Raid in the Forest

The forest was quiet. Almost as if the animals themselves have felt the nonexistent presence of the monster they were about to face. Leo looked ahead, not being able to see Zen worried him, but he still had the system screen. It didn’t offer truly any truly helpful info, but he could see her relative location.

“She’ll be fine.” Lupa said punching his arm, “They won’t let anything happen to her.”

Leo rubbed his shoulder, “Yeah.. still. I never faced anything more than a horned-rabbit.”

“What about the golem?”

“That had a win condition. It was like I cheated.”

Lupa chuckled, “Cheating only matters in tournaments Leo. A win is a win.”

They quieted down and continued through the forest. It did seem that Leo gained more stamina from his training. He was keeping up and wasn’t as tired from the trek in. He looked over at Sophia who was now wearing some of the clan’s gear as she was ill equip with her guild outfit. Why she was willing to go this far Leo didn’t understand.

Then it happened. An intense wave of mana washed over them. It wasn’t as if it was seeking them out, more it was making a claim to the forest. Then as if walking out of a mist a giant buck appeared. It glowed an etherial blue with dark red eyes. Antlers that crisscrossed on themselves rising high. It still didn’t notice them as it walked in a regal way. That’s when the system screen appeared again.

[Warning! Named Monster Detected! Xernrex The Usurper!]

[Level insufficient! Caution is Advise!]

“Named?” Leo whispered under his breath

“You can sense names too huh?” Lupa said now just as cautious

“Xernrex…” Sophia added before she turned to Leo, “Monsters give themselves names when they get to a certain strength. If you can feel their mana well enough the name can be understood.”

“Which could mean that if we leave it alone it could evolve again.” Lupa said.

Leo nodded his confidence shaken at the warning. The system was already writing him off as not ready for this fight. He might as well defer to the Tail Rune Clan.

Lucius didn’t give any verbal commands, but he did used hand signs. Following the orders the other warriors fanned out encircling the giant beast. As Leo was unfamiliar with them watched in confusion as they moved out chasing to only stick with Lupa and Sophia. Zen was still with the scouts, but he trusted her to remain hidden.

“Leo,” Lupa whispered, “On my mark cast that sun ray skill.”

“Got it.” Opening his system screen he waited for the signal.

Then once the other warriors were in position Lucius swung down his fist. Then the five warriors on each side threw spears that had a lighting mana stone attached creating an electric web.

“Now!”

ALICIA’S SOLAR RAY

Letting the mana flow from his hand he shot the condense light beam striking Xernrex in the eye causing it to roar. The lighting spears crossed it over it as joined together and trapped it. Then with a battle cry all the warriors charged in. The goal to kill the beast was all that fueled them. Lupa joined in as well with her greatsword. Her aim it seems was to go for the antlers.

However standing in the back, Leo saw the mana charge in its antlers and realized it was too late as she was already in mid air. Thinking quick he utilize the fact that she hadn’t activated her Blood Runes yet.

ALICIA’S GRAVITY BIND

Reversing the gravity of Lupa’s momentum Leo gave her some more height.

*BWAHHM*

Xernrex launched an array of lasers from it’s antlers with a couple that passed where Lupa originally was going to be. Luckily the Tail Rune Clan were no slouches and dodged these light like beams. They burned into where they landed and also began to cut through the trees. Forced to scramble and regroup Leo lost his focus and let Lupa go.

This did not concern her in the slightest. Using her newfound height and momentum she sung down with her greatsword. Her strike landed as she crushed through one set of antlers and giving a wack to the side of its face.

Now that Xernrex is staggered the remaining warriors then advanced. Each with their own weapons and a couple of fire mana stones. Tossing them like grenades while other charge in it was a mix of fire and slashes. Leo then steady his hand again and took aim.

ALICIA’S SOLAR RAY

It wasn’t a direct hit this time with its struggling with all the new challenges. The electric net soon began to lose its hold with it thrashing even more. Aside from Lupa’s first attack, where they even doing any real damage to it? Something felt off to Leo, but he didn’t know why.

“ROAAAAR!” Xernrex bellowed causing everyone to cover their ears at the sudden shout. Then their collective heart dropped as the monster simply dissolved and vanished.

“SIX O’CLOCK!!”

Zentella’s scream refocused everyone just in time as they turned. However to their dismay Xernrex returned and all damage was restored. It healed? That fast?

“Don’t falter!” Lucius called, “Strike it down!”

“In one BLOW!” Lupa yelled as she went for the neck of the monster.

Leo then saw collectively the other warriors all bite their hands. Their Blood Runes activated. He saw it wasn’t as much Lupa’s amount, but he figured they were sufficiently buffed. They all matched Lupa and all collectively struck the neck. Xernrex stumbled once against the collective push back. Shaking its head it then channeled mana in its horns and launched the lasers again. Now powered by their Blood Runes the warriors easily dodged. Lupa also didn’t need assistance this time.

Leo wondered for a brief second why she didn’t activate her Blood Runes yet, until he saw her wild grin. She was holding back for the fun of it. Sighing Leo looked back to the fight. The single collective strike didn’t work, and they don’t have any more continuous damage on it. Not wanting to waste MP on a boss that heals itself Leo decided to go in. He didn’t know where this courage came from, but he had to figure something out.

ZEKE’S SEALTH

Disappearing from its presence, Leo circled behind it.

ZEKE’S KILLSTRIKE

Leo knew that this move was for more assassination like moves, but his new training and understanding allowed this to work. It was essentially just a fast strike, so repurposing it to match his sword was easy. In fact he felt his body move slightly faster. This had to be thanks to Lupa’s training. Which is why Leo grumbled as he slashed the back leg. He cut cleanly, but the thing didn’t bleed.

He would have chalked it up to just it having tough skin, but kill strike bypasses defenses as flimsy as that. Not to mention Xernrex mana goes to the horns.

“Wait.” Leo looked up to the horns and realized, the antlers glowed like mana crystals.It was a natural-born, so why did it not bleed despite channeling the mana to the antlers.

“Now!” Lupa called as the group struck again at the same time.

Leo then saw it, the pattern, Xernrex’s next move.

ALEISTER’S LEAP

Pouring everything he had Leo jumped for the worst position one could be in this fight; the head. Hooking himself onto the horn he braced himself for the incoming sound.

“ROAAAAR!”

After the initial shock Leo held firm. He definitely lost his hearing just now. He saw the concern faces of Lupa and Sophia. Were they shouting something? Probably saying that he should get off. With still ringing ears he just held a thumbs up, but then there was a flash of crimson. Zen had also jumped onto the head and was attempting to pull him off.

“Damnit I’m just testing a theory Zen.” Leo thought to himself. Not trusting his voice when he couldn’t hear at the moment, he held up his pinky. Zen then stopped and nodded as the two of them on top of Xernrex dissolved and vanished with the usurper.