by Rick Scott
As we approach a group of live ones I focus on them to see exactly what they are.
Sea Sahuagin
Level 75
These beastmen are thought to have once been humans who worship the ancient gods of the deep and were cursed as a result. They are the bane of seamen and the stuff of nightmares to small coastal towns, where they emerge periodically from the sea to drag the unsuspecting into the deep.
Affinity: Water
I shudder at the description and am thankful that while awesome, it’s still only a game.
As we progress through the brilliant coral jungle we come to a large group of maybe twenty Sahuagin and in the center of them is a massive red crab the size of a truck.
“Here we go!” Val Helena says and she charges ahead. “Let’s have some fun!”
She jumps into the midst of the mobs and uses her Warcry, drawing all their attacks to her. Zeke and the rest of the melee then jump in and start dispatching the fish men with battle cries of their own.
Five seconds of carnage go by as I cast Shadow Tendrils and ignite my blades with the purplish blue flame. I perform a Charge Strike on the big crab and hit for about 3% of its health bar. The massive crustacean, that’s as tall as Val Helena, turns to face me and I duck as it snaps at me with one of its supersized pincers. I use Warcry to make sure it’s focused on me and then start slicing into its shell with my glowing blades. After a minute or so, the fish men get killed off and then the guild turns their attention to the big crab I’m tanking.
Its HP drops rapidly and it turns to face the melee team who are chopping into it from behind. I see a bunch of their HP bars drop by a quarter as the crab does a swipe with its claw.
Oh crap!
I use warcry again and the crab turns back to me. I blow Active Dodge on one of its hits and eventually the crab expires when Zeke and his team unleash a couple of power attacks. I get zero exp from the kill. Same as I did with the fish men. I wonder if something might be wrong, and then I remember that Val Helena is level 85 and that the exp would not be shared due to the level difference.
I feel a bit bad for Gilly, since she probably didn’t get any either. But she claps and looks happy enough cheering for us when the battle ends. I guess this must be how it is for Gilly when she parties with me. I promise myself to go back to thief or start a new class when this is all over and level with her. I want her to experience the fun of leveling a class too.
I then get a pm.
Val Helena: Not bad, but try to land your debuff magic as soon as possible. Ninja has some of the strongest debuffs in the game, even more than elemental mage. And damage over time debuffs like poison generate a lot of threat.
Me: Oh okay.
Val Helena: And use your elemental wheel too. It’s another debuff. Use the element opposite to the monster’s affinity. Should be fire for most of the stuff in here. It’ll especially be important for the boss.
A debuff?
I check the spell again.
Elemental Shadow Wheel
Use shadow magic to lower the elemental resistance of your target.
Cast time: 0.5 seconds.
Recast: 30 seconds
Cost: 10 TP
Me: Ok so if I use fire it will lower its fire resistance?
Val Helena: Yes, and since fire is strong versus water, when the mages use their fire spells, they will do more damage.
Me: Cool! I’ll try it on the next one.
We progress on and find another team of monsters. This one has a big purple octopus looking thing sitting amongst the fish men. I focus on it to see how tough it is.
Kraken
Level 80
These giant beasts have been known to attack and destroy entire ships. While often seen with Sahuagin, their exact relationship with the beastmen is unknown, as at times they have been seen cooperating with them, but at others, devouring them.
Affinity: Water
When Val Helena runs in and I recast Shadow Tendrils and then use Charge Strike on the Kraken before back flipping to cast Shadow Mist.
You cast Shadow Mist.
The Kraken is poisoned.
The Kraken resists the slow.
The Kraken resists the Paralyze.
Woot! It worked! Sorta…
I follow up with Warcry and when the Kraken zooms toward me to close the gap I get a nasty shock as all eight arms flail at me like a blender. I duck and weave but I can’t miss all of them.
A kraken hits you for 237 damage
Your evasion increases by 0.6
A kraken hits you for 243 damage
Your evasion increases by 0.7
Skill up! Your evasion is now 214.
A kraken hits you for 228 damage
Your evasion increases by 0.6
A heal from Silvi washes over me right before I’m about to die and I use an active dodge to avoid the last of its arms. I wasn’t expecting that! Now I see how the mobs feel when my triple attack kicks in. In between another duck and weave, I cast Shadow Copy just in case and then try to focus on predicting its attacks. I do better, but still one arm gets me and my shadow disappears.
Crap!
I cast Decoy Shadow as a last resort and get hit right when I finish casting.
A kraken hits you for 122 (244) damage
You gain the effect of Shadow Cloak!
The giant octopus stops attacking me and then turns about toward Val Helena who just used another Warcry. Uh oh! I prepare a backstab and jab my glowing katanas into its bulbous head for a whopping 20% damage.
It faces me again and unleashes a move that does AOE damage.
Kraken uses ink storm!
You take 564 Damage!
You are blinded!
The world goes black and I panic. I blow active dodge and am not sure if I even dodge anything or not. My awareness kicks in and I start to sense things flying at me. Its arms I guess.
A kraken hits you for 226 damage
Your Awareness increases by 0.3
I use Retreat to give me some space and recast Shadow Copy.
Then thankfully my sight is restored.
Gilly casts Cure Ailment.
You are no longer blind.
Good ole Gilly!
My vision returns just in time for me to dodge another round of attacks. I get through them all without losing my shadow and then Zeke and his team chop its HP down to zero.
You defeated the Kraken!
You gain 0 experience points.
I’m breathing hard from excitement and exertion. I realize that in my panic I never even got a chance to use the elemental wheel spell. I look for Gilly and give her a smile.
Me: Thanks for the save!
Gilly: No prob, babe ; ) <3
I then send a message to Val Helena.
Me: Sorry, I really messed up on that one.
Val Helena: Those guys are a bit tough. Don’t worry. There are a few more you can practice on.
I almost don’t want to experience it. I feel bad for getting hit so many times and give a salute of thanks to Silvi for saving me from death. We face a few more groups of monsters as we continue through the coral jungle. It begins to get more dense and darker as we head down a tunnel of sorts. I face a couple more groups with crabs which I eventually find fun and easy to tank, but the ones that have the octopi still give me trouble.
It takes us about an hour or so but we eventually arrive at a large sandy area that’s surrounded by a wall of glowing coral. Within the center of the roughly circular clearing the size of a football field are two groups of Sahuagin, one with a crab, the other with a Kraken.
“This is it,” Val Helena says. “Prep up.”
I see everyone in the guild start busting out food items and begin eating. Darn. I didn’t think to bring any food items. Suddenly I get a trade request.
Thanus wishes to trade with you.
Thanus offers you a serving of sticky rice.
Effect: +1%HP +3 Evasion
Duration: 30
mins
“Thanks,” I say, smiling at the small Halfling that looks like an old man.
Thanus shrugs. “Probably won’t do much. But at least it’s something. It’s ninja food. Had it left over from when I was in Kuze a while back.”
I laugh. “Appreciate it.”
I eat the rice ball like thing, which tastes pretty bland and get the small buff symbol on my HUD.
“Okay, here’s the plan,” Val Helena says. “I’ll run in and grab the octopus and the fishmen. Reece, you take the crab and the main boss when it spawns. Kite both of them until we kill the other mobs, then I’ll pull the crab off you and help you tank the boss once we kill it.”
“Kite?” I ask.
“Just aggro them both and run like heck. Stay out of their attack range and run around the arena. But keep using your ranged magic and hit them with your Warcry to keep their attention.”
Eesh, that doesn’t sound easy at all.
“The mobs will respawn every now and then so when that happens we need to repeat the process. Got it?”
I nod but it sounds like a nightmare task to me. I wonder if I’m up for this. I’m really beginning to understand what Aiko meant now by soloing being easier.
“Gilly, I got a job for you too,” Val Helena says.
Gilly points to herself with shock. “Me?”
“Yeah, if Reece gets blinded, remove it like you did before. The other mages will probably be too busy healing me and might miss it.”
She perks up at that. “Sure thing!”
I’m surprised anyone even noticed Gilly curing me.
“That’s not your main job though,” Val Helena continues. “There’s a phase where the entire floor will erupt on either the left or right side. The only indication is a light that will flash on the coral wall right before it goes off. We’ll be in the mix so if you can be our spotter and tell us which side to run to, that would be awesome.”
Gilly beams. “I can do that.”
“Ok let’s do it,” Val Helena says and leads us forward.
Tension knots my stomach as we approach the boss lair and then doubly so as the ground begins to tremble beneath my feet. Huge bubbles and erupt from the arena floor as something begins to emerge from it. Jets of sand shoot upward and cloud the water as a massive shadow emerges within.
As the cloud clears an octopus the size of Gruzug looms before us. Its skin is mottled and gray and covered in barnacles. Just looking at it makes my flesh crawl!
Ullithilli
Beast King Legendary Monster
Level: ???
An ancient being from before the dawn of time, the dark sea god Ullithilli is the keeper of the ocean realms and king to the Sahuagin. Only the strongest of champions dare challenge his might.
“Hope you had enough practice, Reece.” Val Helena grins at me with a wink. “This will be your toughest octopus yet.”
I sigh exasperated as Val Helena just laughs. The regular ones were bad enough, but tanking one as powerful as an LM?
I cast Shadow Tendrils and Shadow Copy in preparation.
Yup, I think to myself. I’m pretty sure I’m about to die.
Chapter 32 Beast King
Val Helena charges in and I follow right after her. She uses a bunch of protection abilities and then Warcry on the two groups of mobs as she reaches them. Her HP bar begins to deplete as the forty plus high level mobs start going to town on her. I target the crab and hit it with a Charge Strike and give it a full burst with my blades, taking off 10% of its health, before retreating and dashing away to face Ullithilli. The monster towers over me and I’m scared to as heck to even touch it.
I use Elemental Shadow Wheel to cast Fire on it from a distance.
A small explosion goes off above its huge mantle and its blocky pupiled eyes focus in my direction.
You cast Shadow Fire
Ullithilli resist the spell.
No effect, but I at least got its attention. I use Shadow Mist next and am not surprised by the results.
You cast Shadow Mist
Ullithilli resist the spell.
“Come get me!” I shout using Warcry and the huge octopus moves in my direction…just as the crab catches up to me. Oh crap!
I barely duck under the massive claw and take off running to the other end of the arena using sprint. I glance over my shoulder behind me to see the guild chopping away at the Kraken and the fish men, who look about half gone now. Val Helena is still in the middle of it all, taking heals as her health bar bobs up and down.
I reach the end of the arena and start running around the perimeter.
A huge tentacle swipes at me and my shadow disappears.
Uh oh…
I stop for a second to recast Shadow Copy and as soon as I do, I get hit again.
Your shadow absorbs the attack.
I try to take off running again but the massive beast is too close.
Ullithilli hits you for 634 damage.
Ullithilli hits you for 584 damage.
You are defeated
What!
My heart sinks as my body hits the floor. How could I screw up so bad so quickly? The shame of letting the team down flushes me hot with embarrassment.
(RNG)Reece: Guys, I’m sorry. ) :
(RNG)Val Helena: Gilly, get him up.
(RNG) Gilly: On it!
The crab and Ullithilli slowly start back toward Val Helena, where she has just finished off the Kraken. She points to the crab. “Zeke burst down the crab with power attacks while I take the boss.”
“Got it!” Zeke shouts and he and the dwarfs charge into the crab with a flurry of special moves that drop it to 0 HP in just a few seconds.
Val Helena uses Warcry on the boss and it lashes out at her with its massive tentacles. It does eight hits in a row, each one taking Val Helena’s health down by 10%! Silvi and her team barely have time to get her back up before the onslaught comes again.
“Hurry it up, Gilly!” Val Helena cries.
Just then Gilly appears and to cast raise on me. “Better get back in the game quick, Reece!”
I raise up and Gilly tops off my weakened HP bar. 451/451 HP
Better than nothing I guess. “Thanks Gilly!”
I recast Shadow Tendrils and Shadow Copy and add Shadow Cloak for good measure. I’ve got to do better this time. I get behind Ullithilli and hit it with a backstab that takes off a whopping 4% of its health, bringing it down to 92%. I blow an Active Dodge as it turns to face me and my body blurs through a hit. I focus on dodging and manage to weave through the next few strikes, but its arms are moving so fast I can barely keep track of them all. I lose my shadow but after a few tense seconds of dodging, I manage to recast Shadow Copy again.
I get some slashes off in between and use Warcry to keep the LM focused on me.
Thanus starts casting debuffs to slow and paralyze, but the giant monster resists each one. Zeke’s team yells and hollers as they release a few more power attacks and Ullithilli’s health drop down to 82%. Jax hits it with a backstab doing an impressive 6% damage all by himself. Then Thanus casts an attack spell and a massive meteorite falls from the sky and explodes atop Ullithilli’s head dropping it to 65%. The sight reminds me that I still need to use my elemental magic on it. I pause to cast the spell and lose my shadow in the process.
You cast Shadow Fire!
Ullithilli’s resistance to fire is decreased.
Success! But then I see a room wide message.
Ullithilli readies Whirlpool!
The water begins to stir as its arms flail widely. I try casting Shadow Copy but it’s still on cooldown! The attack goes off and sends a wave of tidal energy crashing into us from all directions. I flatline in an instant and so does Jax. The rest of the melee team is hanging on by a thread and Val Helena is down to 20%. The beast turns toward her, and Silvi just manages to top Val Helena up before the attacks start slamming into her again.
I feel like such an idiot! I shouldn’t have cast Shadow Cop
y so early. I’m going to cause the whole team to wipe now!
Gilly casts raise on me when I see another attack go off.
Ullithilli uses ink storm!
A second AOE attack goes off in a cloud of blackness that covers Val Helena and the melee team. Their HP all drop to zero and the LM starts to head toward Gilly who had just cast the raise.
No!
I raise up double weakened, with only 27 hit points to my name.
“Stay away from her!” I yell with Warcry and the massive beast turns back toward me.
Oh crap, what am I going to do now?
I refrain from casting Shadow Copy too soon. That’s what got me killed the last time. I use the five seconds to recast Shadow Tendrils instead. I then retreat to increase my distance and sprint away from Val Helena and the other fallen warriors. Ullithilli slowly starts to give chase. I’ve got to do something. But its attacks are just too fast. I can barely keep track of them to dodge.
I’ve got to slow it down somehow. But even Thanus’s spells were being resisted.
Resisted…that gives me an idea. Shadow Magic was based on dark. If I could lower its resistance to dark, maybe I could get it to land.