Chapter 14 Moment Of Judgment
"Nice job! You're pretty strong, kid!" Myung-Hee called out, rearing her large, silver greatsword back as an opening was created.
"Go for it!" He yelled out as his attack finished, using a [Shadow Step] to move out of the way out of whatever the woman was planning.
After having pulled her massive claymore back, it began to be shrouded in vibrant flames that spread their light through the chamber.
"Cast: Burning Blood Edge!"
It looked far more potent than anything he possessed in terms of static power, watching as she began to spin around to build momentum while also building the flames up as well into a mighty whirlwind of roaring, orange inferno.
While she was building the attack, the Fallen Champion began to regain its balance, beginning to rear its blades back to attack her.
"--No, you don't!" He yelled out.
Just as he decided to attack, another incantation left Kamou's lips, "Cast: Amplify Strength!"
The amplification spell targeted him before he followed up with his own assault against the boss, "Black Ripper!"
[Spirit: -300. Remaining Spirit: 1160/2500.]
Intercepting the giant foe clad in black armor before it could attack, he struck against it like a flash, spreading a barrage of shadow-bolstered slashes against its tough exterior.
"Grrghh–!"
The Fallen Champion let out a low, mechanical groan as the series of attacks left it stunned again, giving a true opening for the built-up, flaming attack from Myung-Hee.
"Here I go–!" Myung-Hee yelled out with a fearsome smile.
Finally stomping her foot down with a powerful thud, she carried her blade forth in a heavy, powerful swing, sending the majestic flames directly against the Fallen Champion's body in a blaze.
The impact resulted in an explosion of flames that knocked him back, forcing him to flip around as he witnessed the resulting damage inflicted on the dungeon boss.
So, that's what other classes are capable of, huh…? He thought in astonishment.
His curly, red locks fluttered in the heated winds that propelled off of the source of the impact before a cloud of smoke sat around the spot.
They all watched together with hopeful, desperate gazes at the gathering of dense, abundant smoke that the last attack finished it off.
"Did that finish it?" Myung-Hee asked, wiping the sweat from her chin.
"Please don't raise event flags like that so casually!" He shouted out.
As Myung-Hee gave him a raised eyebrow at his odd yell, suddenly Kamou had a shocked expression on her face.
"Myung-Hee, watch out–!"
Through the billow of embers, the greatsword wielded by the colossal of black-steel armor swung through, aiming towards the claymore-wielding woman who stood with her back turned towards it.
…Shit! He thought.
Gathering all of the strength in his legs, he pushed forward in a swift, determined dash.
[Blink Step]
[Blink Step]
[Blink Step]
[Blink Step]
[Blink Step]
Five times in succession, he used [Blink Step] to cover the distance in an instant, throwing himself between Myung-Hee and the blade as he used his already-damaged sword as a shield.
The continuous movements were used so swiftly that neither of the other two players perceived him even moving.
"Sage Period" off–! He thought.
At the very least, he turned off his unique ability to prevent himself from taking double damage, just in time as the massive, heavy sword of the colossus swung against his puny blade.
"Huh!?" Myung-Hee finally reacted.
The moment the strength behind the Fallen Champion's blade met against his flimsy defense, he felt all of the air escape his lungs before he was sent flying back.
[Health: -500. Remaining Health Points: 1500/2000.]
[WARNING. Weapon broken. Please equip a new weapon as soon as possible.]
It shattered into a thousand pieces; his trusty sword. Like glass giving in to the strength of the mighty, it was reduced to nothing as he was flung back by the overwhelming strength of his foe.
Though, there was a silver lining.
"Jeong-Hui!" Kamou shouted out worriedly, running to his side after he had barely stuck the landing.
Myung-Hee looked back at him, still stunned at what had just occurred between a few, stray seconds.
"It's almost defeated…!" He shouted out, catching his breath.
As he let out those words, he brought their gazes to the state of the Fallen Champion, who looked to be standing on its last legs as its once seemingly impervious, immaculate armor was full of cracks and holes.
Steam exuded from its form as the flames that crashed against it previously still left their impact.
"Are you alright?..." Kamou asked, standing close to him.
Even as exhausted as he was, he still found himself with a light blush as the girl who he considered leagues upon leagues out of his league was close to him, looking to see some of her silver, silken locks brushing his shoulder.
"I-I'm fine–!" He let out, attempting to stand as his knees wobbled.
Woah…I'm totally not fine, he thought.
"Cast: Recovery."
Kamou didn't waste a moment using the spell on him, letting a vibrant, seraphic light dance around him before he found his stamina returning to his body.
[Health Points Fully Restored. 2000/2000.]
"...Thanks," he nodded before returning to his feet.
Myung-Hee called out from up ahead, "I hate to interrupt you both, but the big guy is coming–and he seems angry!"
Just then, the warrior-class woman was forced to clash her claymore against one of the Fallen Champion's swung greatswords, but was sent stumbling back as without the buffs from Kamou, it exceeded her strength greatly.
"Gyah–!" Myung-Hee winced.
Taking charge, he forced himself to his feet, beginning to move to help the claymore-wielding player out. As he ran forward, he looked back at Kamou, "Give me support–I'm counting on you!"
Kamou was caught off-guard by the shine of his emerald eyes that were accentuated greatly without his glasses, only nodding her head a moment later, "Right!"
Wait, but he doesn't have a weapon…what is he planning to do?! She thought.
As he ran, he activated [Sage Period] once again, drawing in a sharp breath through his lips.
"Combine: Flame Lance. Dark Edge. Ripper. Reinforce."
[Combination Complete. New Spell Forged: [Judgment Blade] Ready To Be Used.]
As the system processed and completed his request, he drew the attention of the dungeon boss, using [Blink Step] to avoid the swings of its greatsword narrowly.
"Cast: Judgment Blade!"
[Spirit: -500. Remaining Spirit: 650/2500.]
In his hand, he formed a temporary weapon made of reshaped, dark flames that took the form of an unstable, hissing sword in his grip.
"Cast: Amplify! Cast: Haste!"
Kamou gave him support, bolstering both his agility and his strength as he managed to overcome the aggressive, broad swings from the Fallen Champion easier as each swing cast lofty air pressure through the dark, metallic chamber.
One direct hit, and I'll die. But–the same can be said for him! He thought.
Kamou and Myung-Hee watched as he managed to dodge the edge of the boss' blade by a hair, sliding along its colossal surface before dashing forth with the temporary, spell-forged weapon in his grip.
Sorry, Dungeon Boss, but I've got girls watching me–so I can't hold anything back! He thought.
Gathering momentum as he ran downwards across the gargantuan weapon of the boss, he finally unleashed the singular, momentous slash of the [Judgment Blade] that expelled a grand exertion of unstable, dark flames against the Fallen Champion.
The mixture of the visceral, sharp edge of the slash and the all-encompassing flames were the final straw that brought the boss down as it fell, slamming down into the ground with a metallic roar that sounded beneath its weight.
That surprisingly…went well, he thought, catching his breath.
As soon as he landed back down on the ground, placing his glasses back on, he was met with a system prompt that both of the girls seemed to get as well.
[DUNGEON BOSS "Fallen Champion" DEFEATED. EXP+1600. [Angel Coin] x100 Acquired. [Stygian Ore] x 3Acquired.]
[Congratulations. You've reached [Level 11].]
[Current EXP: 95/2000.]
"I leveled up again? Nice…" He mumbled.
[Resources [Health] and [Spirit] have been fully restored. Remaining Health Points: 2200/2200 Remaining Spirit: 2600/2600.]
[Remaining Skill Points: 2.]
[Sub-Class Available. Check?]