In the Tower of Awakening, monsters are classified into four distinct tiers: Common, Elite, Boss, and Champion.
Common-ranked monsters are the most frequently encountered adversaries. Typically weaker, they serve primarily as a means for challengers to accrue experience points. They often swarm in groups and possess less health and damage potential compared to their higher-ranked counterparts.
Elites stand a cut above the common foes. While rarer, they showcase greater strength and can be found guarding specific landmarks, treasures, or acting as formidable mini-bosses. Unique abilities and distinct attack patterns are hallmarks of these creatures. They may stand alone or lead a group of common monsters in their pursuits.
Boss-ranked monsters represent the ultimate challenge within a specific zone or area. Often, they have their own designated combat arena and may even sport unique designs, setting them apart in both appearance and size. Their intricate attack sequences often demand specialized strategies to overcome. Conquering these behemoths yields substantial rewards, including rare loot and a bounty of experience points.
Lastly, there's the Champion monster. This exceptional, ultra-rare breed emerges only under unique conditions, like the completion of an intricate summoning ritual or the fulfillment of specific prerequisites. Their power is unparalleled, occasionally overshadowing even the Boss-ranked monsters in terms of challenge. Champions bring with them exclusive abilities and mechanics, and might even necessitate challengers to surpass their own limits to defeat them. Often linked to special events, secrets, or achievements, vanquishing a Champion could bestow a prestigious title upon the victor.
The Widowblood, also known as The Blood-Born, is a prime example of a Champion monster. Its existence defies the natural order. Its origin stems from the unique ability of the Broodmother called 'Sacrificial Birth'. This harrowing skill allows the Broodmother to sacrifice her unborn spiderlings and her very life essence as a catalyst to summon this terrifying being. The result? A monster forged from and sustained by blood.
This adversary was far from any typical spider; it was an embodiment of terror. Despite its modestly-sized body, a sleek, jet-black exoskeleton enveloped it, gleaming with an unsettling crimson hue. Instead of the customary eight, this creature boasted ten sharp appendages, each echoing the lethal curve of a blood-soaked blade.
Twin eyes, vast and blood-red, bore into the onlookers with a piercing intensity. From them emanated a mournful sorrow, as though they were the very conduits for the Broodmother's sacrificial grief.
Protruding menacingly were two formidable fangs, their dark, obsidian hue stained and wet, with saliva pooling ominously below. Its abdomen was a mesmerizing sight: pulsating rhythmically, veins with a red luminescence .A macabre dance of circulating blood was faintly visible.
The Widowblood reared, its eyes focused intently on Asher. With a sudden, swift motion, it unleashed a barrage of blood-red webs. The webs spread out, seeking to ensnare both Asher and his guardian.
With unwavering loyalty, the guardian swiftly positioned himself as a shield between Asher and the oncoming web, his own protective barrier at the ready. As the crimson web struck him, Asher had initially believed it was merely a binding maneuver. However, to his alarm, he watched the guardian's vitality begin to wane.
"No way!"
For Asher, this marked his first encounter with an adversary wielding a offensive ability. The crimson web wasn't merely entangling; it siphoned the life force of those it ensnared.
"Is this some sort of Damage-over-Time spell?!"
Quickly realizing the sinister nature of the web, Asher managed to dispel it by tearing apart, halting the continuous drain on the guardian's vitality. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived.
The Widowblood unleashed a deafening shriek, a sound so chilling it seemed to freeze the very air around them. In a flurry of rage, it thrashed about, its massive limbs aiming to land devastating blows on both Asher and his guardian. The battle was far from over.
Asher narrowly evaded a swipe from one of the spider's glistening appendages, ducking and rolling to one side. The Guardian, struggling to regain his strength, was less fortunate. One of the Widowblood's sharp limbs knocked the Guardian's protective stance, sending him skidding back several meters.
But the Widowblood's primary focus remained on Asher. Its twin eyes, now glowing more intensely, fixed their gaze on him. Suddenly, from its abdomen, the spider began to form condensed orbs of blood. With a flick of its limbs, the orbs sped towards Asher in rapid succession.
Each blood orb was deadly accurate, and their speed left almost no room for Asher to react. As they came in contact with the ground or nearby structures, they exploded in a splash of sanguine web essence's, leaving behind patches of blood and webs that would cling and seep vitality from whatever touched them.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Asher felt trapped. The continuous onslaught of the blood orbs combined with the ever-growing pools of blood made it nearly impossible to find safe footing. With no offensive capabilities, Asher felt helpless. His only skill was healing, which he quickly used to mend the Guardian's wounds, but that did little to change the tide of the battle.
Recognizing Asher's vulnerability, the Guardian roared, activating his 'Provoke' skill. The Widowblood's attention was instantly diverted to the Guardian. Taking advantage of this, the Guardian hurled his shield with the 'Shield Throw' skill. The shield struck the spider's abdomen, causing it to recoil slightly but, given its Champion status, it dealt minimal damage. However, it bought Asher a precious moment to reposition.
The Guardian then sprinted towards the Widowblood the moment his shield returned, using "Shield Charge", launching himself at the spider. The force of the impact was tremendous, sending the Widowblood skidding back and momentarily disrupting its blood orb assault. The 100% knockback effect of the 'Shield Charge' had done its work.
But the Guardian's barrage had drained his mana. Meaning it could no longer make use of any skills. Asher felt the weight of the situation bearing down on him. The Guardian, having exhausted his mana, was vulnerable to the Widowblood's next wave of assault. Asher's own healing capabilities were limited, especially given the monster's Damage-over-Time attacks.
"We've got to break from its damn gaze," Asher gritted to himself, sweat dripping from his brow. "A bit of cover, a moment's respite, and we can claw back some of that spent mana."
A desperate idea flashed in his mind. "...The Broodmother's carcass! That's our bloody shield. It could be our one shot at stealing a few breaths. Guardian, follow me!"
They lunged with grim determination toward the massive, lifeless husk of the Broodmother. The monstrous being, once the harbinger of death and now a fallen titan, paradoxically offered them a fleeting refuge.
From behind the Broodmother, Asher could hear the chilling hisses of the Widowblood, its frustration evident as its prey had once again evaded its grasp. The rhythmic sound of its appendages tapping against the stone floor reverberated through the cave.
"Each time it tries to flank us, we'll circle around the Broodmother," Asher whispered, formulating a rudimentary plan. "We need to play a game of cat and mouse, keep it guessing, and buy ourselves some time."
"Once you have enough mana, we can lure it into a more vulnerable position and use combo skills against it. But until then, we must stay out of its reach."
And so began their strategic dance of evasion. Each time the Widowblood tried to circle the Broodmother's carcass to confront them, Asher and the Guardian moved in the opposite direction, always keeping the massive body between them and the spider. It was a test of patience and nerve, with the predatory Widowblood constantly seeking an angle of attack.
With every passing minute, the Guardian's mana levels rose steadily. The tension in the air was palpable, each side waiting for an opening, an opportunity.
The Widowblood, frustrated by the continuous game of hide and seek, finally decided it had had enough. With a furious hiss, its abdomen twitched and thick strands of crimson webbing shot out, latching onto the Broodmother's massive carcass. In an impressive display of strength, the Widowblood began retracting its web, slowly hoisting the Broodmother's body off the floor. The massive form of the Broodmother started to rise, the Widowblood intending to pin it to the ceiling and remove the obstacle once and for all.
Asher and the Guardian watched in horrified awe, momentarily paralyzed by the sheer might of the creature. As the Broodmother's body was lifted higher, they became fully exposed, vulnerable to the Widowblood's impending onslaught.
But during their game of evasion, time had been on their side. The Guardian's mana had recovered, and he was ready to unleash his full potential. Asher, sensing the change in the Guardian's demeanor, took a deep breath, his fingers tingling with anticipation.
With the Broodmother suspended, the Widowblood locked its blood-red gaze onto its prey, preparing to launch a lethal barrage of blood orbs. But the Guardian was faster. "Shield Charge!" Asher roared, using his regained mana to barrel toward the Widowblood with immense force.
The impact sent the Widowblood sprawling, its plan of attack disrupted. The Guardian didn't stop there. He quickly activated his 'Provoke' skill, ensuring the Widowblood's focus remained solely on him. This gave Asher the opportunity to circle around, seeking a position of advantage while continuously healing any damage the Guardian took.
The Guardian, seizing the momentary upper hand, launched his 'Shield Throw' skill. The shield, glowing with a fierce energy, struck the Widowblood squarely, causing it to recoil further. The 100% knockback effect combined with the Guardian's other skills had put the Widowblood on the defensive.
The tables had turned. What had started as a desperate fight for survival had shifted into a coordinated offensive. With the Guardian's skills at full strength and Asher's support, they began pressing their advantage, forcing the Widowblood into a corner.
Every time a skill's cooldown ended, he wasted no time reactivating it, relentlessly pressing their advantage.
The Widowblood, despite its Champion status, was now on the defensive. Its once terrifying blood orbs, which had seemed almost unstoppable earlier, now struggled to find their mark. The Guardian's shield was everywhere, deflecting and parrying, turning the spider's own strength against it.
"Shield Charge!" With those words, the Guardian lunged forward, the impact sending shockwaves across the chamber. The Widowblood, still reeling from the impact, barely had time to recover before another "Shield Throw" came its way, further reducing its vitality.
But even in its weakened state, the Widowblood was not to be underestimated. It was, after all, a Champion monster. Desperate to regain the upper hand, the Widowblood unleashed a frenzied flurry of slashes, web throws, and blood orb barrages.
However, the continual onslaught by the Guardian and the continuious healing from Asher was wearing the Widowblood down. Its once sleek exoskeleton now bore the scars of their fierce exchange. The glowing red of its eyes began to dim, and its movements became noticeably slower, the toll of the battle evident.
Knowing the Widowblood was nearing its limit, seizing the moment, the Guardian followed up with a decisive "Shield Charge" the impact of which dealt the final blow, reducing the Widowblood's health to zero.
The once fearsome creature, The Blood-Born, lay defeated. The chamber echoed with the silence of their hard-fought victory.
"W-We did it! Huh?"
Before him rested the fallen form of the Widowblood, a testament to his fierce battle. Hovering above it was the crystallized essence of the Blood-Born, shimmering in anticipation, awaiting its rightful claimant.
https://i.imgur.com/fTxyydw.png [https://i.imgur.com/fTxyydw.png]