Daric stared at the map on the table, hands trembling—not with fear, but with rage.
"Honkos," he whispered. "Untamed. The horror."
The hooded stranger nodded solemnly. "He rules the Marsh of Misery."
"Figures," Daric muttered. "Of course the marsh is miserable."
Without further ado (and definitely without reading the fine print), Daric grabbed his gear, packed extra socks, and set out.
The journey to the Marsh of Misery was as delightful as the name suggested: knee-deep mud, biting insects the size of apples, and an ever-present smell that could only be described as "haunted cabbage."
By the third hour, Daric was ready to punch the very concept of marshes.
Finally, he arrived at a clearing, where a small rickety sign read:
"WARNING: HONKOS' TERRITORY. TRESPASSERS WILL BE HONKED."
Daric stared.
"Sure," he said dryly. "Bring it on."
The clearing was eerily silent, save for the occasional, distant, ominous...honk.
He stepped forward cautiously. Each squelch of his boots seemed deafening. Somewhere ahead, reeds parted—and then he saw it.
A colossal goose.
Pure white feathers, eyes black as sin, and a golden crown askew on its head. It stood eight feet tall, wings unfurled like an avian warlord.
Honkos.
The beast spotted Daric and let out a honk so deep it rattled his bones.
[World Boss: Honkos, the Untamed.]
[Warning: Death by Honk is imminent.]
Daric drew his blade. "Not today, Satan's duck."
The battle began.
Honkos charged with terrifying speed. Daric barely dodged, rolling under a furious wing swipe. Honkos retaliated by weaponizing his most fearsome attack:
The Wing Slap of Doom.
Daric was flung across the marsh, crashing into a suspiciously placed outhouse.
"Nope," he wheezed, standing up and shaking muck off.
Honkos stalked closer, flapping menacingly.
Daric activated every buff he had: Primal Surge, Poultry Mastery, and even that weird one called "Mystery Meat Resilience." (Thanks, tavern stew.)
He unleashed a flurry of strikes, aiming for Honkos' legs.
The goose absorbed the hits like a feathery tank.
[New Skill Detected: Goose Armor. Reduces all incoming damage by 90%.]
Daric screamed internally.
Desperate, he scanned the battlefield and spotted a barrel marked "Explosive Ale." Because of course.
Formulating a Very Dumb Plan™, Daric baited Honkos toward the barrel, dodging honks that shattered trees and small rocks.
At the right moment, Daric hurled his dagger at the barrel.
Boom.
A fireball engulfed Honkos, who stumbled, singed, and furious.
It wasn't enough.
Honkos spread his wings, glowing with pure rage. His next move was clear:
Mega Honk.
Daric braced himself.
The honk hit like a tsunami, throwing him backward once again. His health bar plummeted.
"If I survive," he gasped, "I'm making goose jerky."
Then he remembered the Mystery Scroll—the one marked with a cartoon goose doodle.
He unfurled it midair.
"Cluckus Honkus Banishus!"
Light exploded around him.
Honkos froze.
[Ultimate Move Activated: Honk Nullification Field.]
For five precious seconds, Honkos' powers were sealed.
Daric didn't waste time.
Channeling every ounce of primal rage, embarrassment, and leftover resentment from Cluckles, he tackled Honkos.
Man and goose grappled in the mud, an epic, ridiculous struggle of honor, survival, and undignified squawking.
Finally, with a mighty heave, Daric pinned Honkos and jammed his blade into the goose's golden crown.
A burst of magic exploded outward.
Honkos let out one final, defeated honk—a sound that shook the stars themselves—and collapsed.
System notifications rained from the sky:
[World Boss Defeated: Honkos, the Untamed.]
[Rewards: 10,000 Essence, Honkos' Crown (Legendary Item), Title Unlocked: Goose Slayer.]
Daric lay in the mud, laughing and crying at the same time.
Villagers from nearby settlements emerged, cheering wildly.
Bards began composing songs on the spot:
"Oh brave Sir Daric, the Slayer of Fowl, / Faced down the goose with nary a scowl!"
Daric sat up, holding Honkos' crooked crown.
"I hate birds," he muttered.
But deep down, he knew.
Somewhere out there, a bigger, meaner, possibly fire-breathing pigeon was plotting his demise.
And Daric would be ready.