The Strongest Wizard

Level Two of The Bowels Of Stoughlin.

28th December 1018 / 2018 0108hrs

We finally cleared level one of the catacomb, and there was a vertical ladder that leads to level 2. Everyone had looted every single bone the gamers could find and seemed that level 2 and level 3 would solve the gamers collection.

As they heard that 100 bones need to be collected, everyone assisted in the required amount starting from PupperMaster onwards. In this way, once they had gotten 100 bones, they would be starting to collect other quest items instead.

"What would we face on Level 2 catacomb basement, Captain?" Snowball asked as I was about to descend the ladder first.

"Don't worry, it is going to be the same, but the bounty would be Two-Handed Scimitar. The Boss is Level 20, and the credits here would be greater than the one here. Besides, the BOSS was not present here on level one, and I think it must be drinking some tea with the Lich up on the surface. Hahaha...!"

"Whatever it is, please remind yourself not to be too over-confident here in this level two catacomb. The difficulty level would be much higher than the level one. Most of the time, the gamers take it easy, and it involved in a team wipe. Remember, Level Two is much harder than the one here and be very careful."

After I had said that, I descended through the catacomb like a fireman doing a fireman pole. I slipped down the ladder in a few seconds, and once I had landed, I quickly took up position to cover the rest.

"Hurry...! Their aggro bubble is wider this time, and the BOSS would also appear among the minions." I looked up and called Snowball to descend first since he would be the head Tank in this formation.

Once everyone had assembled on level two of the catacomb, I advised them to be in their formation and to be as tight as possible.

"We need to strategise on this level, guys. Think of a plan, and then we can execute it. Besides, there would be plenty of skeletal warriors on this level and the next, and I am sure the bones to collect would be more than enough."

Everyone nodded their heads and had a solemn look on their faces. The same look when they entered and fought with the BOSS in HELLISH MODE of The Phoenix Delves in Hamcona Timberland Forest.

=*=

"R I N G . O F . F I R E"

"A R C . L I G H T N I N G"

PuppetMaster called out his skills and raised his staff high as he conjured up his spells. I noticed that he was still using the older method of casting, which was using his fingers to trace the runes in the air to launch the spells.

Although it was quite unorthodox, it would be fine since every member here is Level 8. The levelling up of the members would take effect once they are on the surface. This prevents the Overpoweredness of the gamer to exceed the levels of the mobsters.

*P P F F F O O O M M M*

*B B B Z Z Z T T T*

The Ring of Fire surrounded a small group of the Retched Skeletal Warriors, as they were pulled into a vortex right in the centre of the spell. An arc of lightning flashed across the Retched Skeletal Warriors, and every single enemy was electrocuted by that single arc. The Ring of Fire was like a lasso as it secured the Retched Skeletal Warriors, but it managed to break free after a single cast of the Arc of Lightning...!

"ARCHER...!!!"

"Right on it, Boss...!!!"

DragonFire reached for an arrow, pulled the drawstring back and unleashed into the air. This is something new that I had not seen before, and somehow I saw that arrow that had been released, had turned arched downwards at a terrifying speed.

The arrow seemed to have a mind on its own as it homed in on the nearest target. The next thing we knew was the arrow had pierced and decapitated some of the skulls off its occipital bones...!!

DragonFire released another arrow into the air once more, and it arched and repeated the same process.

Not to be outdone, ShadowDancer leapt into the crowd of Retched Skeletal Warriors and screamed, "T W I N . B L A D E . D A N C E". This time, ShadowDancer not only was slashing around wildly at the Retched Skeleton Warriors but had performed another action as well.

He brought the twin daggers before him and then struck down, and an afterimage of crossed-out blades lighted and flew towards the group of Retched Skeletal Warriors. The afterimage of the crossed-out twin blades burned the clumped Retched Skeletal Warriors that had been lassoed by PuppetMaster. The remains of the Retched Skeletal Warriors were being conjured up to fight alongside us as it picked up the scimitar and slashed its used-to-be allies.

Since PuppetMaster was only a low-level Necromancer, he could only conjure up 2 fallen enemies to fight for us. It was better than nothing, and we would just watch them battle out with one another as we added some firepower whenever needed. At least he got the Ring Of Fire that could pull the enemies into one space before the others would pile and nuke them up.

Within minutes the battle with the minions was over, and this time, everyone had 100 bones inside their inventory that could be changed into quest items with the Lich. It was considered as collecting the items way before the quests were handed out. It was a lucrative loophole, and everyone was briefed, and they welcomed the idea.

"Heads up everyone, there would be the Boss lurking right around this corner. Once we have defeated the Boss, we can proceed down to the third level of this cursed catacomb."

"Here's the plan........"

I gathered everyone and informed everyone of the battle plan and tactics on how to settle the Boss. After explaining that the Boss was Level 20 Boss, so they would need lots of coordinated attack moves. This time, ShadowDancer would be the one to kite the Boss and lure it away from the mobsters as the Boss would be surrounded with other assisting minions.

This time the battle tactics would be different, and it would be risky once anyone made a mistake.

"Alright, Captain. We have received your pointers loud and clear." the members acknowledged while I continued, "ShadowDancer, you may take the lead. The rest would nuke the minions as they would prove to be a thorn in our butts if we do not take care of those first."

"Once we had taken care of those minions, we would then be nuking the Boss. Besides, WarPriestess would be handling the healings for both ShadowDancer and DragonFire. The rest of us, please check the supplies and make sure they are slotted in the right places."

ShadowDancer then took his position to kite the Boss once he had approached the aggro bubble. After he had successfully kited the Boss, ShadowDancer began to pile attacks from a distance.

"T W I N . B L A D E . D A N C E"

"P R E C I S I O N . S H O T"

Both ShadowDancer and DragonFire coordinated their attacks and watched the HP of the Boss getting a fraction off every time it got hit. The rest of us were busy entertaining the minions as PuppetMaster used his skills to conjure the undead to fight alongside us and were whacking the minions left, right and centre. The minions had never expected the undead to appear among them. Due to the confusion, the minions were able to be defeated within a shorter period. Their HP level was not too high, and their damage rating was much lesser than the Retched Skeletal Warriors.

"Let's avert our attacks towards the Boss now. Both ShadowDancer and DragonFire could not hold on much longer now...!!!"

I hollered out, and we all went towards where ShadowDancer had kited the Boss.

When we reached there, we had discovered that the Boss had an HP Level of 10,000 and only 2,000 was taken away from it. It was indeed a Level 20 Beast, and it would not be easy to take down since ShadowDancer and DragonFire had managed to reduce the HP to that much for over an hour already...!

"Why is this goddammned big ass Skeleton not die? Its already an undead, am I right?" DragonFire screamed out as she unleashed another arrow at the Skeleton Boss that was as tall as 3 human's height.

"WarPriestess, deal with it. Nuke it with healing spells. See if it does anything to it or not because those minions of his would perish under such spells...!!!"

The Healer raised her staff in the air in one hand while the other hand conjures up some healing spells and then directed it to the Skeleton Boss.

*W H H H A A A M M M*

The Healing spell hit the Skeleton Boss, and I saw that the HP decreases significantly.

"Control the use of your mana, WarPrietess. Use mana potions once your own mana pool decreases to 25%...!!!" I advise to the Healer while I conjured up my fire and ice bolts towards the Skeleton Boss. Some missed while many reached the target.

"Wait for its Berserk Mode when its HP reaches 5,000...!!! Everyone would leave this place and reach for any undercovers. Its Berserk Mode would be 15-20 seconds. T A N K...!!! G U A R D I A N...!!! Be prepared...!!!"