Chapter 18: Mini-Boss 1?

As the groups opening salvo failed to make any headway on the beast it begins to pick its sword up, even though it’s smaller than the one they encountered on the mountain it’s still a threat as it lumbers towards the group sword in hand Ilev casts a defensive buff zone for the group. Even with the defence buff from Ilev the monster is still able to incapacitate any member of the party in one hit like what happened on the mountain top, as the monster started its wide slash Lexa cast a plant spell attempting to slow the blade down and create another opening for a counterattack. As the beasts blade cuts through the barrier of plants it’s only slowed a little but enough to allow the party to scatter and for Aromi to cast his spell once more, but like the first time nothing happened when it hit the beast it didn’t even look like it did any damage or even hurt the beast in the slightest. With the group scattered the beast raised its sword high preparing to swing down in a spiral to take out the entire party surrounding it, noticing that it’s trying to start an area of effect move Lexa casts a new spell from the water branch in an attempt to suffocate the beast or at the very least make it’s vision worse and hopefully it’s coming attack less accurate. The beast swings down but because of the ball of water covering it’s face is unable to connect with any of the party members and loses it’s balance as it can’t find it’s bearings once it’s stopped spinning, the party lead off my Ilev’s attack boost counter with Arano and Ami drawing a new sword element in electricity and closing in on the beast for a flurry of attacks at close range, Aromi undeterred by his lack of results from his only spell fires it off again at the ball of water Lexa created attempting to use the reaction of the water to blind the monster permanently or at least for a while longer as the party try to buy more time to figure out what this monster is weak to. Even Isla’s blade which is so effective against other void beasts is rendered ineffective against this beast, and Lexa’s usually indomitable magic is having a hard time leaving a scratch on the Burasu even with the added firepower of Ilev’s buffs. With a mighty roar the parties time with the Burasu stunned comes to an end as it all but pulls the water away from its face, picking up it’s weapon too in one smooth motion and then set about immediately targeting Lexa as it determined her to be the main threat to its survival, as so far she’s the only one that’s been able to really do anything to make the beast slow or stop completely. The Burasu lumbers towards the floating Lexa with its pace increasing as time moves on getting faster as it closes the gap arm holding it sword trailing behind it ready to make use of the momentum it’s built up, Lexa stares the Burasu down as it approaches and before it can make it’s move she casts an earth spell as the Burasu reaches only a pace away from her and her spell causes the ground below the Burasu to disappear and for it to fail to plant it’s final stride toppling the beast. Making the most of the opening Lexa drops the missing piece of earth back down on top of the prone Burasu, on impact the beast roars in pain for the first time but quickly shakes it off and stands again seemingly unbothered by the damage inflicted by Lexa.

“Next time you stun it I’ll pull out my own new trick, so make sure you can stun it again Lexa. I have an idea on what this things weakness might be.”

With Isla shouting that up at Lexa and with the rest of the party hearing Ilev leads with an agility buff allowing the trio of sword users to momentarily close the gap and land a few blows on the leg of the Burasu causing it to shift its attention away from Lexa allowing her to set up a powerful plant spell. Which is capable of restraining the Burasu in place but only for a short time.

“Isla it’s now or never girl, show us what ya got!”

Hearing Lexa’s command Ilev switches buff as Isla draws a new sword, one of midnight black and radiating royal purple, and charges the Burasu leaping up to catch it in the torso with a crosscut that finally left behind a significant wound causing a true roar of pain from the Burasu. As it roared in pain it released itself from Lexa’s plant bindings but with Lexa already knowing what element to use to defeat this foe the Burasu’s eye shrunk as it came face to face with it’s maker Lexa releasing her most powerful void spell directly on top of the Burasu’s head. The spell quickly engulfs the entire monster and within seconds it’s gone the only relic of its existence a lone giant sword stabbed into the ground. Ilev notices the large increase in void corruption on Lexa’s leg but decides to stay quiet so not to cause concern after a difficult fight with another of the same difficulty still to come. With their first ‘mini boss’ cleared, the attention of the party returned to finding the location of the alpha void Wolf and its den so they could accomplish what they had come into the void to do, that being killing the wolf and getting Suieol back and properly treated for her injuries. As the group moved deeper into the void the beasts that were so eager to attack back in the forest now stayed well out of the way and in some cases even fleeing the scene without any direct confrontation or conflict, the group chalked it up to them knowing that these intruders were for the alpha to fight and that they shouldn’t get involved in the dealings of the alpha. But in truth it’s because they can smell the defeated Burasu on the party and so their normally non-existent survival instinct from before they were corrupted into void beasts kicked in so they were fleeing what they could only fathom as the most dangerous things in the world. Pleased by the lack of further conflict the party continued on towards the center of the void even with Lexa starting to feel the effects of the void energy and its effect of accelerating the corruption within her.