All three of them charged forward. Nobody wasted a single moment as three sets of ranged attacks flew forward ahead of them. The Anubian swung its weapon in a wide arc trying to hit anyone. Agnox flew high above it. Jeffery was too low. Mathew slid under it across the sand, narrowly dodging it.
As he stood back up, Mathew threw his spear once again. He didn’t bother retrieving it. Instead he created another one, mana draining from his ring. Each one had a silver shimmer to them as he used his Axiom of Piercing.
Mathew could feel he was nearing the end of his reserves, but he kept pushing. He was the only one who could truly take down an Apprentice ranked creature. Jeffery could annoy it, as could Agnox, but that was it.
The Anubian kicked Jeffery to the side, removing the Infernal Wolf from the fight momentarily. Red flames licked across the boss’s back as Agnox used his [Flare] spell empowered by his own Axiom of Ember.
More panicked swings from the black flamed cudgel came from the Anubian. He couldn’t focus on either of them. Mathew abused that panic and pushed forward. The boss was more than three times his size, but that didn’t mean Mathew couldn’t beat it..
He blasted two [Mana Bolts] up toward its face as he ran toward a leg. He raised a [Mana Shield] up and used it as a platform to jump off of and get higher into the air. His strength stat of 302 was used fully. He reached the torso of the beast and created two mana spears and thrusted them both forward, piercing its armor.
Mathew fell to the ground and rolled to keep moving. Ranged attacks from Cherry continued to peck at the boss. It bellowed in annoyance then kicked out at Mathew. It smashed through another [Mana Shield] sending him across the sand.
“Mathew!” Agnox yelled. Anger fueled his voice watching his summoner get further injured.
Jeffery returned to the fight with a powerful bite on the Anubians right leg. Agnox continued an onslaught of attacks at the boss.
Each elbow, fist, or crudgle attack was dodged, parried, or simply taken head on. “Die Motherfucker Die!” Agnox yelled his favorite Earthly curse in defiance.
Mathew sat up as Cherry continued to heal him. His entire left arm was broken. “Mathew, we need to back off. You can’t fight anymore.”
“As if. We have him right where I want him. I’m going back there. Ready your buff spell.” Mathew said as he pulled out a pill and shoved it into his mouth.
“Are you insane? Can your body even handle the strain?”
“Cherry, we have no other option. That thing is faster than all of us. I can handle it, trust me please..” Mathew pointed at Agnox and Jeffery as they continued to fight. “Look at what they are doing. They are fighting for us. Not me. Not them. For all of us. We are a team. Agnox saved my life, I’ve saved his. We both need you to save our life just as we are risking our life for yours. Can I count on you to do this or not?”
Cherry glanced up at Agnox who attempted to parry the crudgle but instead got thrown to the side by the sheer power behind the attack. Looking back at Mathew she nodded once. “Okay, I’m with you.” Her pink healing energy lingered on Mathew’s body.
“Good and be sure you don’t miss.” Mathew said as he stood up and swallowed the pill. The pills' energy flooded through him. It was a similar pill to what he took when he fought the Infernal Pack Leader all those months ago. A stronger version. Instead of focusing on keeping you alive, this was like a second burst of energy.
“I’ve only got a minute. Need to make it count.” Mathew ran back into the fight. Each step had his body numb to the pain. He could ignore it. He was beyond pain.
Mathew summoned [Quiq’s Spear] back to his hand. It would be awkward fighting with one arm, but he could do it.
“Agnox, All or nothing!” Mathew shouted as he stabbed at the Anubians calf with an Axiom of Piercing infused attack.
“Already there!” Agnox shouted in return. He flew downward leaving behind a flaming scar on the Anubians arm.
Jeffery was thrown to the ground, and a crack of broken bones resounded. The wolf slowly got up. Mathew could see a bone poking out of its rib cage. Mathew continued his attacks in tandem with Agnox.
He twisted and sidestepped attacks he could, and used a Reinforce boosted [Mana Shield] where he couldn’t. He occasionally threw one to help out Agnox as well. It was a true push of his limits.
When he was out of reach of a melee attack, Mathew would either create a spear and throw it, or toss a [Mana Bolt] and direct it to its face or exposed body parts where the armor had fallen away.
It was slow, but the Anubian was being slowly whittled away. Mathew could tell if they kept pushing, it would die soon. Yet, they didn’t have very long. Once the effects of this pill went away, Mathew would be too exhausted to continue fighting.
He pushed forward behind the Anubians' reach. He struck forward with his spear, gutting the dog headed humanoid. That’s when he felt an iron grip around his body. The Anubian had dropped its crudgle to grab him. Mathew’s eyes went wide in panic. He didn’t think it would do this. He was focused on another kick, not to be grabbed.
The Anubian turned, and threw Mathew up high into the air. Then he tumbled and lost his sense of direction as the ground went further away from him.
He knew if he hit the ground, he was dead. He slowed down as he reached the apex of his rise, and for a moment all was still.
Mathew looked down and saw Agnox flying up toward him. “Mathew!” He cried and reached out a hand to grab Mathew.
He looked down, and saw the Anubian was now moving toward Cherry. A single motive came over Mathew. He was going to end it here and now.
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All three floors of fighting, risks, gains, and losses came to this fight. He channeled mana into his only good hand. Forming a new spear. He started to fall, but kept himself facing downward. “Throw me Agnox!” Mathew shouted, hoping his familiar understood his intent.
He pushed his mana into the mana formed spear. He layered every bit of his mana. Ensuring it was strong enough to piercing through the armor. His cold conviction to win no matter what came to him. Victory was absolute. There was no losing. Even if it meant risking his life, his pride continued to push him.
He was Mathew McGonald. He forged his own path to become a lawyer using his own money and talents. In this new world, he would do the same.
Mathew reached out with his broken arm, and Agnox grabbed him and swung him around. Using the momentum, he released Mathew aimed toward the Anubian. Mathew felt his arm was completely broken and his shoulder dislodged.
He didn’t let go of the spear. Instead it hardened in his hand. Wisps of ice flaked off of it from the desert heat. Mathew pulled back his arm, two streams of mental energy fueling his body. “CHERRY NOW!” He yelled two words.
He wouldn’t die here. Not to this creature. A giant spear of ice that was longer than he was tall was held in his hand. Cherry turned and looked up. Mathew trusted her. She returned that trust by casting [Gaia’s Grace] on him. A pink aura surrounded him. He felt invincible.
Two Axiom’s flowed through his body. That of Cold and Piercing. The Anubian raised his black flame crudgle to swing it down onto Cherry.
Mathew hurled with all his might downward toward the boss. The spear drove through the Anubian and dug into the sand. The shaft of the icy spear stuck out the back of the boss.
Mathew crashed into the sand, tumbling as bones broke. He somehow managed to stay conscious. He heard the Anubian cough and tried to move. The spear had kept it from moving.
Agnox flew down and decapitated the boss’s head. His flaming sword slicing through the neck and black blood spraying outward.
Mathew laughed, and bones crunched as he did. Cherry ran over next to him, and his vision faded as he saw a blue screen pop up in front of his face. “I did it. But not alone. Yet, The System still thinks I’m alone, and I’m going to abuse that fact till I die.”
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Far away from Earth, a famously known betting bar was packed full. Dozens of representatives of clans and factions, desperate bidders, and thrill seekers clapped and hollered. Many were celebrating, some crying, a few were staring at their drinks, knowing it would be the last they could ever afford.
“I knew it! I told you that Zachary kid was worth the bet! First place overall!” A woman shouted, practically in another man’s lap cheering.
“Nah, I told you, Leo and his crusade is where it’s at. He might have been top twenty as a solo, but they are top three in the group category!” A small boy-like voice shouted from a bird looking humanoid.
“I put all my money on that stupid solo archer. And he died…AT THE END?!” A distraught voice echoed followed by people laughing at his misfortune. Afterall, his loss was more money for them from the betting pool.
“Wait. Who put money on that Summoner guy. The one that died at the end.” An echoing voice from a suit of armor asked.
“He didn’t die! He lived! His name is still on the leaderboard.” Someone retorted pointing at the hovering blue screens.
The suit of armor shrugged, “Sure, his summons dragged him through the portal. We all know he died as soon as he crossed over. No way someone survives a fall like that. Not at that rank.”
A large reptilian humanoid wrapped a large arm around the suit of armor, “Well that final attack of his was obviously powerful. I wonder how he did it. He would have used it sooner if he had it before that Dungeon. Just what did he find in that Lost Souls Dungeon?”
A grumble of annoyance overcame everyone. They were forbidden to see what happens inside the Dungeons and Challenges. Not to mention all audio was blocked. Only edited highlights were shown in the bar. Along with names on the leaderboards under various betting types. Last to leave, strongest group, sexiest, least likely to leave alive, strongest solo, etc.
There was one odd person in the crowd. A green cloaked elf sipping at her drink, not joining any celebration. A drunk fiery haired man came over. “Ooo, if you ain’t cheering, then you lost a bet. Let me guess, you had money on the General looking guy dying like some others right?”
“No, I won. I’m just enjoying my drink.” She said, trying to ignore his breath that stunk of booze. She watched highlights of the final few fights take place. There were only a couple days left until it truly ended. The elven women watched as a younger man threw a potion into the mouth of a Sand Worm and its entire body started to melt.
“Sure sure. If you say so. Say, how about you and me join the post World Quest celebration? I have some friends going, and you seem alone.”
A giant metal hand gripped his shoulder. “She isn’t.” A robotic voice said.
He flinched. “Shit, you with The Council? Dust that.” He scrambled away.
“Why did you have to scare him away?” the elven woman asked. “I actually wouldn’t have minded joining them.”
“Protocol 3: Protect Shii” The robot replied.
“Ugh, giant lump of metal. I didn’t need protection.”
“Protocol 104: Shii does not get to dictate when she needs protection or not.”
Shii slumped onto the bar annoyed. She looked up at one of the screens showing old highlights. There was a man who used a gun to mow down enemies. Explosions occurred wherever his bullets landed. The second place solar. “Fine. Did you complete your scans?”
“Yes. Primary mission completed. Secondary missions partially completed, but surpassed satisfied parameters. All other missions were either completed, or insignificant in importance to focus on over Primary and Secondary missions.”
“Good, let's go.” Shii said to her robotic bodyguard.
Shii left the bar and walked to the teleportation pad. She took one last glance at the leaderboard. Eyeing a name near the top. “Well, I can’t say he didn’t meet our requirements. I just hope he is still alive.”