The Great Harpy

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[FINAL WAVE: DUNGEON BOSS SPAWNED]

At the entrance of the dungeon stood the towering pillar-like structure, its swirling purple aura marking the portal where monsters emerged. Suddenly, the portal began to shift, its hue darkening as an ominous static sound crackled through the air.

The purple glow twisted into a menacing red, the new portal radiating a sinister energy that made the players' hearts race.

A sharp, hooked beak pierced through the portal first, followed by a massive head, its cold, predatory eyes glinting with malice. Slowly, the creature emerged in full, each step shaking the ground beneath it.

Compared to the monsters from the first and second waves, this one was far larger—its presence alone radiating a suffocating aura of dread.

Kree-eeek!

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Raid Boss has spawned

[RAID DIFFICULTY]

★☆☆☆☆

[RAID BOSS]

"GREAT HARPY"

[LVL. 35] [RANK D]

[WAVE 3/3]

A deafening screech tore through the battlefield as the Great Harpy fully emerged, its massive wings spreading wide to blot out the sky. The earth trembled beneath its razor-sharp talons, and a powerful gust of wind surged outward, scattering dust and debris. The raid team instinctively shielded their eyes, their weapons trembling in their hands as they faced the towering monstrosity before them.

One of the players, barely able to steady their breath, stammered out, "Are you kidding me? This monster doesn't look like a Rank D!"

Another player, wide-eyed and visibly shaken, added, "How are we supposed to fight this thing?"

The fear among the team was palpable. Their previous battles had seemed challenging, but this... this was on a whole different level. The Great Harpy's presence alone made their knees feel weak.

But before they could process their dread, another ominous shift in the air occurred.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[COMMON HARPY]

[LVL. 15] [RANK F]

[ELITE HARPY]

[LVL. 20] [RANK E]

[HARPY WARRIOR]

[LVL. 20] [RANK E]

A flurry of wings filled the air as smaller harpies descended from the portal. The [Common Harpy], weaker but still dangerous, hovered just above the ground. The [Elite Harpy] and [Harpy Warrior], both far more agile and deadly, landed with a menacing screech.

The raid team froze, eyes wide with terror as the full scope of the battle became clear.

"More of them?!" one player shouted, panic creeping into their voice. "How are we supposed to survive the final wave with this many monsters?"

"We're going to be wiped out!" another player cried, clutching their weapon as if it could somehow protect them from the onslaught.

The ground beneath them felt unstable, and the feeling of hopelessness grew as they stared at the towering Great Harpy and the swarm of smaller but equally dangerous harpies that now surrounded them.

The warrior from Griffinred, stepped forward, his huge shield place infront of him. 'What are you all gawking at?' he growled, his voice echoing through the. 'We faced worse in the second wave, remember? We worked together, and win.'

The paladin, raised his spear, his eyes gleaming with resolve. 'Exactly,' he agreed, his voice a low rumble. 'We fight as one, or we fall as individuals.'

Then Oto the mage from Griffinred nodded in agreement fixing his eye glass.

"That's right. We can do this!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with determination.

Then Ryo stepped in, stretching as the clanking of his iron armor and gauntlets rang out. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing through the tense air.

"You guys sure got intimidated by those big chickens," he said, referring to the harpies.

Then a smirk playing on his lips. He adjusted his gauntlets, then smashed both of his fists together—a clear sign that he was ready for another battle.

"I'll handle the raid boss. I guess you can deal with the small fry, right?"

The other players had mixed emotions—some felt a sense of security with Ryo and the Griffinred Guild around, their presence inspiring confidence., while others couldn't hide their fear of the final wave.

Then Oto smirked at his thoughts.

He was thinking about Ryo.

He really is something. With his confidence, he's able to inspire others to fight.

With a determined look, he straightened up.

"Alright, it's time for me to showcase my leadership," he thought to himself.

He then shouted, "Let's keep our formation from the last wave! All ranged and support classes, focus on covering and supporting the frontlines!"

The other players responded in unison.

"Yes, sir!"

He turned to Hina, the maiden. "Hina, use a shield buff on all players!"

Hina nodded, raising her staff. "Okay, here we go—Divine Shield!"

🔰"""🔰

A faint shield circled around, followed by a sudden burst of green glow that indicated a defense boost for all players.

"I feel invincible now, thanks!" one of the players exclaimed.

Hina nodded slightly, a bit shy from the praise.

She then cast another buff, raising her staff. "Divine Grace!"

⚔️"""⚔️

A faint sword circled around each player, followed by a sudden burst of energy. A green glow shot upward, visually indicating an attack boost for all players.

With that, the players prepared themselves for the next battle, their confidence bolstered.

The warrior from the Griffinred Guild stepped forward, adding another buff for himself.

"Guardian's Shield!"

🔰"""🔰

A faint shield circled around him, and another green glow burst upward, signaling a sharp enhancement to his defense.

Intimidate

⚔️"""⚔️

He then lowered the attack of the nearby monsters.

Taunt

Following up with a taunt, he successfully aggroed the nearby monsters.

Raising his massive shield, he braced himself for the incoming attacks.

The Harpy Warriors, now aggroed, charged toward him.

Kree–eek!

But compared to the previous wave, these Harpy Warriors sent chills down his spine.

"Wait… why do I feel terrified? These are the same monsters from the previous wave," he muttered, taking a cautious step backward.

One of the Harpy Warriors raised a large axe, preparing to swing it down on him.

He rattled slightly but quickly activated his Reflect skill.

Thorn Shield

He nearly missed the timing. As the axe came crashing down, it struck his shield with a loud thud.

Thug!

"Wait… how are they so strong this time?"

He struggled to hold his ground, but the sheer force of the swing pushed him backward. But the damage from the attack bounced back to the Harpy Warrior. Right on the torso of the Harpy Warrior, a sudden cut appeared, spilling blood as the reflected damage from its own attack was inflicted. The monster howled in agony, its eyes widening in surprise as it staggered back, its grip on its axe loosening.

Krreee…

Then another Harpy Warrior struck with its mace, swinging in a consecutive series of attacks. However, the Thorn Shield was still active, causing the Harpy Warrior to deal damage to itself with each strike. It continued attacking relentlessly until it could no longer endure and collapsed to the ground.

Although he didn't receive any damage from the attacks, he was trembling, still feeling the impact of each blow.

"What's wrong with these monsters? They're mindlessly attacking," he muttered, his voice shaky.

But right after, two more Harpy Warriors came charging toward him.

He clenched tightly to his massive shield, his resolve unwavering.

"I have to prove that I can be the strongest tank in our guild," he muttered to himself.

Shield Slam!

He raised his massive shield and smashed it into the ground, creating a powerful shockwave that shook the earth. The ground cracked and crumbled beneath the force, sending tremors through the battlefield.

The two Harpy Warriors caught in the shockwave stumbled, their movements faltering as they were stunned by the impact.

Piercing Thrust!

The paladin suddenly surged forward, his spear thrusting with incredible precision toward the two stunned Harpy Warriors. The attack pierced cleanly through their chests, leaving gaping holes as the creatures let out agonized screeches before collapsing.

"That took quite a while to charge. Thanks for holding them back, man," the paladin said with a grin.

The warrior smirked, casually joking back. "I thought you got cold feet there for a second."

Heal Blessing!

Hina, the maiden standing at the backline, cast a healing spell. A soothing glow enveloped the nearby players, restoring their injuries and rejuvenating their strength.

On the other side of the battlefield, a sword-wielding warrior, an axe-wielding warrior, and a fighter were working together.

The sword-wielding warrior spoke up. "I know we're not on their level, but let's prove we can be useful too!"

The axe-wielding warrior grunted. "You talk too much. Let's survive this raid first, then we'll talk over some ice-cold beer."

The fighter chimed in, grinning. "Count me in! And how about some pork BBQ too?"

The sword-wielding warrior smirked. "Sounds like a plan."

With renewed determination, he charged toward a nearby Harpy Warrior.

"Huh… Three-Fold Slash!"

He dashed forward, delivering three consecutive slashes. Each strike left deep cuts on the Harpy Warrior, blood spraying from the wounds.

The axe-wielding warrior followed up with his skill. "Clever Swing!"

With a powerful circular motion, he swung his axe, slicing through one of the Harpy Warrior's wings—which resembled an arm.

But before they could celebrate, the Harpy Warrior retaliated. It lunged forward and grabbed the axe-wielding warrior by the neck, lifting him off the ground. He struggled to breathe, his strength fading, and eventually dropped his axe.

Thud!

The axe hit the ground as the sword-wielding warrior froze in panic, watching his companion struggle in the Harpy Warrior's grasp.

"Hey! Drop him!" he shouted, charging forward.

"Huh…!"

He attacked with a flurry of strikes, aiming for the Harpy Warrior's arm to free his friend, but the monster didn't flinch.

"Urgh… Drop my buddy!"

At that moment, the fighter leaped upward.

"Flurry Blows!"

He unleashed a rapid combination of punches and kicks, each strike weakening the Harpy Warrior bit by bit. Finally, the monster released its grip, and the axe-wielding warrior fell to the ground, gasping for air.

As his companion struggled to recover, the sword-wielding warrior raised his blade high.

"Crescent Slash!"

With a powerful slash, his attack landed, delivering a devastating final blow to the Harpy Warrior. It let out a guttural screech before collapsing, lifeless.

The sword-wielding warrior and the fighter rushed to their companion.

"Hey, are you okay?" the sword-wielding warrior asked.

The axe-wielding warrior, still catching his breath, replied, "Hmm... urgh... huh..." coughing "Thanks, guys. I almost met my end there."

The fighter reached out his hand.

"We have plans later, right? You better keep that promise."

The axe-wielding warrior nodded. "Yeah, I'll be careful."

Suddenly, a group of Harpy Warriors charged toward them.

"Incoming!"

They quickly grabbed their weapons, bracing for the next fight.

"Fireball!"

Three scorching fireballs flew past them, striking the approaching monsters with precision.

Oto, the mage from Griffinred, shouted, "Keep going! We've got your backs!"

Hina, the maiden, stepped in, casting another healing spell.

"Life Grace!"

A soothing light enveloped the axe-wielding warrior, restoring his health. She followed up with a Divine Shield on their group, bolstering their defense.

The backline damage dealers—an archer, a rifle marksman, and a mage—stood their ground, relentlessly firing at the Harpies swarming the battlefield. Their main targets were the flying Common Harpies and Elite Harpies, which threatened to overwhelm the frontlines.

The mage gritted her teeth, her staff glowing with an electric blue light.

"Lightning Bolt!" she shouted, releasing a crackling arc of electricity that struck a Harpy mid-flight, sending it plummeting to the ground.

She immediately followed up.

"Let's see how you like this! Lightning Surge!" A web of lightning erupted, chaining between nearby monsters.

As the Harpies screeched in pain, she smirked.

"Looks like they're weak to lightning. Time to fry some birds!"

Beside her, the rifle marksman adjusted his scope, lining up his shot.

"Headshot!" he muttered, pulling the trigger. A single Harpy dropped lifeless from the sky.

He quickly reloaded, firing another shot.

"Keep dropping, you oversized pigeons! Rapid Shots!" he yelled, unleashing a series of quick, precise attacks.

Seeing the swarm getting closer, he swapped his weapon to a mini-gun style rifle.

"Alright, time for the heavy artillery! Eat this!"

The marksman unleashed a torrent of bullets, the relentless firepower tearing through the oncoming monsters.

"Who's next, huh? Bring it!" he taunted, his confidence surging.

The archer, standing slightly ahead, nocked an arrow and aimed upward.

"Rain of Arrows!" he called, releasing a shot into the sky. Moments later, a storm of arrows rained down, pinning multiple Harpies to the ground and slowing their movements.

"That's how we do it!" he said with a grin, pulling another arrow from his quiver. Spotting a Harpy Warrior charging at the frontlines, he narrowed his eyes.

"Not so fast. Arrow Shot!" He released a precise shot, hitting the Harpy right in its chest, staggering it long enough for the frontline fighters to finish it off.

The mage glanced at the others and smirked.

"Not bad, huh? Let's keep it up!"

The rifle marksman reloaded his gun and chuckled.

"Don't get cocky, Mage. I've still taken out more of them than you."

The archer rolled his eyes as he nocked another arrow.

"Less talk, more killing. These things aren't going to stop coming."

As another wave of Harpies descended, the backline trio braced themselves, their combined efforts providing the support the frontlines desperately needed.

Meanwhile, in a distant part of the battlefield, the raid boss stood menacingly, its massive wings casting a dark shadow over the chaotic scene.

A Harpy Warrior slowly collapsed to the ground.

Thud.

As the dust settled, Ryo stood behind the fallen creature, his iron armor gleaming under the fading light. It was clear he was the one who had taken down the beast.

Behind Ryo lay a path littered with the fallen bodies of countless monsters—a testament to his relentless advance. Each defeated foe marked the sheer determination it took to reach this point.

"We finally face off," he muttered, directing his words toward the raid boss.

[RAID BOSS]

"GREAT HARPY"

[LVL. 35] [RANK D]

[WAVE 3/3]

Ryo smirked, adjusting his stance. "Let's end this."

Berserk Mode

[Berserk Mode is on cooldown.]

Ryo attempted to activate Berserk Mode again, but it was still unavailable.

"Tch," he muttered. "Looks like my ace skill's still on cooldown. Good for you—you get to live a little bit longer."

Kree–eek!

The Great Harpy let out an ear-splitting screech that echoed across the entire battlefield.

Ryo winced but smirked. "I didn't catch that, but I'll take it as excitement to fight me." He cracked his neck. "Alright then—if you're that eager, let's do this."

Iron Will

MHP >>> MHP

HPR >>> HPR

Ryo's health bar surged as his maximum health and regeneration rate increased.

"Not bad," he said, grinning. "But we're just getting started."

He activated another skill.

Unstoppable Force

SPD >>> SPD

TN >>> TN

His speed and tenacity sharply boosted. The wind around him stirred as his movements became faster and more forceful.

The metallic clanking of his gauntlets echoed as he clenched his fists.

"This'll do the trick," he muttered, eyes locked onto the raid boss. "Let's see how long you last."

Ryo charged forward, determination blazing in his eyes.

At the same time, the Great Harpy flapped its massive wings, each powerful beat generating gusts of wind that sent debris flying across the battlefield.

Just as Ryo was about to close the distance, the Great Harpy launched an attack.

Wind Shear

It unleashed a powerful gust of wind in a straight line, resembling a raging tornado tearing through the battlefield.

Ryo barely managed to dodge it, rolling to the side at the last second. The area struck by the attack was left completely devastated—concrete roads cracked and shattered, barricades torn apart, and even the bodies of fallen harpy warriors were flung through the air alongside the debris.

"What the—?" Ryo gasped, catching his breath. "If I hadn't dodged that, I'd be in serious trouble."

The Great Harpy spread its massive wings, preparing for another devastating attack.

"I won't let you do that," Ryo declared, his voice firm with determination.

In a blur, he charged forward with incredible speed, closing the distance between himself and the towering beast. Despite the vast size difference, Ryo showed no hesitation. Compared to the Great Harpy's massive form, he looked like a mere speck.

With a powerful leap, he launched himself upward, aiming for the monster's midsection.

"Iron Fist!"

A brilliant aura engulfed his fist as it radiated immense energy.

Boom!

The force of the punch reverberated through the air as it landed squarely on the Great Harpy's chest. The beast flinched, its wings faltering as its attack was disrupted.

"How about that?" Ryo grinned, satisfied with his successful strike.

Kree–eek!

The Great Harpy let out a screech of pure rage.

Still airborne, Ryo's victory was short-lived. The beast's taloned arm stretched out, razor-sharp claws glinting menacingly in the light.

Talon Swipe!

The massive claw came hurtling toward Ryo with terrifying speed.

"Wait, I can't dodge mid-air!" he realized in panic.

Thinking fast, he raised his gauntlets in a defensive boxing stance, curling his body tightly.

Screech!

Slash!

The impact sent him hurtling through the air like a cannonball.

Boom!

Crash!

He slammed into the concrete, carving a trench through the shattered road. His body skidded violently until he crashed through a barricade and collided with a nearby car, the vehicle crumpling under the force.

Bang!

Smash!

Thud!

Dust and debris filled the air as Ryo groaned, slowly pushing himself up from the wreckage.

"Damn, that was close," Ryo muttered, gritting his teeth in pain as he struggled to stand. His right arm, which had taken the brunt of the blow, felt completely numb. A small trickle of blood ran down his forearm, dripping onto the shattered concrete.

He raised his head, locking eyes with the Great Harpy, a serious expression etched on his face.

"Good thing my Iron Will was active," he thought grimly.

Suddenly, Hina, the maiden from Griffinred Guild, approached him with concern.

"Are you alright?" she asked anxiously.

Ryo forced a grin despite the pain. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a scratch."

Hina didn't buy it. Without hesitation, she began casting her spells.

"Heal Blessing!"

A soothing glow enveloped Ryo, mending his injuries and rejuvenating his strength.

"Guardian's Shield!"

🔰"""🔰

A faint protective shield shimmered around him, followed by a burst of green light that indicated a sharp boost to his defense.

Ryo flexed his arm, testing his restored strength. "Thanks. I feel brand new," he said with a smirk of excitement.

"It's my pleasure to help you, Mr. Ryo," Hina replied shyly, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Ryo set his gaze firmly back on the Great Harpy. His eyes gleamed with renewed determination.

"Alright... let's get serious. You are the boss, after all."

Then he shouted out and finally activated:

"Berserk... Mode!"