Chapter XXVIII - Rabidfang
Before Marcus could even think about what had happened, Artox had already pointed out the next target and Mawu pulled it.
The remaining encounters with the group of Dire Bats had played out in a similar fashion, Artox using [Envoke], Marcus and Mawu using [Rush] and [Rummage] and Lisa using [Wind Bolt] for offense and [Whispering Winds] to maintain their tank's HP.
Finishing off the remaining 5 bats using [Overhead Slash] Marcus was able to level up both [Rush] and [Overhead Slash] to level 3 and 1 respectively.
"Hold up real quick" Marcus said after they had finished off the remaining group of bats.
"Status" Marcus said…
Name: Nobody
Faction: Order of Balance
Guild: <None>
Title: <None>
Class: Squire
Level: 20
EXP: 1835/4440
Sub-Class: <None>
HP: 380+152
STA: 240+96
MP: 230+92
STR: 20+8
AGI: 20+8
DEX: 16+6
END: 19+7
VIT: 19+7
FCS: 18+7
INT: 18+7
LCK: 6+2
Piety: 0
Fame: 30
Infamy: 0
Skills: Rush Lv 3 {2%}, Overhead Slash Lv 1 {0%}
Profession: Basic Butchery Lv 9 {57%}, Basic First Aid Lv 1 {0%}, Basic Herbalism Lv 1 Lv 1 {0%}, Basic Fishing Lv 1 {0%}, Basic Mining Lv 1 {0%}, Basic Woodcutting Lv 1 {0%}
Spells: <None>
Abilities: Boost Lv4 {0%}
Pet: <None>
Mount: <None>
Companion: <None>
Partner: <None>
There it was plain as day Overhead Slash Lv 1 under his active skills…. "What the f…." Marcus said out loud confusing his party members even more as they couldn't believe he stopped them so he could look at his status window.
"What's the matter?" Artox asked.
"Something weird… I'll explain later, let's continue. Make sure everyone is keeping their skills on cooldown." Marcus said dismissing the party's questions. They had continued through another 4 groups of 6 Dire Bats and maintained the same method as each was rapidly increasing the experience of their skills.
By the time they had reached the first Demi-Boss, the entire party had hit level 22. Marcus had made a decent dent towards increasing Rush to level 4 and Overhead Slash was almost level 3.
Marcus was still trying to figure out how he unlocked the skill but could not wrap his head around it. As they approached the boss lair, a massive oversized rat coming into view.
<Rabidfang>
Level 25
4,500/4,500 HP
The hulking rat was pacing back and forth, it's beady red eyes glaring down the fearless adventurers foolish enough to enter his domain. It snarled it's fangs at the party as a murky brown ooze dripped down to the concrete floor sizzling before evaporating.
"As you guys can see Rabidfang has a nasty DoT (Damage over Time) effect that accompanies it's bite attacks. Mawu and I will attack from the rear, Artox you're up front and center. Lisa you should stand on it's side further away but stay in range so you can keep Artox under your HoT (Healing over Time) effect.
It will occasionally do an AoE attack by spinning and hitting everyone with it's tail, make sure you avoid that Lisa. It has a pretty obvious tell that it's going to use it as it charges up, we should try to avoid it if we can Mawu. Art you will need to block this." Marcus explained all the mechanics of the boss.
Everyone nodded understanding the battle plan. As they all entered Rabidfang's Lair. Mawu standing next to Artox drew his bow as he unleashed his skill [Double Shot] as the two arrows pierced the monster's decrepit skin as it yowled and began charging.
As it got closer Artox yelled loudly drawing it's attention with [Envoke] as the three party members circled around the giant rat to their positions.
Lisa immediately casted [Whispering Winds] onto Artox as Mawu was stabbing Rabidfang with his spear before he quickly punched it using his skill [Rummage] as Marcus chained [Rush] into [Overhead Slash] dealing significant damage. Lisa followed up with a [Wind Bolt] taking out roughly 20% of it's HP.
Artox was blocking every attack he could as claws and fangs were doing minimal damage but the poison was slowly racking up more damage than the healing was coming in. He had stayed in his [Deflecting Stance] since the first monster they fought but it was hardly enough to keep himself from being mauled to death by the oversized rat.
As Artox countered back after deflecting the attacks, Rabidfang slammed it's foot into the ground and screeched loudly as Marcus yelled "get back!" Marcus and Mawu retreated as Artox used the third and final skill in his repertoire [Enhanced Block] to fully negate the damage as he lifted his shield.
Rabidfang quickly spun in place as it's tail flailed around knocking Artox back. If it wouldn't have been for his increased damage output from the runes, he certainly would have lost aggro to the two main DPS in the party but his attacks were hitting much harder than the others.
Marcus and Mawu charged back in as Lisa released another heal towards Artox. As she was chanting another [Wind Bolt] another volley of skills was fired off knocking out another chunk of Rabidfang's HP.
The giant rat was relentless in it's assault as the chip damage was racking up against the tank. The party was in a race as Artox and the massive beast were both under 50% of their max HP.
Rabidfang stomped it's foot down once more and as everyone had experienced this once before, two people retreated as the remaining activated his skill once more and the last began casting another spell.
As the rat spun once more missing any of it's targets, everyone once again sprung upon the rat rolling out another volley of skills dropping Rabidfang down below 10% triggering it's enraged status.
"It's going to be stronger, take it out before Artox falls or we could all be dead!" Marcus yelled.
Unfortunately everyone's skills and spells were on cooldown so this task was easier said than done. Lisa once again refreshed Artox's [Whispering Winds] buff and charged in to help with the damage output.
Artox deflected another attack from Rabidfang's jaws as it bounced off his shield and he countered with a massive swing of his sword cutting open the rat's throat as the light in it's eyes dimmed and it collapsed dead.
Rabidfang slain!