Lightning and Stars
Originally, the boss that appears on Floor 16 is a massive Minotaur wielding an axe.
The boss summoned before me matched that name and appearance exactly from what I knew—except for the lightning crackling over its body.
I'd tried it thinking there was nothing to lose, but who would've guessed there was an even more unknown hidden element.
Come to think of it, it's nearly impossible to discover in other towers. You have to sacrifice every unique equipment item from the large treasure chests. Sure, they're underperforming for uniques, but still too good to just hand over without a fight. No one would've dumped them all on a single boss—they'd squabble over who gets what. Even if they split them amicably, they wouldn't all rush into the boss room together. Only a solo player like me, who can monopolize every treasure chest alone, could pull this off.
"One more story to spill later."
I decided to share this condition on the community forums down the line and quietly raised my sword and shield.
The massive pile of horn fragments I'd offered on the altar turned into orbs of light and floated into the sky. Nothing seemed to interfere directly, but with that many, the boss might've gotten stronger. Above all, the lightning coursing through its body felt ominous. I wondered how it stacked up to my own Lightning Charge. And that axe it held looked way different from the screenshots—definitely something to watch out for.
-ROOOAAAR!!
The Minotaur bellowed and charged, horns first. Same basic rush pattern from the strategy guides. They warned that the horns' physical attack power was insane, so unless you're a tank, don't take it head-on.
Or, put another way, if you've got tank-level defense, it's fine to meet it straight-up.
-BOOM!
I thrust my mana-infused shield forward and blocked the charge dead-on. Zzzzt—my feet slid back a bit. Two steps, maybe. For its size, its strength was meh. That supposedly devastating rush felt lackluster—
That's when it happened.
-CRZZZACK!
"Whoa, what the—"
The lightning flowing over the Minotaur's body raced down its horns. The horns I'd blocked sparked and extended in length, infused with lightning-attribute mana for added reach and elemental damage.
But ironically, lightning was one of the attributes I handled best, right up there with fire. I used it myself, after all.
Lightning Charge
Overpower
Intimidation
I cloaked myself in lightning too, then fired back with Intimidation, burning extra mana to pressure the enemy.
My blue bolts clashed against the Minotaur's yellow ones surging from its horns. Output was about even, but—
Strength was mine. I shoved forward with my shield and deflected the horns.
-CRACK!
Right after, I slammed a kick into its stubbornly thrusting bull head. It wasn't even that hard, but it felt good.
-Mooo...!
The Minotaur staggered and collapsed. Concussion from the impact. My hand-to-hand had improved a ton lately, and I'd always been good at landing jaw shots to groggy them.
Way too easy. Hard to believe this was a hidden boss fed a thousand horn fragments.
"What the hell is this."
A bit bewildered, I plunged my sword into the downed Minotaur's back, still reeling from the concussion.
Maybe the real fight starts in phase 2?
**
The worlds inside the Tower often align with modern Earth's myths and fantasies to some degree. Goblins, werewolves, elves—all the usual fantasy novel staples. Of course, they rarely match one-to-one; in reality, they're often pretty different.
This Floor 16 theme, the Minotaur's labyrinth, has quite a few similarities to the actual myth. That shows up big time in the hidden phase of the boss summoned with 20+ horn fragments.
Normally, it's just a raging bull-headed monster that gets slain by the challenger. But in the hidden phase, it suddenly transforms. The bull head turns human, shifting from half-man half-beast to a straight-up massive warrior monster.
I vaguely recall some lore tied to that, but I'm not big on background settings, so details escape me.
Anyway, the humanized Minotaur supposedly goes berserk, powering up massively.
But this one showed no signs of it.
-THUD!
I drove a solid kick into its solar plexus—felt like kicking sheet metal. Tough as hell, and that lightning cloak packed a punch, but—
Still just Floor 16 level. Not hidden-boss strong, barely a notch above the regular one.
And it was about time for the phase 2 human transformation and berserk rampage, but no sign of that either.
Hidden, sure, but not a strengthening hidden? First time for everything.
The Floor 15 hidden boss was such a nightmare, I doubt anyone else could've cleared it. That pigeon Heavenly God was ridiculous. Stats slashed to hell—how were you supposed to beat that?
Well, I managed somehow, but... this guy had zero special vibe.
"What's the point of high specs with no skill or flair."
-WHAM!
I smashed my sword like a hammer into the Minotaur and voiced my thoughts.
Honestly, even if its raw stats were triple what they are now, I'd have won easily. Patterns too predictable.
Not because I'd seen the guides—I could counter them blind. It just fought like a basic bull-head.
"Tch."
-STAB!
Tongue clicking in disappointment, I rammed my sword into its heart. A red critical effect burst, and the Minotaur crumpled.
First clear of Tower of Trials Floor 16.
Maximum contribution rewards granted.
The clear message followed. Nothing special in rewards. I sorted the armor and weapons into my inventory and touched the portal to Floor 17.
That's when it happened.
-ZZZT!
The boss room's mana surged on its own, spawning lightning-attribute mana in the air. The crackling lightning bolts dove repeatedly into the fallen Minotaur's heart, like trying to restart a stopped pulse.
I loved it.
"Yeah, that's more like it."
A thousand horn fragments and four unique items down the hatch—you can't end there. Now for the real phase 2?
**
I still had portal activation rights. I could've headed to Floor 17 without waiting for the boss revival.
But I deliberately stayed until the Minotaur rose again. Climbing could wait.
After a few more crackles, the Minotaur slowly stood.
No visible changes. The hard-mode Minotaur normally shifts to human form in phase 2, sees the horn fragments on its altar as lost kin, loses its mind, and goes berserk.
It becomes human but rages mindlessly—no big difference from its bull-headed days.
But this revived one was different. Still bull-headed, but its eyes gleamed with something new.
[I've forgotten for so long... who I am— what my weapon is.]
The Minotaur's gaze fixed on the altar's horn fragments.
[My starlight, my lightning... you alone have not abandoned me.]
No—the lightning mass formed from those fragments. It slowly reshaped.
[Yes... it is time to return once more. To the throne bequeathed by my father.]
Gripping a battle axe forged from lightning—a weapon infused with thunder—the Minotaur assumed a stance. Bull-headed monster no more; it stared at me with the noble, rational eyes of a warrior.
As if directly refuting my words about its lack of skill or flair, a new name floated above its head.
And fitting its epithet, the mutated axe now shone not with lightning, but radiant starlight.
"Hm..."
But it didn't sit right. The mana aura from the Minotaur felt no different from before. Sure, regaining its wits and signature weapon probably boosted its prowess big time, but let's see.
-BOOM!
The Minotaur charged with its starlight axe swinging powerfully. I blocked with my mana-charged shield—
No.
Hold up, what the fuck.
My shield sliced clean like tofu, and the blade dug lightly into my forearm beyond it.
Fuck, I'm screwed. This is gonna lop it off. You sneaky bastard—body unchanged, but the weapon power-creeped to bullshit levels!