His weapon shines in golden radiance and simultaneously, I can see two bars appearing on the right corner of my view right below the boss’.
One belongs to Lucius still in the 100% green bar, meaning he is at full HP.
The other though...
It’s much smaller in size than Lucius’ or the Boss’. The title of that bar is Sword of Resplendence like a sub-bar for Crown Prince.
(“Huh... I didn’t know a weapon could have HP. Is it durability?”)
At the moment, his sword has a 1% green bar and I see a small icon pop up below it indicating what kind of buff / de-buff it has.
Staring at it, I get further expnation on what that is.
-System-
[Depleted]
Description: Sword of Resplendence mana has been depleted over the years. It can restore its Mana by absorbing Mana from others.
-System-
(“Mag, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”) -Siegfried-
His voice echoed in my mind as I thought of letting the sword absorb my MP. After all, I have multiple MP modifiers.
I understood what Phase 2 needs to be done...
(“Yeah... I’ll be the battery then.”)
He ughed in a pyful tone as I sighed. But at the moment, it seems there’s a cutscene being pyed.
“Get out from my father, you fiend!” -Lucius-
His sword made a resounding noise across the chamber as he swung it around.
“I-impossible? Could that be the holy sword?” -King-
(“Damn, it would be nice to have a popcorn. Hehe...) -Siegfried-
(“Hah! Agreed.”)
That demonic voice was shaken seeing the weapon held by the Crown Prince and just like a hero in story books, his sword shone brilliantly radiating a holy glimmer that coalesced together.
Lucius grips the handle of that sword hard and in doing so, I can hear and feel power charging up from that as the possessed King frowns and murmurs, chanting a {Spell} of its own.
Lucius... rising that sword high up in the air, he swung it down with great force and yelled as a noise echoed within this chamber.
*SCHWINNGGGG*
In one ssh, he hurled a wave of crescent golden energy. Simultaneously bck reddish soot-like ashes covered the boss upon impact.
*BOOOOOM*
The energy wave dispersed creating occasional glimmers in the room while the body of the king was injured. That ash barrier protected the demon somewhat halfway as its HP reduced by quite a bit.
(“That is so cool.”) -Siegfried-
I chuckled hearing his enthusiasm, I mean it is a scripted fight.
“Damn it all!” -King-
The demon chants once again and judging by the name of the {Spell} ‘Infernal Bze’ I guess it’s a raid-wide attack.
“Haa... Ha...” -Lucius-
Gncing at him, the crown Prince seemed to be tired as the sword of resplendence HP dropped to 0%.
“It’s not enough...” -Lucius-
*CRACKLE* *CRACKLE* *KA-BOOOOM*
An explosion of intense red and heat sends out as Siegfried, me, and Lucius blinded for a quick second.
I’m unharmed, but Siegfried & Lucius have taken some damage. Knowing that... I squint with an order in my head. Soon after, silvery glimmers engulfed Siegfried and Lucius as their HP went back to full.
(“Sieg, cover us.”)
(“Roger that.”) -Siegfried-
I intentionally turned off my [Aegis] as the prismatic colouration on top of my skin fades. Soon after, I feel a sudden surge of energy knowing the ‘Off’ effect of [Aegis] activated.
“
I point my index finger to the sword Lucius holding as blueish tethers connect that sword to me and it begins to fill up... from 1% to 2% to 3%.
“Grrrr!! I won’t let you. Come forth my vassal.” -King-
Extending its elongated wrinkly hand, a magic circle emerged and spawned from it. Is a tall humanoid figure approximately reaching 3 meters in height but incredibly nky simir to a stick.
Every part of its body is pitch bck and somehow drops soot to the ground creating blotches of darkness on the carpet.
Another HP bar appeared on the right corner below the boss aptly named ‘Soot Demon’. As the battle OST gets louder and the demon screams like crackling fire.
It immediately marched towards Lucius and without even asking, Siegfried interfered. He exudes an arrogant gait and curls his index finger in a mocking gesture.
The soot demon growls and changes its target to Siegfried. Simultaneously, I can see a translucent bear emerge beside him and enter his body from the side.
White aura emits from Siegfried and he’s now in his bear stance as his body turns bulkier and hairier signifying the stance.
Following that, his muscles from his upper torso to his lower body bulge with loud crunching like snapping bones. At this moment, Siegfried’ looks like a tank of a human...
“Darkness! Pierce through my enemies.” -King-
A nce of dark ash congregated and unched towards Lucius as I stepped forward interfering with its trajectory.
I pn to abuse my {Trait} and it works splendidly, the nce of darkness disperse upon impact. It felt like someone threw a ball of tissue at me, it didn’t hurt and barely felt the impact.
Looking at the right corner, I can see the % of the sword rising and I too feel my shoulders getting heavier...
(“It is taking quite a lot of MP even with the modifiers...”)
“
Upon uttering the activation word, I felt a sudden surge of freshness blow to my lungs and that heavy feeling on my shoulders & eyelids vanished.
In this state, I restore MP every second for five minutes but I’m immobile. As of now, I am the wall between the boss and Lucius.
Still...
I see Siegfried’s signature grin as he exchanges punches against the soot demon. With a gnce and intention, the fragments that were spread out faintly glow casting {Spell}.
Clusters of golden beams shoot like sers towards the soot demon. Dealing chip but constant damage as I order them to continuously cast them. I can freely make more anyway when they run out of MP.
*KABOOOOM*
Another explosion cast by the boss hurled towards Lucius and blocked me as it left me unscathed...
“Travellers, thank you.” -Lucius-
He held the sword up closing his eyes and deeply in focus. Hearing myriad explosions in the background and the screeching of that soot demon.
I’m amazed at how he achieves deep focus, Lucius doesn’t seem to be a ‘fighter’ type of person but now I know he hides different characteristics.
From 9% to double digits and still going up, the sword of resplendence HP steadily fills.
It’s getting faster...
Ooooohh... I don’t need to give him my MP as he can charge it himself but I guess my contribution makes it quicker.
“Mag, I need healing!” -Siegfried-
The berserker is surrounded by a red aura indicating the usage of
Hearing his plea, I commanded one fragment and his body near instantaneously covered by silver glimmers and his wounded visual effects faded.
“Thanks~” -Siegfried-
He grinned as he propelled himself forward, delivering a mean right hook to the face of that soot demon as it made an impact. After all, his knuckle duster weapon is glimmering in golden radiance.
Unfortunately due to casting that, the fragment’ I ordered crumbles. So, I decided to create a new one in turn. Ordering it to follow Siegfried...
“DO NOT INTERFERE WITH THE GRAND PLAN!” -King-
It sounded desperate as a cast bar appeared on top of its {Status} bar titled ‘Infernal Bze’. While Lucius’ sword HP has reached 50%.
*FWIP*
The crown Prince straightened his posture and began to pray while holding his sword in front.
“Hear my prayers, O’ God of resplendent light. I shall now fight for my oath. To be your bde in times of need and fight for my people.”
As he decred that, I saw an apparition made from condensing those golden glimmers into a humanoid form floating behind him like a guardian angel.
...
Oh, shoot...
Realizing that I was in between the boss and Lucius, I cast [Warp] and dispced myself somewhere nearby. Having a view of both Siegfried and Crown Prince.
*SCHWING*
In one ssh, he unleashed a more solid crescent energy wave.
“GAAAHHKKK-!!!!” -King-
It sshed diagonally to the body of the possessed King and with it, I saw the shadowy gas within the king was shaken. Trembling as if in pain, Lucius wanted to drive that creature out of his father.
“Curse upon all of you!” -King-
It uses the king’s voice growling like a cornered animal. A {Spell} is being cast named ‘Ritual of Infernal’ and changes begin to happen...
*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*
“Hgnghhh...!!” -Lucius-
Lucius’ sword fell to the ground as blood dripped from his mouth and fell into a coughing fit. I can see his HP bar reduced to a certain amount and greyed while the boss’ has taken a significant damage.
As he does so, the guardian angel cradles Lucius enveloping him with golden gossamer.
“Eh? I was going to focus Punch almost reaching the combo!” -Siegfried-
I gnced at Siegfried...
He expressed his disappointment seeing the soot demon turned to ashes and intermingled with the boss. Creating a barrier made from soot...
The sub-bar below the boss’ name is repced with another called ‘Barrier of Ash’. We instinctively knew what that meant and what we needed to do.
“DPS check!” -Siegfried-
I nodded and reactivated my [Aegis]. The sword’s HP still replenishing which is a good thing and it’s even faster than ever before as I cut off the
“
Multiple visual effects surrounded me as I was covered by the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Including my entire body shining in silvery radiance with a ‘space’ theme exuding to the surroundings before fading.
Then...
“[Maximize: Fidus Animus]”
Uttering the keywords of that {Spell}, soon after I have a golden halo atop my head and wings made from pure light jutting from my back in sharp edges.
Like [Leyline] for Archmage, [Fidus Animus] is for Inquisitor. While having this buff, Inquisitor {Spell} are enhanced, more damage etc.
*BAM* *CRUNCH* *BAM* *CRUNCH* *BAM* *CRUNCH*
Siegfried eating on cores like popcorn snacks while hurling hundreds of punches and kicks towards the barrier.
Due to that {Trait}, his body transformed to fit the characteristics of things he ate turning monstrous by the second, yet doesn’t elicit a reaction from Lucius thanks to the coverage I put.
Tentacles made from flesh and bone sprout from his back adding extra attack to his punches. His arms are littered with sharp bones as he delivers a powerful blow at a point. Even spewing out fmes from his mouth, as he chains combos and combos...
(“I’ll do my part.”)
*FWOOOMMMM* *BAM* *BAM* *BAM*
Several beams of holy light rained down upon the boss as my fragments finished their casting including my own.
Golden glimmers and pure white angelic feathers dispersed in the air as I’m chain casting multiple offensives {Spell} with fragments and my Sun state also making several multi-cast.
Creating a rain of light beams constantly hitting the barrier. I can see the HP of that barrier dwindle chunk by chunk as it cannot endure our full frontal assault.
“
*BAAAAMMMMMM* *CRACKLE* *CRACKLE*
“W-what? No! I-IMPOSSIBLE!!! I’m almost there!” -King-
*PRANGGGGG*
The barrier’s broken and the cast bar for [Ritual of Infernal] cancelled.
Now!
Right on cue, golden wrappings around Lucius disperse revealing him with a bright white tattoo on his forehead.
What is that called? Uhm... Uh... Ah! Stigmata.
I remember Booba showing me her Stigmata part of Thelea’s lore I suppose... Hers is located below her belly in the shape of a love tattoo.
Hmmm, her Oath was ‘Spreading as much Love as she can’. A lot of Priest Css pyers have wacky Oath after all it’s just fvour and since advancement’s cutscene gets repyed either they drown in shame or shrug and accept it.
Nevertheless, Lucius looks exactly like a hero as he picks up the sword of resplendence. It shines even brighter as the guardian angel behind him embraces Lucius’ neck in a reassuring hug.
Seeing the HP of that sword reach 100% Lucius gained a buff. I daresay we did our job...
Siegfried made eye contact with me as I asked him to come over. He nodded with a quick leap, he stood beside me and watched Lucius.
“[Conjure: Food and Water]”
An NPC {Spell} if I believe... thankfully, it spawned food & water that looked what I imagined upon uttering the keywords.
In this case, they were Popcorns and Soda earning a chuckle from the berserker.
“Here!”
I offered him a bucket and he dived straight in. Watching this scene unfold.
“Foul beings from the abyss, In here I hereby banish you to where you belong!!!!” -Lucius-
*SCHWING*
It is a resounding noise as Lucius gives a downward ssh and in doing so, he unleashes a clean crescent energy wave. Leaving a trail of golden glimmers and angelic feathers. He has divine intervention on his side...
“NOOOOO!!!” -King-
In desperation, it conjured a barrier made from ash albeit...
*BAM*
It shattered so easily as that cut passed through the king’s body and in my eyes I could see it was a clean cut cleaving the possession to half.
It fades into nothingness and immediately, the king’s body sckens returning to his picture of a frail old man. Falling towards the throne chair and lying silent...
...
...
...
The chamber goes silent as I exchange gnces with Siegfried as he too gives me a look as if saying ‘What do we do?’.
I eyed him replying ‘I don’t know’.
“Haa...” -Lucius-
He lets out a long sigh sending the disappearance of the demon from his father. Staring at that throne chair where his father sits.
The Crown Prince has an indecipherable look on his gaze and gnces at the windows overlooking the entire city of Lowlight.
“Travellers...” -Lucius-
Quickly I incinerated the popcorn and soda while Siegfried simply ate them all in one gulp including the packaging.
“Y-yes?”
“Thank you all for resolving this.” -Lucius-
He bowed towards us...