Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Statue of the Patriarch
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[First Named Boss]
[Level 27 Black Wyvern]
[HP 105,000/210,000]
Flap, flap, flap.
Whoooosh!
As the wyvern's colossal body flapped its massive wings, a gale began to rage within the enormous cavern.
"The special pattern is starting! Beimerung, get 'Mana Barrier' ready!"
The pink-haired mage, Beimerung, clutched her staff and nodded.
Flap, flap.
Kaaaaah!
The wyvern, having already soared to a dizzying height, let out a roar.
Kiiik, kiiik, kiiik.
From the holes riddling the cavern walls, wyvern hatchlings began to crawl out.
"Just as we expected, there's a special pattern at the 50% mark. Let's do this just like we practiced."
The members of Chris's Attack Squad, who had already gathered around Beimerung, exchanged glances.
Kiiik, kiiiik.
The hatchlings swarmed around the party members.
Kaaaaah!
Fwoosh!
The airborne wyvern let out a piercing shriek and gave a powerful flap of its wings.
"Now!"
Woooong.
At Chris's shout, a flash of light erupted from the tip of Beimerung's staff.
The light soon formed a hemisphere, enveloping the party members.
Clang, clang, clang!
The wyvern's scales, flying fiercely toward the party, were blocked by Beimerung's 'Mana Barrier' and fell harmlessly away.
Seeing this, Chris shouted.
"Scatter!"
Tat-tat-tat!
The moment the Mana Barrier dissipated, the members of Chris's Attack Squad dashed off in all directions.
Kiiik, kiiik, kiiiik!
Letting out strange cries, the hatchlings began to pursue the now-isolated party members.
Thump.
Chris, having put some distance between herself and the others, immediately turned to face the two hatchlings that had followed her.
Woooong.
A blue light emanated from the talisman in Chris's hand.
Kabooom!
The Yin-Yang Master's primary skill, 'Demon Sealing Formation', slammed into the area around one of the hatchlings and exploded, dealing massive damage.
Kiiiiik!
The wounded hatchling shrieked. At the same time, the other hatchling chasing Chris faltered.
Chris took out a new talisman and gauged the time.
So far, seven seconds.
"Regroup! I'll block it with my 'Protection Talisman' this time!"
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
The scattered party members moved in perfect unison, instantly gathering around Chris.
Chris's Attack Squad, having practiced together since the open beta, moved as if they were one.
So far, ten seconds.
Kaaaaah!
The roar of the named boss, the 'Black Wyvern', echoed again from the sky as the second wave of scales flew down.
Clang, clang, clang!
The scales, which had been blocked once by Beimerung's 'Mana Barrier', were now stopped by Chris's 'Protection Talisman'.
"Scatter!"
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
Chris moved swiftly, checking the number of remaining 'wyvern hatchlings'.
One hatchling she hadn't managed to finish off.
And the other party members were each handling about two.
There was enough time.
If they continued like this without any issues, they would clear the 50% pattern.
Kaaaaak!
Fwoosh!
The third scale pattern. But this time, they didn't group up.
If they gathered three times, they wouldn't have enough time to deal with the hatchlings.
Fortunately, Cherni, who had a personal ranged protection skill, was the target.
After finishing off her last assigned hatchling, Chris called out to her party.
"How many hatchlings left?!"
"Just one more!"
Kagagagak!
The Spirit Master Cherni's earth spirit cast 'Stone Edge', which pierced the hatchling's entire body.
Kiiiik!
The last hatchling fell, and Chris smiled as she looked up into the air.
However.
Flap, flap.
The 'Black Wyvern' was still there, hovering majestically in the air.
The wyvern immediately stretched its long neck and opened its mouth wide.
Flames began to slowly build within its maw.
Fwoosh.
The fire surged, glowing an ominous red.
"Why?!"
Chris's scream-like shout.
At the same time.
Fwooooosh!
The wyvern's breath engulfed Chris's Attack Squad.
"Why didn't it come down?!"
Chris fumed, looking at her resurrected party members.
"We definitely took care of all the hatchlings, right?"
"Of course! I defeated all the hatchlings assigned to me!"
"You saw me take down the last mob, didn't you?"
"......."
The mage Beimerung and the spirit master Cherni had answered.
But one person.
The last one remained silent.
Chris stared intently at the one who hadn't answered.
"...Hey, Death."
Flinch.
The fighter, whose nickname had been called by Chris, flinched.
"D-Damn it. The energy pervading this tomb is suppressing my power. Ugh! If only I could use even thirty percent of my strength!"
"This is why I hate melee classes."
Chris sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. She could understand.
"The hatchlings are too fast. They're even smart enough to run away if they're outnumbered or isolated. It's hard for a melee dealer to catch a fleeing hatchling in a short amount of time."
"They definitely don't rush in so easily when we're grouped up. Would it be better not to gather at all?"
"No, the wyvern's scale attack is random-target. If one person gets hit by the named wyvern's scales twice, they'll definitely die. If even one party member dies, we have to consider the attempt a failure right then and there. We have to group up and block the scales at least once."
If everyone used their ranged protection skills for personal survival, we could reduce that to once.
But that would put Death of Death, the fighter without a personal ranged protection skill, in danger. If he got targeted by the scales more than once, it would be a wipe, no question.
As a melee class, the fighter already had his hands full just chasing the hatchlings. Demanding he handle mobs and survive on his own was asking too much.
Relying on luck was something to try during the wyvern's first flight at 75%. But starting from the 50% special pattern, when they were closer to clearing, they couldn't afford to take such a reckless gamble.
In the end, the speed at which they dealt with the hatchlings was the key.
Suddenly, the image of a certain girl flashed through Chris's mind.
She remembered the girl's 'Moonlight Slash', which had cut through monsters in a beautiful arc.
"It would have been better if we had a Swordsman with a melee AoE skill."
"A-Are you saying you're going to abandon this indomitable fighter, 'Death of Death'?"
Death of Death's face turned beet red as he stammered.
Chris giggled and poked him in the side.
"Death, have you ever thought about making a new Swordsman character? They seem pretty strong after level 16."
"This body was dedicated to the fist from the day I was born! I have no intention of breaking my resolve now! Uoooooh!"
Thump, thump! Fwoosh!
With a flushed face, Death of Death repeatedly threw punches into the empty air.
Leaving him to his own little world, Chris spoke to the other party members.
"Anyway, we need to move more cohesively. I'll help mark the hatchlings Death is dealing with. You guys just focus on your own assigned mobs."
*
[Black Wyvern's Earring]
[Elite]
[Strength +13, Agility +13, Intelligence +13]
[Critical Chance +3%]
[Critical Damage +10%]
"Heh."
Beaming.
Another first clear, another earring acquired!
I was very pleased with its stats, too.
My critical chance went up by a whole 2% compared to my previous accessory.
Just like in the 'Cave of the Orc King', the first named boss of this elite dungeon also dropped an earring.
After swapping out the earring, I checked my increased stats with satisfaction and continued downward.
Stomp, stomp.
I ended up just walking for a surprisingly long time.
Are there no trash mobs between the first and second named bosses in this dungeon?
There were no monsters in sight.
Instead, the corridor began to widen at some point.
"Is this it?"
The corridor was now quite wide, with blue torches burning along the walls.
Standing at its end, I looked around.
There were niches carved into the walls, and something was placed inside each one.
"Oh."
These were sculptures I hadn't seen up to this point.
They were... statues of knights?
The statues, depicting helmeted knights, stood as one with their swords.
The swords they held, firmly planted in the ground, made the place where the knights stood feel like a sacred space.
It was a magnificent sight, as if heroes from an ancient legend had manifested and been preserved as statues.
It was cool.
With wide eyes, I walked forward, looking at the surrounding statues.
And, in the center at the end of the corridor.
Unlike the other statues decorating the walls, one stood alone, majestic and separate from the rest.
A wide corridor.
A knight's statue standing alone at its end.
Facing it, I started to sweat.
"No way."
Glint.
For some reason, it felt like the statue's eyes glinted.
Was it my imagination? It must be, right? I hope it was.
Rumble.
The quiet corridor suddenly began to vibrate faintly.
At first, it was just a light tremor felt beneath my feet.
Rumble, rumble.
As time passed, the vibrations grew stronger.
Now, the floor was clearly shaking.
The vibrations rising from underfoot traveled up the walls to the ceiling, and the entire corridor trembled.
Crack.
The statue's eyes blinked.
As if waking from a long slumber, its stone-hard eyes began to gleam with the light of life.
The statue's face slowly moved, its expression changing.
A gaze filled with intense resolve and determination scanned the area.
Crack, crack.
The knight statue slowly turned its head.
Each time its neck moved, a sound like cracking stone echoed.
Then, at a certain moment, the statue's head stopped moving.
Its gaze fell upon the uninvited guest who had awakened it from its long sleep.
"Gasp...."
Having recognized my presence, the statue finally took a step forward.
Thud.
[Second Named Boss]
[Statue of the Patriarch]
[HP 308,000/308,000]