Will looked down at their boss room. The first boss room.

     The adventurers had been pretty constant early on. Pushing their way recklessly through the dungeon and its prepared challenges. Even this group of Will’s favorites had missed a secret or two on the way. Oh well, there’s certainly something to be said for the ten or more slower groups, taking their time to clear each room and search every corner.

     Will enjoyed those people. Deciding to add more secrets with prizes in the future they turned their attention back on the folded dimension inside of a 12x12x12 space that made up the boss room’s ‘true’ dimensions. These measurements seemed absolutely necessary for any dimensional tampering. Either the container inside the third dimension would be those exact measurements, or the dimension created would be.

     “So, everyone ready?” Galatea spoke, unknowingly interrupting Will’s musings.

     The five challengers looked around, nodding to each other as Jamie spoke. “Yeah, I think we are.”

     Galatea stood to her full height, her legs odd shape only noticed by the greenest member of the group.

     Hm… green… I like that color. An unknown being silently thought.

     On a whim, Will caused a hidden prize chest to appear from under the stone it had been hiding, directly under Mark’s rear. After toppling off it and scrambling back over, Mark flipped the lid of the wood-paneled box. The orc reached down and pulled out what was inside the chest, holding the glittering metal in their hands.

     Again, Gus spoke for everyone’s benefit.

     Honed Short Sword.

     A short sword that never loses its edge. Through magic, it will sharpen itself on the bones, flesh, or metal of your enemies. As such the sword has a shorter usability time than others. (sword decay increased by three times. Upon reaching 20% usability the sword will disintegrate for the user’s protection)

     “Huh, I suppose it’s good.” Mark took a practice swing on one of the bamboo poles a little off-center from the place they were sitting.

     The sword cleanly shopped through the woody material with a loud, ‘Schiiing.’

     With sword in hand; Mark smiled at the angelic woman before them. “Oh, now I’m ready.”

     Galatea walked over behind her throne, pulling out something odd.

     She came out with a shield and gauntlet combination, clipping on a sword to the underpart of the shield it also had a glowing red ruby in the center of the fully metal buckler. A window or latch could be seen on the side. She shook her right arm after equipping the combination shield to her left, dislodging one of what the group had thought were ornamental rings.

     Galatea swirled the magical chakram on her index finger, bringing up her lantern-shield in front of her face in a ready position. The four sets of wings behind her splayed out to their maximum wingspan before slowly drawing themselves back in. “Oh, you just think you are.”

     With a flick of her index finger the spinning chakram flew at Mark, the Orc barely had time to to the left as the razor-sharp singing blade of death cut through four of the stalks of bamboo that were right behind him before stopping.

     “HA, YOU MISSED!” Gus screamed, patting Mark’s back as the High Elf helps them both steady themselves.

     Will mentally connected with Galatea, whispering in her mind before separating the link to allow her to focus.

     “Oh really? That’s such a cliche… fiiiiine. Did I now?” Galatea snapped her long slender fingers and a spike of earth erupted from the ground the chakram had dug itself into, slamming into Gus and Mark’s backs.

     The two were stunned and dizzy, falling to the ground from the hard stones impacting their heads. Both of their red bars had fallen by a third minimum, Gus’ by half.

     Billy Joe charged, her metal pipe ready as she aimed it right at Galatea’s left side. The angel moved her shield down slightly, blocking the attack from the giantess. “Oh, good call attacking now, but… You just had to chose the wrong side, didn’t you?” Galatea chided in a sickeningly sweet tone.

     Billy Joe’s eyes went wide as a fireball shot out of the ruby in the middle of the angelic woman’s shield. The explosive force of the attack knocking her back three feet and her skin was screaming at her. “Geh, cheap trick there,” the Fomorian spat out blood on the floor, wiping her mouth.

     “No cheaper than yours.” Galatea smiled, nodding at Billy Joe’s shield of the void.

     Ned ran with his own metal bat, taking the one Mark had dropped and slammed it into Galatea’s right leg while she was distracted, causing the angel to buckle and dealing a good forty damage to her.

     In Massive letters for all to see, a name and a glowing red bar appeared above the angelic woman’s head.

     Galatea D’aubigny, First Seraph of the Planar Renaissance.

     5240/5280

     “I THOUGHT THAT DOOR SAID SHE ONLY HAD A THOUSAND SOMETHING?!” Jamie screeched from behind, nearly dropping their bow in shock.

     That was all the time Galatea needed as she spun up another disc and flung it right at Jamie’s head.

     As the disk of whirling death flew, Billy Joe barely had time to step in the way, however, her shield didn’t seem to work. The circular blade struck her shield and rolled off of it, scoring glancing slashes along her upper arm.

     “That only works if you activate it, honey, here, like this.” Galatea’s form blurred and she suddenly appeared directly in front of Billy Joe. Placing her arm on Billy Joe’s she willed raw mana into the appendage which the shield greedily devoured causing a black vacuum-like circle to appear in front of the buckler. Billy Joe’s arm ached from the sudden infusion of mana into it, gripping the arm gently.

     Galatea then jumped back with the grace of a predator cat; landing ten feet away with her legs spread and braced on the ground as she snapped her fingers again. Lightning arced up and around Billy Joe’s body, causing her to spasm and fall to the ground. Her vision grew red and a symbol could be seen directly under her mostly full health bar. A number was ticking down… 3...

     “You just take that time out and watch,” Galatea said, an evil grin appearing on her lips as Billy Joe looked up from the grassy ground with a deep hatred in her eyes. 2...

     Galatea quickly threw another ring at Gus, the chakram slammed directly into the high elf’s arm, severing it at the shoulder yet no blood spurted from the wound. Gus fell forward, his vision dark. Galatea merely smiled, standing to her full height…

     1…

     Galatea snaps her finger and Gus is enveloped in flames. No screams are heard and his body disappears in the inferno. A blue wispy light shoots out of it and down the hallway.

     Billy Joe roars, not even standing up and instead; getting on all fours and rushing the angel. “THAT WAS MY FRIEND!”

     “What about this one? Is this your friend?” Galatea teases as she quickly spins up another ring on her finger, pulling her Lantern shield into aim with the charging Fomorian. The ruby in the center of the shield starts heating up, everyone’s vision of the shield getting hazy as the heat warps the air around it.

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     Two arrows come quickly from behind Billy Joe, slamming directly into the Lantern shield and knocking it to the side. Jamie, yelling at their entranced friend, “NOW!”

     Billy Joe leaped off of the ground, ready to tackle Galatea as she let fly the chakram spinning on her hand

     Jamie’s form is replaced by shadows as the chakram cuts through where the young shopkeep’s neck was. The shadow falls to the ground as another blue wisp darts down the hallway behind its companion.

     In that blink of an eye, Jamie was gone, and Billy Joe’s leap landed on Galatea, the fireball from the lantern shield slamming into the roof as the tussle sends both giant women falling to the ground. Billy Joe tried scratching, clawing, and biting, however, Galatea’s face became more and more emotionless.

     With another fireball coming from the angelic lantern-shield. Billy Joe was blown off of Galatea and back a few more feet as her skin now sizzled but merely itched to her senses.

     “Wow… I kind of feel bad. Normally if I deal this much damage they just poof into a ball or whatever. You… You can take a hit!” Galatea beamed at Billy Joe who only let out a bestial roar in response.

     Time slowed down for a moment and Will looked at their friend. Billy Joe was foaming at the mouth almost, her sense of self was damaged and tears would not stop falling from her different colored eyes.

     I don’t understand humans… She’s important to me. Help her? Her mana is being pulled in two separate directions. You need to make her let loose, if she keeps this up it would be the same as gunning the gas while holding down the break. She’ll burn out. The thoughts were instantly transmitted to Galatea’s mind, a request from her generous benefactor, who was she to say no?

     “Cool it, you aren’t going to be able to save anyone in that state,” Galatea called out which only elicited another roar from Billy Joe.

     The Fomorian growled and paced, digging her feet into the ground as light was leached from the area surrounding her. A shiver shot up Galatea’s spine and she spun up one of her last two remaining chakrams. Flicking it again at Billy Joe the Fomorian knocked it out of the air with her shield, not even bothering to activate it.

     Galatea snapped her fingers causing a massive burst of light from the Chakram. Billy Joe shielded her eyes and stepped forward, into the oncoming angel.

     Billy Joe slammed into Galatea’s lantern shield, the crushing damage of the pipe not caring about the woman’s defense. Galatea let out a coughing noise and jumped back, cradling her wrist.

     While she sprinkled something on it, Mark called from the side, trying to get behind her. “Bosses healing themselves is so unfair.”

     Galatea tossed the purple bag to the side, testing her wrists flexibility, however the red bar above her head didn’t move at all. “Not healing, merely status removal. What boss would I be if my bones could be broken or I could be burned or frozen in place for too long?” Her voice rang like beautiful bells as Billy Joe roared again.

     “You aren’t going to be able to guard them you know,” Galatea said, “The weak I mean. It’s the strong’s job to guard them. You want to be strong, you want to be a protector…”

     She kicked Billy Joe hard in the chest, her digitigrade legs making the kick have more force than normal. “...But you’re too injured to protect even yourself.”

     “I… Will save… everyone…” Billy Joe wheezed in a moment of clarity, “You, will. Loooooooose.” The last word turned into a howl as Billy Joe smiled a bestial grin, jumping forward again with her metal pipe and clawed hands.

     Galatea brought up her shield, then swiftly dodged to the side. A fireball erupted from the ruby aimed directly at Ned who was currently trying to climb a tree to be safe. Just as the fireball reached the tree, ready to immolate both it and Ned a gust of air from the door in the rear still being open caused it to divert upward, slamming into the ceiling harmlessly. "Sorry boss, I don't think I can hold back with this one," the seraph whispered quietly.

     Galatea used the unexpected diversion as an opening, jumping high and gliding over the woman she grabbed Mark by the shoulder and neck. “Now then, still going to use that attack?”

     Billy Joe roared in defiance, the light began draining from the room even faster. The room was pitch black, and the sound of howls could be heard from all around. Galatea panicked, even her Majesty’s words could not overpower the primal fear she was now experiencing. “Drop the attack or I finish off this one's hit points!”

     Billy Joe rushed them, suddenly appearing right in front of Galatea and Mark. Her massive pipe in hand ready to be brought down. However, as she got closer, the fear in the eyes of Mark stopped her dead in her tracks two feet from the angelic warrior as the light slowly bled back into the room. The pipe ending up mere inches away from the Orc’s nose as the angel used them as a shield.

     “Wh.. what am I doing?” Billy Joe stuttered, staring into the terrified eyes of her friend.

     Galatea dropped Mark, tossing them to the side. “Covering it up.”

     Billy Joe looked up at Galatea and saw she was spinning another disk. “I… I’m in no position to save anyone like this am I?”

     Galatea shook her head solemnly, flicking the final disk on her arm. Her fingers snapped while the weapon was still in the air.

     Billy Joe stared at the flying ring of death as it neared ever closer. Time slowed down and she noticed her own health bar was down by half. She closed her eyes as the wave of death magic surrounding the blade consumed her entire body.

     “NO!!!” Ned cried out as Billy Joe’s form collapsed in darkness and disappeared, leaving a light blue wisp zipping back down the hallway like the others.

     Mark, however, had a different strategy. Not a fan of being tossed to the side like they weren’t even a threat; the young Orc gripped their sword tight and thrust upward.

     Mark had no way of knowing this, but the ideal way to get around a body's natural defenses, A.K.A. the ribs, was to get under them and jab upwards. This would give the attacker direct access to the lungs, and most importantly, the heart.

     Words filled Galatea’s vision.

     Sneak, Critical, incision. Damage X8

     Total damage, 1680.

     Warning: Inci…

     Just as Galatea was ready to read the rest of the announcement, Mark twisted the sword in her side.

     Critical Organ destroyed: Damage calculated 4000 damage.

     Galatea blinked and was washed away in a wisp of light, Mark’s sword fell from their grasp as the last bit of resistance gave. Ned quickly rushing over to their compatriot.

     ***

     That was interesting.

     The living mana thought to itself once more. All it took was a little push here or a slide there. A nudge and the chakram stays on course, riding up the woman’s arm and dealing monstrous damage.

      A little shove and a fireball misses a massive target. Or a random thought popping into someone’s mind deciding victory or defeat.

     This is fun, I wonder what else I can do.

     ***

     Ned and Mark walk forward to the back of the boss room. Opening the last door after another chest had not magically appeared.

     Inside the door was a chamber filled with golden coins, artifacts dotting the walls. Idols and toy trucks tossed around the room with equal reverence. A Tv in the corner with multiple old gaming consoles connected in a haphazard way. In the middle of the room was a pillar with a mining lamp on it.

     “This it?” Ned asked, a little let down by the lack of fanfare in the room, eyeing a not even twenty-year-old metal toy truck.

     “Dunno, never seen the genie,” Mark responded, brushing their hand along an ancient fetish doll and then a cuddly fluffy teddy bear.

     The door to the boss room shut behind them with a thunderous noise. Will’s flame slowly appeared inside of the lamp, growing larger and larger before a voice asks the room.

     “State your wishes.” Will's voice echoed around the room, a red mist appeared around the lamp and the ambiance was set. Will was quite happy with how shaken the two adventurers looked.

     Ah, they’re shaking with excitement, my ambiance is working! Will thought to themself with glee.

     Mark and Ned held each other's shoulders as their teeth chattered and they did their best to hold their bowels in front of the cosmic being.

     Ned walked up first. “Johns Hopkins.”

     Will paused and waited… then a little longer… “Okay, what about them?”

     “The whole cancer ward. I want them to be cured, fix them, speed their recovery’s anything just… Just save them all.”

     “I...I can onl…” Wills magic rushed out of their body without their consent and waves of red mana spread from the entire floating mountain town of Barthel. Will felt power leave them, so much power, yet oddly it didn’t bother them. Something undeniably felt right.

     Mark stepped forward next. “I want a class.”

     ***

     The gold and black rope of mana was pleased with itself. So much can be changed with the power of luck, the power of the different. On a whim, a wave of golden black mana spearheaded the waves of red. Putting all affected by Ned’s wish that day into a three-day slumber.

     The procedure would be a success, yet even the newly born thread of mana thought them being awake for it was a bit cruel.

     Hm, Johns Hopkins… What else is out there? I suppose I would like to find out. Maybe I can find more different things. More luck…

     Steadily, the small thread of mana making up the trickster spirit floated out of the multi-dimensional maze that made up Will’s dungeon.