Unique Gate [5]
1296 Words
The forest trembled as the Gate Boss slowly rose to its full height. A towering, grotesque mass of gnarled roots and vines, its limbs stretched unnaturally, like the grasping hands of a dying tree. Its hollow eyes locked onto the intruders, glowing with an eerie, pulsating green light.
[ Gate Boss Identified: Root Tyrant ]
A deep, guttural groan echoed through the clearing as the Root Tyrant raised its massive arms. The ground beneath them cracked open, and thick, thorny vines burst forth, lashing out in all directions.
“Dodge!” Darius barked.
The team scattered just in time as the vines smashed into the earth, leaving deep gouges where they stood moments before.
“Lysara, Callen! Find openings!”
“On it!” Lysara responded, dashing into the shadows of the trees with Callen right behind her.
“Vanguards, with me!” Darius ordered, charging forward with the frontline warriors. Their weapons gleamed under the dim light as they aimed for the monster’s massive legs.
“Tanks, hold formation! Support, keep us alive!”
“[ Aegis Ward ]!” one of the Supports chanted, forming a shimmering golden shield around the group. The vines slammed against it, but the barrier held.
This forms a shield that reduces all incoming damage for a 5 seconds
Passive Skill: Grants minor health regeneration while the barrier is active.
Cooldown: 12 seconds
Marin’s eyes burned with determination as she began channeling mana. “I’ll burn it down!”
The Root Tyrant roared, slamming its arms into the ground. More Rootmen began rising from the soil, summoned by their monstrous king.
Zenon clicked his tongue. “Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.”
The battle had begun.
Lysara and Callen darted through the trees, their eyes scanning for an opening in the Root Tyrant’s defenses. The massive creature swayed, its roots digging deep into the ground, absorbing energy from the forest itself. Every movement it made sent tremors through the earth, making it difficult to maintain balance.
Zenon stood at the backline, his grip tightening on his daggers. His job was to ensure no stray enemies broke their formation. He watched as the Tanks held their ground, their large shields deflecting the whip-like vines that lashed toward them.
“Tanks, brace!” Darius shouted.
The Root Tyrant’s massive limb came crashing down. The Tanks gritted their teeth and raised their shields in unison. The impact sent shockwaves through their bodies, but they held firm.
“Counterattack!” Darius roared.
The Vanguards lunged forward. Their weapons bit into the creature’s tough bark-like skin, but the damage was minimal. The Root Tyrant groaned, thrashing wildly in response.
“Not enough,” Marin muttered. “We need more fire.”
She extended her hands, mana surging around her.
"[ Scorching Barrage ]!"
Summons multiple fireballs that rain down on a targeted area, dealing continuous fire damage over time.
Passive Skill:Increases burn duration by 5 seconds when hitting plant-based or undead enemies.
Cooldown:18 seconds.
Blazing fireballs rained down upon the Root Tyrant, scorching its wooden exterior. The beast let out an agonized roar, its vines recoiling from the searing heat. The summoned Rootmen screeched, some bursting into flames before they could reach the frontlines.
“Fire is working! Keep at it!” Darius ordered.
Lysara saw her chance. With the monster momentarily distracted, she leaped from the trees, spinning midair before releasing a flurry of arrows coated in mana.
"[ Piercing Thorn ]!"
Fires multiple mana-infused arrows that bypass armor and strike weak points, dealing increased damage to large enemies.
Passive Skill: Arrows embed themselves into the target, reducing their movement speed by 20% for 10 seconds.
Cooldown: 14 seconds.
The arrows struck deep into the Root Tyrant’s joints, causing it to stagger. Callen followed up, slicing through the vines that attempted to grab Lysara midair.
The Root Tyrant roared, slamming both its massive arms down in a furious rage. The force sent a shockwave outward, knocking several fighters off their feet.
Zenon moved swiftly, catching a Support before they hit the ground. His eyes flickered as he analyzed the battlefield. If they dragged this out, the monster would keep summoning more Rootmen.
They had to go for the core.
Through the cracks of the burning bark, he caught a glimpse of something—deep within its chest, pulsing with the same eerie green light as its eyes.
The heart.
Zenon’s eyes sharpened. “Darius! The core is inside its chest!”
Darius immediately reacted. “Vanguards, focus your attacks there! Tanks, create an opening!”
The battle had shifted. Now, it was a race against time to bring the monster down before it overwhelmed them.
The battlefield was in chaos. The Root Tyrant, despite its wounds, continued to lash out with its massive limbs, summoning more Rootmen to reinforce its defense.
Zenon positioned himself near the Supports and Rangers, scanning the battlefield. Unlike the others, he had no skills to rely on—only his instincts, experience, and pure combat ability.
A sudden movement from the side caught his attention. A Rootman had slipped past the frontline, creeping toward Marin, who was still channeling her spell.
Zenon’s body moved on instinct.
With a sharp inhale, he sprinted toward the creature, his dagger flashing as he intercepted its attack. The Rootman screeched as he slashed its arm, but it quickly retaliated, swinging a vine-covered limb at him.
Zenon ducked, feeling the air shift above his head as the attack barely missed. Without hesitation, he twisted his body and drove his dagger deep into the monster’s chest. The Rootman let out a guttural groan before collapsing into lifeless vines.
“Nice save!” Marin called out, not losing focus on her spell.
Zenon barely had time to respond before another Rootman emerged from the ground, its clawed hands reaching for one of the Supports.
Not on my watch.
He rushed forward, grabbing the Support by the arm and pulling them back just in time. The monster’s attack slammed into the ground where they had been standing, kicking up dirt and debris.
The Support gasped, still processing what had happened.
“Stay focused,” Zenon said, stepping in front of them.
The Rootman roared, preparing another strike, but before it could attack, a golden light burst forth.
"[ Guardian’s Blessing ]!"
Grants a protective barrier to an ally that absorbs a fixed amount of damage.
Passive Effect: Increases the recipient’s physical resistance by 10% while the barrier is active.
Cooldown: 15 seconds
A shimmering barrier enveloped Zenon and the Support, absorbing the Rootman’s next attack.
The Support, now regaining composure, quickly followed up.
"[ Soothing Radiance ]!"
Restores health to all allies in range over 10 seconds.
Passive Effect: Slightly boosts mana regeneration for affected allies during the healing period.
Cooldown: 20 seconds
A warm light spread across the battlefield, healing the wounds of the frontline fighters and restoring their stamina.
Meanwhile, Lysara and Callen were darting between the trees, firing arrows at the Root Tyrant’s exposed weak points.
Darius and the Tanks had managed to hold the monster’s attention, striking at its massive limbs to limit its movement.
Marin’s flames intensified as she finally completed her spell.
“Everyone, move back!”
The team quickly retreated as Marin unleashed a massive inferno upon the Root Tyrant’s exposed core. The flames roared to life, engulfing the monster in a sea of fire.
The Root Tyrant let out an earth-shaking roar, its massive body writhing in agony as the flames consumed it.
Zenon watched the battle unfold, gripping his dagger tightly.
This was the world of the Gifted—the world he now lived in.
And if he wanted to survive… he needed to become stronger.
[ You have defeated the Gate Boss ]
- Writer
