Descartes (2)
Tension hung thick in the air. The guy's level was 40. Not some run-of-the-mill monster, but boss-tier. Way higher than anything I'd encountered before.
'And it's not just any level 40. This one's a boss, after all.'
Already a tough bastard, and now leveled up to boot... On top of that, he gripped a heroic-grade staff.
"Do you have any idea of my suffering?"
The agitated freak had calmed down again. Probably regained his composure seeing our low levels.
"What suffering are you even talking about?"
"You wouldn't understand. My parents, who raised me—they were treated like Satan himself, dragged away, then strung up in the air and stoned to death..."
He was spilling his backstory. I knew it well enough. I knew why he targeted Brockton.
But that didn't justify this madness.
"It's all because of those Divine Guard scum. Their 'holiness,' 'holiness'... They have no clue how superior we black mages are..."
Emotions poured through Descartes' staff. Rage at its peak. Seething hatred. An explosive urge to destroy.
"...Hoo. So that's why."
He reined it in again. Ashamed to show us that vulnerability, maybe.
"I'm giving them the exact same pain. Can you understand that?"
"Like hell I can. Do whatever you want, I don't care."
"Then... why are you interfering with me?"
"You're gonna die anyway. Might as well die by my hand."
"Kuhahaha! Die? I, Descartes?"
He burst into mocking laughter.
"Delusions. If that's why you're here, let me give you a heads-up."
"Spit it out."
"Brockton is doomed even without me. And it's not just Brockton. Soon, those things will hit every city. I'm planning to stop them."
'Those things.' Who? In the originals, the real threats were...
Yeah, the oni. Another scheme by those Orion bastards. Summoning things that don't even exist in this world.
"Anyway, even without that, now's not the time to fight me."
Descartes smirked, nodding toward the entrance.
"Those bastards are attacking the lab!"
"Don't hesitate—get in there!"
More guards were swarming in. We'd slipped through a side path instead of the main gate, so plenty had gone unchecked.
Of course, I hadn't come unprepared. I'd planned ahead.
"Everyone, stick to the plan!"
"I'll help whenever my mana recovers!"
Jackson's crew and April stepped up. Fighting inside the lab would give us cover, so we could hold out longer than before. Plus, April's power had grown stronger.
Leave the guards to them.
Shing.
"...Hm?"
Time for the showdown with Descartes. I floated my weapons around me. He looked a bit rattled. No way he'd seen or heard of a power like this.
"Let's see what you've got."
Whirrr!
I hurled weapons at Descartes. But...
Whoosh!
Ting ting ting!
He swung his staff, unleashing a fan-shaped purple Breath that deflected them effortlessly.
...As expected, not easy.
But I'd anticipated this. It was just to draw his attention.
-Grrr!
While Descartes chanted, Kethar—now in werewolf form—charged. Not recklessly, though.
Whoosh!
Boom!
He dashed forward, then used Shadow Step. His body dissolved into black smoke, reappearing right in Descartes' face. Blinding speed.
-Rawr!
Clang!
He slashed with razor claws. But Descartes blocked with his staff. Effortlessly.
He'd used staves in the game sometimes, but blocking Kethar like that? The level gap penalty must be huge.
"One surprise after another. First that weird magic flinging weapons... now this beast with such moves."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Kethar kept swinging relentlessly. But no dice. His claws weren't even grazing now.
Shimmer.
Shimmer.
Descartes turned his body to smoke. Kethar's attacks passed right through harmlessly.
Dark Transformation. Makes the body intangible, letting everything phase through.
Screee!
After toying with Kethar awhile, Descartes drifted back like smoke, widening the gap.
"What the hell are you people?"
Not far—Kethar could close it in a heartbeat if he wanted. Yet he asked so casually. That confident?
"......"
"Fine. No need to answer. I'll just rip it out of your heads myself. Wonder what's rattling around in there."
Whoosh!
Descartes raised both hands. Black smoke billowed around him, taking shape.
'...Calling his minions.'
Four-legged beasts. His summoned minions.
Kethar nodded at me. We'd expected Minion Summon.
-Grrrrr!
About ten of them. Kethar leaped into their midst, pulling aggro instantly. They all swarmed him, as planned.
Click!
But the minions were high-level too. Kethar had skills, but handling all of them? Tough.
I needed to thin the herd.
Thud thud thud!
Weapons plunged from the air in sequence. Sword Wall trapped four minions inside.
"Hoh..."
They battered it, but it'd hold for a bit. Now, focus on the boss.
Hummm.
Hummm.
I ripped open Void Rifts around Descartes. About twenty. Then layered on Shadow Strike to pressure him.
Boom!
Boom boom!
As expected, he phased through with Dark Transformation, weapons slamming hard into the ground.
But Dark Transformation wasn't sustainable. Temporary effect only.
One way to counter: overwhelm until it drops.
I poured more mana into the Void Rifts.
Tap.
He slipped a few attacks and escaped the rifts' range. I squeezed out more mana for extras.
And then.
Shing!
Shing!
"...What the hell is that?"
Shapes forming on my weapons. Set item effect—calling clones.
'Can't summon all of them.'
Not every weapon. Needed some for the rifts, so just the key ones: Jeanne's clone and Intern's.
"You've got some freakish powers."
Jeanne had been his subordinate, but he didn't recognize her. Even seeing her attack?
Tat tat tat!
Clank!
Jeanne's clone charged straight at him; Intern dropped to a seated shot, aiming his bowgun. Descartes' eyes bulged at the sight of her dashing with curved swords sheathed behind.
"...Jeanne?"
Whirrr!
Whirrr!
Call or no call, Jeanne spun diagonally like a top, slashing.
Tong!
Pew pew pew!
Intern fired Multi-Shot.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Barrage after barrage—Descartes struggled to maintain Dark Transformation.
If he slipped even a little...
Slash!
Shrrr!
"Kuh!"
...he'd eat my attacks like this. Shredded head to toe in an instant.
"...These pathetic things."
He panicked, backing off fast. Black blood dripped from him. Furious, he switched to casual speech.
Finally showing his true colors.
'Perfect.'
Time for phase two: Demon Descent. He'd go all-out now.
-How dare you!!!!!
Rumble rumble!
Immense dark magic flooded the area. The foul aura from Esteno—but this dwarfed it. Nearby objects shook from the pressure.
-Grk, kuh...!
His mana was monstrous. Even Kethar was slowly pushed back.
I fared the same, but leaned on my weapons to endure.
Whoosh!
He thrust his hand. Black orbs like Beric's whipped toward us.
Shoooo!
Kaboom!
"Kuh!"
Bigger, stronger explosion. The blast flung me back.
-You can't stop my plan! I'll kill you all!
Whirrr!
Couldn't take this lying down. I wrung out mana, unleashing attacks.
Shimmer.
But the situation worsened. Unlike before, where he had to activate Dark Transformation repeatedly, now it was his default. Always intangible.
-How dare you touch my body...!
Whoosh!
Hummm!
Kaboom!
Black beams lanced from above. Direct hit would melt me. Had to dodge.
I rolled aside, but...
Tap!
Thud!
"Kragh!"
He blitzed me, kicking like a iron weight to the gut.
And it didn't end there.
Bam!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Smoke from his hands wrapped me, lifting me airborne, then slamming me repeatedly.
"Guh, guhgh..."
Felt like bones snapping. Blood filled my mouth; he hoisted me midair, crushing my throat.
-Think this stops my plan? Pathetic.
Truly not easy. But I had a way.
First, trap him so he couldn't flee...
Thud! Thud! Thud!
-......
Sword Wall enclosed us both. No escape for either now.
Then.
Hummm!
Yodo Barseto's white blade of light surged upward. I activated Brilliance Blade.
And swung at him.
Slash!
Psssh!
-Grk, kuh!
Brilliance Blade severed his arm. Black blood fountained from the stump; his dark eyes shook wildly.
-...H-how? How did it hit my body?
Stunned it connected. But too early to gawk.
I slipped a weapon from the wall, escaping the gap. Then opened a rift above his head.
Whoosh whoosh!
Tons of weapons rained down—but most missed. Normal ones couldn't touch his body.
But.
Stab!
-Kraaa!
I'd shoved Barseto through the portal too. He flailed wildly, unable to cope.
Beep!
My state wasn't great either. Bleeding heavy, Sword Wall's mana drain hitting hard with backlash.
I chugged a mana elixir without hesitation.
Mana recovery slightly increased.
Total mana slightly increased.
Not full recovery, but it worked. Headache cleared; mana slowly refilled.
Now, wait for his Breath. Final phase of the plan.
-Hahk, hahk... Y-you bastard! I won't forgive you!!!
Dark magic roiled wildly inside him.
Shoooo!
Clang!
One wall shattered, purple smoke leaking out. He'd fired Breath from within.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
All blades broke; Breath engulfed me.
"Guhhh..."
Trapped in the smoke. Razor-sharp, like glass shards floating in it.
I blocked and pushed forward. Skin tore slowly.
Body soaked in blood.
'...Just a bit more.'
This was the attack I'd waited for. He'd keep blasting while I was in range.
Game exploit—not really an exploit. Better to charge straight than dodge poorly.
There was a gap where the fans didn't overlap, once you closed distance.
That was my spot. Chance to strike.
Endure the pain and advance.
Step. Step.
All weapons arrayed ahead. To block some smoke.
His power was so intense, they corroded.
...But hold on.
Step. Step.
Coat's Thunder Protection Barrier shattered on cast. Coat shredded.
Body and face too. Burning turned to ripping agony.
Feels like dying.
Whoosh!
Then—the sharpness stopped slicing my skin. What? Someone in front?
-...I get the idea. Leave this to me.
Kethar blocked my path. The player read my mind, huh.
-Grk, kuh.
His black mane burned away; wounds worsened. But his superior Blood Thirst kept him going.
-If this helps... use my body as a shield...
Something felt different. Gained conviction?
Kethar shielded me fully.
-Kekeke. Think you can withstand my power!!!
Shoooo!
-Grk, kuhhh!
Breath intensified. Range filled the lab; power doubled.
-Kragh!
Kethar got blasted back. Breath hit me again, but I'd closed a lot of ground.
'...Got it.'
Reached the gap. Breath spread in two fans—wide enough to look like one, but non-overlapping spot up close.
Close enough to swing.
He couldn't stop mid-cast.
Hummm!
Activated Brilliance Blade.
-H-how?
Descartes stared in panic. His Breath raged, but missed me. Tried to pull it back...
Too late.
Whoosh!
Shrrr!
Brilliance Blade sliced his waist.
-Kraaa!
Didn't fully bisect him. I was exhausted—or his power too strong.
-Guh, guhgh!
But end was near. He crawled, vomiting black blood.
He was done. Me too—body in tatters, hands shaking.
'...Not enough to stop me from finishing him.'
And I wasn't alone.
"Oppa!!!"
"You okay?!"
Jackson's crew and April rushed over after clearing the small fry.
Yeah, they could feed the lunatic something. No focus left to deflect projectiles.
Plus April's power...
-Kek, kekeke. Fine... I admit it. You're threats to my plan...
But. I. Don't. Fall...
He struggled up. Looked wrecked, but face lit with ecstasy.
Whoosh!
He clenched his fist; a wave crashed over us. Used some power.
What skill? Descartes had tells when casting...
...No clue on this one.
"S-sorry... B-boss. Th-that's, ugh, aaagh! Spare me! Sp-spare..."
"Scary... M-mom? Where..."
"Uwaaaaa!"
"Hic, sob sob..."
-Hah, huff. Chaeyeon! Chaeyeon!
Comrades lost it, screaming incoherently. Minds shattered.
-Kekeke... Get it now? You can't beat me...
This, the flow...
He'd used Fear. Heroic-grade skill inducing panic terror.
Not in the original. He'd learned it some route.
But...
-...Why not you?
Descartes' eyes widened at me. Utter confusion.
Yeah, I had Composure. Immune to mental attacks.
-Why... why you...?
He trembled. His Fear failed.
Step. Step.
I approached with Brilliance Blade drawn.
Stab!
Psssh!
-Guhk!
Pierced his crawling chest. Black blood sprayed; I swung diagonally to finish.
Slash!
Acquired 20,000 EXP.
Massive EXP—three level-ups total. I hit level 22.