The Beast of the Woods

I left the item shop after restocking and looked at Yuki. She stuck closer to me an normal and I smiled then rubbed her head. She blushed and looked up at me, smiling.

[Commencing Heart to Heart Sequence]

[Yuki's Bond Percentage: 44%]

[Yuki's Mood (Friendly): Very Happy]

[Yuki's Affinity Rank: Amicable]

"You seem to be very happy today. What's the occasion?" I crossed my arms.

"Yoshimune is dead meaning we will have a safer time clearing Aclia! No more field effects to get in the way and no more random monster encounters where monsters shouldn't be. I'm excited to finally truly explore the universe with you!" Yuki smiled happily.

I chuckled and looked off into the distance. "Yeah we will have a better time exploring won't we. I'd love to explore more with you as well Yuki and I promise to get you where you need to be." I said, looking back at her and gently pat her head.

[Yuki's Bond Percentage rose to 49%]

[Affinity Rank Level UP!]

[Yuki's Affinity Rank: Best Friend]

Yuki giggled softly and her tail wagged happily. "I promise to do the best I can from here on out Master!"

I nodded and held her shoulders. "Let's both do our best."

She nodded and looked determined. Her shy demeanor had completely disappeared when she was around me now. It was a good feeling to have her be comfortable now.

[Heart to Heart: Successful]

I noticed Ophelia and the others walking up to us.

"Alright, we got some better spheres and I got us more items just in case. The Grand Order may strike at any moment. I also got this Goddess Totem that allows us to survive with 1 HP for 10 seconds. I mean it's pretty pointless, but it sounded cool. It's an equipable accessory but it has a 30 second cool down." Kamie smiled.

"I don't think we will be needing that, but you can keep it just in case something goes wrong." I smiled then brought up the heads up display of my stats.

Name: Shin

Class: Harem Summoner

Title: Virtuous Summoner

Element: None

Weakness: None

Resist: None

Type: Breaker

Rarity: Eight Star Unit

Level: 15

EXP: 0/100%

HP: 8,014/8,014

MP: 783/783

Burst Gauge: 0%

OD Gauge: 0%

ATK: 525 + 755

DEF: 515 + 122

MATK: 232 + 755

MDEF: 263 + 122

AGI: 232

LUK: 232

Skills: Waking of Willpower, Truthseeking Raid, Justice Boost, Healing Hope, Guidance of Light, Full Death Striker

Burst Skill: Virtue Assault [Neutral Element]

Burst Skill EX: Divine Culmination

Final Burst Skill: Worldly Iridescence

Overdrive Art: Legendary Virtue

Leader Skill: Final Oath [Boosts all parameters by 200% for all allies, Boosts own stats by 170%, Restores 10% HP per second for 15s, Always survive with 1 HP for 10s, 20% damage reduction from all types.]

Extra Skill 1: True Hero [Boosts all parameters by 15%, 30% chance to inflict elemental vulnerability to enemies. When changing elements, increase Elemental Damage by 30%]

Extra Skill 2: Transcendent Soul [Boosts parameters by 20% and consistent fills OD Gauge by 1% per second]

Extra Skill 3: Virtuous Spirit [When Overdrive Art is executed, OD Gauge fills to 100%, adds all Elements to user, allows the user to enter Virtuous Form until OD Gauge reaches 0% or when battle is over.]

Equipment:

Weapon: Oath of All (MAX)

Shield: Divinity Shield + 122

Accessory: Ring of the Divine [Boosts all parameters by 120% if any Goddess, Cuara, Una, or Bravulla is in the party. Constantly restores HP and MP by 15% per second for 5s. When Final Burst Skill is activated, user gains the Divine Guardian boost to self.]

"Look at those stats. That's one shot galore there...And you aren't even max level! Just imagine being at max level!" Kamie said in shock.

"Well for early game this isn't anything, stats will soon matter 100% late game when we have to fight the later bosses and the Developers as well as obtain the AI from the dungeons." I said and smiled.

"What's the highest level an Eight Star can go to?" Kamie asked.

"For Avatars it is 550. For Units it is 150." I answered. "To answer the remaining questions here's the chart for stars and their max level."

One Star: Level 1-10

Two Star: Level 1-20

Three Star: Level 1-30

Four Star: Level 1-60

Five Star: Level 1-80

Six Star: Level 1-100

Seven Star: Level 1-120

Eight Star: Level 1-150

"The higher your rarity, the more EXP you need to level up. All stars can be Star Boosted but only Platinum Star Units can be boosted up to Ultima Star Boost." I explained.

"How can I rank up my rarity?" Kamie asked.

"Your weapon is your rarity. You can increase your rarity with the correct materials from dungeons and Grand Missions as well as completing Raids. You can also get material from winning competitions." I explained.

"Wow. Fiona, let's get that strong so we can be like Shin!" Kamie said excitedly.

"Mmm!" Fiona nodded and smiled determinedly.

"Are you all ready to head back into the dungeon?" I asked.

They all nodded then I warped us all abck to the dungeon. I stopped everyone for a second and they looked at me. I activate the sixth Weapon Skill of my sword.

Weapon Skill 6: Surpass Death

Description: Negates all Elemental Damage for all allies for 10 minutes, all allies always survive with 1 HP for 10 seconds.

"Now the Field Effect doesn't affect us. Unfortunately fire elemental attacks are still weakened, but Earth Elemental attacks will hit us as if it were neutral damage." I said.

"This is insanely overpowered for these early dungeons it's baffling." Kamie said in awe then looked at me.

"Well it is like I'm going back to flex on the early missions, but we have to be careful. Knowing Grand Order, anything can happen. I'm certain that their members will now be on the battlefield with powerful equipment and skills." I said then walked ahead. "We will no longer be fighting only monsters. We will be fighting actual units as well."

"With Master here, we shouldn't have much to worry about." Shelly nodded and smiled.

We hurried down a path and looked around. We stopped seeing a wave of archers ahead of us. I scanned them.

Name: Sniper Ray

Level: 23

HP: 1,602/1,602

The snipers were accompanied by a woman. She was a harpy with long dark green hair and wings for arms. Her talons were extra sharp. I took the time to scan her as well.

Name: Wind Queen Avian

Rarity: Four Stars

Element: Earth

Weakness: Fire

Resist: Thunder

Type: Speed

Level: 28

HP: 2,123/2,123

MP: 200/200

ATK: 87

DEF: 73

MATK: 79

MDEF: 69

AGI: 200

LUK: 68

"A new type...There's always only been Breaker, Magic, Tank, and Support. There's also a Speed Type now meaning she's faster than all of you. Leave her to me." I said.

Kamie and the others nodded and prepared themselves for battle. I rushed into battle and Avian flew towards to me. She screeched and flapped her wings summoning a tornado at me. I changed my element to Fire and my Burst Skill changed.

Burst Skill: Volcanic Hellfire

I sliced the tornado in half and Avian looked surprised then I yelled, slashing in a circle. I hit her and sliced her in half and she dispersed into magic particles. I slashed in a circle once again and my first Weapon Skill activated.

Weapon Skill 1: Pure Willpower

Description: When HP is full, all attacks produce a cutting wave. When HP is less than 50%, ATK is boosted by 60%.

Once I completed the slash, a cutting wave was sent to the final wave of archers, hitting them and causing them to disperse into magic particles.

[Party Earned 1500 EXP!]

[Eclipse Yuki Level UP!]

Name: Eclipse Yuki

Rarity: Three Stars

Element: Dark

Weakness: Light

Resist: Dark

Type: Magic

Level: 16 -> 17

EXP: 9/100%

HP: 1,790/1,790 -> 1,834/1,834

MP: 402/402 -> 493/493

Burst Gauge: 0%

ATK: 38 -> 42

DEF: 57 -> 63

MATK: 127 -> 135

MDEF: 104 -> 114

AGI: 49 -> 53

LUK: 91 -> 100

[Skills Level UP!]

[Dark Beam EX +1, Gravity Shot +1, Dark Rescue +1]

[Spring Elf Ophelia Level UP!]

Name: Spring Elf Ophelia

Rarity: Eight Stars

Element: Earth

Weakness: Fire

Resist: Thunder

Type: Support

Level: 15 -> 16

EXP: 0/100%

HP: 4,322/4,322 -> 4,402/4,402

MP: 1,002/1,002 -> 1,094/1,094

Burst Gauge: 0%

ATK: 91 -> 91

DEF: 111 -> 119

MATK: 268 -> 278

MDEF: 191 -> 201

AGI: 184 -> 194

LUK: 204 -> 210

[Flame Guardian Shelly Level UP!]

Name: Flame Guardian Shelly

Rarity: Five Stars

Element: Fire

Weakness: Water

Resist: Earth

Type: Tank

Level: 18 -> 19

EXP: 0/100%

HP: 2,366/2,366 -> 2,412/2,412

MP: 241/241 -> 253/253

Burst Gauge: 0%

ATK: 64 -> 72

DEF: 139 -> 145

MATK: 58 -> 58

MDEF: 139 -> 145

AGI: 61 -> 68

LUK: 63 -> 71

"Alright, we are getting closer to the boss. Is everyone prepared?" I asked.

"I am." Yuki nodded.

"I'm ready to do some spring cleaning!~" Ophelia smiled.

"I'm ready when you are, Master." Shelly nodded.

"I'm ready." Kamie nodded.

"Let's clear this dungeon." Fiona nodded.

We walked down the path and entered the final area. I noticed Grant standing next to a large humanoid plant monster. Grant looked back at us.

"You've made it. This monster...is the boss of the Wise Woods. Say hello to Altas the Wise. Have fun battling him." Grant warped away.

I looked at the monster and scanned him, noticing he had three health bars.

Name: Altas the Wise

Level: 30

HP: 17,500/17,500

[WARNING! WARNING! Boss Unit Detected!]

Altas roared and dashed towards us. Shelly rushed in front of me and used her Burning Guard. Altas hit the shield and Shelly parried her attack then lodged her lance into his body then rose the lance up then slammed him on the ground.

Altas roared in pain then knocked Shelly away with his vines. Shelly slid backwards then summoned her lance back into her hand.

"Yuki! Let's go!" Fiona dashed forward.

"Right!" Yuki ran forward as well.

Fiona and Yuki began to strike Altas swiftly in all directions. Altas tried to knock them away, but they were moving at a rapid pace. Yuki used Gravity Shot and hit him, making him unable to move for 10 seconds. They appeared in front of him.

"Ready?" Fiona asked.

"Ready." Yuki nodded.

"Dual Burst Skill: Death of Willpower!" They both yelled and a large skull appeared in front of Altas. The skull laughed evilly then red eyes shined on its eye sockets then it opened its mouth, releasing a beam of dark fire.

Altas roared and stumbled back. After the attack finished, he fell to one knee and his weak spot was exposed.

Ophelia twirled her bow and smirked. Her eyes shined a deep red. "Taste the petals of death." She spun around twice as she twirled her bow in a circle and bellowed as she shot a powerful arrow at Altas's weak spot.

"Was that her critical quote?" Kamie asked in awe.

"Yep." I nodded and smiled.

Altas roared as his first health bar shattered. Altas stood up and roared then green particles began to appear around the area. Altas absorbed the particles then his entire body shined green. I scanned him.

Name: Altas the Wise

Level: 30

HP: 11,667/17,500 + 3000

"He has dermal armor now. He's gonna be taking even less damage and he has super armor, meaning his attacks can't be interrupted until the armor is gone. The only attacks that can stop him are Shelly's Burning Guard and Blazing Thrust.." I said.

"My Cindering Impalement can stop him as well. I'll take lead again." Shelly said then rushed ahead.

Altas roared and went for an attack, but Shelly blocked it.

"Cindering Impalement!" Shelly bellowed and lodged her lance into Altas's stomach. She yelled as she charged forward, pushing Altas backwards.

He roared in pain as he was continuously losing is Barrier Points. Shelly slashed upwards and dealt massive damage to Altas, shattering his dermal armor. Altas roared then grappled Shelly with his vines then threw Shelly against a tree. Shelly groaned a bit, but she was ultimately fine as she didn't take much damage from the attack.

Kamie decided to rush forward and changed her element to Fire then activated her Soul Gauge boosting her stats by 100%. She yelled and her eyes shined. "Burst Skill EX: Spiritual Ruin!"

She slashed at Altas in all directions and Altas tried to get Kamie away from him, but she moved too fast for him then she slashed in a circle, horizontally and vertically then landed on the ground, blowing Altas away. He groaned and slid backwards then panted. He shrunk to our size and the plants disappeared off his body. I scanned him once again.

Name: Wise Botanist Altas

Rarity: Five Stars

Element: Earth

Weakness: Fire

Resist: Lightning

Type: Mixed (Breaker + Speed)

Level: 30

HP: 5,834/5,834

MP: 253/253

ATK: 215

DEF: 93

MATK: 92

MDEF: 92

AGI: 202

LUK: 130

"This is my domain. As if I would let you all defeat me so easily..." Altas said then summoned his axe.

He dashed forward at high speeds. He struck Shelly before she would even unleash her Burning Guard. She grunted lightly and slid back, as he was now stronger than her. Fiona tried to go for an attack on Altas, but he dodged it and made vines grow underneath her and wrap around her legs.

Yuki used Dark Beam EX to try and hit Altas. He summon a plant shield to parry the attack back to her. Yuki looked surprised and squeaked loudly as she was hit. Altas dashed towards me.

I looked at him and my eyes shined. "Bad move." I said then slashed twice, sending cutting waves at him.

He dodged them and side stepped twice then hit me with a six hit combo, knowing it wasn't going to do a lot of damage to me, but it was enough to deactivate my first Weapon Skill for a bit. I slashed in a circle, and he attempted to block it, but his guard broke nearly immediately.

"Burst Skill: Volcanic Hellfire!" I bellowed and slashed downward, sending a massive red beam of fire at Altas.

Altas grunted and looked surprised then was hit with the beam and yelled then his body shattered into magic particles. The beam disappeared and the field effect disappeared from the area. The sun was able to shine through the forest once more and the trees went back to normal size.

[Boss Unit Defeated!]

[Congratulations! Wise Woods Cleared!]

[Party Earned 2000 EXP!]

[Battle Spoils]

[2,450 Gold, Wise Sticks(s) x1, Earth Stone(s) x2, Druid Leaf(s) x1]

[Area Clear Rewards]

[Summoning Stone(s) x1]

"Yes! Finally! We are done with this area!" Kamie sighed happily and dropped to her knees.

"That's the Wise Woods down. Three more areas to go before we clear Aclia!" Yuki said happily.

"Everyone, you all did a wonderful job and I'm proud of you all. We have come far and even though we aren't close to being done, I know we will keep pushing as a team." I smiled.

Yuki's tail wagged and she giggled. Ophelia smiled and nodded. Shelly made a sound of approval. Kamie looked at me and smiled. Fiona blushed and looked away.

[Yuki's Bond Percentage rose to 52%]

[Ophelia's Bond Percentage rose to 27%]

[Ophelia's Affinity Rank Level UP!]

[Ophelia's Affinity Rank: Amicable]

[Shelly's Affinity Rank rose to 17%]

[Kamie's Bond Percentage rose to 57%]

[Fiona's Bond Percentage rose to 10%]

"Hey, thank you for helping us..~ I think I'm gonna train with Fiona solo for a bit. Until we meet again~" Kamie smiled and kissed my cheek.

I nodded and smiled. "Until we meet again."

[Kamie and Fiona left the Party]

"Well it's just us now again. Let's push forward. Onto the Marshland." I said and the others nodded then followed me.