Without thinking, I ran forward and attacked, my katana lashing out toward the creature’s face. It parried my blow easily then took a step back, orienting itself to its new opponents. I used the pause to inspect the warrior.
Sword Master Huang Boa: Elite
Level 60
HP: ?
Abilities: Ghost Step, ?
Great! All we needed now that we were half-dead and ready for a nap was to fight a level 60 named boss. The Ghost Step ability was likely the one we’d already seen used, but the fact that I couldn’t perceive his other skills was upsetting.
A smirk covered the ratkin’s face as he spread his feet, lowering his posture and pulling the greatsword up in a relaxed grip. Then he was moving, the sword in his hands flashing out at me and Madi both so fast the fight almost ended several times in a handful of seconds.
I managed to sidestep the first, then blocked the second, my short sword thankfully drawn by then to support my katana’s block. Madi caught a couple blows on her axes, then activated her Dodge again. I wasn’t sure how she was doing, but my Stamina was already depleted by half.
Another round of exchanges made it clear that I had to do something to buy us some time. I used Blessing of the Bear and felt my bone armor snap into place, the clinking rhythm of its assembly bolstering my confidence. The sword master raised an eyebrow as he appraised me for a moment.
I went on the offensive. Trying to make use of the speed and reach of my two-sword style, I was disappointed to find that the ratkin dodged all of my attacks, not even having to use his skills or sword to do so.
I ran in and used Powered Strike, hoping to swing hard enough to make contact. A look of disdain crossed Huang Boa’s face as he slapped my sword aside with his own and swung his elbow in the middle of my bone breastplate. The bone cracked, fragments scattering outward, and the entire suit of armor fell away, having reached its damage absorption maximum.
My health dropped to half, and I struggled to remain standing. My mind reeled at the implications. The bone armor absorbed eighty percent of incoming damage for a total of one hundred percent of my total HP. The single elbow the ratkin had landed on me would have killed me almost twice over!
The Sword Master stood back, rolling his shoulders. “You are talented fighters, but not strong enough. The mighty Dintheel will sweep across this land if you are its most powerful warriors. Let us finish.”
He grinned and swept aside the flurry of the attacks Madi threw at him, rage apparent on her features. Then he flashed his sword out twice, turning deftly on the ball of his foot as he did so. Madi dodged the first with Dodge, but the second attack sped up even more. He had known she would use the ability. As the deadly blade tore through the air toward Madi’s exposed neck, a bubble of fire expanded from her center, deflecting the blade at the last minute.
Madi shouted, “Everything you’ve got, Hana! Now!” A red glow suffused her form: Rampage. Her attacks sped up and the ratkin Sword Master was forced to use effort to evade the many attacks.
I pressed forward as well, hoping our combined effort might be enough to bring him low. I used Samurai’s Last Stand and Wings of Righteousness at the same time, the increased speed combining with Ranger’s Reflex. The percentage increases compounded, making me feel as if my veins were filled with jet fuel.
Huang Boa leapt back a dozen feet, trying to buy himself time. Madi fell behind as I charged forward, and as his own blade darted out like a snake to meet my own, I played my final card. Edge Dancer gave me ten seconds of attacks at triple speed. Compiled with my current buffs, my body was moving at almost five times my normal speed!
For the first time in the fight, the Sword Master looked almost sluggish in his movements. I attacked with all of my fury, my sword striking the armor over his thigh, then ribs. More cuts chipped away at the ratkin’s breastplate and helm, each penetrating enough to cause sprays of blood to arc through the air. I ended on a Powered Strike and Lunar Flare combination, my katana careening toward his neck.
Huang Boa’s eyes registered surprise, and suddenly his form became distorted, almost as if he were flickering in and out of existence. My sword passed through him and the sword master grinned, all confidence returned. I threw a few more combinations at him, but nothing touched him. Whatever skill he’d just used had effectively wasted the last of my super speed.
Edge Dancer stopped, and I slowed down again. And though Wings of Righteousness still had another minute until it expired, the speed and power of the Sword Master’s next move told me that our window was lost.
To make matters worse, a quick glance at his HP told me that I had only inflicted perhaps twenty percent damage.
Madi’s globe of protection faded and Huang Boa focused on her, most likely wanting to finish Madi first as she was slower than me. She stomped the ground before her, and the earth rippled outward, spraying rock in its wake. Since when could she do that?
Huang Boa hunkered down, resisted the skill, flashed his sword out six times, meeting each of Madi’s Whirlwind attacks. When she finished, he darted forward and shifted his weight at the last minute, moving all of the force of his charge into his shoulder. He smashed into Madi, holding his position like a boulder fallen from the sky, and Madi tumbled away, crashing into a nearby house.
The master sprinted toward me, sword held out to one side. My end was approaching on swift whiskers, and I had no hope of meeting it.
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