Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Second Named, 'Death Knight Zakam' (2)
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I steadily made my way through the second area of the Tree of the Abyss.
Just as Chris's information suggested, there was no mid-boss. There was only a path leading toward the heart of the tree.
'A 12-man raid dungeon.'
Indeed, fitting for its difficulty, it was teeming with demonic minions possessing high HP. But that wasn't a major issue. Just like in the first area of the Frozen Palace of the Tundra, I only needed to deal with the gatekeeper minions in front of the black stem that divided each area. A party of twelve would probably clear everything as they went.
Before long, I arrived in front of the second named boss's combat area.
*Whoooosh!*
A being emerged from the demonic energy.
Jet-black armor, a greatsword as large as my torso, and an ominous violet gleam shining from within a Viking-style helmet.
That was the second named boss.
"Death Knight Zakam."
His body is huge, so there'll be plenty of places to hit.
I had faced them a few times back in my days as the Hero, but Death Knights, a type of undead, are formidable beings. They offer absolute obedience to the one who raised them from death, and they can utilize some of the skills they had in life as a Master.
Their strength alone was on par with a Demon General, if not greater.
They were even trickier if they were sentient.
The second named boss of the Tree of the Abyss, Death Knight Zakam, was a sentient Death Knight.
Facing me, Zakam let out a bizarre voice from within his helmet.
- To come here alone. Do you trust in your own strength, or are you simply fearless?
"Who knows? Maybe both."
I chirped sarcastically.
It's been a while since I've spoken so informally.
There's no need for pleasantries with a being that's half-dead.
Master.
A title bestowed upon those who have achieved a certain level of mastery.
Even on the continent of Astria, a land of sword and sorcery, such beings only appeared about once an era. Their abilities were more than worthy of respect. They were different from me, who had been infused with power through the Holy Sword. Theirs was a mastery achieved through bone-grinding training.
However, what stood before me now was a corrupted soul, a being who had bowed to the demons.
Though I was still inexperienced, as a fellow traveler on the path of the sword, I couldn't look upon him favorably.
- Indeed, I can feel the immense power dwelling within that small body. You are a worthy opponent.
Even a diamond in the rough is still a diamond, it seemed. The creature had sensed something within me.
*Fwoosh!*
The massive greatsword in Zakam's hand swung once, slicing through the air.
*Click.*
I drew Astaroth, which gleamed silver, and pointed it straight at him.
I could feel a fighting spirit boiling up from the level of my soul.
A duel of sword against sword.
However, there was a significant disparity in power.
Of course, I had ways to bridge that gap.
*Tap.*
No need for words.
There was no information to be gained from him.
"Go get your boss."
I immediately charged toward Zakam.
*Flash!*
[Second Named]
[Level 53]
[Death Knight Zakam]
[HP 500,000,000 / 500,000,000 (100%)]
*Clang, clang, clang, clang!*
The massive greatsword in Zakam's hand repeatedly swung down at me. I narrowly dodged its attack range and struck at his armor.
He's certainly fast. Though, slower than my former self when I wielded the Holy Sword.
Did he replace the mana he used in life with demonic energy to enhance his body?
What was most vexing was his attack style.
*CRASH! KANG!*
The sound of the greatsword smashing the floor, the metallic clash of it striking armor. Zakam possessed an outrageous amount of HP. Was I even dealing any effective damage?
I twisted my waist to escape the greatsword's range, slashing at his side as I got behind him.
*Fwoosh!*
Without even looking back, he swung the greatsword horizontally. A chill ran down my spine, and I ducked my head low. *Sway.* A few strands of silver hair fluttered down. The greatsword had sliced off two or three strands of my long hair as it passed.
My hair that Sister Chris likes so much!
Fuming internally, I swung my sword fiercely.
*Kakakang! Pakak! Fwoosh, KRAAANG!* As Zakam twisted his body, I narrowly dodged the greatsword that immediately came crashing down and grumbled to myself.
This was the biggest problem. The area of his attacks was massive. A slight turn of the body wasn't enough. I had to get completely out of his attack radius.
The undead swordsman, Death Knight Zakam.
I didn't know what his fighting style was in life, but now, he trusted in his sturdy armor, forgoing defense to bring down his greatsword in powerful strikes.
He wasn't slashing with the edge, but crushing with the flat of the blade.
It was a rather unique attack method.
In a normal 12-man raid, the melee dealers fighting alongside the tank would also be at risk of getting caught in its range. Perhaps he had this pattern because he was a raid dungeon's named boss.
*Swish.*
My sword cut through empty air.
His enormous body dissolved into demonic energy and reappeared eight meters behind me.
*Fwoosh!*
The greatsword in Zakam's hand swung horizontally.
*Fshhh, KWWAAAAA!*
A crescent-shaped blade aura, imbued with potent demonic energy, swept across the entire area in front of me.
A backward dodge, followed by a blade aura emission pattern.
If not for Chris's information, I would have certainly been flustered.
But the moment he vanished from in front of me, I turned without hesitation.
[Backward Dodge (A)]
[Quickly dash 8m backward to evade a frontal attack (invincible during casting)]
[Cooldown: 8 seconds]
[(E-Rank) Movement speed increases for 5 seconds after skill activation]
[(B-Rank) Switch to 'Blade-Drawing Stance' after skill use]
[(A-Rank) Additional 0.5 seconds of invincibility after skill use]
*Tat-tat.*
My body moved through the gap in space, grazing past the blade aura and instantly reaching Zakam's position.
*KAANG!*
This was a raid dungeon where every single pattern was dangerous. Normally, I would have approached more cautiously, but Chris's information was a huge help.
So this is what his normal patterns are like.
At a glance, it might have seemed irregular, but I could find a repetitive nature in the broader framework.
This guy also had a set pattern. It was just that the cycle was long and had branching paths.
It seemed he even had a blade aura attack that targeted ranged dealers. Since I was alone, everything was focused on me, but I could feel a subtle difference in the way the blade aura was unleashed.
Chris had said Zakam's patterns had no regularity. But they clearly did. As I mulled over each of Zakam's patterns, I figured out why Chris had felt that way.
While other bosses had five or six normal patterns that they repeated, this guy was repeating a cycle of about twelve.
The number of patterns was overwhelmingly large.
On top of that, if the distance from the tank increased and a ranged-targeted blade aura was triggered, the pattern would reset to pattern 1. If a raid member died and messed up the pattern, it would also reset to 1. That's why it couldn't help but feel irregular.
Of course, it wasn't a big problem for me, but for the sake of the Red and White Attack Squad, some analysis was necessary.
I sneered.
"In the end, you're just another monster."
- Comparing me to a mere monster! I am the loyal servant of the great Northern Corps Commander!
*Fwoosh!*
Zakam swung his sword in anger.
*Fshhh, KRAAANG!*
I lightly leaped into the air, landed on the greatsword he had slammed down, and stood on it.
- What!?
He swung his sword in a panic, trying to shake me off. I simply leaped off the greatsword and precisely carved a gash into his helmet between the eyes.
*Pakak!*
I've seen enough.
So what if he was a Master in life? In the end, he's just an undead.
Now, let's see the special phase, check the enrage timer, and then I'll start getting serious.
I smiled brightly.
"How many minutes does it take for you to get pissed?"
***
"Nngh."
Chris sat up.
She looked around blankly.
This was the living room, next to Rain's room.
Chris let out a small sigh.
"I fell asleep here again."
Outside the living room's veranda window, it was as bright as midday. No, it actually was midday. It was already approaching noon.
It was rare for Chris to sleep for so long. She must have been exhausted after staying up for two straight nights.
But Chris was the leader of the Red and White Attack Squad. She couldn't just relax and sleep in, even if it was the weekend. She had to organize the strategy and prepare for today's attempt.
The moment she scratched her head and rose to her feet.
*Slp.*
The thing covering Chris's body slipped off.
"Huh."
A white blanket had been draped over her.
This was Rain's blanket.
Why was it covering her?
Chris urgently looked at Rain's door.
There was a piece of paper taped to it.
But.
"The paper's different."
It wasn't the same paper from yesterday with the words "Do Not Enter" written on it.
Chris read the tiny, neat handwriting.
[Death Knight Zakam]
[Normal Pattern Repetition]
[Pattern 5 - Backward Blade Aura or Forward Blade Aura]
[Pattern 7 - Upward Slash or Downward Smash]
[If aggro changes, resets to Pattern 1]
[Always uses Blade Aura against ranged targets]
.
.
.
[Special Phase - Timed]
[Appears after 4 minutes of combat]
[Mechanic can instantly drain 20% of his HP]
[Damage requirement is low]
[The key is surviving the normal patterns]
[Demonic Energy Infusion -> 12 Stacks -> Demonic Energy Overload]
[Demonic Energy Absorption targets 1 person]
[Unknown for 12 people]
[Might require a special method?]
[Enrage Timer: 15 minutes]
.
.
.
.
[I cleared it thanks to you, Sis.]
[Thank you.]
[Good luck on your attempt today!]
"Waaah!"
Chris clung to the door and burst into tears.
An overwhelming fondness welled up in her chest.
This was different from a message through the messenger app.
The care they had for each other, the consideration not to disturb the other's time. In this classic, handwritten note, those feelings felt so much stronger.
Chris stroked the paper on the door again and again.
She wanted to throw open the door right now, pull Rain into a hug, and cover her with kisses.
But she couldn't do that. Rain must have been exhausted after a difficult run and fallen asleep.
And she was a raid leader.
*Sniffle, sniffle.*
Roughly wiping her reddened eyes, Chris barely managed to calm her turbulent emotions and her eyes gleamed.
"My raid members are so dead today."