gatewaewanderer
Wandering Fool
- Location
- East Coast, USA
Welp. It's not a dragon. Other than that... We got World Boss! Things are probably gonna be heating up soon...
Edit:
Well, maybe not a dragon. The wings... might not be a good sign.
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Spectrum
Tell me a secret~
- Location
- Behind you~
Is that five hours of people travel or five hours of boss travel?
'cause if this thing has wings, five hours of boss travel might be quite a ways away.
Genesys
(Discrete Mokona)
- Location
- California
... grey goo world boss.
Fuck the world, but mostly the Duke for making this happen.
Or, maybe it's "all world bosses are grey goo until they absorb another monster to template"?
- Location
- Elsewhere
On the plus side, a Monk might be one of the faster classes, assuming you don't have a mount.
Good speed, good endurance, no armor.
gatewaewanderer
Wandering Fool
- Location
- East Coast, USA
... Crap on a cracker. If Samael is alone, he's vulnerable to more assassins, if any of them are still out for his head. And if the Duke has done enough damage to Samael's rep that people are skeptical of, if not outright disbelieving, his claims that he and his party just witnessed a World Boss... Yeah. The thing might be too strong to be stopped by anything less than an army or...
Wait. Hold the phone...
Is Samael going to end up becoming a Legendary Monk in addition to be the first one in order to keep up with this World Boss and be one of the ones to take it down?
CaesriusPolybius
Worldgate Mechanic
- Location
- United States. Ish.
It's not a dragon yet, and that's the important part.
(I wonder if it's easier to kill a World Boss before they finish forming, or if they just kinda Spongebob/Majin Buu the attacks...)
konamikode
Cooking Harder
Look, I think a World Boss is one of those things. Even if you absolutely loathe the messenger, even if you would cheerfully shank him at any other time, you put all of that aside. Because World Boss.
Alphaleph
The Firstiest of First
In light of certain event....
I can see why it's not an actual spell.
gatewaewanderer
Wandering Fool
- Location
- East Coast, USA
True enough. I'm just afraid the Duke is going to be petty enough that he won't care about the danger. Also, his actions with trying to have Samael assassinated and smearing his name... Well, based on what little we've heard so far, he reminds me a little of Minister Fudge from Harry Potter. Though, admittedly, it makes much more sense to not want to believe in the arrival of a World Boss than it does the Second Coming of Voldemort.
It's just that he very much seems to want things to stay the way they were, and the lengths he was willing to go to keep it that way... Might be normal for this setting, but still seems stupid. Whether he'd be willing to go far enough to try and cry shenanigans on a World Boss, I dunno but...
I mean, considering how serious the damn things seem to be, I doubt anyone's going to outright say, "I don't believe you, you're lying," but I could easily see people fearing a "Cried wolf when it's just a puppy and won't get any more dangerous," situation.
Chapter 60
Samael ran. He ran through the rain and reached the muddy road. His feel squelched through the dirt and water and caused his pants to become drenched and dirtied. He didn't stop or even hesitate though. One foot in front of the other. His life wasn't the only thing depending on this. If the word didn't get out he didn't know what would happen, but it wouldn't be something good. Bonnie had said world bosses rampaged across kingdoms.
The nearest town was a full day's of travel away. Samael needed to be there far faster.
One foot in front of the other. He couldn't take a break. He couldn't stop. Samael didn't sprint, much as he wanted to. He ran. He ran hard and at a pace that he felt he could maintain, and just a tad extra.
His legs burned as the minutes passed. His breath came in big heaving gasps. Samael felt himself tire quickly. Battles were exhausting affairs, but running like this was tiring in a different way. The monk didn't even think about stopping.
The road blurred. The icy cold rain drenched his skin and practically sizzled as his heated body caused it to steam. Step by step, Samael ran as best he could. The rain slowly stopped and the sun started to shine when he could see the town in the distance.
That was only half the battle though. Samael ran into town and ignored the stares he was getting. There, there was the guard station. One of the larger buildings in the town. The man ran into it practically broke down the door.
Panting, he glanced around the area. The man at the desk was already rising from his seat. "I need the person in charge." Samael gasped out harshly.
"I'll, um, get the captain." The man at the desk stuttered out and practically stumbled over himself moving into a backroom.
Samael focused on controlling his breathing as he waited and darted his gaze around here and there. There were papers scattered across the desk. A bit of water on the floor. A mug of something on the corner of the desk. Someone had a coat hanging up on the rack.
"What's the emergency?" The captain asked seriously as he stepped out of his room.
"Do you know what a world boss is?" Samael began slowly and deliberately.
The captain inhaled slowly. "Son, I don't think you understand what you're asking."
"We spotted one in the badlands. It was attacking the dungeon." Samael replied back quickly and quietly.
The only sign of how disturbed the man was by this statement was how he inhaled sharply. He glanced at the worried looking aid behind him and then breathed out slowly. His next words were measured and slow. "You're sure?"
"My party was watching the dungeon. We're with the Starseekers clan." Samael babbled a bit as he got his breath under control. "We saw it."
"All right then. We're going to do this quietly and carefully." The captain spoke with a steady and careful tone. "Mikey, I want you to have everyone get into their basements. Call it a storm drill. I'm going to round up the guards."
"Sir?" The assistant questioned.
"Did I stutter?" The calm tone from the captain had the assistant running away fast. Only once the man was out of earshot did the captain continue. "Now, boy. You're Starseekers? I don't know that clan, but you are able to contact them correct?"
"Yes…?" Samael trailed off as the captain passed him a badge.
"Priority mail. Send them a message. Also send the same one to this address." The captain wrote out a scrawling address across the back of some report. "Mail the badge with that one." The man continued and handed the monk the paper. "Say, date, time, location."
"All right. Then what?" Samael asked as he looked over the paper.
"Come back here. I'm assuming you're a spellcaster of some sort?" The captain asked.
"Fighter actually." Samael clapped his hands together.
"I hope you're good enough. We have to pin down the world boss before it reaches the town." The captain answered back and smiled without humor. "I do hope you're lying."
Samael blinked several times. "Why?"
"Because if you aren't, we're going to all die and this town's going to be wiped off the map." The captain moved across the room and to a locker. Inside was armor and weapons. He began to steadily pull out the armor pieces.
"What?!" The monk blurted out.
"World bosses travel to large cities and population centers. They destroy everything they can, and devour all humans they find. They can be hidden from though. If we delay it even a few minutes then the people here might live." The captain latched on his breastplate and pulled out a simple looking sword to glance over it. "My duty and honor would demand no less than that. Any information we could get would be a boon as well."
"We'd be dead though." Samael pointed out quietly.
"Our souls will be called back for information." The captain sheathed his sword with a click "It costs a small fortune for it, but it will happen. I can rest easy in heaven knowing that."
The monk grit his teeth, but was forced to acknowledge the cold practicality of that. "Shit."
"You don't have to come back after you mail the letters." The man continued quietly and fixed his sword to his belt.
The monk laughed softly and shook his head as he left the office. "I don't think I could call myself what I am if I did that. I am Samael the Monk. I will help. If I die. So be it."
Samael didn't stay to listen to the response. He ran to the post office and scrawled out a quick message to both Bonnie and the address the captain he had been given. The worker in charge glanced at him with disinterest, but then looked with wide eyes at where he was sending the letters.
"Please send them now and get underground." Samael stated softly as he dropped several gold coins on the table.
The worker nodded rapidly and moments later Samael could hear something gallop. He was outside the building and moving towards the office himself.
The nearest town was a full day's of travel away. Samael needed to be there far faster.
One foot in front of the other. He couldn't take a break. He couldn't stop. Samael didn't sprint, much as he wanted to. He ran. He ran hard and at a pace that he felt he could maintain, and just a tad extra.
His legs burned as the minutes passed. His breath came in big heaving gasps. Samael felt himself tire quickly. Battles were exhausting affairs, but running like this was tiring in a different way. The monk didn't even think about stopping.
The road blurred. The icy cold rain drenched his skin and practically sizzled as his heated body caused it to steam. Step by step, Samael ran as best he could. The rain slowly stopped and the sun started to shine when he could see the town in the distance.
That was only half the battle though. Samael ran into town and ignored the stares he was getting. There, there was the guard station. One of the larger buildings in the town. The man ran into it practically broke down the door.
Panting, he glanced around the area. The man at the desk was already rising from his seat. "I need the person in charge." Samael gasped out harshly.
"I'll, um, get the captain." The man at the desk stuttered out and practically stumbled over himself moving into a backroom.
Samael focused on controlling his breathing as he waited and darted his gaze around here and there. There were papers scattered across the desk. A bit of water on the floor. A mug of something on the corner of the desk. Someone had a coat hanging up on the rack.
"What's the emergency?" The captain asked seriously as he stepped out of his room.
"Do you know what a world boss is?" Samael began slowly and deliberately.
The captain inhaled slowly. "Son, I don't think you understand what you're asking."
"We spotted one in the badlands. It was attacking the dungeon." Samael replied back quickly and quietly.
The only sign of how disturbed the man was by this statement was how he inhaled sharply. He glanced at the worried looking aid behind him and then breathed out slowly. His next words were measured and slow. "You're sure?"
"My party was watching the dungeon. We're with the Starseekers clan." Samael babbled a bit as he got his breath under control. "We saw it."
"All right then. We're going to do this quietly and carefully." The captain spoke with a steady and careful tone. "Mikey, I want you to have everyone get into their basements. Call it a storm drill. I'm going to round up the guards."
"Sir?" The assistant questioned.
"Did I stutter?" The calm tone from the captain had the assistant running away fast. Only once the man was out of earshot did the captain continue. "Now, boy. You're Starseekers? I don't know that clan, but you are able to contact them correct?"
"Yes…?" Samael trailed off as the captain passed him a badge.
"Priority mail. Send them a message. Also send the same one to this address." The captain wrote out a scrawling address across the back of some report. "Mail the badge with that one." The man continued and handed the monk the paper. "Say, date, time, location."
"All right. Then what?" Samael asked as he looked over the paper.
"Come back here. I'm assuming you're a spellcaster of some sort?" The captain asked.
"Fighter actually." Samael clapped his hands together.
"I hope you're good enough. We have to pin down the world boss before it reaches the town." The captain answered back and smiled without humor. "I do hope you're lying."
Samael blinked several times. "Why?"
"Because if you aren't, we're going to all die and this town's going to be wiped off the map." The captain moved across the room and to a locker. Inside was armor and weapons. He began to steadily pull out the armor pieces.
"What?!" The monk blurted out.
"World bosses travel to large cities and population centers. They destroy everything they can, and devour all humans they find. They can be hidden from though. If we delay it even a few minutes then the people here might live." The captain latched on his breastplate and pulled out a simple looking sword to glance over it. "My duty and honor would demand no less than that. Any information we could get would be a boon as well."
"We'd be dead though." Samael pointed out quietly.
"Our souls will be called back for information." The captain sheathed his sword with a click "It costs a small fortune for it, but it will happen. I can rest easy in heaven knowing that."
The monk grit his teeth, but was forced to acknowledge the cold practicality of that. "Shit."
"You don't have to come back after you mail the letters." The man continued quietly and fixed his sword to his belt.
The monk laughed softly and shook his head as he left the office. "I don't think I could call myself what I am if I did that. I am Samael the Monk. I will help. If I die. So be it."
Samael didn't stay to listen to the response. He ran to the post office and scrawled out a quick message to both Bonnie and the address the captain he had been given. The worker in charge glanced at him with disinterest, but then looked with wide eyes at where he was sending the letters.
"Please send them now and get underground." Samael stated softly as he dropped several gold coins on the table.
The worker nodded rapidly and moments later Samael could hear something gallop. He was outside the building and moving towards the office himself.
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Get me my brown pants!
Hmm. It makes sense-they seem to be evolving bosses looking for traits. Why bother looking for weaklings that won't even fight? Better to eat the strong, absorb their power, and move on. Especially since they're on a timer trying to evolve fast enough to survive the inevitable counter attack of seriously high level adventurers.
GiftOfLove
From the Heart
If I was Samael, I'd probably be hitting the church for a sealing technique of some kind.
Chapter 61
"There are three options that can happen here." The captain explained to his guards as they traveled out of the town and in the general direction of the badlands. "The first is our friend here is lying." He motioned to Samael who was following along.
The monk waved casually. Despite the serious words, he didn't feel quite worried yet. It honestly didn't feel real yet. The guards seemed to feel the same way. World boss was just a word at the moment. Even seeing it didn't shift that.
"I'd prefer that." The captain stated grimly. "The second option is a better one. It's one where the boss doesn't head this way. That's possible, and doesn't mean good things, but at least our town will live." The three guards following nodded along. That meant that the boss was rampaging elsewhere, and while not good, it wasn't there. "The third option is the boss is on it's way."
The captain lead the way to a small hill that looked over a nearby forest. The mountain that was the badlands was just barely in the distance. There, the man pulled out a telescope and placed it to his eye. A few minutes later he sagged and then straightened.
"Red flare." He ordered.
The guards gulped. One of them pulled a large object out of their pack and threw it up high. Magic flared around it and then it shot into the air and flared a bright red. Something like this was visible for leagues.
"What's that for?" Samael asked curiously as he looked up.
"Big monster here." The captain grit out and began pulling out what looked to be long barbed spears with chains from his pack.
The tentative peace moved to nervous anticipation and more than a little fear from the guards. They all did the same, pulling out spears and then using stakes to secure them to the ground. Samael took a step back to let them work, and looked in the direction the captain had been staring.
For a long moment there was nothing but clanking and the cursing of the guards. The spears were hunting weapons to hopefully slow down larger monsters. They didn't always work, but they did help at least. Samael didn't think they would be enough as he caught sight of the world boss though.
Even in the distance it was large. There was no hint of the grey form it had previously. Now it was more like a giant wurm with twelve clawed legs and even more flapping wings. Thankfully it didn't seem like it could fly, but each of those wings beat against the ground and caused dust to kick up as it rolled along the ground. It had no eyes to see. No ears to hear. Instead it had a large and cruelly curved beak as a mouth. It was a bizarre and terrifying thing, and it was moving far faster than anyone or anything had a right to. It was also making a direct line towards the town.
"Focus on delaying it!" The captain called out and hefted his spear.
"Hit the golden spots if you see them." Samael stated and leaped forward.
The monster didn't seem to notice the defenders at first. Samael dodged a massive whipping wing first and then got close as he could to its belly. Not that he was sure there was anything vital under there. He struck out with all his strength at the stone like skin. His fist impacted and caused it to dent just a bit.
Anything he might have thought about the ease of the strike was gone then. The world bosses attention turned onto him right at that moment. A leg lashed out and nearly crushed him as it dropped down. The wurm coiled in on itself with terrifying quickness and Samael could see its maw opening up. Teeth lined the insides of the beak and trailed down it's throat.
That brief look of horror was all Samael could see before the monster lunged down to devour him wholesale. Frantically the monk clapped his hands together as fast as he could. Grace took control of the world around him, and the beak stopped for an instant. It didn't rebound. The second grace's supremacy ended, the beak continued to close.
Realizing it almost too late, Samael darted to the side, just barely avoiding getting torn in half from the creature's bite. The beak snapped open like a pair of scissors and then clacked shut again as it continued to bite. Samael dodged again just barely, tumbling under a thrashing leg and just barely avoiding injury at the moment.
The boss paused for a moment at this point. Several spears had been impaled into it's back and the chains had grown taut. It almost looked like that had managed to delay the beast. Then it tugged again in a rippling motion and the stakes holding the spears were torn free. Chains whipped around it's body and the boss irritatedly bit at them instead.
Taking this brief opening, Samael slammed his fists into every place he could hit. It was more tapping than anything else. Up and down the body he went. The boss's size was working against it at the moment, allowing him to practically dance around it. Not that it was paying much attention to him though. Instead it was trying to claw away the irritating chains.
Once done it's attention turned back towards him. Samael grit his teeth as the maw opened again and slammed his palm outward. Glowing gold spots cracked and splintered the stone like skin up and down the massive wurm and the boss flinched for the first time in the fight.
One of the guards cheered and threw a throwing spear into the golden spots. It impacted the area and sank deep into the creature's body. The world boss paused at this moment. Almost like it was surprised.
Then it opened its beak wide. The many wings on its body spread wide, and the limbs braced themselves. Samael pulled out of the creatures reach in wary anticipation.
Something in the world rippled towards the boss. It inhaled, and wind picked up. Magic flowed towards it in a torrent. It bled into the real world in white streamers, and the thing continued to inhale. Wind roared and small leaves and sticks were pulled into the monster's mouth. The beak snapped shut with a ominous clack, and the boss gulped down.
Then it breathed out slowly and terribly. Something thick, liquid, and colorless dripped out of its mouth and began to spread. The ground melted the second it dripped onto the ground. It sizzled into the air and the still growing plant life started to melt around the beast.
Samael moved back as the liquid started to spread around the monster. The acidic poison spread still further as the world bosses wings started to flap, and the field of blighted devastation grew and grew around it.
Each of the bosses limbs slammed into the ground as the monk backed up. The barren ground rippled and then splintered as spikes of earth erupted into the air. Samael just barely avoided being impaled by one of the spikes, and then clapped his hands together as he noticed the acidic cloud rippling towards him.
Someone screamed, and then was cut off sharply. Samael cursed under his breath as he attempted to vault up one of the stone spikes. They dominated the battlefield now, and worryingly he had lost sight of the boss thanks to them. Something clanged as he ascended.
Samael had a moment to see the brave captain holding his shield in the boss monster's mouth open before it creaked and folded in on the man's arm. The arm was cut off in a wash of blood, and the man cut off a scream. Like a bird eating a worm the monster darted down again and then its terrible mouth snapped shut again. It jerked its head back and swallowed.
Then it turned back to Samael holding onto one of the stone spikes.
The monk waved casually. Despite the serious words, he didn't feel quite worried yet. It honestly didn't feel real yet. The guards seemed to feel the same way. World boss was just a word at the moment. Even seeing it didn't shift that.
"I'd prefer that." The captain stated grimly. "The second option is a better one. It's one where the boss doesn't head this way. That's possible, and doesn't mean good things, but at least our town will live." The three guards following nodded along. That meant that the boss was rampaging elsewhere, and while not good, it wasn't there. "The third option is the boss is on it's way."
The captain lead the way to a small hill that looked over a nearby forest. The mountain that was the badlands was just barely in the distance. There, the man pulled out a telescope and placed it to his eye. A few minutes later he sagged and then straightened.
"Red flare." He ordered.
The guards gulped. One of them pulled a large object out of their pack and threw it up high. Magic flared around it and then it shot into the air and flared a bright red. Something like this was visible for leagues.
"What's that for?" Samael asked curiously as he looked up.
"Big monster here." The captain grit out and began pulling out what looked to be long barbed spears with chains from his pack.
The tentative peace moved to nervous anticipation and more than a little fear from the guards. They all did the same, pulling out spears and then using stakes to secure them to the ground. Samael took a step back to let them work, and looked in the direction the captain had been staring.
For a long moment there was nothing but clanking and the cursing of the guards. The spears were hunting weapons to hopefully slow down larger monsters. They didn't always work, but they did help at least. Samael didn't think they would be enough as he caught sight of the world boss though.
Even in the distance it was large. There was no hint of the grey form it had previously. Now it was more like a giant wurm with twelve clawed legs and even more flapping wings. Thankfully it didn't seem like it could fly, but each of those wings beat against the ground and caused dust to kick up as it rolled along the ground. It had no eyes to see. No ears to hear. Instead it had a large and cruelly curved beak as a mouth. It was a bizarre and terrifying thing, and it was moving far faster than anyone or anything had a right to. It was also making a direct line towards the town.
"Focus on delaying it!" The captain called out and hefted his spear.
"Hit the golden spots if you see them." Samael stated and leaped forward.
The monster didn't seem to notice the defenders at first. Samael dodged a massive whipping wing first and then got close as he could to its belly. Not that he was sure there was anything vital under there. He struck out with all his strength at the stone like skin. His fist impacted and caused it to dent just a bit.
Anything he might have thought about the ease of the strike was gone then. The world bosses attention turned onto him right at that moment. A leg lashed out and nearly crushed him as it dropped down. The wurm coiled in on itself with terrifying quickness and Samael could see its maw opening up. Teeth lined the insides of the beak and trailed down it's throat.
That brief look of horror was all Samael could see before the monster lunged down to devour him wholesale. Frantically the monk clapped his hands together as fast as he could. Grace took control of the world around him, and the beak stopped for an instant. It didn't rebound. The second grace's supremacy ended, the beak continued to close.
Realizing it almost too late, Samael darted to the side, just barely avoiding getting torn in half from the creature's bite. The beak snapped open like a pair of scissors and then clacked shut again as it continued to bite. Samael dodged again just barely, tumbling under a thrashing leg and just barely avoiding injury at the moment.
The boss paused for a moment at this point. Several spears had been impaled into it's back and the chains had grown taut. It almost looked like that had managed to delay the beast. Then it tugged again in a rippling motion and the stakes holding the spears were torn free. Chains whipped around it's body and the boss irritatedly bit at them instead.
Taking this brief opening, Samael slammed his fists into every place he could hit. It was more tapping than anything else. Up and down the body he went. The boss's size was working against it at the moment, allowing him to practically dance around it. Not that it was paying much attention to him though. Instead it was trying to claw away the irritating chains.
Once done it's attention turned back towards him. Samael grit his teeth as the maw opened again and slammed his palm outward. Glowing gold spots cracked and splintered the stone like skin up and down the massive wurm and the boss flinched for the first time in the fight.
One of the guards cheered and threw a throwing spear into the golden spots. It impacted the area and sank deep into the creature's body. The world boss paused at this moment. Almost like it was surprised.
Then it opened its beak wide. The many wings on its body spread wide, and the limbs braced themselves. Samael pulled out of the creatures reach in wary anticipation.
Something in the world rippled towards the boss. It inhaled, and wind picked up. Magic flowed towards it in a torrent. It bled into the real world in white streamers, and the thing continued to inhale. Wind roared and small leaves and sticks were pulled into the monster's mouth. The beak snapped shut with a ominous clack, and the boss gulped down.
Then it breathed out slowly and terribly. Something thick, liquid, and colorless dripped out of its mouth and began to spread. The ground melted the second it dripped onto the ground. It sizzled into the air and the still growing plant life started to melt around the beast.
Samael moved back as the liquid started to spread around the monster. The acidic poison spread still further as the world bosses wings started to flap, and the field of blighted devastation grew and grew around it.
Each of the bosses limbs slammed into the ground as the monk backed up. The barren ground rippled and then splintered as spikes of earth erupted into the air. Samael just barely avoided being impaled by one of the spikes, and then clapped his hands together as he noticed the acidic cloud rippling towards him.
Someone screamed, and then was cut off sharply. Samael cursed under his breath as he attempted to vault up one of the stone spikes. They dominated the battlefield now, and worryingly he had lost sight of the boss thanks to them. Something clanged as he ascended.
Samael had a moment to see the brave captain holding his shield in the boss monster's mouth open before it creaked and folded in on the man's arm. The arm was cut off in a wash of blood, and the man cut off a scream. Like a bird eating a worm the monster darted down again and then its terrible mouth snapped shut again. It jerked its head back and swallowed.
Then it turned back to Samael holding onto one of the stone spikes.
gatewaewanderer
Wandering Fool
- Location
- East Coast, USA
Confirmed. If it's not a dragon, it is really damned close. Very eager to see where this is going and how the various forces of this setting are going to respond. Because something on this level is, if not the main antagonist of the story, then pretty close to it. Secondary antagonist maybe.
Dragonskyt
Ashen one, hearest thou my voice, still?
- Location
- Kiln of the First Flame
Honestly I can't imagine Samuel surviving this encounter, except by either divine intervention or plot armor.
Maybe a bit of both.
Maybe a bit of both.
Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
I don't expect him to survive. I expect him to die, get additional training, and then be resurrected in some form or other.
- Location
- Belfast
It's that or Divine Intervention as far as I can see... Cause this thing is horrifying.
That AoE it fired off would Massacre any large force, and it's fast and strong enough to simply mow down a more dispersed one. Oh!, it can fly too, so there's no bombarding it from the high ground either...
I'm getting Endbringer flashbacks here, and I'm considering that a good thing. I suspect the others are a wee bit dead though... Unless they were extremely lucky and got overlooked.
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Chapter 62
He was going to die. Samael had no doubt about that. Bravado couldn't conceal that bone deep feeling of death he felt while looking at the monster's cruel beak. For a very long moment he was still as a mouse caught in a predator's gaze. His muscles locked up and his heart raced.
The world boss surged forward over the jagged rocks it had created in an instant. Reflex had Samael kick off the spine and onto another one before his brain caught up with his body. There was no more place for fear then. He was going to die, but he would not die quietly.
Rock shattered under the ponderous mass of the monster and it turned on a dime to face him again. Samael kicked off again and into a valley of stone before it could do more than lunge again. His hands clapped together and the acid still dripping into the valleys of stone was washed away as he landed.
The monster's maw darted after him anyway. It ripped through the stone with a crumbling crack and missed him by a hair. He could feel the air ripple as it clipped against the ground and left a large gouge. His foot lashed out on instinct and impacted onto the place where the beak met it's stone flesh. Whether from instinct or actual pain, the world boss flinched slightly in response.
Samael used the extremely brief opening to kick off the stone wall next to him and lunge to grab onto the creature's head. It reared back immediately and shook itself hard. Samael held on for dear life as his hands and body nearly shattered just from that. Despite the vigorous movement he managed to hold just barely.
Almost frustrated, the world boss twined it's body around and tried to claw at him. The monk darted back from the attack and practically ran up the other side of the creature's head. It shook again at this in a manner much like a dog attempting to shake themselves dry. Despite this, Samael held on and even managed to get into a better handhold.
The world boss didn't like this at all. It slammed its mouth shut suddenly and then dug its beak into the dirt beneath them both. Its claws dug and pushed and there was a surge of magic around its body as the ground opened to swallow the monster. Its wings pressed to its body and it coiled up on itself as it continued to push down.
Samael jumped off the creature with wide eyes as it burrowed with barely a ripple of the earth. Frantic now the man jumped from earth spike to earth spike in an attempt to avoid whatever was coming next.
The earth rippled like a boulder thrown into a still pond. Samael was knocked to the ground as the spikes he had been using as perches fell over. Rocks larger than men flew through the air and impacted the ground. The boss roared loudly as it ripped its way out of the earth and everything around its emergence was flattened and destroyed.
Samael coughed and clapped again as the world boss attempted to eat him once more. Genuine frustration seemed to be apparent in the creature as its beak failed to close around him. It slammed down again and again, missing the frantically dodging monk with each strike.
His lucky dodging couldn't last though. Between one breath and the next he was a hair too slow. One of his hands were just a bit out of position, and with an almost insultingly quiet click the beak closed around it. Like that, Samael had lost a hand.
Samael didn't even feel it really. He just cursed and clapped his free hand to the bloody stump and attempted to make space.
Sensing his weakness the boss redoubled its efforts. The beak opened and came down again. Samael grit his teeth in response and kicked hard. His foot went numb and the things beak was knocked to the side just enough for him to slide out of the way.
He didn't anticipate the monster shifting in response and twisting its head instead of bringing it down again. The maw closed around his legs and clacked shut again. There was no pain, even as Samael lost his legs too. Just a terrible sudden loss of sensation.
The man collapsed to the ground and barely caught himself on his arm. He didn't look down. He didn't want to know what was lost. Felt very weak all of the sudden though. That didn't mean good things.
The world boss craned its head back and swallowed. Samael watched it loom for a moment, wondering if the rest of him was going to be eaten too.
The boss craned its head as Samael's breathing went weak and his vision started to fade. He couldn't really move anymore. He just held his breath and waited for it to end.
The world boss started to move again. Samael watched it incredulously as it started to move away and towards the town. It was like it couldn't see him anymore.
Samael let out a breath of air, and then went very still as the boss monster paused again. Holding his breath, the man watched as the world boss tilted its head again. It stomped on the ground and it quaked. Despite this, Samael didn't move or even breath. His vision was going, but this was important.
It could feel people breathing. Samael realized as he faded. It couldn't see him at the moment. A wild bit of inspiration hit him. It had no eyes, and came from a dungeon that had used stone creatures. It used vibrations on the earth or vibrations in the air. That was important.
Samael felt his vision grow black. He clawed with his free hand. Shit, there wasn't anything he could do to pass this on. They would maybe talk with his soul, but that would take too long. Samael breathed out and felt his vision go black as the monster moved away.
I expect you to be able to fight.
Samael's eyes snapped open. He coughed and faded out again.
I expect you to be able to fight.
The monk's eyes snapped open again and he coughed once more. He breathed in and out. He couldn't see. He couldn't hear anymore. He could still hear that voice though. He just didn't know what to do. He had nothing left. He was dying.
Are you giving up my boy?
Samael grit his teeth and focused on his breath. There was nothing else he could do. Even his old guardian was lecturing him now.
We're proud of you.
There was something he needed. Something he had grasped just the edge of. Something that was very important. It was just at the edge of his mind though. He reached upward with a bloody hand and stretched with all his might.
In the end, we grasp Salvation.
Then came peace.
The world boss surged forward over the jagged rocks it had created in an instant. Reflex had Samael kick off the spine and onto another one before his brain caught up with his body. There was no more place for fear then. He was going to die, but he would not die quietly.
Rock shattered under the ponderous mass of the monster and it turned on a dime to face him again. Samael kicked off again and into a valley of stone before it could do more than lunge again. His hands clapped together and the acid still dripping into the valleys of stone was washed away as he landed.
The monster's maw darted after him anyway. It ripped through the stone with a crumbling crack and missed him by a hair. He could feel the air ripple as it clipped against the ground and left a large gouge. His foot lashed out on instinct and impacted onto the place where the beak met it's stone flesh. Whether from instinct or actual pain, the world boss flinched slightly in response.
Samael used the extremely brief opening to kick off the stone wall next to him and lunge to grab onto the creature's head. It reared back immediately and shook itself hard. Samael held on for dear life as his hands and body nearly shattered just from that. Despite the vigorous movement he managed to hold just barely.
Almost frustrated, the world boss twined it's body around and tried to claw at him. The monk darted back from the attack and practically ran up the other side of the creature's head. It shook again at this in a manner much like a dog attempting to shake themselves dry. Despite this, Samael held on and even managed to get into a better handhold.
The world boss didn't like this at all. It slammed its mouth shut suddenly and then dug its beak into the dirt beneath them both. Its claws dug and pushed and there was a surge of magic around its body as the ground opened to swallow the monster. Its wings pressed to its body and it coiled up on itself as it continued to push down.
Samael jumped off the creature with wide eyes as it burrowed with barely a ripple of the earth. Frantic now the man jumped from earth spike to earth spike in an attempt to avoid whatever was coming next.
The earth rippled like a boulder thrown into a still pond. Samael was knocked to the ground as the spikes he had been using as perches fell over. Rocks larger than men flew through the air and impacted the ground. The boss roared loudly as it ripped its way out of the earth and everything around its emergence was flattened and destroyed.
Samael coughed and clapped again as the world boss attempted to eat him once more. Genuine frustration seemed to be apparent in the creature as its beak failed to close around him. It slammed down again and again, missing the frantically dodging monk with each strike.
His lucky dodging couldn't last though. Between one breath and the next he was a hair too slow. One of his hands were just a bit out of position, and with an almost insultingly quiet click the beak closed around it. Like that, Samael had lost a hand.
Samael didn't even feel it really. He just cursed and clapped his free hand to the bloody stump and attempted to make space.
Sensing his weakness the boss redoubled its efforts. The beak opened and came down again. Samael grit his teeth in response and kicked hard. His foot went numb and the things beak was knocked to the side just enough for him to slide out of the way.
He didn't anticipate the monster shifting in response and twisting its head instead of bringing it down again. The maw closed around his legs and clacked shut again. There was no pain, even as Samael lost his legs too. Just a terrible sudden loss of sensation.
The man collapsed to the ground and barely caught himself on his arm. He didn't look down. He didn't want to know what was lost. Felt very weak all of the sudden though. That didn't mean good things.
The world boss craned its head back and swallowed. Samael watched it loom for a moment, wondering if the rest of him was going to be eaten too.
The boss craned its head as Samael's breathing went weak and his vision started to fade. He couldn't really move anymore. He just held his breath and waited for it to end.
The world boss started to move again. Samael watched it incredulously as it started to move away and towards the town. It was like it couldn't see him anymore.
Samael let out a breath of air, and then went very still as the boss monster paused again. Holding his breath, the man watched as the world boss tilted its head again. It stomped on the ground and it quaked. Despite this, Samael didn't move or even breath. His vision was going, but this was important.
It could feel people breathing. Samael realized as he faded. It couldn't see him at the moment. A wild bit of inspiration hit him. It had no eyes, and came from a dungeon that had used stone creatures. It used vibrations on the earth or vibrations in the air. That was important.
Samael felt his vision grow black. He clawed with his free hand. Shit, there wasn't anything he could do to pass this on. They would maybe talk with his soul, but that would take too long. Samael breathed out and felt his vision go black as the monster moved away.
I expect you to be able to fight.
Samael's eyes snapped open. He coughed and faded out again.
I expect you to be able to fight.
The monk's eyes snapped open again and he coughed once more. He breathed in and out. He couldn't see. He couldn't hear anymore. He could still hear that voice though. He just didn't know what to do. He had nothing left. He was dying.
Are you giving up my boy?
Samael grit his teeth and focused on his breath. There was nothing else he could do. Even his old guardian was lecturing him now.
We're proud of you.
There was something he needed. Something he had grasped just the edge of. Something that was very important. It was just at the edge of his mind though. He reached upward with a bloody hand and stretched with all his might.
In the end, we grasp Salvation.
Then came peace.
gatewaewanderer
Wandering Fool
- Location
- East Coast, USA
Wait, he's been trying for this for a while. Is this some kind of Respawn technique or something?