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Chapter 3: The First Mini-Boss
Owusar staggered across the jagged obsidian plains of Valdoria, the taste of ash and blood heavy in his mouth. The first wave of demons had receded into the Nethrith Abyss for now, but the tremors beneath his feet told him it was far from over.
Then the ground split with a deafening roar. From the jagged fissure emerged a creature far larger than the previous demons—a mini-boss of twisted bone and sinew, eyes burning like molten rubies, wings of shadow unfurling like a living storm.
A panel appeared in his vision:
[ Alert: Abyssal Mini-Boss Detected ]
Name: Thrykos, Shadow Maw
Level: 12 (Tentative)
Health: ██████████ 100%
Mana: Unknown
Recommendation: Extreme Caution.
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I. Assessment Phase
Owusar's chest tightened. This was no ordinary enemy; its wings, claws, and shadow aura radiated an intelligence that was unnerving. The obsidian floor beneath it trembled with each movement.
[ Sigil Status: Shadow Dominion – Tier 2 ]
[ Available Techniques: Shadow Bind, Obsidian Veil ]
He studied its movements: tail sweeps, wing flares, how it shifted its weight mid-leap. His pulse raced as he calculated distances, predicting its next strike. Even the Umbra System's glowing panels seemed tense, flashing Warning: Extreme Force Detected.
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II. Initial Engagement Phase
The creature lunged with terrifying speed. Owusar rolled aside, claws raking the obsidian where he had stood moments ago. Pain flared in his forearm, but instinct took over. He cast Shadow Bind, chains erupting from his palms, writhing like living night.
Thrykos twisted mid-air, partially evading, but the chains wrapped around a wing. It screeched, thrashing violently, and the Umbra System flashed:
[ Combo Potential Detected: Shadow Bind + Umbryel Glyph Surge ]
Owusar's fingers shook. He traced the glyphs midair, embedding them into the chains. They constricted tighter, eliciting a roar that shook his bones. Sweat poured down his face as his mana ticked down:
Mana: 65 / 120
Soul Stability: 75%
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III. Tactical Phase
Thrykos recovered quickly, leaping higher than before, wings flaring, tail sweeping across the jagged obsidian. Owusar realized brute force alone would fail. He analyzed the fissures in the plain, sketching a glyph midair to use the environment to his advantage. Shadows surged, forming jagged spires that forced Thrykos into a higher trajectory.
Dodging, weaving, retreating—Owusar felt the strain on his body, his mana, his very soul. He combined Shadow Bind and Obsidian Veil, the chains partially restraining the creature while he remained cloaked. Blood ran down his forearms, muscles screaming, but he pressed on.
Mana: 50 / 120
Soul Stability: 70%
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IV. Critical/Climactic Phase
The system flared urgently:
[ New Technique Available: Umbra Lash – Rank F ]
Recommendation: Critical Phase Engagement
Owusar's heart pounded. He focused, letting shadows coil from his forearm like a whip. With a forceful strike, the lash tore through bone and shadow, constraining the mini-boss's torso. Thrykos howled, staggering, but fought back with a tail sweep that knocked Owusar to the ground.
Breath ragged, blood dripping, he combined Shadow Bind + Umbra Lash in a final, desperate maneuver. The chains pulsed, glyphs flaring. The creature shrieked, thrashing, and with a final surge of effort, Owusar forced it into the fissure. The ground shook violently, swallowing it whole.
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V. Resolution & Aftermath
Owusar collapsed to his knees, chest heaving. The Umbra System flashed a series of notifications:
[ Abyssal Mini-Boss Defeated ]
[ Sigil Progress: Shadow Dominion Tier 2 → 3 ]
[ Soul Experience: +17% ]
[ Warning: New Entities Approaching ]
He had survived, but only barely. The obsidian plains were silent—for now. Shadows pulsed faintly around his hands, whispering, testing, guiding.
Owusar raised trembling palms. The first taste of victory was sweet—but fleeting. He would need every ounce of wit, skill, and power to survive the horrors of the Nethrith Abyss.
Because in Valdoria, the Abyss was patient. It was watching. And it would strike again.
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