Chapter 279 Whirlpool (5)

Chapter 279 Whirlpool (5)

"You felt like you had to do it? What does that even—!"

Ugh, I think I pressed the wrong button.

I cut her off before the conversation could escalate and changed the subject.

"So what's next? What do I have to watch out for?"

I hurriedly approached Stormgush and raised my shield. Raven sighed and continued her explanation.

"His next skill is [Dragon Vein]. The ground will turn red... Ah, now! Yandel, dodge!"

Stormgush's second active skill, [Dragon Vein].

Kaboom!

A marker appeared beneath the target, and a moment later, a pillar of air erupted.

Like this.

Whoosh!

Phew, that was close.

"Everyone get back! A [Whirlpool] will appear from the hole!"

[Dragon Vein] not only dealt a powerful burst of damage, but it also created a hole in the ground that spewed out a [Whirlpool].

It had the same name and effect as the Siren Queen's skill...

Whooosh!

If you got caught in it, you would be suspended in midair, losing MP proportionally to the time spent airborne.

Well, I was immune to the airborne effect because of my weight...

'But it still drains MP.'

We had to avoid it.

Especially those who weren't as heavy as me.

"Spread out!"

The first [Dragon Vein] significantly increased the difficulty of the fight. We had to avoid the whirlpools, which limited our movement.

But there was an easy solution for now.

"We're going to fight while moving!"

We just had to move.

He was the only enemy left on the island.

The entire island was practically a boss room.

There was no reason not to utilize the wide open space.

'...Well, this won't last long either.'

It was one of the reasons why this fight was so difficult, even though we had the damage advantage. If he kept using [Dragon Vein], the map would eventually shrink.

And in the midst of that...

"Huh? Why is the water coming up here...?"

The water level was rising, a characteristic of Parune Island. After the fourth wave started, the entire island would be submerged except for the center.

"Yandel! It's rising! What do we do?!"

What do we do?

We keep fighting and moving.

"Maintain formation and head towards the center!"

Fortunately, no one objected to my order.

They didn't have any better ideas either.

「Stormgush has cast [Tyrant's Roar].」

As we fought and moved, Stormgush used his other skills.

"Ersina! It's that skill! Purify it!"

[Tyrant's Roar], a powerful AoE skill that inflicted a stun for up to 2 seconds within a 10-meter radius. Its duration was affected by Magic Resistance and Mental stats.

The priestess easily countered it with Purification.

「Stormgush has cast [Blood of the Storm].」

A berserk skill that temporarily increased regeneration and physical stats?

"Everyone spread out!"

I tanked it.

My shield, armor, and body were riddled with holes, but...

The priestess could heal me.

'My equipment... It's going to cost a fortune to repair.'

It hurt, but it was a reasonable price to pay for raiding a 3rd-grade monster.

Life is more important than money.

"He's stomping! Spread out!"

Stormgush rotated between his four skills, and my companions gradually became accustomed to his patterns.

But it was too early to relax.

He still had three more skills he hadn't used yet.

'Damn 3rd-grade monster.'

This was the difference between 3rd-grade and 4th-grade.

Not only were their base stats higher, but they also had more skills.

And monsters at this level also had unique abilities, not just essence skills.

Like the Vampire's dark magic.

'This guy's unique ability is Weapon Mastery.'

'Weapon Mastery' increased various combat stats in the game, like critical rate, accuracy, evasion, and block rate.

Stormgush had a high Weapon Mastery level.

That's why...

'He's really good with that harpoon.'

He was using his harpoon with incredible skill.

It wasn't just brute force, it was like he had mastered some kind of martial art.

'Anyway, he'll start using his remaining patterns when his HP gets low...'

"Yandel! Did you hear that? It's dangerous when he starts using that ability! We have to come up with a plan..."

Hey, stop screaming.

I already have a plan.

I was just waiting for the right moment to reveal it. It would be suspicious if I came up with a solution as soon as she finished explaining.

Plan A and Plan B.

I had two plans.

A was the best, B was the backup.

The only problem was...

'The variable.'

This plan wasn't a guaranteed win.

We were about to face a high-level battle, something we hadn't experienced with low-grade monsters.

And...

Someone might get hurt.

Or even die.

I knew it was a selfish thought disguised as altruism, but...

If someone had to suffer...

'Partslan, Ersina, Nebarche, Amelia.'

I hoped it wouldn't be us.

"We're trapped!"

As I was reaffirming my priorities...

Its effect was simple.

Pitter-patter.

It started to rain.

If it got rained on, its regeneration and physical stats would increase significantly, while we would be afflicted with various debuffs.

But that was a minor issue.

The real problem was the next pattern.

"Everyone, do as we planned!"

As soon as I shouted, everyone except for Misha charged towards the monster.

I did the same.

[Groooooooooar!]

We attacked without holding back.

Our plan was to kill it as quickly as possible after it used [Rain Dance].

So there was no reason to hold back.

The more damage I took, the easier it would be for my companions to attack.

Thud!

Avman's arrow pierced the monster's shell and sank deep into its flesh.

It probably didn't hit any vital organs...

「Avman Urikfrit has cast [Hungry Claws].」

But the arrow dealt continuous damage.

The more arrows he landed, the more pressure the monster would feel.

Misha was next.

「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Enhancement].」

「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Frost Condensation].」

Misha, as always, used [Frost Condensation] with [Enhancement] to increase her Frost Affinity.

And she activated the active ability of her spirit beast, Skadia, contracted through the Frost Spirit Ring.

「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Absolute Zero].」

[Absolute Zero].

Her second ability, obtained after absorbing 'Beast's Blood' with the royal family's reward.

「The character's first attack always inflicts the 'Frozen' status effect.」

Her sword was covered in white frost, and she swung it at the monster.

Her target was its right arm, which was holding the trident.

Crackle.

The monster's arm froze solid.

It had high Magic Resistance and a massive body, so only its arm was frozen...

But that was all part of the plan.

「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Ice Shatter].」

[Ice Shatter], an active skill that increased damage against frozen enemies. And she also used the 5th-grade skill she obtained from the royal family.

「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Mutation].」

「Agility is temporarily converted to Strength.」

A skill that Misha, who lacked Strength, would be able to use until the late game.

Kwaaang!

Misha's second sword, held in her other hand, slammed into the frozen arm.

But only the shell had been frozen.

Crackle.

The ice shattered, but the monster's arm was fine. Well, it would be strange if she could sever a 3rd-grade monster's arm with one attack.

"It's my turn!"

As the monster thrashed, trying to attack Misha, Ainar charged forward and swung her sword at the injured arm.

But...

Clang!

Even with the increased Sharpness from [Wild Control], it wasn't enough. The blade sank deep into the flesh, but it was stopped by bone.

[Grooooar!]

"Ainar!"

The monster spun around, protecting its arm, and swatted Ainar away with its tail.

'Damn it.'

That was a powerful blow, even Ainar wouldn't be able to get up easily...

That's what's scary about 3rd-grade monsters.

Even their normal attacks were fatal...

「Stormgush has cast [Eye of the Storm].」

Damn it, he's using it again?

Thud.

I charged forward as my companions retreated.

And...

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

I held it off.

The long 5 seconds passed, and the whirlpool subsided.

"Mister, get back!"

Ah, you're ready now.

I quickly moved aside so I wouldn't be in Erwen's way.

And at that moment...

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Focused Shot].」

The 4th-grade essence she obtained from the royal family.

An arrow that consumed MP proportionally to its casting time, increasing its damage.

Did she use all her MP?

The aura surrounding the arrowhead was ominous—

Whiiiish!

She released the arrow, and it shot forward like a flash of light.

Kaboom!

It hit the monster's upper abdomen.

She was aiming for its heart.

Its head was also a vital point, but it was difficult to hit.

[Grooooar!]

Stormgush roared in pain.

But it was still moving.

The arrow hadn't pierced its heart.

But I wasn't too disappointed.

It wouldn't have died from one hit anyway. 3rd-grade monsters don't die that easily...

"Huh?"

The monster suddenly made a move I had never seen before.

「Stormgush has cast [Call of the Storm].」

The skill it used when its HP dropped below 40%.