Conquering the Citadel (2)
"GRRRRROOOOARRR!!!"
The monster closed the distance on me in an instant.
WHOOOOSH!! First up, a physical attack.
"RAAARRGH!!"
But I wasn't just a one-trick sword pony anymore. Now I had a pretty decent shield too.
CLANG!! I blocked its strike with Pinocchio in hand.
BOOOOMMM!!! Its fist slammed straight into Pinocchio's body.
"Master!! It hurts!!! Fuuuuck!!!"
Pinocchio's pitiful wail rang out, but I ignored it.
"Tighten up your gut and tank it."
I held Pinocchio up like a shield. The guy had no skills or anything anyway. Had to use him as a disposable shield.
"........."
The monster stared at me like it couldn't comprehend. It never imagined someone would treat a Psychorobo this expendably.
"Come at me!!"
I bellowed right back. Pinocchio's 'Overwhelming Presence' wouldn't trigger against a boss anyway. To play tank, I had to pull aggro intentionally like this.
"GRRRRROOOOARRR!!!"
The pissed-off monster charged me with a flurry of blows.
SCREEECH!! CLANG!! SCREEECH!!
I blocked most with my sword, tossing Pinocchio in front of the ones I couldn't. My kendo training had honed my dynamic vision anyway. That invisible stat the status window couldn't show—eyesight in the heat of battle. I could block most attacks with my eyes closed.
"Now!! Pour it on!!"
I yelled to the party. This first dungeon was a big deal for players. Tons of mobs for an early one, and pretty long too. Spam magic and you'd run out of firepower for the boss—a classic dilemma. No recovery room before the boss made it hit harder. Modern players hooked on comfy RPGs got a taste of that old-school JRPG spice.
But we didn't have that issue. Thanks to my and Pinocchio's tanking, we'd made it here with barely a scratch. Mana pools full to bursting.
"OK!! Here goes!!"
Taiga whipped out Fenrir right away.
"Fire!!"
WHOOSHCRACKLE!! BOOOOMMM!!
A massive fireball flew out, setting the monster ablaze.
"Fire."
Sassis coolly summoned Gladiator and fired off a fireball, true to his cool guy vibe.
WHOOSHCRACKLE!!
The flames hit dead-on, and Sassis immediately swapped summons.
"Tinkerbell!!!"
Tinkerbell popped in like a tag-team partner.
"Wind!!"
She unleashed a razor-sharp gust. No elemental weakness on this boss anyway. Any magic would do for damage.
FWOOOSH!! The wind staggered it.
"That guy... controlling two Psychorobos at once..."
Taiga looked shocked. Yeah. Protagonist privilege. Not just multiple bots per person, but seamless switching.
"Sheeeesh..."
Damn jealous anyway. I was stuck wrangling this crappy wooden doll, while he lounged with a stockpile of good ones. Gap society, huh?
"Alright!! Me too!!!"
Umi got hyped to sling some lightning.
"Whoa whoa!! Hold up!! Umi!! You focus on heals!! This guy's got an AoE coming soon!! Save it for then!!"
I dropped veteran advice. Mana pools were tight in this game. Healers should minimize spells and stick to recovery.
"Oh... got it..."
Umi looked a bit bummed. Eh... I'd make it up to her later.
BOOOOM!! FWOOOSH!! FWOOOM!!
Anyway, the attacks landed like fireworks.
"GRRRRROOOOARRR!!!"
The monster reeled, dazed. Dizzy yet? I couldn't slack either.
FWIP!!
I closed in on it fast. Couldn't one-shot, so time to cripple its combat power.
WHOOSH!!
Up close, I raised my sword high.
"KEEEIEIEIEK!!!!"
Yelling to psych myself up was a bonus. Subtle but key. Target: limbs.
SPLURT!!
My swing buried into its arm.
CRACK!!
The impact through my hands confirmed it. Nailed it.
SPURTTT!! Its arm sheared off, black ichor spraying from the stump.
"Grraaagh...!"
As it staggered, I swung again.
SPLURT!! Left arm gone.
THUNK!! Right leg severed.
Galactic knight-level dismemberment that'd make even disciples weep.
THUD!!
The monster faceplanted.
"Now!! Focus fire!"
Before Sassis could call it, I cut him off.
"AoE incoming!! Dodge!! To the corners!!"
I screamed desperately. Had to evade ground slams and AoEs. Turn-based original hid it, but this was real life. Dodge what you could, minimize the rest.
"GRRRROOO...!"
A gale whipped up from its body.
FWOOOOOSH!!
A massive storm erupted centered on it.
"Nngh...!"
"This bastard... is strong...!"
Sassis and Taiga took some hits.
WHOOOOSH!!
I bolted straight for Umi. She was in danger. Her Psychorobo was lightning—weak to wind. Wind attacks crit her hard.
"Kyaa!!"
Right before the gale hit her, I jumped in front.
BOOOOMMM!!
Thrust Pinocchio up to block.
"Fuuuuck!! Too painful!!! Master!!"
Pinocchio was getting mouthy in real time. Poor guy's working overtime.
"Suck it up... This is Grandpa Geppetto's pain!!!!"
"Why bring up Gramps now!!!"
"Just~~~ stay home and he'd send you to college!!! Huh? Even promised a car for a job gift!! But nooo, out causing trouble!!! Drugs!! Grandpa Geppetto's heart hurt worse!!"
"I didn't do drugs!!!"
Pinocchio protested while tanking. Liar!! I know you ate weird shit and turned into a donkey!!! Saw it as a kid, tried imitating, got beat by Dad!!!!
"Dad!!!!!!!!!"
Sending me out naked in midsummer was too much!!! Mosquitoes feasted on me!!!
"Dad!!! I miss you!!!!!! I'll be better!!!!!"
Emotions surged; tears flowed.
"Why's Dad suddenly in this?!?!"
Pinocchio couldn't follow.
FWOOOM!!
Friend Shield worked well. I took some damage, but Umi behind me was fine.
WHOOSH! The AoE finally died down.
"Umi. You good?"
I asked her.
"Uh... yeah."
Her face flushed, staring blankly.
"Umi?"
"Ah, uh. Yeah."
She snapped out of it.
"Everyone took hits. Heal us up."
I helped her stand.
"Heal!"
Umi cast heals on us all. She'd learned AoE heal, but did singles one by one. I got first dibs.
As she healed, she whispered in my ear.
"I... wanted my first heal for you."
My face burned red. Eri too... these girls hit sudden like that. Embarrassing as hell.
Anyway, Umi's heals let us face the monster fresh.
"Grrraaagh...!"
It struggled up somehow.
"This fucker... tough. Still alive?"
Taiga gripped her bat. Looked like someone heading to bash a cheating ex. Scary. For real.
SHRRRIP!!
Suddenly, its clothes shifted blue.
"Frozen attribute now!!! Taiga!! That's your weakness! Watch out!!"
Veteran order time. Boss swapped elements as HP dropped.
But limbless, couldn't expect much offense. Just AoE one-trick. Dodge before it came, stack damage. Rinse and repeat.
After a few exchanges.
"Hyaah!!"
CRACK!!
Taiga smashed its head clean.
Sassis closed in as it wobbled.
THUNK!!
Stabbed its gut.
"Shota!! Finish it!!!"
Sassis yelled.
"Got it!!! Here goes!!!!"
I leaped high.
"Grandpa Geppetto!!!!!!"
Screamed whatever popped in my head, swung big.
Target: neck.
SPLURRRRTT!!
Sliced clean through. Its body melted away. Done for sure.
Boss kill confirmed!
FWOOOSH! Proof of victory popped up.
WHOOSH!!
The souls trapped in the citadel burst free all at once. Nailed it. Felt kinda proud. Experienced it countless times in-game, but living it? Chest swelled huge. Umi-boob levels.
EXP gained! Level up!
Solid reward for the boss: EXP surged. Level 7 now.
"Ahh... got stronger again."
I muttered.
"Whoa!!! Level 9!! Up by 2!!"
Umi cheered excitedly.
"Heh heh heh. I'm 10 now. Two digits."
Taiga smirked, checking her status.
"Hm... 13, I think. Not bad pace."
Sassis glanced at us, bragging subtly. Emphasizing his solo +3.
Aaah... Level 7 scrub wanted to die. I slunk to the corner like a loser.
After, Taiga and Umi consoled me hard. Finally snapped out of my temporary aphasia.