In the first two difficulties, players would only encounter enemies as they ventured further into the dungeon. However, in this situation, they begin to gather around. If you're at a party, you can quickly orient yourself as your tank will be the first to act as a decoy and absorb damage. However, in solo play, especially as a first-timer, you may find it challenging to regain your bearings before being overwhelmed by the enemies.
I am well-prepared for what's about to happen, so I transform my Versatile Weapon into a Magic Sword and swiftly swing it onto my back.
"SQUEAK!"
You dealt 10,000 damage! Critical!
A large rat with fur ablaze was the one that received the blow. Although it was a critical hit, it didn't take down the monster in one strike. The damage wasn't sufficient to eliminate it in a single hit.
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[Hellfire Rat]
Level 30
HP: 7,500/17,500
Attributes: Beast, Fire
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Not only is this enemy a concern, but there are also others, and some of them possess attributes associated with the undead and ghosts.
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[Burning Soul]
Level 30
HP: 15,000/15,000
Attributes: Ghost, Fire
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[Suffering Damned Corpse]
Level 35
HP: 25,000/25,000
Attributes: Undead, Fire
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Furthermore, it's essential to avoid the mini-boss attacks, which are added to the chaos caused by this annoying mob.
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[Skeleton King] (Mini-Boss)
Level 40
HP: 100,000/100,000
Attributes: Undead, Knight, Fire
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The Mini-Boss is a formidable adversary and poses a significant challenge to Tanks. To endure against the horde for a longer period, it's crucial to defeat the Mini-Boss. Eliminating the mini-boss will also put an end to the endless spawning of mobs. For those aiming to complete the dungeon in the shortest time possible, it is advisable to prioritize the mini-boss to avoid being slowed down by the smaller mobs. Prolonged battles will only lead to greater exhaustion. Since I am determined to beat the time that Kazuki and the party are trying to achieve, based on my rough estimation from the previous timeline, I must defeat this boss as quickly as possible.
I slice through the air and rush forward to confront the Mini-boss. Eliminating it will halt the relentless spawning of smaller mobs, providing me with a chance to engage it without the constant threat of countless monsters pouring in from all directions.
The Skeleton King, despite its skeletal nature, boasts a formidable defense. Merely relying on brute force is insufficient to vanquish this adversary; a well-devised strategy and defense-penetrating tactics are imperative for swift disposal, preventing the smaller mobs from overwhelming you. Utilizing area-of-effect attacks and potent magic skills proves highly effective against this boss. It's worth noting that attempts to employ Healing or Holy Magic will be futile, as this boss is impervious to such forms of magic. Brute force remains the sole viable means to defeat it.
The small mobs can be quite the nuisance, persistently obstructing your path to the Mini-Boss.
"Out of my way!" I exclaim, forcefully swinging my Magic Sword to strike them and hurl them aside whenever the opportunity arises.
The blows that the smaller mobs endure are insufficient to eliminate them entirely, but they do chip away at their HP, gradually diminishing their health. This tactic is preferable since outright slaying them would only lead to an increase in the number of foes determined to impede your progress.
When I approached the Skeleton King, I switched my weapon to a shield and spear, the preferred gear of the Paladins, who serve as the primary tanks. While I'm proficient with the Magic Sword, I also aimed to bolster the AP of my Paladin class. This increase in AP would enable me to unlock various skills and passive abilities unique to the class.
"GRAAAAAAHHHH!"
The Skeleton King let out a deafening roar as it relentlessly pounded its rusty armor with its massive greatsword before swinging it at me. Naturally, I raised my shield to block the attack. The sheer force behind the strike was formidable, and I could feel the strain as I barely managed to withstand it. However, my experience in battling this boss played a crucial role in lessening the impact of the attack, allowing me to endure it more effectively.
After the greatsword attack, I gripped the spear and poked the Skeleton King's armor. If the Versatile Weapon has the ability to reduce some of the monster's defense, then I can at least lower this mini-boss's defense.
-Inflicted 3,250 damage. The defense was reduced by 5% for the next 30 seconds.
The 30% chance activated! When the debuff triggered, I swiftly swapped out the shield and spear for a hammer and proceeded to deliver a swift blow to the Mini-Boss.
BANG!
-Inflicted 10,000 damage! CRITICAL! The defense was further reduced by 5% for the next 30 seconds.
Another stack indicates that the Mini-Boss's defense has been reduced to 10%. Additionally, based on the damage inflicted, apart from the critical hit, I am confident that the defense penetration has been activated, allowing me to deal even more damage.
The Mini-Boss's HP won't last at this rate if the Versatile Weapon's skills continue to activate. However, the mobs are starting to gather now. To avoid being overwhelmed by their numbers, I decided to retreat from the boss, leading the mobs away from it. The Mini-Boss moves slowly and only attacks when I am within a 2-meter range. If I move out of that range, it won't pursue me.
I began kiting the mobs to ensure that they wouldn't gather around the Mini-Boss. This strategy proved successful, as the mobs followed me closely, ready to clobber me. I refrained from attacking them further, as I had already dealt significant damage earlier. Hitting them again would result in their demise, triggering a new spawn of enemies, doubling the hindrances I'd have to face.
Diligently dodging every mob and enduring their relentless attacks, which slowly chipped away at my HP bar, I made sure to consume health potions whenever my health dipped dangerously low before I resumed my journey. Despite these lowly mobs being not so powerful, they are annoying to deal with as they can be relentless in their pursuit like they are asking to be killed. I would have gladly done that if not for the fact that it would spawn another batch of these monsters for me to take care of. It's annoying really but there's nothing I can do.
I continued kiting them and made sure that they were gonna remain far from the mini-boss. I don't want to deal with them while also dealing with the attacks of the mini-boss. Spare me some headache problems.
After a few seconds of this intense struggle, I successfully managed to shake off the mobs. Quickly returning to the boss's lair, I decided to employ a different strategy this time.
Instead of using a shield to block, I made the decision to charge in with my hammer. Why, you might wonder? It's because the enemies in the Alternate World possess a degree of sentience and can remember the tactics employed against them. If you employ the same strategy more than once, the enemy will catch on and promptly adapt to counter it, ultimately thwarting your efforts.
As I closed in on the Mini-Boss, positioning myself just two meters away, I promptly activated my [Berserk] ability. This boosted my attack power significantly but came at the cost of severely reducing my defense. What's more, the Versatile Weapon now had the added capability of amplifying the potency of the Berserk Status, albeit at the expense of further diminishing my defense.
"EAT THIS!"
Swinging the hammer with all my strength onto the Skeleton King's skull, I anticipated the defense to weaken further, but I was caught off guard by the unexpected sound as the hammer connected with the skull.
CRACK!
I paused, watching in awe as the Skeleton King crumbled into dust, and the interface displayed a notification.
- Acquired 25,000 EXP (Additional 25,000 EXP for an Instant Kill) (Additional 5,000 EXP for defeating a Mini-Boss) (Title Effects activated, total EXP gained: 55,000)
- Gained 15 Paladin Ability Points (AP)
- Earned 30 Berserker Ability Points (AP)
[Congratulations! You've been granted the title: Skullshatterer!]
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[Skullshatterer]
Type: Unique Title
How to Acquire: To nab this exclusive title, you need to become a true head-hunter. Deal a whopping 500,000 damage to the Skeleton King while aiming for the sweet spot - the noggin!
In-Game Power Boost: Once you've earned your Skullshatterer title, get ready to turn your foes into head-spinning fans. Your basic attacks and skills will pack a punch with a 2% chance to stun your enemies for a solid 5 seconds. Just remember, this effect doesn't double up if you stack 'em.
Note: You've already proven you can shatter skulls like a pro, but are you up for the challenge of smashing eggs without breaking a sweat? Remember, there's no title for that, but it'll be eggstraordinary!
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