With the acquisition of a new skill, my dynamics changed significantly, although I didn't realize it at first.
My steps became precise and confident, my movements were well-executed, and my jumps were incredibly high and graceful.
I was no longer just trying to avoid danger; every action I took was aimed at skillfully staying out of his attack range.
At this time, the [Bloody Blooming Guardian] became increasingly aggressive, as if its rage knew no bounds. Its petals unfurled with full force, like the open mouths of a predatory plant, and with a deafening roar, dozens of thick roots dug into the ground.
It desperately sought to trap me, encircle me, and deny me any room for maneuver. But driven by the voice of my brother, I darted through the area, dodging its attacks like a mouse fleeing from the clutches of a monstrous predator.
The first phase of the battle began with a frantic rhythm, where any delay meant instant defeat.
—Listen carefully... Use the kite, keep your distance, and make him chase you. Don't let the roots reach you.
—The kite? You mean just running back and forth to make him angry?
—Exactly. And trust me, he'll be more furious than you think.
Listening to my brother's voice brought me a sense of comfort. I stole glances at the Blood Blossoming Predator, my doubts growing within me. How do I know if it works, but I have no choice.
He let out a deep roar again, and the ground erupted with roots, trying to grab my legs. But now I wasn't just panicking, I was moving in a circle, keeping my distance.
My breathing was coming in sharp bursts, but each movement became more solid, each second bringing a sense of confidence. My steps were no longer just a reflex, but a conscious struggle.
—That's it! Lead him deeper. Use the plants as cover.
I turned sharply into a patch of ferns. The stems and leaves blocked some of my view, and when the Blood Predator swung its whip, the blow got stuck in the thick web of greenery. The ground shook, but there was no direct hit.
—Oh! That worked!
—Now's the time to attack! Get closer and strike.
I drew my dagger, my heart racing. I slipped between the roots tearing up the ground and delivered a few sharp blows to the massive leg, intertwined with wood.
—Shh-shs-hsh!
The monster roared, the sound of its cry was like the grinding of metal and the crack of breaking wood. Roots flared up, fending off the annoying "bug".
I barely managed to roll aside, the whip's strike passed within a centimeter of me, knocking a fountain of foliage and dirt from the ground.
—Little damage…
I breathed out in despair, watching as the health bar barely moved.
—Don't be greedy, you can't take him down in one go. Get behind the ferns! Let's do it again.
I sprinted back, diving into the thicket as the boss stomped the ground furiously, sending roots flying in all directions. The monster growled, aggroing more and more, but I already knew that I could turn its rage against it.
The roots knocked stones out of the ground, and the thorny vines cut through ferns and bushes like paper.
—I can't keep running like this!
She shouted, barely dodging a thick root that hit her like a sledgehammer. Katzu was silent for a couple of seconds, then his voice returned, calm, almost cold:
—Listen carefully. You won't last in a head-on battle. He's level six, you're level two. It's not even a fight, it's an execution.
— Thank you for your support!
I snapped, jumping to the side and covering myself with my hand from the flying clods of earth. But Katsu calmly continued, ignoring her tone.
—You have a trick. The boss is tied to a point. If his target disappears, he loses aggro and returns to his original position. At the same time, he regains some health.
—Some?! I barely scratched a line!
—Scratch it a little at a time, in bursts. Hit, run, hide, come back. It's called 'bounces.' That's how solo players work against elites.
[Bloody Blooming Guardian] roared as it raised its massive roots and thrust them into the ground, blocking my path. I dodged to the side at the last moment and used my new [Running] skill to slip under the fallen vines.
—Now!
After my brother's cue, I leaped out from behind the fern, slashing the bark on the monster's side twice with my dagger. The blade stuck a little, tearing out splinters and crimson sap.
[Blood Blooming Guardian] howled, its petals opening and its thorns fanning out.
I screamed and ducked back into the thicket, crouching low. As the leaves closed behind me, the boss froze, emitting a deep growl.
He turned his head around for a few seconds, but when he couldn't find an target, he slowly retreated to his spot.
I exhaled in a shaky breath.
—It worked... he actually lost aggro!
—That's right! Now get ready again. He's going to come back, but you know what to do... Hit, run, hide. Do it dozens of times, and he'll fall.
I gripped the [Self-Made Dagger], feeling my hands trembling. I knew that I was about to engage in a grueling game of cat and mouse, where the price of a mistake was death.
—Okay! Let's play a game of tag, monster.
[ Blood Blooming Guardian] growled, and the air around me was once again filled with a heavy, heady scent.
Its roots lashed the ground like whips, and every step shook the ground as if the very location was resisting my presence.
I circled around the [Bloody Blooming Guardian], weaving in and out with the [Running] skill.
Every lunge was precise, every step calculated. As the monster turned to strike with its roots or throw its thorns, I was already slipping away, leaving only a shadow in my wake.
—Now!
I whispered, and the dagger flashed with a faint light.The [Thorny Strike] skill was put to use: the blade, as if filled with thorns, cut through the plant's flesh, leaving deep gouges on its woody "muscles."
With each successful strike, the giant raised its roots a little slower, and swung its arms a little harder.
And when I hid behind the stems of giant ferns, I released the passive skill [Petal Fragrance].
A light mist, like a flower haze, settled on the monster, barely noticeable swaying in the air. The guardian seemed to wince, losing part of its solid protection.
For me, this smell gave a brief moment of respite, my heart was out of rhythm, my breathing calmed down, my muscles stopped trembling. But the forest does not forgive distracted.
At one point, I allowed myself to turn around to check my health.
And that's when the monster twitched, releasing a sharp whip of root. The tree-like projectile pierced the air and sliced through its side, leaving a glowing pixelated wound.
—Ah!
I exclaimed, feeling a bit of discomfort as it sent a small amount of electricity to my brain to simulate the sensation.
The screen flashed an alarming red.
—Don't waste your heals! Save your life!You have to choose: either finish him off now, or get ready for the second phase!
Katzu's voice in the chat was sharp and loud, like a punch. I gritted my teeth, feeling the discomfort burning but not stopping.
— "Second phase"?..
— "Dawn of Fury", when he loses half his health, everything will change. He'll become faster, more aggressive, and start spitting out thorns nonstop... If you run out of stamina and potions, you're done for.
The words hung heavy in my head like a death sentence. I glanced at the boss, who was already swaying, his petals opening and closing in jerks, as if he could sense the moment of truth.
A mix of excitement and despair filled my chest. I realized that there really was no choice.
Or I'll give it my all now, putting everything into my attacks... or I'll have to endure something I'm not ready for. I wiped the sweat from my face and gripped my dagger tighter.
— Okay, Katzu... Then I'll try to finish him off.
And I rushed forward again, in a whirlwind of [Running], leaving behind a trail of thorny strikes and the scent of petals that dampened the boss's power.
Disava clenched her teeth, trying to catch her breath. Her side burned from a fresh game wound, but her panic quickly turned to a cold focus. She knew that if she let the pain take over, she would never get up again.
The dagger in her hand was trembling, but her feet were finding their own rhythm. She darted to the side again, gliding around the giant monster.
[Running] enveloped her body in a glowing trail, and the faster she moved, the lighter she felt.
— That's it... don't stop!
Katzu's voice echoed in my ear. I'm crashed into the [Blood Blossoming Guardian] blind spot and struck, and then struck again, darting to the side.
The monster turned around, uprooting the roots and tearing up the ground, but I was already gone. With each passing second, my movements became smoother.
I felt like the location itself was telling me where to step to avoid the root, where to duck to slip under the blow.
The system lit up with a notification:
[Skill: Running → Level 2.]
[Speed +10%. Cooldown reduced.]
—Damn... I'm faster! I literally glided around the boss, cutting out its roots, making quick slashes at soft areas of its body. Its roar grew fiercer, its movements rougher.
And then he activated a new technique. A poisonous mist, heavy as ashes, erupted from the flower that served as his head.
The petals of the open bud exuded a thick fragrance that made one's head spin, their breath catch, and their vision blur.
[Skill activated: Fragrance of Doom]
—Stop! It's poison! Disava, keep your distance, or he'll suffocate you with that stuff.
I retreated behind the trees, coughing violently. The world was swimming, but she managed to get out of the cloud before it completely engulfed her.
—T-thank you...
— Get your shit together! You've got a chance, but he's getting angrier. Don't push your luck.
I reentered the battle, running in circles, striking, dodging, but I could feel the time slipping away. The boss's health bar was dwindling, but too slowly.
[Blood Blossoming Guardian] roared, sending waves of roots crashing to the ground. The location rumbled as if it were trying to push the intruder out.
—Just a little more... just a few more hits...
I breathed out, licking my dry lips, but I didn't have time. The ground shook, the air thickened, and the flower on the monster's head opened wider than before.
Its body began to pulse, the roots glowed crimson, and the petals emitted a murderous aura.
The system lit up with a new notification:
[Warning: The Blood Blossoming Guardian has activated the Second Phase!]
[Phase: Dawn of Fury]
—Disava! All right, time's up. Hold on! This is a whole new fight now.
The monster roared so loudly that the leaves on the trees trembled. Its roots moved faster than before, and its attacks came without respite.
Every movement was now a rage, a mad impulse to destroy all life around her.
Disava froze for a moment, her heart ready to burst from her chest. But in her eyes burned only one, stubborn desire to live to the end.
—Well... if this is your dawn, I will meet it with a weapon in my hands.
And the battle entered a new, deadly phase.