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Once we reached the third and final boss room, we were immediately greeted by the room's guardians, raptors and heavily armored dinosaurs. They attacked the moment they spotted us. Raptors hurled themselves forward with their massive bodies, razor-sharp claws, and clouds of paralyzing pollen.
Unable to do anything but defend, we raised our shields. Together with Ylva, we conjured the strongest Holy Barrier we could muster, channeling the power of two Spirit Hearts I pulled from my inventory and using them as cores for a far more complex barrier she shaped with her remarkable talent.
"The barrier's about to break!" Veldr shouted. "How many spikes do those things have?!"
"Don't worry, it's almost… it's done!" Ylva replied, pressing her hand to the floor. "Holy Barrier Formation!"
Using the two Spiritual Hearts as anchors, a powerful formation sprang up around us. It absorbed the strength of our Holy Barrier Spells and our Mana, solidifying until it became tough enough to easily deflect the raptors and their incoming spikes.
Yeah, this was the perfect example of working smarter, not harder!
"Charge!"
By unleashing our Auras and fusing them into the barrier, the spherical shield swiftly reshaped into a massive bull with sharp horns. It charged forward, crushing the raptors into pulp as we barreled toward the armored dinosaurs—which suddenly…
Rolled into enormous, armored balls and slammed toward us!
What the hell?! Are you Sonic or something?!
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
They smashed into our barrier relentlessly. Even as strong as it was, cracks began to spiderweb across its surface. We couldn't waste all our Spiritual Hearts here, so I handed Ylva three Spirit Crystals instead. She used them to reinforce the barrier to its absolute limit.
"It's as strong as I can make it!" she said, eyes wide with worry. "But it'll explode after about a minute from the energy overload!"
"That's more than enough!" I roared. "Boys, pour your Auras into it! I've got an idea!"
As the giant armored dinosaurs hammered us, Veldr and Ivar unleashed their Auras and strengthened the barrier further.
I did the same, while simultaneously summoning the power of two mysterious Spirits that had been residing within my Physique all this time.
Yes, the War Spirit of Strength and the War Spirit of Speed!
I had tried channeling them or summoning them as proper Spirits like Freyja, but I discovered they operated differently.
They were Spirits born directly from my own physical body, tied to those specific Stats, and they grew stronger based on my Physique and the Stats they represented.
Summoning them the normal way was impossible.
I had to use the [War Spirit Aura Embodiment] Skill to bring forth their power!
Thus…
FLAAASH!
Two spiritual silhouettes suddenly emerged from my Aura. One resembled a version of me made entirely of flames, three times my size; the other was a version of me crafted from emerald winds, twice my size.
They didn't speak and seemed to possess only basic intelligence at this level, but they obeyed my every command as extensions of my own power.
Thus…
"Combine!"
I infused them into the Holy Barrier Formation. With Veldr and Ivar pouring their energy in as well, the entire formation transformed in seconds.
RUMBLE!
FLASH!
The formation reshaped into a towering giant of holy light, flames, and wind—an utterly wild and unstable "barrier," quite literally a materialization of our collective will.
Or a mech forged entirely from magic and spirit energy.
"Woah?!" Veldr gasped.
"W-What the…?!" Ivar was stunned.
"Incredible! It worked!" Ylva exclaimed. "You can infuse your spirits into a barrier like this?!"
"It won't last long—let's take them down quickly!" I said. "Everyone, pour your energy into it!"
We raised the muscular arms of the giant barrier embodiment. My Divine Weapon manifested as a colossal blazing axe forged from holy light, flames, and winds.
"Searing Cleave!"
We roared in unison. The giant swung the massive axe horizontally, cleaving through every armored dinosaur in a single devastating stroke and killing them instantly as multiple explosions erupted.
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!
The remaining raptors charging from different directions were caught in the blasts and died quickly alongside their larger kin.
"Wow, we did it?!" Veldr asked.
"W-We're floating… wow…" Ivar muttered. "What is this?"
"I-It's indeed very impressive—a mobile, spiritual formation!" Ylva said. "This knowledge… I might be able to replicate it later…! We still have almost a full minute though; should I deactivate it?"
"…No, let's take on the boss like this! One minute—can we do it? Let's find out!" I laughed.
"W-Wait, Brunhild!" Veldr grew worried as the giant charged forward, each footstep spreading flames, light, and winds.
CRAAASH!
With a powerful kick, the wooden door to the dungeon boss' room exploded. The Spiritual Formation radiated so much light that the entire dark chamber was instantly illuminated.
Revealing the final challenge of this dungeon.
The Tier 5 Dungeon Boss Monster.
It had four heads atop long serpent-like necks, a large and robust body, six enormous limbs tipped with razor-sharp claws, and was covered entirely in green metallic scales interwoven with spiritual roots. Glowing golden eyes stared out, and blue-green spiritual flames poured from its jaws. Twenty-five meters tall.
"GRYYYAAARRRRR!"
This was it.
"What is that thing?!" Veldr screamed.
"A-Ah, so immense!" Ivar gasped.
"A Mythical Beast!" Ylva said, eyes wide with fascination.
"This is the Spirit Root Hydra!" I declared. "The strongest monster in this dungeon!"
The first thing the hydra did upon seeing us was open its four jaws and unleash a deadly breath attack composed entirely of poisonous gases and spirit flames, capable of inflicting dozens of status effects.
This was exactly why this boss had been so brutal in the game—why it had killed my character ten times before I finally figured out how to beat it…
And the way was to strike its weak points: the third eyes on each of the four heads with arrows!
"Divine War Demigoddess' Weapon – Bow Form."
The axe transformed into a giant bow. I materialized an arrow purely from the essence of my two War Spirits, condensing them and fusing them with Fireball and Charge.
Then, using my Archery Skill, I aimed as we all leaped through the Spirit Formation onto the walls, climbing them with the roots and reaching the ceiling.
BOOOM!
"GRYYAARRRR!"
"One down!"
We sprang away from danger as a giant claw rushed toward us, slashing through wood and shattering the wall and floor where it struck.
CRASH!
As we ran, I quickly conjured a new arrow, pulling out Spirit Stones and even a few more Spiritual Hearts to fuel my power to its limits.
And again…!
"RAAAAHHH!"
As the beast closed in, I aimed the new arrow, infused it with every ounce of power through Charge and Archery, and fired.
BOOOM!
It struck the second head, making the hydra writhe in agony once more. It grew faster, charging with all its fury. Its giant sharp jaws snapped at us relentlessly, massive poisonous maws clashing against us and sending us flying.
The wall behind us shattered open as we tumbled through the jungle, smashing through several trees before we finally recovered. The hydra couldn't leave its room, but it glared at us with pure rage.
"Let's go back—we've got barely thirty seconds!" Ylva said.
"Got it!" I nodded. "Shadow Step! Wild Cat's Leap! Charge!"
I combined three movement skills and spells at once. The War Spirit of Speed enveloped the Spiritual Formation in rapid winds, and with a single step forward, we shot back into the dungeon boss room.
BOOOM!
We crashed straight through the Hydra's chest, emerging on the other side as cracks spread across the Spiritual Formation.
"Agh, ouch!" Ylva groaned. "The barrier's breaking!"
"Stupid! Why did you charge like that?!" Veldr asked angrily.
"I-I was doing my hardest!" I shot back. "You're not doing anything—quit complaining!"
"Then let me do something!" Veldr grabbed my shoulder and infused his Intent into the spiritual formation, suddenly taking control.
The divine weapon transformed into a long sword. He directed the giant, leaped into the air, and channeled his Spell Sword.
"We have to aim at the third eye! The third eye of each head! We've destroyed two! See those heads that are pitch black? They're done for—aim for the others!"
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"ROOOAAARRRR!"
The Hydra hissed furiously. Its jaws rushed at us as the spiritual formation barely dodged a snapping maw, then used its sword to slice through the neck of one head, cleaving it in two.
"That'll do!"
"No, that won't work, idiot."
"Eh?!"
In that instant, the hydra's neck rapidly regenerated. Tendrils of plants and flesh intertwined to restore the head completely.
"Aim for the eye!"
I forcibly shifted the weapon back into bow form, channeling the Spell Sword Veldr had conjured onto it, and fired the third arrow.
BOOOM!
It pierced straight through the regenerating head, destroying the third eye instantly!
"GRYAR!"
The Hydra let out another agonizing scream. In fury, it conjured giant magic circles and unleashed dozens of beams of green and golden energy, bombarding us with explosions of spirit power.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"Aaaaggghhh!"
The Spiritual Formation shattered instantly. We were all hurled through the room, rolling across the floor and crashing into walls or debris.
"Cough, cough…!" I coughed blood while slowly standing. "Everyone?!"
"Agh…!" Ylva cried. One of her legs was twisted the wrong way. "I-I think I broke my leg! Ouch, ouch!"
"Ylva…! Ugh…!" Ivar groaned. A huge branch pierced his right shoulder, but he had enough strength to crawl toward her.
Veldr was covered in bruises but otherwise fine. He rose slowly, glaring at the approaching Hydra whose footsteps shook the entire dungeon.
"That thing's coming, Brunhild! You stupid brat! If we die because you wanted to kill that damn thing…!"
"No, that's enough. Thank you, everyone. I'll take it from here."
I opened my mouth and swallowed a whole Mana Crystal, chewing and gulping it down.
Something incredibly poisonous that could kill most people.
But not someone with my Physique.
Afterward, I grabbed a Spiritual Heart and fed it to my Divine Weapon, revitalizing it.
"Here!"
I waved my hand, conjuring Healing Flames over everyone. They slowly mended wounds and kept them warm and alive.
"Wait, Brunhild! It's too dangerous! It's a Tier 5 Beast—a Mythical beast!!!" Ylva cried. "We must run!"
"W-We can't handle this much!" Ivar said.
"Tsk, bunch of cowards…" Veldr groaned, clicking his tongue. "I'll take care of them. Go."
"Oh?" I looked at him, surprised. "You trust me?"
"You're an eleven-year-old brat, but you sure don't look or act like one," he said. "Some even say you're our reincarnated ancestor, but I don't buy any of that nonsense. From this trip, I've learned you're just a stubborn kid… and that's fine."
"Heh," I smiled. My long red hair whipped in the wind as I faced the giant alone. "Thanks for helping me weaken it. From now on, rest and take it easy."
"ROOOAAARRRR!"
The hydra's claws rushed down at me. I charged forward, my divine weapon shifting into knuckles.
"HAAAAH!"
I roared with all my might. The two War Spirits manifested beside me as I activated Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Fenrir!"
While resisting the giant claw, Fenrir burst from the jungle. I had told him to stay behind because I didn't want him hurt.
But that had been foolish. He came running eagerly, fast as a cheetah.
"AWOOOOOOO!"
With his thunderous howl, a shockwave of red energy slammed into the Hydra, making the beast groan in pain, vomit blood, and stagger back.
I leaped onto his back and infused him with Mana and Spiritual Energy, pushing him to superhuman speed.
"Charge!!!"
"ROAAAR!"
He roared as Fenrir vaulted more than twenty meters toward the Hydra's claw, racing up its arm straight toward the heads.
The Hydra glared at me with fury. Its jaws opened to reveal green poisonous flames and unleashed them with its last remaining power.
BOOOM!
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Author's Note:
Hello and thank you for reading so far! I am the author PancakesWitch and wanted to say that this is a novel I'm writing with a lot of love. I will publish 5 chapters a week, or sometimes 4.
There will always be an additional chapter on Patreon though, and you can also join it right now to get +22 Advanced Chapters for only $10! The number will keep increasing every week as well!
https://www.patreon.com/pancakeswitch