Enya hadn’t anticipated reaching the boss floor so soon. She had hoped, at best, to find it on the 7th floor, allowing her another chance to farm experience points. But now, her hopes lay shattered.
She sent her thoughts through the Grim Pullet while settling against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest.
Taking advantage of the moment, she flipped through the remaining pages of the recipe list within the book, searching for anything that might be helpful. There were plenty of items that could aid her, but the materials were mostly just whimsical names she couldn't even begin to pronounce. Nothing she could craft here seemed remotely feasible.
Her brows furrowed as she continued to scan for any enchantments she might be able to perform. The necrosmith class revolved around creation and enhancement, yet all she had found so far were craftable recipes. As she skimmed through the various pages, her disappointment deepened; nothing caught her eye that she could realistically learn in time. There were buffs and enchantments listed, but some required materials to cast—a first for her, as she had never encountered a spell needing anything beyond mana or soul-energy.
With a frustrated sigh, she clasped the book shut, pressing firmly on its sides until it began to dissolve into shimmering light particles. Her gaze shifted back to the massive door, the unsettling stillness of the hallway amplifying her anxiety. Her minions, idling beside her, instinctively followed her motion, their silent vigilance echoing her own tension.
Custodian wasn’t going to respond; even in his own words, it was unlikely he would. Enya felt the weight of the silence settle around her. The undead monsters above were dwindling, and throughout her journey, she had barely encountered any. The meager experience they provided was abysmal.
What if… the boss monster isn’t that strong? The demon rat had been really strong, far more than any skeleton or zombie she had faced on this floor. And now that it was by her side… she could probably dispatch the boss quickly.
With newfound determination, Enya walked toward the door, glancing up at its imposing stature. Yeah, there’s no way the boss is that strong, she thought.
She was so close to ending everything, ending all of the suffering and loneliness that she had endured. Pell was beyond the door—figuratively speaking, possibly literally speaking. She was so close—was it worth just turning back right now and spending days upon days killing random useless zombies for dwindling experience points?
With Stupidface and Bonehead by her side, both of them could probably take down anything with a single strike. Surely, with four minions, she was strong enough to take down the boss.
She turned around to face her minions. “Are you guys ready? This is it, the final boss of the dungeon,” she declared, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness.
All of her skeletal constructs rattled and creaked in acknowledgment, their loyal presence reassuring her. Enya took a step back behind them, heart racing as she inhaled deeply, trying to steady her nerves.
“Okay… Bonehead, open the door,” she commanded, her voice wavering slightly.
Bonehead’s entire body creaked as he moved forward. His large arms reached out, placing his hands on the door. With a tremendous amount of pressure, the door shuddered and began to slide open, grinding against the floor beneath it, revealing whatever lay beyond.
Enya stood several meters back, Walnut beside her, sword raised and ready to react. As the door slowly creaked open, revealing the interior, her eyes widened in astonishment.
Inside was a vast circular room that resembled an arena. Four massive beams stood tall in the center, spaced evenly apart like ancient supports for the ceiling, crafted from a white, marble-like material reminiscent of the light altars in the study. The floor beneath them was layered in intricate circular patterns, with large outer circles that gradually became smaller as they neared the center, resembling a spell circuit waiting to be activated.
Though there were no visible lights or torches, the room radiated a soft glow, likely enchanted by some unseen magic to keep it illuminated.
On the far side of the room, directly opposite her small army, lay an enormous pile of bones, ominous, and suspicious.
As Enya and her minions stepped through the threshold, the door began to close slowly behind them. Her eyes widened in alarm as she took a step forward, arm outstretched in a futile attempt to halt its progress. But she paused, uncertainty washing over her. Why was the door closing? Should she leave? Where was the boss even? She had just walked in, and the door’s impending closure felt like an omen.
Her heart raced as she watched the door nearing its end, her body locked in place, thoughts racing in her mind as if trying to stall time itself. But the door eventually shut with a final thud.
Enya whipped her head around, staring at the opposite side of the room, feeling an undeniable sensation wash over her. Something was there, lurking within the shadows of the bone pile, and it sent a shiver down her spine.
Skill: Mana Detection [D+] [Passive]
You can detect mana more easily.
The mana in the room began to shift and fluctuate, a palpable energy swirling through the air. Enya's senses heightened as she focused on the opposite side of the arena, where the mana converged in a tumultuous dance. The pile of bones began to tremble, shaking and rumbling ominously.
Her minions tensed, bones snapping into place as they assumed their battle stances, ready to confront whatever was rising from the bone heap.
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After what felt like an eternity of anticipation—roughly ten seconds—the pile of bones levitated, shifting and coiling as it formed limbs, a torso, and a head. Plates of armor made from the very bones that had lain there began to layer over the creature.
So… this is the boss, she thought.
Enya’s eyes flashed yellow as she watched the resurrection unfold before her. Whatever this being was, it was coming to life right in front of her.
Her body shook with a mix of fear and adrenaline as more layers formed on the monstrous figure. Its spine appeared first, followed by powerful legs and thick arms, finally culminating in a formidable head. It towered over Walnut, though it wasn’t quite as tall as Bonehead. But it wasn’t just its height that was intimidating; it was the sheer bulk of its skeletal frame.
The boss took shape as a skeletal knight, its body a patchwork of multiple bones fused together. Instead of the standard two bones that made up an upper leg, this creature boasted five or six, making its limbs grotesquely powerful. It wielded a sword forged from the same white material as its bones, the weapon formed by the violent merging of its skeletal structure into a slush-like mass before hardening into a deadly blade as tall as the creature itself.
In its opposite hand, it clutched a circular shield made of multi-layered bones, resembling what stories described as a bone ‘buckler.’ The sight of this formidable opponent sent chills all throughout her body, but she also felt a spark of determination igniting within her. This was the final obstacle.
As the skeletal knight fully formed, Enya’s eyes narrowed, catching sight of a final, startling change in the boss. Towering and imposing, its skull shifted to lock onto Enya’s group, its blue sparks flaring to life within its eye sockets. They mirrored the luminous glows in her own minions, a clear indication that the boss was likely a revived construct created by the dungeon itself, unlike Pell, who retained a flicker of his former soul.
Before she could delve deeper into her analysis, the boss’s bones creaked ominously as it surged forward, heavy footsteps pounding the ground with a force that rivaled Bonehead’s.
“Everyone! Attack!” Enya shouted, her voice sharp and urgent, slicing through the tension in the air. Her minions sprang into action, each responding instantly to her command.
Walnut gripped his sword tightly, charging forward with determination, his shoulder leading the way and the blade trailing just above the ground. Dummy D. brandished his dagger, moving low to the ground, his chest nearly parallel to the stone floor. Stupidface scuttled ahead with a feral agility, leaping two steps at a time in an erratic yet swift motion. Meanwhile, Bonehead lumbered forward, his heavy feet thudding against the ground. He wielded no weapon, but his sheer size made him the strongest among her minions, albeit the slowest.
As anticipated, Stupidface reached the boss first, the demon rat’s instincts propelling it forward with an impressive burst of speed. It pounced with fierce determination, aiming directly for the center mass of the skeletal knight. But just before impact, the boss halted its forward march, lifting the sword in its right hand high before swinging it in a wide arc, swiping left to right with a force that promised destruction.
The sword swung with an unstoppable force, powerful enough to shatter stone. From that single strike, Enya realized just how much stronger this boss was compared to Mr. Bones—far beyond anything she had faced before.
The blade slammed into Stupidface’s shoulder, cracking the bone and driving deeper into its form, sending the demon rat flying over a dozen meters to the right. The sound of the impact echoed through the arena, sending a bone-chilling shudder down Enya’s spine, even from a distance. She was certain that, even without her Absolute Focus, she would have heard that bone-rattling attack with crystal-clear clarity.
Stupidface tumbled wildly, rolling multiple times and leaving a trail of small bone shards in its wake. When it finally came to a halt, it attempted to rise, but a significant portion of its shoulder had shattered, the pieces now scattered about. Stupidface shook itself, still able to move its forelimbs, but it was clear to Enya that it struggled to do so, its movement now severely limited.
With barely a moment's pause, the boss turned its attention to the next challenger—Dummy D.
Dummy D. dashed forward, his dagger held parallel to the ground as he closed the gap with his speed. But the skeleton knight was quick to react, unleashing a diagonal slash aimed directly at Dummy D.’s skull.
Having sensed the tremendous power of the boss through Enya's mental link, Dummy D. knew he had to avoid the attack at all costs. In a split second, just before the sword could reach him, he kicked off the ground and darted to the right. The sword followed through, crashing down into the stone floor with a resounding thud. Chunks of rock splintered and flew, creating a shower of debris as fractures spider-webbed out from the impact site, upturning the ground in a circular radius around the formidable boss.
Immediately, Dummy D. forced his other leg to slam back onto the ground, redirecting all of his momentum toward the boss, dagger point aimed upward. Before the skeleton knight could turn and block the incoming strike, Dummy D.’s dagger plunged hard against its left shoulder blade—protected by layers of reinforced bone.
It was subtle, almost too difficult to see, but Enya caught sight of a tiny bone chip flying off as the blade made contact. Dummy D. landed deftly behind the boss but quickly leaped backward as the boss turned around and swiped its blade in a futile counterattack.
The sound of quick steps came from behind the boss.
Bang!
A powerful blow slammed against the boss’s back. It staggered forward, now facing away from Enya and toward Dummy D., who had repositioned himself far away.
Taking advantage of the moment, Walnut had charged in, his sword slashing downward with all his might. The blade struck solidly against the boss’s back, and Enya saw a much larger bone chip crack off from the impact. Yet, it was still only a minor dent in the otherwise formidable white armor.
Walnut readied himself for another strike, determined to seize every advantage in this moment. However, before he could execute his move, the boss unexpectedly leaned back, swinging its left arm and viciously slamming its white bone shield into Walnut’s body. The impact sent him flying, rolling across the ground just like Stupidface had moments before.
The boss quickly regained its composure, standing tall and scanning the battlefield. Its gaze flickered between the various combatants before locking onto Bonehead who had finally caught up, and whose massive fist was poised to crash down upon it. With a thunderous force, Bonehead’s fist descended, its width greater than the boss’s entire frame.
Seeing the attack coming, likely telegraphed by the enormous thuds of Bonehead’s massive steps as he closed in, the boss prepared to block. It raised its shield at an angle, guarding its head and upper chest.
When Bonehead’s attack connected with the shield, a colossal shockwave erupted outward, accompanied by a gust of wind that rushed to fill the void left in its wake. The ground beneath them cracked further, splintering under the strain as both skeletons sank slightly into the pulverized earth.
Though the boss’s knee bent slightly from the force, it remained rigid. Bonehead pushed down even harder, determined to squash the opponent into bone dust. Yet, despite being smaller and shorter, the boss’s strength was formidable.
Slowly, Bonehead’s fist began to lift. At first, it was just a few half-centimeters, but then the momentum shifted, and the boss retaliated, punching upward with its shield. The flat side of the shield countered the pressure above, causing Bonehead's attack to rebound unexpectedly.
The force sent Bonehead staggering backward, almost in slow motion, as his arms spun in a desperate attempt to regain balance. Ultimately, he fell onto his rear with a tremendous crack that shattered the stone beneath him, breaking the perfect circle etched into the ground into a chaotic design.
The boss stood tall and unyielding, seemingly unfazed by the combined onslaught from Enya’s minions. The only one relatively unscathed was Dummy D., who had only managed to chip a single fragment off its shoulder. The boss’s skull turned slowly, its gaze sweeping across the battlefield before finally landing on Enya.
Her heart sank as she locked eyes with the blue flames flickering within its eye sockets. Without warning, it charged forward at her, an unstoppable force intent on obliterating the intruders of the dungeon.