Chapter 83 - The Underground Catacomb 2_2

I saw dozens of torches when I take a peek at the inside of the Boss Room from a small gap I had made by slightly opened the large stone door. 

The torches lit up the room, making me able to see the inside.

Black floors made of stone, thousands of shards and pieces of bones, walls decorated by hundreds of human skulls, and dozens of long red banners hanging on the pillars.

More important than the boss room's interior was a Headless Ape Chieftain that was stood in there. 

Different from the regular Headless Ape, the Headless Ape Chieftain had a height of almost two and a half meters. The monster was more hulky, had long fangs, and had darker fur.

And needless to say, the monster was stronger than Headless Ape.

"[Appraisal]"

-----+

[Race: Headless Ape Chieftain | Lvl 31]

| HP: 640/640

| MP: 230/238

| SP: 457/470

-----+

The monster's level and SP were higher than the Nightmare Illusion Peshrooms but its HP and MP were lower.

Gulp!

"It's going to be a pretty tough fight."

Hearing my words, Ruciel raised one of her eyebrows. "How come you-no, tell me, what level is that monster? You can surely see it with appraisal, right?"

I nodded and said, "Thirty-one, and I'm sure the monster is strong. Therefore, please help us to defeat that monster, Ruciel."

"All right," said the girl, "but you must remember, my help is not free. I want an additional pay."

"Of course, we can negotiate it in more detail after we kill the monster."

Ruciel nodded then started preparing herself for the fight. She changed her gear and took out her white longbow.

I turn around to look at the kids when Ruciel was busy.

"Kimi and Alan, always be alert and always pay attention to the movements of Headless Ape Chieftain. If you can't keep up or even see the monster's movements, don't try to attack. Focus on surviving, you understand?"

"I get it," replied Alan with a nod to his head.

"... Well, I understand too," Kimi said. The little black fox avoided eye contact with me.

The behavior she made showed that she had no intention of heeding the warnings I gave.

"I'm serious, Kimi! Don't try to attack if you can't see the monster's movements! Once again, do you understand?" I repeated my question and this time, I said it firmly.

My sister's fox ears stood up. Then she looked into my eyes directly and said, "I understand."

"Good!"

"Un! Sis Eclaite, what should I do?" Chloe asked. The little girl looked eager.

"Stay in the backline. Don't separate from Ruciel and please help us with Healing Spell and Mana Bind."

"Okay, I'll do it!"

"We're counting on you, Chloe."

A few minutes later, we were finally ready!

"Let's start this fight," Ruciel said.

I replied with a nod. Then I opened the stone door.

Zraak! Zraak!

The door was finally wide open. Now, we can see the figure of Headless Ape Chieftain.

And it seems, it's not just us who can see the enemy.

Headless Ape Chieftain turned around. Its red eyes looked at us sharply. And in an instant, the monster made an angry expression.

"UKYOO!" The monster roared then ran towards us quickly.

"Why is that monster approaching! We haven't entered the Boss Room yet!" I shouted and readied my Silver Spear.

Ruciel did the same, she prepared her Long Bow. And in fact, the girl started attacking the Headless Ape Chieftain by firing her arrow.

The kids?

They imitate us, they are ready to fight.

"This place is not a Dungeon! Of course, the monster won't stay in that room!" said Ruciel. "Hinder that monster stupid girl!"

"Call me Eclaite, Ruciel."

Leaving that sentence behind, I approached the Headless Ape Chieftain that was running to us.

"[Flash Swing]"

"UUkyo!"

Slash! Slash! Clang! Clang!

My spear attacks were met with punches covered in red light launched by the Headless Ape Chieftain. 

Every attack I launch is fended off by that monster!

The thing that just happened surprised me!

The monster's movements were fast and its hands were as hard as steel! My eyes were wide open as our attack clashed, spark after spark created. Not only that, but the monster's punch was also powerful.

Headless Ape Chieftain continued its attack!

A punch covered in light came to destroy my body.

I made moves. Taking a few steps and bending my body, I dodged the first punch. When the second punch came, I swung the Silver Spear to change the course of the punch.

"UKKY!"

The monster was enraged and a red light appeared to envelop the monster's arms.

I realized powerful attacks were coming, so I prepared.

However, I never expected, the monster's attacks never came.

Two arrows that appeared suddenly and pierced the Headless Ape Chieftain's right shoulder canceled out the monster's attack. 

"Ukyo!" The monster roared in pain.

And yes, I launched other attacks as the monster tried to pull out the arrow on its shoulder.

"[Triple Thrust]"

The monster protected itself using its hands. Because of that, I was able to give the monster wounds.

"Ukyo!"

The angry monster attacked me. Unfortunately for it, I was able to dodge the attack. And when I dodged, I used a Spell.

"[Wind Cannon]"

BLASH!

"Ukk'o!"

The monster was thrown for several meters. And as it tried to stand up, some of Ruciel's arrows pierced the monster's joints.

Then, when the monster tried to pull out some arrows in its body, I attacked it.

With that attacks pattern and without interruption from the kids, the monster's HP was reduced at a quick pace. Within a few minutes, the monster was in a critical state.

The monster would die after receiving a few more attacks.

However, something unexpected happened.

"UKKY! UKYOO!" Headless Ape Chieftain roared.

A few seconds later, the monster's eyes glowed! And not only that, but a red aura also enveloped its enlarged body.

"Did the monster just use Last Struggle?"

Last Struggle is a skill that boosted all basic statistics when the HP at critical condition. It lasts for dozens of minutes. And after that, the monster will become so weak.

Back to the moment.

Because I tried to recall about Last Struggle, I got a powerful blow to my stomach. A moment later I was thrown a few meters away. I rolled on the floor a few times before finally stopping.

I was careless.

I could see the monster's movements. But unfortunately, I was late to make a defense. My body can't move fast enough!

While lying on the floor, I drank a bottle of Potion as quickly as possible. And when I do it.

"[Rock Skin]"

"Ukyo!"

BAM!

"Gah!"

"Alan!"

"Back off, Kimi!"

"[Heal]"

The monster reached the backline!

It was a bad situation I didn't want!

I stood up as fast as I could when I can handle the pain in my body. Then, I saw bad things and good things.

The bad thing I saw, Kimi and Alan were lying on the floor. They're not moving! However, I could see their chests were still moving, it meant they were still alive.

As for the good things, I saw Chloe trying her best to use the Healing Spell to heal Kimi and Alan. 

The good things don't stop there. Ruciel, the Fallen Elf girl managed to stop the Headless Ape Chieftain. The girl's outstanding ability to use the dagger made the monster unable to be careless.

I approached and joined their fight.

I fought with all the ability I had. And I was shocked when I discovered that I couldn't keep up with this monster's movements and strength.

I get wound after wound as our fight continues. And can't rely on Ruciel to land a final blow because she never launches an attack with heavy damage.

On the other hand, the Headless Ape Chieftain was getting faster and stronger.

It's not good and I have to do something.

If this continues, we will lose.

I think to find a way out and to win. A few minutes later I got an idea.

I'm sure this idea will work! Therefore, I'm waiting for an opportunity.

Then, when the opportunity came, I kicked the Headless Ape Chieftain in the face with all the strength I had. Thanks to that, the monster was thrown for several meters.

Of course, I'm not standing still after I did that. The moment I managed to throw the monster, as quickly as possible I ran up to it.

I'm ready to use my ultimate plan.

What is the ultimate plan of mine?

This ultimate plan wasn't that amazing. It can be said extremely simple because I just wanted to use a Skill.

And yes, the skill I'm referring to and the one I want to use is, "[Mist of Nightmare Illusion]"

PHUFF!

A blast of white fog was created in an instant!

I couldn't see it, but, I'm sure, the fog must have swallowed the Headless Ape Chieftain. This is the only way I can do to stop the Headless Ape Chieftain's rampage.

And yes, my plan worked.

As the fog was still in here, I could feel the heat of the Headless Ape Chieftain not moving at all. And when the fog I created disappeared, I saw the monster just standing there with its eyes closed.

I approached the monster with my Silver Spear at ready.

I poured the energy in my body into my arms. And this time, I poured five times more energy than usual. 

Then, I took a stand to attack.

When I felt it was the time, I said, "[Crimson Impale]"

The Silver Spear enveloped in bright red light shot swiftly towards the Headless Ape Chieftain's forehead.

And when the two are in touch.

SPLAT!

The monster's forehead exploded!

A huge hole adorned the monster's body. A moment later, the monster fell to the floor accompanied by notifications.

< Level up! 16 to 17 >

< Level up! 17 to 18 >

With this, I can say that the Headless Ape Chieftain is dead! We won this fight!

And never did I thought, Kimi and everyone were also affected by the Mist of Nightmare Illusion. 

Ugh! I felt guilty for having to make Kimi and everyone gets caught up in the illusion again.