Chapter 10 - 8 : Ghost Mansion 2 : Battle With A Boss Part 2

(AN : Weapons and equipment are now classified into ranks, no longer class. E.g. : Upper Tier Mortal Class becomes Upper Tier Mortal Rank.)

*Screech*

"Hahaha, you thought you could get rid of the great Lord Fudo that easily."

Accompanied with the weird machine screeching sound from the [Cursed servant] was Fudo's cheeky voice.

"What took you so long?"

"Sorry, the great Emperor was bidding his time for the perfect opportunity to wipe off that smug off that shit's face." Even as he was talking, Fudo fired a [Fireball] before drawing incantations for a spell his.

"This shit got this great Emperor so bad, if there was anyone else here, I might as well quit this game."

Looking at the [Cursed servant], one would notice a chain of light binding it in place with grey coloured gas oozing continuously from it's body. Accompanied with it's continuous screeching, that would give an average human chills, together with the occasional damage numbers ranging from 20-35, one can only imagine how much pain it must be going through.

"I was actually saving this for a King class boss but you forced my hand."

[[ Holy Light Seal (Scroll) : Low Tier Mortal Class :

Binds target with chains of light while causing damage equivalent to between 100% to 110% of caster's magical attack power each 2 seconds for 5 seconds. Once the spell's duration ends, Target's main attributes reduce by 10% for 7 seconds.

NB : if used against Dark element users, damage doubles with main attribute reduction increased to 15% for 9 seconds.

]]

Scrolls, like weapons are external sources of strength. In Infinite Realm, scrolls are container's of a mage's powers or spells or devices used to control the natural elements, so as to unleash great power. Just like weapons and equipment, scrolls are also graded. With Divine Grade scrolls being the strongest, followed by Saint Grade. These two grades are the most powerful, wielding such devastating might capable of changing the landscapes and even deciding one's fate, such that turning the tides of a battle is as easy as breathing, with these scrolls. They are collectively called Heavenly Grade scrolls. Below them are the Earth grade scrolls comprising of Mortal grade( being the weakest), Master grade, King grade and Emperor grade scrolls which is the strongest of the Earth grades with enough might to easily demolish a city and more.

Like weapons and equipment, Earth grade scrolls each have three (3) further subdivisions. They are Low tier, Mid/Average tier and finally Upper/High tier. However, these subdivisions are only available to Earth grade scrolls and not Heavenly grade scrolls.

The [Holy Light seal],though recorded as a low tier Mortal grade scroll actually has prowess equivalent to some of the weaker Mid tier Mortal grade scrolls. But due to its ease of availability and procurement of the materials needed coupled with the ease of drawing the sigils and runes, it eventually became classed as a Low tier Mortal grade scroll though it ranked among the top.

Meanwhile, 4 seconds had passed by since the [Cursed Servant] was screeching in pain. During this time, Fudo had been charging up a bigger spell while Sato had been making utmost use of the opportunity dealing continuous damage to the creature. Noticing that the spell's effect was waning with ts duration approaching, Sato retreated 6 steps backwards while preparing himself for an attack.

At the same time, Fudo, who had earlier been chanting and gathering mana, was done. Within a metre radius of him the surrounding temperature began to rise, with the nearby fire elemental mana gathering towards him at an increasing pace. With his crooked staff, Fudo drew a somewhat but not so complicated magic circle on which the fire elemental mana gathered onto, forming an almost 2 metre tall fireball that could easily dwarf the previous Elementalist [Fireball].

"Feel my wrath, you disgusting freak from the unknown realm. [Blazing Ray] !!"

(AN : [Blazing Ray] : Fire a flaming red ray with 220% of Caster's Magical Attack Power. Upon contact, [Burn] status effect is received by target, deducting 15HP each 3 seconds for 6 seconds. However, due to Igneel's guidance, 220% becomes 250%.

Cool-down : 30 minutes.)

*screech*

With Fudo landing a bullseye on the [Cursed servant] with the [Blazing Ray] and high pitch screech sounded from the creature.

"*sigh* That should do it." heaving a heavy sigh, Fudo plopped down on his butt due to exhaustion from his tense nerves and low mana.

"Don't get your hopes up yet. Look." Saying so, Sato pointed over to the burning creature.

"What the hell?! "

The [Cursed servant] was releasing huffs an puffs as if it were a wolf after 3 little piggies or a beast that just engaged in intense activities but without the pleasure. The previous smirk was no way to be seen, already long gone. It's pale disfigured face was almost covered in black burns with its black cloak burnt up in separate places with patches here and there though it's grimoire was still roughly intact. Together with its eyes that had gone full red like a pair of red beads, the [Cursed servant] looked like an abhorred figure from hell.

A dark portal that looked like it lead to a world of endless darkness appeared beside it, with two level 3 Dark Ravers walking out of it.

"Sato. I think he's angry now." Fudo, who had already scurried over to a safe position, said to Sato, while looking nothing like the brave player who faced the creature earlier.

"Don't worry. It's my turn now or else the readers might think you're the MC instead. Just keep the summons away from us ok?"

"Whatever you say." Lifting his staff once again despite his already low mana, Fudo cast a [Fireball] spell in a timely manner, such that it blasted the two summons who were in close proximity to each other, attracting their aggro towards himself.

"Good luck."

Immediately, Fudo turned around and left the courtyard leaving behind Sato and the [Cursed servant].

'It's got 73HP left. Compared to its previous HP of 310, its pretty much at its last leg. However the 15% Main Attribute reduction has been limited to 5% due to it's [Enraged] state. Once the 8 second duration is over, I doubt whether we could beat it…A race against time, this should be fun.' (AN : [Enraged] state increases Main attributes by 10%. 9 seconds but 1 second has already passed by.)

Taking out a vial from his bag, Sato opened it and lifted it up to empty the contents into his mouth. Upon coming into contact with the vial, his nose wrinkled as the stench wasn't so pleasing. Once the liquid slid down his throat, his veins bulged with a red sheen as his throat felt a burning sensation. Sato felt so invigorated that he believed he could break a boulder with his bare hands.(AN : Though this author doubts so.)

[ Diluted Simple Berserk Potion : Simple Grade : 60% Concentration

Strength +7

Agility +10

Dexterity +7

Vitality +10

Duration : 10 seconds

Cool-down : 4 hours]]

*Pew*

Taking a step forward, the [Cursed servant] fired a [Pitch crepuscular ray] through its mouth. Unlike the previous one, this [Pitch crepuscular ray] had a dull touch to it with a few white streaks on it. As it moved, all the plants and lifeforms close by began to wither and die at a fast rate.

Despite witnessing all these fast changes, Sato stood still like an immovable iron wall as he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

"[Parry]."

Swinging his sword at full power, Sato clashed head on with the ray while executing the Swordsman class' signature defensive move.

*Boom*

Upon contact, a loud explosive sound was produced but even at that Sato still held his ground, successfully blocking the attack after which he threw himself at the [Cursed servant] intending to go head to head with it.

Seeing the human who had initially been running away from it, blocking its attack and rushing towards it, the [Cursed servant] became further infuriated and decided not to go easy on the human any longer.

Lifting its hands up with the grimoire now floating behind it, the [Cursed servant] almost instantaneously gathered dark mana from it and transformed the mana into a ball in front of it and fired at Sato. At the same time, being a monster with intellect, it noticed that Sato had become stronger than before and concluded to retreat away from him while kiting him, as the weakness of every mage is close combat. (AN: Kite; to attack from a distance, quite common for archers and mages. Gaming terminology)

However, thanks to the [ Diluted Simple Berserk potion ], Sato's agility had outstripped that of the [Cursed servant] and he easily dodged its attacks while steadily closing up the gap between them. And so began a game of cat and mouse.

With his agility already surpassing that of the [Cursed servant], it only took Sato less than awhile to close up the gap between them. Once he approached a suitable distance, he launched a flurry of attacks at the creature, making its HP drop like water dripping through a tap.

Making use of the slight interval between his attacks, the [Cursed servant] fired a [Pitch ball] as a last resort. Despite seeing it, Sato bore the brunt of its attack with a grunt after calculating that the damage of the attack would be within an accepted range thanks to his increased HP.

Sato immediately followed up with a slash containing the force of the swordsman signature finisher [Horizontal slash].

"Arghh!" With a horrified and unwilling scream, the [ Cursed servant] breathed its last.

*Huff* *Huff*

'A little mistake and I might have been a goner.'

In the eyes of a third person or possibly a reader, the battle might have seemed easy but to Sato it wasn't.

One should remember that the battle was a race against time with 10 seconds on the Potion's effects and 8 seconds left on the clock after which the [Cursed servant]'s Main attributes would experience a 10% increase. Also the [Cursed servant]'s last ditch effort wasn't just one to relieve its anger. As a monster with intellect, it noticed that Sato's increase in strength was temporary otherwise he would have done so before. It also sensed that it's decrease in attributes was a wearing out slowly. So rather than a last ditch effort, it wanted to create distance between itself and Sato and wait out the Potion and reduction duration. In other words, its plan or retreating was actually just to buy time not out of fear.

But after all said and done, the victor still remains Sato or rather Sky-Blade.

'However, the loot was worth.' taking a look at his experience bar going beyond the level 2 checkpoint and even passed the level 3 checkpoint, Sato rejoiced. Eventually, it stopped at the 50% mark away from the level 4 checkpoint.

' A total of 2 level ups.'

"Haha, that was a whole lot of exp." Fudo chuckled while walking into the courtyard. Since the [Cursed servant] was dead, it was only right for the summons to disappear, giving Fudo a peace of mind and heart.

"Why don't we go look for another but maybe this time, a much higher levelled one?" Fudo enquired even though Sato paid him no heed. This was because his eyes were focused on something more precious and important that also can't drool over NPC characters.

"Let's finally see how bountiful a Rare-Steel chest could be."

"Hey pay attention. Yeah, yeah. This time this chapter ends with me, Fud- oh... Emperor Wolf."