Bloody Edge, his body obscured in stealth, arrived behind the black abyss demon's back. The leathery, black-red skin looked incredibly sturdy as if impenetrable by knives and swords.
But a bright light erupted, searing the demon's thick skin, causing him to scrunch his murderous face in pain. Bloody Edge activated his ultimate, grasping the chance to throw out as many attacks as possible.
With parts of his armor melted even the mighty demon was vulnerable. Daggers cut into his skin, culminating in a devastating slash against his throat.
[-1354!!!]
"Damn!"
Radiant Shield who stood closest to the demon almost couldn't believe his eyes upon witnessing Bloody Edge's damage, unable to find words.
"What's that?!"
"A critical hit?"
Shocked exclamations came from all sides. But the surprise didn't stop there as the effect of the thief's new trousers activated. The mark of a dagger on Kelsnim's back suddenly loosened from his skin. It floated in the air portraying the image of a real dagger, stabbing forward at an insane speed.
The sharp edge cut through the devil child's body, mirroring all the damage Bloody Edge dealt to Rouna'ar.
"Haha those bosses look like paper in front of Bloody Edge! Let's go guys, we got this first try!", cheered Cyclone happily.
Even Liam was amazed. The high damage prompted him to do a rough calculation, guessing that Bloody Edge must have raised his [Cut throat] skill to rank 2. He felt gratified as his friends showed their steady growth, their skills advancing one by one.
Subsequently everyone was fired up, feeling that they could really beat the boss in one try. The entire party's efficiency rose by one level. Kelsnim's and Rouna'ar's skills were dodged with ease.
It didn't take long and Kelsnim drew his last breath, falling to the floor. His face betrayed the disbelief of losing to the party again despite his power-up.
"Good job!"
"Keep it up!"
"We got this!"
The friends were excited, making it this far despite losing Silent Acacia early on. But they didn't drop their vigilance since not one of them remained at full health.
"Maaaster!"
Rouna'ar's enraged roar rang through the tower, shaking the walls, startling even the infernals outside. His eyes turned pitch black and a dark aura brimming with malice gathered around his club.
"Pay! I want you to pay!"
The demon's deep voice seemed to resonate with hell itself as he raised his club high above his head.
Watching the boss's actions the party remained unperturbed. Cyclone even showed a mocking grin, glancing towards Liam who took the black abyss seal out of his inventory.
With a thought an invisible aura spread from the item, washing over the room. When it touched Rouna'ar, a mysterious force drove into the demon's body, suppressing his strength and sealing his skill.
"How?"
Rouna'ar exclaimed in shock. The party took it for granted and were just about to resume their attacks when a struggling look appeared on the demon's face.
Black magic surged, shaking the room. A rumble affected the tower. Liam and his friends turned their heads in shock watching a large amount of mana surge towards Rouna'ar.
With a sound of breaking shackles the demon's body trembled. Everyone subconsciously knew that the black abyss seal's effect had been broken.
"The item failed?!", exclaimed Quickstep in shock. Standing close to the boss her heart skipped a beat. She was quickly hit by an invisible pressure as the boss raised his weapon again.
Even Liam was surprised. He quickly came up with a plan B.
"Get away from him! As far as possible!"
Everyone reacted instinctively. Radiant Shield, being right behind Quickstep, turned around trying to escape but a strange power seemed to drag on his feet. Each step proved difficult, requiring his entire strength.
A mocking grin formed on the demon's face as he watched his prey trying to escape at a snail's pace. He continued to gather power within his club for a couple of seconds before finally acting.
When Rouna'ar moved, the dark magic in the entire room seemed affected. The demon's club crashed into the floor, causing fissures to spread everywhere, leaving no spot untouched.
His physical might already caused such a catastrophe but the accompanying magic was even more brutal. It spread through the floor, erupting from the fissures like a dark volcano, aiming to deal massive damage to the players.
Suddenly a brilliant light broke through the dark magic. Silver Blade raised her sword high, a sacred aura surrounding her as if a saviour had come to vanquish the darkness.
Behind her hung an illusionary shield adorned with vast wings, one black and one white. It shone on all the players, granting them its mighty protection, its HP equivalent to three times the magic damage Silver Blade had received during the fight so far.
Light and darkness fought in the room. As the fissures erupted with billowing dark magic, it was held back Silver Blade's ultimate skill. Everyone held their breath not daring to guess which skill might falter first.
Quickstep was closest to the boss, receiving the most damage, fearfully looking at the number which was negated by the shield.
[-2870!]
Everyone was shocked by the skill's power. The illusionary shield floating behind Silver Blade's trembled heavily, but it held on.
Yet the skill didn't stop there. The fissures spread further, hitting Radiant Shield, Bloody Edge, and the rest. The further a player was from the boss the lower the skill's power.
Liam, who had retreated the fastest, together with the ranged fighters fared best amongst the friends. But the mages with their low resistances still suffered heavy blows. The damage reaching Fortune was barely 500 points below that inflicted on Quickstep.
But despite Rouna'ar's skill spreading over such a large area, swallowing all the players, Silver Blade's ultimate Skill managed to hold on.
The tank sighed in relief. She was glad that the boss's skill dealt magical damage, a rare exception for Rouna'ar. Since Silver Blade's [Might of the Vanguard] received more damage from physical attacks it wouldn't have been able to survive otherwise.
"Wow, good job!"
"You saved us, Silver!"
"Amazing!"
The party cheered happily, praising their tank. Many of them expected to perish here but thanks to Silver Blade they made it through.
Even Rouna'ar appeared enraged, burning flames sparking in his eyes.
"You won't escape my wrath!"
Growling, the boss lunged himself at Quickstep, ready to do what his skill couldn't accomplish. Seeing this Radiant Shield didn't delay, instantly drawing the boss's attention with his skills.
Rouna'ar couldn't help it, letting go of the warrior and focusing the tank. The fight was back under the party's control.
Attacks slammed against the demon's thick hide. He proved extremely tanky but his own attacks were easy to dodge.
Although his HP decreased slowly, the party was in high spirits looking forward to the dungeon clear. But maybe this was just a way to cope with their dread. Everyone feared that the boss might unleash his terrifying skill again.
Unfortunately, what one feared the most sometimes became reality. A short while later Rouna'ar repeated his skill, filling the room with billowing dark magic.
The party reacted swiftly, retreating far to the room's walls. But the terrifying fissures still reached them, causing devastating damage.
Balm's eyes were filled with worry. She hadn't been able to keep everyone at full HP. When the shaking room finally calmed down, the black fissures gradually disappearing, she was saddened by the party's heavy losses.
Bloody Edge, Fortune, Silent Acacia, and Quickstep were sent back to the dungeon's entrance leaving only six players remaining.
Liam watched his friend's faces, noticing their dread. Unfortunately, he couldn't even promise them that the boss wouldn't use the skill again.
"Let's go! Let's take revenge for our fallen friends!"
Liam shouted loudly to animate his friends, directing their attention towards the boss. Cyclone glanced at the expert, suppressing her fear.
"For Fortune!"
Pumping herself up she used a quick [Lightning Strike] before beginning the cast for her next skill.
Liam took the lead to attack, prompting everyone to follow. The remaining players did their best to assault the boss but with only three damage dealers the tanky demon's HP decreased excruciatingly slowly.
From time to time the boss would opt for a spin attack. Liam and Watchful Eye had no choice but to respect the potential threat, staying away from the boss. During that time only Cyclone could deal damage.
Fortunately, Rouna'ar's damage potential remained low, posing no big threat to the remaining players. Liam worked hard to decrease the demon's HP step by step.
Liam's ultimate ran out, Watchful Eye's QI got depleted. Balm and Cyclone's mana fell dangerously low. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield coordinated smartly to share the damage.
The fight felt as if they were wading through mud, exhausting and dragging over a long time.
Watchful Eye huffed laboriously. He had just used his [Meditation] skill to recover some QI. Just then his [Purple Earthly Flame] went on cooldown. He flourished his staff, slamming the burning piece of wood into the boss's flank.
Suddenly Rouna'ar's body stiffened. With an apologetic glance at Kelsnim the demon finally fell, marking the end of the battle.