Chapter 26 – A Tyrant’s Sunder

  I roared as I jumped from high swinging down with Xianmou at the gears. And again it was met with failure as the gears stayed unmoving.

  “LEO! I am running out of room here! Hurry!” Talia shouted in panic from the other side, her arm up. A water shield the only thing that kept her from taking the full force of the Giant Ice Embraced Mire Tyrant’s arm swings.

  Again the monster swept it’s massive claws and Talia’s water shield broke and the claws connected with her iron one, sending her skidding into a corner.

  Think. Think.

  I looked at the large gears holding the chains of the dangling chandelier. Clearly the Boss fight designer of this arena had this as one of the many secret ways to do extra damage to the boss. But how to activate it! I didn’t have the time to go look through all the books to find it!

  With a team of more players this would have been a simple matter, have multiple tanks and the like keep the boss busy while someone search for one of the ways to defeat it.

  I was alone, and Talia was losing ground fast.

  My eyes darted to and fro, before I hurriedly opened my skills tab... Monster hunter was a no go against that thing. Fire starter in its current form was only useful in using things available to create a fire. And I couldn’t dare burning the books, the books that might hold a clue to beating the thing. Not to mention it was an icy arena.

  So no help there.

  “Whispers Edge I [Expert]” would have been perfect. But it was on its crazy cool-down. Six and a half hours to go. They’d be dead long before then. Maybe... no. I am no coward.

  Extreme mountaineer, no. Trap making, no. Herbalism, heck no.

  Just then Talia screamed, I looked up and saw her on the ground, the water shield dissipating, only the iron shield raised as the Tyrant’s arm came falling dawn.

  I scrambled forward, but knew I would never make it in time.

  At the last moment, I remembered another skill.

  “Guardian’s Heart!” I shouted at the top of my lungs as my hand shot out.

  A silver barrier formed over Talia as the Mire Tyrant’s claws came slamming down.

  CRAAAAAASH!!!

  Sparks flew and ice gave way below Talia.

  As the claws lifted, Talia was there wild eyed. She scrambled away behind some pillars and nodded gravely at me.

  Too close.

  We didn’t have the luxury of time to figure out this boss fight in the normal way.

  Just then in the corner of my eye, I saw the icon of my Primary Class trees.

  Wait... Rune Seeker!!

  “Talia, I might have an idea. Just keep that things’ focus for twenty more seconds!”

  “Fine! But hurry!” She shouted back, but I could hear the panic in her voice. So, I wasted no time in bringing up the skill.

  Rune Seeker

  A whisper in the fog reveals old secrets.

  Upon the whisper, reveals Runes for 20 seconds.

  -

  100% chance to reveal Novice Runes

  60% chance to reveal Apprentice Runes

  50% chance to reveal Journeyman Runes

  10% chance to reveal Expert Runes

  5% chance to reveal Master Runes

  0.5% chance to reveal Ancient Runes

  I whispered and activated the skill.

  Immediately Journeyman runes started glowing on the stone about two metres away from the gears. No wonder, I couldn’t see the solution to the gears, it wasn’t even in the same place. Right... a party was strongly recommended for this fight.

  There were some different colored runes in the bookshelf as well. But at a glance, I could tell they had a different color than the gears. So, I hurried towards the first runes and saw there were natural engravings. And in that moment I was super happy that for once I paid attention to something in the game. The mural from before had the same markings on it.

  I heard the raid boss’ attacks behind me, but I had to ignore it. If I could get this to work, then...

  I turned the small stone hand holds and the rune wall clicked together and within seconds cracking sounds filled the air as ice crumbled away and giant gears started turning all over the arena. Chained lanterns lifted out of the walls and started spinning around over the arena.

  I lunged to the gear handles near the chandelier and manoeuvred it into place over a part where the Mire Tyrant could move.

  I shouted to Talia. “Got it! Okay, lure it to the left towards that broken pillar. Be careful!”

  Talia stumbled but ran towards the area in a hurry as the Mire Tyrant moved towards her. I waited for the opportune moment.

  Just a bit more...

  “That’s it!”

  I yanked the lever down and the sound of two chains running freely sounded off and the massive iron chandelier came crashing down right on the patch on the boss’ back. Where ‘Whisper’s Edge’ had revealed that secret weak spot.

  Without that skill... I’m not sure if this fight would have been possible with just the two of us.

  CLAAAAAASHH!

  I grinned as the boss roared in pain and fell flat on the floor.

  But just as I wanted to run over to cheer with Talia, I stopped in my tracks. The Mire Tyrant’s health bar wasn’t empty. It had a tenth left.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Oh no! That meant...

  The monster made the room rumble as it got up. And my fears were soon proven to be right. It went straight into it’s last phase of attacks. The attacks that were always aimed at throwing a party off that got complacent.

  “Talia! MOVE!” I shouted in panic. “It’s attacks are going to change! We need to hide... fast!”

  “What are you-” Talia froze as she saw the same thing I saw, it’s body started glowing in sickly pulses of green under it’s skin. All arguments vanished from Talia as she darted to the edge of the arena behind the broken pillars.

  I ran towards her, both of us out of breath.

  “What do we do?” Talia asked her breathing erratic. “It’s first attacks were hard enough...”

  She had a point. But the alternative was leaving and let this monster rampage the lands. Worse... who said it would stop at the mountains?

  No. We had to stop it.

  “Okay, let’s flank it and alternate some attacks from further away and see if we can see a rhythm to the new attacks. There is always a rhythm, remember that.” I said, laying my hand on Talia’s smaller hand.

  Her hazel eyes locked onto mine and the orange in her irises almost seemed to flair as I saw her resolve strengthen once more.

  “Leo... I trust you.”

  Talia got up, her chest stood proud as she lowered the maroon and dark green hood, for the first time letting her lush auburn hair tumble free. She was a vibrant splash of rich color in the monochrome of the icy ruins.

  My heart skipped a beat. An emotion filled me that was unfamiliar to me.

  I stood up and stepped in next to her as we looked at the giant Mire Tyrant gazing at us with deep contempt.

  “Let’s do this.” I said with a grin. Talia putting her trust in me had stirred something deep in me.

  “Yes. Leo Stormchild. Let’s finish this.” Talia said, a small quirky smile tugging at her ruby lips, the first real smile from her since I woke up next to the fire that saved me.

  I pointed to the side and Talia ran that way. I went to the right.

  This time as I activated Dance of the Ninja Mouse, I held Rune Seeker ready as well.

  Having observed the predator like grace of stealth, you know that your movement needs to be able to learn the evasive dance to stay alive.

  +3 Muscle Memory [Passive]

  +3 Blind Awareness [Active]

  + 5 Stealth [Active]

  + 5 Reflexes [Active]

  Upon Activating this skill, you attune yourself to your surroundings and your body. Being able to learn to true stealth, one must embrace the dance.(3 minutes)(1 minute cool down.)

  As Talia got in place to it’s side, I was first to rush towards it.

  Immediately the raid boss’ giant body lowered, it’s feet set as it lifted both black ice claws this time out wide. The large chain that was still attached to its one arm rattled.

  CLING! CLING!

  Then a large grin formed on its face, as its dagger like fangs spread its maw.

  I was right. This was a completely different move set. Who knows how dangerous it was. With practice, I ran towards it like I had before to go cut at its foot.

  But I was shocked a moment later as it spun with new dexterity and its huge paws clashed together right in front of me.

  BAAAAANG!

  If I hadn’t expected something strange, I wouldn’t have made the leap back. However, the attack had a thunder clap. And the shock wave sent me flying back at break neck speed.

  Oooof... aghk....thrrrrr...

  I grunted as I rolled heavily on the floor, until I skid to a stop. A little icon popped up.

  Dazed! (20 seconds)

  My ears rung and I checked my health.

  Health: 470/867

  Energy Bar: 100/834 [Tier 5 accessible]

  Mana: 3200/5130

  Armor Rating: 111

  247 Health lost with that one attack... fudge!

  My head still spun, but the monster turned towards Talia, and I closed my eyes and shouted the best I can.

  “Talia! The clap has a shock wave!!! Dodge now!”

  I heard the thunderous sound once more.

  BAAAANG!

  Luckily as I opened my eyes, Talia had cleverly used a pillar to hide from the shock wave.

  A few seconds later my debuff ebbed away and my vision cleared. As much as I wanted to hide then, I knew if Talia did the same, the Mire Tyrant might finally break his chain and get to the ice artifact. And then we would be utterly and totally screwed.

  So, I jumped up and ran towards the Mire Tyrant, as it was still looking at Talia, I had a moment to study it. It had a number of glowing pustules on it. Clearly meant to signify some sort of weak points. But which ones would do more damage, or was there an order to stabbing the three pustules.

  If I learned anything in my frantic and very impromptu survival in this challenge zone, there was always a hidden trick to it. I glanced again at the bookshelves at the edge of the arena. They had to have clues. But I shook my head. It would take too long.

  This time I activated Rune Seeker without hesitation. Immediately, the three pustules took on different colors. The Novice one on it’s knee. The Expert one on it’s chest. The Master one on it’s forehead. But then, before I could start planning my next move, I saw with the monster’s movement a flicker of soft light on the back of it’s head. Huh?

  “Talia! Fire water at it’s feet and then run back in hiding!” I shouted.

  Next thing I saw, Talia’s hands took on an intricate dance before water materialized in the air, firing towards the boss monster. I wasted no time in activating Wind step.

  Creates steps in the air under your feet.

  20 Steps

  1 second cooldown between steps.

  Final Cooldown: 1 minute

  I made 5 steps up to the lowest of the hanging balconies. Upon looking over the boss from the higher vantage point. I saw a tiny rune on the back of it’s head, where its broad neck started. An Ancient Rune. Just then my Rune Seeker flickered off and started it’s cool down. But I could see a small dark green insignia on that place.

  I shook my head. How? No. I wasn’t going to try and imagine what was going through my fellow employees heads when they developed the seed for this boss. I was in this world now, stuck there, and glad they added so many hidden ways to progress in it.

  That mark was the highest damage dealing point and I was going to stab it. But how to get close...

  I looked at it’s stance aimed towards Talia at that moment. And then my eyes fell on the chain.

  That’s how.

  I grinned and jumped down into the arena again, running towards the boss at a different angle. I paused and ran the numbers through my brain. It might just be enough. I just had to time it right.

  “Talia, I’m going to do a really risky move.” I shouted. “But it might end the fight for us. Shoot the water shards at the big chain when I give the signal.”

  I heard an affirmative, before I steadied myself and held up Xianmou and waited for its Master’s Edge to activate. The blade started gleaming and I burst forward. I immediately activated ten more steps on Wind step. Putting it at 5 left before cool down. I ran up them towards the Mire Tyrant’s back.

  Almost immediately, the raid boss spun towards me and readied its dangerous thunder clap attack. I had to act fast. I made a 16th step to the left and jumped towards it.

  “Now!” I shouted, but couldn’t look what Talia was doing.

  Then the monstrous boss slammed its giant hands towards each other. I was too close to dodge the most dangerous part of the attack...

  I cringed, hoping my theory panned out.

  Moments later, I heard.

  CHIIIIIIIIIIIING! CLAANG! Crack!

  I had a moment to look, and I saw it’s one hand stop short of the other, halted by the massive chain, now frozen stiff.

  It worked?

  “It worked!” I shouted in joy and then had to jump to a 17th step as the boss took a random swipe at me with its free arm. The black ice claws missing me barely.

  Pheeew!

  I had no time dawdle, so I made my last three steps and ran forward leaping on the monster’s large back. A small icon flickered next to the boss’ health bar, but I ignored it. What I did not count on was how wild the monster would go when I was on its back.

  I saw Talia get smacked by its tail and get flung to the side of the arena, looking hurt.

  But I couldn’t go to help her. It continued to wildly thrash and roar, and I almost fell off. But at the last moment, I saw the mark and swung my sword into the now light-less rune. A huge flash of light momentarily blinded me.

  I got flung from the boss, not able to see, I crashed hard into rocks. Tumbling to a stop, sweat dripping from my features. I took a lot more damage that time... I could feel it. The edges of my vision were flashing red as an alert to my low health.

  A few moments passed and my eyes cleared. But instead of seeing the boss fall and die, I looked up in horror as its giant grinning face was no more that a metre away from me.

  The large chain that had been the only thing that saved us from a very short fight and a terrible death was broken, a small remnant of it hanging from its dark wrist. I stared helpless at its otherworldly grin and glowing eyes as it pulled its hands back for its sundering clap.

  I had no tricks left. No where to go.

  _

  Edit: 18:36 pm > Sorry I finally got to give the chapter an initial proof read. Had missed some errors. Anyway! Hope you all enjoyed the fight!