ch6. Boss battle pt.2

Jeremy's breathing was ragged. His mana was running low. His HP had dropped to 115.

And the Fallen Warden was just getting started.

With both swords now in hand, the towering undead knight exploded forward, moving at twice the speed it had before.

Jeremy barely had time to raise his arms before—

CLANG!

The impact launched him backward like a ragdoll. His Graveborn Armor shattered instantly, and he skidded across the cathedral floor, coughing up blood.

[HP: 75/240]

"Okay—ow—holy—OW."

Mordis lunged to intercept, but he was too slow. The Warden's second blade came down in a diagonal arc—

SHHHNK!

Mordis' left arm was severed. His skeletal form reeled back, struggling to keep his balance.

Jeremy's eyes widened. "MORDIS!"

The Warden didn't stop. It kicked the skeleton away like discarded trash, sending him crashing into the far wall.

Silence.

Mordis didn't move.

Jeremy's stomach twisted.

"...You son of a—"

The Warden turned back to him, its burning gaze piercing through the dust.

It charged again.

Jeremy forced himself to stand, legs shaking. He had no strength left, no plan, and his mana was almost drained.

This is it.

He was going to die.

No.

Not like this.

Not in some forgotten dungeon.

Not before he even understood what the hell was happening.

Something stirred deep inside him.

A pulse.

A system notification flashed across his vision.

[Emergency Override Activated – Unique Class Potential Unlocking…]

His vision blurred—but not from exhaustion.

Instead, for a split second, he saw something else.

A massive black throne, surrounded by thousands of shadowy figures. Towering skeletal warriors, wraiths, beings of pure darkness—all kneeling.

And in front of them…

A figure in dark robes, sitting on the throne, watching him.

Then, the vision vanished.

Jeremy gasped, gripping his head.

Something was changing.

[New Ability Unlocked – "Death's Right Hand"]

[Your summons are no longer limited to basic necromantic constructs.]

[You may create unique, intelligent undead by sacrificing mana and will.]

Jeremy's breath hitched.

Unique, intelligent undead…?

The Warden was almost upon him.

Jeremy's body moved on instinct.

He extended his right hand, focusing every last bit of mana into it.

"RISE."

The shadows around him twisted. The air shook.

And then—

A black mist swirled around Mordis' fallen form.

The skeleton twitched.

Then, it stood.

But something was different.

His bones were darker, reinforced with obsidian-like veins. His missing arm regrew, this time covered in a shadowy gauntlet. His eye sockets burned blue instead of green.

And when he looked at Jeremy, his jaw shifted—

Like he was grinning.

The Warden halted.

For the first time, it seemed… uncertain.

Jeremy wiped the blood from his lip and grinned. "Yeah. Not so fun when the dead fight back, huh?"

Mordis moved—but not like before.

He was faster. Smoother. He dashed forward with inhuman agility, meeting the Warden's charge head-on.

CLANG!

The two blades clashed, but this time—

Mordis held his ground.

The Warden pushed harder, trying to overpower him. But Mordis didn't break.

Instead, he laughed.

Not with a voice, but with a rattling sound—a mocking, skeletal chuckle.

Then he ducked, dodging the Warden's strike, and drove his fist—the one covered in the shadowy gauntlet—directly into the Warden's chest.

CRACK.

The undead knight staggered.

For the first time in the fight, it had taken real damage.

Jeremy's heart pounded.

"This is it. This is our chance!"

Mordis moved like a warrior, not just a summoned creature. He attacked with precision, targeting the weak points in the Warden's cracked armor.

The boss howled, swinging both swords in a desperate, frenzied counterattack.

Jeremy saw his opening.

He clenched his fists—summoning the last of his mana—and activated Necrotic Infusion.

[Necrotic Infusion Activated – Strength +10]

He sprinted forward.

The Warden turned—just in time to see Jeremy leap onto its back.

Then—

Jeremy drove his fist into the already-cracked section of the Warden's skull.

CRACK!

The boss froze.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then—

Its body shuddered.

The flames in its eyes flickered… and died.

The Warden collapsed onto its knees. Its massive form crumbled, turning to dust.

Silence filled the ruined cathedral.

Then—

DING!

[Dungeon Boss Defeated – The Fallen Warden]

[You have leveled up!]

Jeremy's vision blurred as exhaustion hit him like a truck.

He fell backward, breathing hard.

Mordis stood beside him, looking down at the pile of dust that had once been their enemy.

Then, slowly—

He gave Jeremy a thumbs-up.

Jeremy laughed.

"Yeah… we're badass."

Then, finally, his body gave in, and he blacked out.