The King's chamber would materialize before them at any moment.
Despite the group's combined strength, ten elite warriors led by a level 10, no one allowed themselves excess confidence.
It wasn't the immediate battle that really concerned them, the true worry wasn't defeating it, but doing so in the most efficient way possible.
The memory of the previous Artromus, emerging barely an hour after the victory over the Lesser Wind King, weighed on their minds. Would it be the same now?
The god's cryptic words about appearing again until the fourth deposit added an additional layer of uncertainty.
Would this new Artromus follow the same pattern? Or was it waiting for them at a less predictable moment, when they would be more vulnerable?
Uncertainty was another enemy to face. If the god didn't appear this time, did it mean they could encounter the Artromus earlier?
It was impossible to know.
The only certainty was that they would need every drop of mana to survive the true challenge, when it came.
This battle against the King, although formidable, would have to be handled with precision and economy.
♢♢♢♢
The King rose before them, imposing but no longer as intimidating as it would have been days ago.
"Conserve mana," Elio ordered, his eyes fixed on the awakening King.
Elio launched himself forward, his muscles operating just under the limit that would cause damage.
The distance between him and the King closed in instants, leaving his companions behind. This first exchange would be crucial; he needed to understand exactly how wind damage worked against this earth creature. .net
His 220 points of magical damage, potentially capable of inflicting 340 points of damage against the King's 100 magical defense, needed to be tested.
The 10 mana points he had been charging would find their purpose first in three distinct attacks.
His perception, pushed almost to the limit, processed every number, every result.
First,
a direct impulse. The force pushed the King back, but beyond physical movement, there was no real damage.
Second,
a sphere of compressed wind. The attack hit cleanly, but the numbers revealed the truth: only 120 points of effective damage.
Not critical.
"Shit!" Elio muttered when his next attack, although destroying part of the barrier, was completely absorbed.
A wasted strike.
However, Lila and Arnaud's simultaneous attacks had also managed to break sections of the protection. Despite the great difference in damage, the earth layer broke equally, based on the wind strike's form.
An idea formed in Elio's mind when he saw Kriz preparing to attack.
"Kriz! Use an explosive sphere!"
The wind attack hit and expanded; though weak compared to the wind blades, it created a wider opening in the shield.
"Change of plan!" Elio shouted, his tactical mind adapting. "When it generates the barrier, we need you to open breaches! Zara and I will concentrate on damage!"
The others nodded, understanding their expanded role. The original plan would require adjustments, they would now spend between four and five mana points each instead of two, but the advantage remained overwhelming.
"Keep the breaches open!" Zara ordered, preparing her next attack. "Don't let the barrier regenerate!"
The battle continued, now with even more precise coordination between the support team and the main attackers.
♢♢♢♢
The true battle was about to begin.
The King's resistance continued falling under the coordinated attacks, but...
Fifteen percent.
The number glowed in everyone's consciousness while they maintained their precise formation.
Elio had been watching that counter with special attention, deliberately regulating the attacks' rhythm. His companions rotated their strikes more slowly than necessary, allowing him to maintain his mana charge brushing 10 points constantly.
Experience against the first King had taught him that frenzy was inevitable.
The moment came just when the monster had slightly less than 1,500 resistance points.
The King's roar shook the chamber while its earth shield instantly densified, crystallizing into a thicker and more resistant armor.
But it wasn't that which made everyone's hearts stop for an instant.
It was the jump.
The monstrous creature catapulted itself toward Zara with a speed it hadn't been able to show throughout the battle. Her last attack had marked her as a target, and now that mass of muscles and crystallized earth was heading toward her like a meteor.
"ZARA!" Lila shouted.