The Transience of Her

This Ain't a 24-Hour Quest, Part 3

The boss battle begins as soon as we all draw our weapons.

Our first order of business is to apply all our buffs, offensive and defensive, onto ourselves.

“Alright, then! Give that thing no quarter! All out, now!”

Heeding our guildmaster's orders, we unleash our powerful attacks in the shortest of time windows possible.

[Cheerful Sabotage!]

The Ableblade's ability can deliver 8-16 hits, with a high chance of inflicting multiple status effects to an enemy.

In Aulina Freya's case, she unleashes 15 hits, with a total of [5129 damage], and inflicting both Blind and Slow to the Stratosphere Overseer.

“From the earth and the heavens, a trembling voice manifests!”

[Successive Spells: Terraclast III and Ventoclast III!]

The combination of the high-tier earth and wind magic spells, respectively, deals two hits for a total of [3230 damage]. As I've said before, only Dragon Warlocks like Zoredd are capable of casting two spells of contradicting elements at the same time.

“OK, I'll pitch in!”

I say that as I prepare to unleash one of the Infernal Gunner's skills.

[Armor Cracker!]

With five hits coming from five successive shots, I deal a total of [4000 damage], disregarding the Stratosphere Overseer's physical defense.

“Hey, don't leave me behind!”

Lianna declares that as she brings out her Holy Dragoon attack.

[Kaleidoscopic Thrusts!]

With blazing fast thrusts of her Standard Bearer's Polearm, she deals [4501 damage] to the boss.

[Repeating Shield Charge!]

“ATATATATATATATATATA!!!”

Leggy's equally fast blows of shield charges, which are similar to hundred-fist repeating punches of certain fighters, deals 12 hits for a total of [4978 damage].

“Let loose the fabric of space-time for this very moment, where all shall fear the might of this destructive cluster!”

Giovanna recites an invocation which leads to...

[Comet Calamity!]

Ten comets rain down on the Stratosphere Overseer, dealing an appropriate ten hits and a total of [4047 damage].

“Excellent, my brothers-in-arms! Allow me the privilege of finishing this thing off.”

Maricar declares that as she begins her casting of...

“[Pearl Explosion!] Begone, foul abomination!”

The pearly-white ball of light deals the knockout blow, with [3978 damage.]

The high-DPS “Zerg Rush” string of attacks we just did dealt an easy win, as the Stratosphere Overseer collapses to the ground, never to get back up again.

Seconds later, a black mist covers the entire room; and with it, a haunting voice that signals the beginning of the moment they all dread.

“Watch out, Melchor! This is the Pangs of Death! En garde!”

The guildmaster warns me.

OK, I'll equip this Frozen Teardrop I've won earlier, and hope for the best!

From the black mist, a small invisible whiff causes a suffocating blow, instantaneously knocking out my teammates.

And especially Lianna.

And I...

“Wait! I'm not dead!”

I did it! I pulled through!

I'm practically the first player to survive the Pangs of Death from whatever the next boss is!

But it's too early to celebrate.

I have to revive them quickly with the Revival Plumes I stocked up, so that they will witness, for the first time ever, the elusive boss that is easily the best-kept (or worst-kept) secret coming from the developers of Skypaths Online.

My teammates are quickly revived, with all of their health restored to maximum.

“Phew! Thank goodness, you did it! If it weren't for your presence, we would...”

Lianna's words of gratitude are cut off as the black mist coalesces into a giant mass, which then fuses with the remains of the Stratosphere Overseer to form...

A gigantic demonic fusion of the elemental powers of the four seasons, with hands large enough to knock down and destroy even the tallest of buildings in Eleftheria, with spikes on its shoulders sharp enough to bleed even the spirits of fallen adventurers that inhabit the afterlife, and a central glass core containing the malevolent black mist that acts as its heart.

The question marks on the boss' name fade away to reveal its true identity.

“So... this is what the legends call... the Tempus Casus Daemonium.”

The physical personification of what is called “the time of demonic calamity”, where malevolent creatures from the underworld are directly responsible for natural disasters that plagued Eleftheria in the past.

It's definitely something that is not to be taken too lightly.

“We've come this far to retreat now! Everyone, give your all, since we're now on the cusp of victory!”

We all respond to our guildmaster's call with loud battlecries.

The real challenge starts at this point.

As with the previous boss battle, we first apply our offensive and defensive buffs onto ourselves.

I then hear something.

There's a sound of healing every three seconds.

That means...

“Everyone, listen up! This thing has a built-in regeneration buff! Go cancel it or something!”

“I'm on it!”

Giovanna volunteers to cast a spell that disables buffs on a single target.

“I'll take that boost off you! [Cancellation!]”

But the spell misses.

She casts the spell again and again, to no avail.

“Giovanna, stop it! I think this boss's regeneration ability cannot be dispelled!”

The guildmaster warns her, as the Tempus Casus Daemonium's meaty fist connects to her fragile body.

Giovanna suffers [1515 damage].

“Ugh! That one... hit pretty hard.”

Maricar commands thus.

“OK, everyone! Disregard its regeneration! Reuse the DPS strategy, but watch out for its attack patterns!”

That last part she said is true. Many notorious bosses are not staggered even when they're hit by a huge barrage of attacks, and so they will still continue unleashing devastating attacks of their own.

Since we're saving around 75% of our total MP reserves for this battle, we're now unleashing our strongest attacks ever, in order to up the DPS count.

Zoredd prepares an advanced dragon summoning spell.

“Arise, master of flames! Burn the enemies to cinder!”

[Apparition of Gondaymalan!]

He summons the Fire Dragon, Gondaymalan, which will assist him in battle with its own fire-based attack.

While the Fire Dragon deals tremendous amounts of damage ([7577 damage], in fact) before vanishing, Maricar prepares a spell of her own.

“I beseech you, oh benevolent gods of Eleftheria. Help us with our struggle against a threat that would otherwise destroy this world. Heal us battle-scarred warriors and grant us your blessings of protection!”

She performs Commune with the Gods, the Arch Priestess' ultimate ability. It enhances all healing, buffing, and holy-elemental magic; cuts their casting time; and adds an effect where one of the gods will step in to nullify damage done to the party (there's a random chance of that happening).

In this instance, the benevolent god Meredekh appears before us, encasing us all in barriers that block all sorts of attacks for five minutes.

In response, the Tempus Casus Daemonium summons miniature versions of itself, all called the Avatars of Calamity.

“Hmph. Typical for a strong boss. Summoning annoying minions.”

[Faultless Fortress!]

Leggy goes on the defensive after saying that, as he performs Faultless Fortress, which increases his own physical and magical defense by 250% and also diverts attacks aimed at the rest of us to him.

At this point, our defensive powers have been amplified; but it will be a matter of time before they run out and we will be overwhelmed with more punishing attacks, especially from the little guys.

Giovanna has a solution for that.

“Keep out, pesky runts!“

[Interruption Swarm!]

Interruption Swarm is a Psychic Synergist's ability. It cancels the actions of multiple foes within the area of effect.

With that attack connecting, the Avatars of Calamity don't know what to do.

But Zoredd does.

“Arise, master of the ocean! Swallow the enemies in your endless tides!”

[Apparition of Alpapil!]

He summons the Water Dragon, Alpapil; and the dragon conjures a huge tsunami that encroaches the battlefield.

While the Tempus Casus Daemonium blocks off the attack, the Avatars of Calamity are swallowed up in the tsunami, each being dealt [5100 damage] on average and killed off for good.

“Great job, Zoredd! Now it's time for this priestess to go all on the offensive!”

Maricar declares as she unleashes her barrage of Pearl Explosions, due to the reduced casting times.

[3012 damage], [5016 damage], [5632‬ damage], [4768 damage], [3598 damage].

Of course, it's Lianna's time to shine.

“I'll show you what I'm made of!”

[Climax Jump!]

Climax Jump is the Holy Dragoon's ultimate ability, which makes the user hide from the battlefield for one minute, and then delivers four four-hit heavy physical attacks (Swordsent Thrust, Rodsent Thrust, Axsent Thrust, Gunsent Thrust) at the end of that minute.

While Lianna is off the battlefield, the other main physical attacker, Aulina Freya, takes center stage.

She declares with a sweet voice...

“I'm not the type to be trifled with, just because I'm cute!”

[Relentless Blade Symphony!]

The ultimate attack of the Ableblade, it summons the rarest of bladed weapons from the sky, each dealing damaging blows to the enemy.

She unleashes 15 hits, with a total of [9326 damage].

“Mind if I steal the spotlight?”

Giovanna declares that as she does her own invocation.

“It's finishing time! Go beyond the time, merge all dimensions and realities, into one synchronized explosive burst!”

[Twentyfold Time Break!]

Twentyfold Time Break is the Psychic Synergist's ultimate attack. It summons twenty esteemed heroes from Eleftheria's long history, each dealing their own unique attacks.

The Tempus Casus Daemonium is inflicted 20 hits for a total of [6127 damage].

And then, I notice something bizarre.

The boss glows white, which makes me think...

“Oh no. I think it's up to no good.”

I hypothesize, based on that white glow, that it will unleash a spell that will restore all its health, which is definitely not good news for us.

That warning makes me more motivated to finish the battle more quickly.

But as it turns out...

The white glow suddenly dissipates, to the surprise of everyone.

Zoredd reacts.

“I recall that phenomenon! Infernal Gunners have an innate ability called Black Circle of Deniability that randomly cancels enemy abilities that require charging time... that is, if the aura during charging is white.”

“Great going, Melchor!”

Maricar is ecstatic to hear of that.

“To think that no Infernal Gunner has been in a party before when attempting to defeat this boss, all because of the job's unpopularity among players...

“...and to think that this ability is able to prevent a longer and more excruciating battle because we all have to start from scratch...

“...this is simply amazing!”

Zoredd nods as goes back to summoning another dragon.

“Arise, master of the deep earth! Tremble the enemies to the bottomless abyss!”

[Apparition of Petiloh!]

He summons the Earth Dragon, Petiloh, which produces an earthquake so strong that the ground below generates a sinkhole that the boss plunges to, though it's all simulated.

But the damage is real, as the boss suffers [7959 damage].

“And I'm not through with you yet!”

He summons the last of the four dragons.

“Arise, master of storms! Blow the enemies to oblivion with your vicious tornadoes!”

[Apparition of Benbacbuz!]

He summons the Wind Dragon, Benbacbuz, which calls a massive hurricane- or typhoon-like tornado that rips the Tempus Casus Daemonium apart.

In the attack's wake, the boss is dealt [8178 damage].

Miraculously, Zoredd's appearance changes slightly, as his outfit morphs into a glistening one, shining like diamonds.

“This is the greatest power I have, and I'll entrust it to you both!”

[Quadra Apparition: Infinity!]

The Dragon Warlock's ultimate ability combines the properties of all Dragons to enhance the damage output of two chosen allies. It only activates when all four Dragons are summoned during the battle.

One chosen ally is Lianna, who's just coming back from her jump to deal the four powerful Thrusts to the boss. The result? Four hits, [9407 damage].

And the second chosen ally is me.

I unleash the Infernal Gunner's ultimate ability, Galactic Finality Burst.

It concentrates the power of both elemental darkness and a black hole into a single shot that crushes an enemy, and deals darkness-elemental and special gravity damage to said enemy.

As I begin the attack, I and the boss get transported to outer space.

I lock on the target, which is immobilized by simulacra of several galaxies.

“It's more than just darkness. It's the void you're facing.”

[Galactic Finality Burst!]

I pull the trigger firmly, and the resultant black globe that comes out of my Musket of Precious Grace crushes the enemy.

Two hits each, [9569 damage], [9745 damage].

As the Tempus Casus Daemonium runs out of health, it finds itself disintegrating at an alarming rate, and the black mist that comprises most of the boss begins to explode.

Eventually, the dreaded monster cannot take all of the incendiary effects, and it finally detonates with a glorious blaze, with no trace of it nor the Stratosphere Overseer that it possessed left.

Only a strange jewel is left on the ground, on the very spot where the monster perished.