Chapter 9 - Hidden Boss (Skeleton Warrior)

[Location: Skeleton Graveyard Dungeon]

The skeleton graveyard dungeon looked almost the same as the skeleton graveyard outside. The only difference is that the monster here is stronger and much fiercer.

Li Haoxuan and Li Zhihuan were both walking through the dungeon. Occasionally, the skeletons will randomly pop up from the ground and they will work together to kill them.

"I'm now level 19. Ah'Xuan, how far are you?" Li Zhihuan asked his brother.

"96.74%. I should get to level 19 after this round," Li Haoxuan replied as they continued to walk deeper through the dungeon. They walk, kill some skeletons, walk again and repeat.

"Weird… why is the boss not spawning yet?" Li Zhihuan wondered. He suddenly has a bad feeling about this dungeon run.

"Relax, it should appear soon," Li Haoxuan replied in a relaxed manner.

Just then, a rumbling sound could be heard and the twin turned towards the source. The ground underneath the dead tree before them shook. The tree is slowly being uprooted but just they thought the tree will finally be removed from the ground, the tremor stopped.

"Huh? What was that?" Li Haoxuan was about to walk over to investigate when the system alert suddenly rang out.

[System: Entering Skeleton Warrior's Eternal Resting Place.]

Just as Li Haoxuan finished reading the system alert, the tree from before was suddenly uprooted by a great force, making it flew up to the sky. Dirt and dust flew all over the place and Li Haoxuan took a step backward.

"Zhihuan, be careful! It's the hidden boss, Skeleton Warrior!" Li Haoxuan told his brother.

"Right!" Li Zhihuan prepared himself by drinking mana potions to replenish his mana. Afterward, he filled up both of their health to fullness before going a few steps backward. "I'll support you from afar. Do you remember how to fight him?"

Li Haoxuan froze and didn't answer. He nervously turned his head towards Li Zhihuan and gave him an awkward smile. "Brother… I forgot."

"Aaaah! Wait, let me go check the guide!" Li Zhihuan said before freezing in place. "… I forgot that we are inside the game so… there is no way we can open the web browsers like in the real world," Li Zhihuan said.

Their conversation was cut off by the Skeleton Warrior's loud, shrill, shriek. That was a signal to tell them that the boss will now start attacking. Li Haoxuan also did not dally as he rushed towards the boss.

"Zhihuan! Ask God Ye! Hopefully, he remembers!" Li Haoxuan said to his brother as he begins to engage the boss.

Li Zhihuan immediately sends a message to Ye Xiu and a few seconds later, a reply came. "Ah'Xuan! Hit the buckle. If you deal enough damage to the buckle, the boss will drop the saber!" Li Zhihuan quickly informed his brother after quickly reading the instruction.

"Got it!" Li Haoxuan was taking a passive stance earlier, never really hitting the boss and continued to evade. As soon as he received the instruction though, he started to go on the offensive. In his hand, he currently holds the battle lance. Currently, all his skill sets are that of a Battlemage.

Dodging the Skeleton Warrior's downward slash, Li Haoxuan bravely closed in. He thrusts his lance forward, executing the Dragon Tooth. The stun effect immediately took effect and Li Haoxuan didn't waste any time and connect his next attack.

With a Sky Strike, the boss was launched upwards. During this animation, the boss was left open and Li Haoxuan could see the buckle strapped on the boss's waist. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass, he used Double Stab and hit the buckle twice.

The Skeleton Warrior finally fell to the ground and Li Haoxuan was about to attack it again when he heard Li Zhihuan's voice.

"Ah'Xuan! Fall back first! There will be a shock wave attack!"

Unfortunately, the warning came too late and Li Haoxuan was hit by the shock wave as the Skeleton Warrior raise up from the ground. The shock wave sent Li Haoxuan flying and his health went from 100% to 87%.

Li Zhihuan immediately casts small heal to his brother and the health went up to 94%. "Ah'Xuan, don't be greedy. A hidden boss's damage is stronger than the normal boss. I can't heal you too much or else there might be OT."

"Don't worry. I won't let you OT," Li Haoxuan said as he changed his equipment to broadsword. He once again dived into the attack range of Skeleton Warrior, deftly dodging any incoming attack. Once he's close enough, the corner of his lips turned upwards and a grin formed on his face. "Up you go again!"

Li Haoxuan used the Swordsman skill, upward slash and the boss is once again knocked up into the air. Li Haoxuan then aimed for the buckle. This time, he didn't get greedy and after three hits, he moved backward, out of the shock wave attack range.

"This is going to take a while…" he commented. "Zhihuan, are there no short cuts?"

"Unfortunately…" Li Zhihuan just shrugged his shoulder. "Ah'Xuan, fight on!" Li Zhihuan pumped his fist as he cheered for his younger brother.

Left with no other choice, Li Haoxuan once again sends himself towards the boss. Fifteen minutes later, a loud clanging sound was heard as the saber hits the ground. "Okay! The saber is finally dropped. What now?" Li Haoxuan turned to his brother to ask.

"I-… let me ask God Ye again," Li Zhihuan said as he sends another message to Ye Xiu. The reply came soon after.

[Ye Xiu: Did you get the saber to drop? Good. Then you can go and kill it now. Just hit him until his health disappears.]

"…" Li Zhihuan turned to Li Haoxuan and gave him an awkward smile.

"What is it?"

"He says to hit the boss until his health disappears. No other tactic…"

Li Haoxuan turned dark and suddenly felt anger bubbling inside him. "Basically… we wasted our time, right?"

"Hey, let's look at it in a positive way. Maybe that after dropping the saber, the boss's attack won't be too painful?" Li Zhihuan said, trying to defend his idol.

Li Haoxuan just grumbled and went off to kill the boss. Fortunately, it was as Li Zhihuan said. After dropping the saber, the boss's attack wasn't as heavy and after another ten minutes, the boss finally fell.

[System Announcement: Hidden Boss Skeleton Warrior First Kill Achievement. Team Member: Li Haoxuan, Li Zhihuan.]

The announcement was sent throughout the server and the remaining ten in the virtual world could see it. Ye Xiu couldn't help the smile forming on his face as he read the announcement.

"Not bad."

"Master, those are the twin's names, right?" Qiu Fei asked and Ye Xiu nods his head. His hand moved as he sends a message to Li Zhihuan before turning his attention back to leveling.

"Come on now. We can't lose to the younger ones, right?" Ye Xiu said as he faced his team members. They have been doing the spider cave dungeon for a while now, and soon will reach level 15. After that, they can move to the next dungeon.

On the other hand, back at the Skeleton Graveyard, Li Haoxuan could finally relax.

"Level 19, 45% into level 20. At least, the experience point is good," Li Haoxuan said as he picked up the loot. Li Zhihuan also picked up the saber that had been dropped earlier as per Ye Xiu's instruction.

"Why do you pick that up?" Li Haoxuan asked his brother.

"God Ye's instruction, ah! He says it's the material for your weapon."

Li Haoxuan raised up an eyebrow but didn't say anything else. "Actually, is he going to make a second Myriad Manifestation Umbrella?" Li Haoxuan asked as they left the dungeon.

"There cannot be duplicate silver equipment in the professional league. So I don't think so," Li Zhihuan replied. "He may be creating one from scratch. A blueprint, just for you!" he said as he playfully bumped against his brother's shoulder.

"I'd rather he make one for you first. I can always wait," Li Haoxuan said and they finally left the dungeon area. "So, one more round? If we're lucky, we'll meet another hidden boss!" he said in a joking manner as they re-entered the dungeon.

A few minutes later, they stood nervously. They are currently facing another hidden boss, Skeleton King.

"Ah'Xuan! You and your crow's mouth, ah!!" Li Zhihuan scolded his brother as they prepared for another hard battle.

"It's not my fault! The hidden bosses shouldn't have appeared twice in a consecutive manner!! There must be something wrong with the system!!" Li Haoxuan decided to put the blame on the system as he rushed towards the boss.