Overgeared: Saharan Successor

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Chapter 34: Hobgoblin's Demise (I)

Getting his resources recharged, except for his Stamina Energy, was similar for the Leviathan Party members who received a portion of the EXP pie that Odin had gained from killing Frika the Accursed Solo.

With around 94 seconds remaining of the Inferno's Embrace and around the same timer for Blade Dash, Odin surged toward Dazan of the Black Wolves Clan, his Soulrend continuing to blaze from the influence of the Blessing.

His focus sharpened, the battlefield noise fading into the background. His eyes locked onto the Hobgoblin Champion, and in that moment, the entire world narrowed to just the two of them. 

Time seemed to slow as Odin activated his Willpower ability, the 'Manifestation of Will'.

His Willpower surged, crackling in the air as it coalesced into a nearly invisible force. The pace of this materialization was far quicker, with the energy flowing from his body, concentrating into an ethereal blade.

The blade shot forward through the air, slicing through the throat of the Hobgoblin Champion as though carried by an unseen hand.

However, Dazan's reflexes, which were the best of his race, were not to be underestimated. 

At the very last second, the Hobgoblin Champion jerked his head to the side, avoiding what would have been a fatal blow. 

Nonetheless, the invisible sword grazed his neck, the blade biting into his thick flesh but not deep enough to decapitate him. A shallow, searing cut formed, red blood oozing out.

[Critical Hit!]

[You have dealt 3,154 DMG to the target.]

For a brief moment, there was silence. Dazan's hand instinctively shot up to his neck, feeling the heat of the wound. Red blood trickled through his fingers, but the cut wasn't as deep as it should have been. 

Odin narrowed his eyes. 'Not enough,' Odin thought, his grip on Soulrend tightening as he glared at the Hobgoblin.

'This rat actually managed to dodge the hit? He seems to have a high Sword Mastery for his senses to be so honed.'

Dazan's eyes flickered with surprise but quickly morphed into a sinister grin. He bared his fangs, his voice a low, menacing growl. "Is that all you've got, human? A weak scratch?" He spat on the ground, the blood from his wound mixing with the dirt at his feet.

"But you'll need more than flashy tricks to bring me down."

Odin's gaze remained cold, and disgust could be felt around him when he watched The Hobgoblin. "That was just the beginning."

"You'll wish it was," Odin added, his voice calm but filled with deadly intent.

Purphoros and Malfurion were relieved that Odin finally ended the fight against Frika because they were at their wit's end because of this monstrous goblin. 

There was no way in Hell that Goblins could be so strong. It made no sense that such a monster had better sword skills and a smarter stratagem than the newbie team combined.

Purphoros, standing close by, was struggling to regain his composure. His shield was raised, but his posture revealed exhaustion from the long, grueling battle with Frika. Malfurion, equally worn, was trying to recover his mana after expending much of it from the relentless attacks. 

Elyse, whose energy was nearly depleted, breathed labored as she prepared another spell. The beginnings of a spell were already crackling in her fingers.

Dazan saw his opportunity.

With a sudden, brutal motion, he spun toward Purphoros, swinging his massive two-handed sword in a wide arc. 

The steel clashed against Purphoros's shield with a thunderous crash, sending vibrations. The sheer force of the strike overwhelmed the Guardian Knight, and Purphoros's knees buckled under the impact. Despite his valiant effort to stand firm, the power behind Dazan's blow was too great.

"Ugh!" Purphoros gasped as he was launched backward, his body flung through the air like a ragdoll. 

His shield felt useless under the monstrous strength of the Hobgoblin. He hit the ground hard, tumbling across the battlefield before finally coming to a stop, winded and dizzy.

Without missing a beat, Dazan turned his gaze toward Malfurion. The Druid, sensing the incoming danger, reacted swiftly. 

His staff hummed with nature's energy, and Malfurion's body began to morph and shift in the blink of an eye. Feathers sprouted from his skin, and his humanoid form dissolved into that of an owl, his wings spreading wide as he took to the sky with a graceful leap.

Dazan's sword swiped through the air where Malfurion had just stood, missing him by mere inches. 

The Hobgoblin's eyes flickered with annoyance as he watched the owl rise above him, soaring effortlessly out of reach. He could hear the rhythmic beating of Malfurion's wings as the druid circled overhead, safely away from his strikes.

"Hmph," Dazan remarked, his lip curling in disdain. "You're just delaying the inevitable, druid."

He shifted his stance, his eyes scanning the battlefield for his next target. That's when Elyse hurled a fireball in his direction, her hands ablaze with magical energy. The searing orb of fire streaked toward him, threatening to engulf him in flames.

"Useless."

Dazan didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his left arm, coated in hardened, dark green skin that glowed faintly with magical energy. 

His Iron Arm, a technique that hardened his flesh to near-unbreakable levels, absorbed the full force of the fireball. The explosion of flames consumed his arm, but when the smoke and embers cleared, he stood unscathed. 

Only a slight burn mark marred his skin as though he had merely brushed against a campfire.

Elyse's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible… The last time it was a direct hit."

Dazan smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Because I allowed you to hit me. You'll have to try harder than that, human mage. However, I would rather you not interrupt me."

Then, with a deep, guttural growl, Dazan unleashed his next move. He tilted his head back and let out a chilling, ear-piercing howl, it was the Black Wolf's Howl. 

The air around him seemed to vibrate with dark energy, and Elyse felt it wash over her like a wave of dread. 

[You have been afflicted with a Fear and Confused State for 20 seconds.]

Elyse, who was a mage, had a nonexistent or weak abnormal status resistance. This made her a prone target to those debuffs, incapacitating her for a while if there wasn't a Priest or Druid to dispel those debuffs.

Her heart raced, and suddenly, panic set in. Her hands trembled, and her vision blurred as confusion clouded her thoughts. The spell she had been preparing faltered, the magic dissipating as her mind was overtaken by fear.

Malfurion, still in his owl form, saw what was happening but was too high in the air to dispel the effect in time. Dazan's eyes followed Malfurion briefly, ensuring he couldn't assist Elyse immediately.

For a brief moment, it seemed like Dazan was ready to finish off the immobilized Elyse. His sword gleamed ominously, and he took a slow step toward her. But then, almost as if remembering something more pressing, Dazan turned his back on her and again faced Odin. 

He pointed his sword at the Knight who entered his range, his voice a low, challenging growl.

"I want a duel against you, human knight. No distractions. Just you and me."

Odin, who had been watching the scene unfold, smirked in response. He could see through Dazan's attempt to shift the flow of the battle now that there was a 4 vs 1 situation. 

The goblin wanted to even the odds by taking out Odin, who was stronger than all the Leviathan Party combined. If Dazan couldn't kill Purphoros, Malfurion, and Elyze in the time it took Odin to kill Frika, then he would be a fool to not see the scale turning away from his advantage.

Nonetheless, Odin wasn't about to play by his rules. In the first place, he wasn't the type of guy who suffered from a chronic state of 'White Knight Syndrome' or a 'Hero Syndrome'. 

He was a cynical, practical, almost an asshole at times to get to what he wanted to achieve.

"You want a duel? A one-on-one with me?" Odin asked, his tone laced with mockery as he stepped closer, measuring the distance before his skills could get into effect.

"Exactly," Dazan snarled. "An honorary battle between the strongest."

Odin's lips curled into a smirk. "An honorary duel... with a goblin?" His tone was mocking, as if Dazan's challenge was nothing but an absurd joke. "Interesting."

He took another step forward, just within range for his long-range skills to take effect. His eyes, gleaming with sharp amusement, locked with Dazan's, and the silence stretched for a heartbeat, building tension.

Then, suddenly, Odin's entire demeanor shifted. His smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, ruthless look, as his voice dropped into a hardened growl.

"No way," Odin spat. "I'm not giving you that blessing. I don't have time to entertain a filthy goblin."

Dazan's eyes flared with fury, his muscles tensing, but Odin's following words cut through the air like a blade before he could react. "I'm here to slay all of you."

[User has consumed 55 MP]

Without waiting for a response, Odin shot forward, activating Blazing Charge. The ground beneath him ignited as flames erupted from his feet, propelling him forward with explosive speed. 

Fire surged around him like a comet, instantly closing the gap between him and Dazan.

Yet, to his absolute surprise, the Hobgoblin managed to parry his charge. His reflexes were sharp, akin to those of an Advanced Swordmaster.

Just as Odin's burning charge was about to strike, Dazan lifted his massive sword and parried the blow. Metal clanged against metal as their weapons met, the sheer force of the collision sending sparks flying. Odin's momentum was halted, but the heat of Blazing Charge still seeped into Dazan's arm, flames licking at his skin.

[ You have dealt 1,252 damage to the target.]

[Burning Effect Applied: Target loses 175 HP/s for 15 seconds.]

The burning sensation spread, leaving angry red marks on Dazan's arm despite his successful parry.

"You forsake the chivalry of a knight!" Dazan roared, his voice thick with anger. "This is a coward's move!"

Odin didn't even flinch at the accusation. Instead, he laughed, a cold, bitter sound. "Chivalry? Haven't you heard? Chivalry died a long time ago." His voice was sharp, mocking the very concept Dazan clung to.

Dazan, seething with anger, swung his sword again, hoping to regain control of the battle. But Odin was already moving, seamlessly transitioning into his next attack. 

His hands gripped Soulrend tightly as he used his 'Infernal Horizon' skill.

Odin unleashed a wide arc of molten energy with his blade's swift, powerful sweep. The fiery slash carved through the air, a wave of searing heat trailing behind it.

As the molten arc sliced through Dazan, he raised his sword in a parry. 

[You have dealt 890 damage to the target]

[Burning Effect Applied: Target loses 175 HP/s for 15 seconds.]

The fiery arc of Infernal Horizon collided with Dazan's blade, and once again, the Hobgoblin managed to deflect the attack, but the searing heat left burn marks across his forearms, further adding to the toll of the battle.

The burning of the Inferno's Embrace refreshed, the countdown resuming from 15 seconds downwards.

Odin wasn't deterred when he found an enemy who could parry or block his skills. This was life: sometimes, you have an easy cruise to victory against a Boss, while on other occasions, you'll struggle as you finally get countered.

It wasn't particularly the case for Dazan of the Black Wolves, as he was, in the end, an Intermediate Stage Boss for Odin's particular tastes that got used to Advanced Fights with crazy mechanics and attack patterns.

Yet, he continued with his pace, not allowing Dazan the chance to counter him. With his basic sword strikes, he kept the Hobgoblin Champion on his back footing. 

Odin shifted his stance, transitioning smoothly into his next move, the 'Infernal Flurry'.

Odin launched a flurry of strikes with blinding speed, each one blazing with the fiery power of Inferno's Embrace. 

His sword became a haze of flames trailing behind each rapid slash. 

The first strike collided with Dazan's sword, parried once again by the Hobgoblin's quick reflexes, but using his Sovereign Insight, Odin spotted an open window into his stance.

The second strike immediately followed, grazing Dazan's shoulder and leaving a searing burn.

[You have dealt 2,145 damage to the target]

Before Dazan could recover, the third slash connected, cutting across his chest, and sending a spray of blood into the air. The flames from Odin's sword scorched his flesh, and the pain was immediate and intense. 

[You have dealt 2,312 damage to the target. You have triggered the 'Searing Flames' Stacks (x2). Once all stacks are built-up, it will cause additional damage.]

The smell of burning skin filled the air, but Odin didn't stop there. The fourth strike followed swiftly, aimed at Dazan's leg, and while the Hobgoblin managed to deflect it, the damage had already been done.

[You have dealt 2,684 damage to the target. You have triggered the 'Searing Flames' Stacks (x3). Once all stacks are built up, it will cause additional damage.]

Three out of four strikes had landed, and each successful hit applied a stack of Searing Flames, the burning debuff gnawing at Dazan's body, but he only needed 3 more strikes before finishing the Searing Flames detonation.

Dazan staggered backward, clearly on the defensive now. However, he kept his confident posture, not crumbling yet under Odin's overwhelming pressure. While he got enraged that Odin acted so cowardly, not agreeing to his proposal, he could give him that, he was a great warrior.

The fiery aura surrounding Odin's blade intensified.

'I need to maximize all of the Inferno's Embrace buff. There's only 54 seconds left. Worry about the MP when I'm OOM.' (A/N: OOM = Out of Mana)

He quickly instructed them as he was using the Infernal Flurry, raising their morale back after being thoroughly trashed by Dazan.

⤷ Odin: Purphoros, get down here and be in position! Malfurion, you can keep your distance and offer support with Healing and CC. Also, continue being mindful of Elyse and Purphoros's abnormal states.

⤷ Elyse, you should get out of the goblin's Fear's range and use only Fireballs in the fight. They have the longest cast distance from all your kit, I presume. Just use that, no questions asked.

⤷ Purphoros, make sure to distract the bastard when he gets one over me and starts countering me. Shield Slam, Taunts, all the good stuff. The same applies to you, Malfurion. Don't be reserved now with the Entangling Vines.

⤷ (Unison): Understood, Boss! (Guildmaster)!

With his team in position, Odin disengaged from Infernal Flurry, his body crackling while the Infernal Cloak embraced him. 

He would've loved to keep pressing the attack, but even with his Saharan Successor Class passives, the cooldown lingered at 10 seconds. In a fight where each action counted, sitting and doing nothing for 5-10 seconds could turn the tides in your opponent's favor.

This is why he pivoted seamlessly into his next move, launching Combustive Strike, a fiery thrust aimed directly at Dazan's chest. The hobgoblin reacted in time, blocking the attack with his massive blade, but the fire still seared at his arms and face.

Dazan, teeth bared and eyes blazing with rage from all the burning, was silently suffering, but then he saw his opportunity to counter. With a snarl, he activated his skill, 'Black Wolf's Rend'. 

His two-handed sword shimmered with a dark, malevolent aura as he swung it with ferocious strength aimed at Odin's torso.

Odin's Keen Eyes alerted him just in time to the danger. His instincts screamed at him to move, and even the System was giving him some red alerts. Akin to a demon possessing a human body, he twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike. 

Dazan's blade slashed through the air where Odin had been a second earlier, its power leaving a black arc in its wake.

'Annoying. His Swordsmanship isn't half bad.'

'I have to cause some damage before we transition.'

The dodge was clean, but Odin wasn't done. His evasion fed directly into his next attack, and he summoned the full might of his Infernal Tempest.

"Let's see you handle this," Odin remarked coldly under his breath.

'Infernal Tempest'

[User has consumed 500 MP]

With a sweeping motion, he unleashed the fiery cyclone. Infernal Tempest roared to life, flames spinning outward in a vortex that engulfed the battlefield. A searing wind whipped around them, pulling everything toward the eye of the storm. Dazan's eyes widened as the force of the cyclone began dragging him in.

'Let's take precautions so he doesn't weasel his way out.'

'Firestorm Pull'

[User has consumed 350 MP]

But Odin wasn't content to let the storm do all the work. To ensure Dazan wouldn't slip away, he activated Firestorm Pull, channeling even more mana into focusing the cyclone's core. 

The pull intensified, the storm's center becoming a fiery magnet that yanked Dazan closer, locking him inside.

[You have dealt 3,014 damage to the target.]

Then the vortex of flames started cutting Dazan with fiery wind blades that could incinerate most normal creatures in Odin's level range, while for a Boss-monster, it would deal a considerable hit to their Health Gauge.

Similar to when he activated Infernal Tempest against Frika, the Hobgoblin Champion initially behaved the same, with confusion, and the damage meters confirmed this scenario, but then something switched.

[ Critical Hit!]

[ You have dealt 6,369 damage to the target]

The hobgoblin let out a roar of fury, thrashing against the flames as they swirled around him, his sword cutting through the air in wild arcs as he fought to break free. But the storm's pull was too strong, and Dazan was sucked deeper into the fiery vortex, flames biting at his armor and flesh.

Odin smirked as he saw the hobgoblin struggle. 'That should keep you down.'

[ You have dealt 3,172 damage to the target]

[ You have dealt 1,396 damage to the target]

…

But his smirk quickly faded when he noticed something off. Despite the destructive power of the Infernal Tempest, the damage wasn't as devastating as Odin expected. 

Flames licked at Dazan's body, but the Hobgoblin Champion stood tall, his face twisted from all the pain he was holding in his body. Through the roaring inferno, Odin could see the telltale signs of a Defensive Cooldown being activated by the Field Boss.

There was no other explanation.

[ You have dealt 814 damage to the target]

'At least, I pulled one of his cards out from the card deck. The consumption was worthesince I have the Sage Pendant and the Earrings for MP Regen.'

'If not for those, both fights would be dragged out, with the newbies and even myself being killed, in the eventuality we would've failed to escape.'

'A shitty truth… As a Melee DPS, you're restricted by your MP pool.'

With his 'Sovereign Insight' Odin could see that Dazan activated a skill called 'Iron Bastion', and as he peered deeper into his figure, he could read the description. It was an ability that increased his defense and HP regen. 

Even as the flames ravaged the battlefield, Dazan's defenses held firm, the damage significantly mitigated.

Then before the Tempest died down, Odin, who was gazing with his crimson eyes glowing ahead of him.

'Damn, those Bosses and their broken skills. I can't force much with the physical attacks for 30 seconds.'

Inside the storm, Dazan, though battered, still stood defiant. His eyes locked onto Odin's, burning with both fury and admiration. "You fight well, human," Dazan growled, his voice carrying through the flames. "But I'm not going down that easily."

Odin narrowed his eyes, gripping Soulrend tightly. "We'll see about that."

Suddenly, Odin's insight flared, and reacting to this stimulus, he raised his Soulrend Blade to block whatever was threatening him.

A blazing figure emerged from the dissipating storm with terrifying speed, closing the distance between them instantly.

It was Dazan.

His entire form was wreathed in flames, but with the burnt wounds closing up from the Iron Bastion Regen increase, was moving at a speed that caught even Odin off-guard, if not for his Sovereign Insight intervention. 

In those moments of intense combat, he came to appreciate this Godly Skill which felt like having an auto-pilot inside an F1 race. 

The hobgoblin had activated Chasing Black Wolf, a movement skill that boosted his agility to rival Odin's own. The goblin champion appeared flashing toward Odin like a wraith, almost imperceptible against the backdrop of the fiery battlefield.

Before Odin could react fully still with the sword ready to make a stand, Dazan swung his massive two-handed sword down with all his strength, activating his Executioner's Strike. 

'Flame Guard'

[User has consumed 50 MP]

Odin barely managed to block with Soulrend, instantly triggering Flame Guard to shield himself from the brunt of the attack, but because he was a tempo late, he had to suffer almost all the damage.

Sparks flew as their blades clashed, metal grinding against metal, echoing across the battlefield.

[You have suffered 3,578 damage]

The impact was tremendous. With only one of those strikes, it cleaved Odin's health bar in half, giving a heart trepidation to Malfurion, who got alerted that he should prepare to act, especially after he dispelled Elyse's fear status. 

Elyse worried about Odin far more when he was sent pushing back five meters, crushing to the ground from the blow as the heat and pressure bore down on him.

The power of a Boss mob wasn't to be taken lightly, more so for a Melee Monstrosity as the Hobgoblin Champion.

⤷ Elyse: Guildmaster, are you okay!? Malfurion, go put a heal on Odin. If he's hit again by that skill, he'll die. All of us will die afterwards.

⤷ Odin; QUIET! Focus on the plan. Alexander, you remain where you are. 

⤷ Odin: What? This is just a tiny hit, nothing impressive. Don't waste your MP on me with heals. 

He took out one of his Intermediate Health Potions, chugging one, while from inside his Inventory Bag, he brought out a Skill Book he gained from Frika the Accursed containing the secret to a Troll's Survivability.

'Why debate if I should put it on a roll for the newbies? I killed the boss alone. I should take what's useful to myself.'

[Skill Book: Regeneration]

Rating: Epic | Type: Passive

Bolsters the bearer's fortitude and speeds up self-healing when injured. 

The higher the skill level, the better the range and power.

'Learn it.'

[You have learned Regeneration]

[Regeneration - Lv.1]

Rating: Epic | Type: Passive

[Bolsters the bearer's fortitude and speeds up self-healing when injured by 1.5% of maximum health per second.

Skill Resource Consumption: None.

Skill Cooldown Time: None.]

Instantly, from the moment he acquired the Troll's Regeneration that wasn't degenerated by some weakling monster at level 10 that got abandoned at birth, but coming from one of the direct servants of a possible Troll God for all Odin could care, his HP recovered at a speed reminiscent of a Priest's Healing Bind.

Getting up, Odin saw Purphoros following his role as he instructed him to, not minding that he was exposing himself to a one-shot Kill, and just when Dazan had his breakthrough moment, he charged at him using Swift Charge.

Purphoros activated Swift Charge, closing the distance between himself and Dazan

"Now's my chance!" Purphoros grunted, aiming for a clean hit to knock Dazan off balance and follow up with a Shield Slam.

But Dazan was no fool. 

His instincts flared as Purphoros barreled toward him. 

The hobgoblin champion's eyes shifted toward the charging knight, his mouth twisting into a sneer. 

"Too slow and weak, human."

Just as Purphoros was about to crash into him, Dazan sidestepped, his movements enhanced by the lingering effects of Chasing Black Wolf. It was as though Purphoros was moving in slow motion compared to Dazan's lightning-quick agility.

Before Purphoros could recover from the missed strike, Dazan retaliated with a brutal swing of his massive two-handed sword. 

The sword skill Cleave of the Black Wolf was activated, and its arc went deadly toward Purphoros. 

The blade connected with Purphoros' side, carving through his armor and dealing a devastating blow that instantly ripped away 40% of his HP.

The Hobgoblin Champion no longer played with his prey. He was moving for their throat and with his change of mind.

Purphoros staggered back, gasping for breath as blood sprayed from the wound. His HP bar plummeted, flashing dangerously in the red zone. The hit nearly knocked him off his feet, and for a moment, it seemed like the next strike would be fatal.

Just as Dazan prepared to finish off the weakened Guardian Knight, the ground beneath the hobgoblin erupted as roots from the Entangling Vines, summoned by Malfurion, shot up from the earth, twisting and writhing toward Dazan's legs.

Malfurion, watching from a safe distance, focused intently, his druidic staff glowing with natural energy. "Got you now."

There was sweat beading on his brow as he channeled the spell's power. 

However, Dazan simply leaped backward with astonishing speed, evading the grasping vines as they snapped closed around where he stood moments ago.

Malfurion cursed under his breath, his eyes widening as his spell missed its mark. "Damned, monster."

"Is that all you've got, druid?" Dazan mocked as he recovered from his leap.

The druid was underrated and activated against his Entangling Vines, but this time, as Dazan dodged his vines, he gathered more energy and sent forth a massive thorn projectile, a razor-sharp spike aimed directly at Dazan's chest. 

The projectile whistled through the air, glowing with verdant energy as it cut a path toward its target.

Dazan didn't expect such a skill from the Druid, and with a roar, he swung his sword once more, cleaving the thorn projectile clean in half. 

The shattered pieces scattered harmlessly to the ground, but Dazan wasn't finished. In the same motion, he unleashed a long-range sword wave, a crescent-shaped wind blade that tore through the air and streaked toward Malfurion.

Malfurion barely had time to transform into his Bear Form, but when the sword wave collided with his body, he was thrown back, clutching his side as the transformation lifted off. 

The remnants of the attack left a deep gash across his torso. His HP dipped dangerously low, but he managed to stay on his feet, gritting his teeth in pain.

Amidst the chaos, Elyse had recovered from her earlier debuffs and finally gathered enough mana to launch a counterattack. The mage's eyes were narrowed in focus, her hands weaving intricate patterns as she began to channel one of her most powerful spells.

Her voice was steady as she incanted, "Ignis Majoris..."

"Hmph, useless mage," Dazan sneered through clenched teeth. "Haven't you learned your lesson?"

"Black Wolf's Howl!" Dazan roared, his voice reverberating through the battlefield like the growl of an alpha hunting its prey.

The howl rippled outward in an expanding radius, dark energy crackling in its wake. The effect was immediate, wrapping anyone caught within its reach in a sense of overwhelming dread, a primal fear deep in their bones, forcing them into a state of paralysis as their minds crumbled beneath the weight of this Howl.

However, as the sound washed over the battlefield, Elyse remained unaffected.

The range was too short to hit the distant mage as she positioned outside of Dazan's range just as Odin instructed her to be. 

Her voice kept her calm, she finished her incantation for the Fireball. 

"Let the heavens burn!"

Finally, with a fierce cry, Elyse unleashed the Fireball, sending the blazing projectile hurtling toward Dazan.

The fireball arced through the air, its flames roaring as it sped toward its target.

Dazan, still mid-motion from cleaving through the thorn projectile, barely had time to react. 

The fireball struck him square in the chest, detonating on impact with a deafening explosion of fire and heat. 

Flames engulfed the hobgoblin, the shockwave from the blast sending ripples across the battlefield. 

Smoke and ash billowed out in all directions as the fire raged, momentarily obscuring Dazan from view.

 Dazan used his Iron Blockade to block most of the damage from the Fireball, but in that sequence taking advantage of the obscuring view field, Purphoros got to his range and used one of his attacking skills, 'Swift Raid'

He knew that Dazan was underestimating him for his low damage compared to Elyse or Malfurion, dismissing him as little more than a nuisance. At the same time, hurting his prideful ego as a guy who wanted to be a Melee Supremacist and stand in the same league with Odin, Kraugel, Chris, Hurent, Demacia, and all of the strongest melee users.

His sword moved with blistering speed, a rapid thrust aimed straight for the Hobgoblin Champion's exposed side.

Dazan, distracted by the flames and still recovering from the Fireball, barely noticed Purphoros' approach. His Iron Blockade had shielded him from the magical attack, but he didn't anticipate any serious threat from the Guardian Knight.

'A mosquito's bite…' Dazan thought, his sneer evident through the smoke. But the moment Purphoros' sword made contact, something unexpected happened.

[Your 'Swift Raid' has managed to stun the target. You have stunned the target for 2 seconds]

Dazan's sneer turned into shock as his muscles locked up, his massive body freezing in place.

While the activation of this skill tanked down most of Purphoros's MP, he felt proud that he had one over this Boss monster. 

"Suck my dick, dumb goblin. You thought it was just one of my Taunting strikes?" taunted Purphoros as he looked contemptuously at the Hobgoblin, who got paralyzed from the Stun debuff. 

While it was only two seconds, it was all worth it, especially when he saw the blazing figure of Odin taking the stance of the 'Swift Charge'.

"Haha. Get rekt, now you're dead."

"Good one, Purphoros. You did well stunning this pig." Odin's voice cut through the battlefield as he surged forward, his body ablaze with fiery energy. 

The impact of the Blazing Charge was enough to send shockwaves through Dazan's stunned body, and instead of breaking this state, his paralysis continued for an additional 1.5 seconds, reigniting the Hobgoblin on fire with his constant burning debuffs.

[Burning Effect Applied: Target loses 175 HP/s for 15 seconds.]

Odin wasn't finished. He had only a couple of seconds at his disposal before the Inferno's Embrace wore off. 

He seized the moment without hesitation, raising his sword high as he activated Infernal Flurry. 

His blade danced through the air with blistering speed, each strike landing precisely on Dazan's immobilized body. The first hit cracked through Dazan's armor, the second one scorched his flesh, and the third blow struck true, applying yet another stack of Searing Flames.

[You have dealt 2,448 damage to the target. You have triggered the 'Searing Flames' Stacks (x5). Once all stacks are built up, they will cause additional damage.]

When the final strike landed, the Searing Flames triggered a chain reaction.

With a wicked grin, Odin watched as the fiery debuff triggered a massive explosion around Dazan.

The force of the explosion sent a shockwave through the air, one could feel as if they were brought inside the chasm of a volcano.

Flames engulfed his form, erupting in a roaring blaze that dealt a staggering 300% fire damage, blasting his body backward. 

[Critical Hit!]

[ You have dealt 8,450 fire damage to the target. Searing Flames (x5) triggered: You have dealt 3,000 splash damage to enemies within range.]

It was a large accumulation of damage on the Hobgoblin Champion's body.

[Hobgoblin Champion - Dazan of the Black Wolves - LV.125](Field-Boss) (26,201/58,225 HP)

He remained with only 45% of his HP from this onslaught of flames, yet he remained standing, wrapped in flames like an infernal monster.

Dazan's form, battered and engulfed in flames, still stood towering above the battlefield. His breathing had grown ragged, his once-imposing figure marred by the relentless onslaught of fire.

Despite Odin's devastating chain of attacks, a dangerous aura began to radiate from him.

His eyes, once filled with calmness, pridefulness, and even some superiority, now gleamed with a deep, burning fury.

As the last embers of Odin's Searing Flames fizzled out, a guttural growl rumbled deep within Dazan's chest. His body trembled, muscles bulging unnaturally as veins pulsed with dark, primal energy. 

The air around him seemed to thicken with malice, and the ground beneath his feet cracked as his towering form tensed.

Then, with a deafening roar, Dazan activated his ultimate ability, the Berserker's Rage.

"RAAAAAAARGH!" His voice, now a feral howl, echoed across the battlefield, striking fear into the hearts of all who heard it. 

The flames that once covered his body seemed to meld into his being, feeding his fury rather than consuming him. His once gleaming armor now darkened, cracks forming as his flesh expanded with raw, unmanageable power.

[Dazan has activated Berserker's Rage! All damage dealt is increased by 50%, attack speed increased by 50%, and resistance to crowd control effects gained. Defense reduced by 20%.]

Dazan's eyes blazed a furious red, glowing like twin embers in the heart of a wildfire. His entire body began to quake as his movements became wild and erratic, each step shaking the earth beneath him. 

Odin, whose infernal cloak dispersed into the Elemental Plane, had only a couple of options to act to ensure the success of this challenging hunt. 

Standing at the front line, he felt the shift immediately. His eyes widened as he recognized the change in Dazan's body. "Tch… He's entering his second phase. This bastard's not done yet."

Dazan moved with terrifying speed, faster than before, his massive sword now ghostly as he swung it recklessly. 

That was to activate 'Terra's Resilience' at the cost of lowering his stats by consuming his Red Energy.

[You have consumed 25 RE. User has received the 'Terra's Resilience' Buff.]

[The user is infused with the strength of the earth for 5 minutes. The user's physical and magical defense is enhanced by 200% for the duration of the blessing. The user becomes immune to knockbacks, while earth-based abilities cost 15% less mana during this period.]

'Let's see if I can get some reads on him before I switch to Zephyr's Swiftness.'

His first strike came down with such ferocity that the ground split apart, sending shockwaves rippling across the field. A crater formed beneath his feet as he howled again, a crazed glint in his burning eyes.

"Get ready!" Odin shouted to his team, already bracing himself for the coming onslaught. "This is going to get ugly!"