Urumel - III
[13:45 | May 03, 2035]
Shin stood in front of Geoff with his left arm out signaling for Geoff to rest. A cold breeze of air manifested from the black smoke beside Shin.
"Let's go."
Fuyumi's white hair swayed back and forth from her sudden appearance. Shin's face turned serious as he got into a combat-ready stance.
Scottie dodged side to side, narrowly avoiding the minotaur's polearm as Nightingale, Prezzo, and Malady countered, slinging spells and raining arrows.
---------
[(BOSS) Polearm Minotaur Guardian]
Level: 42 | HP: 22,132
---------
The long red health bar of the minotaur had hardly moved since the beginning of the encounter.
Shin lunged forward with [Swift Strike], his blade connected with the minotaur's ankle. The beast stumbled forward, losing its balance. Scottie dodged out of the way as the minotaur's arm came down in front of him to support its massive body. Fuyumi followed through with a backhanded slash into the minotaur's weapon-wielding arm. A patch of ice formed over the beast's biceps.
Fuyumi flipped backward, kicking and shattering the ice in the process, critically weakening the minotaur's arm with her skill, [Brittle].
"Shin!" Fuyumi's voice reached the red-haired adventurer as he jumped into the air, throwing his sword into the minotaur's weakened limb. The blade planted itself deep into the creature's arm.
Still in the air, Shin swung his arm downward as if he was still holding onto his blighted blade.
"[Twilight]!"
The blighted black blade embedded in the minotaur was covered in a red misty aura and flames.
---------
[Twilight] - Cover your weapon in an aura. Your next attack is enhanced to inflict a mark on the enemy that detonates shortly after the attack connects with an enemy. This attack is more likely to inflict status effects.
---------
The Savant landed on the floor. Obeying his [Spatial Mastery], his sword cut through the flesh of the minotaur, spilling blood all over the floor. A multitude of strobing purple-red flashes enveloped the arm. Fire and purple blight erupted from the brittle arm.
---------
[(BOSS) Polearm Minotaur Guardian]
Level: 42 | HP: 18,289
[Status Ailments]
Burned, Brittle, Blighted
---------
Scottie swung his massive greatsword directly into the minotaur's gut, spilling blood on his blue hair.
The beast roared in retaliation, sending shockwaves of wind throughout the room. The arrows whizzing through the air from Malady were knocked off their trajectory.
Shin recalled his sword to his hand with [Spatial Mastery] and planted it into the ground to brace against the shockwave. A black beam from the other side of the room pierced through the room, flying directly at Shin's back. However, a wispy black shadow appeared from behind him, deflecting the beam into the ceiling before collapsing back into smoke. The beam's impact against the wall rained rocks and stones on the adventurers who scrambled and dodged out of the way.
White steam shot out of the minotaur's nostrils. It gripped its polearm tightly before wildly swinging the long axe head around the room. The group of adventurers stepped backward, as the sharp edge of the polearm got closer with each swing. Puffs of smoke shot out as the beast's swings made an impact on the floor.
Shin looked to his left. Fuyumi's brow furrowed and her expression turned serious. She jumped forward into the minotaur's incoming attack. Her boots gracefully landed on the axe's head as it slammed into the ground. Her eyes glowed blue as she disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
Narrowly dodging each attack, Fuyumi and her clone's attacks were like afterimages in the smoke. The swishing sound of cuts from her blade and tearing flesh followed after the thundering crashes of ferocious axe swings.
---------
[(BOSS) Polearm Minotaur Guardian]
Level: 42 | HP: 14,289
[Status Ailments]
Burned, Brittle, Blighted
---------
"Taking the spotlight again, Fuyumi?"
Not to be outdone, Shin jumped into the chaos with a serious of [Swift Strikes] and casts of [Twilight]. Flashes of red lightning, purple blight explosions, and puffs of icy mist could just barely be made out from the dust and black smoke covering the minotaur. The numerous slashes left deep scars on the minotaur. Its health was chunked from the endless cuts and inflicted status ailments.
---------
[(BOSS) Polearm Minotaur Guardian]
Level: 42 | HP: 8,289
[Status Ailments]
Burned, Brittle, Blighted
---------
Scottie, Malady, and Prezzo stood back in shock. Scottie's thick beard rustled as his jaw dropped. Malady clumsily dropped her bow. Prezzo's codex was left flipping through pages but words couldn't leave his mouth.
Geoff, leaning against the wall, loosened the grip on his weapon as he could tell the battle was likely over.
Nightingale, unfazed, dropped his arms to his side. His fingers made a claw-like posture, while flames completely covered his hands. The fire grew in size until his arms were covered by an inferno. His codex hung suspended in the air before him as his gaze focused on the minotaur's head.
"Stand back! [Surging Inferno]!"
He clapped his hands together, collapsing the flames together, creating an initial spark of fire before separating his hands, unleashing an immense wave of fire at the beast.
In the middle of their attacks, Shin and Fuyumi looked back at Nightingale in unison. The minotaur's polearm slammed down at the ground between them, lifting the ground and creating a crater. However, they dodged, backstepping in opposite directions. As they split ways, a massive shockwave of fire ran along the floor. As it came in contact with the minotaur, it formed a red-hot magic circle on the floor. The magic circle shined brightly before erupting into a pillar of flames, completely overwhelming the minotaur.
The inferno of dancing flames caused the beast to roar out in pain. The room was tinted orange as the temperature in the room shot up. Shin and Fuyumi rushed forward past the pillar of flames at the shamans on the other side of the room. They split up on opposite ends and broke through their barriers. Making their way from the outside, they slayed the shamans one after another until they met up in the middle. Their defenses were low as they focused most of their magic on the boss.
Shin and Fuyumi stood at the far side of the room. They looked back to find the inferno in the middle of the room finally dying down. The minotaur was slowly revealed from under the fire. Its horns were burnt black and crumbled into ash. It collapsed on one knee. Its blood and cuts throughout its body were cauterized by the flames.
---------
[(BOSS) Polearm Minotaur Guardian]
Level: 42 | HP: 289
[Status Ailments]
Burned, Brittle, Blighted
---------
Its health ticked down to zero from the burns and blight and it faceplanted on the floor. Its massive axe made a clanking noise as it fell on the stone floor. As if imitating the minotaur's actions, Nightingale collapsed. He used the remainder of his mana to cast [Surging Inferno]. The spell was just barely within his capabilities. He repositioned to lay on his back as he breathed heavily.
"That… Was… Too much…"
Seeing their friend collapse, Shin and Fuyumi jogged back to help him.
Their other party mates were still frozen in shock from the encounter. Shin, Fuyumi, and Nightingale were beyond them. While they were around the same level, their capabilities and movements were unbelievable.
"That was insane, Nightingale."
Shin offered his hand to help pull him up.
"I'm… gonna lay here for a bit."
Nightingale extended his arm out to Shin but swatted it out of the way in rejection.
"Looks like someone got rejected."
Shin turned around when he heard the witty voice of his assassin companion.
"Just trying to help."
He responded with a slightly annoyed tone.
Geoff pulled himself up using a rock on the stone wall. He walked toward the group of three bantering adventurers. He was still in shock that they were able to join such capable adventurers in their party. He looked down at his hand, clenching his fist tightly. He felt weak and questioned his ability as a leader. If he was so easily knocked aside and unfit for this battle on the fifth floor, how could he stand up to the remaining forty-five floors of enemies? Swallowing his pride, he spoke up.
"I can't help but feel emasculated and robbed of my role as leader." He ran his head through his short brown hair, scratching the back of his head.
"Your commands and battle tactics were really helpful." Shin reassured him, putting his hand on his shoulderplate.
"You guys are really something else though."
Shin looked behind him. Scottie's voice came from the middle of the room as he squatted beside the minotaur's corpse, picking up some of the loot from the floor. Malady was beside him, nodding her head in agreement.
Shin sighed and smiled slightly. He was never on the receiving end of shock and awe from other players before. However, Shin was careful to not let it go to his head.
Fuyumi stood beside Shin with her arms crossed. Hearing the exchange, she sheathed her dagger and hid it in her long white coat while she spoke.
"We learned some things from fighting people all the time. In some ways, the bounty was a blessing in disguise. I don't regret what we did to Syros. He deserved it anyway."
Geoff was about to respond but closed his mouth when he heard the last line. His family came from a long line of Church of Lexicon priests and he was going to follow in their footsteps. But he knew he couldn't speak up against Fuyumi without risking creating a rift in the party.
"Let's get some rest again, shall we."
Geoff's words ended the conversation as the party set up camp in the middle of the room.