<h4>Chapter 105: Dk''s Revenge (Part 21) - Baton Pass</h4>
"Take this, Anastasia," n said, handing her a belt.
When she held it, the System told her it was a bronze-tier artifact.
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++Bilmur''s Belt: Enhances Vitality by 1 rank.++
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"Thank you, Master. Should I equip it?"
"Yes. And you can have this, Be."
"Thank you, Master n!"
The smiling NPC received a handkerchief and read its info:
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++Marick''s Handkerchief: Inflicts ''Dementia'' to an enemy already afflicted by a Status'' ailment.++
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"Master n? I''m afraid I don''t have the requirements to make this artifact work."
"Oh, right." n pulled out hisbat rifle. Cook Monier''s knife was still attached to it. "Take this too. This improvised bay has a bleed-out effect... Now, Aaron? How many poisoned bullets do we have left?"
"Two."
"Fine." He shut his eyes and sat on the floor, arms and legs crossed.
**Dk''s health is at fifty-something percent, right? All thanks to Fabio. Rest in peace, buddy, never change... So... Now that I count on Anastasia and Be''s help, this should be a breeze, right? But something tells me that Dk won''t go down without putting up a fight, now that he sounded ''motivated''.**
The sound of something getting smashed echoed through the left aisle of the mansion. The chandelier above them tingled, signaling a disaster.
**What is Dk doing? Is he having a tantrum?**
Soon, the crumbling noise intensified. **As if a wrecking ball was...**
"Master n!" Anastasia cried, equipping her shield.
n looked up, looking at the ceiling cracking.
"Don''t tell me he..."
"Master, you too, Be, behind me! Grab my shoulders! Earth Boost, Unmovable Will!" Anastasia cried with urgency, as she concentrated mana around her. Her body and shield glowed, and a magic barrier manifested around them. "Whatever happens, do not let go of me, Master, or the shield won''t protect you!"
"Whatever happens?" n repeated as he saw the ceiling copsing. "What the--!"
He ducked, feeling the weight of the debris falling over his head and back, but he was not hurt.
The chandelier smashed against the carpet beside them. The windows cracked simultaneously. The walls fell apart.
"As long as I maintain ''Unmovable Will'', we''ll be safe. Just hang on!"
"''Unmovable Will'', a protection equivalent to the caster''s Vitality," Aaron informed, as broken pieces of wood and bricks fell over their heads.
"T-thanks, pal..."
Smashing sounds could still be heard at a distance.
"The entire mansion is copsing," Bemented, without taking her hand off Anastasia''s left shoulder.
A burst of maniacalughter reached n''s ears.
"Don''t tell me Dk is doing this!"
"Dk''s is now estimated to be Silver C," Aaron informed, as falling wood passed through him. "Dk may want to get rid of the mansion so you can''t respawn here anymore... Most likely."
"''Most likely''?! So now being able to respawn indefinitely is considered cheating to him?!"
"This is just a working theory... The good news is that if you die again, this time you may respawn at New Unus Town."
When thestyer of debris buried thempletely, there was no distinction between what just a minute ago was floor or ceiling.
"Let''s do it together... One, two, three," Anastasia said, and they stood up simultaneously. When the spell faded, a thickyer of dust and dirt covered n.
"Not a single scratch," he said, checking his body and his HP bar.
The Final Boss was standing 100 feet away from them, grinning like a hungry shark. "As expected. I knew your NPCs would protect you, n Warden."
"Have you gone mad, Dk, you prick?!"
"This was the only way to keep training since you have already beaten the other bosses. Once I destroy your ''dolls'' and leave you within an inch of your life, I''ll quickly take my life so we can continue this from the beginning..."
"A-Aaron...? What is he--?"
++"This reaffirms my theory,"++ the spirit said privately while folding his tiny chubby arms. ++"If you beat him fair and square, you would theoretically defeat this dungeon, setting you free. But if hemits suicide, the dungeon will reset, trapping you all over again."++
"And take on all the bosses from the start? No, thanks!"
**And if Dk found a way to level up, the others could, too. They would always try to maintain a higher level than me so I could keep ''progressing''.**
As he stared at Dk, ra sent him a Party Chat request.
++"n, I could finally contact you! Does this mean you got out of the mansion?"++
++"Kinda."++
++"Fine, whatever. Listen to me carefully, this is important... Do not kill Count Dk."++
"Huh?!" n cried out as Dk dashed forward.
Although Anastasia blocked the attack immediately, n noticed her feet slid back.
Dk began a barrage of swipes, creating sparkles every time his ws connected against Anastasia''s shield. He only stopped after Be threw him a fireball.
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++NOTICE: Boss'' HP at 55%.+++
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"You little--!"
++"What nonsense are you talking about, ra?! Getting rid of him is our guaranteed ticket out of here!"++
++"I wouldn''t call it ''guaranteed'', trust me! The dungeon may reset regardless of if you kill him or he kills you!"++
++"W-what?! A-Anastasia, create an ice barrier! I need to hear this before attempting anything!"++
++"Understood, Master n!"++
Anastasia swung her sword around her, improvising a distorted igloo in a couple of seconds.
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+++NOTICE: Minion''s MP depleted.
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1 minute to restore it. +++
++"ra, h-how do you know that?"++
++"The Dungeon Director insinuated it..."++
++"''Dungeon Director''?"++
**Dk mentioned a director before.**
A w pierced through the ice, threatening to poke n''s eyes. Be quickly stabbed Dk''s palm with her bay before Anastasia patched the hole with her shield.
++"Long story short, the Director it''s the AI in charge of this dungeon,"++ ra continued. ++"She has administrative powers, so she may force you to keep respawning here regardless of if you win. What an asshole, if you ask me."++
++"So, this Director gained autonomy after Vi Lang turned her into a NU? Is that why she''s doing this?"++
++"YEAH! Wow, you got it on your first try. It''s all true, trust me."++
++"Compared to all the crazy shit that has happened tonight, that soundspletely usible."++
++"Thanks, n."++
++"Hmm?"++
++"For believing me..."++
++"Of course I do. We''re ''nakama'' now, right?"++
++"Y-yes, we are! Um..."++
++"What should I do then? Dk has threatened to force a dungeon reset after defeating me."++
++"This sure isplicated, huh? All right, then... We can do this. Try to hold on as much as possible. Amelia is currently outside. She may get some help from one of the Administrators, and in the meantime, I''m pursuing the Director."++
**Getting in contact with an Administrator? Didn''t they tell me it was impossible for regr Users? The only reason I''m acquainted with two of them, it''s because they took an interest in me. Although, it may be possible now that Jane Andersen has taken residence in New Unus...**
++"Are you going to knock some sense into this Director?"++
++"I''ll try. Yes..."++
++"I count on you, ra."++
++"Thanks, n."++
"Blood Sports!" Dk cried from outside the ice dome, as a red de pierced the wall, almost stabbing n''s face. Another de sliced the upper part of the igloo.
++"Retreat! This has be a death trap!"++
While Anastasia blocked the following swipes, Be ced both hands against the wall behind them and melted it with Fire Crafting.
When the group finally stepped out, n looked back at the enemy. A thin crimson serpent-like ribbon wasing out of Dk''s palm.
**ra inflicted ''Bleed out'' on him, and he''s using it thanks to that blood maniption Aaron told me about.**
++"What are we going to do, n?"++ Aaron asked. ++"Dk may defeat us before Amelia or ra solve the issue."++
++"Are you saying that fighting defensively isn''t feasible?" n exhaled. "Full-on aggressive, then. Be, can you use ''Dementia'' on him?"++
++"Requirements met,"++ Be said, as she pulled out the handkerchief from between her metal breasts. "Use Artifact Skill: Dementia!"
Be stood still, locking eyes with Dk.
++"Is it working?"++ n asked, while watching the Boss menacingly striking the ground with his blood-crafted whip.
"Good try, fools!" Dk shouted, grinning. "But you can''t hide from me!"
He stroked the empty spot behind him and began violently stomping something invisible.
++"It''ll onlyst 20 seconds,"++ Be said, not taking her eyes off him.
++"It''s working,"++ Aaron said. ++"Be is creating an illusion that only Count Dk can see. ''Dementia'' will be interrupted if she loses eye contact, runs out of mana, or Dk gets hit."++
++"Let''s take advantage of this, then. Anastasia?"++
++"Yes, Master?"++
++"Prepare a strike with all of your might."++
++"Understood."++
++"9 seconds remaining,"++ Be informed, as Anastasia got into position and channeled fire mana.
Meanwhile, Dk was being tricked into believing he had grabbed n by the neck. "I won''t bite you again," the boss was saying,ughing. "I''ll just..."
After making a piercing motion, Dk''s w twirled in the air, as he maintained a nasty grin.
**I... I don''t want to find out what he''s seeing...**
A red aura surrounded Anastasia''s arm and de.
++"I''m ready, Master n."++
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+++Notice: Your minion has learned the ''Valor'' boost.+++
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**A strength-enhancing Active Skill, huh? That''s super useful,** n thought, skimming the window''s info.
++"3 seconds left!"++
++"Anastasia... Chop Dk''s legs!"++
The female NPC let out a war cry as she easily sliced Dk''s left thigh. Unfortunately, she could not do the same with the right one.
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+++CRITICAL HIT
NOTICE: Boss'' HP At 40%!+++
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"You wretched woman!" Dk cried, plummeting to the ground. ck blood leaked out abundantly.
++"Anastasia''s strength was not enough to ovee Dk''s Vitality,"++ Aaronmented.
++"I''m sorry, Master n. His skin and bones are too thick. It was like cutting through stone." ++
++"Doesn''t matter, this will do!"++ n said to them via Party Chat, before stepping in front of the boss. "Hey, Dk! Don''t daremit suicide if you start losing. Did you hear me?! Be a good loser and fight to the very end!"
**There! If I can''t die or kill him, I''ll incapacitate him as much as possible.**
Dk sneered, giving n another glimpse of his sawed teeth. "Having two allies is getting in your head, n Warden." A dark aura surrounded him. "But I agree. Let''s fight with everything we have... Dark Boost, Creature of the Night!"
An overwhelming pressure made n feel as if the surrounding gravity had intensified.
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++++Notice: Count Dk has received an Atmospheric Boost. ''Creature of the Night''.
Strength + 1
Vitality + 1
Agility + 1
Spirit + 1+++
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++"Can he boost himself while he''s under his Second Form?! Give me a break, Novus!"++
++"Dk''s estimated Strength, Silver B!"++
++"Ready tounch a fire spell, Master n!"++ Be said. A huge magic circle floated above her.
**She started casting it without me telling her what to do. At least she got a lot ofbat experience tonight.**
++"I don''t know the magnitude of that spell of yours, but by all means, do it, Be! He''s so buffed right now that it will be a miracle if we can even hurt him!"++
"Major Fire Crafting," Be intoned, stretching out her hand forward. "Spitfire!"
From the magic circle, fireballs wereunched at rapid speed, lifting dust and charring the ground itself.
++"Woah! This spell is awesome! Keep going, Be!"++
++"I will! I''ll try to maintain it as much as po--!"**
n nced at the NPC girl, as a blurred silhouette cut her in half. When n realized what had happened, he was staring at Be''s lower detached body. Her legs were still standing, and her dress had turned into a skirt, still hanging from her hips.
"I can''t believe how much fun I''m getting out of you!" Dkughed out loud, 20 feet away from them. "I''m having a st fighting you, n Warden!"
**How can he move?! **
n watched in horror Dk''s red leg and toeless feet. **Did he use the lost blood to create a new one?!**
The Boss grinned, lifting his prize aloft: Be''s upper body, hanging from her hair. She was still moving, struggling to break free.
++"Why is she still alive?"++
++"Barely..."++ Aaron replied. ++"She''s a robotic-type minion, so she can survive extreme circumstances, but she can be eliminated in a single shot if an enemy pierces her core. It is located inside her chest."++
n recalled the moment Serenity had stabbed Anastasia a week ago, and most recently, Fabio''s death.
Out of Be''s open torso, n could see wires and leaking oil.
**I can''t stand watching her like that...**
++"Be, you''ll get better, I promise! I''ll repair you as soon as I--"++
The NPC smiled at him. ++"It''s better if I just die and respawn again, Master n. Sorry for not being of much help, but at least I can do this..."++ Having said that, she reached out a hand in Anastasia''s direction, and started casting: "Fire Charm..."
"You won''t!" Dk shouted.
"Rally & Destroy!" Be cast, just before Dk crushed her head with both hands.
Before n could contemte such a grotesque scene, both halves of Be''s body turned into vanishing pixels.
++"Your orders, Master n,"++ Anastasia said, taking a fighting stance. A red aura surrounded her body.
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++++Notice: Minion''s Strength + 1+++
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++"Did Be do this?"++
++"Yes,"++ Aaron replied. ++"A Boost is a self-enhancement. A Charm is an enhancement that can be cast on others. But this will not be enough to beat Dk."++
++"Can we assume the Creature of the Night boost will fade once it''s dawn?"++
++"Yes. In 20 minutes..."++
++"Fine! Cast ''Puppet Master'' and ''Modding''!"++
++"Auto-casting... Sess! Anastasia has epted the connection. Which of her Stats should we rearrange?"++
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++++ANASTASIA++++
LEVEL - 26
STRENGTH - BRONZE A +1
VITALITY - SILVER E +1
AGILITY - BRONZE B
SPIRIT - BRONZE C
POTENTIAL - BRONZE A
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++"Can I change them on a whim while fighting? I want to alternate between speed and defense."++
++"Such rapid changes could be detrimental to the minion''s body."++
++"Crap, let me see th--"++
++"It''s okay, I can endure it,"++ Anastasia interjected while locking eyes with the boss.
++"Anastasia, are you sure about this?"++
++"Do what you have to do, Master."++
++"Alright, then..."++ n nervously nced at Anastasia''s info window, before staring at her back.
The artificial girl looked feeblepared to the huge, vampiric humanoid in front of her.
**And yet...**
n''s hands got into position over the virtual keyboard and mouse. He could feel his palms sweaty.
++"Aaron, subtract 1 point from Vitality and 2 from Strength. Then, add 1 to Spirit and 2 to Agility."++
"Roger. Done."
"Dk!" n shouted, smirkin. "I hate to admit this, but it''s been fun! Are you sure you don''t want to rest a little and have a cup of tea?"
"I''d love to, but once the dungeon resets! Although my new self may forget it, so you''ll have to remind me and convince me again! Nya-ha-ha!"
n''s right index finger twitched hearing that.
**The Slime-folk devolved when dying, and these Dungeon NUs will forget everything that happened tonight?**
"Man..." n sighed. "Something tells me you don''t love your NUs so much, Vi Lang..."