Vol. 13 - Ch. 729 - Boss OUtbreak! Power of «Absolute Charm Shield»!

«Wandering Boss Phenomenon».

The intermediate-low dungeon had up to 30 floors, and each ten floors were roughly called upper floor, middle floor, and lower floors. Meanwhile, wandering bosses were locked between the 21st~29th floors.  They could only roam around the last ten lower floors, or the last twenty.

Hence, the said phenomenon had never been encountered in the respected dungeons.

But, in Intermediate-high dungeons, the overall floor count went as far as 50. The change in floor count obviously affected floor categorisation. The floors from 31st to 49th were designated as the lower floors in intermediate-high dungeons. Overall, the floors 1st~10th were upper floors, and floors 11th~30th were middle floors.

As a matter of fact, this question had been in our exam as well.

"«Wandering Boss Phenomenon»?! That's so out of the blue!"

"Sierra, stick to «Intermediate Spirit of Light»! I will handle the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness»! Lana, time for you debuff protection and buffs!"

"Understood! «Taunt»!"

"On it! «Debuff Protection»! «Anti-Magic Blessing»!"

"«Appeal»! «Aggro Slash»!"

"——!"

As one closest to it, I promptly drew «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness»'s aggro towards me, while handing out instructions. 

The biggest threat in this sudden encounter was, needless to say, facing two faces. Awful, isn't it?

But there's a silver lining. If it were just two bosses with full strength, the difficulty would be through the roof. So, when a «Wandering Boss Phenomenon» would  happen, the bosses were actually weakened.

This was a handicap, much like when players tackle a boss with two or more parties. The difficulty was adjusted accordingly. From the attack I just took, I got the impression that the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness»'s damage was less than when it's alone. I was able to ascertain the weakening effect was live in reality as well—though this was already explained in the classes as well. 

So, if we could just get our bearings and fight back, it wasn't a hopeful situation. The solution was simple: since the two bosses together create chaos, just separate them.

However, there were two problems this time.

Firstly, both the «Intermediate Spirit of Light» and the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» were magic-users and didn't move around much. We couldn't separate them.

And the second problem—this was a real pain—was that the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» and «Intermediate Spirit of Light» were good buddies. Talk about the unexpected! So much so that if you attack the «Intermediate Spirit of Light» when they’re tag-teaming, the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» will sometimes attack you, regardless of whoever had aggro.

Back in the game, commenting "So you've come to rescue the light!" and "Tch, you sure are a tsundere, princess of darkness!" were almost a tradition whenever the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» would intervene to help «Intermediate Spirit of Light» from attack.

The «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness»'s appearance, looking like your typical tsundere rival character, only fueled these fantasies.

Cough, cough. Anyway, I've gone off-topic. The point was, attacking the Light

Spirit could sometimes draw the attention of the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness». For reference—

"Gah!?"

"Ester! «Prayer of Purification»! «Greater Healing Blessing»! Hey, Zephyr, your opponent just hit Ester!"

Despite me holding aggro, the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» swung its black staff and afflicted Ester with «Slow». Speak of misfortune, it managed to get through Ester's resistance!

Lana quickly healed her and dealt with it. I had wanted to explain the plan to Lana, but we were too far apart. We couldn't even discuss how to handle the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness», let alone regroup.

Everyone except Sierra and me was flustered by the sudden appearance of the wandering boss. Regardless, we had to act now, before «Intermediate Spirit of Light» uses its self-healing skill. If we fail, we're looking at a battle of attrition then!

Knowing that, Ester and Karua had intensified their offence against «Intermediate Spirit of Light», but unfortunately they're getting interrupted by «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness». 

No, I must do something. But, I wasn't sure if I could do much against «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness».

"Sierra, change of plan! Switch targets with me!"

"! What about aggro?!"

"I can handle that—«Charisma»! Sierra, you just focus on pulling «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness»! «Charisma»!"

"—Fine!"

I announced a new strategy to Sierra, and sprinted toward «Intermediate Spirit of Light» while invoking my area-wide taunt skill. Sierra, in turn, ran toward me. We were switching our roles.

"«Aggro Slash»!"

"—!|

I jumped at «Intermediate Spirit of Light» with my aggro earning attack. Of course, that wasn't enough to overcome the aggro Sierra had earned, but—

"«Charisma»!"

My trump card, «Charisma», and «Cooldown Reduction», combo gradually turned to bridge that gap. I just had to make sure «Intermediate Spirit of Light» doesn't chase after Sierra.

"I'm counting on you, Sierra!"

"I haven't used it since, «Mother Mushroom» but here we go—«Absolute Charm Shield»!”

"——!?"

Sierra launched her four small shields floating in the air towards the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness». When they hit, aggro was forcibly drawn to Shiera. 

This was the unique skill of the «Shield Princess», a powerful skill that forcibly takes aggro regardless of the enemy's current aggro. The «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness», which had been randomly attacking me—who had built up the most aggro—and Karua, and Ester, who had been targeting «Intermediate Spirit of Light», now had its aggro fixed on Sierra. It could no longer target Karua or Ester.

«Absolute Charm Shield» was only at LV5, which is effective for 40 seconds. But, that was fine. Sierra would be able to draw the aggro just fine.

"This position is barely doing it, but—«Taunt»! «Shield Smite»! «Material

Shield»!"

Unlike the confrontation against «Intermediate Spirit of Light», Sierra now faced «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» at close-quarter combat range. It was to make sure her shield and skill doesn't bump into «Intermediate Spirit of Light». Given her positioning, even «Taunt» was a close call, but she managed to make sure it only struck «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness».

She had completely mastered the manipulation of range, though it was nothing past her.

Sierra avoided use of group taunt skill, meanwhile I continued to use them one after another. The point was I must pull «Intermediate Spirit of Light» aggro at me, so it didn't matter if «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» gets into range—I mean, Sierra right now had absolute attention from it—I just had to overcome aggro from Sierra. 

"Try to defeat «Intermediate Spirit of Light» while Sierra is pulling in «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness»! «Brave Heart»! «Brave Slash»!"

"Nya! «64 Force»! «Delta Stream»! «Star Boost Tornado»! «Star Burst - Rain Edge»!"

"Copy that! «Spear Charge»! «Raging Spear War Dance»!"

"Then, here I go—«Sacred Shining Sabre»! «Sword of Light»!"

"——!"

We only had 40 seconds, so we blasted our offence. 

Amidst the raining attack, «Intermediate Spirit of Light»'s aggro finally settled on me, but that was alright. I had my defense, and other stats, reinforced with «Brave Heart».

Alas, as much as we had tried, «Intermediate Spirit of Light» managed to grit through with self-buff skill, and the effect of «Absolute Charm Shield» expired on «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness».

I still had the aggro from «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness». Lana's continuous healing was my clutch against it.

I then prompted Karua and Ester to stop their offence on «Intermediate Spirit of Light», and had then switched their target to «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness».

"«Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» intervene when «Intermediate Spirit of Light» is under attack! So, focus your firepower on «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» until Sierra uses her unique skill again!"

This was the only way to stop «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» from randomly throwing attacks until Sierra forced pull the aggro on her. On the other hand, «Intermediate Spirit of Light» had just used its healing skill, so it shouldn't be able to heal itself again for the time being.

Now, we ought to wait for three minutes, it was the cooldown duration of «Absolute Charm Shield», much like my «Brave Heart».

During that time, I parried attacks from both the «Intermediate Spirit of Light» and the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness», focusing solely on evasion until the cooldown ended.

Sure enough, Shiera successfully regained aggro on the «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» and began to

stably tank its attacks. This lightened my burden! It was time to go on the

offensive!

"——!"

"Karua, Ester, Sierra's going to use her unique skill at any moment! How are your skills cooldown?"

"Mmm, going all out."

"You can count on me. I've been planning ahead."

"First, we're taking down the «Intermediate Spirit of Light»! Come back!"

"Nya!"

"Yes!"

"The cooldown's finished! Here I go—«Absolute Charm Shield»!"

"Great, now time to end this!—«Brave Slash»! «Holy Sword»! «Lightning Vanquish»!"

"«32 Star Storm»! «Delta Stream»! «Star Boost Tornado»!"

"Going in. «Princess Knight Awakening»!"

"I am going to deliver the finisher! «Sacred Shining Saber»! «Sword of Light»!"

The moment Sierra invoked her unique skill, we resumed our hail of offence, caring nothing about the damage but the damage we're dealing.

Ultimately, the «Intermediate Spirit of Light» met its demise at the hand of Ester in her powered up mode, disappearing amidst the sea of effect. 

With «Intermediate Spirit of Light» gone, «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» was nothing to be feared against. Plus, Sierra already had the aggro, so it was an easy fight.

With frustration as our fuel—it was such a pain to deal with two bosses, in particular when one was randomly jumping in—we blasted it with our offence. It tried to escape when its HP hit bottom, but how could I let it be? There's no escaping from Brave!

And, without much suspense, we brought down «Intermediate Spirit of Darkness» a few moments later.