Chapter 16: The Unique Fighter Skill
Chapter 16: The Unique Fighter Skill
Zaphro's POV
Leanne was obviously terrified. Her grip on my arm had tightened so much she might as well have been my real fiancée.
"This is a perfect chance for you to level up," I told her gently.
"A-ah… Fine!" she replied, frowning slightly but nodding with determination.
I sent her a party invitation and she accepted it immediately. We stood up, readying ourselves for battle. My friends took their positions a safe distance away to spectate.
I would serve as the tank, Leanne as the hitter, and Gwydox would support from the rear.
"Leanne, you're a buffer, right?" I asked.
"Yes, but my buffs still lack mastery. They only last 45 seconds," she said apologetically.
I smiled. "Then keep casting them on me—repetition helps boost mastery. And make sure you use all your offensive skills. You're our main damage dealer this time."
"W-what? Me?"
"You'll get more XP if you're the one dealing damage. Plus, your skills will level up faster."
"O-Okay!" she answered with renewed enthusiasm.
"Papa, heads up. The boss is spawning," Gwydox warned, voice low and rough.
A glowing circle materialized in the clearing ahead—an ominous summoning glyph.
Within seconds, a towering figure emerged from the glow.
Three times our size, the Forest King Ghoul looked every bit like a nightmarish creature from a corrupted fairy tale—stone and moss armor, jagged fangs, and a massive, flaming log held like a club.
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[Monster Information]
Name: Forest King Ghoul (Strength Type)
Level: 80
Category: Boss
HP: 50,000/50,000
DEF: 15,000
Gold Reward: 50,000,000g
---
"You ready?" I asked, flashing Leanne a wink.
She nodded and summoned her Angelic Lyre. Her fingers strummed a few chords and multiple buffs glowed into existence around us.
† Mystic Flaire – 30% Agility boost
† Rapid Skill – Allows skill chaining with no cooldown delay
† Magic Veil – 20% increase to magic skill damage
I charged forward and cast Frost Field to draw aggro. The boss lumbered forward—just as Leanne launched her first skill.
"Flairy Shot!"
Each string she plucked fired shimmering orbs that struck the boss repeatedly. Ten perfect hits landed, each dealing 250 damage. But against a strength-type boss, it was a scratch.
My Frost Field kept dealing steady damage at 500 DPS.
"Evrom, bravash, lann, feresh!"
Leanne uttered an incantation in Ancient Tongue. Her lyre unleashed a majestic melody, forming a pinkish orb in front of her. After three seconds—
BOOM!
A focused beam of energy slammed into the boss, knocking it down and chunking 25% off its health.
Nice!
Unfortunately, that canceled out my Frost Field, but I wasn't worried. I rushed in, striking at its leg to keep it down.
The boss growled, summoning its minions—Forest Ghouls, level 60, about our size.
"I'll take care of the little pests. Keep smashing, Mama!" Gwydox called out.
Wait. Mama?!
But before I could react, he was already slicing through the mobs with his dual sickles, muttering curses like, "Freakin' rotten cabbages…" and "What kind of fungus has eyeballs?!"
Leanne continued her offensive, glowing with determination.
"Destructive Blast!"
A powerful shockwave burst forward, hitting two minions first, then slamming into the boss's chest. The impact caused it to drop its burning log mid-animation.
Still no counterattack from the boss. Its movements were too slow compared to my boosted speed. We were whittling it down. Its HP had dropped to 40%.
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"Leanne's POV"
Zaphro was seriously holding back. I could tell he was restraining himself from using any of his high-level sword skills. He could probably one-shot the boss if he wanted to. No doubt.
If he's going easy for me, then I need to prove I can fight too.
"Gralm, zorech, cavul el, jotra!"
I recited the incantation for my self-buff, activating my unique skill—Fighter Mode.
A dark violet aura surrounded me. My stats surged—HP, MP, SP, movement speed, attack speed, and critical chance. I equipped my dual knuckles—low-tier, sure, but enough.
With a change in stance and a deep breath, I charged. My speed kicked in hard, a rotating air current shielding me. Minions that got in the way were knocked aside.
I leapt, eye-level with the boss's grotesque face.
"You're dead, you ugly moss lump!"
"Blood Rain!"
Three powerful punches slammed into its face. I didn't stop. The skill allowed up to 32 hits. I unleashed the full barrage, hammering every inch of the boss I could reach.
It roared and staggered, dropping its weapon completely.
Then I felt it. A pull.
My HP suddenly dropped—70% gone. Damn! A passive life-drain skill?!
Stupid mistake, Leanne!
I backflipped toward Zaphro, body shaking as my SP hit zero.
"You okay?" His eyes—full of concern. Maybe I was imagining it.
"I'm fine! Don't worry."
He frowned, clearly not buying it. He gestured to Gwydox.
"Oi, don't die on me, drama queen," Gwydox grumbled, casting a rapid succession of heals and SP boosts. "Just 'cause you're glowing purple doesn't mean you get to die stylishly."
HP, MP, and SP rapidly restored. I stood up, breathing hard.
The boss only had 3% left. Time to finish it.
I picked up my lyre again and unleashed everything—every skill I could squeeze out of my MP pool.
[System Announcement]
Forest King Ghoul has been slain by party.
I did it! My first boss kill ever!
I accepted the rewards window. Level up—three times! I was now level 43 with 15 unspent stat points.
And the loot—OH MY GOD!
An Epic Set: Goddess of War Armor Set
And a weapon—SkyCutter. A unique, dual-mode weapon: Lyre and Knuckle forms!
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[Item Info]
Goddess of War Set [Epic]
Helmet: DEF 250, HP +1000, 25% HP regen
Plated Vest: DEF 250, HP +1000, 3% damage reduction
Skirt: DEF 250, HP +1000, 3% damage reduction
Gloves: DEF 250, HP +1000, 10% Skill Accuracy
Boots: DEF 250, HP +1000, 15% Movement Speed
[Weapon Info]
SkyCutter [Unique]
Damage: 1850 (Lyre Mode) / 2100 (Knuckle Mode)
Effect: Converts depending on skill used. Compatible with both music and fighter subclass skills.
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Post-Battle – Cathedral of Angels
Later that day, we were summoned to the Cathedral of Angels, a sky-white temple that shimmered above the City of Angels.
All of Zaphro's party was present—Shion_Rio, Verillion, Erenir, Ayana, Jin, Erik, Aryus, Slicer, accel, Xavier, Great_kai and even moody Gwydox.
"Didn't think I'd be dragged into a church again," Gwydox grumbled, arms crossed. "Last time I was here, I got excommunicated by a quest."
Ayana laughed. "You probably deserved it."
The cathedral was grand—rows of angel statues lined the path, and rose-colored lights danced along the stained-glass windows.
The Priestess NPC, glowing with holy light, blessed the newly formed bond between Leanne and Zaphro—not marriage, but an eternal link, granted by the game's rare Soul Companion System.
It was symbolic—a party-bound vow, unlocked only after a successful high-tier boss kill and high compatibility rating.
"From now on, we'll rise together," Zaphro whispered as he accepted the vow.
Leanne blushed, but smiled wide. "Just don't leave me behind."
As the system triggered the companion bond, the entire cathedral was filled with golden light.
Above them, a shared title appeared:
[Soulbound Allies: Zaphro & Leanne]
Gwydox rolled his eyes. "Ugh. Get a private server."
Everyone laughed—and for the first time in a while, things felt calm again.