From her vantage point, Willow could only watch as the Queen Bee knocked most of the party off their feet and swept them into walls. Kieun moved in and hit the bee with four uninterrupted strikes. Even from a distance, Willow could see the spear rebounded off the hard armored surface. It was almost like the monster was covered in an exoskeleton.

Multifaceted eyes focused and a monstrous creature swung its massive frame at Kieun who deftly dodged out of the way and moved behind cover.

That’s my cue.

The party leader popped out of cover, took careful aim at center mass, then let off two quick shots. The first bolt shattered on the bee’s center frame, but the second bolt missed its intended mark and pierced one of its wings instead leaving a small pinhole.

Willow’s eyes went wide with instant realization. “Hey! Its wings aren’t armored!”

***

Mara was tired. While they were more than up for a challenge, they’d obviously bit off more than they could chew with this one. If this kept up, it was only a matter of time before the test proctor called a retreat and forced the party out of the dungeon. Even though they were cadets, it was obvious to tell that the mid-boss was much stronger than anyone had expected.

They climbed back out of (yet another) wall they’d been knocked through. In the atrium, the three melee players were dancing in and out of the Queen Bee’s range while Willow provided cover fire from above. But the bee had taken notice of the party’s strategy and was doing a better job of defending itself.

From the corner of their eye, Mara spotted a tell-tale flash of magic being consumed. Jinyoung launched himself forward, crouched low as the monster swept its head sideways like a bull, then jumped up high and cut straight through the wings.

YYYEEERRRZZ!!

The monster let out an enraged, high-pitched screech. The players reacted instinctively, covering their ears. Which left Jinyoung completely unguarded when the bee hit him with the full weight of its body and knocked him through a solid concrete column.

Hana moved in quickly to defend with a [shield bash]. The force of the skill knocked the monster clear off its feet and crashed into the escalator. It came to a halt, crumpled under the escalator like a broken toy.

The last [shield bash] had been powerful and effective, but only because it had followed a [charge] strike. This time, it alone had sent the insectoid flying.

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“Hana!” Jinyoung shouted. Its armor is broken!”

She quickly shouted back, “How much health does it have left?”

He paused to use [scan+] again. The system had notified him immediately after the [shield bash] of the monster’s new vulnerability, but he’d have to use his skill to get more information.

[SCAN+]

Monster: QUEEN BEE

Recommended Level: 32

Health: 29%

Attributes: ARMORED (broken)

Weaknesses: NONE

The monstrous bug worked its legs to lift its massive body off the ground. The nubs on its back flapped madly, as if it were trying to flap its phantom wings. More than once, its legs buckled and the entire thing swayed like a large puppet whose strings were cut.

“Almost a quarter left!”

With that, the entire party felt re-energized. Kieun quickly flanked behind the Queen Bee and swung wide with his spear, cutting out two of the legs. The monster lost its balance and its body fell to the ground with a thud. Using its remaining legs, it tried to drag itself into one of the stores on the outer edge of the atrium but Mara blocked its path. Using their body and longsword like a top, Mara swung a wide cutting arc and took a chunk from the weakened monster’s head. Finally, Willow made her way down the escalator where she took four clean shots burying the bolts deep in the monster’s body. The Queen Bee’s legs finally gave out and it fell flat on the rubbles of the atrium.

Slowly, the rest of the party walked out from cover and examined the corpse. It took a second, but the body slowly faded until nothing was left but the ruined rubble and collapsed architecture of the mall. Willow examined the remnants of the beetle carapace shield before dropping the cracked mess on the ground.

QUEEN BEE defeated.

Damage Taken

[lllll------------------------------------------------------]

QUEST: Thin Skin (I)

COMPLETED.

REWARD: 1000 GOLD

A few of the cadets closed their eyes and wiped the sweat from their brows. That would be enough gold to help them join a guild or at least kit them for a dungeon. And, as fresh graduates, it was more than they would earn in the next year.

The proctor let out a sigh. Things hadn’t gone according to plan and she’d have to talk to Jinyoung about his actions, but it was more than worth the effort.

“Good job, cadets. Or should I say, congratulations graduates.”

[Level Up!]

Jinyoung (NOVICE CLASS, Level 12)

STRENGTH: 12 12 : WISDOM

AGILITY: 12 12 : ENDURANCE

LUCK: 12