NOVEL NEXT Chapter 117 - Boss Rewards
Everything falls silent as a cloud of dust slowly begins settling around the combatants. Astrid stands above a badly damaged breastplate, panting heavily. Her axe is lodged firmly in the metal, having sundered the steel and warped the surrounding areas of the piece of armor. The floor around her is littered with the disjointed pieces of armor that make up Siegfried, the frost binding them having been shattered by the force of the blow. An empty helmet still noisily clatters on the floor, coming to a stop a step away from the exhausted berserker.
Echoing laughter breaks the silence, setting the adventurers on edge immediately, before Siegfried’s voice emanates from the helmet.
“Magnificent! Very well, I have been bested!”
The pieces of armor then float up from the floor through the icy mist, and begin to reassemble themself into a humanoid form. Despite the fact that Siegfried is obviously worse for wear, his armor is badly torn up and the cape that was draped around his shoulders is tattered and torn, he still manages a regal appearance.
“I shall allow you to advance into the forest. My congratulations, travelers! You fought well.”
Then, with a swish of the cape he turns from the delvers and marches back towards the throne.
“Take all the time you need to rest and recuperate. If you decide that you are not ready and would like to return another time, however, I will have to test you again.” he says as he takes a seat once more, leaning his sword against the throne and dissolving his shield into motes of energy.
“Thank you, my lord.” Simon responds with a bow.
As expected, my dungeon instincts are tugging at me, and I let them. It has been quite some time since I have created the last item for this group, but I still remember that feeling from back then. It has never been the same since, but I have gotten quite used to the creation of “Loot”, as the adventurers term the randomly generated accumulations of magic that form items in response to adventurers achievements in dungeons.
The essence flows from my beyond-space and forms into little pearls of energy in front of the party, spiraling and swirling as it concentrates in two separate spots and takes material shape. It's always mesmerizing to watch, and both me and the delvers watch with bated breath - despite the fact that I don’t breathe - as the energy forms into Items that, once fully materialized, gently drift down to the floor of my boss room, the magical energies that hold them aloft gently dissipating.
In front of the party, a pair of steel bracers drift down on the one side, and a neatly folded cape on the other side. The bracers are in a similar style to Siegfried’s own neatly engraved and polished steel arm guards, albeit the engravings are more simple and the steel appears slightly tarnished. The cape too is reminiscent of Siegfried’s, though here the difference is more noticeable. The color is identical, but the fabric lacks the golden trim that still somewhat clings onto Siegfrieds tattered cape. It is also not a half length cape, and instead extends to a length of well over a meter.
Simon nods to the others and then steps forward, carefully collecting both items and storing them in his bag, before looking up at the curiously watching Siegfried - though I am not sure if he can tell, considering Siegfrieds lack of a face.
“I don't believe we shall attempt to continue into the woods this time. This fight has shown us that we still have some growing to do. Thank you for your instruction.” Simon speaks solemnly.
Siegfried nods slowly, and responds slowly. “Then you may take your leave of my domain at your leisure. Feel free to rest here first, if you so desire.”
“Thank you, my lord.” the adventurers and bards - or inquisitors, I suppose - respond at once, before retreating away from the throne and sitting down to catch their breath.