The monster, whose necromantic core crystal had been severed by Sophia, did not seem to have suffered a fatal wound.
The entirety of Tanatzk Underground Level 7 was shrouded in an aura that triggered an instinctive, intense revulsion in any living being.
Elliris used her Inspection Eye, and the health bar of the Necromantic Aggregate Monster finally became visible.
**[Necromantic Aggregate Monster, Level 80, HP: 184,472/205,685, MP: 85,465/102,895, Status: Berserk. Effect: Summons large numbers of Skeleton Soldiers, actively casts multiple necromantic spells, increased self-damage]**
Sophia quickly retreated out of the monster’s necromantic aura to avoid being eroded by the boss’s death energy in its berserk state.
At the same time, Sophia also activated her Inspection Eye. She caught a glimpse of another core crystal hidden deep within the necromantic monster’s body.
“Ellie, this big monster has another core crystal! We need to redesign our battle plan!” Having scouted this vital piece of intelligence, Sophia could only offer a helpless, wry smile.
‘This is a real headache now. Even though we can see its health bar, that HP is still daunting… I need to observe the boss’s next moves further before we can decide on a strategy.’
Elliris murmured to Sophia. The boss battle they were currently facing was truly unlike anything they had encountered before. It looked like an elite four-person party composition of tank, fighter, mage, and priest, but the enemy had a massive crowd of extras. It was essentially a VH large-scale raid.
“Good work, Lady Sophia. You do not need to be distressed; you have already succeeded in heavily wounding this monster. Now, defeating it is only a matter of time.” Marcus walked over to the two sisters. While affirming Sophia’s significant achievement, he issued orders to the soldiers.
“Soldiers! Prioritize clearing the Skeleton Soldiers! Protect the priests and mages within the knight phalanx! Rotate out any heavily injured or incapacitated members immediately! We will wear this monster down through attrition! Victory shall be ours!”
The elite rebel units under Marcus’s command had an average level of Level 40. They were a carefully selected group of one hundred members whose strength Marcus personally recognized. However, the current combat situation was far too complex, requiring them to analyze and react to specific problems as they arose.
Having completed their preparations, the group was about to begin the strategy for phase two of the boss’s berserk state.
Before they were even ready, the boss struck first.
**[BONE ARMOR]**! The monster utilized a vast amount of miner remains to create a layer of living bone, specifically reinforcing the bone armor around its core crystal. Additionally, it summoned a massive horde of Skeleton Soldiers.
**[DEATH NOVA]**! The aggregate was releasing waves of death energy with itself as the center. More than a dozen soldiers in the front were immediately affected; they collapsed after violent reactions and were hurriedly carried away by others.
The ghost fire flickering in the aggregate’s hollow eye sockets suddenly brightened. Anyone within the range of the **[DEATH NOVA]** would take continuous damage, and a Seed of Plague was planted within the twelve or so people who had been previously injured.
Before these dozen people could even be treated, they began to curl their bodies and struggle in agony. Subsequently, the Seeds of Plague inside them were detonated by the boss…
**[POISON EXPLOSION]**!
The twenty or so soldiers infected by the poison explosion effect were instantly broken mentally, their bodies covered in a mixture of blood and unknown chunks of flesh from their former comrades who had just exploded.
“Ah!!” Unable to accept the sight, the soldiers began to struggle and roar in pain as their HP continued to dwindle.
“Merciful Goddess Phebeilia, please bestow your grace here! **[REMOVE DISEASE]**, **[HOLY HYMN]**!” Sensing the critical nature of the situation, Elliris acted without hesitation, immediately unleashing the core ultimate healing spells of a priest.
Sacred wings of light unfolded behind her, and flawless angelic feathers drifted through the air. The emotions of the soldiers previously affected by the poison explosion stabilized, and they regained their vitality.
The soldiers, who were at death’s door just a minute ago, were now back in fighting condition. The moment they saw Elliris release such a divine technique, they had no doubt that a proxy of the Goddess’s will stood behind them.
“Do not retreat! In the name of the Holy Light, stand guard!” Marcus took a massive step forward, a determined light burning in his eyes. The Paricio family’s eagle crest on his chest also erupted with a faint golden holy light.
Holding a cross while offering a prayer, Marcus’s faint golden Devotion Aura enveloped the front-line soldiers. He and over twenty others were shielded by the holy light of **[HOLY SHIELD]**.
The soldiers, their fighting confidence rekindled, launched a coordinated tactical strike against the Skeleton Soldiers. After about thirty minutes, the minions were cleared out.
How could the aggregate monster let its soldiers fall so easily? In its berserk state, its array of skills became increasingly diverse.
**[RESURRECTION]**! Many of the Skeleton Soldiers that had been cleared away by the group were now being reassembled due to the boss’s resurrection effect, and they all stood back up.
**[LIGHT BIND]**! Elliris unleashed a control skill she had recently learned from her mother, restricting the advance of a large number of Skeleton Soldiers.
“Uncle Marcus, now!”
Marcus held his breath and concentrated. The greatsword in his hand shone with a dazzling brilliance in the darkness, and violent holy energy exploded outward with him at the center. Countless Blades of Hope, like meteors streaking across the night sky, accurately struck every Skeleton Soldier. This magnificent ultimate technique also poured its primary energy into the monster’s main body.
**[The aggregate monster has taken holy damage, HP -58,320!]**
**[Paricio Family Inheritance: DAWN SLASH]**!
Watching Marcus’s family technique from such a close distance, Elliris could only associate it with a certain anime knight king’s Excalibur.
However, Dawn Slash could only be released once a day. Otherwise, they really could have just sat back and watched the show, waiting for Marcus to single-handedly blast the boss to dust with infinite light cannons…
Sophia, who kept launching surprise attacks, successfully dealt a massive amount of damage after Marcus repeatedly assisted her by staggering the boss.
**[DAWN FLASH]**! -13,265. The boss is affected by armor penetration, 30% armor shattered.
Subsequently, Sophia mixed wind and lightning magic with her physical attacks, making full use of her legendary weapon’s trait that ignored 60% of defense. She was about to inflict continuous true damage on the boss.
**[WHIRLWIND]**, **[FOURFOLD SLASH]**! -19,600!
**[THUNDER]**, **[FIVEFOLD SLASH]**! -32,250!
***
The battle had already lasted for two hours. Approximately thirty rebel commanders had sacrificed themselves, and 120,000 of the meat-mountain boss’s HP had been shaved off.
Marcus’s physical strength was reaching its limit. He began to pant heavily. Sophia, who had been constantly performing flanking maneuvers, still had half of her stamina left. Sophia could see Marcus’s unspoken struggle; after all, he had been acting as the front-line tank since the battle began, and the pressure was unimaginable.
Back with the mages in the rear, Elliris, who had consumed five large mana potions, hadn’t taken any damage, but she felt the urge to go “pick a flower.” While Sophia was too busy to notice, a blushing Nino helped keep watch while she took care of business in a corner…
Returning to the battlefield, the group continued their tug-of-war of offense and defense. Elliris refreshed the buffs for everyone once more.
The aggregate’s body suddenly twisted and expanded rapidly. The entire seventh floor of the underground seemed to enter its death domain in an instant.
The intuition of Elliris and the others told them that the boss was currently experiencing intense emotional fluctuations. It looked like the big one was coming!
**[LIFE SIPHON]**!
Every living unit on the field felt their HP draining away. This was damage at the soul level; it was actually the boss’s finishing move!
There was no room for hesitation. Elliris, who had just recovered her mana, had no choice but to burn herself once more. This was her response to everyone on the field fighting with all their might until exhaustion, and a total implementation of her own beliefs and determination!
**[HOLY HYMN]** x3! **[GROUP FLASH HEAL]**!
Elliris endured the erosion of continuous damage, constantly pulling everyone’s health back above the safety line. This was an ordeal that consumed an immense amount of mana and willpower. Beads of sweat covered Elliris’s forehead, and her clothes were already soaked, but she could not stop. In the distance, Sophia was already prepared to launch the final assault.
Nino also wanted Elliris to rest quickly. She immediately activated her Divine Mark, circulating all her mana to prepare her ultimate ice technique.
“Divine Phoenix of the snowy peaks, please send down your divine punishment and freeze all things!”
Frost formed on the ground beneath Nino’s feet, and the surrounding air temperature plummeted.
**[FROST NOVA]**, **[ICE SHARD RAIN]**! -30,345!
The Necromantic Aggregate Monster took a massive amount of frost magic damage. Large portions of its body were frozen, and its **[LIFE SIPHON]** effect was halted. The other core crystal that had been so heavily protected was now clearly exposed, with only the outer bone shield left to protect it.
“Now, Sophie! You’re the kill-stealer today! You’re the MVP too; I won’t fight you for it. Hurry up, I’m going to die of exhaustion~”
The nearly fainting Elliris spoke to Sophia in a teasing tone.
“Got it, Sis. I’ll make sure the job gets done today!” As Elliris watched Sophia’s back, she thought she saw the signature mischievous grin of Shinnosuke Nohara.
The Valkyrie’s legendary scimitar reflected the cold light of the ice, its molten gold luster appearing exceptionally dazzling.
Sophia leaped and flipped through the air, her scimitar gradually charging power. It was time to end this!
Final **[FIVEFOLD SLASH]**!
The bone shield was useless against this legendary weapon. Sophia swung five golden mana sword-waves with great sweeps, slicing through the monster’s shield and its necromantic core crystal until they were nothing but fragments.
The Necromantic Aggregate Monster collapsed instantly, its flesh turning to ash.
The shadow aura gradually dissipated with the boss’s death. The holy light from the battle’s afterglow fell upon the four of them.
The King is also checkmated! Checkmated!
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