Vol. 4: Chapter 13
Orion had the [Carrion Ant] hit the boss with a [Corrosion] attack.
Just as he feared, the skill’s armor reduction effect was also nerfed by 800. The two debuffs combined reduced the Rat King's armor by only 6,400, leaving it with an effective armor value of 8,600.
A full round of auto-attacks from Norlun and the four ants dealt a little over 20,000 damage. Against a boss with 90 million HP, that meant the fight would take seventy to eighty minutes on paper.
But boss fights are never simple math problems. They don't just stand there and take it.
As Orion directed the assault, Jerry’s tail suddenly whipped forward in a massive arc.
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Huge chunks of health vanished from Norlun and the four ants. As crimson droplets sprayed from their bodies, Jerry's tail seemed to absorb them, and a series of green numbers appeared over its own head.
+3879
+3532
+4101
...
The damn thing could heal itself!
Orion and Rena exchanged a look, the same worry reflected in both their eyes.
"This isn't going to work," Rena said, her voice tight.
"I know," Orion replied. "We're running out of time."
"Is there any way to increase our DPS?"
"There is one... but it's incredibly risky."
"What is it? Tell me!"
"We force Norlun and the ants into their Berserk states."
"Then do it!"
"They have to be at critically low health to activate it, Rena."
"Oh..." Rena fell silent. She didn't need to say more.
The plan sounded great in theory: drop the summons' HP, trigger Berserk, and watch the damage numbers fly. But there was a fatal flaw in that logic. Rat King Jerry had Berserk phases, too. If it enraged, it could instantly vaporize their already low-health summons.
Orion was quiet for a moment. Finally, he grit his teeth. "We have to. If we keep going like this, we'll never kill it in time. If we don't risk it, we fail the mission for sure."
Rena nodded firmly. "Okay. I'm with you."
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"I'm pulling the Stonejaw Ant back," Orion commanded. "The others are going to soak damage. Rena, stop healing them."
"Got it!"
Orion maneuvered the units, sending the Carrion Ant, the Myrmidon and Acid-Spitter, and Norlun itself to stand toe-to-toe with Jerry, absorbing as much damage as possible.
Soon after, the four Chieftains dropped into Berserk range.
By now, three hours had passed since they'd entered the cave. Jerry's health was down by 30 million.
Suddenly, Jerry let out a shriek of agony. Its body convulsed as if something inside was trying to tear its way out.
Then, its body split in two.
SQUELCH!
A second, identical Jerry appeared beside the first. The boss had cloned itself.
Without a moment's hesitation, the new Jerry whipped its tail, lashing out at the summons.
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It could use the same skills, with the exact same potency. This wasn't a weaker copy. It was a perfect duplicate.
Seeing this, Rena immediately cast a group heal.
+9000
+9000
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She followed it with a group [Holy Word: Shield] and spammed her single-target heals. But against the focused damage of two Jerrys, one healer's output was a drop in the ocean.
The [Acid-Spitter Ant] and [Myrmidon Ant] were the first to fall. Then the [Carrion Ant] and [Stonejaw Ant] crumbled. Even Norlun's massive health pool was now critical.
But Orion hadn't given up. Norlun's [Summon Ant Servants] skill was long off cooldown. He activated it, whispering a frantic prayer.
"Come on, RNGesus, give me a Leafcutter... give me a Leafcutter..."
A flash of white light, and four new ants appeared by Norlun's side. A [Fire Ant Chieftain], another [Stonejaw Ant Chieftain], a [Carrion Ant Chieftain]... and one more, carrying a massive leaf in its mandibles.
It was the [Leafcutter Chieftain]!
"YES!" Orion roared in triumph. He quickly regained his composure, assigning each new ant to its position. Then he gave the command to the Leafcutter.
"CAST!"
A brilliant flash of light radiated outwards. On the ground, fourteen ants rose to their feet once more: the original [Stonejaw Ant], [Carrion Ant], [Acid-Spitter Ant], [Myrmidon Ant], and all ten [Undead Carrion Ants].
The Leafcutter's [Mass Resurrection Spell]!
The battlefield, which moments before had held a lone, dying Norlun, was now a swarm: Norlun, plus six Chieftains, two Elites, and ten Undead minions. The sheer number of units increased Orion's micro-management load exponentially.
He immediately had both [Stonejaw Ant Chieftains] activate their defensive auras and move to the front. He followed with the armor-shredding skills of the Acid-Spitter and Carrion ants. Finally, he unleashed a volley of spells from the new [Fire Ant Chieftain].
Norlun itself was now in a full Berserk state. Its skills were upgraded, and it had gained several new ones. Its new passive, [Wrath of Norlun], massively increased its attack speed, damage, and resistances.
Its new active, [Concussive Roar], was a blast of damage that also sent enemies flying. Its old [Tongue Lash] now grabbed two targets instead of one, and held them for five seconds instead of three.
Pushing himself beyond his limits, Orion micromanaged the entire army, making sure every single skill was used to its full potential.
During a brief lull while her own spells were on cooldown, Rena glanced at him. He was drenched in sweat, his face a mask of pure concentration. A wave of guilt washed over her. She felt completely useless, unable to help him when he so clearly needed it.
As Rat King Jerry's health continued to drop, it and its clone both entered their own Berserk phases. The damage output became insane. The summoned army began to fall apart again.
[System: Your Myrmidon Ant has died.]
[System: Your Acid-Spitter Ant has died.]
[System: Your Stonejaw Ant has died.]
[System: Your Carrion Ant has died.]
...
But amidst the carnage, a single, glorious notification appeared.
[System: You have slain Rat King Jerry.]
One of the two was finally dead!
Norlun and the four remaining Chieftains swarmed the last, critically injured Jerry, attacking with relentless fury. Orion himself was no longer a spectator, running into range to cast his own sigils. The fight had reached a fever pitch. The last Jerry was in a frenzy. Norlun and the ants were all nearly dead.
Rena watched from a distance, her heart pounding in her chest.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing sound cut through the air.
RRRRING! RRRRING!
An alarm.
Her eyes flew wide in horror.
Oh, god. The three-and-a-half-hour timer.
Time was up.