Damn, what a weight on my shoulders. I haven't yet adapted to Versatile; my usual approach has been to fight opponents of easy size or small foes with predictable movements. But this boss is truly different; it seems like the developers embedded a different kind of AI compared to the other monsters.
"[Survival Instinct], [Talent Frontliner], [Intimidating]."
A graceful spinning kick from Ritta was skillfully evaded by Angler, but in doing so, he fell right into Ritta's trap. She swiftly turned her body mid-air and delivered a powerful second kick, landing a forceful blow on Angler's shoulder.
"His weakness," she stammered, "lies in a specific point that will make him vulnerable – it's on his knee."
"His head is also his weak point," Appa added.
However, both are the most challenging parts to target, especially for me, who is supposed to be a magic DPS rather than a pure archer. I completely lack the stats to support shooting accuracy, and I don't even know if I can aim correctly from the start. This is truly the first time I've missed and had my attack blocked. It's incredibly frustrating.
As a mage, how should I fight in close-combat? I lack any martial arts skills, and being in such close proximity only illuminates my weaknesses further. What's more, my skillset does not support such playstyle to begin with.
The more I thought about it, the more acutely aware I became of my own inadequacies. Who would have thought that obtaining such a rare item would lead me to such a hopeless dilemma? Was I simply not fortunate enough to receive a Diviner like Versatile?
Even casting a single spell requires a casting time when in a close-range combat one second can make all the difference. How can I overcome this challenge as a mage?
"After years...although it's just in-game, I finally get to see your other side, senior." This voice, Ritta's, snaps me out of my endless train of thought. "Never before has senior acted like this. Despite that, I think I know the reason," she continues.
"He's like a bird in a cage," Appa added.
"Eh, isn't it more like a duck struggling to break out of its shell?" Nomad chimes in.
"You're ruining the mood, idiot. That's not what I was trying to say," Ritta complains, her pearls of wisdom interrupted by the pair's jesting.
Suddenly, a gentle touch lands on my shoulder, accompanied by a tender voice. "They just want to tell you to free yourself, Blue," Subtle whispers.
Free myself from what? From my cocoon? From my confinement? Have I been trapped all this time—or perhaps they're onto something. From the very beginning, I've always believed that I am a mage, and although that much is true, however... I fix my gaze upon Versatile held firmly in my right hand with a mixture of self-pity and sorrow.
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If I keep mirroring my existence as another mage, I'll forever be locked within the confines of my cage, perpetually struggling to break free from my shell, never truly liberated.
But now, at this moment, all I can do is… just anything, move, act, me!!
"Do I appear to be a person in despair? You all surely know how to jest," I utter, attempting to convince myself that hope still resides within.
Witnessing my hastened footstep, the atmosphere changed completely. Smiles graced their faces as if they had just welcomed a new member into their party only to then turn their backs and place their utmost trust in me, surrendering everything to my abilities.
At the very least, I must rise to meet their expectations. "[Cast: Mantle of Spellcaster], [Cast: Undetter]," I proclaim. This time the Angler didn't divert his attention to me. Perhaps it's because I didn't cast an offensive spell, but regardless, this is my opening.
I had the leeway to be prepared as I approached the Angler because Ritta and Appa were keeping it occupied. My first task now was to join their rhythm without disrupting the flow that has been established. The bitter taste of merely being a spectator gave me a sense of enlightenment.
The Angler seemed to be closely attached to Ritta, even when Appa tried to distract their action, Ritta was able to maintain aggro and prevent it from straying. She truly surpassed what I had taught her before—well, I only taught her the basics of this game, so I had no right to take pride in it.
Seeing it from afar was impressive, but being closer to them convinced me that this party's skills were no joke. Without doing anything, it felt like they had paved the way for me to join their movements, like a special place they had prepared just for me. Not only that, they intentionally exposed the enemy's weak points to bring them within my sight.
To take advantage of the golden opportunity that lasted only a split second, skills with a cast time wouldn't be of much use and that's exactly what I had realized. .With the string drawn taut, I focused on only one—its head.
"[Magic Impact]," I declared.
I was 100% certain that if this shot hit, it would stop the final boss's movements and give us a chance to deal greater damage. However, this percentage wasn't an assurance that my shot would hit the mark precisely.
Even though it missed, none of us lost our concentration. It was like releasing one opportunity and immediately clearing the path for the next one. We remained so strong in fulfilling our respective roles. Even when the Angler retaliated and targeted me with its attack, Subtle instantly cast a shielding buff that absorbed the damage I received.
Of course, I wanted to express my gratitude, but their pacing didn't allow me to break my concentration, even for a moment. So I immediately rose to my feet and prepared myself.
For the first time, I saw Ritta struggling to keep up with the Angler's movements. She, who usually danced around and evaded enemy attacks, now took the brunt of the attacks with her both shields. Perhaps that was also why her stamina was depleted.
Running alongside me was Nomad, his sword unsheathed and held to the side while a shield protected the front of his body. Every step he took was an anticipation of any possible enemy attack, and indeed, when the Angler redirected its assault, Nomad skillfully parried it.
As he pushed against the shield to throw the Angler off balance, Nomad's one-handed sword found its way towards the enemy's shoulder. At the same time, as if prearranged, a flash of red light shot from an unexpected direction—"[Dragon's Ram!]." A powerful and precise thrust landed slightly off from the Angler's head. Although it was not a direct hit, it created an opening that could not be wasted by Appa. Afterward, [Magic Arrow] leaped from my bow, curving like a missile, chasing the sole enemy among us.