As the group rests in the hall before entering Spooky's room I watch the Boss of the first floor stare at the leader of the group with rage in his eyes. Tapping into his thoughts through our dungeon connection I can see that all my boss monsters will remember how they died in the past but not the pain they felt, allowing the sentient ones to learn and in Spooky's case remember the people who defeated them. Now that Spooky has leveled he seems to be seeking a rematch against the leader who put a blade through his skull, and using his new strength and environment he plans on giving the group hell.
"Boss was a castyr that resembled a small wolf, was quick and poisonous to boot. Stealthy too so careful. Specially now that he has hiding spots." The leader says as both people nod behind him while the bathers just stare into the room before the woman whistles once more and the woman bather rushes in.
As the woman enters Spooky quickly flings several poison needles at her while dashing to a new hiding spot, barely making a sound as the needles embed themselves in the woman's arm. As Spooky waits for her to start being affected by poison the woman begins glancing around before her eyes lock onto Spooky's hiding place and she summons a deep purple spear out of nowhere.
"This boss certainly is unique but its still fairly low level. Plus if its opponent is immune to poison its forced to fight head on which puts it at a slight disadvantage against that bather." The woman says calmly as she pulls out a journal and begins writing down everything she can about the fight.
"How ya figure that Anni? Beast is still strong." The leader asks as he motions towards the fight in the room as Spooky lunges towards the bather in a rush before the spear pierces through his front leg eliciting a yelping chuff.
"Simple Jogur, for a tank like you this boss is definitely a problem. Same for a mage like Ro or a rouge like me. Ranged poison attacks are always tricky plus its a fairly quick speed attacker meaning it hits hard and fast with no mercy. But that bather is actually a special one that the boss gave us. She used to be the head of our berserk squad and got there because not only was she merciless but she also has the poison immunity skill and the poison element. Only reason she was turned into a bather is because she was the one who led that damned minotaur boss to the castle when the wards were weak. We lost forty that day and that's including women, children, and elderly. If she can't kill this thing solo she deserves death." Anissa remarks as Jogur looks at the woman in a new light while she fights like a demon against the increasingly injured Spooky.
As the boss backs away from the mad woman it chuffs before activating its bloodlust ability for the first time, its entire body glowing a deep crimson as it dashes towards the bather. His speed has quadrupled almost and he lands his first blow against the woman as his teeth snap upon her fingers as she tries to move out of his way. As he snaps up his snack his wounds begin to slowly heal themselves as he seems to cockily glare at the bather. As the two do battle and clash over and over again I watch in excitement while Spooky's fighting style begins to polish itself. Soon enough I notice the bather is being used as a whetstone but the woman is beginning to slow down as her blood loss effects her. As she slows down I can see some form of reason returning to her eyes before she rolls herself backwards and slams into several of the other bathers in the hallway, Spooky growling at her and attempting to spray spikes at them but the power of the dungeons rules negating the damage as soon as the exit the boss room.
"That skill was bloodlust, only usually found in vampiric creatures interesting. Gives it a huge boost in stats as well as regeneration which is increased while having fresh blood. With that skill it'll require this one plus the three of us. We'll use the bathers as shields while Ro can heal. Lets get her back up and proper then try this again." Anissa says as her two comrades nod. Ro approaches the bather and begins healing the woman's wounds and I watch amazed as the missing fingers she lost begin to regrow first as new bones, then nerves winding their way around them followed by the muscle and skin. As the bather is done being healed her eyes flutter open and she punches the one named Ro in the face, sending him flying backwards as the other two look at the bather in surprise.
"Where the fuck am I and why was that perv on top of me..." She mutters as once again a gasp is heard before Anissa approaches the woman.
"Tyr of the berserk brigade, can you understand and recognize me?" She asks cautiously as the one named Tyr looks up and begins scrabbling to her feet and attempting to make a sloppy salute.
"First Captain Anissa! I'm extremly sorry for not noticing your presence! Yes I can understand and recognize you Ma'am!" Tyr says in a rough , commanding voice as Anissa steps back and motions for her to relax before asking her what she remembers.
"That damn bull wiping out my salvage group then the boss saying I'd be turned to a bather so I wouldn't be wasted. Then vaguely remember fighting some beast then this. Where is this exactly?" She explains in confusion as Ro gets up with a scowl on his face as he heals himself.
"Later Tyr right now we're in a dungeon and behind you is a boss we need to defeat. Its us four so lets get in there, faster we finish this the faster you get answers." Anissa says as Tyr nods and charges into the room once again but this time her movements are more fluid as she sweeps her lance towards Spooky's hiding place and throws him out of the growth. Once Spooky is out Jogur rushes him while shouting and swings a familiar looking axe towards Spooky's body, grazing his ribs as the boss leaps backwards only to be hit with a sharp bolt of lightening. Its origin followed back to Ro's outstretched hand, his eyes glowing a golden yellow.
Right when Spooky tries to activate his bloodlust again a massive scythe adorned with bones sweeps down on him and rends his head from his body, the rest of him taking several seconds until they collapse.
"See Jogur? Speed attacker, low health but high damage. Get a backstab+ambush+Overkill in and its a one shot. But still for a rookie dungeon its a strong starter." She says before jumping backwards with readiness as the gate to the second floor appears.