The creature finally emerged—a towering rat-man hybrid with four eyes glowing in the dim light of the dungeon. It stood tall, wielding both a staff and a sword, its grotesque form pulsing with unnatural energy.
But it didn't end there. The boss brought its sword and staff together, causing both to shine intensely before they fused into a single weapon—a grotesque blend of arcane magic and steel.
[Plague Magic Swordsman - Ratay]
Both Leon and Luna froze for a moment, eyes locked on the towering figure as they muttered in unison, "A named boss..."
"This isn't your average boss," Leon repeated, feeling the tension grow thicker as Ratay let out a bone-chilling growl, the oppressive energy radiating from the creature flooding the room.
Named bosses were on a whole different level. There were three main types of dungeon bosses: the basic dungeon boss, the named boss, and the rarest and strongest—demon bosses. Named bosses, as their title implied, were significantly stronger than typical dungeon enemies, their power at least twice that of a regular dungeon boss.
"Well, it's manageable," Leon said, trying to sound confident, though his grip on his staff tightened. Luna nodded beside him, her daggers gleaming as shadowy tendrils coiled around her hands.
They stared at the rat-man hybrid, which now held its combined sword-staff weapon. In one hand, the creature summoned a sickly green magic circle, radiating plague-like energy, while its other hand gripped the blade, ready to strike.
The boss was preparing its first move.
"Stay alert," Leon warned, eyes darting between the magic circle and the sword. "This thing's not going to be easy."
The room was filled with a crackling sound as Ratay's green magic began to surge, the air growing heavier. The ground beneath Leon and Luna trembled slightly as the monster prepared to unleash its attack.
"It's summoning magic!" Leon shouted, noticing the eerie green energy swirling more intensely around Ratay's staff.
"I'll deal with the summons, you focus on the boss!" Luna replied confidently, already preparing to engage the incoming threat.
Leon nodded and focused his attention on Ratay. He aimed his staff and unleashed an Aether-based attack, hoping to stagger the boss. However, Ratay quickly raised his sword-staff, effortlessly deflecting the attack. The boss's eyes locked onto Leon, a mocking glint in them.
"Oh god..." Leon muttered, his heart racing as he realized Ratay wasn't just powerful—he was intelligent too.
Leon dashed forward, attempting to slash at Ratay's legs to throw the creature off balance. His blade connected, but the thick, armor-like fur absorbed most of the damage. Ratay let out a furious bellow, shaking the room with its sheer force.
"Damn it, it's like hitting a wall!" Leon cursed, readying himself for the next move, as the boss showed no signs of slowing down.
He didn't used summoning knowing he would be left without mana if Ratay were to kill his summon.
As Ratay roared in fury, Leon tightened his grip on his sword, ready for a long, grueling battle. The plague magician-swordsman was no ordinary opponent; its body was massive and tough, its agility surprising for a creature of its size.
The green summoning circles on the ground pulsed with energy, and Luna dove into action. Shadows flickered around her form as she used her Shadow Control to manipulate tendrils of darkness, intercepting the growing magical summons. With swift, precise strikes from her obsidian daggers, she disrupted the magic before it could fully materialize.
"Keep it busy, Leon! I've almost got these summons under control!" Luna called out, her voice sharp with focus.
Ratay, sensing the disruption, swung its sword-staff toward her, trying to interrupt her efforts. Leon reacted quickly, dashing in front of the attack with a Aether Barrier Spell.
The sword-staff clashed against Leon's magical barrier, the force of the impact causing a loud, ear-splitting crack. Leon gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure. He could barely hold on.
Ratay's eyes flickered with annoyance, and the boss quickly shifted its stance, thrusting the staff forward. Leon barely sidestepped in time, feeling the gust of air as the blade narrowly missed his torso. He counterattacked, thrusting his sword toward Ratay's exposed side. The blade met its mark, piercing through the thick hide just enough to draw blood.
Ratay let out another furious roar, but this time its movements became more erratic. The boss swung its weapon in wide arcs, forcing Leon to dodge and weave, each strike carrying a tremendous amount of power.
"Now!" Leon yelled, taking a risky move. He charged in again, aiming a series of quick, precise slashes at Ratay's legs, hoping to cripple its movement. This time, his efforts paid off—he hit a vulnerable spot, and Ratay stumbled slightly.
Taking advantage of the opening, Luna unleashed Heart Strike, teleporting behind Ratay with her Shadow Dive ability and driving her daggers deep into the back of its knees. The shadowy energy from her attack pulsed through the creature's body, weakening it further.
Ratay howled in pain and rage, swinging wildly to knock Luna away. She ducked back into the shadows, evading the retaliatory strike, leaving Leon to face the enraged boss head-on.
"It's on its last legs!" Luna shouted from the darkness. "Go for it!"
Leon nodded, summoning all the Aether energy he had left. His staff began to glow with a blinding light as he channeled everything into one final attack—Aether Bolt. He pointed toward Ratay, as a powerful spell aimed at the core of its body.
As Ratay raised his sword-staff to block again, his movements were precise, but Luna was quicker. With a sharp glint in her eyes, she darted forward, her obsidian daggers flashing in the dim dungeon light. She aimed directly at Ratay's exposed neck, her blades slicing through the vulnerable spot.
Ratay roared in pain, stumbling back as his focus shattered. The summoning magic around him flickered and dissipated as he struggled to regain control, but it was too late.
Leon's Aether Bolt shot forward like a lightning strike, unimpeded by Ratay's weakened defense. The bolt slammed into the boss with overwhelming force, tearing through its chest with a bright explosion of energy. A massive hole burned through Ratay's body, sending him crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud.
The once-mighty plague magician-swordsman twitched, gasping for breath. But the life had already faded from its eyes. The creature's massive form slumped, motionless. Ratay was dead—defeated for good.
Leon exhaled deeply, lowering his weapon. "We did it," he muttered, exhaustion clear in his voice. Luna stepped forward, glancing at the still-smoking body of the boss.
"He couldn't be more dead," she said with a smirk, wiping her daggers clean. "That was tougher than expected, but we pulled through."
The dungeon grew eerily quiet as they stood over Ratay's remains, knowing the battle was finally over.