Skeleton Banshee: Level 30 Quest Boss
HP: 4500
Skills: Phantom Body (30% immunity to physical attacks), Triple Stab (three rapid strikes in succession, each with a freezing effect).
Description: A dark creature born from the bones of the fallen, infused with pure negative energy. It takes ten years for a Skeleton Wraith to evolve into a Banshee, a hundred years to become a Skeleton Witch, and a thousand years to ascend into a Skeleton Queen.
Marcus's breath hitched.
A Level 30 Quest Boss. All by herself. Those stats were brutal, and that Phantom Body skill was a nightmare; a direct, hard counter to a physical DPS class like his. This was not going to be easy.
Marcus carefully drew the Skeleton Warriors and Bloodlust Worms away from the Skeleton Banshee, taking them out one by one. Once the area around the boss was cleared of small mobs, he charged forward without hesitation to face the Skeleton Banshee head-on.
-200, -150, -300. The damage numbers flickered across his screen, and Marcus scowled. "You've got to be kidding me."
This was all wrong. He was used to his sword strikes landing with solid, satisfying thunks, but this thing was different. The Banshee's high Agility, combined with its Phantom Body skill, meant his blade mostly whistled through empty air. His damage was pathetic, and his hit rate was a joke.
-100, -80, -80, -90, -80.
Still, it wasn't all bad. The Skeleton Banshee might be Level 30, but he could tank its regular attacks without too much trouble. What hurt was its Triple Stab skill; three swift thrusts that tore through him for over 250 damage in a single burst. Marcus quickly gulped down a Medium Health Potion, watching his health bar stabilize.
Then things got worse. A chilling blue light swept over him; the Freezing Effect had triggered. His movements and attack speed slowed to a crawl. "Damn it," he muttered, drinking another potion to keep his health from dipping too low.
At least the poison from his Skeleton Blade was doing its work. The Banshee's translucent body began to glow a sickly green as the poison ate away at it, draining 30 points of health per second.
The battle turned into a grinding back-and-forth exchange. Each time Marcus gained the upper hand, the Banshee slipped away with another phantom dodge. When its health finally dropped below five hundred, it abruptly spun around and darted toward a group of newly spawned Skeleton Warriors at the edge of the hall.
Marcus's heart sank. If the Banshee reached those warriors, he'd be swarmed. And if a Bloodlust Worm managed to heal it, all his effort would be wasted.
"Not happening," he growled. Summoning the last of his strength, he charged after it, swinging his Skeleton Blade in a wide arc with Double Strike.
-400. A clean hit, critical. The second swing missed as the Banshee phased through him again, but it didn't matter. The boss's health bar was hanging by a thread.
Marcus lunged, using his high Agility to close the distance, and drove his blade through the creature's chest.
-200.
The Skeleton Banshee let out a bone-rattling shriek before collapsing into a pile of dust. Behind it, a newly spawned Bloodlust Worm squirmed forward, too late to heal its master.
"Ding! Congratulations, player Stonehaven, you have killed the Skeleton Banshee. Reputation increased by 30."
Marcus exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow. Without wasting time, he activated Gathering on the fallen boss.
"Ding! Congratulations, player Stonehaven, you have obtained Pure Crystal. Your Gathering skill proficiency has increased."
"Ding! Congratulations, player Stonehaven, you have obtained Ghost-Spun Silk. Your Gathering skill proficiency has increased."
Pure Crystal: A high-grade crafting material with many uses.
Ghost-Spun Silk: A rare material favored for making cloaks.
Marcus grinned. Nice. Two high-grade materials at once. His Advanced Gathering skill was definitely paying off.
'Watch out!'
The mental alert flashed in his mind just as a pack of Skeleton Warriors spotted him and began closing in. He quickly scooped up the items dropped by the Banshee, not bothering to check them yet, and readied his blade.
The mobs he had cleared earlier were already respawning; Skeleton Warriors and Bloodlust Worms crawling back from the darkness. Marcus didn't panic. These Level 28 monsters were easy pickings now, and the experience gain was too good to pass up.
He dove into the fray, blades flashing.
Kill, kill, kill...
His experience bar climbed rapidly. The gold and loot drops were decent too, a solid reward for the grind. Each kill felt smoother, and each dodge felt sharper.
"I wonder what's waiting on the fourth floor," he muttered, glancing toward the dark stairwell that led deeper underground. After clearing another circuit of the third floor, curiosity got the better of him. He decided to take a look.
He moved toward the entrance, only a few yards away, when a sudden burst of black light erupted before him. A towering, wolf-headed creature stepped out of the darkness, clad in pitch-black armor and gripping an axe taller than a man.
Its crimson eyes burned like coals as it growled, "Who are you, daring to trespass on the third floor of the Black Rock Spire? Take this!"
"Storm of Blades!"
Before Marcus could even react, the wolf-headed monster threw back its head and let out a piercing howl. Black light flared around its massive axe as it swung down, sending a blade of energy screaming toward him.
-400.
Marcus didn't have time to dodge. The strike slammed into his side, the impact felt like being hit by a boulder. He was hurled through the air and crashed hard onto the stone floor.
"Skull Splitter!"
The beast's deep voice echoed through the hall. Seeing Marcus sprawled on the ground, it let out a guttural laugh, stepped forward, and brought its huge axe down again, aiming straight for his head.
-500.
Marcus barely managed to raise his shield in time. The hit landed with bone-crunching force, knocking him off his feet once more. His health plummeted, nearly bottoming out.
He's that strong!
The same realization struck them both.
The wolf-headed monster was stunned. Its two killing moves; Storm of Blades and Skull Splitter had felled countless challengers. No one had ever survived both strikes in a row. Yet this armored Knight had not only lived through them, he was already back on his feet, chugging a Medium Health Potion and glaring with murderous determination.
For a moment, the wolf-headed monster froze. It wanted to follow up with another attack, but it couldn't. Both Storm of Blades and Skull Splitter came with a heavy price; a five-second Stun after use. Its body was locked in place.
That brief paralysis made its instincts scream. The way the Knight stood, bloodied yet unyielding, his blade gleaming under the dim light, sent an unfamiliar chill through the monster's chest; fear.