The boss fight

Aerial joined her hands, then stretched them forward. A sword formed between them.

Tera did the same—extending her hand, and a sword appeared.

They both raised their weapons next to their faces.

A purple glow spread around them.

The first ring formed around Aerial and Tera.

The second ring appeared around Aqua and Kinito.

Kinito asked, "System, what is that?"

[THIS IS A DUAL BLADE FORMATION.]

"And what does it do?"

[IN THIS FORMATION, THE USERS ATTACK IN A SPECIAL PATTERN. THEIR ATTACK POWER IS BOOSTED.]

"Is there a way to break it?"

[IF EITHER OF THEM STEPS OUT OF THE FIRST RING, THE FORMATION BREAKS.]

Kinito thought, So I just need to make them step out of the ring.

[DON'T WORRY, HOST. EVEN IF IT'S HARD FOR AQUA TO WIN INSIDE THE FORMATION, THEY CAN'T BEAT HER EITHER. SHE'S TOO STRONG.]

Kinito's expression turned serious.

"You know why I don't want Aqua to fight too much, right?"

[I KNOW, HOST. BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO? YOU'RE SO WEAK, YOU'D BE DESTROYED IF THEY JUST BLEW ON YOU.]

"Can you stop being sarcastic for once?"

[IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOU'RE WEAK.]

"Weak, huh…"

Then an idea hit him.

"Wait… Do you have strength-boosting pills?"

[YES, BUT YOU HAVE NO COINS.]

"Can I pay later?"

[SURE. BUT YOU'LL OWE FOUR TIMES THE PRICE—2,000 COINS.]

"What?! Are you a loan shark?! That should be illegal!"

[SO YOU DON'T WANT THEM THEN?]

"Sigh… fine. Give it to me."

Pop.

A red pill landed in his hand.

[THANKS FOR YOUR PURCHASE :) ]

[THIS PILL BOOSTS YOUR POWER TO UPPER SOLDIER LEVEL FOR 2 MINUTES. BUT YOU STILL CAN'T MATCH TERA—SHE'S MID UPPER SOLDIER.]

Kinito smirked.

"Who said I need to match her? I just need her to leave the ring."

He swallowed the pill.

[STRENGTH BOOSTED: UPPER SOLDIER. TIME LIMIT: 2 MINUTES.]

INTELLIGENCE PILL: TIME REMAINING =1 MIN

[WAIT—DO YOU EVEN HAVE A SWORD?]

"…No."

[??????]

[THEN HOW WILL YOU FIGHT?]

"…Uhh…"

Kinito ran and grabbed a sword from a fallen mob.

He took a deep breath.

"Aqua, are you ready?"

She tilted her head. "You'll fight too, my lord?"

He nodded. "Just for a bit. Enough to break their formation."

They both stepped into the circle.

"Don't use your full strength," Kinito smiled.

She nodded.

Then, Aqua summoned her massive sword.

Flash!

Tera appeared instantly, swinging at Aqua.

Clank!

Kinito jumped in and blocked her attack.

Boom!

Aqua leaped into the air, cutting downward.

Aerial, strengthened by the formation, managed to block it.

Kinito was gritting his teeth, barely holding off Tera's attacks.

She spun and kicked him hard in the stomach.

He flew out of the first ring.

"It's your first time using a sword, isn't it?" Tera mocked.

Kinito chuckled. "That obvious?"

Tera summoned a glowing energy ball.

"Hey, that's cheating!"

"Everything's fair in war," she said coldly.

Kinito looked at Slimy. "Can you absorb it? You ate that prison window…"

She fired the energy ball.

"Slimy, eat it!"

Boing!

Slimy jumped, swallowed the energy, and glowed purple. He grew larger.

"You think a slime can handle my attack?" Tera scoffed.

Burp.

Slimy returned to normal.

Kinito smirked. "I know what to do now."

"Slimy, use your most powerful attack!"

Slimy leaped onto Tera's face, blinding her.

Kinito rushed in and kicked her, sending her flying.

Then Slimy and Kinito ran outside the ring.

"You should be ashamed of those dirty tricks!" Tera shouted.

Kinito brushed fake dust off his shoulder. "Everything's fair in war."

Angry, Tera launched more energy spheres.

Slimy absorbed all of them.

"Slimy, use 'Absolute Destruction of the World With Slimy Attack'!"

Slimy jumped at her.

Tera swung her sword, but Slimy split and wrapped around her legs.

Kinito dashed in, kicked her, and made her fall.

He grabbed her sword and sprinted out of the circle.

"Nice one, Slimy!"

Slimy jumped and gave him a high five.

Suddenly, Kinito sensed something.

Tera's eyes were glowing dark. Her aura turned unstable.

"Done playing?" she growled.

"I'll kill you."

She called for her sword. Kinito held it tightly.

But she flew at him, kicked him hard, and he hit a wall.

She hovered near, sword in hand.

"You really thought you could beat me with these dumb tricks?"

Kinito smirked. "Who said I was trying to beat you?"

[HOST, TERA HAS STEPPED OUT OF THE RING. THE FORMATION IS BROKEN.]

No! Tera, don't... Aerial screamed.

"I just needed to make you mad." he smirked.

Then—

Slice!

In an instant, her head flew off.

Aqua appeared beside Kinito, her sword dripping with blood.

[HOST'S INTELLIGENCE PILL HAS WORN OFF]

[HOST OWES 500 COINS MORE FOR THE PILL

TOTAL DEBT :2500 COINS]

"I'll pay, just stop reminding me already."

Aerial's face twisted with anger.

"How dare a damn mob kill my hero!"

"I'll burn you!" she shouted, stepping forward—

Flash.

Aqua appeared in front of her.

Slash—

In seconds, both of Aerial's wings were cut off.

Slash—

A second strike knocked her to the ground.

[BOSS DEFEATED – REWARD: 1000 COINS]

Kinito tilted his head. "System, why isn't she dead?"

[BOSSES CAN'T DIE UNTIL THEIR THRONE IS DESTROYED]

"What happens if I destroy the throne?"

[DESTROYING THE THRONE WILL ALSO DESTROY THE WHOLE DUNGEON—INCLUDING ALL MOBS]

"Every mob will die if I destroy it..."

He looked around. The worker mobs stared at Kinito, shaking with fear.

Then he looked at Aerial, lying on the ground, helpless, watching him.

[HOST THE CHOICE IS YOURS]