68 (68) The Ogre

"A Basilisk bloodline..."

Everyone stared at Calea with awe and respect, she nervously fidgeted under the countless gazes, betraying that she was still the young Naga everyone knew underneath the new transformation.

Inheriting a bloodline was very different from being an elite or mutated monster, however, there were some similarities. Bloodlines and Elites were set in stone once the monster had been born into the world. In the earlier phases, it was almost indistinguishable between a bloodline monster and an Elite monster.

However, after the Awakening, the Bloodline would also have a high chance of awakening. Bloodlines allowed a monster to inherit the power from the monster the bloodline was from. Not every bloodline was available for every type of monster, so a Naga couldn't activate a phoenix bloodline.

However, attributes didn't seem to affect the bloodline, but it was the genetics of the monsters instead. Sometimes an ice-attributed bird such as the Snowy Falcon could awaken a Pure Flame Phoenix bloodline, enabling that Falcon to possess dual attributes.

Most bloodline creatures were very powerful due to this, however, it wouldn't be true to say that they are always stronger than Elite or Rare Elite monster. Elite monsters were like a mutation, making the monster much stronger than regulars.

Bloodline Monsters were only stronger due to possessing the abilities of another monster, as well as the upgrade or enhancement of certain linked skills.

Bloodline monsters would still be classified as a 'regular' monster as, although it was very rare, a monster could be both an Elite and possess a bloodline. In history, there had only been four recorded cases of such, and all of them were centuries and millenniums ago.

"Oooh, what did you gain from the Basilisk bloodline?" Everyone crowded around the young Nagi, anticipating the powerful strength of the bloodline and its inherited abilities.

"Erm..." Calea scratched her nose, feeling the focus on her. "The Basilisk bloodline increased most of my attributes and has already added three skills. Though I'm not sure what other skills I may learn in the future."

Calea paused for a moment, it felt weird to be the focus of everyone's attention like this. Before, when she was only a bit stronger it had been fine. But now it felt too much like they were treating her as a Goddess or diety. It felt... wrong, awkward.

She glanced at the swarm of Nagas, her family, and was relieved that their eyes still held intimate gazes. At least their view of her hadn't changed that drastically, as they too still held her as one of their own; as the same young Nagi that was always the shy one.

"I activated the Skills: Unclouded Vision, Basilisk Gaze and Basiliskian Regeneration."

Calea's three skills were undoubtedly inherited from her bloodline. Basilisks are known for being massive, powerful snake-like creatures. There were two main features which made the Basilisks famous in history: Their petrifying gaze and their incurable venom.

It seemed that Calea had inherited more the ocular abilities, perhaps the venom wasn't suitable for her, or she wasn't strong enough to control it yet.

Unclouded Vision was a Passive skill that could see through disguises, illusions and masking skills.

Basilisk Gaze was the infamous petrification skill that would petrify the target into a frozen state when making eye-contact. However, the longer the target is affected, the less of an effect it has. An additional effect was the decrease in speed and alertness.

Basiliskian Regeneration allowed the user to completely heal themselves by shedding a layer of skin or scales. Each 'life', there would only be three layers, so the skill could only be used twice. After shedding each layer, there would be an increase in speed but also a decrease in defence in addition to being completely healed if the wound wasn't a fatal one.

Everyone sighed in admiration, with Calea's strength, coupled with her skills, she was basically the Mini-Boss of Floor Four.

The Nagas were already a powerful group with their teamwork and strength in numbers, but now that they had all advanced and Calea had a Basilisk Bloodline, the puny human players stood no chance at their current level.

"Oh..." Kraton suddenly realised something. "Back when you were level 3, you saw through my skill. It must have been because of your Unclouded Vision skill!"

Everything made sense now; her ability to see through his skill, her more powerful physique and strange aura. It was all because she had traces of this bloodline when she was younger, but no-one could tell it was a bloodline before as it still wasn't fully activated.

Calea stuck out her tongue in response, it was Kraton's fault for having such a weak skill.

This night truly was one worth celebrating. Nothing could ruin the atmosphere for the Nagas as this was their night.

*CRASH!*

Unfortunately, fate wasn't planned that way. Several loud crashes reverberated from upstairs, Kraton was about to curse the Gargoyles when Duis appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

His stony wings were cracked and bent at awkward angles and large cracks could be seen covering his dark skin. Duis' eyes were opened wide with fear, his gaze locked with Kraton's and it seemed to shout "Run!".

Shortly after, Duis evaporated in a cloud of white light, leaving the room silent and tense.

A heavy thud started echoing down the staircase, it was like a scene from a horror movie. Each loud step shook the room, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

A large shadow entered their view, a similarly large foot stomped down right after it. The foot was as ugly as it was large, making the stone steps look tiny under it.

Another foot stepped down, everyone traced the two feet upwards, they belonged to a giant figure. Though similar in size as Barren, Barren's beauty could not be compared with the ugly brute in front of them, otherwise, it would be the same as comparing a peacock with a pig.

The lumbering figure stepped through the doorway, his skin was a disgusting pale green, dirt and fungi clung to him and his skin sagged terribly with fat.

The Ogre glared down at the Nagas and the two Bosses as if they were nothing but fleas. Kraton shivered slightly, but he could feel that the Ogre was still inferior to Barren in strength.

A head poked out from behind the Ogre, it was slightly smaller than the Ogre's but looked somewhat familiar to Kraton.

"Those two are the ones who got me killed!" The head shouted, he walked out from behind the Ogre and pointed towards Kraton and Lysine.

"It's you!" Lysine recognised the Giant, he was the Mountain Giant who attempted to kill them before they could get to the Intermediate Gathering. However, in the end, his accomplish - the Orc, was killed before he could backstab the two. The Giant followed his brethren soon after. But not by their hands.

"See! They remember me, so it was them! They prevented me from reaching the Gathering. Brother Ogre, help me kill them! Then let's take over this gem-mine of a dungeon as revenge!" The Giant seemed to have planned it all out, an ugly smirk was plastered to his face.

"You... Two... Die!" The Ogre roared after hearing the Giant's confirmation.

He barreled straight towards Kraton, ignoring the hundred Nagas in the room. The Nagas split away quickly, frightened by the Ogre's brute strength.

"Wait! Kill the Nagas first, otherwise, how am I meant to survive!" The Giant shouted at the Ogre, but his words failed to reach him. The swarm of Nagas turned towards the Giant, although he was a Boss Monster, they were all on the same level as him. Furthermore, they had strength in numbers.

The Giant scurried backwards as he was faced against dozens of Nagas. However, he was soon pressed against the wall and forced to draw his weapon in front of the advancing mass of serpentine warriors.

At the same time, Kraton collided with the Ogre. The two wrestled each other with pure strength, but it was clear that the Ogre had the upper hand. Even with Kraton's Innate Talent, he was still being suppressed.

From the suppression, it seemed that the Ogre was only level 40 or so, as even with the 10-level suppression, Kraton could still hold back to an extent.

With an almighty roar, Kraton activated two of his skills; his head suddenly turned hard as his hair, skin and bones in his head hardened. A surge of power shot through his legs as he stomped against the floor.

Kraton activated Explosive Leap while still grappling with the Ogre. The Ogre was unable to avoid the sudden attack as Karton's head rammed into his own. The force felt as if an anvil had collided with his head.

The Ogre cried out and stumbled backwards, clutching his face. Blood ran through his fingers as he glared at Kraton.

Even with the Harden skill, Kraton wasn't unfazed by the head-on collision. His own head still rung slightly as the Ogre had felt like a brick wall.

With both Bosses dizzy and unable to fight for a second, the only sounds came from the Giant and the Nagas.

The Giant had brandished a large club, he swung it indiscriminately, in wide arcs in order to keep the Nagas at bay. Many Nagas were hit and flung away, but the gaps were quickly filled by others.

As the Giant grew tired, his swings began to slow. the Nagas took this opportunity to attack, the fastest Nagas, and those who carried long blades - managed to score a couple of hits.

The Mountain Giant fearfully casted a skill; the rocks which coated his arms grew like shields and planted into the ground. The rocks were perfect against slim weapons like blades, but it was not indestructible.

The Giant glanced through a crack, his eyes opened wide at what he saw.

"Watch out!" He tried to call to the Ogre, but his voice was drowned by the loud clashes of the blades against his rocky shield.

The Ogre remained dazed, oblivious to the danger. However, his few hairs on his back stood on end, his instincts screamed at him.

He forced himself to the side, despite his sluggish movements and stunned mind, he managed to avoid the deadly strike.

A dagger flew by right next to his head, however, it still left a cut in his tough skin.

The Ogre felt his neck, his fingers were once again coated in his own blood. But this time he was alarmed. His fingers pressed against his neck, yet he could not feel them, a numbness had spread through his neck, paralysing his movements.

The Ogre tried to look around, but his neck remained unresponding. He twisted his whole body and found the owner of the flying dagger.

Lysine was dashing down at the fallen Ogre, another curved dagger was clutched in her hand. The Ogre quickly rose and pulled out a massive stone pillar from... um somewhere. He swung the heavy pillar, albeit stiffly, at Lysine.

Lysine twitched her wings and the stone club appeared to pass right through her. The afterimage faded and Lysine swooped down from the Ogre's left, her dagger stretched out and pointed right towards his vulnerable neck.

"RAARGH!" The Ogre roared out before the dagger could connect, a bloody mist seeped out from his skin, the temperature spiked in his near vincinity.

A colossal explosion burst out of the Ogre's body, energy rippled through the air, forcing Lysine back. She tumbled to the ground and her ring shone with a silvery light. The energy waves rippled off the silver light, protecting her from its effects.

Kraton snapped out from his daze as an identical barrier appeared in from of him, his own ring humming slightly.

The energy ripples didn't stop at the two Bosses, it expanded out, covering the whole room and flinging the Nagas aside.

The Mountain Giant hid behind his rocky shield, the energy waves crushed the outer layer but failed to penetrate through.

With a loud shout, the Giant broke free from his shield, his club swept a massive arc at the collapsed Nagas, immediately sending some of them into the light.

A lone Nagi dashed towards the Giant, she glared at the Giant, her eyes seeming to radiate an invisible energy.

The Giant froze, unable to lift his club to parry her attack. Calea took this chance and lifted her slim sword, plunging it into the Giant's stomach.

He screamed in pain, his large hands instinctively swiped downwards at the Calea, she collapsed under the powerful attack and laid sprawled on the floor, unmoving.

A white light encased her small figure, glowing brightly. Her outline was consumed by the light, but then the light started to fade away.

The Giant ignored the glowing Nagi and pulled the sword out from his body, chucking it to the side. He turned around, his face was pale in complexion but he let out a relieved sigh after discovering that the Ogre seemed to be relatively fine.

"RAAARGH!" The Ogre roared out again, the energy waves raced back towards his body as if he were imploding. The red veil of mist followed suit, but instead of disappearing, the Ogre seemed to absorb it, his pale-green skin turning red, his eyes blood-shot.

"KILL!"