Chapter 32: Ten seconds
"It is obvious that he doesn't… But I wonder if he has bones…" Alex asked while unsheathing his sword.
His girlfriend shook her head, "I don't think so… Well! It's not like we will not check it, right?"
"Right," Alex sneered.
Before the first boss in the outside world, Alex kept his composure. He looked fearless and even arrogant. But those who knew him wouldn't think like that. Alex simply wouldn't waste his time.
If he had a monster before himself, he would go for him. Besides, he was already good at swordsmanship, so what was there to think?
Alex also had his beloved next to him. He didn't even think of taking a step back and letting this golden chance go.
Moreover, Olivia was also thirsty for blood and achievements!
Therefore, after Alex kicked the ground, throwing himself at the boss, Olivia did precisely the same! Following her boyfriend closely, the young lady tightly grasped her spear in her little hands, aiming at the monster's vital spot.
Heart!
Since Strongus wanted to be that Macho Mushroom, his manifested form was that of a human. He revealed way more vital points for players, who were more or less familiar with their bodies.
Therefore, Olivia and Alex didn't overthink. With just a second of eye contact, the couple decided their combo.
Going first, Alex shrank distance considerably fast. He faced the monster's punch soaked in poison, but for now, that matter not. He dodged the punch by tilting his head to the side, then his sword went forward!
Alex ignored the poison that had fallen onto his cheek. He focused on his enemy first, drawing deep slashes on its humanoid form.
From Strongus' chest, purple blood gushed out.
[-240 HP!]
[Critical Strike! -534 HP!]
[-297 HP!]
It turned out that his skin and flesh weren't tough.
But as if Alex needed to confirm that, his girlfriend came from behind him. Her long spear thrust forward, going after the wounds Alex had done. Lightning and sharp spearhead slipped into his body deeply.
More purple blood fountained from the monster as Olivia's skill was overly vicious. It grilled, drilled, and simply yearned for blood!
At last, the monster counter-attacked. He spread his fingers widely and swept the area before him. From his fingertips, a dense poison dripped. That turned into acid arrows, similar to little mushrooms' attacks.
However, those were stronger and faster!
Alex, who was already on the back-line, shouted, "Step back!"
Olivia also noticed that quick move. She promptly jumped back, but Strongus still managed to leave a few wounds on Olivia's arm.
Dense poison melted into her body.
[Bleeding Effect has been applied to you.]
[You have been poisoned by the Strongus.]
[The effects of the Mush Rain have been heightened.]
[The poison has heightened 'Bleeding.']
Besides those terrifying effects, the poison took away ten health points every five seconds. That effect mixed with bleeding, slowly eating two players alive.
That poison also touched Alex before, exactly when he had avoided the punch. His effects were lower due to the black robe and his higher level.
Moreover, Olivia was hurt by the poison arrows, so her HP fell even more.
Alex didn't waste any second. He drank antidote, which ceased the adverse effects. That antidote was one of the stuff he had bought while waiting for his clean equipment.
Olivia also had it, but she couldn't take it out due to the monster close to her.
Alex immediately filled the gap and helped her, "It's just leveling ground's boss. He shouldn't have too much of abilities!"
But as Alex said those words to reassure his girlfriend, Strongus opened his jaw. Stinky breath escaped from him, going after Alex.
In such a close distance, he simply didn't have any chance to avoid that. A disgusting smell went through his nostrils. In the next second, Alex couldn't move his body at all.
[You have been paralyzed.]
[You can't move for five seconds.]
Five seconds was more than enough.
In one second, Strongus turned his fist into a powerful weapon. His white skin turned purple. His hand was no longer soft. Instead, poison within him became so dense that his attack points went up three times!
That punch sent Alex flying.
He flew past Olivia and hit the tree heavily. His body slid down the bark. Due to the shock, Alex couldn't lift himself from the ground.
[You have been stunned for ten seconds.]
It was simply due to his weak stats.
In that short time, Olivia got rid of the poison effect. She ran toward her boyfriend, then spun around.
With her eyes piercing Strongus, she bared her spear, "I am not taking even one step from here!"
She was ready to protect her beloved!
Strongus didn't have feelings, though. That show of love and resolution didn't stop his maddened charge. His three-meter form grew bigger in Olivia's eyes, then she recorded him hauling his hands to bonk her down!
His two hands joined, and he smashed them down.
Olivia's spear went up before the monster made fun of her. Her weapon roared in lightning, stopping Strongus momentarily.
At most, Olivia could buy just a few seconds. She was well aware of it.
Not only does Strongus have two times her level, but the weapon she held was also a perfect weapon for level ten-fifteen monsters. She could equip it at level ten, so Strongus' boss body simply outclassed her.
And then, Strongus was boss.
Players would usually gather in at least a perfect party that consisted of a tank and healer. If Alex and Olivia had their friends around, they would've been healed. Similarly, their mage friends would've barraged the boss with their offensive skills!
Alas, they were alone.
[Your weapon, Brown Spear, is on the verge of destruction. Its durability has fallen below ten percent!]
Even though her weapon cried, Olivia didn't let it go. Her lightning dwarfed over the weapon's cracks. And as she could maintain the skill, Olivia's focus remained the same.
She locked eyes on the monster and kept pushing forward.
Unfortunately, Olivia's feet had long since sunk into the ground. Strongus had been slowly pushing her toward Alex, who was still during crowd control.
At last, her weapon snapped.
[Your weapon, Brown Spear, has been destroyed.]
Ten seconds passed.