The Floor Boss this time turned out to be a caterpillar. But not the same like all the other Green Caterpillars we have encountered so far, because that one was like, way larger. After using Identify on it, I learned that it was actually called a White Caterpillar, which made sense since instead of being green it was pale-whiteish in color. Since it is the Boss monster for the second floor, it was Lv.2.
Hmm, I wonder id this is a general rule that the Floor Boss of each floor is just a beefed-up version of the regular mobs that roam the given floor, because it was the same with the ones on the first floor. Normal monsters there were Needlewoods, and the Boss was an Udowood, which looked like a bigger, thicker version of a regular Needlewood. It would have been nice if we had a moment to stop and thin about it, but it was not to be, because White Caterpillar began the battle by creating an orange magic circle beneath its body.
Its going to use its Skill, master! Brace yourself!
Since this thing is a caterpillar, then it probably means that it has a Web Spit attack as its Skill, so I probably should prepare Fire Wall to guard against it. Damn, if only I knew beforehand that it might have the same Skill as its weaker counterparts, then I could have prepared to attack it while it has its guard down during the Skill casting timeframe. But thats only assuming that its Skill will really be spitting that sticky thread out of its mouth and not something else entirely. For the time being, I will proceed while assuming that it will be a Web Spit indeed.
While keeping a close watch on the White Caterpillars mouth, I chanted Fire Wall in my mind and deployed it just in the nick of time, because as it turned out, the Skill that the White Caterpillar used was indeed a Web Spitting attack. Kinda disappointing that it didnt have anything else up its sleeve, but whatever, I will take an attack that I know and can guard against it instead of something completely unpredictable any time of the day.
I quickly backstepped as to not get hit when it started thrashing its ass around, and then watched as it once again tried slamming its body into Roxanne, only to have her dodge to the sideways to avoid the incoming assault, leaving the monster in a brief state of confusion when it realized that its charge didnt hit anything. Sensing that this might be an ideal occasion to do some big damage, I performed another rush from up close, driving Durandal deep into the monsters soft flesh, and then yanking it out to the side with all my strength behind that motion, leaving it with a large, open wound. The White Caterpillar make a loud, ear-piercing shriek, thrashed its body upwards and then finally fell onto the ground, dead.
Phew we finally managed to defeat the Boss of the second floor, but I have to say, that was more tiring than I thought it was going to be.
Yes, it was certainly more difficult than the battle with the Boss of the first floor, but thanks to you we were able to once more defeat it rather quickly, master.
Roxanne praised me, but to be frank, I dont know if I can accept that praise this time. Its true that we managed to achieve victory, and a win is a win, no matter how it was obtained but I couldnt shake off the feeling that this time it all went all too easy for me because all I did was molesting the Floor Bosss as from behind while Roxanne was playing bait in front of it where it was infinitely more dangerous. Not to mention that I once again ended up relying on Durandals absurd strength for the duration of pretty much the entire fight, which feels like a personal defeat after all my talking of how I wanted to rely more on my own abilities instead of the Bonus Weapons, but on the other hand, what choice do I had here? I didnt know what we were going to be fighting against and didnt want to risk dying. Nevertheless, some sour taste was still left in my mouth, even as I went to pick up the Drop Item that the White Caterpillar left behind it when it turned into clouds of green smoke and disappeared.
Surprising nobody, it seemed to be some kind of thread. Upon using Identify on it, it was revealed that this item was actually a Silk Thread. Silk, huh?