The party strolled along the street marvelling at the manors around them. The further they advanced the more luxurious the buildings became.
On the way a few soldiers tried to hold them back but those were no match for the party. Soon the street made a light curve, running along a tall wall to the right.
The wall went on for a while and belonged to the biggest compound in the city. Soon, the players reached a large gate inlaid in the wall.
"That's it. The final boss.", said Silver Blade.
Silent Acacia nodded but his eyes swayed to the left:
"Right. But why is Fellfell ignoring it? Could it be that there is some secret passage?"
"No.", answered Liam. "There is no conventional way to reach the hidden parts of this dungeon."
"So what do we need to do?"
"You remember the boss's dive attack? We need to gather at the centre of the arena when he launches it."
"What arena? Wasn't it a garden?", asked Balm puzzledly.
Radiant Shield explained with a friendly smile:
"The area in which a certain fight takes place can be called arena."
"Oh I… knew this.", responded Balm meekly.
The others didn't tease Balm for her blunder and instead asked a few more questions to Liam, making sure that they had an intelligible plan.
When Silver Blade was certain that everyone had understood, she opened the gate and led the party in.
What appeared before the friends was a vast garden. The plants were overgrown after years of no one caring for them. The soil, which had been brought from the outside, had deep craters in some spots which were obvious signs of past fights.
In the centre of the garden stood a gurgling fountain, adorned by a tall statue of a heroic dwarf. To the right of the fountain was a sprawling manor, the most luxurious of the entire city. Meanwhile to the right in the midst of an almost forest-like overgrowth was an elevated stone pavilion.
Sitting inside, one could see beyond the wall at the edge of the floor, which protected one from falling into the city below.
The party focused their eyes on the pavilion, or rather the stone throne inside. It stood with the back to the garden. From the party's perspective they could only make out half the side profile of a young man with long blond hair.
The armor gracing his arms was made from gold, but it was dirty and unkempt. The same was true for his once lustrous hair. A tall sword carelessly leaned against the side of the throne. And on the other side the party could see the large, majestic body of a lazy basilisk.
"I knew you would make it. I have watched you fight."
An unenthusiastic voice of a young man reached the party who didn't know how to answer him.
"Did you come on behalf of the empire? Who is responsible? Was it my brother?"
"Cut it! You betrayed the empire, and we came to take you down!", answered Cyclone. Radiant Shield nodded, adding righteously:
"Thief, you dare to breed the empire's treasured basilisks. It is time you meet your punishment!"
The boss only chuckled:
"Betrayal? Punishment? Ha…
Maybe dying under your blades is my fate."
A metallic noise could be heard as the man slowly stood up. His tall stature and golden back were befitting of a hero. Yet he was crawling in this dark cave.
The young man turned around and revealed his handsome face with eyes filled with vicissitude and sadness.
"Come, Tumbly. Let us fight together for one last time."
The basilisk lying next to the throne let out a sad cry. He stood up and trotted down the stairs of the pavilion.
Liam and his friends watched the mythical creature's body, majestic and once full of strength. But now it was adorned with wounds which hadn't healed yet. Patches of skins could be seen where it had lost feathers.
When Tumbly stopped below the pavilion he stared at the party with a conflicted gaze. The young man within the pavilion jumped lightly and landed on the basilisk's back.
"Come!"
With a loud shout the young man initiated the fight!
[Endal Yntheno
Rank: Boss
Level: 36
HP: 32.450/32.450
Status: Mounted]
Silver Blade and Radiant Shield rushed towards the boss. The male tank swung his arm, ramming his shield forward with all his strength while Silver Blade remained half a step behind him.
"Haha, not bad."
Endal laughed as he swung his sword. His action appeared leisurely and uninspired, but they carried a mounting force.
Radiant Shield gritted his teeth as the large, grey blade approached his chest. Shortly before the fighters clashed, Tumbly suddenly swung his body around. This move added even more power and made the weapon's path difficult to predict.
Luckily Radiant Shield was already prepared thanks to their first run and managed to deflect the blade.
[Stance -28]
"I can only take five such hits with my stance…", informed the man in a solemn voice.
His friends registered the information but didn't have time to answer between their attacks.
Liam sprinted through the garden along a gravel path. He reached the boss immediately after Endal's attack landed. Stopping close to the basilisk's flank he flicked his swords, slashing at the gorgeous, colourful wings.
[-67!]
[-34!]
The basilisk let out a snort as the first attacks landed on him and Endal. He suddenly flapped his wings. With a strong push he sped close along the ground and came to a stop a few meters away.
The party was not surprised but definitely annoyed. Only the ranged attackers didn't care. While Cyclone and Fortune had already begun to cast their skills, Silent Acacia's arrow shot through the air.
[-150!]
Zorn also appeared on the battlefield and spat out condensed water balls.
"This won't be enough."
Endal's voice sounded almost disappointed. He patted Tumbly who directly rushed at Radiant Shield again.
Moving at a high speed the boss's figure blurred in everyone's vision. But Radiant Shield was prepared. His eyes never left Endal. A tremor ran through his body when sword and shield collided.
[Stance -27]
When the boss came to a stop it finally gave the melee players a chance to attack. Bloody Edge appeared out of nowhere behind the basilisk.
"Taste my blade!"
Whispering a corny line, he conjured four daggers engulfed in bright light which pierced forwards, attempting to nail down the boss.
Surprisingly it worked. The boss was held in place although his status revealed that the stun would only last for one second.
Bloody Edge's eyes narrowed as he was determined to make the best of the opportunity. His daggers flashed like silver lightning. Cracks appeared on the basilisk's scales. Bloody Edge began with a normal attack which fused beautifully into his [Deadly Light] skill. His fourth attack shone in a brilliant holy light.
[-42!]
[-21!]
[-42!]
[-192!]
Bloody Edge took the opportunity to use his newest skills [Echo of Light], which could only be activated right after dealing holy damage.
Immediately after he retracted his last dagger holy light shone from his body and separated to form an illusionary figure.
The figure overlapped with Bloody Edge as it replayed his actions. It repeated his last two attacks, echoing their damage but transforming it into holy damage.
[-458!]
"Nice one, Edge!"
"Good job!"
Bloody Edge's smile was hidden behind the black mask covering his mouth as his friends praised him. But suddenly he felt awkward as even Endal spoke up:
"That's more like it."
The boss didn't sound mocking. It was as if he genially wanted the party to show their strength.
"I don't get it. What's wrong with that guy's brain?", asked Cyclone in confusion.
"Perhaps he is tormented by guilt.", suggested Radiant Shield.
The party didn't have the time to figure it out. Only Liam sighed as he knew the boss's story. As the former second prince of the Rising Basilisk Empire Endal fell quite far. But if the party acted correctly Endal's story didn't need to end here.
The boss didn't care how the players saw him. This time he stuck close to Radiant Shield and continued attacking. For a moment only the sound of clashing weapons rang through the ancient dwarven city.
Suddenly Endal raised his hand. A small orange-white flame burned on his palm. With a leisurely movement he threw the flame in Cyclone's direction.
Silver Blade was prepared for this moment and quickly intercepted the attack. Flames crashed against her shield and sizzled out quickly.
Watching this, Endal showed a tired smile. His eyes moved as if he pondered something. He came to a decision and patted Tumbly.
The loyal basilisk let out a cry. He flapped his wings and left the ground.
"Not again."
"So annoying."
The melee fighters appeared frustrated as the boss continued to play with them. But at this moment a rope of crackling lightning suddenly appeared and bound the boss. Simultaneously a spear of condensed mana formed above his head and struck down.
"Haha, satisfying!"