AETHERIA ONLINE – The Obsidian Overlord's Throne Room
Attempt #1
"Phase 1!" Kaito shouted. "Standard engagement! Tanks hold aggro, DPS burn, healers keep everyone alive!"
The battle erupted.
Max felt different. The seven-level jump had fundamentally changed him. His movements were faster, sharper. His stamina lasted longer and his damage output had increased significantly.
And Night—Night was hungry.
Through their bond, Max felt the shadow warrior's predatory eagerness. Level 20 had pushed it to a new threshold of power, and it fought savagely.
The Overlord slammed its fists into the ground, and the first add wave spawned.
[Obsidian Shard Minions – Level 18-22] x30
"MaxThorne, adds!" Kaito commanded.
Max was already moving.
He and Night tore into the minion swarm like a storm.
Shadow Step, strike, phase, strike—the rhythm was perfect, instinctive.
Max didn't have to think; his body knew what to do.
-347 HP! (Max)
-412 HP! (Night)
[Minion defeated!]
-389 HP! (Max)
-438 HP! (Night)
[Minion defeated!]
The minions fell faster than they spawned. Max was in the zone—that perfect state where time seemed to slow, where every movement flowed into the next without conscious thought.
His stamina barely dipped. His health stayed high. The adds never reached the back line.
"Phase 1 clear!" Ayame called out.
The Overlord's health had dropped to 75%.
[PHASE 2 ACTIVATED]
The boss roared, and the chamber transformed. Pillars of lava erupted from the floor, creating obstacles. The Overlord's attacks became faster, more aggressive.
More adds spawned—this time Level 20-24 Obsidian Warriors, tougher and more dangerous.
Max didn't falter. Night fought beside him with terrifyingly, its Shadowforged Blade carving through warriors like they were paper.
The raid's coordination was perfect. High-level players systematically destroyed the boss while Max kept the add waves controlled. Healers maintained everyone's health. Tanks rotated cooldowns flawlessly.
They reached Phase 3 in twelve minutes—faster than any previous boss in the dungeon.
"We've got this!" someone shouted.
"Stay focused!" Kaito warned. "Phase 3 has—"
[PHASE 3 ACTIVATED]
[THE OVERLORD'S TRUE POWER AWAKENS]
The boss's health was at 50%. Its body erupted with dark flames, and suddenly its movement speed tripled.
It moved like lightning.
One moment it was across the chamber. The next, it was in the middle of the raid, its massive fists slamming into the ground.
[OBSIDIAN DEVASTATION – AOE ATTACK]
The explosion caught everyone.
-4,567 HP! (Zen)
-3,892 HP! (Max)
[MaxThorne: DEAD]
-5,234 HP! (Velara)
[Velara: DEAD]
-4,123 HP! (HealerMiko)
[HealerMiko: DEAD]
Half the raid died instantly.
And soon other followed.
[RAID WIPE]
[Equipment durability reduced by 15%]
Attempt #2
"We know the Phase 3 transition now," Kaito said grimly. "When it hits 50%, everyone spread out. Maximum distance from each other."
They tried again.
Phase 1 and 2 went smoothly. Max was still in his zone, controlling adds with brutal efficiency.
Phase 3 transition—they spread out as planned.
But the Overlord adapted.
Instead of one large AOE, it launched a chain of smaller explosions that tracked individual players.
[CHAIN DEVASTATION]
Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.
Players died one after another, the healers overwhelmed by the fast damage.
[RAID WIPE]
Attempt #3
Different strategy. They tried to burn the boss from 60% to 40%, skipping the 50% Phase 3 transition entirely.
It didn't work. The boss had a damage threshold that triggered Phase 3 regardless of health percentage.
[RAID WIPE]
Attempt #4
Max's equipment durability was at 40%. Repair costs were mounting—he had already spent 3,000 gold on repairs between attempts.
"Again," Kaito said. "We're learning. We'll get it."
They didn't get it.
Phase 3's mechanics were punishing, and the add spawns became overwhelming. Max couldn't control them all, and several reached the healers.
[RAID WIPE]
Attempt #5
Max's stamina management was perfect now. His add control was flawless. Night fought like a demon.
But Phase 3 introduced a new mechanic they hadn't seen: [OBSIDIAN CHAINS] that rooted players in place while the boss charged up a devastating attack.
[RAID WIPE]
Attempt #6
Equipment durability was critical now. Max's gear was at 20%. One more wipe and his equipment would have been broken.
They made it to Phase 4—the boss at 25% health.
New mechanics: the Overlord split into three forms, each needing to be killed simultaneously or they healed each other.
The coordination required was insane. They couldn't manage it.
[RAID WIPE]
Attempt #7
It was impossible
[RAID WIPE]
**
Max sat in the respawn chamber, his sword in his hands. They had suffered a devastating loss.
Around him, the raid team was showing strain.
"This is impossible," ThunderStrike said, his voice frustrated. "We've been here for five hours. I'm out of potions, my gear is trashed, and we're not even close."
"Phase 4 is doable," Kaito insisted. "We just need better coordination on the split forms."
"We've tried seven times!" FrostQueen said. "Maybe we're not ready for this content. Maybe we should come back when we're all level 40+."
"We're not giving up," Ayame said firmly.
"Easy for you to say—you're level 42 with mythic gear!" ThunderStrike shot back. "Some of us are bleeding gold on repairs with nothing to show for it."
"Then leave," Kaito said coldly. "Anyone who wants to give up, there's the exit. I won't stop you."
Silence fell over the group.