Chapter 186
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Clearing the Bone Dragon
Each phase was broken down into a 25% health segment, consisting of a 5% normal phase and 20% damage from the mechanic.
As the special phases progressed, the number of lightning strikes increased. In the second phase, two targeted strikes fell, and in the third, there were three.
We barely managed to complete the mechanics for the first special phase to bring it down to 75%, the second to 50%, and the third to 25%, but in the end, we ran out of time. We were forced to face the time attack, the berserk mode.
When the Bone Dragon goes berserk, a shockwave spreads in all directions, and lightning begins to cover the entire combat area. An even stronger barrier is created. The Dragon Bone Spears don't regenerate. Even the existing ones are blown away by the first shockwave.
It's a barrage of overwhelming AoE attacks that one or two invincibility skills can't possibly handle. It's literally a 'time attack.' The boss enters a state that is systematically impossible to defeat.
The raid dungeon was designed to require the damage output of a 12-person party. No matter how much I pulled the weight of three or four people on my own, there was no way the two of us could reach the final 20% special phase.
Even when I threw myself into the fight and dealt as much damage as I could, that final normal phase from 25% to 20% was a wall. Even if we succeeded in getting it to 20%, it would immediately go berserk. There wouldn't be enough time to perform the final special phase mechanic.
We lacked the power.
"Hmm. Should we call it a day?"
"Already?"
"Raids are a long-term battle anyway, they give you a whole month, right? I know you want to keep going, but we shouldn't push ourselves too hard. Besides, it's getting really late."
Chris pointed to the interface clock with a yawn. The real-world time was already late into the night.
I bit my lip.
*There's a way to make up for the lack of damage.*
*We've figured out the entire strategy.*
*On the next try, I'll use that power to end it.*
Steeling my resolve, I spoke to Chris.
"Chris. I, uh, have something we could try."
"No."
I was stunned by Chris's firm refusal.
"Why!? W-wait, not 'why,' but..."
*How does she know what I was going to do?*
Chris's stern gaze held me back.
"I might not know the details, but I have an idea of how you've been making up for the damage on your own, you know?"
"Gasp."
I froze in surprise.
*She had a hunch?*
"That golden power I saw in your past probably bursts out, right? Your hidden class, the Hero, was it? Heh. For you, this place might as well be half-real. And every time you've overcome a tough challenge on your own, your real body's condition has been terrible, hasn't it? It's a pretty logical conclusion, if you think about it."
"Eek..."
I looked like I was about to cry.
*If Chris knows, it'll be hard to use it.*
Of course, she couldn't stop me from intentionally throwing myself into an enemy's attack. But now that she's forbidden it, being the good listener that I am, I can't easily go against her wishes.
"But, if we're going to clear it with just the two of us... huh?"
Chris let out a deep sigh, then lifted me onto her lap. She looked at my face from the side and spoke with a gentle smile.
"I have something I can try, too. ...It has a once-a-day limit, and it's a little unsightly, so I was saving it for when we had a definite chance to clear."
"Oh, really?"
*No way, does Chris have a hidden power like me?*
"Hehe, it's just a new skill the Yin-Yang Master gets from the Tomb of Swords. It's not some insanely powerful technique, more like a personal version of 'Spirit Possession'? A physical enhancement, I guess?"
'Spirit Possession,' the party buff skill that was the Yin-Yang Master's signature ability.
Of course, as a buffer class, the Yin-Yang Master also has personal enhancement skills.
*So the new Yin-Yang Master skill from the Tomb of Swords is a powerful personal buff.*
"The strategy is to deal damage using the lightning pattern and the lightning rod mechanic. That's 20% four times, for a total of 80%. The actual damage players need to deal is only 20%, or 200 million. Of course, since you can't deal damage during the special phases, the effective time attack window is cut in half... Anyway, a 12-person party would have plenty of time to reach the final special phase."
"But even for us, our damage output isn't enough with just two people."
"Yeah. During our attempts today, we pushed our normal damage output to its absolute limit. Still, if I use this, we should be able to just barely reach the final 20% special phase before it goes berserk. But..."
"You mean we still won't have enough time to do the mechanic. Even so, if we can just see the final phase, maybe we can figure something out, right?"
I shot up from Chris's lap.
Then, I clasped my hands behind my back, tilted my head slightly toward her, and gave her a trusting smile with a hint of charm.
"Hehe, Chris, I believe in you. Let's do one last try."
Receiving my charming smile, Chris beamed and stood up. Then she let out a roar.
"Kuuuoooo! Rain's cheering gives me strength!"
[First Boss]
[Bone Dragon]
[HP 249,990,011 / 1,000,000,000 (25%)]
*Clang!*
*Krrrrrrumble!*
After the third special phase ended, the Bone Dragon took a massive 20% damage and fell to its knees.
Everything was the same up to this point.
But the challenge was chipping away the 5% HP needed to reach the final special phase at 20%. The time attack was tight.
As I prepared the opening stance for Flash Strike and Starlight Sword Aura, I glanced at Chris on the opposite side of the Bone Dragon.
*The new Yin-Yang Master skill from the 'Tomb of Swords.' What kind of skill could it be?*
*Shk.*
Chris spread her arms to the sides, talismans clutched in her hands.
*Crrrack.*
A strange sound echoed.
*Crack, crrrack.*
And then.
Chris's body began to grow.
"Hiek!"
I let out a shrill scream, forgetting to even swing my sword.
Muscles rippled across Chris's arms, bulging as if they would tear through her clothes.
Starting from her arms, the transformation spread to her legs and torso.
And finally, Chris's body...
had grown about one and a half times its original size?
With her muscles swollen, Chris had transformed into something like an ogre.
A blue light seemed to pour from her eyes.
"Grrrrrr!"
With a monstrous roar, ragged breaths escaped her lips.
[Yin-Yang Master 'Chris']
[Demonization]
*So this is why she called it unsightly.*
*But, I like this kind of thing too.*
*Muscles are cool.*
My eyes sparkling, I swung my sword.
"Chris, you look so cool!"
"Grrrk!?"
*Thud, thud!*
After letting out what sounded like a flustered roar, the muscular Chris began pounding on the Bone Dragon's bones with her massive fists. In a way, she had class-changed from a ranged DPS to a melee DPS. These weren't even skills, just basic attacks using her explosively increased strength stat. But her fists, wreathed in a demonic aura, began to rapidly chip away at the Bone Dragon's HP.
After pounding on the Bone Dragon alongside the fearsome, muscular Chris for a while.
*Vwooom!*
The Bone Dragon's barrier regenerated.
Remaining HP: 20%.
We had finally reached the final special phase.
*Krrrrrumble, krrrrrumble, krrrrrrrumble!*
An incomparable number of lightning bolts began to fall.
It seemed the Yin-Yang Master's mobility wasn't very good in her Demonization state. Leaving Chris to crouch down, wrapped in a protective talisman, I quickly dashed toward the regenerated spears on the outskirts.
*Tap.*
*Krrrrrrumble!*
As I reached the first lightning rod, a lightning bolt targeting me was immediately absorbed into the spear.
I picked it up.
And threw it with all my might.
*Clang!*
"!?"
But the spear I had thrown with all my strength didn't pierce the barrier.
"Why!?"
*Vwoooom!*
As if in answer to my question, a powerful shockwave erupted from the Bone Dragon.
I hastily used Backstep.
*Kwakwakwakwaka!*
The force of that immense shockwave sent all eleven remaining spears flying.
"It's berserk!"
After all that effort to enter the special phase, we still hit the time attack. It had gone berserk.
The Bone Dragon's berserk mode had made it impossible to proceed with the final special phase.
*Shk.*
I lowered my sword and prepared to be struck by lightning.
*This is the chance Chris gave me.*
*After dying once, I can activate the Hero's power, punch a hole in the berserk barrier, and unload all my skills. I can win.*
Just as I resolved myself and gritted my teeth, preparing for the pain of the current that would tear through my body.
*Shk.*
The single activated spear that had fallen without piercing the barrier.
Chris picked it up.
"Grrrrrrrrr!"
*Thump!*
And with the incredible leg strength generated by her fearsome muscles, she leaped onto the Bone Dragon's massive body.
*Kwadadadadak!*
The sound of the berserk barrier being pierced.
With her swollen arm muscles, Chris used her entire body to drive the spear into the dragon's barrier.
And then, countless lightning bolts struck Chris, who had become a lightning rod herself.
I screamed.
"Chriiisss!!"
*Krrrrrrruuuumble!*
*Ting.*
[Party Member 'Chris' has died]
[Raid Dungeon 'Blue Overlord's Resting Place' Progress 1/3]