Chapter 101: Asterion

Asterion did not know why it was born as his mother was horrified when she saw him. His father also did not even acknowledge him when he came out of his mother's wound. At a young age, he was trapped in a labyrinth made by his own father as normal swords could not pierce him and he did not have the courage to kill the young Asterion.

When he was trapped in the labyrinth, he cursed the world for his misfortune but he knew deep inside that there was an entity that wants him to rampage. He detected this entity when he wallowed in great anguish due to being unable to escape the labyrinth. Due to being born as a minotaur, he outlived his parents and grew to like the isolation he has experienced.

Asterion did not blame his parents for abandoning him because he knew that if they did not then he would be killed eventually by "people blinded by justice". He would also bring the downfall of his parents and siblings as they could wage war with the fact that their kingdom was harboring a monster. At the very least he was given a name which he held dear. His name also means "starry" which he liked as he gazed upon the night sky full of stars.

Years passed and Asterion got visited by one of his injured siblings due to the sudden invasion of a neighboring kingdom. His sibling managed to reach Asterion but still died due to his injuries. Asterion filled with rage as this was the sibling that once wandered into the labyrinth and talked to Asterion even though that sibling was scared at first. He became Asterion's first friend and would visit him from time to time.

He held his brother in his dying arms before seeing the soldiers of the invading nation that chased his brother to this destination. Filled with rage, Asterion pulverized the soldiers into paste and tore them limb from limb. When his blind rage ended, he saw what he did and cried. He then saw his brother's dead body and buried it in the garden that he tended himself. This was Asterion's most painful memory and deepest regret as he was not even able to help his family as he could not get out of the labyrinth.

Years has passed once again and adventurers started flooding Asterion's labyrinth because of the rumor that the fallen kingdom's treasure was hidden there. There are those who tried to enter through flight but was instead met with a barrier and failed in their efforts. All those who entered deep into labyrinth though had one thing in common and that is they all died.

The adventurers who entered and saw Asterion immediately attacked him because they mistook him for a monster and a monster he became. Asterion killed all those who dare trespass his labyrinth and those who attack him. He became a monster and the labyrinth was designated as a danger zone by the adventurers.

Asterion once again in isolation and without company wallowed in his sorrow. Until one day, a certain mage visited him and started a conversation with him. This was a refreshing feeling to Asterion who always get attacked immediately. The man introduced himself as Cristobal and told Asterion that he could free him from this labyrinth if Asterion wanted.

Asterion first rejected the offer because he did not want to leave the place that his parents have given him. Cristobal was not disheartened and repeatedly visited Asterion and even brought him gifts to 'tame the wild beast' according to him. Until one day, Asterion grew to like Cristobal's company but he made Cristobal make a spell to that will preserve his labyrinth garden.

Cristobal accepted the offer and made sure that the garden will never die and will always bloom beautifully. It was then Asterion left the labyrinth with Cristobal in a smiling face. Never did thought that the smile he saw that day was more poisonous than a hydra's venom.

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The Free Wraith-kun party tried their best to apply damage to Asterion and try to redirect the aggro towards them but it did not work. The good news is that due to Adrian's consistent dodging with the newly summoned sword Psyche Armament second skill Twin Fang Form, they managed to bring down Asterion's heath to 70%.

Another piece of good news is that Asterion had been afflicted with the bleeding status thanks to Sirius continuously attacking him. Asterion was losing percentage health points per second even though it was only 0.1% health per second. With Adrian using the Twin Fang form of the sword Psyche Armament, he could easily dodge the axe swings and charge attacks.

Asterion was swinging his giant axe in a disorderly manner due to being not in the right mind as his mind was broken by Cristobal. Asterion is just another overpowered boss due to him not having the right sanity. He could still use skills but his axe technique was sloppy and he only swung it using brute force and no battle techniques.

Adrian and Vayu were weaving through the battle field and striking the lower body of Asterion as minotaurs are notorious for their weakness in their lower body. They have great upper body strength but could be easily brought down by weakening their lower body. Adrian was continuously ramping up the damage he dealt by dodging with only a slight margin and striking back.

Enemies or any player in general that wields a large axe has a fatal flaw and that is the huge backswing. Although, the upside is that axe users deal tremendous amount of damage due to it being a heavy weapon. Adrian and Vayu used the huge backswing as a timeframe to attack. Vayu now had wind coating his body like an aura due to it as his attacks becomes faster, the more he hits Vayu.

Whenever Adrian or Vayu would almost get hit, Kanlaon and Soleil will attack Asterion on the head with concentrated fire attacks which would cancel the upcoming attack from the minotaur. Little by Little, the party was now having great team play. Adrian and Vayu was moving so elegantly that it would seem they are performing a sword dance.

If Asterion would almost hit Adrian, Vayu would release a small twister to knock him back a little. If Asterion would strike at Vayu, Adrian would launch a Soul Searing Crescent Wave to disorient the minotaur. Of course, Asterion would manage to get a hit sometimes and that is where Saena would heal whoever is low in health to acceptable levels.

The party was getting their momentum going and finally they manage to drop Asterion's health to 50%. A shock wave was then released with Asterion in the epicenter and blew the party by a few meters. Asterion's body then glowed in a dark violet and white light and another Asterion appeared beside him. The other Asterion was not a carbon copy of the minotaur but was like an astral body.

The astral body looked like it was a constellation that came down from the sky. It had Asterion's form but not his weapon which means it would have another function. The astral body then charged towards the nearest party member which was Vayu. Vayu was about to strike at it when he just passed through at it and then the astral body did a stomp at the ground.

[Party Member Vayu has been put to deep sleep.]

[Asterion is about to use Seismic Slam.]

Adrian was horrified by the notification because deep sleep was different than regular sleep as it would take a great deal of effort to wake up and he only had one potion to cleanse it. But more importantly, if the system was warning them of the attack then it would deal devastating damage that could probably one shot somebody. Adrian immediately used his Blink skill to get close to Vayu. Adrian grabbed Vayu and was about to use another Blink when he saw a red shock wave coming towards them.

Adrian immediately used his Blink in panic because the shock wave was going towards them in fast motion. The two managed to get away but the wall that the shock wave hit was damaged. The wall made of muscle became blue in color and stopped pulsating as if it died.

Adrian then told Kanlaon to carry Vayu for the moment as he was unable to battle due to the status. Adrian was sure it would be dispelled in a few minutes but he and Sirius would have to distract the boss for that duration. Adrian looked at the shroud buff and saw that there were only thirty minutes left before it ends and if that happens it could mean the worst case scenario.

Adrian then decided to use his domain skill as there was no other way to win the fight if he did not use it despite not knowing its full effects.

"Nether Domain" Adrian said and when he said that it was as if three more of Adrian's voice said it with him.