Fueled by incandescent rage and unwavering resolve, I frantically surveyed my depleted magical arsenal, searching for a single spark of resistance.
Then, I realize a glimmer of hope—the Gaia Endowment Spell!
Without hesitation, I unleashed its power.
My physical strength surged, a tidal wave of invigorating energy.
A clenched fist, thrumming with newfound might, smashed against Moonscar's fractured magical barrier.
Fractures spiderwebbed, expanding relentlessly!
My physical assault was effective!
I pummeled the magical barrier with relentless blows until it shattered, revealing the Moonscar.
Her terrified gasp, "How is this possible? A human...?" was cut short.
My fist connected with her skull, a brutal impact sending her reeling.
A shriek of agony tore from her as she fled, limbs flailing.
Her undead legions surged forward, but I was an unstoppable tide.
Each foe met a swift, decisive blow to the head, collapsing instantly.
Even their desperate attempts to flank me were met with acrobatic counters – a backflip, a whirling kick that severed their skull.
The battlefield was soon littered with the fallen of those undead soldiers.
Moonscar, witnessing her army's annihilation, trembled, her fear palpable.
She crawled pathetically, a desperate attempt to escape my unwavering gaze.
"It's too late, Zeta's apprentice! The Full Moonlight's curse is unstoppable!" she wailed, her voice cracking with terror.
Her argument were meaningless.
For me, the war on Dawn Town was far from over.
"Your curse may be inevitable," I retorted, my voice laced with steely determination, "but your demise is not."
I closed the distance, moving fast and pummeling her like a whirlwind of fury.
Each strike, a calculated blow dismantling her skeletal form, pulverizing her until only fragments remained.
The system's triumphant announcement confirmed my victory, a stark punctuation to the brutal symphony of destruction.
> You get 250.000 Monster Diamond!
> You get Talisman: The Absence of Sound* (1x)!
*Utilized for remove any sound generated by the user
> You get Fragment of Life Miracle**(x1)!
**Collect three of it to gain the Secret of Legendary Recovery
The Quest's Reward was astonishing!
My gaze immediately fixated on the Fragment of Life Miracle – a crucial component for my Miracle Potion.
While not directly contributing to the potion itself, the Secret of Legendary Recovery promises invaluable aid to show direction within the treacherous Abandoned Tower.
Of course, I need to finish the Quest to defeat the formidable Deadspires and Voidwalkers to fully unlock the recovery's potential!
As I observer the Talisman: The Absence of Sound, though seemingly superfluous now, represent a potent reserve for future combat.
I know it will enable a strategic advantage if I'll carefully preserve it.
After checking the Quest's reward, I just realize the dissonance of the haunted church – the unsettling hymns mingling with the agonizing death throes of the undead horde – was abruptly and utterly silenced.
*Congratulations! Crystallice Guild and Bain succeed defeating a Boss Rank Monster on Dawn City Raid Mission!
Another Knight's app alert.
My reward for defeating that boss monster—equivalent to a completed B-rank mission!
Excellent!
This reward will elevate my Knight's rank faster!
As I dismissed the notification, only to find Bain practically leaping at me.
"Sir Alstair!" he exclaimed, his voice a vibrant tremor of awe. "That was…unbelievable! You crushed a boss-level monstrosity with your bare hand!"
Technically, a hand enhanced by the Gaia Endowment spell, I corrected mentally.
"The Moonscar's raw power may be not the strongest element she had," I conceded, "but her Moonlight Curse is a game-changer. I bet Lance and his team are shaking in anguish due of this damned curse."
Bain's features clouded with worry. "I… hadn't considered that," he stammered, his voice hushed with concern.
In my current, curse-weakened state, go out to face Deadspires or Voidwalkers would be suicidal decision.
A single blow from either would obliterate me severely.
Still, this difficult situation, while dire, paled in comparison to the Moonscar's pre-defeat boasts.
Her boasts is not as deadly as it seems after I checked the system interface, which explained the Moonlight Curse's duration.
The information held a grim, yet vital, significance.
>The Full Moonlight Curse effect: 66 hours remaining!
The moonlight's malevolent grip would, we estimated, relinquish its hold within two to three days.
Our immediate priority: secure a haven—unapproachable for Undead monsters and secure sanctuary—stocked with provisions sufficient for a three-day vigil within the city's treacherous embrace.
The simplicity of this plan lied on its risky execution.
Dreadspires, even from afar, could unleash their devastating attacks upon any lingering presence; the city's shadowy corners offered no true refuge from their long-range assaults.
Voidwalkers, too, posed a constant threat, their swift blades a swift response to any indiscreet noise.
"Three days' worth of sustenance is important," I declared to Bain, after careful consideration.
Bain's response was immediate, "Food, sir? I thought we'd be hunting another Boss Monster."
"No," I countered,
"the curse's shadow lingers for approximately three days. Retreat is our only viable option. A secure location, supported with provisions, is our immediate goal. Venturing Dawn City at this time is suicidal; the undead hordes would swiftly overwhelm us."
Bain fell silent, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.
A brief search ensued, culminating in his approach towards the church's podium.
Minutes later, he revealed a hidden access point, a secret passage concealed within the venerable structure.
"This tunnel, sir, leads to the church's subterranean barracks. I recall a cache of rations stored there—hopefully adequate for our needs," Bain explained, his words hinting at a familiarity born of long acquaintance with the city's hidden recesses.
"Remarkable, Bain," I exclaimed, genuinely impressed by his intimate knowledge of Dawn City's labyrinthine secrets. "I never suspected such resourcefulness."
"Before the monsters' invasion emerged at the Dawn City, I often worked part-time at the church, sir," he explained as we descended into the darkness, our path illuminated by a flickering beam.
"Years of service lead to Church's trust on me; hence my awareness of this passage."
He continued, "Before the church's construction, a warren of barracks existed beneath the ground—a grim legacy of past conflicts. Upon the church's completion, these were largely repurposed for church residents." "Unbelievable," I murmured, contemplating this forgotten relic of a war among humans in the past now become a safe place during prolonged war between humanity and the monstrous horde.
"An evidence to those brutal times, when mankind was forced into a relentless, life-or-death struggle."
"Indeed, sir," Bain responded, a sorrowful undercurrent lacing his words. "A terrible conflict, forcing everyone into the brutal role of knight, facing a constant threat to their lives. Our peaceful existence was irrevocably shattered."
I understood his grief.
War's brutal embrace leaves no one untouched; both of us, I suspected, had borne the burden of life-threatening duty, forced to accept dangerous tasks as knights for the sake of our families.
Reaching the barracks, Bain swiftly assessed the storage room, examining the remaining rations.
Their condition was excellent, well within their expiration date, and more than sufficient to sustain us for the duration.
Relief washed over me.
The barracks offered a safe haven, a temporary respite while we awaited the moon's malign curse influence to diminish.
For now, patience was our most potent weapon.
We would wait and observe.
***