The gate to the warehouse opened, revealing a large, dim space. The smell of meat surged towards the players, prompting them to hold their noses.
There was no meat in sight, meaning that the smell had already settled within the wooden beams, impossible to disperse.
Instead, a few tables, chairs, and bedrolls were spread in the warehouse. Most likely the mercenaries' doing.
Suddenly steps could be heard from the left. The party turned their heads, spotting a wooden platform only accessible by a crooked ladder. Three bowmen were stepping out of the shadows, aiming for the party from above.
Simultaneously a door at the back of the room opened and a man revealed himself. Bald but with a thick, grey beard on his rough face, the man showed a fierce expression. Exotic patterns were painted on his face and a black coat hung loosely from his shoulders, giving him the appearance of a pirate rather than a mercenary.
The man spat on the ground before staring at the players, voicing his annoyance:
"Kids, bloody terrible timing! I was just about to have a good time when you little pests appeared. Hmpf. I hope you don't die before I can vent my emotions!"
Taking another step the man signalled the start of the fight.
[Steel-fist Nurugar
Rank: Lord
Level: 33
HP: 13.900/13.900]
"Only a lord? Easy!"
Liam shook his head, smiling as he berated Cyclone:
"Don't get complacent! He's still four levels above us."
"Yeah, yeah..."
Meanwhile the tanks were discussing briefly, dividing the tasks. Silver Blade stepped forward facing the three bowmen, activating her [Luring Barrier], glad that the enemies were within range. At the same time Radiant Shield blocked the lord's path.
The party instantly sprang into action. Bloody Edge entered stealth, sneaking towards the ladder. He carefully climbed the crooked wooden construct. The wood creaked below his feet, extremely conspicuous.
Raising their bows the enemies gazed at the ladders. Bloody Edge seemed to see their eyes twitch. Perhaps a misconception. Fortunately, they turned their focus back on Silver Blade who had already captured their aggro.
The thief felt somewhat embarrassed, hoping that no one else noticed the enemies' movements.
He was indeed lucky as everyone focused on their own attacks. The mages fired magical spheres before beginning to cast skills.
Silent Acacia and Zorn focused the bowmen as well while the melee fighters rushed towards Nurugar. Only Watchful Eye surprised everyone by following Bloody Edge.
Silver Blade glanced at her bodyguard as her body shook heavily, blocking the impact of three arrows. Her [Luring Barrier] shattered under the second arrow spreading golden sparks, forcing her to use her stance in the face of the third attack.
[Stance -21]
A moment later Bloody Edge arrived on top of the wooden platform. Flourishing his daggers he revealed his violent skills, fiercely attacking one of the bowmen.
Under the concentrated assault of five players the enemy's HP fell freely. The bowmen's face revealed as his shock as his HP dropped to zero.
Cyclone flinched as she watched the bowman tumble forward, falling off the platform, landing on the ground with a hair-raising sound of broken bones his body difficult to look at.
The young woman almost lost control of her cast, hastily adjusting her mind to prevent the mana from dissipating. Just as she managed to stabilize herself, she was shaken again as a dull band echoed through the warehouse followed by a startled cry.
Looking towards the platform one could see Watchful Eye standing in the place of the second bowman twirling his staff while the NPC sailed through the air.
A faint smile played around the taciturn man's lips. Obviously, he had just discovered a way to use his skill which brought him much enjoyment, showing a usually hidden side of Watchful Eye.
Cyclone wasn't the only one surprised. Radiant Shield had just blocked a fierce punch when he noticed something, hastily ducking his head. A figure sailed through the air above him, crashing into the door from which Nurugar appeared earlier.
"Damn, Watchful Eye is playing baseball!", exclaimed Quickstep in amusement, causing Cyclone to reveal a pondering look.
"Baseball? I think I heard about it..."
"It's a kind of sport popular in some corners of the federation. It's probably not big on Falva Star."
"Ah, the one where you hit a ball with a bat?"
"Yeah."
"Guys..."
Silver Blade's warning prompted everyone to focus back on the fight.
Bleary Mirage and Quickstep commenced their assault on the boss. Liam had just finished his rotation of skills with a [Double Slash].
[-220!]
[-146!]
[-637!]
Simultaneously a whirlwind carrying sharp wind blades surrounded the lord like hundreds of fierce swords dealing continuous damage every second.
[-32!]
[-32!]
"You dare to fight back? Taste my fists!"
Nurugar's angry shout shook the warehouse. He readied his fists, the muscles in his arms bulging. A metallic sheen formed around the lord's weapons.
With a ferocious grin the powerful mercenary punched towards the front, his entire body supporting the movement, producing a loud bang as the floor beneath his feet broke.
An illusionary image of a metallic fist enveloped his own, barrelling at Radiant Shield, accompanied by a pressuring wind.
The tank had barely enough time to block before the impact hit him like an explosion. Radiant Shield's stance broke. He tumbled backwards. His arm felt numb, and his entire body trembled.
"Haha that's the feeling!"
Nurugar didn't stop after one attack. Laughing grimly, he searched for his next target. Abruptly turning his body, he kept the momentum to slam his mighty fist at Liam.
The veteran felt a hint of excitement in the face of danger. He didn't dodge backwards but towards the enemy, diving below his fist.
"Eh?!"
The lord was startled as he hit empty air, struggling to control his own momentum.
Just as he was about to aim for the next target, the crackling of lightning sounded around him as a cage of violent lightning bolts surrounded him. Cyclone had targeted the lord after Fortune's [Arcane Bolt] took out the third bowman.
"Ridiculous!"
Nurugar scoffed, his eyes fixing on Quickstep who had taken a few steps away. With a leap he crossed the lightning cage, the paralyzing effect unfortunately not triggering.
[-211!]
[-192!]
Quickstep saw the fist enlarging in her eyes. Well prepared she gracefully stepped aside. She felt the heavy pressure as the steel-like fist passed by her head, her hair billowing.
After those three attacks the lord seemed to run out of steam, his body returning to normal. He heaved laboriously, redirecting his dissatisfied eyes towards Radiant Shield.
Meanwhile the bowman who suffered from Watchful Eye's blow stood up again, aiming for Silver Blade, suffering counterattacks from Silent Acacia and Zorn.
As the fight went on Watchful Eye and Bloody Edge came down from the wooden platform. With their help it didn't take long until the bowman fell.
Finally, the entire party focused on Nurugar.
"Tzz. Bunch of trash. Where can one get useful subordinates these days?"
No one deigned to answer the enemy. Instead, he was suddenly hit with multiple ultimate skills.
Silent Acacia's [Mark of Death] appeared above his head, marking him for critical hits. A blinding light caused by Bloody Edge's [Light's will] melted his armor.
The rest of the party acted instinctively, making use of the diminished defence.
In a short moment the boss saw his HP drop drastically. His eyes betrayed a hint of fear as he repeated his previous skill.
Powerful steel fists filled the air, pressuring all the players into retreat. Bloody Edge was too greedy, sticking to the enemy. Just as the fist hit him, the thief's passive luckily activated.
A figure made of light appeared in his place as he turned into a spark, retreating swiftly. As the fist shattered the light figure, Nurugar was afflicted with a dazed status.
Suddenly the party felt the air of the entire warehouse move. Mana surged towards Fortune with an unrivalled ferocity. The mage waved her staff, casting her own ultimate skill [Conduit of Magic].
Letting out a crisp shout she conjured two monstrous arms made entirely from mana. Like catching a fly the two tall palms clapped together, trapping Nurugar between them.
[-1118!]
An enormous damage number popped up as the enemy vanished from sight, causing the fight to enter a brief lull.
"Ha! That's some steel-like grip!", said Cyclone joyfully, promoting the party to joke around.
"What should we do if that guy doesn't make it out?"
"I just want my loot!"
"Guys, we are here to save someone."
"Why not combine work with joy?"
"Mirage, make sure to tell your sister that her food tastes amazing." * crunch *
Caught between the two hands' palms Nurugar could still listen to the mocking words. His eyes twitched. He strained his muscles like a beast about to wake up.
"AHHH!"
With a bellowing roar the lord tier enemy pushed the arms away. Although he could only do so because the skill was about to end. The mana dissipated slowly, revealing Nurugar who emitted hot steam from his nose.