Vol. 4 - Chapter 225 - First field boss battle & The debut of Hannah's bomb!
"Gwarrrrrrrrr!"
<Jurra Saugus> let out an explosive roar, apparently noticing us nearing itself.
It, who was as calm as undisturbed water surface until just a while ago, was dyed in a hostility so intense as if we were its parents murderer.
I don't know why it regarded us as outright enemies instead of prey.
I don't recall we did something to antagonize the boss so much, but I guess he must have sensed we're brimming with the thought of defeating it.
"It's quite a sharp monster, don't you guys think so?"
"It's not the time to joke around, Zephyr, <Taunt>!"
And the activation of Sierra's taunt skill marks the beginning of our battle.
The first chooses its target at random. Thus the common strategy is for the tank to attract its aggro. Well not like it changes anything we have been doing until now.
"Gwarrrrrrrrr!"
"Deploy!"
The boss roared, whose target was made to fix Sierra. A yellowish hue effect enveloped the body of Jurra Saugus quickly following its roar.
It is the effect that signifies the activation of a monster's skill.
In field boss case, it was the <Charge> skill that quadruple beast commonly possesses.
The Jurra Saugus made its rush being dyed in a yellow hue effect. Given how it's a one dimension rudimentary skill, it's easy to avoid.
However Sierra deliberately didn't dodge and set up her shield to receive its charge.
"Ku... Heavy"
Bang
The sound of crashing echoes as Sierra expressed her slightly bitter emotion. Though she received the skill without any setup.
It wasn't an optimum setup to receive the offensive but contrary to what Sierra's sound like, she has easily stopped it.
"My turn. <Divine Barrier>! <Healing prayer>!"
Lana finally buffs and heals her after seeing that. Sierra's wish is to try receiving the first attack normally always, hence why Lana kept her hand until now.
Lana buffed everyone and promptly healed Sierra of whatever paltry amount of damage she received.
"Gawwwrrr!"
Jurra Saugus, whose charge was stopped, shook its head left and right like a whip. This is another skill, <Headbutt>.
Sierra stepped back to dodge the attack while propping up her shield in front.
"It has stopped moving! Amp up your attack gradually, not at once! <Lightning Slash>!"
"Roger! <Long Thrust>!"
"<Fire Lance>!"
"Gawwwrrrrr!!"
I urge everyone to focus on observing its movement since it's their fight against Jurra Saugus and gradually joins in to attack.
Ester has high vigilance towards the boss and decided on choosing <Long Thrust> that uses minimalist action so that she can dodge at any time in case of danger. I'm always impressed by her spirit to always opt for the method that gives her the chance of dodging any given moment.
I already know the boss's behavioral pattern and even if I receive its attack, I will not fall into a perilous situation so I use the art from the get-go.
Hannah attacks with magic borrowing the help of <Magic return - R>. Though she looks already prepared to switch equipment if the situation seems to go south. Hannah has more than a few boss battle variations.
"Hm, range attack incoming! Avoid it!"
"Yes!"
"Ok!"
The Jurra Saugus brandished its head and tail and made a semicircular rotation on the spot just after Ester and Sierra retreated back at my voice. Then it spins once again. They would have blown away if they were present in the boss range.
The spinning attack was simple but swift that gives minimalist signs of its action which makes it hard to dodge. Fortunately I made it in time and everyone avoided it safely.
It's a slightly troublesome attack since you would be blown if it hit and to avoid it at times, you have to stay at a distance which makes it hard to attack it from up-close.
Though the boss is an easy prey from the rearguard attacker's perspective. After all, it is just spinning in that spot. Not to say the vanguard has retreated on time, have secured their line of fire and are in condition to let loose their attacks.
"Chance! <Shining saber of the sacred light>! <Light blade>! <Sacred pillar>!"
"Gaaaaawr!"
There goes Lana's magic. The boss HP goes down considerably due to the rapid fire of her powerful arts.
We can always rely on her firepower.
However, this isn't simply the end.
As there's one more rearguard short of its moves. Hannah has put aside her wand and instead was now holding a cylindrical item in one hand and a cane like item in the other which I didn't notice amidst the rapid fire magic of Lana.
"Goooooo!"
Hannah turned both her towards the boss and together with a bang sound, a yellow colour energy ball and a flame ray fired from the cylindrical and cane shape item respectively. And it splendidly hit the boss.
"Gawwwrrrrr!"
Bang-Bang
Hannah's release attack explodes with a loud sound. That was Hannah's <Bomb> item, grandly announcing its debut.
The cylindrical thing is <Tube Canon - Energy> and cane <The cane of flame ray>. Both of them are consumable items with Nth number of limits.
Neither of them looks bombs from any angle but <Bomb> comes into the category of offensive item, so both <Tube Canon> and the <Cane> come categories into bombs.
Incidentally, there are also bombs that look like actual thing but Hannah was devastatingly bad at throwing them so they will not be able to appear in actual battle until we found ourselves equipment with <Throw> skill.
I really want to get it in my hands as soon as possible. Until then, Hannah can only make use of shooting attack system items <Tube Canon> and <Cane>.
Though Hannah is so good at shooting type bombs that she can even hit the agile <Wolf>.
The materials and production cost didn't come out cheaply but they do possess the might that's comparable to Lana's <Light blade>. There's not any cooldown either so one can shoot them to their heart content too. Not forgetting the usage limit though.
"S-S-So-So strong!"
Hannah was dumbfounded at the unprecedented damage caused by the items made by herself. It was a power Hannah could never bring out until now.
The damage count made by the attack items until there's barely left anything for a follow up shot was approaching Lana. Not bad if I say to myself.
The biggest factor is also because the Jurra Saugus was under critical down status midway due to critical hits. Thanks to that, all the attacks hit the Jurra Saugus spot on like a magnet attracting the metal.
By the way, I had fired my magic from a distance so as soon as Hannah's attack ended, I struck it with full power together with Ester.
The aggro meter was jumbled together because of the high damage but Sierra managed to attract it towards her once again swiftly, stabilizing the battle situation. Sierra managed to endure all the strong attacks of the boss without falling down which relieved the pressure on us and we were able to dwindle down its HP at a stable rate.
Finally the boss HP reached the red zone and it entered rage mode.
"Gawwwwwwwwwrrrrrrr!!"
"The boss might and speed is 1.5 of original! Move with all your, everyone!"
" "Yes!" "
The bosses that begin to appear from the Intermediate dungeon not only have their offensive ability increased by 1.5× in rage mode, but even the speed too with percentage.
The party would be forced to step back and leave them incapable of fighting further if they are unable to react instantly to that speed, which spiked up the difficulty level of boss fights in Intermediate dungeons.
"<Aura point>! <Iron wall>!"
Sierra further attracts its aggro and uses the <Iron wall> to tune it into a wall on the spot.
"Gawwwr!"
Jurra Saugus unleashed its charge attack at her. Unlike earlier, it was an attack with extraordinary might. An attack which if were to hit Lana, who has the least HP, would have been enough to take out her 70% HP.
However, Sierra wasn't defending without any preparation either. This time she's buffed with Lana's protection blessing and has an iron wall as a shield.
So if I have to bet which one will one, then一
"Haa!"
"Gaww!?"
Sierra didn't even buzz from her spot. It was an overwhelming victory in Sierra's favor.
Jurra Saugus, who instead of damaging its opponent took the damage itself in return, stumbled.
"Attack! <Lightning Slash>! <Swift Strike>!"
"<Precise Thrust>! <Flash Thrust>! <Long Thrust>!"
"Gawwwgaa!?"
"Range attack incoming!"
"Ok!"
Jura Saugus who was almost on its last leg from the attacks of mine and Ester tried to use a spinning attack as a last resort to shake off it but unfortunately, it would be a cause of its demise.
"That's your chance, Hannah! <Shining saber of the sacred light>! <Rise of the sacred tree>!"
"Y-Yes! Take iiiiiit!"
Lana and Hannah fired their mightiest attack immediately after I and Ester distanced ourselves.
"Ga...... ww...... rrrr"
Thus it lost its final HP and sank and disappeared amidst the huge effect that ensues after its demise.
And In its spot now enshrined a sparkly, golden <Gold chest>.