Dungeon Boss Awakens
The giant stone doors groaned open, and a dim room within was visible. A dense, otherworldly mist unrolled from the opening, its odor like ancient decay. The cold air wafting inward from within sent shivers through Eris to her very center.
She wiped her brow and pulled herself to her feet. Her body hurt from the battle with the Fallen Guardian, but she didn't have time to rest.
System Alert:
Dungeon Boss Room Opened!
Warning: High-Difficulty Battle ahead.
"Great, that's nice," she remarked to herself.
"We go in prepared," Leon told her, his tone firm. "First, check your status and mana before charging in."
Eris nodded, bringing out her status screen.
---
[Eris Valden - Level 9]
HP: 78/110
Mana: 42%
New Skill: Shadow Strike (Active) – A rapid shadow-infused attack that deals bonus damage to weakened enemies.
---
"Not great, but I've fought worse."
She pulled a Stamina Potion from her satchel and took a quick gulp. Instantly, she felt some of her fatigue fade, but the tension in her chest remained.
"Alright, Leon," she muttered. "Let's do this."
Taking a last deep breath, she entered the Boss Room.
---
[Boss Chamber: The Crypt of Acheron]
The chamber was enormous, extending beyond the reach of her sight. Torches bearing flickering, old flames illuminated them, producing eerie blue light, casting eerie shadows on the broken stone walls. The ceiling disappeared into blackness, adding to the ominous atmosphere.
And in the center of the room—
A blackened bone throne rested atop a dais, looking down over the room. Upon it rested a gargantuan form dressed in aged, decorated armor, its visage hidden behind a featureless helm of black obsidian metal. The surrounding air vibrated with raw death energy, smothering and thick.
Then—
Its eyes blazed with cold blue flame.
System Alert:
Dungeon Boss Encounter!
[Acheron, the Forgotten King]
Level: 12
Threat Level: HIGH
Abilities: Necrotic Blade, Phantom Legion, Death's Embrace
Eris had barely a moment to respond before the Forgotten King stood from his throne, greatsword in gauntleted fist. The earth shook under his foot.
"Oh… this is not good," Leon said.
Acheron drew his sword, pointing it directly at Eris.
"Mortal…"
The King's voice rumbled, deep and cavernous. "You have the audacity to come into my kingdom?"
Eris instinctively tightened her grip on Leon. "Yeah, yeah, let's skip the evil monologue. I'm just here to take your treasure and leave."
Silence.
Then—
"You amuse me," Acheron stated. "But amusement will not save you."
The King shifted.
Acheron, his enormous bulk moving at impossible velocity, launched himself forward, his greatsword coming down in a crushing sweep.
Eris narrowly avoided it, rolling to the side as the blade hit the ground, splitting the stone in two.
"He's quicker than he appears!" Leon warned.
Eris didn't take orders twice. She activated Phantom Dash, sidestepping the shockwaves of his blows.
But the King wasn't fooled by her actions.
With an almost supernatural motion, he spun around, backhanding her with the flat edge of his blade.
BAM!
She was flung aside, colliding against the far wall.
System Alert:
You have suffered 39 HP Damage!
Health Remaining: 39/110
"Okay—ow—" Eris groaned, spitting up dust. "That's gonna leave a bruise…"
"We need a plan," Leon insisted.
She pulled herself up, looking at her foe. The armor was thick, but there must be a weak point.
Then she saw something—
Acheron's chestplate had faint glowing cracks.
"Leon, do you see that?"
"Yeah. That's the area we need to strike."
Eris gritted her teeth and moved forward. She dodged beneath another huge swing, covering distance in an instant.
Shadow Strike!
Her sword sliced through cracked armor, releasing dark energy into the King's body.
System Alert:
Critical Hit! Armor Integrity: 75%
Acheron stumbled, the blue flames in his eyes wavering for an instant.
"It worked!"
But before she could even gloat—
The King let out a bellow, his body afire with dark magic. The room trembled, and out of the darkness—
Phantom Knights started to materialize.
System Alert:
Acheron has summoned his Phantom Legion!
Three ghostly warriors materialized, each carrying a spiked sword.
Eris let out a sigh. "Oh, come on!"
The knights struck at her, their ghostly bodies shuddering as they struck her from all sides.
She just managed to parry the first, skipping out of the way of the second, but the third struck her unaware, slicing into her arm.
System Alert:
You lost 18 HP Damage!
Health Remaining: 21/110
"We can't keep evading anymore!" Leon bellowed.
Eris's eyes narrowed, her mind calculating. If she concentrated on the knights, Acheron would kill her immediately.
Then she had a plan.
"Leon, I'm going to do something insane."
"Do I need to ask?"
She grinned. "Cover me."
As the Phantom Knights rushed towards her, she turned around on them and went charging head-on towards Acheron instead.
"What?!">
The King raised his sword for the killing stroke.
Eris dodged underneath his swing at the very last moment, and used his own momentum to leap onto his back.
Dark Requiem
She drove Leon straight into the cracking brilliance, unleashing all her remaining mana to the attack.
BOOM!
A massive explosion of dark energy burst forth, engulfing the King in dark shadows.
Acheron uttered one final, ear-shattering scream before his body disintegrated, armor shattering to ash.
The Phantom Knights disappeared into thin air.
The dungeon was quiet.
System Alert:
Dungeon Boss Defeated!
+3,000 EXP earned!
Level Up! Level 9 → Level 11
New Skill Unlocked: Phantom Edge (Passive)
Eris stumbled back, breathing heavily. "That… was the worst fight I've ever had."
"And it won't be the last," Leon muttered.
She let out a tired chuckle. "Probably not."
As the dust settled, something shimmered in the center of the room.
A treasure chest.
Eris grinned. "Now this is what I'm talking about."
She stepped forward, reaching out—
But before she could touch it, the dungeon trembled.
System Alert:
Special Dungeon Event Triggered!
??? Has Seen Your Being There.
The air thickened.
Eris's smile vanished. ".That's not good."