CH 208

The alias of <Poisonous Mushroom Cavern Dungeon>'s rare boss is <Giant Mash>.

Just as its name implies, it's an unusually big Mushroom, probably around 7m.

In addition, it also holds personification type abilities through which it has working limbs too. Equipped with the super giant cleaver and hoplon shield along with the purple colour armour which reeks of poison, the boss is packed with crazy high attack ability and defensive ability.

The speed is a little faster compared to <Mother> but either way, it's body is just huge. Its reach is too long corresponding to its huge size and so, it is hard to defeat it with one-sided advantage unlike when we bombarded the <Mother> with long range attacks. (T/N : Mother is Mama Mash, the regular boss of this dungeon In case you forget)

It also has a shield for the defense, which just makes it even more difficult.

To further aggravate it, the rare boss unique skill <Giant Mushroom Bomber> is crazy strong.

The main crux is the self-destruction attack. If you accidentally become too immersed in battle and are late to escape, getting caught in the self-destruction will give you massive damage. Self destruction attacks have long been a staple in the game as extremely strong attacks. Its might is so big that it can even render a tank from fighting further, so it's of absolute importance to keep an eye on it.

By the way, the self-destructed <Big Mash> doesn't simply meet fall even if its HP is declining, on the contrary, it still looks all fine, raring to fight. Well there are times, it truly met its demise with the HP becoming 0 though.

The other point that this rare boss resemble <Mother> is it can also summon its familiar <Tiny Mushroom> or release spores attacks.

So supposing you were swarmed by the <Tiny Mushroom> and lose your focus on the rare boss, you will be waiting to receive the chopping attack from its giant cleaver after.

To be honest, <Big Mash> is truly an all rounder boss without any blind gaps. For such an all-rounder boss with a big body and strength, one can only respond with equally or stronger firepower head-on.

Or so, I explained to everyone in the safety area.

"Doesn't it mean we just have to play like usual and bash it hard!"

"Well, just as Lana said. But we have Karua this time. Try to match her movements as well!"

"Reassured!"

The means would be a bit different since instead of the usual rear guard Hannah, we have vanguard Karua in our time. Taking note of this part too, I urged everyone.

However it seems Karua couldn't imagine what I am trying to say as she asked back, tilting her head in puzzlement.

"Is there so much difference?"

"Yeah, when there are four vanguard. Well, the opponent this time is ridiculously big so it's fine however against the small size opponent, strategy like switch is of importance. After all, there's the danger of crashing into each other if we are lacking in cooperation while moving in to attack"

"Hnn. So we can move as we like today then?"

"Of course, just be sure to not crash into other though"

"Hnn. Understood"

With that nod ended our time for strategy, and we barged into the boss room.

Today's the final day to be appraised so there is almost no one there to challenge the dungeons. Thus leaving the rare boss without anyone being there to defeat it.

Bosses heal as long as you retreat from the boss room even once, so it doesn't affect the boss even if it has a fight with seniors earlier.

The rare boss assumed its stance as it slowly raised its giant cleaver and a red, Poisonous hoplon shield.

Rare boss battle - begin!

"Ma一一一一aaa一一一!"

"Hey-hey, that's too big!"

"Ohh, as expected of the giant Mushroom"

The rise of <Big Mash> had much more impact it seems, as Lana shouted in astonishment from pressure it gave, which was more than what probably imagined.

However, Sierra was as cool as ever even when others were terribly surprised and stepped forward holding her big kite shield.

So cool, Sierra!

"<Taunt>! <Aura Point>!"

She hurls her skill, one following behind the other, to garner the aggro.

Recently, <Taunt> skill alone is not enough to attract the aggro of the boss completely because of the recent increase in firepower of members which caused the boss's target to change to another, that's why she used both skills simultaneously.

With the distance we are in, now is the perfect chance to attack it. First, the tank must gain the aggro to stall the boss, then use long-range attacks to do damage.

"<Divine protection of Holy Demon>! <Divine Protection> <Shining sabre of the Sacred light>! <Rise of the Sacred Tree>!"

Lana steadily raised her spell's turnover rate and fired high rank attack spells following after the buff for magic power and defense. Lana's not any less cool either!

"I'm coming too! <Lightning Burst>! <Shine Lightning>!"

"Maaa! MAAA!"

The spell we fired attacked the <Giant Mash> one after another as it swung its sword at Sierra. However it put up a shield in the middle so it didn't receive as much damage as I expected.

Unlike <Mother>, <Big Mash> can defend itself from long range attacks. I wonder if all the regret of <Mother> has condensed into this shield. For the colour of the hoplon shield is just the same colour as <Mother's> Mushroom umbrella head part.

When I was still playing the game, it wasn't possible to look behind the shield, so there were even rumours that <Big Mash> might even be equipping <Mother> as a shield. Though be assured, it's actually made of real metal.

"Maaa! Maaa!"

Oops, now isn't the time to relive the past. Gotta focus on the boss!

"It's going to use its spore attack and summon familiars! Ester, Karua, return immediately!"

In the meantime <Giant Mash> was preoccupied by the Serra's target and dealing with our attacks, I called out to Ester and Karua as both of them had moved behind the boss and we're attacking it with their full force.

"Bring out the carriage, Ester!"

"Roger!"

Ester, who immediately understood what I wanted to do, brought out the carriage from the Item bag and equipped it. Precisely for such time Ester wasn't equipping any accessories so that she can equip the carriage at any given moment.

Item skill belonging to the carriage category doesn't apply to the boss. However it's effective for the familiar.

<Tiny Mushroom> growing here and there numbered 42. It is a staggering count but it doesn't apply to Ester.

"I'm going! <Accelerator drive>! <Drive turn>!"

" " "Mama" " " (Tiny Mushrooms squeal)

"Ohh! Great going Ester! Trample everyone!"

The fruit of Ester's training her driving skill appears here as she trampled all the <Tiny Mushrooms> coming in her way, which disappeared under effects. It looks thrilling!

Ester skillfully controlled the carriage, settled on drive turn and mowed down all the pipsqueaks like lawnmower cutting grasses.

During that, Karua who couldn't get closer to the boss because of its spore attack arrived beside me.

"What action should I take, Zephyr"

"All right, then you can deal with the pipsqueaks that escaped from Ester's range. <Appeal>!"

"Nya一" (T/N : Not sure if that's it mean, it's simply "ya", but assuming it's lazy Karua along with cat feature, I put nya)

Sure enough, it wasn't possible for the carriage to deal with all the pipsqueaks so I and Karua move to hunt down the escaped familiars.

Once we settled out the pipsqueaks, we resumed our attacks at the boss who was finally done with its spore attack.

"<Blessing of the guardian god>! <Divine protection>! <Shining sabre of the sacred light>! <Rise of sacred tree>!"

As Lana once again fired her torrent of range attacks, the boss put forth the shield to defend.

It's a great chance to go behind it!

I and Karua simultaneously moved behind the boss and slammed our skills at its defenseless back.

"<Sword attribute (Fire)>! <Brave slash>! <Swift Strike>!"

"<Sonic force>! <Scale Break> <Twin blade wildcat scratch>!"

"Ma!?"

Although, The body of the boss is covered with the armour, it also has some parts in the back which aren't covered by the armour. Attacking there slightly increases the damage. My and Karua's attacks assailed it, dealing pretty good damage.

"Mamamaamaaaa!"

"<Aura Point>! <Iron wall>!"

"<Healing Prayer>"

Even when the boss began to rampage even more after receiving lots of damage, it still couldn't destroy the defense of attack. <Iron wall> is a fixed area type skill, once propped at a place, she couldn't be moved however to compensate for its immovability, it greatly decreased the damage taken. If Sierra, whose status alone is high, uses it, it would be too tough to break it. Coupled with Lana's healing, it should be quite impossible to push Sierra into a distressing situation.

However, whenever I see the giant cleaver exceeding the length of 3~4m moving to attack her, I still couldn't help but be struck with anxiety. Is she really fine with receiving the giant cleaver strikes so many time?

"You all right, Sierra?"

"I'm all fine. Although the attacks are heavy, it still doesn't pose any challenge"

"I, I see. Very well, we are going to step up the damage!"

It seems my worries were unfounded. For this is the world filled with fantasy.

Afterwards, we safely dealt with twice spore attacks, twice pipsqueaks summoning, avoiding any incident happening and dropped the <Big Mash> HP to 10%.

"Mamamaaa, Mash!"

Oh, it has now entered its rage mode. From now till next 30 sec, its attack power will increase by ×1.5 times.

Thuuud

Sierra staggered slightly, receiving a heavy thrust from the cleaver. That Sierra actually staggered!

"Sierra!!"

"<Iron wall>! Fret not, I was just surprised at the sudden increase in shock, that's all. I will be alright from next attacks"

I could see Sierra turning serious as she replied. I could feel her determination to take on the next attack.

However, betraying Sierra's determination, the cleaver didn't attack as imagined.

Instead, the <Giant Mash> was now covered in red effect, a phenomenon peculiar only to rare bosses, when releasing its unique skill.

"Oh no, <Giant Mushroom Explosion> incoming! Sierra!"

"I can't move until the iron wall expires. Don't worry, I can tank it"

Sierra replied so, however boss strength is now increased by ×1.5 due to the influence of rage mode.

In addition to the characteristic of Self destruction skill which exchanges HP for attack power, it already is a crazy strong move.

What's more, it also has the property of the closer you're to the boss, the higher damage you will receive. That's when I am not adding the status increase by ×1.5 times in rage mode. It's extremely dangerous for Sierra, who couldn't move due to the iron wall.

One mustn't underestimate the unique skill activated in rage mode.

"Come here Ester!"

I quickly dashed behind the Sierra since there wasn't any time to explain anything and grabbed her arms and waist.

"Ehh, Wha-What are一! Kyaaa!"

And using the high value of STR, I tossed her to Ester. Sierra safely landed in the Ester's carriage that had come close. It wasn't totally impossible to toss even when the effect of the iron wall was ongoing. I didn't have the skill, but I was able to slow even the slime. Then there's no way I can't slow the Sierra.

"I'm leaving the rest to you, Ester! <Sonic Sword>!"

"Leave it to me! <Overdrive>!"

Immediately after we got away from the boss range with me using <Sonic Sword> and Ester with <Overdrive>, <Giant Mash> exploded.

"Maaaaaaaaaash!"

BANG

Then reverberated the explosion sound from super powerful AoE attack and the warcry of <Big Mash> in the boss room.

All it left behind was the two gold chest and mushroom shaped smoky cloud afterward in its wake.