The colossus's steel fist swung at me, and I dove under it, sliding along the wet metal street. As I passed under it, I could feel the heat from its body and the electricity crackling in the air. I rolled to my feet and sprinted up its leg, my sword flashing out to leave a deep gouge in the metal. It roared in pain, but it didn't slow down. If anything, it was now more enraged.

  "Blech! Hey, that tastes absolutely horrid!" The Soultaker complained, the metal vibrating in my hand.

  "In my defense, you're the strongest weapon I have right and this is literally the function you were made to do," I shot back at the grumbling sword, leaping onto the colossus's forearm.

  The colossus tried to shake me off, but I held on tight, digging my boots into the metal. I raised the Soultaker high and brought it down with all my strength, aiming for the glowing blue core that I could see pulsing beneath the steel. The blade hit the core with a clang, and a burst of light shot out, stunning the colossus and knocking it off-balance.

  Unfortunately, the blast also sent me flying through the air. I had a brief moment of weightlessness before I slammed into the ground, hard.

  "Fuck!" I could feel my ribs crack, but I pushed myself back up, gritting my teeth. Apparently, my defensive passives didn't work against natural blunt force trauma. The colossus was already charging towards me again, giving me no time to breathe.

  I pushed past the head-splitting pain and activated my Grim Mantle to take flight, using a bit more Risk points to refresh the cooldowns of my flood and rain skills. My Health was already recovering as I casted Flooded Kingdom in tandem with Rainfall, freezing the colossus and doubling the Speed of my clone and I.

  [System alert: Android Colossus I's Bio Engine passive has nullified Slowed status effect.]

  [System alert: Android Colossus I has used Electrosap skill.]

  Another wave of electricity surged through the colossus, and the air crackled with power. I grinned, swapping places with my clone.

  "Hey, if you can neutralize my flood, it's only fair if I do the same to your draining skill, right?!" I gleefully shouted at the colossus as my clone and I zipped around it. As it launched its electricity, I immediately spent a bit more Risk to cast Neutralize, dispersing the attack. Then, using one of my achievements, I Linked my Strength to my Soultaker, adding 21 billion to its damage as my clone did the same.

  "This should be enough," I muttered under my breath as I swung the blade down together with my doppelganger.

  Once again, I didn't have to go overboard with it, but seeing how some of the Sanguine Harvesters survived getting hit by skills, I wasn't going to take that chance. Our combined swords easily cleaved the colossus into two halves, which crashed to the ground with a deafening boom, sending up a cloud of dust and debris.

  Behind me, I heard the surprised yelps and shouts from the other Players as the shockwave rolled over them. They stumbled back, shielding their faces from the debris.

  "Sorry," I mumbled sheepishly to myself as I landed on the ground. I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Celine, Tommy, and Clarice rushing up to me.

  Clarice reached me first, her eyes wide with astonishment. "How did you...?" she trailed off, staring at the smoldering wreckage of the Android Colossus I. "I mean, defeating it in one blow without Holy-attributes is one thing, but to completely render all of its attacks and defenses useless..."

  I opened my mouth, and then hesitated. I mean, I acquired the Neutralize skill from defeating Skalyt, and she was one of the Demon Lords... I couldn't exactly tell the Shining Paladin that, could I? "Er... it's just a passive skill that lets me pierce through an enemy's resistance...?"

  Her eyes narrowed slightly, and I knew she didn't quite buy it, but she nodded. "Impressive," she conceded, her voice tight. "But we need to move now. The boss room can't be far."

  "Sure."

  Clarice then turned to her group, barking out orders to press on. I fell back and rejoined Tommy and Celine, who were chilling with Levius and his clones.

  "Heh, showoff," Tommy said with a smirk, slapping me on the back. Celine just nodded in quiet approval.

  We walked alongside Clarice's group until we reached a massive dark cathedral, the air around it thick with an eerie presence. The cathedral looked ancient, with ivy wrapping around the crumbling stones and stained glass windows that had lost their vibrant hues to the ravages of time. Rain pattered against the stones, echoing in the vast emptiness that lay before us.

  The group paused, allowing Clarice to climb up the steps and turn to face us. Her eyes scanned over us, and she took a deep breath. "Many of you under my command hail from our glorious Indomitable guild. We stand here, ready to face whatever the gods have thrown at us. This place holds a grave evil, and it is our duty to purge it. Are you ready, Players?"

  Beside me, Tommy nudged my side as Clarice's group roared with determination. "Uh... I thought us three were just checking out the floor, not taking out the boss already."

  "Oh yeah, sorry. You're welcome to dip if you want. I've decided I might as well go all the way," I quipped, watching the Shining Paladin place her hands on the cathedral door.

  "Ugh, you know I'm gonna stick by your side bro," Tommy groaned, gripping his dual swords reluctantly. We both turned to look at Celine.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Do you even need to ask?" Celine rolled her eyes, a hint of excitement in her voice. "If I'm to catch up to Luquier, of course I'm going to the boss fight."

  Levius- or one of his clones, placed a comforting hand on Tommy's shoulders as he sighed. I grinned as my group followed Clarice's into the cathedral.

  The inside was as grandiose as the outside, with stained glass windows depicting scenes that were a mix of divine beauty and unspeakable horror. The pews were overturned and broken, and the once pristine marble floors were cracked and stained with something that I really didn't want to think about. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and burnt offerings.

  Then, we all stopped in place as we noticed what was ahead of us.

  Shackled by countless chains in front of what seemed like a ruined throne was an ethereal, breathtakingly stunning woman. Her skin was snow-white, almost pale enough to be translucent, with startling silver eyes that held an otherworldly allure. Her long hair was as silver as the moonlight, cascading down to the floor and seemingly fusing with the chains that bound her. She wore a tattered, yet opulent red dress that barely covered her body, leaving much to the imagination. Her frame was adorned with intricate tattoos, each pulsing with a soft blue light, hinting at a power beyond our comprehension.

  "What the..." Tommy's voice trailed off as we all stared at the captive woman in awe and horror. She was unlike any creature we had encountered in the game so far—both terrifying and mesmerizing.

  [System alert: A Boss has descended.]

  [Vampire King Candidate detected... Designation: Lambda Sector.]

  [Name: Eleanor Talwin | Level: 999]

  [Health: 1,000,000 | Strength: 500,000]

  [Speed: 750,000 | Magic: X]

  [Description: One of the less popular candidates, this descendant was betrayed and bound by her fellow kind alongside corrupted humans. Her true power is unknown.]

  The boss, Eleanor, lifted her head, those piercing eyes locking onto us, a flicker of hope flitting through them. Her chains rattled as she tested the boundaries of her confinement. The air grew thick with anticipation as Clarice raised her sword, her eyes gleaming with determination.

  As soon as she saw Clarice raise her sword, Eleanor's face fell, as if she had seen her own executioner approaching. "You've come to kill me too?" she whispered, her voice a mix of defeat and resentment. There was a slight, proper accent in her words. Clarice paused, confused by her demeanor. That was about the time when another system message popped up in front of us.

  [First Act, 'War of the Kings' triggered. Server: Lambda Sector.]

  [Initializing First Act, 'War of the Kings' Quest 1.]

  [War of the Kings.]

  [Quest 1: Choose whether to save or kill the Vampire King Candidate. Defeat any opposing forces to complete the quest.]

  [Save: Candidate must survive and exit the floor. Chance for candidate to become the Vampire King. Chance for candidate to become an ally.]

  [Kill: Candidate must be slain. Bonus rewards granted depending on faction chosen. Chance for additional permanent buffs depending on faction chosen.]

  I blinked at the messages, trying to process everything. It seemed pretty simple enough with two clear conditions, but there was something that was gnawing at me.

  "Well, that's a no-brainer, right? We have to kill the boss," Tommy casually said, readying his swords as he turned to me and Celine with a grin. It faded away when he saw my expression, though. "No... don't tell me. We're gonna save her?"

  I didn't reply, my eyes locked on Eleanor. Despite the system's blunt instructions, something about her situation didn't sit right with me. The way she was bound, the desolate cathedral, and the sudden appearance of the quest made me question the narrative being presented.

  Clarice moved to bring down her sword upon Eleanor, but I found myself stepping in, my hand on the hilt of my weapon, stopping her mid-swing. She glanced at me incredulously, and the others looked on with a mix of confusion and fear.

  "And what... do you think you're doing?" Clarice demanded, her glowing blade trembling slightly as she stared down at me. The rain had stopped, the only sound now the echo of our heavy breathing within the cavernous cathedral.

  I grimaced. "Honestly, I'm not too sure myself. But I want to ask you to think this over."

  Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step back, allowing her blade to hover above Eleanor's chest. "We have a duty, Luquier," she said firmly. "We are here to purge the evil."

  "Okay... but what exactly do you define as evil?" I questioned, holding her gaze. "Is it the woman bound in chains that's been abandoned here, or the ones who put her here?"

  "A monster is a monster," Clarice replied, her grip tightening on her sword. "Regardless of the circumstances, she is a Vampire King Candidate, and we are Players. Even the quest for killing the boss is more beneficial than saving."

  "Yeah, but that's only for those who chose a faction," I countered, my eyes never leaving Eleanor's. "We can choose our path here."

  "I've only just met you, so excuse my frustration, but do you honestly believe that the other Sectors chose to save their Vampire King Candidates?" Clarice snapped, her voice echoing in the vast chamber.

  "Not all, but I'm willing to bet some," I said, my voice steady. "And even if we don't know the full story, we should at least consider the possibility of a peaceful resolution."

  "A peaceful resolution is only possible with the monster's death," Clarice prepared an offensive stance, turning her sword towards me. "If you won't comply, then I have no choice but to subdue you."

  I stepped back, raising my hand. "Hold on, let's not get hasty. I just want to talk to her, find out why she's here."

  Tommy and Celine had been standing silently the entire time watching as I argued with Clarice, but as soon as she directed her blade at me, they immediately tensed up with their hands on their weapons. Though I was extremely confident I could take on Clarice and her entire army of Players, I was grateful that my friends had my back.

  "Just give me a minute," I said, raising my hand, trying to placate her. "Let me just talk to her. Maybe there's more to this than just killing her because she's a boss."

  Clarice's grip on her sword didn't falter, but she did hesitate for a brief moment. "Fine," she snarled, taking a step back, her team mirroring her movements. "If the monster says anything disagreeable or makes any move, we will cut her down without question."

  I nodded solemnly, turning my attention to Eleanor. The chains that bound her were thick and coated in a dark, pulsing energy that seemed to be sapping the life from her very essence. Clarice stepped back, either to give me space with the candidate, or to avoid getting caught up in a potential disaster. Tommy and Celine stood by as well, flanked by Levius and his clones. My own clone stood guard behind me as I knelt down to Eleanor's level.

  "Am I making the right choice, Sephera?" I whispered under my breath.

  [Who knows? This part's always been unpredictable every Match I've watched e.e]

  "Great," I murmured, taking a deep breath as I approached Eleanor. The energy emanating from the chains was pretty overwhelming, enough to make me wonder if I could break them using my Strength. The Vampire King Candidate herself looked to be in a terrible state, her skin ashen and eyes sunken. Despite this, she watched me with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

  "Let me warn you now, human. Even if you tried to kill me, the chains that bind me will not allow it. They will retaliate, more than likely killing you instead," Eleanor spoke, her voice hoarse but filled with a surprising strength. "Unless you are somehow immune to curses or are very strong, there is no way you can overpower the strength of the shackles."

  "I'm not going to kill you... maybe. Just tell me your story," I said, holding my hands up non-threateningly. "I want to understand why you're here, why you're rendered helpless despite being a boss."

  ****

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