Boom!
Once my heroes reached the forest, the 4-star Serafina unleashed a powerful fire blast that burned half of the region.
I read elemental mages categorized their spells in magic circles.
From what I read in the official forum, that assault just now had to be a Third Circle spell.
Serafina's assault created a long scorched trail fenced by firewalls on each side.
My heroes immediately went through that path as they made their way eastward.
Most of the goblins that survived Serafina's attack could not get to my heroes due to the firewalls shielding the path.
I should note this particular spell's effect to the environmet.
Not only did Serafina's spell served as an offensive AoE move, the effect of the assault's aftermath also provided tactical advantage to my heroes.
I would not be surprised if this was deliberately set by the 4-star mage.
The ogres had crossed the channel at this point and were steadily closing the distance with the main party.
My heroes then charged eastward through the burning forest, closer to the mission's objective and away from the ogres.
The 1-star heroes were not affected by the firewalls due to their Fire Resistance passive. While fire mages had the resistance built in with their magic skill.
Two goblins breached the trail's firewall and went to intercept the heroes. These monsters were partially burned by the fire, unlike my heroes.
The 1-star Jonah swiftly launched a throwing spear and speared the two injured goblins at once.
As the party passed over the fallen enemies, Jonah retrieved his throwing spear once more and continued on.
A crossbow goblin tried attacking the heroes from outside the firewall.
But Shanny intercepted its arrow bolt with her shield and kicked a rock back to the monster.
This game's move set extremely varied and extensive. Moreover, almost every object in the environment could be used or manipulated.
The developers programed this game very well.
No wonder there were 90 million people playing Pick Me Up.
It would reach 100 million downloads in several months, certainly. Likely in time for the game's second anniversary later this year.
[Goblin Lv.4 x37]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x18]
More enemies started to emerge from the other part of the forest.
My heroes then reached the end of the fire trail and Serafina began casting another fire spell.
Boom!
Her attack extended the fire trail further toward the hill range.
With Jonah and Shanny charging in the front, the three of them continued their escape.
Some goblins dared themselves through the firewall. But my 1-star heroes were able to dispose them immediately.
It was worth the effort of getting them to reach level 4 in combat skill.
By the time my heroes reached the hills, more monsters had emerged from the forest.
[Goblin Lv.4 x56]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x28]
My heroes quickly climbed to the top of the hill.
Serafina then turned back and tore down a large chunk of the slope with her telekinesis magic, triggering a huge landslide that buried the goblins going after them.
So the Telekinesis skill at her current level was capable of manipulating the environment to this extent. Noted.
Once all my heroes reached the hill's peak, the fog of war covering the remainder eastern part of the map was lifted.
Vast patches of forest bordered with hill ranges stood between my heroes and the objective statue.
Serafina seemed to be observing intently toward the east with her vision spell.
She must had noticed the statue as well. Good.
I counted five forest patches left for them to go over. Quite a distance still.
The 4-star mage had the skill to make portals.
Couldn't she immediately transport everyone to the statue?
My three heroes then began descending down the hill. They were heading toward the objective on foot.
Perhaps the mage's skill level was still too low.
If it was high enough, she would definitely had transported all of them already.
Hopefully they would be able to make the trip without much harm.
The ogre army had just reached the forest patch behind my heroes.
Meanwhile, there were more monsters waiting for them in the next patch of forest.
[Goblin Lv.3 x83]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x54]
[Direwolf Lv.4 x37]
Hmm…
Was it just me or was this boss stage WAY more difficult than the ones in the other accounts?
My heroes had to escape an ogre inside a garrison earlier.
There were more than one hundred goblins that my heroes had to face so far.
And there were also direwolves prowling around in the battlefield.
Not to mention, the ocean of ogres chasing my heroes.
This boss stage was already the combination of three missions I saw in other Pick Me Up accounts.
Well, at least there was not any storm in this boss stage. Such weather factor could alter the environment negatively and slowed heroes' movement in the battlefield.
Kraah!
Just as I thought about it, a thunder sound effect echoed from my phone's speaker.
The colors and lighting of the boss stage began to dim and rain vfx emerged all over the environment.
You had to be kidding me…
Boom!
Serafina created another fire trail which decimated most of the monsters in front of them while creating a safe path forward.
The rain could not put out the fire created by the 4-star's spell. Noted.
Even so, due to their increased number, there were more enemies that managed to breach the firewalls.
My heroes were able to charge through them without harm, however.
Shanny protected everyone from the arrows launched by the crossbow goblins.
Jonah swiftly eliminated the enemies in front of them with throwing spears.
['Jonah (★)'s Spear Throwing has levelled up to level 3!]
The pair of 1-stars were able to cut down all the enemies in their path and kept the 4-star mage safe in the rear.
I was impressed by the judgment of the heroes' AI again.
Since two of their members had been killed, the main party implemented a new formation according to their current lineup.
They were really intelligent. At least, these three remaining heroes in Party 1 were.
[Goblin Lv.3 x49]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x38]
[Direwolf Lv.4 x23]
More monsters.
I doubted we would be able to wipe them all out.
The boss stage must be programmed to spawn them endlessly.
My heroes soon reached the end of the fire trail. The heavy rain began to intensify at the same time.
Boom!
Serafina successfully extended the burning path through the heavy storm.
But her firewall was not spreading as widely as before.
Perhaps the increased rainfall finally suppressed the mage's flames. Noted.
Kroaah!
The ogres had reached the hill behind my heroes and started descending down to the forest toward them.
Serafina began aiding her 1-star comrades intercepting the enemies with smaller fire spells.
With Jonah and Shanny taking down enemies at the front, and Serafina attacking large groups of enemies and covering their rear, the three of them soon reached the end of the trail again.
They were still halfway through this second patch of the forest. And more enemies were emerging from all directions.
[Goblin Lv.3 x62]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x47]
[Direwolf Lv.4 x33]
The heavy rain made the entire battlefield dark. I could barely pinpoint all the enemies going toward my heroes.
Only the area around Serafina's flames could be observed clearly.
It would be dangerous for my heroes to fight outside the fire trail. Visibility was a factor in Pick Me Up's battles.
Heroes were likely to be injured and killed in dark environment since their attacks would often miss their opponents and could not defend any assault coming at them.
And I guessed my heroes thought the same too, since they would only move forward once Serafina extended the burning path further.
Boom!
My heroes eventually reached the second hill range.
Serafina used her magic pushing back the enemies chasing them and destroyed the slope behind them to prevent monsters pursuing them to the top of the hill.
Suddenly Jonah handed his throwing spears to Serafina and she laid them on the ground.
The 4-star mage then hovered her hands over them and made the weapons glow with crimson light.
Was she enchanting the spears with spells?
What kind of effect did she imbue them with, I wondered.
Hopefully it would help the heroes dealing with the enemies ahead of them.
Of course, it would.
Serafina would never do something if it was useless.
Funny how I was speaking of the 4-star hero like a real person.
[Goblin Lv.3 x68]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x59]
[Direwolf Lv.4 x43]
More enemies had emerged in the third patch of the forest.
Their number would only keep on growing, certainly.
Boss stages were insanely difficult!
There was no way a party of only 1-star heroes could clear such mission.
I was really glad I had a 4-star hero to count on in this first boss stage.
My heroes soon descended down the second hill and prepared to charge through the next patch of forest.
Serafina started casting her fire spell. She took a bit longer to prepare the assault this time.
Boom!
The 4-star unleashed bigger fire than before.
It created a fire trail that extended till halfway mark of the forest patch.
She was aware of the protection the firewalls provided them. Good thinking on her AI.
My heroes then began rushing through the new fire trail.
A large group of enemies soon penetrated the firewalls and formed a blockade in front of my heroes.
Jonah reached for one of his glowing throwing spears and launched it at the monsters.
Boom!
His projectile exploded into a fiery blast.
Was that the effect of Serafina's enchantment earlier?
Imbuing elemental attribute on weapons, adding new traits. Explosion, in this case. Noted.
Other effects? To be observed.
Perhaps I should make a separate journal dedicated entirely for Serafina.
I felt this 4-star mage would only keep surprising me with new abilities.