“Is this really the 100th floor…?”
“It feels surreal, like I just popped in here all at once.”
Woop!
As I stepped through the portal, a dizzying sensation washed over me, and my vision shifted.
With the momentum from entering the portal, we arrived at the 100th floor.
Right in front of us was the boss room, sealed shut, where Tarlos awaited.
“You can definitely feel something from the atmosphere,” mumbled Siegfried as he gazed up at the enormous door in a space as vast as a gym.
“Let’s do a quick gear check before we head in.”
We had fought off numerous monster attacks before we could shortcut our way here.
We can’t afford any mistakes when dealing with an ancient dragon, not just any boss.
Those whose gear was damaged came to me for repairs, while those with injuries received healing magic from Emily.
Afterward, I checked my own abilities.
Though I didn’t have any combat data against Tarlos, I wasn’t clueless about dragon fights.
In the later stages of the game, Emily faced off against dragons possessed by the demon army.
Even legendary ancient dragons likely share similar base traits with regular dragons.
The issue lies with Tarlos’ unique abilities.
I had no idea about that part.
But it’s not like we were totally blindsided.
After checking our equipment, I gathered everyone to strategize for the boss fight.
“According to the info, Tarlos is sealed and cannot move, but he will attack if you enter a certain range.”
“So we should be fine if we stay out of that range, right?”
“Right, so if things get dicey, just back off together.”
As a healer, Emily quickly assessed the safe zones, and I nodded at her words.
This was the same Emily who was able to back away while approaching Tarlos in the game.
Once we crossed into the boss room, an on-screen text would prevent us from moving any closer if we approached beyond a critical threshold.
Thinking about that, we decided to maintain distance just in case anything went awry.
That alone would likely break the aggro due to the sealing effect.
“So, can’t we attack him from outside the range?”
“Would be great, but Tarlos’ seal is layered, and we’d get snagged by one of those seals.”
Mary was suggesting a classic strategy our ranged firepower party might think up.
But the unknown seals wouldn’t allow us to attack from outside their range.
“We have no idea what kind of attacks the enemy will use. Therefore, as soon as we enter the hostile zone, we’ll take him out as swiftly as we can.”
“…Swiftly? The ancient dragon?”
“Yes, so Siegfried and Raphne will draw Tarlos’ attention, while Adrian and Mary will try to immobilize him.”
“What about me? What should I be doing?”
“Emily, stick behind me since it’s too dangerous.”
“…Aww.”
Seeing Emily pout, I smiled and continued.
“Don’t take it too hard. You’re the most important, after all.”
I gently patted the gloomy Emily’s head and explained her role.
We couldn’t pinpoint Tarlos’ abilities exactly.
He would likely have effects like fear roars or wide-area breath attacks, just like any regular dragon.
But I couldn’t grasp Tarlos’ unique skills.
Luckily, we had Emily.
The protagonist of the original game and the Child of Prophecy from the Kingdom of Lilias.
That Child of Prophecy possessed the power to seal.
“So, we just have to seal anything weird we observe right away, right?”
Realizing she had more responsibilities than just recovery, Emily beamed and clenched her fists.
Whatever Tarlos’ abilities might be, unless it’s an instant kill, she could seal it as soon as she confirmed it.
After all, the developers wouldn’t grant an ancient dragon instant kill abilities in their base stats.
‘In the game, only the Demon Lord’s commander had that skill.’
Setting aside the fact that he was the final boss, they wouldn’t give such skills to mere dragons.
Having wrapped up our explanation on how to finish Tarlos, we rose to our feet.
“Let’s go, then.”
My party gazed at me with determined smiles.
Some to assist me, some to save the future.
And for me, I was about to challenge the legends to reshape the fate of a dear girl.
Rumble rumble!
As we approached the massive door at the entrance of the sealing room, it began to open automatically, sensing us.
Soon, the bright entrance room revealed a dark space.
A room that felt like an ominous cave.
However, at the center of this vast area, a massive dragon lay with its head down, asleep, illuminated as if in a spotlight.
“…Golden scales. Amazing. They shine like gold bars.”
Raphne, the least afraid of the group, marveled at Tarlos’ presence.
Indeed, even from a distance, it radiated the grandeur of a legendary ancient dragon.
Step, step.
Anxious, we slowly approached Tarlos, with me leading the way.
At some distance, we noticed a strange barrier blocking our path.
It was transparent, hardly noticeable unless you got close enough.
“Is this the seal?”
Mary gently touched the barrier with her hand.
It matched perfectly with the location from the game. Crossing it would surely alert the beast to our presence.
I checked to see if everyone was prepared before I cautiously stepped past the barrier!
And then…
[ System: You have entered Tarlos the Ancient Dragon’s seal.
The ancient dragon recognizes you. ]
[ System: The Dragon’s Essence feature is activating.
Tarlos the Ancient Dragon turns hostile towards you. ]
As these messages appeared before my eyes…
Bam!
The sleeping dragon opened its eyes.
Those long, vertical pupils locked on me instantly.
Rumble!
The dragon too slowly rose its body.
The sheer size caused the entire room to tremble, its increasingly intense gaze fixated on me.
Feeling the cold chill from the dragon’s glare, I was filled with intense fear.
‘Dragon Fear…!’
A passive skill of the dragon race.
Depending on the dragon’s tier, the effectiveness varied, but this skill instilled a fierce terror in nearby foes.
And Tarlos immediately opened its mouth, tilting its head back.
Seeing this, I yelled out to my party.
“Cover your ears—NOW!!”
As I shouted, at the same moment…
[ ROOOAAARR!! ]
The roar of the massive dragon shook the room.
[ System: Tarlos the Ancient Dragon uses the skill ‘Dragon Roar’. ]
The level of terror from Dragon Fear was on a whole different level!
Fortunately, everyone covered their ears due to my shout, but they could still be seen grimacing.
I started trembling similarly…
[ System: Thanks to the Dragon’s Essence, you gain strong resistance against Tarlos the Ancient Dragon’s debuffs. ]
After reading this message, the previously paralyzing fear began to fade away.
‘Strong hostilities and resistance due to the Dragon’s Essence.’
I had overlooked the magic-enhancing effect, but this secondary effect made me feel a bit easier.
Yet Tarlos, still glaring at me with its bared teeth.
‘… Can you chill with the hostility a bit?’
That burdensome gaze made me resent the developers for a fleeting moment.
“…Don’t glare at Ken that much!”
At that instant, just as planned, Raphne sprinted straight towards the beast.
Thanks to the reach of her spear, she disregarded the overwhelming distance and landed a hit.
Crash!
The swing of her spear scraped the walls of the dark room before finally striking Tarlos’ head!
Boom!
“…Looks like he didn’t flinch.”
Despite the colossal sound and pressure, when the smoke cleared, Tarlos’ head remained intact.
Its oppressive gaze still fixated on me.
“I’m going in.”
Seeing this, Siegfried darted forward toward Tarlos.
“We’ll proceed as discussed! Mary! Adrian! Cast your spells before he moves!”
At my shout, Mary raised her staff, and Adrian extended his hand.
Simultaneously, colossal flames and ice erupted.
Just as they were about to slash with their sharp forelimbs towards Raphne and Siegfried…
Creeeak!
Stout pillars of ice rose and spread out, stalling Tarlos’ motions.
Simultaneously, a fiery whirlwind erupted beneath Tarlos, engulfing its gigantic form.
‘…Good, now that it’s stopped!’
I immediately reached into my Subspace Pocket.
This battle needed to wrap up as quickly as possible.
Dragging it out would only turn unfavorable for us.
Despite feeling hollow, now was the time to use my best strike.
Gripping that thought, I pulled out a spear shining with golden light.
A replica of Thunder Spear Aspetra.
Despite being a replica, it was crafted after a legendary weapon from myth.
This was a trump card crafted to mimic that legendary weapon closely.
Whoosh…
Keenly aware of my heightened strength, I took up the throwing stance.
With magic erupting from my fingertips, I enveloped the mimicked spear and activated all the intricate designs etched into it.
The runes highlighted with light.
This light connected to a massive spirit stone embedded at its center.
Crack…
As the ground beneath me cracked under the immense pressure, I whispered in my heart.
‘…This must end with one shot.’
While my team diverted Tarlos’ attention, I completed the throwing preparation with the replicated spear.
“…All of you step back!!”
Once ready, I shouted, and my allies looked my way.
Raphne and Siegfried immediately fell back from the core of the electric surge.
Adrian and Mary also retreated to places where they wouldn’t be in danger.
Confirming everyone’s safety, I swung my arm.
Holding my breath, every muscle flexed, channeling all my strength into the spear.
The boost from my fitness efforts filled the projectile, propelling it towards my intended target.
It shot forth like a cannonball.
Boom!!
The spear pierced through the air, leaving a thunderous noise in its wake.
Zzzzzzap!
[ KRAAAASH!!! ]
Soon after, the spear struck Tarlos’ chest, summoning mythic lightning.
[ KRAAAW!!! ]
Amidst relentlessly pounding lightning, Tarlos, mouth agape, screeched in agony, writhing in agony.
The dazzling light caused some of my party members to shield their eyes with their arms.
Tarlos’ golden scales charred black amidst the continuous barrage.
Sizzle…
After exhausting all its energy, the replica spear dimmed, leaving the ancient dragon preserved in torment while emitting smoke.
“Alright, we got it…!”
Emily’s joyful voice emerged from behind me just then.
At that moment…
Snap!
“Damn, not yet!!”
Tarlos, rolling its eyes, awakened once again.
But this time, there was a change.
A new eye had opened upon Tarlos’ forehead, making it three in total.
‘The spear did work for sure…!’
Something seemed off.
Could it be something that the Aspetra couldn’t capture?
…No, as the one who made the Aspetra, I knew its abilities well. Its power was the essence of endless lightning strikes.
The runic designs implied that any foe struck by it should face relentless lightning until it was burned to a crisp.
However, the drawback was that I’d thrown a replica instead of the original.
‘…The output was just insufficient.’
That’s all I could think.
I had driven it to its near death, but the essence just wasn’t enough to keep it struck down.
‘…But it’s still too early to give up.’
With three eyes gleaming, Tarlos looked at me.
But its scorched exterior displayed that it was close to its breaking point.
Then that newly opened eye on its forehead.
A common pattern seen in many bosses at [Epiris Academy].
A revealed weakness when they take fatal damage.
‘If I can just land a solid hit on that weakness…!’
“Adrian! Mary! Target the eye on its forehead…!”
Just as I shouted before Tarlos could get the chance to retaliate.
[ ROOOAAARR! ]
[ System: Tarlos the Ancient Dragon uses the skill ‘Dragon Roar’. ]
Its roar echoed throughout the room.
“Ugh…!”
“AAAH!”
Caught off guard by the roar, my team was immediately exposed to Tarlos’ debuff skills, stiffening up.
‘Damn it…! I need to do something…!’
Seeing my paralyzed team, I hastily drew my weapon to attack, but—
It wasn’t just a roar—it seemed the roar was just a prelude.
[ …□■■□□■…. ]
Tarlos, having immobilized us, began chanting something.
The words flowed from its mouth in an incomprehensible language to us.
An unsettling unease swept over me.
And with the appearance of a message, I understood what Tarlos was murmuring.
[ System: Tarlos the Ancient Dragon uses the skill ‘Whisper of Souls’. ]
A skill I had never seen before.
An unknown skill, that bore a threat, activated.
And as the message appeared, a purple light erupted beneath Adrian, Mary, and Siegfried.
“…Cough, ugh. This is….”
“Uh, ugh.”
“…Ken, …dangerous.”
With panic, they lifted their gaze to me, their bodies creaking.
It seemed they were being controlled against their will, stretching out their hands toward me awkwardly.
In their hands were gear featuring a glove, a staff, and a sword, respectively.
