It was morning.
The camp was filled with tension and whispers. The three instructors were walking around, informing everyone of what the plan was.
The first-year students, other than Little Julien, would stay near the gate, while the instructors and fifth-years would venture out and take on the Draconian. Of course, the kids were worried for the safety of their leaders--they had not been told exactly what the boss was, but from the looks on their faces, they could tell it wasn't good.
Not to mention, there was an undercurrent of deeper, more anxious fear around the group. Nobody said it out loud, but they all had the same sense of unease.
What if they failed? What if the older group were all killed? Then what for them? A bunch of untrained kids had no chance at defeating such a boss, if it came to that.
Julien knew they had a huge responsibility on their shoulders. Everyone was relying on them.
The administration back at the Academy probably also knew something was wrong by now--the gate was supposed to be subjugated by evening, and it was now the next day. They were probably waiting outside the gate portal, but from their side, the portal was dim, not showing anything beyond it.
After a few more minutes of preparation, the fighting group set off. Amara, Haley, Julien, and his younger self led the way, based off of what they remembered from wandering around the gate yesterday. They traveled across the many, many clearings and endless trees, occasionally almost doubling back because of the mana haze, but stopped by Little Julien's light immunity.
It's been half an hour, but it feels like we've gone nowhere, Julien thought as they passed a cheerful blue stream.
Besides, the way we haven't encountered a single Named or other amplified monster worries me a little.
The forest was quiet. Not peacefully, but deadly silent. It was like all other sound other than the scrape of their boots against the dirt and tense conversation had been muffled.
It was just like the time before they realised what was happening--before disaster struck.
At one point, they even neared the place where the bodies of the fallen group lay. Julien smoothly guided them away before they actually saw them--it would greatly lower group morale. That was a good reason to do so, but still, he felt guilty over it.
Sure, if they defeated the boss, there would be time to retrieve them before the gate collapsed. But it made him feel like they were just an afterthought.
The living must keep on living, he told himself.
After what felt like days later, they arrived at the cave they had encountered the Draconian in. Before they went in, Wells stepped forward and addressed them all.
"You all know what's at stake here," he said. "More than a hundred lives will be lost if we fail. Remember, because of the Gate Amplification, none of the healers could properly work their skills, so if you're injured, you stay injured."
Everyone listened silently, waiting if he'd say anything more.
"If something goes wrong, adapt. Keep yourself alive at all costs. And…" His eyes softened slightly. "Even if we don't make it out of here… It was a pleasure knowing you all. May the gods bless us."
Julien's breath caught. Wells was a serious, no-nonsense man who wasn't very soft-hearted. If he was saying this now… it must mean he thought there was a good chance they'd lose.
There were murmurs of bittersweet agreement all around, and in that moment, it felt like they were all united, for just one single purpose.
It was just a week ago I was making that very same speech to my own team… And now I'm here, facing great danger of a different kind.
"Let's move."
Everyone walked fast along the stone corridors, visible mana shining even in here. The very same scratches they had passed yesterday were still exactly the same. Julien saw both Katie and Ray examining them as they went along, in uneasy interest.
A couple of minutes later, they found the Draconian's cavern.
[Boss: Wingless Draconian (S-Tier)]
The massive, fiery orange monster was slowly circling around the massive space, talking to itself.
"So bored… so, so bored… When will those humans get here? I've been waiting for ages…"
Suddenly, it whipped around, staring directly at the tunnel they'd just emerged from.
"Oh my, I thought you'd never make it here," It said, mouth twisting into a wicked grin.
The people who hadn't seen it before froze in horror. They'd all known it could talk--but actually hearing a monster speak to you was another thing entirely.
"We're back for round two, you bastard!" Amara yelled back at it. They were still rather far from it, yet the Draconian's voice had sounded crystal clear. Amara's shout didn't even reverberate: Julien wasn't even sure if the monster had heard it.
But for the third time, he saw a flash of crimson. And without notice, they were once again standing right in front of it.
It looked perfectly delighted, but not surprised.
"I knew you'd come for me," it said gleefully. "And I know you're definitely looking for a fight. Now, I can finally have fun without the Haissen's dog coming after me~!"
"What? Haissen?" Linda repeated. "What is that?"
The Draconian shrugged. "Might as well tell you. Well, insignificant human, she is one without equal. A supremely all knowing being… at least that's what she says. Don't tell anyone, but I think that's all fake news."
It put its head level with them. "Never mind, humans will never understand it. That's enough for you. Now, let's fight!"
The Draconian laughed, lifting a front arm then bringing it down fast, without warning.
"Scatter!" Jules barked, and the team split just in time to avoid being sliced in half by the monster's menacing claws.
Amara was the first to counter, moving her mage staff erratically while forcing out her spell incantations. She summoned several bolts of lightning into existence, flashing in different spots, but despite its massive size, the Draconian smoothly dodged them all.
Or more accurately, the Gate Amplification is still in effect, and she can't aim as well.
She raised her staff, about to try again, but she saw a long front arm lazily coming her way. It was easily the size of her body, and she leapt away and raced backwards… but the monster lunged closer, knocking her over like she was a delicate vase on a pedestal.
It was about to snatch her up, just like it did to Mina last time, but Julien jumped in to distract it. "Hey!"
He threw a large fireball into its side. It bounced off harmlessly, but the Draconian turned around any.
It smirked. "Pfft, that hardly did anything." It scrutinized him for a few moments, but its attention was pulled away as the three instructors launched a joint attack.
"Ian!! Do it quickly!!" Linda roared as she swung down her spear. Wells and Jules both locked onto the same spot as her--the tail.
It was common knowledge among experienced Marked was that the tail was a vital spot for a Wingless Draconian. If cut off, it would regenerate if the monster's core wasn't shattered. However, A Wingless Draconian's tail allowed it to balance, compensating for its lack of wings.
"Oh, no you don't!" the Draconian cackled. It swished its tail like a whip, forcing them away.
The others continued to divert its attention away from Julien. Haley shot it with several icy arrows from afar, while Little Julien used his skills, aggressively brandishing his sword.
However, nobody used any abilities that had the potential to reflect light off the mana haze. They took every caution to make sure it didn't realize what they planned to do.
It probably doesn't consider me a threat either, Julien noted. Even if it is aware I am a powerful mage, it feels fully shielded by its elemental immunity.
He backed away from it, and got himself ready. He closed his eyes for just a moment, feeling the chaotic array of raw and elemental mana in the air. The fire of the Draconian was all smug malice. Haley's ice was cool and collected. Amara's lightning was thunderous, and Ray's metal was heavy and grounded.
He could sense everyone's rough locations through their mana, and realized they were all at a perfect distance for him to use the skill.
"I'M RIGHT HERE, LIZARD!!" he screamed, tossing another fireball.
The instant it looked his way, Julien saw his moment.
"EVERYONE, SHUT YOUR EYES NOW!" he roared.
[Burning Star Marble Activated]
The blazing, bright sphere appeared in his hands. Everyone had looked away, and now was the time to use it.
With a loud cry, Julien hurled the sphere towards it and turned away. Upon impact, it burst into a huge explosion. Even through his eyelids, and even though he wasn't facing it, he saw its light.
It's the brightest thing I've ever used. Even when light was my actual element, I never produced such a thing.
As the blast faded, everyone attacked simultaneously. The Draconian swiped around wildly, hissing in pain and complete rage.
Julien's stomach twisted. It's blind right now. It has to be.
"YOU INSECT!" it shrieked. "YOU DARE!?"
It was moving unpredictably now, its actions more wild. For the first time in the whole battle, it had actually become angry.
The others scrambled to adapt, dodging hits left and right.
[Burning Star Marble: Cooldown Ended]
He dashed right up to it, yelling a rushed command for everyone to get away. They acted immediately, and he was left alone as its head kept whipping around.
He activated the skill again, and threw it right at the monster's feet. He felt the heat from the burst of fire, but it didn't deal any fire damage to either of them. But the light was much more intense, since he was closer to the impact point.
This time, the Draconian was more prepared. It charged away. When the flash dissipated, Julien opened his eyes to find it staring directly at him.
Chills went down his spine as he saw its expression--pure fury.
"So you're not useless after all," it hissed.
Before Julien could react, he felt the ground beneath him slip away. He was falling. No… he was being lifted away.
The Draconian's tail had wrapped around him in an instant. The last thing he heard was Haley screaming--then, the monster wrenching him into the air.