The BOSS lunged immediately. Executing a powerful [Jumping Bite!] that would have crushed Nightclown if he hadn't already anticipated it. And sprinted away just in time.
He remembered the weakness of the [Chomper Form] very well. The tiny seam on its back. It was an easy target to strike when the opponent was the regular Furball Chomper.
But this Spikeball Chomper... In this form, he had spikes everywhere. Getting close behind it was a death sentence. Or at least a painful one. He needed an opening. And he needed to be quick.
He dodged another [Jumping Bite!]. The BOSS crashed into the stone pillar. Shaking the surrounding with a loud noise. The sheer force of its attack was immense.
Nightclown activated [Shrink!]. Momentarily reducing his size to that of a tiny rabbit. He darted close to its back. Using the brief window of its attack recovery.
The spikes were still a great threat. But the shrunk form allowed him to slip close untouched. He was close enough behind it.
There! A faint line. Almost invisible against the black. The weak point of the monster. The 'tiny seam'.
He used [Stretch!] and extended his arm and his [Wild Nunchaku] to strike the weak point. As he stepped back to gain range. A sharp crack ringing out as the weapon slammed into the seam.
THWACK!
The BOSS roared. A sound of pain and fury. It thrashed. Its body was convulsing. Nightclown quickly activated [Sprint!] and dashed further away. Creating more distance. The Chomper Form was dangerous.
The BOSS turned. Its maw was snapping wildly. But Nightclown was already out of range.
Suddenly, the black, spiky form began to shimmer. Turning a fiery red. Its body contorted. Elongating. And two stubby, muscular limbs sprouted. Lengthening its stubby legs. Followed by two more muscular arms from its sides.
Its maw shrunk slightly. And moved upward along with a swelling on top. Forming a more defined humanoid head. Still terrifyingly toothy. With glowing red eyes. But it was now looked more like a muscular spike monster.
Still cartoonish. But humanoid and cooler in a way. This was the Berserk Form. The description had been accurate.
Its [Raging Boost!] had been activated. If smoking blazing body was its indicator. The BOSS seemed faster. Its movements were more erratic. Fueled by pure aggression.
It let out another roar. A spiral of flaming red and smoke formed around its toothy maw. It aimed his mouth at Nightclown. A torrent of fire erupted from it. It was... [Blasting Firebreath!]
Nightclown scrambled away. Dodging the fiery projectile. He used the uneven rock formations as temporary cover. But the fire breath was wide. Scorching the stone.
He had to keep moving. This form looked like it prioritized offensive power over defensive integrity.
He needed to find a new weakness. The seam was probably still there, but getting close to this raging inferno was suicide.
He should use Rogue's observation skills. He needed to watch. To analyze. He used [Sprint!] to maintain distance. Weaving through the jagged landscape of the dungeon chamber.
The BOSS, in its Berserk Form, was relentless. Its attack method wasn't just [Jumping Bite!] anymore. It was a series of fiery lunges. And sweeping claw attacks with its newly formed limbs. And the troublesome [Blasting Firebreath!].
Nightclown noticed something. When it used [Blasting Firebreath!], there was a slight pause. A moment of vulnerability as it charged the attack. And then another small delay after the attack finished. Definitely an opening he could use.
He also noticed that the [Raging Boost!] made it less precise and uncontrollable. It was faster. But wilder. It overshot its attacks. Crashed into walls more often.
Nightclown's Dirty Fighting principles kicked in. He could use its own momentum against it. He could exploit its rage.
He waited. The BOSS was charging its attack. A spiral of flaming red and smoke forming. It locked onto him. Ready for another [Blasting Firebreath!].
Nightclown instantly deactivated [Shrink] and simultaneously activated [Stretch!]. Extending his arm and nunchaku to inhuman lengths. Striking its body before it could let out the firebreath.
THWACK!
A solid strike. But, the toon hare didn't rush with more attack. Instead he stretched his other arm to grab onto a sturdy stalactite hanging from the ceiling.
He swung himself upwards. Pulling his body out of the direct line of fire. Just as the BOSS unleashed a massive jet of flames.
The fire slammed into the rock wall. Super-heating the rock. Nightclown held on the stalactite on the ceiling. More like a monkey then a hare.
His eyes were fixed on the BOSS below. The [Blasting Firebreath!] had created a charred, smoking destruction where he had just been.
As the firebreath stopped, Nightclown grinned. This was it. The moment of vulnerability. The BOSS would be stationary for a few seconds. The [Blasting Firebreath!] ability was also on cooldown.
Nightclown sized the chance. He dropped down and swung its nunchaku downward. In a full power strike.
THWAAACK!
Loud collision sound reverberated. As the nunchaku's shaft hit the monster's head. A swirling stars appeared above its head instantly. It was dazed. A chance.
He immediately lashed a few more attacks with his weapon.
THWACK! THWACK! CRACK!
The BOSS recovered quickly. Nightclown immediately used [Stretch!] to hold the stalactite and pull his body up. Hanging on the ceiling like a monkey. Again.
The Spikeball Chomper looked up. Its red eyes burning with hate. It roared. Attempting to jump up to his perch.
But its bulk and the awkwardness of its [Berserk Form] prevented it from reaching. It crashed back down. Face down. Shaking the chamber.
The [Berserk Form]'s rage was its strength. But also its blind spot. It wasn't as protected as it was in [Chomper Form].
As it struggled to regain its footing, Nightclown acted again. Doing a crazy experimental move in a battle.
He activated [Sprint!]. Curled his body above there. And leapt down by stomping his [Sprint!]-charged legs to the ceiling. Mid-air, he activated [Shrink!]. Making himself a tiny projectile hurtling downwards.
The [Toon Camera Recorder] dove with him, capturing the dramatic descent.
He aimed for the BOSS's back. Specifically for that tiny seam he had exploited earlier. It was still there. A faint, almost invisible line. Now glowing faintly with the red energy of its Berserk Form.
Nightclown crashed into it in loud explosive collision sound. BLAAAMMM!
It was a bad idea. Truly. The BOSS was damaged this time. Sure. But so did him.
Nightclown took out a [Recovery Cabbage] and chomped on it quickly. Bringing him back to his peak form instantly.
Nightclown braced himself. The BOSS was still down.
He grabbed his [Wild Nunchaku] and jammed one end into the seam. Twisting with all his might. The BOSS thrashed wildly. Its roar echoed loudly in the chamber.
He held on. Knuckles white. Digging the nunchaku deeper. As if it was a knife backstabbing his most hated enemy.
The glowing red seam began to widen. A faint crack appeared.
The BOSS shuddered. Its movements became less coordinated. It was trying to transform back. Or perhaps just to stabilize.
But Nightclown wouldn't let it. He used his full body weight. Twisting and leveraging the nunchaku. The crack grew. A jagged line spreading across its back like a spiderweb.
Then, with a final, heart-stopping RIPPP! sound effect... The seam tore open completely.
The BOSS screamed. A sound of agony and static. Its Berserk Form began to unravel. The red rage energy was dissipating. Its body was twitching violently.
It was about to explode. The terrible memory of the explosive death of the first BOSS he faced immediately flashed in Nightclown's mind.
He quickly leaped clear. Landing several distance away. The BOSS twitched a few times. And then its formidable presence collapsed.
Its red, spiky form dissolved. Shrinking inward. Then exploding outwards with a POP! sound. In a shower of brilliant, multi-colored stars. And a triumphant trumpet sound of notification.
It was nowhere as dangerous as the death of the first BOSS. What an anticlimax ending. But then, the system notification appeared.
[Spikeball Chomper (BOSS) defeated!]
[Experience Gained: +8000 XP!]
[You have gained a Level!]
[Current Level: 12]
Nightclown stared at the floating text. He squinted his toon eyes. The experience gained was... 8000 XP? Just 3000 XP higher than the first BOSS.
And his level was... level 12. Leveling was getting much harder indeed.
The chamber grew silent. Save for the gentle hum of the [Toon Camera Recorder]. Which had captured every single glorious second of the fight.
Nightclown stood. His heart was still thrumming slightly with adrenaline. He quickly realized. He had won. He had defeated the Spikeball Chomper. And he had documented it all. This footage was going to be epic.
And there was still... the loots. Coins and Mystic Silver Ores. And... an iron treasure chest.
He immediately moved to gather the scattered loots. Once everything other than the chest was collected. He paused. Checking his inventory.
[==Consumables==]
[ o Coins: 1778]
[ o Main EXP: Growth Carrots (x0)]
[ o Permanent: Vigor Eggplant (x0), Drive Tomato (x0)]
[ o Temporary: -]
[ o Healing: Recovery Cabbages (x3)]
[ o Raw Material: Ironwood Branches (x4), Stones (x32), Copper Ores (x4), Iron Ores (x5), Silver Ore (x1), Mystic Iron Ores (x12), Mystic Silver Ores (x6), Chomper's Teeth (x33)]
His coin count was now 1778. Nice! He had definitely used one [Recovery Cabbages] in the battle just now. Leaving him with three.
The raw material section showed a good haul too. With the addition of four [Mystic Silver Ores] and plenty of [Chomper's Teeth]. A solid harvest.
The iron treasure chest remained. Nightclown walked over to it. It was locked. As expected.
He reached into his inventory and pulled out his [Utility Tool: Iron Chest Key]. The key slotted perfectly into the lock. With a satisfying cartoon spring sound, the lid popped open.
Inside, there was only one object. A bright blue orb. It was cartoonish. Large and vibrantly colored. It almost seemed to glow with playful energy. He picked it up.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Hearthstone]
[Utility Tool] updated.
Hearthstone? Really? In games, this would be an item that allowed teleportation to home base. He quickly brought up his status panel. Scrolling down to the [Utility Tool] section to examine his new acquisition.
[Utility Tool: Hearthstone]
[Tier Quality: ✪✪✪✪]
[Characteristic: Indestructible, Daily Cooldown]
[Description: A unique object that can be used to instantly teleported the wielder to a pre-designated 'home' location, which can be freely set at any suitable safe point.]
[Note: The Hearthstone cannot be used for cross-realm teleportation.]
Nightclown grinned. This one was convenient. Once a day teleportation. If he could take it out to Sherra, he would have a life-saving skill to escape danger.