Seeing the window of opportunity, Auto pounced. With long claws and sharp teeth, the Puma-Bear latched onto the Thunderbird and rolled onto his back to hold the boss up, vulnerable with its exposed belly facing the rest of the group. Garath’s Raid Group brought the pain. His damage output bolstered by Boiling Blood, Garath sent in the Hellflies. The poor bird screeched and writhed, flapping wildly to escape Auto's grasp as a myriad of magic and melee attacks rained down on it. Unfortunately, the static fields kept coming in regular intervals, even with the Thunderbird grounded.
Because of the time it took to prepare for the change of pace, the Party only had about a half a minute to pummel the bird before Garath, Daisy, and Obawon had to break off with Athios' help to get rid of their debuffs. The rest of the Party continued to pump damage into the helpless bird for another few seconds before they too had to retreat. Auto hated himself for doing it, but he released his grip on the Thunderbird and ran to Athios to be transported away.
The bird didn't wait there on the ground for them to come back and finish it off. With its Health dwindling to under 20% from the barrage, the Thunderbird took flight. It didn't head back to the totem pole though, Garath saw with chagrin. He'd been hoping they would be able to finish the fight with another round of the same tactic once their Static Charges had fallen off. Instead, the Thunderbird flew even higher, nearly scraping the gallery's ceiling as it once again sparked and popped with electric energy. From there, the bird boss rained hell from above.
*Can you get it down again?* Garath asked Athios while channeling Mana into a Felfire Bolt.
*I can try,* Athios replied, a silver disk appearing over each of her hands.
Athios sent the disk from her left hand directly into the Thunderbird's path but it veered right. Her second disk appeared a second later, once again just in front of where the bird was flying near the ceiling but it banked again. Only Jebawon, Garath, Daisy, and Handsome were able to continue doing damage to the boss as it soared overhead, all the while sending lightning streaking down at the Party.
Again, Athios readied her two disks and sent them after the Thunderbird one right after the other. This time the bird dodged the first dimensional disk and ran head-first into the second, disappearing for a moment before emerging from another disk a few feet off the ground, right in front of an eagerly awaiting Puma-Bear.
*Nice one!* Garath shouted to Athios.
As one, the Raid Group converged. The Thunderbird was on its last leg, at around 10% of its total Health remaining. Garath, Daisy, Athios, and Obawon had already picked up another three stacks while the Thunderbird was flying around, but Garath knew this was their chance.
*Forget the stacks!* he shouted. *Just give it everything you've got.*
Everyone obliged. The final 10% of the Thunderbird's Health drained away in seconds with the combined attack. When the bird finally stopped struggling in Auto's grasp, Sharon fell to her knees, light-headed and dizzy from Mana depletion. Maimon soon joined her on the ground, sweating profusely. Heavy breathing was the only sound in the gallery as everyone looked at one another. Victory was theirs.
Having recovered first, Daisy poked the enormous teal orb hovering over the Thunderbird’s motionless carcass. Garath’s eyes went wide when he saw how many Mana Crystals he was rewarded.
You have received 36 Mana Crystals.
Mana Crystals will be stored in your Items panel until spent, traded, or until your death.
Begin combat log:
[You have been awarded 26,550 Experience Points for slaying Level 30 Thunderbird - Spirit Guardian of Si-am’ Whimstick]
End combat log.
One by one, each member of the Raid Group approached the gold-plated chest to receive their reward. Just like Garath’s reward, it appeared that everyone received a new weapon from the chest. Garath stopped them from equipping their new weapons just in time, as he had an idea to take advantage of the dynamic difficulty this Dungeon employed.
Garath took the time to review a handful of prompts that had been minimized. It may be small comfort to the Necrologist, but he was happy for any comfort he could get at that moment.
Congratulations, Garath! Your Onikasha has reached Level 2.
***See the Summoned Creatures partition of your MENU panels for additional information
Congratulations, Garath! Your Onikasha has reached Level 3.
***See the Summoned Creatures partition of your MENU panels for additional information
Congratulations, Garath! Your Onikasha has reached Level 4.
***See the Summoned Creatures partition of your MENU panels for additional information
Congratulations, Garath! Your Onikasha has reached Level 5.
***See the Summoned Creatures partition of your MENU panels for additional information
Garath dismissed the prompts, happy to see his little baby demon was making some progress. After everyone had a chance to get their loot, a tunnel appeared, uncomfortably below where the beast’s tail might once have been. Gross. With Auto in the lead and Obawon taking the rear, Garath’s Raid Group entered next stage of The Tower.
Chapter Twenty-Nine – Anime Beach Episode!
There wasn't a sun in the sky when they finally made it above ground, but it was as bright as high noon in San Diego, causing Garath to squint and shade his eyes with one hand. They came out of the tunnel onto a sandy beach, only a few feet away from a large body of water. Behind them was a great mountain, littered with sad looking trees that didn't stand up straight. The only leaves still clinging to their branches were brown and withered. Even from the base of the mountain, Garath could see a river winding its way down to eventually dump its contents into the vast blue ocean not far from where the Party stood.
It felt out
