A curse slipped from my lips as I aimed my staff at the archangel, preparing to counterattack. But as the magic circle began to manifest, a glimpse from the corner of my eye caught a large chunk of the pillar above me giving way. I backed off just in time, watching as the massive piece of marble slammed into the spot where I had been standing mere seconds ago.
There was no time to waste. I summoned an ice pillar beneath my feet, lifting myself above the debris. From my vantage point, I readied the spell once more, but I hesitated as Dungeon Master 07 engaged the archangel in close combat. His greatsword clashed against the archangel's large blade, where it had come from, I had no idea. Some time along the fight it suddenly appeared in its hands.
With the grace of a veteran paladin, Dungeon Master 07 landed several heavy blows on the construct. But when your opponent is literally wrapped in a film that absorbs all damage, there is hardly any consequence to it.
I held back, waiting for the right moment. It came when the archangel thrust both its wings forward, a dual strike that Dungeon Master 07 blocked with his shield. The guardian followed up with a powerful sword swing, forcing him to his knees, a testament to the sheer weight of the blow. But nothing could have prepared me for the kick that followed, sending him flying in my direction. He crashed against the fallen pillar chunk, the impact resonating through the chamber.
A flicker of concern for him crossed my mind, but there was no time for that. I needed to strike. A nine-layered magic circle formed before me, and I unleashed a rain of ice stalactites at the archangel. They whistled through the air, crashing into the construct with a force that shook the ground. The barrage didn’t make a scratch, but I knew it had done its job, lowering the guardian’s VDF, that iridescent film that protected it from harm. As long as we can bring that down to zero, we will win.
Just as I was about to unleash a second salvo, something caught my attention. The mist cleared, revealing the guardian ascending into the air, its wings flapping with a mechanical hum. I narrowed my eyes and changed my mind, deciding to rely on my strongest strictly offensive spell instead. I pointed at the guardian and invoked [Hexed Frost Lances Conjuration], the most powerful spell in my arsenal. Dozens of ice lances materialized and shot toward the archangel, who, instead of evading, attempted to cut them down with its sword.
The sight of it cutting through the lances with precision was both impressive and frustrating. Even with the sheer number and speed of the lances, the guardian managed to avoid taking visible damage, thanks to that damned film. A "tch" of frustration escaped me, but I didn’t let it slow me down. I cast the spell again, fully aware that while it seemed ineffective, it was still chipping away at that crucial VDF.
Then, the guardian did something suspicious. It hovered in place, its wings flapping without any apparent intent to ascend or descend. White feathers began to shed from its wings, hanging in the air around it. They glowed with a radiant light, like metal being heated in a forge. In a flash, the feathers transformed, mimicking the shape of my ice lances.
"This bitch..." I muttered under my breath.
A unique thing about these mechanical constructs, or at least the ones we’ve encountered in this dungeon, was how their abilities operated on a different metric from anything I was familiar with. My [Identification] skill wasn’t able to pick up on the specifics of their abilities, leaving me to rely on instinct to gauge the lethality of their attacks. It had thrown me off at first, but now, having spent what I believe was a week in this dungeon, I had gotten used to it. I could sense that this attack was on par with my own, if not more potent.
In that moment, the guardian and I mirrored one another, both unleashing our lances in a synchronized assault. They collided mid-air, canceling each other out with a deafening crack. A few lances, both mine and the guardian’s, broke through the clash, hurtling toward their original targets. The guardian could afford to let a few slip through, I couldn’t. Not with my current HP sitting at 337.
Summoning my skill "Unbound Sorcery", I instantly erected a protective barrier.
As I dismantled it, preparing to launch another attack, the guardian moved again. With a flash, it sent out snake-like lightning bolts that slithered in my direction. "Fuck," I swore, dispelling my icy platform and diving behind the pillar chunk for cover.
The lightning crashed into the marble with a deafening crack, shaking the pillar to its core. I could feel it wouldn’t hold for long. Glancing to my left, I saw another pillar about fifty meters away. I made a dash for it, my feet moving faster than ever.
Despite being a sorcerer, a class not known for physical prowess, I had managed to acquire [Enhanced Physique], leveling it up to level 2. The distance was nothing for me to cover.
I was fast but the guardian was faster. Like a hawk swooping down on its prey, it dove toward me. I braced myself, knowing I couldn’t outrun it, but then, Dungeon Master 07 intervened. He came out of nowhere, bashing himself against the guardian with all his might. The impact sent the construct rolling across the ground, its iridescent film flickering under the strain.
Seeing the opportunity, I readied my next attack. Dungeon Master 07 was faster to seize the moment. He stepped into a low, centered stance, his body surging with an unmistakable aura of focused power.
As if responding to an unspoken command, seven radiant projections of himself materialized around him, each a mirror of his intent, ready to unleash their own attacks.
The first projection surged forward, a horizontal sweep aimed at the Guardian's midsection, the blade carving through the air with a trail of light. The second followed with a vertical slam, bringing its great-sword down with a force that seemed to cleave through the very atmosphere. The third projection charged in with a shield thrust, the angular end of the triangular shield aiming for the Guardian's ribs with pinpoint accuracy.
The fourth projection executed a spinning slash, a wide arc of light extending from its blade as it rotated, aiming to carve into the Guardian’s side. The fifth mimicked a feint, a quick jab with the sword before pulling back, then striking with a shield bash intended to disorient. The sixth projection drove forward with a low lunge, the tip of its blade seeking to pierce through the Guardian’s defenses from below.
Finally, the seventh projection went for an overhand strike, the sword gleaming with light as it crashed down on the Guardian’s shoulder. As the last projection dissipated, Dungeon Master 07 broke from his stance, his own body moving in perfect harmony with the attacks. He closed the distance with the Guardian in an instant, delivering a powerful shield thrust directly into its gut, the pointed edge of his triangular shield lifting the Guardian off the ground.
Before the Guardian could recover, Dungeon Master 07 swung his greatsword, now coated in a brilliant light, sending the Guardian reeling backward.
The sight of such raw power momentarily stole my focus. I instinctively checked the Guardian's VDF, hoping to see a significant decrease. What I saw made me wince was how the Guardian’s defenses were hardly dented. Realizing we needed to press the attack, I activated [Arctic Eclipse].
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Ice began to form around the Guardian, encasing it in a shimmering barrier that rapidly took shape, far smoother and faster than its predecessor, [Glacial Eclipse]. The ice spiraled around the Guardian, forming the beginnings of a perfect sphere, a moon of ice. But just as it began to take shape, the Guardian stirred. Cracks splintered across the icy shell, unable to contain the force within.
I knew it wouldn’t hold for long, it wasn’t meant to. It was a diversion, a setup for Dungeon Master 07. Understanding my intent, he lunged toward the Guardian, but just as he reached the midpoint, I felt it, a warning, almost like a notification, but without the interface. An imminent threat.
Light beams began seeping out of the fractured ice moon, first in small spots, then expanding rapidly. The slight cracks became blinding rays of light that spread in all directions, sparing no one in its path.
I barely had time to react, quickly manifesting a protective ice barrier with [Unbound Sorcery]. The skill allowed me to instantly cast up to a tier 7 layered magical effect, and I needed it now more than ever. But even with the barrier in place, the searing light of the Guardian’s magic was overwhelming. The barrier held for a brief moment before it began to melt under the intense heat, and pain seared through me as I was engulfed in the residual light.
I was thrown backward, rolling several meters before coming to a stop. The pain was excruciating, and I could smell the acrid scent of burnt hair and singed clothing. "Shit," I cursed through clenched teeth. "That was something worthy of at least a ten-tiered magic." I could barely focus as I struggled to get back on my feet, my mind sluggish, vision still blurry.
A shadow loomed over me, and my heart skipped a beat, fearing the worst. But it was with relief that I realized it was Dungeon Master 07, his back shielding me as he faced the Guardian. "Oi, you're alive in there?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
"I was about to ask you that. I thought you got incinerated by that attack," I replied, trying to steady my breath.
"You'd need a little more than that to kill me," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around us. Then, he began to chant, "Grant us prosperity."
A soft green light flickered around us, like fireflies in the night, and I quickly checked my status. My HP, which had dropped to a dangerous 47, began to climb, stopping at 324. I saw Dungeon Master 07 readying himself to cast the skill again, but the Guardian launched another attack, forcing him to abandon the spell and erect a barrier to protect us both.
I tightened my grip on my staff, Impotence, and as soon as his barrier dissipated, I sent out my lances, only for the Guardian to evade by flapping its wings and taking to the air. The Guardian ascended, mimicking my earlier attack by hurling its own lances at us. A tap on my shoulder, and an understanding passed between us.
We dashed for the nearest pillars, I to the right, him to the left.
But Dungeon Master 07 was faster, quickly reaching safety. I had to make a desperate dive for the pillar, barely avoiding the rain of lances. The air sizzled as they struck the ground behind me, missing by a hair’s breadth.
From behind his pillar, Dungeon Master 07 called out, "How's your HP?"
"Don't worry about my HP," I shot back, summoning [Hexed Frost Dagger Conjuration]. I sent a barrage of icy daggers at the Guardian, not expecting much, but needing to buy myself a moment to catch my breath. I quickly took a sip from Requiem, my healing gourd. I was lucky, today was within the cycle where I could heal 1000 HP, enough for two full life-saving heals considering my current HP.
"How do you want me not to worry when you're fighting like you're up to level for this fight?" he shouted from behind the other pillar.
I let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "I understand where you're coming from, but...not that I want to sound condescending or anything, but your attacks aren't doing much to that thing."
"What do you expect? That damn thing is highly immune to my light-elemental attacks, and completely impervious to my holy attacks."
I sighed, understanding his frustration.
I couldn’t blame him. I too hadn’t expected to find something remotely angelic in a dungeon that had been filled with mechanical constructs. Heck, I didn’t even know a mechanical construct like this existed. I’d read that mechanical construct section of the catalog thoroughly, and I was certain there was no such thing as an MC-13AA, meaning this had to be a recent addition. Screw the man who came up with this construct. I knew I was cursing at an ally, but right now, I really wanted to strangle that fellow reincarnate of mine.
"I know," I said, with a sigh, unleashing another attack to distract the Guardian. Truth be told, Dungeon Master 07 wasn’t the only one at a disadvantage here. I was a terrible match against mechanical constructs in general. As a Hexcaster, most of my curses and hex were ineffective against these artificial machines. I couldn’t use my Legacy of Agony, my Eyes of Perdition skill, or any of my common debuff-inducing skills. I could only rely on my natural Cryomancer skill and abilities.
"I know..." I repeated, kneeling down and activating my skill, Cryomorph.
In an instant, the entire floor of the room turned to ice, the cold seeping into every crack and crevice. "That’s exactly why I have to focus on attacking... I want to say don't worry about me, but I think that's going to be something that just can't be helped. I think it’s best you focus on trying to get its attention off me. Don’t waste your MP on healing me, focus on shielding me and healing yourself when you have to, I have this," I said, shaking my healing gourd.
Dungeon Master 07 exchanged a nod with me, his expression serious. "Just hope you don’t mind the ice," I quipped, dashing to seek different cover as the Guardian unleashed the same attack that had chipped away at the first pillar I hid behind.
The skill Icy Dash granted me a boost in speed and agility, but it only worked on ice. Under normal circumstances, it was a highly situational skill, but thanks to [Cryomorph], I had created the perfect battlefield for it. I moved with such speed that I managed to glance back at Dungeon Master 07, who gave me a nod in return, wordlessly acknowledging that I could handle myself just fine, for the most part.
I took a deep breath, steeled myself and shouted in warning, "Seek cover!" The Guardian was about to unleash another attack, but before it could fully commit, I darted out from behind my cover, activating [Frost Nova Convergence]. Six orbs of ice materialized around me, then shot out, converging on the Guardian before detonating in a powerful explosion.
The entire room became a chaotic mess of icy shrapnel, bouncing off the walls and scattering in every direction. Some shards even flew toward me, but they harmlessly ricocheted off me.
Frost Nova Convergence was the next evolution of my Frostburst Conjuration after reaching the level 10 ceiling. This upgrade was deadlier and more potent, and it came with an unique particularity, the summoned orbs could seek out their targets on their own, like heat-seeking missiles. The chaos wrought by this skill was nothing short of a battlefield-leveling attack.
The Guardian, caught in the midst of the icy barrage, was knocked from the air, crashing to the ground. Its protective film still active, it managed to recover amidst the mist released by the attack, flapping its wings to ascend once again. But as it tried to rise, ice began manifesting around it, slowly encasing it.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to fully immobilize it as my skill intended, but that was fine by me, all I wanted was to buy enough time to grant Dungeon Master 07 an opportunity, one that he seized the opportunity, by charging in with a powerful swing of his greatsword, knocking the Guardian back down to the cold, ice-morphed ground.
I unleashed a salvo of Hexed Frost Lances, each one striking the Guardian with pinpoint accuracy. I quickly repositioned myself for a better angle, watching as Dungeon Master 07 made another charge at the Guardian.
It was then in that charge, that I felt it, that same ominous sensation from earlier. The Guardian was about to unleash another devastating attack. I barely had time to react before the room was engulfed in blinding light, like a bomb going off. The destruction it wrought in those mere three seconds was terrifying. When the light receded, the Guardian stood amidst the wreckage, the air thick with the smell of burnt stone and the sharp tang of ozone.
Dungeon Master 07 was no longer where he had been just moments earlier. He was now several dozen meters away, having been blasted back by the attack. The look on his face told me he hadn’t taken the hit as well as before. His greatsword was planted firmly in the ground as he retracted his helmet, revealing an old, very miserable face, bloodied, bleeding from the eyes, nose, and mouth. He massaged his eyes, casting a healing miracle on himself.
With a loud mechanical flap of its wings, the Guardian ascended, holding its sword strangely with both hands—one on the handle, the other on the blade. The sword shone brightly, as if being forged anew, and with a fluid motion, the Guardian manipulated it, forging the blade into a spear.
"This bitch... it's taunting us." I couldn’t help but mutter.
I glanced at Dungeon Master 07, who now looked less bloodied. He exchanged a sigh with me before he donned his helmet again, gripping his sword and shield tightly. We both knew this fight was far from over, but we weren’t about to give up. Not when we made it this far.
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[Project MC-13AA Interface]Name: Fia
Race: Mechanical Construct
Model: Project MC-13AA
Title: Dungeon Guardian
[Status]M.A: 31928 ?/ 39928
V.D.F: 32,448?
Offense: Calibrating...
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