Full Crown

After resting from the secret room, we continued our expedition. We fought monsters along the way and when we finally saw the entrance to the tenth stage, the observing monster decided to stop us on our track.

“As expected, it won’t keep quiet for too long.” (Molaris)

“Let’s just be thankful that it finally came down.” (Rufus)

“Being alert all the time is really exhausting, let’s make sure it wouldn’t go anywhere.” (Cyan)

“Leader! It’s time to fight!” (Dolph)

“D-Do you really need me? I-I think you can do it yourselves.” (Rosa)

“Miss Rosa, we are here with you. Do not worry, it is not scary, you can hit it.” (Saintess)

“Rosa, we will support you. We need you there, you can do it.” (Clare)

“We believe in you Rosa!” (Crystallis)

“Look leader, will you betray the trust that they have to you?” (Dolph)

“Uhh… I-if that’s how it is. I will try.” (Rosa)

“Will she be alright?” (Flora)

“I don’t know. We gave her some assurance in the bath, but the real question is if she can do it.” (Lyra)

“Don’t worry girls, the moment she knows she can hit it, her fear will be gone.” (Clare)

“Quit the talking already, that monster won’t wait for your conversation to end!” (Cassius)

As soon as idiot A shouted, the Shade released a wave of miasma that knocked over half of the expedition team. With the unexpected attack, the barrier cannot withstand the wave and broke. Then with the skill ‘Mind Collapse’, it broke the mind of the rest of the team. Some were shouting because of fear, some were crying, some were fighting each other, and the rest have become like mindless zombies, staring at an unseen horizon.

The main group was safe thanks to the quick reaction of the saintess and her guards. A barrier, the same type as the one on the secret room, was used to repel the effect of the skill. Although it is the same type of barrier, it is far inferior since it can only repel the effect and not block the skill completely.

“Tsk. This is what happened when you just stand around and keep talking.” (Cassius)

“Nothing we can do now. Everyone get ready!” (Rufus)

“Wait, we should save them first!” (Saintess)

“Your Excellency, we don’t have enough time to save them all. The moment we turn our back, it will attack us. We should defeat it quickly to rescue the others.” (Guard 1)

“The guard is right Your Excellency, Miss Saintess. The faster we defeat this monster, the faster we can save the rest, so we should focus on what’s in front of us first.” (Frederick)

“I… I understand.” (Saintess)

“Guards maintain the barrier. Three of you will cast the repelling barrier and the other three will be responsible for the psyche barrier. Depends on the situation, switch from each other in using the necessary barrier, since Miss Saintess will be busy for the buffs.” (Clare)

“It’s up to you now guys! End it quickly!” (Crystallis)

“Let’s go!” (Rufus)

After the short discussion, the support group gave the buffs just like when we faced the Keeper. The first attack came from Frederick and then followed by the rest of the team.

“Thousand Hand Sword: Shooting Star!” (Frederick)

“Luminous Trail: Flashing Cage!” (Rufus)

“Rainbow Fall!” (Flora)

“Molaris! Callan!” (Crystallis)

“Sherry!” (Lyra)

*Roar!* (Sherry)

“Magnitude!” (Molaris, Callan)

Combining the skill ‘Thousand Blade’ with ‘Aura Sword’, Frederick created a thousand sword coated with aura and struck the enemy from every direction. Some were deflected and stuck on the ground, and became covers for the other attacker. Suddenly, eight Rufus popped out behind several of the swords, using ‘Flash Blade’ and ‘Image Reflection’ at the same time, a trail of light forming a huge cage manifested, closing in to the enemy dealing a considerable damage making it unleashed a sound of incredible pain.

After receiving Rufus’ attack, the monster faced Flora’s barrage. She used ‘Prismatic Rain’ and ‘Divider’ to create arrows with different elements to rain down it, providing ample of time for Molaris, Callan, and Sherry to get behind and attack. With Molaris’ skill ‘Fissure’ and Callan’s ‘Shockwave’ and Sherry’s ‘Beat Rhythm’ that can boost the physical power as long as the rhythm of their attack is in sync, they sent it flying towards Rosa’s group.

“Why did you sent it towards here?!” (Rosa)

“Talk less! Attack more!” (Clare)

“Shotgun Blast! Leader!” (Dolph)

“Alright! I’m doing it! Lux!” (Rosa)

“Bunt! It’s going your way now leader!” (Lux)

“Impact Tremor! Death Bringer!” (Rosa)

Using the skill ‘Gale Bullet’, Dolph created a big bullet of wind and shot it at an angle to bend the trajectory of the enemy. Lux followed up using the skill ‘Iron Coating’, making his body as hard as steel, to slowed down and bounced off the Shade towards Rosa. Then, Rosa’s skill ‘Shock Burst’ combining it with ‘Weight Shift’ to create and impact that stunned the monster and sending it off to me. Along its path, the idiot trio set up a retraining trap.

“Don’t you dare send it to the wrong spot!” (Cassius)

“I know!” (Adrienne)

“Now!” (Scorpius)

“Force Repel! Your turn!” (Adrienne)

“Toxic Swamp! Cyan!” (Scorpius)

“Poison Net! Cassius, it’s all on you!” (Cyan)

“Good job both of you! Fall down to the swamp! Hundred Slash: Skin Shredder!” (Cassius)

The moment it flew towards the spot of the trap, I jumped above the Shade and sent it downwards. With that as a signal, idiot C activated the trap, turning the ground into a poisonous swamp. Idiot B’s skill ‘Barrage Shot’ rained down into the enemy coated with slime like substance forming a net, tying it up so it won’t be able to resist the attack from idiot A. ‘Swift Strike’ combined with ‘Poison Coating’, a poison that can melt the skin upon contact, hits it, acted as the final push sending it in the swamp.

Suddenly, a loud sound of a door bursting open forcefully was heard. Before anyone could even react, dark tentacles suddenly came out behind the door leading down to the tenth stage. It wrapped itself around the Weeping Shade and pulled it towards the door, leaving us dumbfounded because of the sudden event.