The ground beneath him began to tremble, and a dark, ominous energy started to emanate from the corpses of the slain Skitter Flies. Blood and mana coalesced around them, and a sinister, chittering noise filled the air. Isaac took a step back, his hands raised, weapon and flames at the ready.
From the smoldering remains, a monstrous figure began to take shape and the field boss emerged.
The grotesque amalgamation of Skitter Fly bodies was massive, its exoskeleton a patchwork of chitinous plates, and its eyes glowed with a sinister red light.
As the field boss emerged, it let out an ear piercing screech that echoed through the garden. Its wings, made up of countless smaller Skitter Fly wings, buzzed furiously, creating a deafening noise. The air around it shimmered with energy, and Isaac could feel the power radiating from the creature.
**********
[Field Boss: Skitter Fly Swarm Lord]
**********
"Why does this feel like it's gonna hurt my feelings," he muttered, tightening his grip on his makeshift weapon. The flames in his hands flickering and flaring, ready to be unleashed.
The Swarm Lord turned slowly toward Isaac, its massive mandibles snapping in frantic succession as saliva and acid drooled from its maw, forming a small puddle that bore holes in the earth.
"Oh, that's why," Isaac said, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and excitement.
The Skitter Fly Swarm Lord lunged at Isaac, its mandibles clamping down with terrifying force. Isaac rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, and quickly countered with a burst of fire. The flames scorched the creature's exoskeleton but seemed to do little to slow it down.
"Not even a damn scratch!" Isaac exclaimed, frustration creeping into his voice.
The Swarm Lord reared back, its multifaceted eyes gleaming with murderous intent. It raised one of its grotesque appendages and drove it into the earth where Isaac had just been standing, the force of the impact causing the ground to shatter and quake.
Isaac's mind raced as he dodged the debris. This creature was far more formidable than anything he had faced before. He needed a strategy, and he needed it fast.
Showing a weary grin, he faced the towering Swarm Lord. He knew that he needed every advantage he could muster. Quickly, he opened his character sheet, hoping to allocate his newly earned stat points before the creature could strike again.
With the Swarm Lord bearing down on him, Isaac frantically tried to place his points to boost his stats. However, the Swarm Lord didn’t give him a moment's respite. Lunging towards Isaac, the creature's appendages were raised and ready to pierce through their target.
Now forced on the defensive, Isaac leaped out of the way, narrowly dodging the lethal blows.
"Look, look, look, look, look, gimme like 5 seconds!" Isaac shouted as he rolled to the side, avoiding another devastating strike.
Once he was back on his feet, his fingers flew across his character sheet interface, placing his points in the midst of the chaos.
Showing a weary grin, he faced the towering Swarm Lord. He knew that he needed every advantage he could muster. Quickly, he opened his character sheet, hoping to allocate his newly earned stat points before the creature could strike again.
With the Swarm Lord bearing down on him, Isaac frantically tried to place his points to boost his stats. However, the Swarm Lord didn’t give him a moment's respite. Lunging towards Isaac, the creature's appendages were raised and ready to pierce through their target.
Now forced on the defensive, Isaac leaped out of the way, narrowly dodging the lethal blows. "Look, look, look, look, look, gimme like 5 seconds!" he shouted, panic clear in his voice.
Isaac rolled to the side, avoiding another devastating strike. His fingers flew across his character sheet interface, trying to allocate his points in the midst of the chaos.
**********
[Stats] [+3 Stat Points]
[Str]: 2 (+7) {Confirm}
[Dex]: 0 (+7)
[Con]: 1 (+10) {Confirm}
[Int]: 0 (+8)
[Wis]: 0 (+5)
[Cha]: 0 (+6)
**********
The moment he confirmed the changes, Isaac turned to the Swarm Lord, confidence surging through him as he felt the power from his newly allocated stat points coursing through his veins. His muscles tightened, his mind sharpened, and his reflexes quickened. The flames in his body flared up, brighter and hotter than before.
Showing a weary grin, he faced the towering Swarm Lord. "Alright, let's see if this works," Isaac muttered, his confidence returning.
The Swarm Lord lunged at him again, but this time Isaac was ready. He sidestepped the attack with newfound agility, summoning a concentrated Fire Missile with one hand while gripping his makeshift weapon with the other.
He aimed the Fire Missile at the creature's vulnerable gel underbelly, aiming it with precision. The burst of flame struck true, searing through the creature's armor and drawing a screech of pain.
Isaac didn't let up. He followed the attack with a powerful swing of his branch, targeting the creature's weak points. The Swarm Lord roared in fury, its movements becoming more erratic as Isaac pressed the advantage.
But in his overconfidence, Isaac underestimated the Swarm Lord's resilience. Just as he prepared to deliver what he thought would be the final blow, the Swarm Lord reared back and lashed out with its massive appendages. The creature's strike was swift and brutal, catching Isaac off guard.
The appendages pierced through his defenses, striking him with enough force to send him sprawling across the ground. Pain shot through his body, and darkness began to encroach on his vision. He struggled to stand, but the damage was too severe. His consciousness faded as he realized his mistake.
When Isaac awoke, he found himself back on his feet, his surroundings dimly lit by the dying flames that erupted upon his rebirth. The pain from his defeat lingered, but he was alive.
However, when his system interface displayed a message, part of him really wished he wasn't.
**********
[System Alert: Ability Notification]
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
[You have been killed by the Skitter Fly Swarm Lord. Phoenix Rebirth activated. Penalty: 100% Exp & -1 Skill Point Lost to the Swarm Lord. Remove penalty by defeating The Swarm Lord ]
**********
Isaac groaned, the weight of the penalty settling in. "Great, just great," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "I have to defeat that thing or I'll never get that point back."
He stood up, the dimly lit garden now filled with the ominous silence that followed the chaos of battle. The Swarm Lord was still out there, and he had to face it again.
As he braced himself for the next encounter, a new notification appeared on his system interface.
**********
[System Alert: Phoenix Rebirth Cooldown]
[Cooldown: 23 hours, 58 minutes, 42 seconds]
**********
Isaac's eyes widened in shock. "A timer? I can't just keep coming back whenever I die?" The reality of the situation sank in, and he realized just how precarious his position was. If he died again, he wouldn't have the safety net of Phoenix Rebirth for another 24 hours.
"Damn, I forgot about that.” He rubbed his chin, considering his options. “Fighting the Swarm Lord again right now is probably suicide," he muttered to himself. "I need to be smarter about this. I need a plan."
Isaac took a deep breath, scanning the garden for any signs of the Swarm Lord. The creature was undoubtedly still lurking, and he couldn't afford to be reckless. He needed to gather more strength, more skills, and perhaps even some allies before facing such a formidable foe again.
"Okay, new plan," Isaac said, feeling a cautious optimism replacing his earlier despair. "I'll level up, improve my skills, and come back when I'm ready to take it down."
Isaac stood amidst gentle winds in the garden, his mind racing as he considered his options. The threat of the Swarm Lord loomed large, but he knew he needed a different approach. The thought of facing it again without a solid plan was daunting.
As he pondered, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He remembered how, in the past, he had used runes to bypass the limitations of his lacking talent in magic. Even when his mana reserves were nonexisting, the runes had allowed him to channel powerful spells.
"Wait a minute," Isaac muttered, his eyes widening. "The runes... they can bypass magic conditions. I didn't need mana to use them before. Maybe I can use that to my advantage now."
However, he knew he couldn't rely on his current runes alone. He needed a blank rune to inscribe a new spell—specifically, his Phoenix Rebirth ability. If he could engrave it onto a rune, he wouldn't have to worry about the cooldown timer and could harness its power more effectively.
Determined to acquire a blank rune, Isaac weighed his options. He had to act quickly, as the Swarm Lord wouldn't wait for him to gather his resources.
"Buying one is out of the question," he muttered, glancing at his empty coin pouch. "Trading might work, but it could take too long. That leaves me with…making one myself.."
Isaac knew that crafting a blank rune stone required specific materials and conditions. Neither of which he had. However, there was one idea that came to mind.
It was a risky idea, but Isaac couldn't shake the thought. As he raced off in excitement, unsure if his plan would work but knowing it could be a game-changer, he gathered firewood and hunted down as many Skitter Bugs and other creatures as he could find. His goal: to build a massive bonfire.
As he worked, the idea crystallized in his mind. He recalled stories of ancient rituals where magical artifacts were imbued with power through intense heat and magical incantations. Could he replicate something similar?
Isaac knew he didn't have the traditional materials for crafting a blank rune stone. But, he knew that his entire body down to the smallest sparks of flame was teeming with the power of the Phoenix soul within him.
"I’m glad I at least know the basics of rituals," Isaac muttered to himself as he stacked the firewood into a towering pyre. "And then... Well, then we'll see how Phoenix fire reacts to natural fire."
With the bonfire ready and the captured creatures assembled, Isaac took a deep breath. He began the ritual, channeling his fire magic into the flames, making them roar and dance with wild intensity. The captured creatures were sacrificed in the blaze, their essences mingling with the magical energy of the fire.
As the bonfire blazed higher, casting flickering shadows across the garden floor, Isaac's focus intensified. He watched with a mix of awe and determination as the flames surged and danced, fueled by the combined essence of firewood and sacrificed creatures.
Within the heart of the inferno, a shimmering image began to form—an ethereal phoenix, its fiery plumage radiant and majestic. Isaac's eyes widened in astonishment as he realized what he was witnessing—a manifestation of his Phoenix Soul, speaking to him through the flames.
"ISAAC," the Phoenix's voice echoed in his mind, resonating with ancient wisdom and power. "YOU SURPRISE ME… TO HAVE LEARNED COMMUNION SO EARLY ON. IF YOU SEEK TO FORGE A BOND WITH ME, TO HARNESS THE ESSENCE OF POWER, THEN THE PATH YOU TREAD WILL BE PERILOUS YET FILLED WITH REWARD BEYOND YOUR–."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, now shut up and let me concentrate," Isaac snapped, irritation creeping into his voice. "I need a rune of rebirth, not your yapping!"
The Phoenix's voice faltered for a moment, taken aback by Isaac's blunt response. Yet, understanding dawned in its fiery gaze.
"VERY WELL," the Phoenix replied, its tone a mix of amusement and approval. "FORGE THE RUNE WITH FOCUS AND INTENT, ISAAC. MAY IT SERVE YOU WELL ON YOUR JOURNEY."
With the Phoenix's guidance echoing faintly in his mind, Isaac returned to the task at hand. He focused his fire magic with renewed concentration, channeling it into the wood he’d used to within the bonfire. The intricate patterns glowed brighter as he inscribed the essence of Phoenix Rebirth onto its surface, binding his own resolve with the power of the Phoenix Soul.
As the ritual concluded, Isaac shielded himself as the flames roared with the rune of rebirth, its radiant glow pulsing with newfound energy. He felt a surge of satisfaction and accomplishment, knowing that he had taken a significant step forward in mastering his abilities.
**********
[System Alert: New Ritual Rune Acquired]
[Phoenix Ritual Rune: Rune Of Rebirth]
[Description: A mystical rune imbued with the essence of the Immortal Phoenix. Grants the ability to invoke Phoenix Rebirth.]
[Effect: Allows the user to resurrect upon death with full health and mana once per ritual site.]
[Ritual Site Requirements: 60 hours worth of wood consumed by phoenix enchanted flames.]
**********
Isaac’s eyes scanned the information, absorbing every detail. The implications of having a Rune of Rebirth were immense. It was a powerful safety net, something that could turn the tide in his favor against formidable foes like the Swarm Lord.
With the knowledge of his new rune’s power, Isaac felt a renewed sense of confidence. He took a deep breath, the pain from his previous defeat now a distant memory.
“Alright, Swarm Lord,” he muttered to himself, his conviction solidifying. “Round two.”
He made his way back through the garden, retracing his steps to the place where he had fallen.
As he approached the area, the ground trembled again, and the chittering of the Swarm Lord echoed through the air. Isaac tightened his grip on his makeshift weapon, feeling the warmth of the Rune of Rebirth’s flames connected to the bonfire he’d left within him.
The Swarm Lord appeared in the distance, its eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. Isaac stood his ground, ready to face the beast once more.
He knew the battle would be tough, but he was ready to rise from the ashes, no matter how many times it took.
“Let’s do this,” Isaac whispered, flames flickering in his eyes. He charged forward, ready to reclaim his honor and take down the Swarm Lord once and for all.
However, as he felt the surge of adrenaline, Isaac realized something crucial. While the rune gave him a second chance, he still needed to level up and grow stronger. He couldn't rely solely on the rune; he had to improve his skills and abilities.
He paused for a moment, reconsidering his approach. "I can't just rush in there at my current level," he thought. "I need to level up more but then I would be a bitch if I just overpowered the field boss… Ahhh dammit!”
Isaac clenched his fists, frustration boiling within him. He knew he had to strike a balance between getting stronger and maintaining the challenge. After all, defeating the Swarm Lord wouldn't feel as rewarding if he simply overpowered it without effort.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, a plan forming in his mind. "I'll level up a bit, just enough to give me a fighting chance. Level five should do it, I was level five before anyway so it’s not me being a bitch just getting back to where I was, then I'll take that bitch down!"
Determined, Isaac set off deeper into the garden, searching for more Skitter Flies and any other creatures that could help him gain the experience he needed. He fought tirelessly, each battle pushing him closer to his goal. His fire magic grew stronger, his reflexes sharper, and his resolve unbreakable.
Hours passed, and with each victory, Isaac felt himself growing more powerful. Finally, he felt a surge of energy, and the notification he’d been waiting for appeared before him.
***********
[Level Up Acquired]
[Level]: 5
[Exp]: 600/3000
[Sp]: 5
[Gold]: 0
**********
