"Mmn～? Mmm～? Hmm～? Hmmn～?" ［Yuna］
"My, how excited you are... That's not the face of someone who's going to fight a Disaster-Css monster, you know?" ［Grey］
"Fufufu! It's been a long time since we fought a strong oppo after all!" ［Yuna］
"A long time... It's been barely 4 months, you know?" ［Grey］
"Oh, really? It felt much lohan that... Well! It doesn't matter! I'm just excited to fight a strong oppo again! I wonder how powerful it is!" ［Yuna］
The young dy procimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement and her hums drifting in the air. She took her steps, skipping from time to time, marg towards the rge and domineering doors id out a couple dozeers away from them.
A new day has arrived and the Labyrinth was still dim and gloomy as ever. Lightning tio course the lightning veins and tremors tio spread as rge and ferooook their steps, loud cries eg from time to time.
Grey and Yuna had just fiheir breakfast and the two are now heading out for some intense exercise, and by that, it meant that they are going to fight the Boss of the Labyrinth, wanting to test out their strengths once more.
However, pared to before with the Bloodwing ius, Grey and Yuna are now going in all by themselves. Otherwise, things would be too easy and they wouldn't be able to grow. After all, the harder the challenge is, the better the rewards are.
"Ohh～! It really looks intimidating, huh..." ［Yuna］
"Well, it's a Boss Room, after all." ［Grey］
It didn't take long befrey and Yuna reached the Boss Room, and as per usual, there were massive and heavy dreeting them up front. It was made of heavy metals, geometries carved throughout aricity running through those lines.
There were also the usual carvings and runes engraved through them. It was both pretty and intimidating, deserving to be adorned before fag a great, grand, and fate-defying challe was a beautiful sight to behold.
"Right, Yuna, here, wear these... And stand still for a moment." ［Grey］
"Un!" ［Yuna］
Of course, before fag such a great challenge, preparations e first. Grey soon casted the most powerful barrier magi Yuna and made sure she was in her best dition using holy magic, adding a couple buffs while he was at it.
They didn't have time to use it before because of how spicuous it was, but now was the perfect time for it. Yuna now wore the "Wings of the Executiohey got from the Bloodwing ius, crimson wings sprouting behind her.
They were not only beautiful, but extremely useful and deadly as well. Yuna may be fast, but against an oppo over 20 times strohahere was no harm in being careful. It will allow her to evade attacks and think up rategies as well.
Finally, Yuna took out a honey-colored potion. It was the very same "Fairy's Blessing" she had made before, boosting her mana output by 50% while also quadrupling her mana recovery rate. It also has a sweet taste
With the buffs and her soon activating her "Authority" at "Triple", the once 20-fold gap has now been shorteo only 5 times left. It was still dangerous, but with her skills and abilities, it shouldn't be as difficult as before.
"Grey, won't you be having some too? They taste sweet!" ［Yuna］
"I appreciate it, but I'm afraid I'll have to dee... Otherwise, I won't be able to grow as fast. It's already hard to improve as it is." ［Grey］
Yuna also made a lot of "Fairy's Blessing" after they left Xeros, but Grey had politely deed the offer. He was grateful to the young dy, but if he accepted it, he wouldn't be able to grow much. Buffs were a no-go for him.
"Mou... It took a lot of effort to make these, you know?" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. I know, and I appreciate the effort, but I still o grow stronger if I want to quer all the Labyrinths... And... Well, you know... I wouldn't want to look uncool in front of my fiancée, now do I?" ［Grey］
"Uuu... Making it with a face like... That's unfair..." ［Yuna］
"Like you have room to talk, My Dear." ［Grey］
The young dy was a little upset, but it didn't take much to cheer her up. Grey simply said a couple sweet and sappy lines and her heart immediately started rag as if there was no tomorrow, face slightly flushed.
"Then, since you won't take my potions... Have this instead..." ［Yuna］
Her cheeks were burning red, and with a loving look in her eyes, Yuna leaned close to Grey and tiptoed towards him. She pressed her soft and plump lips against her beloved's cheeks, kissing him ever so gently.
"That's a good luck charm. You must absolutely be safe, okay?" ［Yuna］
"... Hahaha. Of course! I wouldn't want to die before marrying my dear fiancée, after all. That would be quite unfortunate, no?" ［Grey］
"Mou... Don't say such stupid things, you dummy. Even if we already get married, you must still keep yourself safe. That's an order!" ［Yuna］
The air was sweet, the mood was sappy, and the Labyrinth had turned pink. Hearts and flowers were adrift in the air, only subtle sounds of heartbeats pulsing ever so harmoniously, hearts beating lovingly as two figures ughed ever so gently.
Yes, it's normal for adveo have their hearts race whilst challenging bosses, but it would be because of the dangers and worries. Yet these two youths were flirty as be, unfazed in the face of danger ah... Just get married already...
All the flirting and shenanigans aside, Grey and Yuna then tinued on with their preparations and before long, they were more than ready. They soon stood before the doors, eyes lingering quietly as they scaled the massive structure before them.
"Then, here goes nothing..." ［Grey］
CLACK CLACK THUD CREEEAAAKKKKKK
Heavy, metallid meical sounds echoed in the air. Grey poured mana into the doors opened ever so slowly. There was thrill and tension, the expansive and massive room unveiled slowly but surely, creaks tinuing to echo.
It was a hexagonal room, a rge pilr protruding from the ground up and creating ar the ceiling, soon verting towards the ter. The walls were still dark and bricky with a ton of carviched on them, looking quite dungeon-like.
Of course, there were still lightning veins c all throughout the Boss Room, all running through the bricks and pulsing momentarily at random intervals. They also verged at the ter of the floor, a massive figure waiting in the middle.
"Hooh～! So that's a Disaster-Css Arflus, huh... Pretty intimidating..." ［Grey］
"It doesn't have wings, but it looks pretty fast." ［Yuna］
"Well, it belongs to the lightning-attribute, after all. It should be fast." ［Grey］
A rge body t over a dozeers tall, its lower body resembling that of a snake's, reag lengths over 20 meters. It was a figure made mostly of electricity, crackles and explosions resounding all throughout the air.
Apart from the fact that most of its body was electricity, there were alsments of rock-like substauck throughout its body like glue, and a brilliant cleaming deep within its chest, pulsing quietly as the sands of time trickled down the hss.
It was equipped with a rge maw, sharp and pointy horns protruding atop its beast-like head. It had six arms and a myriad of tentacles sprouting out from its bao matter how you look at it, it was a fearsome mohrough and through.
??Appraisal?? ［Grey］
-----------------------------------
[Monster]
[Species]Sn Arflus
[Status]Healthy
[Type]Elemental
[Ability]...
[Mana Capacity]154,077 [Mana Quality]S
[bat Power]48,371 [Threat Level]Disaster
[Attribute]Lightning
-----------------------------------
And as one would expect from a Labyrinth Boss, its stats were just as broken as the ones before. It was just a few steps from Catastrophe-Css and is already powerful enough to y waste on any kingdom it es across to.
Thankfully, it was tained only ihe Boss Room. Otherwise, all civilizations would have ceased to exist in Merusia. And it's also because it's in the Boss Room that Grey and Yuna don't o hold themselves back.
A smile blooming on his face, Grey soon shared his vision with Yuna and the view of the whole room in all angles fshed before her eyes. She sensed aed every little thing, vision crystal clear, perfect as be,
"Then, would you do me the pleasure, Midy?" ［Grey］
"Fufufu! o say any more!" ［Yuna］
CRACK CRACK BOOOOOOMMMMMM
There was not a single sed to waste. As soon as Grey gave the slightest nod, Yuna then made her move and bolted towards the enemy, her daggers appearing in her hands with a flick of her fingers.
The enemy didn't just stay still either. As soon as Yuna dashed forth, it also rushed forth, leaving trails of lightning and thunder behind it, only a golden fsh of light to be seen as it cruised forth like an arrow, cws extending out and about.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
The first csh ensued and a few more followed. Yuna's daggers sshed and the Sn Arflus' cws parried it oer another. With each csh came a loud and thunderous boom, shockwaves sweeping away the dust in the air.
Yuna was fast but the Sn Arflus was faster. However, there was o worry. With every ssh it made, the young dy was easily able to get away with a single fp of her wings, getting away even before the cws could even reach her.
??Icicle Shogun!?? ［Yuna］
As soon as she leaped away, she theended her arms out and brought forth a torrent of icicles, darting away at breakneck speeds, it started by the dozen, but soon enough, hundreds fired at the same time, leaving not a single gap.
However, much like how Yuna evades the Sn Arflus' every attack, the tter also parried her attacks with the tentacles extending from its back. They shed out like heavy and deadly whips, breaking the icicles as they filed around.
The enemy also didn't just sit around aacked. It also unleashed a few bolts of its out, lightning and thunder resounding all throughout the room and heading the young dy's way. Booms resounded once more as they hit the walls and the floor.
CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH
Icicles of frost rushed forth and bolts of lightning tered them. Rays of blue and yellow cshed throughout the whole room, explosiing out with every csh. It was a never-ending cacophony, a rain of destru p down.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Yuna's wings weren't just mere decoratioher. As soon as she unches a volley of terrifying icicles, she thehe wings burst, feathers turned into sharp projectiles raining down upon the enemy without showing any mercy.
Now, the enemy has to defend against a copious amount of deadly projectiles. All its whole vision was obstructed with explosions, shockwaves ringing oer another. Yuna uses the opportunity to pouowards it and brandish her daggers once more.
SWISH SWISH SLASH G G G G
And whehe two figures were close enough, they engaged in close-quarters bat, g ever so furiously, bdes and cws exging deadly blows. It was a fierce dance, harm falling for the young dy at any moment.
The tail shed out, the tentacles whipped, and six arms shot out like a gatling gun. Yuna narrowly dodged the attacks with Grey's eyes, nding her terattacks as soon as she got the opportunity, yet leaving but mere scratches to the core.
She brandished her dagger and at the same time, bsted a fury of icicles towards the enemy. All rushed forth towards the core, prompting the eo defend itself. It was the perfect opportunity to widen the distand fire another volley of blue and white.
??Icicle Rain!?? ［Yuna］
She then leaped towards the air and reached her hands out once more. A shower of icicles soon rained down upon the enemy, peppering it from above and upfront. Yet despite all the attacks, not a single one nded, all crushed by the tentacles.
Well, they wereirely useless either. Other than the fact that the icicles served to test the waters, it also served to distract the enemy, hiding Yuna's presehe moment the enemy realized she resent, she was already in front of her.
The eried to strike her with its massive cws, but with a quick maneuvering with her wings, she evaded without much problems, closing in ever further. She then gripped her daggers tightly, p mana as much as she could.
??Death's Grasp!?? ［Yuna］
The daggers were brandished, the eyes of the Grim Reaper locked onto the enemy. She brandished her daggers and the hands of death reached out, cleaving a rge and deep gash on the enemy's chestー or so she wao.
After all, the Sn Arflus was mostly made of electricity. Yuna's daggers simply swam through its body, missing the core and leaking but a tiny bit of sparks, crackles resounding in the air. Yuna did a bit of damage, but not as much as she wao.
There wasn't even a time to get frustrated. As soon as Yuna's surprise attack failed, the Sn Arflus' tail shed out like a whip and shot out towards the former. Yuna was able to dodge, but it was still far from over.
WHOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGG FWOOOOSSSSHHHHHHHH
The Sn Arflus opes mouth and fired a deafening beam of lightning from it. A fsh of gold and white rushed forth towards Yuna, swallowing up her whole body before she could even fp her wings. The room ainted yellow,
The lights soon died down, and the bolts of lightning quickly settled down. A rge crater was carved in the walls from the beam of lightning, some fragments quickly disied. Silence soon swallowed the air.
"Ahhh... That was a close one..." ［Yuna］
Fortunately enough, Yuna was able to activate her "Phaseless" just at the right time. The beam simply passed through her and crashed towards the walls. Has she been even a sed too te, she would have been in harm's way.
"Seems quite tough for you, Midy. Are you alright?" ［Grey］
"Uuu... I thought I had it... This is too unfair...!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. It's not called a Boss for nothing, after aー !!!" ［Grey］
Gray couldn't even finish his words when the Sn Arflus suddenly rushed at them. It bore its cws against the two, raising its hands aing its tentacles run wild. Unfortunately for it, it against Grey.
Before the enemy could even reach them, he already foresaw its attacks and acted accly. He flung away the enemy's cws with his gaus, then using wind magieuver skillfully to close the distaween them.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
As soon as he was in range, he unched his strikes and successfully ected to the core. The echoes followed and more strikes bore down towards the enemy, bsting it quite a distance away, a couple small cracks appearing on its core.
Its tentacles didn't do much damage either, all cut off by the sharp and bellowing winds surrounding Grey and Yuna. Not a single hair of him nor Yuna was hurt, his sharp and cold eyes soon falling towards the impudent enemy.
"Hey, don't you know it's rude to interrupt people talking?" ［Grey］
Remarked Grey, staying calm as be. However, the same couldn't be said for the enemy. It was mow wary and e the young man, gathering a copious amount of mana towards its core, a loud boom thundering soon after.
A massive field of electricity was created and mana formed into spheres. Spheres which soon became bolts and bolts which became spears. Such spears rushed out at breakneck speeds, aiming frey and Yuna's neck.
"Really... How rude... ??Gale Waltz??." ［Grey］
Meanwhile, Grey also released his own torrent, a rush of howling winds f into bdes and bolting towards the enemy. Grey had activated his "Bellowing Heavens", making the bdes vibrate at supersonic speeds.
The bdes cshed with the bolts and shockwaves ran rampant in the air. Some of the bdes passed through and rushed towards the enemy, sooher broken by the tentacles, or in reverse, cutting the tentacles ever so effortlessly.
Grey wasn't just just doh a siack either as soon as the enemy's mind was occupied by the torrent of bdes, he used "Multitask" and activated yet another spell. The winds bellowed once more, a rge spear f in the air.
??Southern Wind: Notus?? ［Grey］
Grey waved his hand and the spear burst forth. As the curtain of bdes was slowly lifted up, the spear was soon revealed. The winds shed out as it pluowards the Sn Arflus, the tter barely noticed its approach.
As soon as it did, it used its all to stop the spear. It sacrificed its tentacles, and used all its arms. It trated all its attato one spot, breaking the spear using brute force, the sound of breaking gss eg as he broke it.
However, it was not without cost. It lost 2 arms and all its tentacles in the process. It could still regee them, but it cost it a lot of mana. Had Grey inflicted "Vein Breaker" beforehand, it would have ore.
Fortunately for it, Grey had sworn not to use such a broken spell for now. They are training, after all. Uhey io finish off the enemy, it is best to prolong the battle as much as possible and gain experience from it. Danger was the best teacher.
"Ah, sorry about that, Yuna... I acted without sulting you." ［Grey］
"No, it's okay... I'm still far from beating that thing anyway. I'm not the only oraining, after all.." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. I guess you're right." ［Grey］
Grey and Yualking as casual as be, but the same couldn't be said for the Sn Arflus. It is now pletely wary of the young man, watg its every step and making such it doesn't do anything rash.
It may have received damage, but it wasn't something a bit of mana couldn't fix. It was needless to rush things a it afterwards. It has now beled not just Grey, but Yuna as well, as dangerous people which it o be careful against.
"Grey, it seems like it's trying to do something funny." ［Yuna］
"Something funny...? Could it be..." ［Grey］
Its alertness and caution has reached the highest level, its eyes peering towards the two and dyed with hostility. Grey and Yuna are now irredeemable targets in its eyes. Ohat it o eliminate no matter what the cost.
RUUUMMMMBBBLLLLEEEEE CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE
The ground shook and the air started to tremble. Bolts of lightning shed all over the pce, making the lightning veins explode and the cracks run through the walls. The once dim glow is now glowing brighter than ever.
Its tentacles shrank back towards its back, its six arms have beuch slimmer, its tail has bee shorter, its skull has beore aerodynamid its whole body has shrunk over ten sizes, now measuring only about 2 meters tall.
It was a transformation Grey had seen already back against the Vul Destroyer in the Labyrinth of Fmes, and the one before them wasn't any different. It doesn't only make its frame smaller, it tweaked its stats quite drastically as well. For example....
FWOOSSHHHH WHOOSH WHOOSH
... It has now bee so fast, it took Grey and Yuna a quient to realize that it has already gone behind the young man. Its fists were already ched, then pulling it quite a ways back for a heavy puno, not just a punch, but....
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
... A quid skillful series of punches, apanied by some cws every on a while. There were also bolts of lightning shing out, golden and thunderous spears and bolts flying all throughout the pce as if they owhe pce.
Grey was able to rea time, but now, he got engaged in a close-quarters battle with the Sn Arflus. They cshed again and again, the enemy pletely dead set on killing the young... It was a fatal mistake...
"A different form, huh... Fufufu! This is fun!" ［Yuna］
It was all because of such a fact that the Sn Arflus didn't even notice Yuna's ice slowly creeping up its body. It was ice so cold, not even lightning could escape, slowly but surely engulfing the whole body of the enemy.
Well, it wasn't just its lower body. Yuna' frost and ice had already covered most of the Boss Room, her "Winter Forest" slowly taking over the pce. She is now ready to join the fray, a bright and sweet smile blooming on her face.
"Then! How about we start the round?!" ［Yuna］
The battle tinues.
CHAPTER 439 END
