If it weren't for the system's nameplate, I wouldn't have known it was one of those skeleton freaks.

The boss was a warrior for sure, but there was no sight of bones on it at all. That and that crazy strength it used on us. I mean, it made sense since it was a boss but I never would have seen something like that, from those Ice Walkers.

The boss that stood in front of me was covered in armour and rags. The rags and material wrapped around its joints looked like some kind of torn flag.

Possibly whatever army it belonged to?

In its hand was the weapon it used to nearly decapitate us, a large two-handed sword. In its other, was a shield, similar to Veldors but just not as big.

I barely had a chance to get a good look at it before it went on the attack again. I was closer to it but it side-stepped around me and straight for Veldor.

{Flare activated}

I tried to stop it and launched a ball of fire at it but the hunk of bones avoided it. It stepped out of the way and used the momentum of its movements to launch itself closer to him.

“Shadow Step!”

I wasn't going to make it, it had already closed the distance and had its weapon in motion for an attack. Veldor had only just gotten up and still looked dazed from the last attack when suddenly the boss's sword swung down.

Arga swung her blade over him and collided with the bosses. A spark bounced off of their blades and Arga was pushed back.

Her face contorted with pain like she had just been hit by a mountain. The boss, on the other hand, continued his onslaught of attacks and brought his rusted blade around for another slash.

I emerged from the shadows by his feet and buried my chakram into his waist. There was a gap between his chest plate and greaves and forced all my strength behind the attack.

There was no resistance, no nothing. It felt like I had just sunk my blades into a hollowed-out body.

I guess he is all bones under there…shit, I gotta get away before–

The Boss turned from her to me and drove its fist into my gut, it forced me back as if I were weightless. I crashed against one of the many pillars in the room and fell to the ground, unable to stop its monstrous strength.

My ribs ached, it felt like they had been hit by a hammer. I couldn’t believe how much strength that monster had. Never before had that word seemed so appropriate.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

It was a monster, end of discussion!

I struggled to get back up. My fatigue was overwhelming, it made standing seem like an impossible task. It felt like a boot pressed over me with a firm press. As I got onto my knees, I saw it coming after me.

The Guardian beast rushed towards me, engrossed in lightning.

I raised my hand and caught it in my shield of magic, encasing the beast inside a hexagonal bubble prison.

{Stein Guard activated}

Barely a second had passed before the top of its broad head bashed through and shattered my skill. It soared through the air with small prances in between.

Veldor stepped in and hit the monster with his mace. A surge of fire exploded off the side of its face and the beast was blasted into a pillar.

“Huff…Huff…I don’t wanna say I was right but…I was so right!”

Veldor tried catching his breath but gloating was the first thing on his mind. His shield was littered with scratches and dents. Not to mention all of us were running low on health. The more I looked, the more problems came to mind.

I could track it all from my peripheral, the small bar of health in the corner of my vision showed my health points. Right below it was Arga, then Veldors. It was yellow all across the board, we were far too fatigued and damaged to be fighting a boss-class monster.

My eyes flinched as a large chunk was chopped off of Arga’s health. I jolted my attention over to her and watched as she stood against the boss. Its strength was terrifying on its own but its sword skills were on a whole other level.

Going against each other, it was clear who was the better warrior. No competition, Arga was out of her depth. A novice against a grandmaster.

She launched her sword forward and it blocked it effortlessly, by the time her sword pulled away, the boss had already lined up its next attack.

It moved like a seasoned veteran, every motion of its arms or legs was directed at trying to kill her. Her face turned red just trying to keep up.

Arga rolled back, her breathing was thrown off and I could hear it from across the room.

My foot moved forward and sparks of electricity raced across the floor. Veldor shot past my face in a blur of white and blue as lightning forced him into a wall.

The Guardian Beast gripped against the surface of his shield and held him onto the floor. Its claws dug into the shield and left a sizable scratch over it. His face morphed into terror as the beast's pearly fangs hovered over his eyes.

Arga…No, Veldor! I have to help them but I can’t do both…do I need to choose? I can’t…I won’t!

My legs felt like jelly. I gripped the icy floor and forced myself up, going against the agonising pains of bones and muscles grinding against one another.

My health bar flashed into the red. I was near death.

“Grrrr…he-he-he…HA-HA-HA-HA!!!”

The boss gripped its sword and raised the blade over Arga. Its rattly bones shook as laughter broke out from between its jaws and filled the room.

My fists gripped into tight balls at my sides. Its cackling giggles and hardy laughing ran through my ears, making me angrier by the second.

I couldn’t take another second of it.

“Don’t you dare laugh at us, this is life or death, you bastard,” I stated angrily.

I took in a deep breath and arched my back slightly before throwing my entire upper body forward. A deafening scream left my mouth and shook the room—possibly the entire castle–and left both enemies frozen in place.

{Queens Roar has been activated}