I slowly slithered deeper and deeper down the tunnel which I assumed lead down to the final room. The tunnel became increasingly darker and darker the deeper I ventured inside it.
Although, this didn't effect me too much. Yup, as it turns out, either due to my evolution or some other factor, I had perfect 'night vision'.
Well, it was more or less me being able to see normally and then switch to perceiving heat when I wanted to.
Almost like an interchangable eye lens that gave me different effects depending on the lens.
As you could imagine, this made traversing down the increasingly dark tunnel many, many times easier. Even a little too easy in my opinion.
I eventually reached the end of the tunnel and entered into what I assumed was the final room of the dungeon.
Looking around... Yup - no further paths, the room is quite large and empty, and there is just a single statue at the very back - just like the last dungeon.
This 100% was the boss room of the dungeon.
As I fully slithered inside the room, the path behind me shut closed, shaking the dungeon slightly as it did.
'Aand just like last time - no exit. Meaning I either win or die.'
I thought before turning back around. For a couple of brief moments, it was silence - nothing was happening.
But then - from the shadows, dark mist began to flow into the room. The mist built up for a good while before eventually forming together into a figure resembling a knight in black armour and red accents - mainly, pulsing lines that decorated the armour.
'I'll assume you're the boss..'
I exhaled lightly.
I may as well see what I'm dealing with here. Through my skill [Sages' Wisdom] I managed to get a stat appraisal on the monster.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name; Dirtria
Species; Black Dragon Ghost Knight
Level; 56 - Rank; A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stats:
HP; 16300 - ATK; 2430
MAGEN (MAGICAL ENERGY); 4900
STAMINA; 3230 - INTELLIGENCE; 340
OVERALL POWER; 6240
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Skills; [Concealment], [Mist Magic], [Knights Oath]
Rare Skills; [Shadow Resistance],
[Holy Nullification], [Physical Resistance],
[Magic Resistance], [Divine Resistance]
Epic Skills; [Dark Saber], [Black Drainage]
Individual Skills; [Dragons Stat Eater]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yikes, this guy ain't a pushover. Don't get me be wrong, it's not the most impressive thing, but it definitely isn't very weak.
Although it was strange how it wasn't stronger than the Ooze Slime thing by a whole lot.
Like - it was obviously stronger and what not, but the difference from the Ooze Slime wasn't a humongous one to the point where they weren't even comparable - it was just enough for there to be a difference.
The knights eyes glowed red for a moment, as it sprung to 'life' and raised its sword towards me.
Welp - looks like I'm in for it now...
It was time to face off against my second dungeon boss.
The battle began as the knight send multiple slashes of dark energy towards me, which I obviously dodged using [Shadow Manipulation].
While it wasn't probably smart to use
[Shadow Manipulation] to try and attack the thing, it still could serve me well as a method of avoiding attacks.
And so, another usual game of me dodging and the enemy attacking broke out. However, unlike the other battles in the past, this time it was actually a bit more difficult to dodge as the Knights attacks were much sharper and more accurate than anything else I've faced so far.
Unless you want to count that girl I faced in the forest - She was a bit of a nightmare.
I kept dodging the knights incoming attacks, before finally finding an opportunity to launch a
[Venom Shocker] at it. The attack connected quite easily, causing the knight to tremble in what seemed like pain.
Looking at its HP... My [Venom Shocker] did around a fourth of its max HP.
This thing was tankier than it looked.
Also, another good thing I should mention here - Thank god that I can now see how much HP and stuff they have remaining and I'm not forced to guess anymore.
'If one did around a fourth, it should die in 3 more attacks..'
I thought.
The only thing that could realistically 'ruin' my ideal plan of action, was if this thing had access to some kind of secret Sturdy or something skill.
(Think of Sturdy ability from Pokémon)
However, before I could launch another attack the knight suddenly charged in for a close range attack - attempting to slash me with its sword.
I managed to keep dodging its incoming slash attacks using a combination of my agile nature and [Shadow Manipulation]. It wasn't all that hard to dodge if I had to be honest - the things attacking pattern was quite predictable.
I eventually managed to create enough distance to launch a second [Venom Shocker] at the knight, hitting it dead on.
Attention;
Analysis suggests that the enemy has been hit with a Paralysis Debuff from your skill.
I managed to debuff it with [Venom Shocker]? Nice!
I wonder what the debuff does though..
The Paralysis Debuff slows down ones movement anywhere from 10-35% as well as restricts the usage of skills and extends cast times for Spell Casters.
That's quite the debuff. Let's hope I never have to go up against something that can hit me with that.
The knight definitely seemed to slow down, as it began to struggle a bit to even move forward.
'Well, that's a free shot if I've ever seen one!'
I thought before attempting to hit it with a third [Venom Shocker].
The attack connected, however weirdly it didn't seem to have any effect..
The hell?
Attention;
Analysis suggests that the Black Dragon Ghost Knight just now acquired the Rare Skill -
'' Electrical Nullification ''.
Say what now?!
It just acquired a skill in the middle of the battle?! And a skill that counters probably my best move no less!
Well- this just got harder... I thought that I'd be able to finish it off just with four [Venom Shocker] but now that it has a skill that makes it immune to it - I had to come up with a new plan.
How fun...
I sighed before quickly leaping back and using [Shadow Manipulation] to restrict the knights movement. While it had [Shadow Resistance], my guess was that the skill only worked agaisnt Shadow attacks.
And I wouldn't exactly call restricting movement with shadows an 'attack'.
Luckily, it seemed as though fate was on my side as the restriction worked and the knights movement was stopped as the shadows tied it to the ground - now the question remained..
How long do I have until it breaks out?
I quickly began to look through my skills.
Technically speaking I only had [Venom Control] and [Ifrit {Lord of Flames}].
Perhaps also [Merciless], but I have no idea if it actually was a skill that was capable of doing damage or not.
However, I was willing to take my chances that it most likely was just some sort of passive debuff skill or something.
So, the choice was between [Venom Control] or [Ifrit {Lord of Flames}].
Between the two skills, Ifrit definitely was the stronger one - but it takes so much Magical Energy just for a single summon of him, that it was a very risky move.
And [Venom Control] wasn't any better as well - Mainly that there was a chance the thing would somehow acquire a Nullification or Resistance skill to my venom just like it did with my
[Venom Shocker].
The knight began to slowly break through the binds made from shadows, glaring at me as it did.
I was running out of time - I had to decide quickly on what to do.
'Screw it - I'll just risk it.'
I thought before exhaling.
As the knight broke free, it turned to face me, however didn't manage to get an opportunity to attack as I used my Arc Skill once again.
"Go - Ifrit! Incinerate my enemy!"
I shouted, as I once again felt a massive amount of Magical Energy leave my body.
Moment later, blue flames shot from my body before forming the same large, armoured spirit of flames.
Ifrit roared loudly before creating a fireball of blue fire and throwing it at the knight.
The Monster tried to attack the fireball, in an attempt to slash it, however the moment the fireball got close, Ifrit hit his hands together.
Suddenly, the fireball exploded into a violent tornado of blue flames that engulfed the knight.
I stared in fascination as well as slight fright as the knight just groaned in pain.
Eventually, the tornado of flames dissipated as the knight fell to the ground in defeat.
Ifrit retreated back inside of me, as I landed softly back onto the ground.
Experience threshold has been reached.
You have risen to level 46.
Attention;
Due to successfully slaying a
'' Black Dragon Ghost Knight '' you have been gifted a new skill.
Epic Skill '' Holy Magic Nullification '' acquired.
That sounds like an amazing skill! Holy shit!
Also, I didn't level up by a whole lot despite the knights level being incredibly high.
Dungeon successfully conquered.
Distribution of rewards has begun..
Huh? No choice this time whether I want the rewards or not?
As the reward distribution began, I felt a strange, warm and fuzzy feeling inside of me.
'This is strange.. what is this?'
Answer;
The warm and fuzzy feeling you're currently feeling is the Reward for beating the dungeon.
The reward comes in the form of 3 Skills of your choice.
My choice? So I get to pick what skills I want?
Yes.
However the options are limited to what you are offered.
I see...
So I can pick any 3 Skills from an offered bunch. Seems quite reasonable.
Then, as I awaited what was going to happen next, a window popped up with a bunch of different skill options.
There were mostly Rare and Common skills, however there was also an occasional Epic skill in the choice lot.
It felt like a gamblers lot or something.
After a bit of debating, I decided on the two Common Skills [Communication] and [Translator] - mainly so I can finally use my [Human Mimicry] skill.
The last skill I picked from the lot was a Rare Skill called [Magic Nullification Barrier]. Mainly because I thought it would come in handy against opponents that specialized in magic, which seemed to be my main hurdle right now.
Damn, all of this and I am yet to even grab my [Devourer] bonus.
Maybe I should check my stats beforehand..
"Open Status."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name; Faofa Shin
Species; Greater Serpentine
Level; 46 - Rank; C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stats:
HP; 34350 - ATK; 4430
MAGEN (MAGICAL ENERGY); 6700
STAMINA; 4090 - INTELLIGENCE; 675
OVERALL POWER; 10800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Skills; [Presence Erase], [Trickster], [Communication], [Translator]
Rare Skills; [Persistent], [Soul Splitter], [Fractured], [Human Mimicry],
[Magic Nullification Barrier]
Epic Skills; [Predator], [Venom Control], [Overworld Detection], [Merciless],
[Holy Magic Nullification]
Individual Skills; [Sages' Wisdom](2), [Devourer], [Shadow Manipulation], [Beasts Will],
[Venom Shocker]
Arc Skills; [Ifrit {Lord of Flames}]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And as always - they're absurd.
And this is even before getting the [Devourer] bonus.
Now I'm actually a bit scared to get it.
I gulped, before slithering over to the dead Knight. It was practically leaking black mist - almost like it was made up from it.
After a moment of hesitation, I used [Devourer] on it.
Mass amount of Magical Energy has been absorbed.
Excess Magical Energy will be turned into skills..
Success.
Rare Skill [Magic Resistance] acquired.
Rare Skill [Black Magic] acquired.
Huh, two more skills to my arsenal.
Also, 'Black Magic'? Sounds like something that'll come in very useful over time.
Looking around, it seemed as though I was done here - my second dungeon, has been conquered.
With a proud smirk, I turned back around before slithering on out of here as the door back to the tunnel before this room, opened before me.