Blue embers of fiery mana bloomed around the Nidhogg king. Even the players could feel the burning heat from a hundred feet away.
*ROOOOAR*
The Nidhogg king finally finished its transformation and released a yellow radiance. The cavern’s ceiling, the floor, and even the mana around it was dissolved into puddles of acid.
Moonlight shined upon this underground cave after centuries. It was a beautiful sight to see the crescent moon through the waters of the ocean.
It was an unscientific phenomenon that was only possible in the sanctuary. A pity that such a scene was fleeting.
Because at that instant, Jacob had finished his casting.
[Ranshao]
Deep blue flames engulfed the entire cavern. There was no burning sound or the searing sensation, almost as if the blue flames were a mirage.
“Retreat far away,” Zyrus ordered the players and moved back as well. Unlike the layman players, he knew what the blue flames were doing.
*Hissss*
The Nidhogg king released the yellow radiance once again. But this time it was the yellow light that was burnt up.
‘Ranshao’ was a spell born by combusting all of the users’ mana. Spells of this nature had a long casting time and they were mostly offensive in nature. Ranshao was one such example that differed from the norm.
It was a high-level spell that brought forth the concept of combustion into being. Be it friend or foe, everyone’s MP-fueled attacks and mana reserves would be combusted to fuel the blue flames.
‘I’m looking forward to the day he learns to use these flames,’
Zyrus praised the panting Jacob in his head. The rookie player was steadily developing into a novice arcanist.
*Bang*
*Crash*
The Nidhogg king trashed around to no avail. All it could see were the pillar of blue flames. And although they lacked any offensive power, it was pointless for a field boss.
Their entire existence was woven through mana itself. Except for some rare physical attributed field bosses, the majority of them relied on mana to attack and defend. Depriving them of their mana supply was equivalent to crippling them.
“Head back with the rest,” Zyrus spoke to Jacob who was drawing haggard breaths.
“Hu…alright. I’ll leave the rest to you,”
Zyrus nodded in response and used his summon skill from afar. The second phase of the Nidhogg king was dangerous due to the yellow lines coursing through its skin. It more than made up for its weakness in the close-quarters combat.
Its sole weakness was transformed into a grim reaper’s scythe.
‘But thanks to Ranshao, it’s more like a farmer’s rusted sickle,’
The entirety of the legion of abyss jumped on the floundering boss. The drakes bit its weak spots while the ophidian warriors dealt blows to its sensitive organs.
Zyrus felt like thousands of needles were prickling his brain. Just the Nidhogg kings’ physical strength and weakened mana were enough to insta kill his summons.
Nonetheless, their efforts weren’t for nothing. The Nidhogg king was losing its hp at a drastic rate.
“Get ready to cast a shield,”
“Roger that,”
Zyrus channeled his mana into the Zubry solleret as well. In order to save up his void skills he could only rely on his equipment to deal damage.
‘Neither the players nor my summons would last against the third phase,’
The field bosses weren’t soft persimmons that one could knead as they liked. It was even more so for someone who guarded a pile of treasure chests.
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*Crrrrrk*
A change took place after another minute of bombardment from the summons. A pitiful few were left alive from the initial hundreds.
The Nidhogg king was shattering apart like a sculpture of glass. But rather than being relieved, everyone present felt their scalps tingle in warning.
Zyrus called back his summons and started running around the cavern. The moisture in the air was cleared up after Jacob’s spell, and thus, his shoes burned the ground like fine charcoal.
“Defend yourself without holding anything back. And when I move, cast the shield near the entrance,”
He didn’t explain anything further and picked up his speed. Compared to other players, he knew the horror of the Nidhogg king’s final form.
*Whizzzz*
Sharp humming noise filled the entire cavern before anyone noticed a change. The crumbling Nidhogg king was nowhere to be seen.
“From abov-”
*SLAASH*
“Argh-”
“Reinforce the gap-”
Zyrus’s words were a bit too late as the Nidhogg king had already sliced open the shield formation. He ignored the players who were struggling to get back in the formation and glared at the field boss.
Compared to before, its size was reduced by half. But it had gained something far more valuable in return.
Four cicada-like wings fluttered behind the flying Nidhogg king. Zyrus was glad that this was a cavern. Otherwise, no players at this stage can deal with a flying poisonous monster.
“Surge,”
Zyrus attacked with a vortex while running, but he was promptly ignored this time around. The Nidhogg king had decided to deal with the pesky bugs who interrupted its every move.
‘This won’t do…I need to pull it’s aggro,’
Logically speaking, the field boss should target either him or Jacob. The chances of it going after supportive players were too low in comparison.
*Sizzle*
“Forget what I said earlier, cast the shield in the middle and retreat,”
Zyrus stood in the field of red lava and channeled his mana into the Ymir’s broken gauntlets. Currently, he was close to the treasure chests and the players were close to the entrance. It was a perfect opportunity to launch a pincer attack.
Even though the players were unable to even touch the Nidhogg king, it was easy for them to push it back.
[Shield Bash]
A metallic shield formed in front of the players. The Nidhogg king fluttered its wings to swipe down at the players, and this time, the players didn’t plan to defend either.
*Bang*
The shield crumbled into pieces and the shield bash skill was forcefully interrupted. The players spewed up blood from backlash and retread outside the area.
[Your party member “Jacob’ has left the raid]
[Your party member “Alex” has left the raid]
[.]
.
.
Strings of messages popped up in front of Zyrus’s eyes, but he had no time to look at them. The players had succeeded in their task as the Nidhogg king was staggered back towards the region of lava.
Zyrus knew that the terrain was useless against the flying field boss, but how could he not have a few tricks up his sleeves?
Area of effect: 1.5 meters x the user’s level
Cooldown: 3 days
*Shatter*
Zyrus slammed his fists downward and the entire floor cracked into pieces. The Nidhogg king who was about to fly up was staggered once again.
*Hissss*
“Hahaha…This is just the beginning,” Zyrus grinned at the wailing field boss and used all of his mana to create a vortex.
Naturally, the Nidhogg king was at the center of it.
*Whizzle*Bang*
-1000,-1000,-2500,-5000,-1500,….
Unbelievable damage values floated above the Nidhogg king. The current vortex was the result of three deadly aoe abilities, how could it not suffer?
*Grooar*
The lava-filled floor was cracked up under the effect of the quake. And with Zyrus manipulating the vortex, all of the small chunks of melting rocks were thrown at the Nidhogg king.
However, Zyrus knew that this wasn’t enough. He didn’t have the ability to survive against the Nidhogg king without the players’ shield.
‘So, I’ll kill it before it gets up,’
He channeled the last bits of his mana into his armor. It was rare to find any items with an additional skill at this stage of the game. Someone like Zyrus who could smash a boss monster to death by equipment alone was an exception.
[Lorica Squamata (Unique) (Evolvable)]
A platinum armor made with the scales of Auricrust Crab. The soul of the slain crab has been sealed inside the armor, giving it a chance to evolve further.
Durability: 321/500
DEF +35
By using 100 Durability the skill Lunar Aura can be used.
Lunar Aura: Under the moonlight, you can lift an opponent with 10 level difference and deal 500% vibration damage. The damage will scale with strength and vitality.
Note: The skill will damage the Auricrust Crab’s soul
Note: The skill is an absolute skill, and it can activate regardless of the target's size and state.
*Spwaa*
The Nidhogg king endured the bombardment of the rocks and attacked Zyrus with its poison. And unlike before, the poison did work this time. Zyrus’s scales fell of one by one and his red flesh was revealed under the glaring light of lava.
-500
[Lunar Aura]
*Clack*
An enormous crab phantom appeared in front of his armor.
And it picked up the field boss like a fish.
*BAANG*
And just like that, the Nidhogg king was smashed into the ground once again.
-15,000
The crab phantom dissipated into motes of lights and flew back into Lorica Squamata. Meanwhile, Zyrus had used the short time frame to drink a potion to recover his HP.
‘Tch…what a tenacious bastard,’
He endured the heat that was melting his exposed flesh and walked towards the half-buried monster. His MP was left in single digits, while the Nidhogg king was still struggling on the lava-filled floor. Thus, he could only use his stamina on spear aura to finish it off.
“Goodbye, or rather, see you soon,” Zyrus spoke with cold eyes and plunged 20 aura spears into its brain.