As the dust settled, the Fungal Bear roared ferociously, the vibrations of its voice echoing through the desolate marsh. Its eyes, a luminous green, were filled with malevolent intelligence, mirroring the predatory instincts that had been awakened within it.
The party froze, their breaths hitching in anticipation. Thorian, however, was smirking. The thrill of the challenge surged through him, his adrenaline-spiked blood singing a violent, euphoric melody. "Time for a real battle," he declared, his eyes glinting dangerously.
"Be ready," he warned, his gaze falling on the priest. "I suspect we'll be needing your help soon enough."
Before anyone could respond, Thorian lunged forward, flames dancing in his hands. He launched a fireball towards the Fungal Bear, striking it square in the chest. The beast growled, staggering back, but didn't fall. Instead, it shook off the singed fur, revealing a thick layer of fungi that seemed to absorb the impact.
Thorian narrowed his eyes, noting this. "It uses the fungi as a shield. Aim for its exposed parts. Nox, you're up."
The black kobold nodded, his figure melding with the shadows. With a burst of speed, he appeared behind the Fungal Bear, his axe aimed at the vulnerable points. His attack landed, his blade sinking into the flesh. As he withdrew, the shadows coiled around the beast, its figure darkening under the assassin's skill.
"Saxum, Ventus, follow up!" Thorian ordered, his voice echoing through the marsh.
The wind and earth magi needed no further encouragement. Ventus conjured a fierce gust, momentarily disorienting the Fungal Bear. Saxum capitalized on the distraction, sending one rock bullet after the next towards the creature. They struck true, battering the beast and furthering the damage dealt by Nox.
The Fungal Bear roared, reeling from the onslaught. In retaliation, it shook its body violently, launching a cloud of spores from the fungi on its back. They landed on the ground, immediately sprouting into a thicket of monstrous mushrooms.
“Fall back,” Seeing that they were about to be surrounded, Thorian signaled a retreat and lead his team to a safer distance.
As they regrouped, the priest stepped forward, his hands glowing with soft, golden light. "Healing," he intoned. The comforting light washed over them, their minor wounds healing instantly.
"Thanks," Nox grunted, flexing his newly healed hand. "Now, what should we do?"
“I’m sorry, it was my fault,” Ventus said while looking down. “I should have used Gale Slash when Nox gave me the chance. I would have split it in two.”
“No use apologizing now,” Thorian shook his head. “You will get another chance soon enough.”
The flame kobold became silent for a moment, his golden eyes studying the Fungal Bear and its newly formed mushroom minions. "Nox, I need you to cover me," he finally said. "I will join you in close quarters."
Thorian then looked at the earth magus and said, “Saxum, while us two are fighting, I want you to root it in place.” He then shifted his gaze to Ventus. “You finish it off after that.”
As he finished off explaining his plan, he stood up and glanced at Ventus, “Let’s set these mushrooms ablaze first.”
Ventus grinned at the prospect before conjuring his wind spell. The moment his Wind Gust was fired, Thorian’s fireball followed suit and the elements instantly mixed. The resulting wave of flames torched the minions of the Fungal Bear.
With a guttural roar, the beast immediately zeroed in on the group and pounced in their direction.
Without Thorian having to give any command, the priest let out a small intonation before a brilliant moonlight showered both him and Nox.
My body feels so light. It’s been so long since I felt this way.
Thorian rushed at the incoming enemy with a grin on his face, as flames swirled in his palm. At the same time, Nox merged with the shadows and dashed with mindbending speed.
The two speeding bolts of flames and shadows darted from one side to the other, confusing the slow but powerful bear. As it looked left and right, Thorian found the most opportune moment where the bear was focusing on his friend before rushing with all his speed. With a palm full of fire, he struck at the creature’s face.
The sight of the Fungal Bear’s ferocious face recoiling from Thorian’s Combustion Touch felt satisfying, the scent of burnt fur wafting in the air. With Nox distracting the beast with feints and luring its attention, it had allowed Thorian to get close and land a solid hit.
Yet, the battle was far from over.
Thorian swiftly moved back, escaping the bear's retaliation, its paw swinging where he stood a second ago. His breath came out in harsh pants, the adrenaline pumping in his veins urging him on.
Beside him, Nox was a shadowy blur, his movements slick and fast. Every now and then, the black kobold would land a hit, further weakening the Fungal Bear and forcing it to grow more aggressive.
The earthen voice of Saxum resounded in the midst of their choreographed dance of flames and shadows. “Earthen Grasp.” With the incantation, the ground turned into sand before solidifying around the Fungal Bear's massive paws, rooting it in place.
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“Ventus, now!” Thorian called out, his golden gaze never leaving the snarling beast.
At Thorian’s command, Ventus extended his hands, the air around him swirling with uncontrolled intensity. “Gale Slash!” His voice cut through the tense air like a sharpened blade.
A tornado of wind shot forward, aimed at the immobilized Fungal Bear. The gust tore at the fungal growths, slicing through the thick layer that served as the creature's shield. A pained roar reverberated through the marsh, announcing the success of their plan.
Suddenly, the Fungal Bear violently shook, throwing off the earthen hands and releasing a cloud of poisonous spores.
I was waiting for that.
With a grin on his face, Thorian launched a simple fireball at the cloud of spores. As the spell reached the glowing particles, a dust explosion engulfed the corrupted beast and sent a thunderous shockwave that threatened to lift Thorian off his feet.
“Damn, Thorian. You blasted him off,” Nox smiled and commented before his gaze shifted to an invisible screen in front of him. “I leveled up.”
Hearing Nox’s words, the group let out a collective sigh. The Fungal Bear was now officially dead.
As the final flames flickered around the charred body of the Fungal Bear, a sense of accomplishment washed over the group. A satisfied sigh escaped Thorian's lips. Nox's announcement of his level-up was the cherry on top, confirming their victory in this part of the Verdant Labyrinth.
With a swift wave of his hand, Thorian dispersed the remaining embers. "Good work, everyone." He commended, his golden gaze sweeping over his companions. They returned his sentiment with smiles and nods, basking in their triumph.
Before they could rest for too long, Thorian's sharp eyes spotted a new pathway opening up in the distance, revealing a path scattered with golden-tinted rocks and crystals. His heart pounded in his chest as realization dawned upon him. The guardian's lair.
"Look," he pointed, catching everyone's attention. Their expressions mirrored his anticipation, a hint of fear and excitement lighting up their eyes.
Without a word, they moved, entering the path that would lead them to their final challenge of this dungeon layer. As they treaded on, the glow from the golden rocks illuminated their path, casting long shadows behind them.
Suddenly, the trail gave way to an expansive cavity, a sight that snatched their breath away. Nestled within the bosom of this golden grotto, a monstrous silhouette towered, a dreadful fusion of elegance and intimidation. It possessed a lengthy, serpentine body adorned with a multitude of legs reminiscent of a centipede. Its spiny tail glistened with a golden sheen, harmoniously echoing the surrounding rock formations and crystals in its cavernous abode.
"The Gilded Spiketail…" Thorian murmured, his gaze fixated on the creature. The sense of danger it radiated was intense, threatening to eclipse their triumph over the Fungal Bear.
"Nox," he began, his gaze unwavering from the beast, "once we engage, I want you to use your shadow skill. That should give us an opening."
The assassin nodded, his lips tugging into a confident smirk.
"Saxum, Ventus," he continued, "just like with the Fungal Bear, immobilize and disorient it. That will buy us some time."
The earth and wind magi nodded, their eyes mirroring Thorian's determination.
"And," he turned to the priest, "we'll need your healing and buffing skills more than ever. Keep us fighting fit."
With a solemn nod, the priest silently vowed to do his best.
Taking a deep breath, Thorian took a step forward, "Ventus, set a Gale Slash on it. Saxum, use your skill to slow it down when it charges. Nox, you know what to do. Let's do this."
At his command, they sprang into action. Ventus summoned a mighty gust of wind, sweeping towards the Gilded Spiketail. The creature roared, its attention drawn towards the threat.
Seizing the distraction, Nox slinked forward, his figure blurring with the shadows. His speed was a marvel to behold, a testament to his abilities as an assassin. At the same time, the wind kobold followed the plan and conjured his spell.
As Ventus' Gale Slash struck against the Gilded Spiketail, a cloud of dust billowed into the air. The creature roared, the ground shaking beneath its wrath. Thorian watched as the beast's golden spikes glinted menacingly in the light, an intimidating sight that sent a shiver down his spine.
He didn't have time to ponder over it, for his attention was drawn to Nox. The assassin moved like a ghost, merging with the darkness around them. Thorian watched as Nox crept closer to the Gilded Spiketail, his figure blurring with his incredible speed. His heart pounded in anticipation of the upcoming attack.
"Saxum!" Thorian called, his voice firm despite the deafening roars of the Gilded Spiketail. The earth magus, stalwart and calm, nodded. His hands glowed with an earthy hue as he called upon his magic. "Earthern Grasp."
With his command, the ground beneath the Gilded Spiketail seemed to come alive, ensnaring the creature. The Spiketail struggled, its spiked tail thrashing, but the rocky bonds held firm. They had bought themselves some time, a crucial factor in their battle.
Thorian watched as the dust cloud from Ventus' attack cleared, revealing Nox's figure behind the Gilded Spiketail. The black kobold was poised, his axe glistening in the dim light. With a swift, deadly stroke, his blade sank into the Spiketail's flesh.
"Backstab," Nox muttered under his breath. The effect was instantaneous. The Gilded Spiketail roared in pain, its body arching as it tried to shake off the pain. The beast was distracted, just as they had planned.
Meanwhile, the priest had begun his incantations. A gentle glow enveloped his hands, the soft light soothing in the midst of their chaotic surroundings. "Moon's blessing," he intoned, the light spreading to envelop them all.
Thorian could feel his body grow light and his fatigue washing away. The priest's blessing was as calming as always, a soothing balm that eased their worries.
Now it was his turn. He stepped forward, flames dancing on his fingertips. His heart pounded in his chest, a rhythm in sync with the crackling fire. He felt the power surge through him, his veins throbbing with the intoxicating sensation of magic.
"Combustion Touch," he murmured, focusing his energy into his palms. He could feel the intense heat radiating from his hands, his skin glowing with an ember-like light. With a burst of speed, he charged towards the Gilded Spiketail, his fiery palms extended.
Thorian landed his attack on the beast, his Combustion Touch sinking into its flesh. The Spiketail roared, a chilling sound that echoed in the cavern. Its tail thrashed, managing to break the stone binds that had held it captive. Thorian quickly rolled away, narrowly avoiding a blow from the creature's lethal tail.
Even though his attack had worked, searing the giant creature’s flesh and grilling its inside, the battle was still far from over.
As Thorian regained his footing, his gaze met the Spiketail's glowing ember eyes. The beast roared once more, a harrowing echo that sent shivers cascading down the rogue's spine. Its golden body, even marred by Thorian's successful strike, was luminous in the grotto's eerie light, a living nightmare wreathed in gold and spikes.
As the unsettling silence stretched between man and beast, the grotto felt suddenly colder, its golden light less comforting. The Gilded Spiketail's predatory gaze was locked on Thorian, promising a terrifying battle yet to come.