what---it---was---already---doing.---Something---from---speed---walking---to---a---slow---jog.
The---Boss---turns---away---from---the---three---now---physically---exhausted---Gejan---and---starts---heading---towards---my---guardian…---just---as---slowly,---possibly---moreso.
Two---behemoths---of---defense---and---power,---about---to---do---battle---in…
“Two---minutes.---Seriously?---Why---the---fuck---did---I---make---him---so---far---away.---Goddammit.”
With---actual---time---to---spare,---I---look---around---me,---finding---that---everyone---is---staring---at---the---behemoths---as---they---move---within---range---of---each---other.---All---are---holding---their---breath,---unable---to---look---away.---Waiting---for---what---will---happen,---for---the---victor.
Shaking---my---head,---I---start---walking---behind---my---[Skeletal---Guardian],---positioning---myself---in-
--a---way---that---would---allow---me---to---see---the---whole---fight---and---to---allow---me---to---dictate---my---undeads---movements.
A---minute---passes---and---the---Boss---monster---extends---its---longer---tentacled---arms,---slashing---towards---my---minion.---I---direct---my---bone---minion---to---counter---with---its---shields,---taking---the---bosses---blows---with---somewhat---ease.
But---it's---clear---from---that---first---trade---that---my---minion---doesn't---win---in---the---weight---department.---Heck,---my---minion---isn't---even---equivalent---in---size.