"Wow, she really hates Bloody Edge!"
"Perhaps she witnessed his cringey performance before we entered the boss room."
"Makes sense."
Cyclone and Balm couldn't help but comment. Yet their hearts leaped to their throats as Phorina moved again. Fortunately, she targeted Radiant Shield, who managed to evade in time. The two young women shut up and placed their focus back on Phorina.
At this moment, however, the boss lowered her bow, her expression showing a hint of fatigue which soon disappeared again.
"Go! The skill is over!"
A shout echoed through the air. Everyone felt relieved as they picked up their weapons and rushed at the boss. Cyclone and Fortune began casting their skills. Silent Acacia summoned both Korn and Zorn, attacking the boss at full force. Three arrows carrying animalistic air crossed the empty space, arriving in front of the boss. Phorina didn't stand still stupidly. She dived downwards, only receiving two hits, evading one arrow.
[-118!]
[-252!!!]
Silent Acacia frowned lightly, unsatisfied with his own aim. Fortunately, he was not done yet. More arrows chased right after. Simultaneously Zorn also conjured a swirling sphere of water which slammed into Phorina's knee, leaving the boss quite unimpressed.
[-218!!!]
Silent Acacia's eyes lit up glancing at Zorn. With increasing level, the alligator was slowly growing up. By now she was as long as two cars, half as tall as a human. Her precious white skin sparkled in the light and her maw generated dense water magic. Zorn's power matched her appearance as she landed a critical hit.
Immediately a special force rushed through Silent Acacia, originating from his bow, making his hands nimble like that of an embroidery master. His attack speed increased by a daunting 35% and the young man knew how to make use of it. Arrows left his bow in quick succession, showering the boss in a rain of arrows.
"Dodge this!"
Silent Acacia couldn't help but exclaim in excitement as he landed another critical hit, visibly reducing the boss's HP bar. For a moment his damage per second was solidly in first place with no one coming close.
Next to the boss Liam's swords were dancing. He applied his Holy Marks and triggered them. A blinding explosion shook the boss, spreading a torrential shockwave towards the surroundings. Yet the force spilling from the fight couldn't shake the old temple at all.
[-395!]
The explosion's damage was only barely satisfactory but at least the duration of his [Chaotic Tempest] had been prolonged by quite a bit. Liam took a moment to look around. He nodded inwardly as everyone flighted orderly. Bloody Edge, not wishing for his HP to recover to their maximum, drank a health potion instead of asking Balm for help. The healer was somewhat annoyed but at least she could grant a [Light of Regeneration] to Quickstep.
Meanwhile Silent Acacia attacked wildly, his damage topping the charts. Liam was quite impressed. However, deep inside he felt a hint of being challenged. Perhaps his equipment deserved some upgrade. How could he let others hog the spotlight like this?
Well, granted Liam's class didn't stand out due to its high DPS, but rather due to its longevity. With his ultimate skill he would theoretically never run out of stance. Even if he only dealt a single point of damage, as long as he managed to dodge all attacks, he would be able to slay even the strongest bosses. Now thinking about it, perhaps he should seek out some worthy enemy after the dungeon. Just to enjoy the challenge.
Liam lightly shook his head and put the distracting thoughts away. His friends were giving it their all. He couldn't daydream now. Although his swords never stopped moving, battle having long become instinctive to Liam.
A few seconds later Silent Acacia's attack speed returned to normal. His empowered state ended but that of his girlfriend only just began. Quickstep entered [Hurricane Mode] her eyes blazing with sharp light.
Quickstep dashed around the boss, releasing skill after skill. Sharp wind blades filled the air, striking Phorina every time she received damage from Quickstep. Violent whirlwinds surrounded her, constantly striking her scales. Quickstep's sword stabbed out with barely any delay between strikes as if driven by a potent engine, relentlessly seeking to maximise damage.
It didn't take long for Quickstep's damage to suppress Silent Acacia. The latter only chuckled while Quickstep was still caught up in her fight, not paying attention to anything else.
Enduring the barrage, Phorina frowned faintly. She flapped her wings and with an elegant dash she broke out of the whirlwinds, which immediately made her feel much more comfortable. Quickstep's damage dropped by a level as she chased after the boss. Her thoughts changed and she used on of her mount's skills.
The elegant, half-fish, half-bird peng which Quickstep was riding suddenly transformed. Its body size increased multiple times over, growing to the size of a wale. Swimming through the air it was quite the majestic appearance. Of course, this was not the skill's only effect. The more important part was a boost of 25% to Quickstep's damage and defence.
Phorina slowly raised her head staring at the colossal beast looming over her. Quickstep stood on the peng's back, almost hidden from view. She activated another skill called [Rapid Slash], which her mount performed in her stead.
The frightening maw of the peng opened and a sharp blade conjured from surging water and wind shot at the boss. Coming out of the large monster's mount, the blade was bigger than normal, making it much harder to dodge. Phorina tried to retreat but the blade found her all the same, slamming into her body.
[-60!]
[-113!]
[-87!]
"You!"
Phorina gritted her teeth as she resisted the blade which tried to push her back. However, Quickstep's skill didn't end so easily. [Rapid Slash] would allow her to conjure up to a maximum of ten blades as long as the opponent didn't manage to dodge the attack. Thus, the peng's ability to increase its size perfectly harmonized with the skill. Another blade rushed at Phorina and the boss could only glare at Quickstep as she was unable to escape.
On top of her mount Quickstep felt her new weapon quiver as its effect triggered, increasing the wind damage by a level.
Feeling helpless Phorina suddenly turned towards Silver Blade and fired an arrow to vent her emotions. However, the tank was alert. Placing her shield in front of her body she withstood the arrow, making Phorina feel as if her anger was only building up even more. Another storm blade slammed into her body and the boss finally had enough.
"Intruders! Do you really think you can withstand my wrath?! My family is in danger, and you obstruct me from saving them! Unforgivable!"
"But we didn't… we are not the villains here."
"Please, calm down."
"We don't really need to fight!"
Phorina's speech caused the friends to be filled with guild. They wanted to talk to the boss again, but their voices were drowned out as a roaring wind suddenly rose. Mana violently streamed around Phorina, affecting everything around her. Her wings absorbed the man and a brutal pressure erupted from the boss, suppressing the players. The party suddenly found themselves pressed to the ground, similar to what happened at the beginning of the dungeon.
However, there was a small difference. There was no closed floor below the party. There were only eight bridges some distance below which connected a few rooms with a central platform. Everyone's hearts skipped a beat as they realized what was happening. The friends hastily positioned themselves above the bridges before the pressure fully descended.
"Ahhh!"
"Not again!"
"Acacia! Move towards the left!"
Chaotic shouts rang out. It was as if gravity suddenly remembered to do its job, strongly pulling at the friends. Their flying mounts lost their ability to stay in the air and everyone uncomfortably landed on the bridges below.
A bang rang out and the entire structure shook. Quickstep frowned as her peng completely occupied one of the bridges. She was having such a good time but with one move the boss destroyed it. Now she was out of range and unable to continue her attacks. With a sigh she cancelled her mount's skill, the gigantic peng shrinking, returning to its regular size.
"You won't be able to escape me, intruders!"
Phorina floated high in the air, looking down on the adventurers below. Her scales shone with a mighty green light, her hair billowing in the wind, the appearance of a valiant heroine. She turned her bow towards the group below and slowly pulled. Behind her back the projection of a green light bow appeared, double the boss's size, with a large arrow knocked on the bow.
As Phorina drew the empty bow in her hand, the bow behind her back also moved. A terrifying force gathered on the arrow. The friends below wore solemn expression as the raging wind tore on their clothes.
Suddenly a ray of green light came from above, pointing at one of the bridges. Balm's eyes opened wide. She was the only one standing on the targeted bridge. Remembering Liam's warning she didn't hesitate to instantly perform a flash step towards the platform at the centre.