Eternal Rest

The Giant Centipede didn't last much longer after its last-ditch effort with the poison. The team swiftly dispatched it and resumed their journey, returning to the point where the path diverged. They pressed onward, methodically clearing each section of the stage. Though the loot they gathered was modest—consisting primarily of crafting materials and mana stones—it proved valuable to their collective efforts.

The ranger, with his expertise in alchemy, eagerly claimed the various plant-based ingredients found throughout the dungeon, recognizing their potential for potion-making. Meanwhile, Bones contentedly accepted his share of the mana stones and the experience gained from their encounters, finding satisfaction in contributing to the team's success. Moreover, he took pleasure in witnessing Solin wield the twin bone fang daggers he had gifted him, the weapons proving effective in the rogue's skilled hands.

As the team progressed further, the Myconid Sprouts were replaced by Adult Myconids. Unlike their sprout counterparts, the adults possessed limbs and exhibited average strength and speed comparable to adventurers of the same level. They attacked in numbers, and Bones wasn't certain whether the number of attackers was predetermined or dependent on the size of their party, as there always seemed to be twice as many adversaries. While the adult mushrooms weren't particularly challenging to handle, they emitted poisonous spores with each hit they endured. As they delved deeper, they encountered more variants of Myconids.

The next miniboss in line was a Myconid Sovereign, accompanied by three Elite Myconids. These Elite mushrooms boasted above-average strength, essentially being larger and more formidable versions of the Adult Myconids. While the two rogues and Bones dealt with the Elites, Vern engaged the boss, with the ranger providing support from behind. The Sovereign, a bulky mass of mushroom wielding a spear made of roots, unleashed poison from its spores like other Myconids, but its primary strength lay in its physical prowess. Vern struggled to withstand the boss's attacks, but once the Elites were taken care of, bringing down the boss became much easier.

Once again, the ranger reaped the most rewards from defeating the boss, as the dungeon bestowed upon him a sturdy bow crafted from roots and imbued with nature affinity. After the battle, the team took a break to tend to their minor wounds. Despite the ranger's offer to heal them, the others declined, preferring to save his healing abilities for when they truly needed them. After all, these were battle wounds meant to sting, and there was a lesson to be gleaned from their injuries.

Bones didn't quite understand their perspective, but he acknowledged their greater experience in such matters. Instead of using healing potions, the injured members applied healing salves—a gelatinous substance—to their wounds. While not as potent as a health potion or a healing skill, the salves proved effective in treating superficial wounds.

"Alright, we've made good progress through the dungeon so far," Vern remarked, and the others nodded in agreement. With prior experience in the dungeon, they knew what to expect, minimizing surprises. While the run had been smooth and seemingly easy, the team had come well-prepared. Any unprepared group would face a rude awakening, encountering the suicidal exploding sprouts and the poisonous spores released by the Myconids right from the start of the stage.

Having spent over half a day in the dungeon, the team felt ready to press forward. However, they were aware that the final part would pose the greatest challenge, requiring swift and precise reactions. The scenery began to change subtly as the path became increasingly covered in roots, vines, and various types of plants. Eventually, the path disappeared altogether, leaving them with only a tunnel of trees to guide their way forward. The atmosphere grew more humid, and mist enveloped the area, obscuring movement on the ground.

“Careful, Bones, use your senses to detect any movements around you!" Solin warned.

"Of course, I always do," Bones replied.

Solin grinned and added, "Oh, and watch out for—"

The team abruptly stopped walking, and Solin fell silent. A buzzing sound grew louder in the distance, drawing closer to them. "They're coming!" Solin exclaimed, then turned to Bones. "Flying, biting little pests!"

Bones glanced at the young man, a bit puzzled by Solin's choice of words. Did mushrooms fly now?

In front of them, a swarm of insects approached rapidly, heading straight for them.

“Ah, those pesky creatures.” Bones remained unfazed; while direct physical attacks might prove futile against a whole swarm, his mana blast was a perfect counter. And he wasn't the only one equipped to deal with them. In fact, none of his teammates seemed concerned and welcomed the challenge.

Vern utilized a barrier skill that shielded him from the insects while also reflecting some of the damage back at them. The rogue opted for slashing attacks, testing their effectiveness against the swarm. Solin employed a new skill, creating a cloud of poison around him that weakened the swarm until they began falling dead. Gareth, the ranger, much like Bones, utilized a mana-related skill with a nature affinity to swat the insects down.

After swiftly dealing with the flying insects, the team hurried forward to the exit of the tunnel, emerging into an open field enclosed by walls of roots on all sides. The area was adorned with flowers and yellow trumpets with bell-like blossoms, creating a picturesque scene. "Quickly, pulverize the yellow trumpets!" Vern ordered, and the team sprang into action. They narrowly avoided missing the timing as a new swarm of insects emerged from the bell-like flowers.

Bones observed that the team remained alert even after the skirmish, their focus fixed ahead of them. Despite the lack of an apparent exit from the enclosed area, everyone seemed tense. "Bones, miniboss ahead," Solin stated, pointing forward. Bones followed his gaze, only to behold a colossal plant rising from the ground. Fully extended, the stem of the plant stood around five meters tall, crowned with white flowers at the top. Emerging from the base of the stem was a rosette of five leaves, each adorned with lobes and hinged blades forming traps at their ends.

Giant Venus Life Trap, level 37 miniboss

The last miniboss before the final stage boss resembled a plant-life version of a hydra. Each trap was large enough to engulf a human whole, and the leaves extended up to four meters in length, providing it with considerable reach. The fight this time took place at close to mid-range, as the limited space made it easier to engage in close combat, despite the risk of being ensnared by the snapping traps.

The teammates were already well-acquainted with the miniboss and adeptly dodged the snapping traps—an ability that Bones and his golem struggled with. The golem, lacking understanding of boss attack patterns and unable to interpret Bones' commands, found itself ensnared in the traps on several occasions. Fortunately, neither the golem nor Bones were affected by the paralytic properties of the traps.

It took the team some time to defeat the miniboss by severing all of its leaves. Plant life forms, in general, seemed to possess an astonishing amount of health points, perhaps as compensation for their average strength and limited mobility. Some, like this miniboss, remained stationary throughout the battle.

As the roots on the wall slowly retreated to the ground, revealing a new path, the team collapsed, beginning to tend to their wounds. Bones, unaffected by mortal troubles, sighed and settled down to repair the damage done to the golem. As he worked, he listened to the team's conversation, which mostly revolved around the upcoming war brewing at the border.

It seemed that relations between the two kingdoms had been strained for some time, and the conflict was now reaching the brink of full-blown war. Many young individuals were eager to prove themselves on the battlefield...

Bones shook his head, familiar with both the reality of war and the profound loss it brings. In the end, no one truly wins in war. Well, perhaps that wasn't entirely accurate, was it? War, he thought, a grim and inevitable reality.

"Alright, are we ready to tackle the boss?" Vern stood up and inquired. As a well-prepared team, they had made their arrangements and discussed tactics beforehand. Once everyone affirmed their readiness, they pressed forward.

There were no more tunnels or areas filled with colorful flowers awaiting them. Instead, they found themselves in a large, somber expanse, with mist-covered ground stretching out before them. And in the center of it all, awaited the boss.

"Just like that, huh?" Bones thought to himself as he surveyed the plant before him. If the miniboss they had faced earlier resembled a hydra, then the boss in front of them could only be described as a legendary Kraken.

Bloodthorn, level 39 boss

It was the largest life form Bones had ever encountered. Its main body resembled that of a Venus Life Trap miniboss, but instead of flowers, there was a colossal bud situated at the tip of a thick stem. The bud remained dormant until the team entered its range of senses. Then, like a flower unfurling, it revealed five separated petals adorned with a menacing set of thorny teeth around the edges. Within the bud, a large mouth with rows of razor-sharp teeth sent shivers down everyone's spines. With a screech that sent chills down their spines, the creature began to move towards them, supported by vines from beneath, leaving Bones bewildered at its unexpected mobility.

Once within mid-range, Bloodthorn launched its attack with a whip-like motion, wielding a thick root bristling with thorns. Solin deftly sidestepped the root, but hesitated to advance as another attack swiftly followed suit. The assaults came unpredictably from the base of the main body and lurked beneath the cover of mist. The terrain offered ample space for the team to kite the boss and employ hit-and-run tactics. In addition to its whip-like root strikes, Bloodthorn utilized root spikes in an attempt to immobilize its targets. Bones couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance of this attack to his own Bone Spikes. Fortunately, with precise timing, the attacks could be easily avoided, as they exhibited a slight delay before deployment. The increase in mana concentration at the targeted area also served as a telltale sign of an imminent attack.

The battle became a test of endurance as the team slowly whittled away at the boss's health points. As the boss's health dwindled to a lower threshold, a simultaneous attack struck all team members. Despite Solin's prior explanation of the boss's attack patterns, Bones found the experience of facing them firsthand to be markedly different. Suddenly, the vines beneath the boss exploded outward with astonishing speed. Before Bones could react, they ensnared him, their thorns digging deep as a life-draining effect took hold.

Seconds passed without any change, Bones struggled to free himself from the tightening grasp of the vampiric vines. Despite his teammates' efforts to approach and assist him, their attempts proved futile as more and more vines entangled around Bones, dragging him inexorably toward the gaping maws of Bloodthorn.

As he was pulled across the ground, his teammates' attempts to aid him faltered. However, in a quick and decisive move, the ranger Gareth reacted, casting a healing spell on Bones. However, as an undead, Bones could not be healed by conventional means. Instead, the healing spell had the opposite effect, causing damage rather than restoring. Bones felt a sensation akin to a thousand ants pricking him all over, an unpleasant sensation that seemed to pierce his very soul. Despite its inefficacy, the attempted healing left Bones feeling more irritated than grateful.

Bloodthorn seized Bones, its maw poised to snap shut around him, when Bones tapped deep into his mana pool. With a surge of power, he unleashed a mana blast, shattering the vines and freeing himself. Upon landing, Bones instinctively activated Soul Gaze on the ranger, causing the ranger to freeze as a sudden grip tightened around his soul, causing him to drop his bow.

The impact of Bones' mana blast stunned Bloodthorn momentarily, interrupting its attack and freezing the vines in motion. Seizing the opportunity, the team launched an all-out assault, swiftly overwhelming the boss and ending its existence.

Turning to the ranger, Bones remarked, "Thanks for the attempted healing, but don't overexert yourself now!"

The ranger snapped back to his senses a moment later, retrieving his bow while casting a wary glance at Bones.