“Hmm you don’t look like a vixen. A witch?” Giana asked as she was inspecting the endboss who had transformed into a witch.

  Hmm yeah but we refer to ourselves as Misha. The [Boss music] changed again indicating a phase shift.

  “Agnis what is this bullshit? How many phases do you have?” Toxic Donkey said in frustration.

  Who knows? Also, I’m Agnès now. Let’s get rid of that stupid donkey form.

  A [magic circle flashed and aTsunami] went out.

  “Oh fuck!”

  All Noelle's defensive skills got shattered as they were earth elemental and [Tsunami] breaks them and Toxic Donkey’s [Toxic Donkey] mode got washed away.

  A jungle dragon appeared next to the endboss on the left and a 4t rabbit appeared on her right. Agnès flicked her hair, dropping her hat and used [Hattrick], teleporting to one of the 5 hats floating around the room.

  One hat would continue casting fire magic to pressure those weak to fire. Two hats would keep Io and Toxic Donkey occupied by various water magic spells. Agnès and the other hats would focus on Noelle and Giana.

  “This is absurd. Where did you pick up all these stupidly strong skills?” Toxic Donkey complained but couldn’t wait for an answer as he and Io got blasted by a [Waterblast] a hat had cast. He dodged into an exploding trap and got sent flying. “Shitty fox!”

  “This… this is the trademark of the Oures family. So, you were a member of the Oures family indeed.” Giana said excitedly as her eyes flashed magenta.

  Toxic Donkey fell into a stream of water and was getting washed away. “Glub… what?”

  “Kyle!” Io pulled Toxic Donkey out of the stream of water.

  “The Oures family always had individuals picking up strange and powerful skills. As a 9t family they weren’t anything special in magic prowess or numbers but they had a strange knack of being able to master almost any skill they could come across. Other families have attempted this too of course, but the Oures family were superior in technical skills and the ability to learn anything no matter how difficult…”

  Hmm you seem to know more about my last name than I do. I hope you can tell my real body about this. I would also advise any of you to help Yvonne and Vinny.

  Agnès pointed her staff at the hat that had just finished casting [Meteor].

  “Oh no!” Noelle ran over and went to help out Vinny and Yvonne.

  I’m sorry I don’t know what to do with you, Giana. Even though me as an illusion is meant to be merciless against anyone, it seems that your previous [Grand Sacrifice] had an enormous impact on my real body, so I’m unable to even attempt to kill you.

  “I see... so, you do care. Thanks. How about you fall for me?” Giana shot out a pink blast of charm magic and Agnès returned the favor by also sending out charm magic which got easily overwhelmed.

  Whoa my charm in this form doesn’t stand a chance against yours. What a blunder.

  Agnès swapped to another hat to evade the blast of charm magic. Giana kept Agnès busy with her charm magic by continuously trying to use [Seduce] and sending out pink waves.

  Toxic Donkey was having a hard time. These hats were invincible. Nothing he could do could affect them. His whole kit was useless, moreover the insane amount of water getting shot at them made any poison useless as it got flushed off his weapons.

  “This is bullshit!” Toxic Donkey complained as he [Shadow Bound] a hat to prevent it from moving. The hat by dispelling it and continued shooting water magic at Toxic Donkey and Io. “This is ridiculous…”

  Io closed in and punched the hat, but she hurt her fists. “Kyle these things are made out of very hard stuff.”

  Toxic Donkey ran over to Io, grabbed her and dove way as an [Azure Spear] landed where Io was standing moments ago. They triggered a sticky trap and Io responded by burning the sticky slime off them. More [Azure spears] rained down, and Toxic Donkey and Io had a hard time evading all of them. The trapped room was also an issue.

  “Boss rooms are not supposed to have traps!” Toxic Donkey shouted as he used [Shadow Split]. One hat continued barraging them with [Azure spears] while Dawnlights dropped out of the other hat. It then used [Ice Mirrors] to reflect their light to hinder the shadows.

  “Is this what fighting a witch is like? I thought they were weak to close combat and fast skills!” He looked over at the end boss who was teleporting around and evading any attack Giana was throwing at him... her… Toxic Donkey wasn’t sure of anything anymore. This all might be just another illusion. He didn’t know if there was a phase 4, but he didn’t want to find out.

  The two dodged another barrage of water and triggered a launching pad. Io turned into her dragon form and grabbed Toxic Donkey to avoid more [Azure Spears].

  “Kyle what do we do?”

  “I don’t know! Nothing we do works against this hat! I’m afraid we have to deal with the main body”

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  Io was having issues in evading all the [Azure spears] and had been grazed by some. Io was a dragon but these [Azure Spears] were capable of injuring her, as multiple wounds suggested.

  “How? None of us can land a good hit on him and I wish I could fly as well as Vinny, these spears hurt.”

  “I’m working on it! Just hold on a bit longer.”

  Boo!

  They looked behind them. There was supposed to be a hat behind them, casting [Ice Mirrors], but the boss was wearing it now and casting [Tsunami].

  “Shitty fox!”

  Io and Toxic Donkey got swept away by the [Tsunami]. Io exhaled and used a [Dragon breath] but Agnès didn’t bother evading and knocked Io to the mass of water below with her hat.

  “This is so unfair!”

  You do realize you’re fighting a 9t right? ‘Unfair’ is our whole thing. Enjoy the [Azure Sharks] I need to shake off Giana, that charm magic is so overpowered.

  Agnès teleported to another hat and [Azure Sharks] started to assault Io and Toxic Donkey.

  “We should have taken that exit; this is beyond brutal!” Toxic Donkey skewered some [Azure Sharks] with [Shadow Spikes] and [Shadow Tendrils] but he expended almost all his mana.

  “Ugh, Io, I’m running out of steam.”

  “Take some of my mana!”

  “You know that our mana isn’t that compatible. I just need to rest a bit. It would be nice if you could catch Giana’s attention, unfortunately, she’s the only one making sure that Agnis doesn’t wipe us out.” He looked over at Noelle, Vinny, and Yvonne as the hat had cast its third [Meteor] and they were too busy to make sure that it wouldn’t hit.

  “How does that even work? [Meteor] indoors? Isn’t that cheating? One thing is sure. His magic control is unlike anything on this continent. Nothing comes even close.”

  Ooh that’s not true there is someone who will kick my ass in this.

  Toxic Donkey looked up in horror.

  Don’t worry she won’t be a problem for you. I think… not that it matters because if she decides to destroy everything, nobody can do anything about it. Oh, my time is up!

  Another teleport as a wave of charm magic swept over.

  A stomp shook the room. “Stop casting [Meteors]!”

  Ok, [Fireball] it is.

  Noelle seemed relieved. The hat started to cast [Fireball] which ballooned in size. A [Meteor] was relatively cool as most of its damage and heat gets released when it crashes into the target or the ground. A [Fireball] wasn’t cool and exhibited its ‘hot’ characteristics upon creation. The [Fireball] started to slowly heat the whole room as it ballooned as the hat dynamically adjsuted it.

  “Agnis! What the fuck is that!” Toxic Donkey pointed at the monstrous ball of fire.

  Well, a [Fireball] of course! Good luck Noelle! Not sure why you wanted me to use something that’s harder to counter but there you go!

  Noelle stomped and failed to deal with the ‘simple’ [Fireball]. “Why can’t I figure out the composition of this [Fireball] or any of your skills!”

  Family secret!

  “I see so it’s even more important that Giana claims you. You heard that Giana?!”

  “I’m doing my best! Just 3 more minutes and I can heal again!” Another song went out which aided Noelle, Vinny, and Yvonne.

  Ugh, this shit is quite mana intensive.

  The endboss pulled something out of her hat and chugged a potion.

  The stalemate continued for 3 minutes until Giana healed herself to full and put everyone else in top shape.

  It’s as if I’m fighting a zombie army with you around Giana. Hmm, now that I think about it, I have yet to fight one. I suppose I should prepare for when I have to inevitably fight one. I have a lot of salt, though. Will that work?

  “How about being a sweetie and come here and give me a hug?” Giana said as she spread her arms.

  Agnès felt invited and had to curb the urge to dive in and countered Giana’s [Seduce] by throwing charm magic back.

  “Noelle, can you make my charm attacks stronger somehow?”

  “Is that a good idea? Vinny and Kyle will have to give up on this fight.” Noelle said as a [Crystal Dome] protected against the [Fireball]. A loud sound of shattering crystals filled the room as her defensive skill got obliterated. “A [Fireball] broke my [Crystal Dome]…”

  “Uhh I had enough of all those fire skills, I’m fine with sitting this one out.” Vinny said, having had enough of the constant threat of [Meteors] and [Fireballs].

  “My donkey suit is wet and all my poisons are ruined. Just beat this fox up.”

  Hey, come on guys! Where is your fighting spirit you can’t leave me behind with this overpowered vixen!

  “Mess him up Giana!” Toxic Donkey said as he gave a thumbs down.

  What a Toxic Donkey.

  Toxic Donkey and Vinny retreated and got buried under a multitude of defensive skills.

  Hey, isn’t that overkill how strong is your charm magic?

  “Noelle do it!”

  Noelle strengthened Giana’s charm affinity, and the points of Giana’s hair started to turn pink.

  Oh fuck. I guess it’s time for phase 4.