“Hyde, somethings just can’t be explained,” Nitro leaned in.
“Yeah, like why you don’t like going by the name, Lolo,” Remi sat with half-lidded eyes and a slight smile as though he’d committed the perfect crime.
“What! You son of a—” she retorted.
“That’s a wrap people, let’s see where we landed,” Zora said quickly putting an end to all conversation.
The party rose with their tablets like flashlights. Although, there was some light in the room, the further reaches of it remained pitch black, suggesting that it was far bigger than they expected. They moved as a unit, tightly packed, ensuring that no one would get separated while they trailed the borders of the room. It didn’t take long until they noticed a series of torch stands. None were lit, but the very sight of them made them feel uneasy. In the next second, the torches lit with the same iconic blue flames that the elemental boss they faced had disappeared into.
Oh no… is that?
After the flicker of each torch ran around the room in a huge circle, at the back, far ahead of them, an elemental was awakening. Just like the others it had a solid humanoid build with an elemental core set in its chest. It was clad in a mixture of rocky and metallic armour in such a way that the pieces seemed intricately layered like plates. Once it rose to its feet from its stone throne, the elemental core disappeared behind the shifting armor plates. Armed in a stone lance and shield, the elemental peered at its guests from a visored helmet.
No words needed to be said and the creature didn’t need anything more to communicate both its hostility and its rank, which was far above those who inhabited the House of Sages. There was no doubt about it now. This was the final boss.
The party exchanged glances, some worried, some hardened, some ruthless, but all of them had the same exact thought. Shit.
CHAPTER 23
Petrified by the hulking goliath ahead they remained unable to move, unable to run, almost unable to think.
Hyde glanced about, but quickly found that this boss room was a closed chamber. Even if they wanted to run, where would they go? Despite knowing this, he leaned closer to Zora and said, “We need to leave, there’s no way—” He flinched at the sight of her ruthless grin.
Her eyes were set on the creature far ahead, waiting, provoking and almost taunting them into dying by its spear.
“Zora—we need to leave,” he said again. His voice, although a whisper, was loud enough for all of them to hear, but none reacted.
Zora’s lips moved, but he couldn’t comprehend what she had just said.
“What did you say?” he narrowed his eyes. But she didn’t respond. Instead, she made a call to arms.
All but Hyde responded immediately. Now, with their weapons set and their tablet lights turned down, there was only one thing to do.
What are they thinking? Hyde stared at them as they marched with their weapons to what probably was a certain death. He took a deep breath and cleared the cowardice in his mind. Only the sound of heavy footsteps in the air could be heard and they beat like a drum in his chest.
Dammit. He summoned his sword, gripping it tighter than ever, and before he knew it his own feet began moving and his own steps echoed.
That’s it, Hyde. Zora smirked, listening to the determined steps at her rear. Now her entire party was on the move. All of them strong, willed and capable. The creature before them was nothing but an obstacle that would yield them salvation or at least a step closer to it.
This was far more than a normal boss battle, it was the greatest challenge this new guild had ever faced.
“Hyde, Abe and Remi. Assault,” Zora said, barely raising her voice, but somehow everyone could hear her tense words. “Mari, Mila, Nitro and myself. Support.”
The offensive line broke the moment her words dissolved. Abe, Remi and Hyde dashed into action. Abe raised his sword applying the Boon, Weightless to his team. Remi Shadowstepped to the goliath, opening with a strike so quick and surprising, even for those who knew him. But without even breaking a sweat the elemental deflected the blow, sending the boy into an acrobatic retreat.
What? He thought, sliding back.
Hyde followed the Shadow’s attempt and what he found, after having his blade so effortlessly blocked, was that this boss before them was no push over. He stepped back giving Abe room for an attack which came almost as fast as Remi’s with a Sentinel’s Blink that applied Burning to its foe. However, the creature paid as little attention to the Condition as it did to those opposing it. Abe staggered back after being denied his strike.
Dammit. The assault team watched the unfazed boss stand non-chalantly before them. However, the next onslaught followed soon after Mari had healed their scratches and bruises. Hyde was the first to dash, holding his blade steady as he prepared to attack. But, when he finally swung, the silver gleamed through the air nearing its foe until—block—the blade met the boss’s impenetrable shield. The ring of steel against stone rang along with the sparks shooting out from the encounter.
Before it was able to capitalise on the moment and punish the boy for such a reckless, straightforward attack, its attention was drawn away by Abe. The usual smug fellow raced with ferocity in his eyes, a thin sword in one hand and a glowing book in the other. He ran, chanting a few words, before attacking. Despite his chanting, the spell he called upon didn’t help to make much of a dent, but instead a ring of Wrathful Flames formed around the boss. He then drew a stroke with his sword from the right—block—the blade stopped against the stone lance of the elemental. A foot quickly followed, launching the boy a good distance away.
He stumbled and rolled back before coming to an inelegant stop. Yet there was a smile on his face. The Spell he’d cast was almost like a magical arena that gave them the advantage against the creature. The Wrathful Flames clung to the elemental inflicting Burning, damaging it over time. When Remi entered the ring, he was granted a Boon. Vigour. His neck glowed as did the inside of his mouth almost as if he was about to breathe fire.
Although Remi’s attack was deflected just like the rest, this time was different. He didn’t carry the power of Valor but instead the superhuman endurance of Vigour.
He activated another Skill, neglecting to micromanage his stamina and instead focusing all his energy on at least making a dent.
The first of his maneuvers was a Shadowstep, which Blinked him into a flanking position. With very little momentum, he performed a staggering kick on the boss’s left leg forcing it down to a knee. Obviously infuriated, the elemental tried to smack its pest away, but Remi swiftly evaded the swing. However, when he stepped in for a downward jab with his dagger, he met some resistance. Fortunately, the stone lance no longer held as hard, for the tip of his dagger had cracked its way in.
That tiny victory led to him neglecting the very strong stone shield coming his way. He was only given a moment to realise his mistake before it struck its target, but something came to his rescue. Mila’s drone Bluebell was there to grant a pulse of Barrier. The Boon took effect immediately protecting Remi from the dangerous blow. The attack was successfully repelled, however, little did he know, the elemental wasn’t going to give up so easily. The one-hit Boon expired and another shield slam was about to follow the first. He tried to pull his blade free but it wouldn’t loosen. The stone shield came in a second time, and in the last second it stopped midway against a loud steel shriek. Barrier hadn’t protected him this time—instead, Hyde had arrived.
With his sword in hand, he’d parried the offensive shield, gaining momentum, pushing back the arm, and performing a powerful Rend. The iron carved its way into the stone lance. A series of cracks followed the impact site. This time, deeper ones. Remi swiftly retreated with his knife. Hyde pulled his sword free, grabbing it by the blade and performing a half-sworded, Valor-fuelled Rend, aimed at the elemental’s weapon, almost as if he was executing the thing. Crack. Another set of fissures raced across it.
The flames from Abe’s Spell were soo
n running out however, not before burning away as much of the boss’s HP as possible, which was sadly not visible to them. But with the cracks on the lance they knew that at least something was going right.
The Sentinel followed the examples of his companions, quickly pushing in and aiming for the cracked weapon.
The elemental rose from its one-knee position. With a chant on his tongue and a blink on his fingertips, he teleported in and unleashed Hyde’s favourite Spell, Hundred Blades.
It only took a moment for the shiny swords to spawn and another for them to fall. The rain of silver and steel came down tearing through the elemental’s armor, its lance and its shield without mercy.
Mila took advantage of the hail of destruction, firing some well aimed bullets without drawing the elemental’s attention.
However, when the rain of a Hundred Blades came to an end, only silence remained. The glitter of the Sentinel swords vanished and it was all over.
Did we win?
When the dust settled, the elemental stood firm. However, so much of its armor was cracked or destroyed as it fell from its person. What hid behind the rocky surfaces was metal. A lot of it.
Wait? Isn’t that—
Full plate armor clad the creature underneath the slabs of stone that now rested on the ground. The elemental’s stone lance fell to pieces leaving behind a thin metal sword while its stone shield gave way to another sleeker metallic version.
The nameless guild witnessed its rebirth with wide disbelieving eyes. This can’t be.
In one slow motion, the elemental raised its thin blade and from it came a stab of lightning, the electrical current jolting and jumping all around its metal plates. In the very next second, that imbued sword was forced down like hammer to an anvil. The moment the blade touched the ground a series of electrical ripples extended out, instantly reaching the members of the assault team. It stopped at their feet, but not before biting into their flesh and strangling their nerves.
Stunned. Abe, Remi and Hyde were all inflicted with the disabling effect. Their limbs wouldn’t heed their commands and their minds seemed like a jumbled mush that would never clear. But one thing was true, the Boss was headed in Hyde’s direction.
Not again. Zora thought, grabbing her halberd, ready to push to the forefront. But at the very last moment, the slow moving thumps of the elemental’s feet vanished along with its body in a blink of lightning. It reappeared, in the very next second, along with a thunderclap, at Zora’s rear, disorienting the remainder of the support team. The flash of light, crack of thunder, and shock of its presence, all set them back.
However, one of the girls wasn’t completely left vulnerable as the elemental swung its metal shield like a second blade—Mari. She stepped forth defending the others with a desperate translucent shield. Barrier swept over them, but it quickly became obvious that it wouldn’t change a thing. The elemental’s shield shattered hers and along with its momentum, launched her off her feet into the far reaches of the chamber.
She struck one of the walls in the circular room. The wall was thankfully left unharmed, but the girl suffered heavy wounds.
“Mari!” Mila and Nitro turned only to see her fall after enduring the blow.
Dammit! Zora glared at the beast. “Mila, go help her!” she ordered with a ruthless grin on her face. “Nitro, get behind me!”
“But—” Mila was about to speak, but something stopped her, maybe it was the creepy smile on Zora’s face, or maybe it was the villainous fire in her eyes. “Okay.” She did as she was commanded and raced to the injured Sentinel, leaving only two left standing behind.
Nitro quickly circled round, arriving at Zora’s rear, putting her in between Zora and the assault team, leaving Mila and Mari without help.
“Nitro,” Zora whispered.
“Yes?” Nitro leaned in.
“Start casting and make it big,” she grinned.
“Done!”
The Sage began chanting, her voice filling the entire room, and the magical glitter followed her words, the torches paled in comparison. One thing was sure, she was getting the elemental’s attention. It turned, its faceless gaze was almost irritated, yet Nitro continued on, even with its threatening approach. Her safety net was in the form of a person, Zora. Her eyes were fixed and her head leaned back, almost as if she was looking down on the creature.
That’s it… come this way, Zora thought, stepping up to the challenge. The elemental before her was much larger than her to say the least, but that didn’t stop her. At this point it was like nothing would. Thump. Thump. Their steps moved completely in sync. Soon they came to a stop. The pair of them eyed the other almost as to let the other know that a fight was about to take place.
“C’mon!” Zora screamed, taunting her foe.
CHAPTER 24
Dammit. Hyde thought, looking up, I need to move. But his limbs wouldn’t do as he willed. The rest of the party was incapacitated one way or another, the same way he was. All but Nitro, Mila and Zora. The Sage drew the elemental’s attention with her chanting. And the Dragoon stood as the only defender before her.
I need to help—Hyde froze in place, his eyes wide with disbelief. Zora didn’t need his help, she didn’t need anyone’s help for that matter—she stood keeping the boss at bay, single handedly. The thin steel sword came from the right, but it wasn’t just a meagre block that was employed. She met the blade with her polearm, pushing it back with a great counterforce and then moving in to retaliate. First with a powerful Shove, giving her Valor strong enough to pressure the elemental into submission. Quick as the wind, she capitalised, poking at the creature’s side with the halberd spike. The attack didn’t pierce, but the armor dented against it. Following the strike was a second, continuing the combo, but just as it seemed like she’d draw another heavier stroke, she Feinted the blow.
Now with the elemental baited into Parrying with an attack of its own, Zora moved up, refusing to wait out the swing and instead pummeling the creature with the butt of the polearm. She jabbed again and sure enough the blow pushed it back even further. With a pair of determined legs, she stepped up. Thump, thump they sounded as she met the elemental once more.
In that moment, watching the encounter between the fiercest Dragoon he’d ever known and the fiercest Boss he’d ever faced, it was remarkable but they were equally matched. Wow, Hyde thought, unable to take his eyes away from them. The ringing of steel against steel beat on his eardrums and the flashes of silver on silver glimmered in his eyes. This combat was more than just muscle. More than just swinging a sword. It was something far greater than what met the eyes. It was something truly mental.
Zora Feinted once more, watching for the elemental’s reactions, but none came. Let’s see how you like this one. She smirked, performing a double Feint, first from the left then from the right, then swinging unexpectedly from the right again. The blow grazed the elemental’s shield, but that barely dented her momentum as she quickly turned with the polearm, bringing it round for one strong stroke. But the combo didn’t end with the dent to the elemental’s armor. The show had to go on. And it did, with Shove, much like Hyde’s Shoulder Bash would, staggering her foe.
Her next attack came in the heat of the opportunity, that she wouldn’t let go to waste. She was allowed a blow that scraped against the shield again, but the second one she had sent was far too ambitious. The attack was way too heavily telegraphed, not to mention the glow of Valor that clad her weapon and gauntlets.
The elemental replied with an exceeding force using its shield to intercept the blow, sending the halberd on a detour. The opportunity was quick and the reaction was immediate. The boss used the momentum of the block to carry its weight into a shield haymaker that unfortunately hit square on Zora’s face forcing her to stagger. Dazed. Her thoughts scrambled like eggs, her senses fuzzed and unconsciousness felt like it was just around the corner… like it was all coming too fast. However, the CC effect wore off, putting her back in action, but only after
she suffered a slash from the thin blade.
She shook her head gently, shrugging off the pain and disorientation. “Is that all you got?” she smirked, not even glancing at the damage she’d taken. The damage that had been dealt to her HP bar. Maybe if she had, that heightened bravado might have been a facade.
She stepped forth, halberd in hand, answering the elemental’s challenge. The Boss did the same. No demonstrative pleasantries were made between the two foes before Zora swung from the top. She Feinted the attack and performed a quicker pummel strike through the uncertainty, poking at the elemental’s helm. Following the blow was a twist, and another swing, this time from the right. That too was Feinted into another attack equal in strength and from the same side. Although it only resulted in a little scratch on the shield, a sequence Skill was employed. Shove. It came so fast, it was unavoidable.
The Boss was forced to step back. Still completely lucid, it saw another twist and swing come its way, but this time, with its nerves steeled, it gave no reaction. Zora Feinted the blow, but her target had caught on to her playstyle. Instead the elemental just waited for her next move.
When it never came, it dashed forward, Feinting it at first. Zora instinctively reacted, moving back. The second time the elemental stepped in, she assumed another ruse, but this one was followed through. The dash quickly turned into a Shield Bash clad in the same glow as she enjoyed with the Skill Shove. Valor.
Shit. It was too late now. She had no time to dodge, all she could do was absorb the impact.
The blow pushed her polearm into her chest as she staggered back, and before she knew it her regained momentum was destroyed. Twin silver trails were drawn with the thin sword wielded by the elemental carving deep slashes into her armor. Her health points were dropping, maybe even running low, but she wouldn’t look up. Her eyes were dead set on the monster ahead. The polearm was held ready to retaliate, guided by a gaze willing to slay, hardened with nerves of iron and steel.
It wasn’t over. Maybe the final exchange would be her last, maybe it would soon be over if the elemental got another blow in, but Zora showed no signs of faltering. Her stance, her gaze, her posture, all of it said she wouldn’t stop until she’d vanquished her foe.
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