The Warden's Quarters were not like any other part of the prison they'd explored. Though signs of decay were evident, the room was a somber reflection of the power and prestige the warden once held.
The room was a strange mix of luxury and wear. Tall windows with old, heavy curtains let in just a bit of light, giving the room a soft glow. Pictures of serious-looking people hung on the walls, probably the old leaders of this place. It felt like their eyes were watching whom ever set foot inside the room. In the middle was a fancy wooden desk with papers and pens scattered around. Behind it was a big chair made of dark wood with a bright red cushion. The room's large size and high ceiling made the zombified warden look even bigger.
The atmosphere in the Warden's Quarters was thick with tension. The low sounds from the zombified warden filled the room, along with the scary noises he made. A low rumble broke the tense silence as the ground beneath them quivered. The warden took a step forward, each footfall like a mini earthquake, shaking the chamber's foundations. Liam and Asher exchanged anxious glances. The warden's strength was evident, not just in his size but in the very aura he emitted - a palpable force of menace and dread.
Before anyone could make another move, the zombified warden, with an incredible show of strength, gripped the edge of the desk and hurled it towards Asher and Liam.
BAM
The guardian, with a speed that belied its size, leapt in front of the duo. Using both its body and its spike-guard shield, it absorbed the full brunt of the flying desk. Splinters and shards flew in all directions as the desk shattered on impact. The room filled with dust, making it hard to see.
But the Warden didn't wait. Using the debris as cover, he charged with a roar, the ground trembling with each step he took.
Liam tried to get a shot off, but the debris impaired his vision. "I can't get a clear shot! We need to stop him from coming this way!" he exclaimed.
Asher's instincts kicked in, and without hesitation, he knew the immediate action to take. "Guardian! Use Provoke!" he shouted with authority.
Asher anticipated the familiar pull of the Guardian's taunting effect, drawing the monstrous Warden's attention away from them. This diversion would buy them crucial seconds to attack and regroup. However, instead of the expected reaction, Asher was met with a jarring revelation he hadn't foreseen.
'Provoke' ineffective against 'Zombified Warden' due to passive skill: 'Unwavering Stance'
The holographic warning flashed across Asher's vision briefly, but it felt like an eternity. A sinking feeling of dread gripped his heart as he realized his main crowd-control ability was useless against this behemoth. The warden's piercing, soulless eyes locked onto Asher and Liam, completely ignoring the guardian that had tried to divert its attention.
Liam, quickly catching onto the gravity of the situation, yelled, "Asher! Move!" Without waiting for a reply, he took aim and fired off a series of rapid shots at the Warden's legs, attempting to slow its progress. But the Zombified Warden seemed almost impervious to the bullets. the warden kept advancing until it finally closed in on them.
"We have to halt its advance! Liam, fire an explosive round; we need to disrupt its momentum!" Asher exclaimed.
In the tense moments that followed Asher's words, Liam swiftly aimed and fired an explosive shot directly at the charging warden. The bullet detonated upon impact, releasing a concussive blast and a cloud of thick, obscuring dust. For a split second, Asher hoped that the explosion would halt the monstrous warden in his tracks. But the brief moment of hope was shattered as quickly as it had come.
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From within the dense haze, the silhouette of the warden appeared, charging with even more vigor. Then, with a strength and agility that contradicted its massive size, the warden leaped high into the air almost touching the ceiling on its way, soaring straight at them. Before either of them could react, the warden landed with a deafening slam, sending out a shockwave that felt like an earthquake.
The force of the shockwave threw both Asher and Liam off their feet, sending them hurtling backward. They slammed into the walls, the wind knocked out of them, pain radiating through their bodies. The warden's display of sheer power was nothing short of terrifying. They had never faced an opponent like this, one that seemingly shrugged off their best moves and retaliated with even greater force.
https://i.imgur.com/Q1chyql.png [https://i.imgur.com/Q1chyql.png]
Asher, gasping for breath and wincing from the pain, managed to get to his feet. He saw that Liam was slower to rise, clearly more affected by the shockwave. The guardian, though momentarily staggered, was now positioning itself between the duo and the warden, its shield held high, ready to defend its master.
Asher knew that they were at a significant disadvantage. Without the ability to taunt the warden, they had to come up with a new plan quickly. "Liam," he whispered, trying to get the attention of his dazed ally. "We need a new strategy."
Liam, shaking off the disorientation, nodded. "If he's immune to taunts, then maybe we should focus on other status ailments or debuffs. Do you have anything that could slow him down or weaken him?"
"I don't have any abilities that can inflict status ailments or debuffs. Provoke was my only form of crowd control," Asher admitted, his voice tinged with worry. "But, my Guardian does possess a knockback skill. It's a gamble, but it might just give us those vital seconds we need."
With a plan in place, Asher directed his guardian to use his shield charge to knockback the zombified warden. The guardian, with its shield at the ready, charged towards the zombified warden with fierce determination. As it closed in, the guardian bashed its shield hard, aiming for the warden's body.
Asher and Liam watched with bated breath. The clash between the guardian's shield and the massive zombified warden echoed throughout the room, a collision of sheer power. However, their hopes were swiftly crushed.
The warden stood resolute, as immovable as a mountain. Despite taking the full impact of the shield charge, he hadn't budged an inch. It was now clear that his 'Unwavering Stance' wasn't just protection against taunts. It rendered him immune to any form of displacement, including knockbacks.
Asher's face paled, realizing the enormity of their situation. "This... this is insane! How do we even begin to combat something like that?"
Asher gritted his teeth, trying to think quickly. The room felt smaller by the second as the colossal warden began to take another step towards them. "I don't know what else to do... It overwhelmed everything we could throw at it."
Liam hesitated, glancing at Asher with uncertainty in his eyes. "Asher... there's something I've been keeping as a last resort. It's risky, and I wasn't sure if I'd ever use it, but now... maybe it's our only chance."
Asher turned to face him, his expression questioning but also desperate. "What are you talking about? Anything that can help, we need to use it now!"
From his pouch, Liam pulled out a single cartridge. It looked different from the rest, darker and heavier. The bullet was filled with a black liquid that seemed to move on its own, catching the dim light in a mesmerizing dance. It looked like it was imbued with thick black oil, and it gave off a faint, petrolic odor.
Asher's eyes widened in with both alarm and awe at what he was seeing. "Is that what I think it is?"
Liam nodded, "It's an incendiary round. "
https://i.imgur.com/eUaPIfL.png [https://i.imgur.com/eUaPIfL.png]
"This isn't your average bullet. I snagged it from the tower's store page, and it set me back a staggering 500 points for just one round. The 'Blackgold' oil is a highly volatile compound. If this hits the warden with my explosive shot, it will ignite and create an intense fire. But the problem is, the explosion radius is unpredictable. If we're too close, we could get caught in the blast. We need to confine it in the room and make our exist before the explosion happens, else will be caught in the danger."
Asher swallowed hard, weighing their options. They were cornered, and the zombified warden seemed unstoppable. This might be their only chance to fight back, but it came with high stakes.
"... Let's do it!" Asher exclaimed, determined to make it out this predicament.