Meanwhile, I found myself face-to-face with an enemy that I couldn't see through the fog. The white haze completely obscured the enemy's figure, leaving only vague silhouettes and deceptive sounds.
However, this was precisely her advantage: the open terrain allowed her to take advantage of the space, and her hearing gradually replaced her vision.
I took a few tentative steps, listening to every sound. A light chuckle echoed from my left, followed by the crack of a dry branch behind me. But Fritte shrieked instantly:
—Right! Quickly!
I trusted and stepped aside, at the same moment a lash of air passed by my cheek where a second ago the claws of the phantom slipped.
My heart pounded wildly. I realized: now my vision is useless, but the alliance with the fairy turns the fight into a training of a completely different level.
Every time Fritte sharply cried out, pointing the direction, I pushed off the ground and went aside.
Soon my movements became more precise, smoother. I stopped waiting for prompts, I started guessing the trajectory of attacks, I started feeling the rhythm of the battle.
At that moment, the system flashed with a new notification:
[ Skill acquired: Roll – Lvl.1]
Quickly dodging an attack. Using the skill allows you to instantly roll in the selected direction, reducing the chance of taking damage.
My body was covered in sweat, my breathing was ragged, but a sense of satisfaction grew within me. It was a challenging battle, but it was in such circumstances that hidden mechanics were revealed.
— Excellent! Now we have a chance.
Fritte proudly flapped its transparent wings:
—I told you, we can do this together!
But there was still a long fight ahead of them, and the gardener's phantom was just starting to play in earnest.
The first phase of the battle with Morna Lunn began quite predictably, the gardener's phantom was hiding in a thick fog, distracting with deceptive sounds.
But now that I had the [Roll] skill, she deftly avoided most of the punches and quickly closed the distance.
When the phantom took shape for a fraction of a second, the girl delivered precise blows, and the system happily recorded high damage.
—So, if we keep up this pace, we can knock down her aura before we enter the second phase.
Fritte flew slightly higher, constantly noting the sharp bursts of energy. His wings trembled, as if the fog resonated with them. I suddenly asked:
—Fritte... can you hurt her yourself? Or are you just an observer?
The fairy paused for a moment, then smiled slyly.
—Of course I can! The Queen didn't tell me to intervene directly, but if you ask, I'll help.
I widened my eyes in surprise, not expecting such a response. If Fritte is indeed capable of dealing damage, then this is a significant advantage. It's almost like a cheat code, as most players would face the boss alone, relying solely on their own abilities.
—So... can I count on you?
—Of course, I am the son of the Fairy Queen!
Deep down, I knew that this could be perceived as "cheating." Using a high-level 60th-level companion in a fight with a unique boss is too easy.
But on the other hand, didn't the system itself allow Fritte to join her group? So it was all part of the plan.
—Then stay close, we have to play it smart. Let everyone think I'm just lucky.
Fritte beamed with joy, his wings clearing some of the fog, and the air around him shimmered as he prepared to intervene at any moment.
I rolled to the side once again as I heard the crunch of footsteps and the raspy whisper of the phantom gardener from the side.
I exhaled heavily, realizing that fighting in a constant fog was just as exhausting as the boss's attacks themselves.
—Damn... If I could see her properly for even a minute, I'd definitely break through the protection.
Fritte, noticing my fatigue and tension, flew closer. His large eyes shone in the moonlight, and he said with a slight smile:
— Do you want me to try to reduce the density of the fog? We have such a technique.
Fritte lifted his chin proudly, his wings beating faster, raising a light whirlwind.
— Of course! However, not for long. But it's enough for you to see her real form.
— Then do it!
Fritte flew up, his small hands began to draw glowing runes in the air. He uttered a short incantation in the language of the fairies, and a soft emerald aura flared around him.
At the same moment, the mist began to shiver, as if it were being pulled in different directions by invisible threads.
It was as if a spotlight had pierced through a thick veil, and in just a few seconds, the battlefield was cleansed. The white haze dissipated, and the phantom images faded one by one, revealing Morna Lunn herself, a tall figure in a tattered gardener's dress, her face concealed by a translucent veil, and her eyes filled with emptiness.
The system flashed a new message:
[Fairy Light Effect Activated]
[The Fog is weakened for 120 seconds.]
[The Phantoms are dispelled. Attack accuracy is increased.]
— Two minutes, use them wisely!
I gripped my weapon, my heart racing. Now that the target was right in front of me, and all the illusions were gone, the real hunt had begun.
— Great, then it's time to show her who's the hunter and who's the prey.
I rushed into the attack, ready to deal maximum damage in those precious two minutes.
Although the first phase didn't seem too difficult, the phantoms quickly disappeared, and the attacks were precise. However, everything changed as the fog began to thicken again.
This time, Morna Lunn not only increased the pressure of her aura, but her silhouette distorted, split, and eventually divided into three copies.
All three figures moved in sync, like reflections in curved mirrors, their dresses rustling in unison, their footsteps echoing, and their laughter reverberating, making it impossible to tell which one was real at any given moment.
— Damn it...
Fritte's wings fluttered in terror, but his gaze remained focused.
— This is her second phase! Now I have to play her game.
The system immediately highlighted a new notification:
[Battle Mechanics: The Acorn Game ]
Condition: Choose the real Morna Lunn.
Make two consecutive mistakes: debuff [Lethargy] (-5% damage).
Make three consecutive mistakes: deal critical damage to the player.
I've already seen similar mechanics on the forums, and I knew that I would have to rely not only on my intuition, but also on Fritte's help.
The figures moved in a circle, each trying to confuse me: one was waving its arms, another seemed to be taking a step forward, and the third let out a familiar, ominous chuckle.
Disava's heart was racing as she rushed towards one of the copies and struck. The blade passed through the phantom, leaving only a cloud of mist.
The system coldly informed me:
[ Error #1. Pay attention. ]
I jumped back, wiping the sweat from my forehead.
— Okay... one more chance.
This time, I tried to attack the figure that seemed slightly denser than the others, but I missed again. The copy shattered into pieces and disappeared into the haze.
[ Error #2. ]
[ Received the debuff [Lethargy]: -5% damage. ]
My body felt heavy, and my strikes became slower and heavier. She gritted her teeth, realizing that a third attempt could be fatal.
— Focus! Listen not to the footsteps, but to the breathing! She is alive, her illusion is not!
— Okay, if we don't defeat her in these 2 minutes, another one of my debuffs [Metal Weight] will take effect in five minutes, and I won't be able to fight her properly. I'll be like a snail!
And just like that, the real Morna lunged forward. I didn't have time to react, and her cold, clawed fingers pierced the air and scratched my cheek. My skin flared with pain, and my health bar dropped significantly.
[ Morna Lunn dealt damage: -100 HP. ]
I jumped back, holding my face. Blood ran down my cheek in a warm trickle.