Chapter 53. An unexpected visitor

[This...](Burt)

[I got a new skill, and I can strengthen it twice if needed, allowing me to deal huge damage. But it's a one-time thing with a five-minute cooldown. Bosses have vast amounts of Life points. It's risky...](Aybdah)

[I can upgrade my Archery passive. 10% increased damage.](Christine)

[Damn, it! I can't do much myself. I'm already suffering from the backlash. I only have 50% left of my Resource Pool, but it should be enough to use an Empowering Totem.](Burt)

"Hmm!? What are its effects?"

[10% increased damage and attack speed.](Burt)

Michael was more confident in taking down the Boss after hearing everyone's increase in levels, new skills, and damage buffs.

There was one more thing left to do that should ensure their winning chances.

"I'm at 2102/3445 regarding experience for my current level. If I can level up again, I'll be able to use a skill that would trap the Boss for 3 to 6 seconds. At that time, we could use Christine's skill..."

[Charged Shot.](Christine)

"...uhm, yeah, Christine's Charged Shot to deal massive damage and distract the Boss, while Aybdah uses his right after."

[I need to be in Stealth in order to use mine, so it will have to be the three of you fighting.](Aybdah)

"No, it will be just me, most likely, while you all stay hidden. Burt, how long does your buff last?"

[10 seconds from the point where the totem hits the ground.](Burt)

"Aybdah? How long does it take to use your skill?"

[It's instant. I just need the opportunity to get behind the Boss. The skill is called Ambush, so I need to attack from Stealth and target the enemy's back.](Aybdah)

"Good! I'll create an opportunity for you. Christine, how long does it take for you to fully charge your skill? To 100%."

[Three minutes.](Christine)

"Good! Start doing it."

[Already am.](Christine)

Seeing the glow on the bow, Michael couldn't help but lament over how easy it was to work with intelligent people.

Not hesitating any longer, the group got to their feet and walked forward, waving at the Monk.

[Don't worry about me. Go ahead and get rid of these scourges.](Bozan)

Nodding, Michael led the party as the Skeleton Warriors charged ahead.

Unsurprisingly, the Boss was sitting close to the entrance of the narrow passage, seemingly scared of the rescue party. And for a good reason. Most of the guards were over Level 50, according to Helen.

Getting rid of these weaklings should be a piece of cake for them.

"The Boss is right ahead. I'll use my minions to distract him and slaughter some normal Ghouls in the meantime to level up first. There are still more than fifty around the Boss, so it should be enough. Aybdah, you can enter Stealth and maneuver around the Boss. Christine and Burt stay hidden. I'll yell when it's time to take action."

[Be careful, man! I'm going.](Aybdah)

[Don't take crazy risks. In the worst case, we retreat and have the guards get rid of it.](Burt)

"Mhm. I know."

[...](Christine)

Seeing Aybdah disappear into the shadows, Burt focusing on the ground at his feet, and Christine staying silent as she charged her arrow, Michael took a deep breath and rushed forward.

The Skeleton Warriors did the same, and Michael used Raise Skeletons immediately to buff their attack speed and damage. Fortunately, the Boss was surprised by the ambush and decided to vent his fear and insecurities on the bony ants surrounding it.

Just as it pummeled Goon no.3, Michael threw a ball of Blight at the Boss, increasing the damage it takes from his minions and effectively slowing it down as well.

"Good! Now, I'll keep spamming Raise Skeletons to keep the Boss busy while I... I'll show these weaklings why art is an explosion!"

Burt and Christine, focusing on Michael in case he needed to be saved, were stunned speechless when they saw the Boss kill each minion of his with a single hit.

To their utmost horror, the show had just started, as for each Skeleton the Boss turned into stardust, Michael would call another and have it rush crazily back into the fray.

Not only that, but darkish-green explosions would continuously occupy their field of vision, creating mayhem in the ranks of the minion Ghouls.

"Good, good! Almost there!"

Looking at his ever-increasing experience bar, Michael grinned from ear to ear while continuously reviving Skeletons, throwing Blight balls, using Corpse Explosion, and, when his Essence was insufficient, spamming Bone Splinters to recover it.

Unfortunately, the Boss wasn't mentally challenged, as he quickly realized the source of his problems was the Necromancer who kept reviving the pesky, bonny things bothering it.

With another mighty shriek, it pounced on Michael, who had to evade by rolling to the sides. Not only that but after throwing another Blight ball at its face, he had to continuously move around so that the Boss wouldn't flatten him, just like he kept doing with his poor minions.

"Me and my damned crow mouth. Raising flags left and right! I'm almost there! Get ready, everyone!"

To make matters worse, he could see traces of Aybdah repositioning himself behind the Boss, so he needed to keep distracting the dangerous giant.

Fortunately, with another ten or so Corpse Explosions, Michael cleared out enough Ghouls to finally level up.

Without waiting any longer, he instantly put a Skill Point into Bone Prison and attached it to his final Skill Slot available.

"Bone Prison!"

Yelling for no particular reason, Michael directly activated the skill on the Boss and watched in awe as titanic bones sprouted from the ground and locked it in place.

He quickly threw a Blight at the Boss and yelled with all his remaining strength.

"Totem!"

[EMPOWER!](Burt)

As Burt was ready, as soon as he heard the word 'totem,' he instantly cast it without even thinking further.

Immediately after, Michael could feel a strange current pass through his tired flesh, slightly invigorating him.

When it came to Christine and Aybdah, they didn't wait for Michael's instructions. They simply acted.

*TWANG*

A sound that couldn't be described as an arrow leaving a bow but rather a cannonball leaving a giant naval warship back on Earth echoed within the noisy valley, easily overpowering all other sounds.

The Boss wasn't a slowpoke, as it raised its right hand and punched toward the arrow. But for a Level 10 Boss to stop a Charged Shot from a Level 12 Archer after it had its damage increased many times over...

"A pitiful mantis trying to stop an incoming chariot."

To the Boss's horror, the arrow easily burrowed through its fist and found his chest as its next target.

Before it could complain about the situation, Aybdah appeared behind its back, probably at least four meters in the air, waving two burning-red daggers at its back.

The daggers connected with its flesh, drawing two bone-deep wounds from which blood started flowing like a river.

"Aybdah, Christine, Burt! Retreat to the cave! Fast!"

Seeing the Boss's red eyes, Michael grimaced and retreated himself. As expected, even if both attacks happened in less than two seconds after the Bone Prison caught the Boss, it managed to break free from its constraints in the following moment.

Just as all four party members managed to make it inside the narrow passage, the Boss also arrived and bashed itself against the opening, trying to brute force his way in.

"Shit! It looks more berserk than Burt a while ago."

[He can't enter. Range attacks.](Christine)

Another twang followed as an arrow found its way inside the Boss's open mouth, enraging it further.

Michael swallowed hard and threw another ball of Blight, followed by continuous Bone Splinters and Corpse Explosions.

The minions left behind didn't shy from the fight either, attacking the Boss's legs with all their might.

"Keep attacking it! We almost killed it! It has less than 10% of his Life Points left."

Looking through the system's identification skill, he saw the red bar representing the Boss's HP drop to almost zero.

Unfortunately, the monster realized the same problem and quickly exited its berserk state and started running away from the battlefield.

Stumped and surprised by the sudden action and the intelligence it showed, the party was at a loss for what to do next.

"Hehe! Where do you think you're going!? Bone Prison!"

Another wave of huge bones immobilized the running creature as another wave of continuous attacks pelted it immediately after.

It struggled with all its might but took around four seconds to escape from its cage. Unfortunately for it, by the point where it regained its freedom, the red Life Points bar above its head was empty.

Michael watched as more than 50% of his current experience bar was topped up instantly after the death of the gigantic Ghoul.

"That's it! I'm spent. Can't move a goddam finger anymore. I'll have the Skeletons guard the entrance until the rescue party deals with the remaining rabble."

[I'll help you out back to the cave.](Burt)

Seeing Burt raising him up to his feet and dragging him forward, Michael couldn't help but laugh loudly.

Even Christine had a wide smile on her face. This sort of achievement wasn't common at all. Not given their party's initial levels.

[I'll stay behind and make contact with the rescue party when they approach.](Christine)

Seeing as the woman was still shooting arrows at the stragglers close to the passage entrance, Michael shook his head.

[Miss Christine, can you cover me? I'll try to get the items the Boss dropped. It's not like I don't trust the guards, but it's better not to tempt others for no reason.](Aybdah)

Hearing the Assasin and realizing that there would be drops for certain since they killed a Boss-level creature, Michael grinned widely and allowed Burt to carry him forward.

The Necromancer passed out as soon as the Shaman Warrior 'planted' him by the wall next to Monk Bozan.

[Eh!? Michael?](Burt)

[Don't worry, child! He's just exhausted. Listen carefully.](Bozan)

Curious, Burt moved closer to Michael and heard him snore. Caught between laughter and tears, Burt also plopped beside the Necromancer, breathing heavily.

About three minutes later, Aybdah and Christine returned with a delighted look on their faces.

[Did good stuff drop!?](Burt)

[Hehe! It's amazing! Huh? Is Michael okay?](Aybdah)

[Tired?](Christine)

[Yup. Snoring like a pig.](Burt)

[After the stunt he pulled, I'm not even remotely surprised. He massacred hundreds of Ghouls by himself.](Aybdah)

[Explosion skill. Handy.](Christine)

[Handy doesn't even cover it! I'm close to falling asleep myself after using Ambush. Yet he used Heaven knows how many skills in quick succession. I'm amazed that he didn't pass out earlier.](Aybdah)

[Mhm. I also have bad news...](Burt)

[Backlash?](Christine)

[Yes. I don't think I'll be able to move anytime soon.](Burt)

[Are you okay? Christine told us you'll suffer internal injuries and increased pain sensitivity after using the potion.](Aybdah)

[I'll live.](Burt)

Michael's eyes opened wide as the trio talked, and he jumped up to his feet.

The remaining four were shocked, but he didn't give them time to react.

"Get up to your feet! Something or someone killed my Skeletons!"

With surprised and scared faces, the remaining three got up and readied their weapons.

As tired as they were, they didn't hesitate to take out the Stamina Potion, ensuring they would at least go down fighting.

Not even thirty seconds later, a fully equipped guard entered the cave, holding a saber in each hand. His armor was covered in blood, looking around the cave curiously.

Michael didn't hesitate to summon his minions again, even if he almost fell to his knees after doing so. Even if no essence was used, his mind still had to pay a corresponding price for every skill cast.

[Not bad! With this sort of awareness, you'll live longer.](?)

Michael instantly relaxed when he heard the voice, breathing in relief and sitting back on the floor.

"I say... is there any reason to kill my Skeletons as you came here, Helen?"

[Eh!? Is it Captain Helen?](Christine)

Michael looked strangely at Christine, as it was the first time she showed this much emotion, then glanced back at the beauty taking off her helmet.

[I couldn't help it. They randomly attacked me when I got closer, so I realized you might be unconscious. Also, just so we're clear, I didn't kill them. They killed themselves by attacking me.](Helen)

"What kind of bullshit is that? Does your armor have ridiculous points added into Thorns?"

[Yup.](Helen)

"Damn! Nice!"

Seeing Michael give her a thumbs up while talking freely, the remaining four people in the cave were surprised.

The trio wasn't immensely surprised, as they heard rumors back in the city about these two being a couple. Aunty Raskya loved to gossip.

But the Monk's mouth was opened wide, showing his inner thoughts.

[A fine mess you got yourselves into... AGAIN! I thought it was a simple search Quest. How did you end up fighting an entire legion of Ghouls? There was even a Boss. Eh!? Are these Ice Clan goatmen?](Helen)

Seeing the surprised look on the captain's face, the trio smiled proudly. After all, they survived quite the tribulation.

"Will explain later. Monk Bozan is hurt pretty badly, and we can't heal him properly. As for the four of us, we're just dead tired. Except for Burt over there, we're pretty much injury-free."

[Then we're lucky that I dragged Mina with me. I'll go get her. Stay put.](Helen)

Seeing her leave just as abruptly as she arrived, Michael shook his head and smiled broadly.

As she was on vacation, he wasn't doubting the fact that she decided to join the rescue party just to make sure he was safe.

Sighing, he turned and looked at the remaining people in the cave, looking at him curiously.