The Sea King

Large sconces line the periphery of the boss room. The eerie blue flames light the walls with an ocean like hue. It helps to illuminate the new forming structure in the center of the room.

There growing out of the cracks in the stone floor is a clear crystal. The large formation encases a thick red liquid. It is almost like the crystal itself is bleeding.

As bubbles break off from the liquid and rise to the surface within the crystal a tiny stream of smoke exits. The smoke moves in the still dungeon air. The crystal smoke is odorless but it is making me feel uneasy.

Seated at the back of the room is the monster I dread facing most. It’s shaped like a muscular human about two feet taller than Momo with the head of an oarfish. Covered head to toe in glimmering scales. Its moves make it appear as though it is floating in water.

The red frills move with its head. The eyes betray no expression. They are completely lifeless. I can’t read this thing at all. Its eyes dart back and forth searching.

It's unnerving. I really need to figure out what is going on here.

Then get out as fast as I can…

I can see why they call this monstrosity the Sea King. It has a noble look to his appearance. Well, as much nobility as a fish could have. Might just be the giant throne it is sitting on.

The monster rises from its seat. Floating bubbles begin to form all around the Sea King. They burst and take shape as swords, hammers, and many more weapons I've only seen in games. It outstretches one hand pointing at me. Brutus was right, this thing is a weaponsmaster!

It reaches up and grabs a hammer with its right hand. I can’t fight this thing. I don’t have time and I have no clue–

“BWARBWARBWARBWARBWARBWARBWAR!”

The monster screeches a muffled cry as if it was underwater. The dead fish eyes dart forward.

The thing bursts at me as if it was swimming in the air. It's fast.

I start running to the side of the room trying to evade the boss. It misses me and sails past. It corrects itself with a kick of its flipper toed feet and comes around for another attack.

Raising its weapon arm and swaps the hammer for a large spear floating above. It is aimed right at me. I put one foot back and raise both my shields. I learned my lesson from the sea horse. I push off the blow by angling my shield letting the Sea King to graze past me.

This is bad. This thing isn’t giving me time to think let alone observe what is going on in this room. Is it the sconces? The blue flames aren’t natural? Maybe the crystal–

The monster catches me off guard. A chain made of water wraps around my leg. The thing drags me with one hand the other wields a sword ready to slice me in two.

I panic.

Reaching to my chest I toss my last ice potion at the chain. It instantly freezes. I use my shield to shatter and break myself free.

I can’t get distracted. What am I missing here? Is definitely the–

“BWARBWARWARBWARBWAR!”

That stupid fish is charging me again this time it has two blades in his hands. It’s on me in an instant. It goes to slice at my head. I use the one shield to block the blow. It moves its other sword to bisect me. I use my other shield to block that attack.

We are locked. Swords against shields. I look into its dead eyes. No expression. I need to hurry up and figure out what is causing the dungeon to break down and get out. The Sea King shakes its head and swims back, putting distance between us.

It returns its weapons to floating above him and hovering there staring. Its head darts toward the crystal.

The dungeon begins to shake. There is a loud noise that causes me to collapse in pain. The dungeon itself is crying out. I feel like my eardrums are going to burst. I am not the only one…

The Sea King is writhing at his knees on the floor in agony too.

If he didn’t cause this then it must be…

The crystal vibrates rhythmically like it has a heartbeat. Bubbles boil up from the liquid in the clear crystal. More streams of smoke escape into the room

It sounds like the dungeon is collapsing somewhere and the reverberations echo throughout the stone walls. What is going on?

“...remember…”

That voice. I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to. It was the voice of the cloaked figure in my nightmare. What do I need to remember? What happened in that…

The church. The church collapses and a flood of blood rushes to the surface. Could it be that since it is part of the old city that it would be connected…

If it's part of the dungeons the monsters can break into Freehearken and bypass the wall.

No, no the town’s defenses are already stretched too thin. I have to help.

Even if I teleport out of here now and get word to the Guild it would be too late. The town will fall long before they could rally a party to descend and destroy this giant crystal.

I have to do it…

But how? I don’t think this stupid fish will let me…speaking of…

It seems like the both of us have recovered from the crystal’s whining. The Sea King’s bubble weapons begin to reform.

I draw my sword. I just need to try. I sprint full speed towards the crystal. The boss moves to intercept me.

I will make it in time. I am faster than he is.

I strike the crystal with all my might. The shock wave travels up through my arm. There isn’t even a scratch on the crystal. This is bad.

Really bad. The boss swims around the crystal and strikes at me with a spear. I use both shields to absorb the hit. My legs slide backwards on the damp stone.

The Sea King moves to a defensive posture around the crystal. Its dead eyes have a different hue than before. Did the crystal do something to it?

If my sword isn’t going to cut it I'm not sure what options…

I didn’t use that powder charge to blow open the second set of doors. I reach into the pouch and my hand grazes the teleportation crystal.

The thought is tempting but I shake my head. I pull out the powder charge. This thing has to be strong enough to break that crystal. I need to set it up and light it. I can’t risk tossing it with the Sea King swimming around.

Two stage attack.

Simple, I can do it.

I pour the last of my slime bottles on the heels of my feet. It should last for a while and give me the extra speed I need. No chain to anchor me. I will have to make do with generating my own speed and maintaining it by drifting on the slime.

“COME ON FISH MAN LETS DO THIS!”

“BWARBWARBWARBWARBWAR! BLURRPP”

I run the opposite direction of the crystal. The monster gives chase. As I pick up the pace I transition from running to skating on the smooth stone floor. The Sea King is pursuing me with its spear trying desperately to get in reach to strike me.

The longer I skate across the floor the faster I am able to go. I need to keep the thing distracted long enough to pull off this trick.

WIZZ

A water spear shoots right past my head. The boss is changing up its strategy. I need to be more careful.

WIZZZZ

There goes another. It is getting better with its aim. I can’t keep this up forever.

Quickly I drift spinning my body to face the crystal directly. I am able to maintain most of my momentum. I charge directly at the crystal.

Just like last time the boss moves to try and block me from reaching my target. It's okay I have no intention of touching that thing. At the last moment I slide to the right.

I avoid the boss. I lower my body skating along the floor and gently roll the powder charge into place while I pass by.

Everything is set now I can’t screw this next part up. I build some distance between the crystal and me. I charge head first at the crystal again. My eyes remain unblinking watching how the Sea King reacts.

WIZZZZZZZZ

His dead eyes wouldn’t show it but I think he ‘s mad.

WIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Closer.

WIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Even closer. I feel like that one grazed my helmet lightly.

I almost made it. The monster is winding up two more water spears. I can see the weapons in slow motion inching ever closer. I dive forward.

My shields scrap against the stone floor. The sound of metal contacting stone is assaulting my eardrums. As sparks fly everywhere. I can feel them on my skin. They feel like pin pricks.

It stings a little–

Good.

I skid past the crystal. When I come to a slowdown. I turn to see the boss hovering by the crystal. The powder charge, now lit by a tiny flame. The boss moves to attack me.

Too late.

The charge explodes. A huge cloud of smoke obscures the crystal. The boss is trapped in the large explosion. I specifically requested an excavation charge so that should have done the trick.

I stand up taking a moment to catch my breath. Scraping the dust of my pants. Hopefully–

Something bursts forth from the cloud of smoke.

I’m too slow. I shouldn’t have dropped my guard.

This is different.

The boss launches towards me wielding a larger hammer than before in both hands. I have little time to react. The full force of the hammer slams into my left side. Knocking me off balance and causing me to slip on the slime at the bottom of my shoe. I can feel my bones break.

I barely managed to lower my left arm shield in time to block my vitals.

The impact sends me flying.

I am such an idiot. The cloud of smoke clears the crystal and doesn't have a scratch.

Quickly I raise the shield with my only functioning arm to protect my head.

I slam into the stone wall.

The wind escapes my lungs.