[Naiad, the Lake Spirit]
[๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ]
[๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ]
[๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ]
[๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ]
As always, when you find a technique that works, it's quite easy to keep on spamming the same thing until the Boss is on the brink of death.
If it wasn't for the fact all Bosses had at least 2 phases, the game would be much easier, but whatever.
I can't complain.
But if there was one thing I learned thus far, it's that the 2nd phase of all Bosses had to always diverge from the normal route.
Since it's been the case for all the Bosses before this one, it's easy to predict this will be the same for Naiad as well.
For that reason, now that its health was almost fully deplented, I was even more cautious than usual.
'Asuna is about to end her chain of skills'
It's still impressive that she can manage to keep on chaining skill after skill.
Being nothing but a normal human, it should be extremely difficult for her, as each skill required precise conditions to be executed, and if you lose the tiny window you have to chain another skill, of course you will fail.
As such, it's not uncommon for people to avoid recklessly attempting to chain skills, or limit themselves to not-too-difficult skills to execute.
She's a different breed, alright.
I'll stop thinking like a boomer now.
I gripped my spear, the familiar weight grounding me.
With a quick breath, I activated [Burst Speed] to close the distance between myself and Naiad, my skill propelling me forward in a blur.
As I approached, my spear began to emit an intense glow, signaling the activation of [Threefold Piercer] once again.
I aimed for Naiad's stomach, the point of my spear driving deep into its form.
Naiad's HP bar dipped into the red.
The moment it did, it let out a deafening scream.
I had anticipated some sort of retaliation and gritted my teeth against the [Dizziness] status effect that washed over me.
Despite the disorientation, I managed to shout to Asuna, "Get away from the boss for now!"
We didn't know what it was capable of now in its second phase.
'...Something is wrong!'
I felt that instinctively, as before I could fully retreat, the temperature around Naiad dropped sharply.
It felt like a bucket of ice-cold water had been thrown over me. A quick glance at my status confirmed itโI had contracted the [Chilliness] status effect.
If it's only this, then it's not much of a problem to handle.
The cold aura surrounding Naiad intensified as Asuna and I regrouped.
Even more now, I could tell there was something ominously wrong.
And I was right.
Suddenly, Naiad moved with alarming speed, its tail flickering through the air like a whip.
It was too fast for us to dodge.
The next moment, both Asuna and I were struck, the force of the blow sending us flying backward.
I crashed to the ground, the impact jarring but not painful.
My superior mind quickly registered the lack of real pain, and I pushed myself up.
Asuna, however, was still struggling to separate the sensation of being hit from the reality that she wasn't actually hurt.
But that wasn't the problem.
'...I knew it was too easy'
A quick look at my status showed that [Chilliness] had evolved into the [Extreme Chilliness] status effect.
As soon as that effect manifested, I could see my HP dropping by 5%.
'If we don't kill it soon, we'll die of hypotermia, huh.'
My hand which I used to instinctively protect myself was now frozen solid, and my body temperature had plummeted dangerously low.
It's not like I didn't train my mind to withstand the cold in the past, but it still felt unpleasant.
I sighed, mildly annoyed. Of course, the boss had to be difficult.
"Figures," I muttered, flexing my fingers to test their mobility.
Despite the numbing cold, I knew we had to keep pushing. "Asuna, this thing's tougher than it looks. But we can do this."
Asuna nodded, determination returning to her eyes as she finally regained her footing.
I noticed her arm was also frozen in ice.
It seems getting hit by the Boss now also gives you this status effect, which is ridiculous, but oh well.
I got used to bullshit after 22 Floors.
At least the rewards were worth the effort.
Anyway, we don't have much time;
The [Extreme Chilliness] status was eating away at our health, which was already precariously low after taking a direct blow from the boss.
If we wanted to live, we needed to defeat Naiad quickly.
"Asuna, keep up the pressure with your skills," I urged, gripping my spear tightly. "I'll try to find an opening."
Asuna nodded and dashed forward, her movements slightly hindered by the debuff. She executed [Triangular], forming the shape with rapid dashes and strikes, each one creating a burst of energy.
However, her attacks were blocked by Naiad's ice, which shattered under her blows but immediately reformed.
"Dammit," I swore under my breath. "She's not fast enough to overwhelm the boss now."
I charged in, but my already low AGI, further reduced by the debuff, made it difficult to land a hit. When I finally did, Naiad's ice shield absorbed the blow, rendering my attack ineffective.
"Tch," I was about to try again, but before I could, I suddenly felt that sensation again.
The sensation...that something was extremely wrong!
But this time, it even surpassed all of my expectations.
The Boss leaped into the air, soon landing with such force that the water-like floor... created massive waves.
'Don't tell me...!'
The ground beneath us vibrated violently, throwing both Asuna and me off balance.
'Damn it! So it can do this too!'
Both of us were caught off guard, unable to regain our footing, and fell to the ground.
Naiad took advantage of our vulnerability, its tail sweeping over Asuna and sending her flying.
She landed hard, her HP now deep in the red.
How dare you...!
Rage bubbled up inside me, cold and consuming. My vision narrowed, and all I could see was the enemy before me.
'If the normal strategy won't work, then...I have no other choice'
My gaze turned icy as I threw myself at the boss, seemingly reckless but with calculated intent.
Naiad lunged at me, trying to bite, but I anticipated this. I dodged its maw and leaped onto its back.
The icy aura penetrated me, as I noticed the [Extreme Chilliness] had evolved into [Extreme Chilliness+], showing no sign of stopping.
Even so, I grinned maniacally.
"You think that's enough to shake me off? Dream on, buddy!!"
Being this close meant my attacks would be guaranteed to hit, forcing it to activate its ice generation ability.
Without hesitation I struck repeatedly, each hit triggering Naiad's ice shield, preventing it from using the ice elsewhere.
Asuna, now up to her feet, understood my intentions as she resumed her assault. She used [Triangular], [Oblique], and [Linear] in rapid succession, her strikes chipping away at Naiad's HP.
Naiad thrashed, trying to dislodge me, its icy aura expanding and wailing in its usual high-pitched screams.
Despite the intense cold and my rapidly depleting health, I kept my grip strong.
"Panicking now, are we? Where's all that nobility you were exuding off gone to? In the end, you're just a mere beast, and nothing more."
I chuckled darkly, feeling my health drop to dangerously low levels.
My body was freezing, the cold seeping into my bones, but even then, I didn't let go.
Just before my health could hit zero, Naiad's HP finally depleted.
The boss froze momentarily before shattering into a shower of experience points, like a crystal exploding into a thousand pieces.
Not having any support, I fell to the ground, utterly exhausted as most of my body was frozen.
I lay there, expecting the [Extreme Chilliness+++] to kill me.
But then, I noticed my statusโ[Extreme Chilliness+++] had downgraded to [Chilliness].
So, it was a Status Effect that disappeared once the Boss was killed.
'Lucky...'
I laughed weakly. "Almost died to some trash Boss... my past self would probably slap me in the face if he could see how pathetic I am"
Asuna crawled over, lifting my upper body with a worried expression. "Are you alright!?"
I nodded, sighing. Her HP also barely hanging on the single digits. "It seems we're always one step from death each time we fight a boss."
Asuna smiled weakly, knowing it was true. "We didn't die, at least. But what you did was truly reckless! Why do you keep putting yourself at such immense risks?"
I looked up at the ceiling, contemplating. "I can put my life on the line while being perfectly aware of what might happen if I die. Adding this to my plans is simply the most efficient way to go. As you saw, without doing this, dealing with the boss this time would've been extremely hard. Heck, one or both of us could have even died."
Asuna bit her lower lip, but her eyes showed a degree of understanding. "I'm also perfectly aware... of what might happen if I die. You don't have to be the only one to put your life on the line..."
She trembled.
To her words, I shook my head as I couldn't stop myself from patting hers.
"You're just a kid, Asuna. Since it's an adult's job to protect kids, let me be that cool kind of guy on this matter."
She shook her head, her cheeks red in embarrassment.
"D-Don't treat me like a kid..."
How could I not?
You're just 15, Asuna.
I'm not trying to insult you. Rather, I want you to cherish the fact you have the luxury to stay a kid.
Because before you know it, that priviledge will be taken from you.
---
Author's Note:
I would like to thank Bakenekon for suggesting me a much better idea on how to display a Boss' health.
You're the best, buddy.
Also, the [Extreme Chilliness] is not from the original SAO.
As such, here is a brief description of it:
[Extreme Chilliness]
[Effect 1: Will deplete 5% of a player's health per minute]
[Effect 2: Player's AGI and STR -30%]
Of course, as it's an extremely broken status effect, once the Boss that caused it is killed, it will return back to a normal [Chilliness] which is not much to deal with.
[Extreme Chilliness+++] actually 3x effect 1 and 1.5x effect 2.