shymorgy

  [You are under the effects of the potion]

  [ has defied death!]

  [HP: 1/20]

  [Status: Angelic Slumber]

  [Cannot regain HP for 10 minutes]

  A hand grabs me from behind, heaves me over her shoulder and runs to the other side of the room.

  “I told you so!”

  She sounds pissed. My heart feels a bit warm and tingly. Maybe she cares for–

  “That potion is 8 months rent. You owe me the boss drops.”

  Ahh. No, that is what I should have expected.

  She sets me down by the doors. Across the arena, the boss walks slowly and menacingly towards us, just like typically strong bosses in games tend to do. He’s asserting dominance over us two weaklings. The piss in my pants is in no way an indication that it’s working. I am definitely not trembling in fear right now.

  “I-I guess we re-retreat for now?”

  Kati points to the doors, now sealed shut. “Not unless you have a portal scroll.”

  Ahh. It’s one of those kinds of boss fights then.

  “S-so then what now?” If it’s immune to all the damage I do, I’m just a deadweight here. Quite literally, given my sudden brush with death mere seconds earlier. I also can’t heal, and 10 minutes is much longer than we’re going to have.

  Kati pulls out a potion from thin air–clearly her inventory space. This one is completely clear. “This is holy water. Normally you’d use this in an undead dungeon to stop them from respawning, but it adds 25% of your damage as extra holy damage. Is that enough for you?”

  Alright. So 38 damage with my great hammer. The boost from two-handing it is 57. An additional 25% from the Amulet of Retribution makes that 71. Add the 95% damage buff I’m currently getting from [Blood Frenzy], and my holy damage output is a measly 34 damage, at least compared to what my damage usually is.

  “D-do you have a mana potion? My [Berserk] skill m-makes me st-strong, but it drains all my MP.”

  She hands me a Minor Mana Potion from her nearly empty crate. My weapon glows with a golden aura when I pour the holy water over it. The boss is nearly upon us, only 15 or so metres away as I swig the mana potion.

  [ has activated]

  [MP: 4/5]

  I step forward and smack him in the face for 68 holy damage. For the first time this fight, Gruk’thral staggers, blood gushing from his nose. He spits out a tooth–which Kati hastily rushes to collect, like girl, please!. His grin sends a shiver down my spine.

  Although he may be immune to my physical damage, my high strength still lets me unch off at an angle to strike him from behind. A great decision, apparently, because his greatsword destroys the spot I’d just been standing in.

  He goes to grab my great hammer as I swing it down at him, but acid sptters across the side of his face, distracting him enough for the blow to nd. Honestly, Kati is a GOAT.

  [MP: 3/5]

  Dr. Gruk’thral/Mr. Hyde roars in pain and shes out. I am fortunate he attacked too fast for me to dodge, because the greatsword smashes the ground next to me, obviously predicting I would dodge. Shit. Smart bosses who learn are a real pain.

  I step into his next swing, aiming upwards and catching him under the chin, before taking advantage of his dazed state to pound him overhead, knocking him into the dirt.

  [MP: 2/5]

  10 seconds to finish this. I doubt he'd give us time for me to get another potion and drink it. I also don't know how much longer the holy water effect will st. It could have a 1 minute duration. It could have 30 seconds.

  I bring the great hammer back in an arc and smash Gruk’thral in the knees. Even if I fail to kill him just yet, at least he won't be able to menacingly walk after us.

  [MP: 1/5]

  A potion hits me over the head, the liquid running down my hood. Shit, I hope that wasn't acid meant for Gruk'thral. I could almost feel the flesh on my neck melting away.

  [MP: 5/5]

  That's right, I think she did mention being able to see the HP and MP of allies. I'm liking this woman more and more. When I get back, I'm hopping on my PC and making a post on the Ranker forum about the need to appreciate supports more.

  I grab the boss by the scruff of his neck and throw him into the other wall. My feet dig into the stone tiles, little chips flying as the floor cracks, and projectile myself after him.

  Unlike my first projectile smash, this one catches him right in the ribs with a satisfying crunch, and he tumbles back a few meters.

  [MP: 4/5]

  I giggle as I repeat the pattern of smash and jump. Now that we are winning, this is actually rather fun!

  [MP: 0/5]

  [ has activated]

  Huh?

  Did I get too far from Kati? No, that's not right, she's there on my left. Maybe she's out of potions. I turn back to the boss.

  “Umm, Vill?” she points.

  Floating above me are system messages. I guess I got too carried away to notice.

  [Your party has sin ]

  [Gained 15,000XP]

  [You have leveled up!]

  [You have leveled up!]

  [XP: 8,545/10,000]

  [You have 6 attribute points to allocate]

  [You have gained the skill ]

  Woah! What an insane amount of XP! I immediately put the attribute points into STR, bringing me up to 25.

  [Your party has cleared ]

  [You have gained additional rewards]

  [ has solo’d at least 75% of ]

  [You have gained additional rewards]

  [Rank C -> Rank B]

  [ is now ranked 821st in the Oceania region]

  [ is now ranked 57th in the Oceania region]

  A loud squeeing next to me almost bursts my eardrums. Clearly someone is happy about her updated rank.

  “I climbed so much just from clearing a duo raid?” she excims, again forgetting that human ears can only withstand certain levels of decibels. “And I got an ultra rare set of dragon armour? Mein Gott!”

  I am so distracted with my eardrums almost rupturing, that I fail to see one st system message pop up, and just as quickly disappear.

  [You are being watched]