Gareth followed up with a precise strike from his sword.
[ Skill Activated: Blade Rush. ]
His attack barely scratched Atheron, whose defensive aura absorbed much of the impact.
[ System Notification: Blade Rush hits Atheron. Damage dealt: 250. ]
Viora stayed behind, glowing with mana as she cast a healing spell.
[ Skill Activated: Group Heal. HP 1,000 restored to all party mbers.]
Atheron's expression twisted into a grimace as he regained control mid-air. His staff spun rapidly in his hand before he pointed it downward. "You shall not defile this place!"
[ Skill Activated: Shadow Spires. ] Dark, pointy spires erupted from the ground, homing in on the group.
"Move!" Aria scread, narrowly avoiding a spire that cracked the stone floor where she had just stood.
[ System Notification: Shadow Spires hit Drask. HP -2,500. ]
Drask groaned while falling to one knee as Viora rushed to heal him.
Atheron floated higher, evading a volley of arrows from Torin.
[ Skill Activated: Arcane Glide. ]
His dark aura seed to amplify as he laughed maniacally.
"Why do you resist? You are but intruders who defile the sacred kingdom! You shall die here!"
August dashed forward, using his speed to close the gap.
[ Skill Activated: Dash. ]
He flung a dagger directly at Atheron, aiming for his chest.
[ System Notification:*Dagger Throw hits Atheron. Damage dealt: 650. ]
The attack landed, but Atheron barely flinched, turning his gaze toward August. "A re gnat dares challenge ?"
Atheron retaliated with [ Skill Activated: Abyssal Chains. ] Dark chains erupted from his staff, latching onto August and draining his HP.
[ System Notification: Abyssal Chains. HP -400. Movent speed reduced by 25%. ]
August gritted his teeth, struggling to move.
Despite his title cutting down most of the damage, it was still quite substantial.
"Gah!" Drask charged forward with his axe held high and swung it down at the dark chains binding August in place.
His axe instantly cleaved through the chains, freeing August.
"Thanks," August stated while Aria hurled a massive fireball at Atheron.
[ Skill Activated: Fla Cascade. ]
The fireball exploded on impact, causing significant damage.
[ System Notification: Fla Cascade hits Atheron. Damage dealt: 500. ]
As Atheron's HP dipped below 10,000, his dark aura grew more unstable. "You leave no choice. If you will not fall, I shall destroy you myself!"
He cast a devastating spell,
[ Skill Activated: Dark Tempest. ]
A swirling vortex of shadow energy filled the chamber, forcing the group to take cover.
[ System Notification: Dark Tempest. All party mbers HP -1,800. ]
August lost only about 1000 instead of the full amount but nevertheless, it was still a substantial loss.
"Damn it!" Torin shouted while chugging a health potion.
[ HP 1,500 restored. ]
"This guy's relentless!"
"Keep at it!" Aria shouted. "We're wearing him down. Viora, keep healing!"
August activated stealth and dashed around the surroundings.
Leaping towards a protrusion on the wall and using it to catapult himself further in Aetheron's direction, August used [ Skill Activated: Hidden Strike ]
Appearing behind Atheron, he landed a critical hit to the mage's back.
[ System Notification: Hidden Strike critical hit. Damage dealt: 1800. ]
The blind mage staggered, causing him to float downward for a bit.
"Keep the pressure on him!" Gareth called before striking Atheron with a powerful slash.
[ Skill Activated: Blade Barrage. ]
Others also let their attacks rain down while he was at a height where they could reach.
His armor still absorbed most of the impact but there was only so much that armor could do in the face of continuous hits.
Atheron's HP was now below 5,000.
His movents beca erratic, and he began casting multiple spells simultaneously.
[ Skill Activated: Void Orbs. ]
Dark orbs materialized and chased the group. August narrowly dodged one, while Aria destroyed another with a well-tid fireball.
[ System Notification: Void Orb destroyed. ]
Finally, August saw an opening.
[ Skill Activated: Ethereal Storm. ]
Just like before, ethereal shards pumled Atheron, leaving him vulnerable.
[ System Notification: Ethereal Storm hits Atheron. Damage dealt: 2,000. ]
"Finish him!" Aria yelled.
Drask leapt into the air before bringing his axe down with all his might.
[ Skill Activated: Cleaving Strike! ]
[ System Notification:** Cleaving Strike critical hit. Damage dealt: 700. ]
Atheron let out a final, guttural scream as his HP hit zero. His dark aura dissipated, and he crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
[ System Notification: Boss defeated - Atheron the Corrupted Mage. EXP 40,000. Party loot acquired. ]
As the group caught their breath, the room began to shimr. Loot materialized, including rare mana crystals, a spell to, and a powerful amulet.
Torin clapped August on the shoulder. "That magic of yours really ca through."
The darkness that had once engulfed Aetheron's form began to dissipate at this mont, peeling away in ghostly tendrils until nothing remained of its corruption.
Suddenly, a translucent blue astral form began to rise from Atheron's lifeless body, floating gently in the air. It was Atheron, or rather, what was left of his true essence.
The group froze, unsure of what to do as the spirit looked at them with serene, almost grateful eyes.
Without warning, the surroundings shifted once again. The air shimred, and a projection sprang to life around them, showing the mage in his final days.
In the vision, Atheron stood firm within a massive throne room. Around him were countless enemies, storming the kingdom walls and surging toward the palace.
Despite their numbers, Atheron's power was on full display. His staff twirled, unleashing devastating waves of magic that turned the invaders into ash.
However, their focus was not solely on destruction. At the center of the palace, floating ominously in a swirl of shadowy energy, was a dark-looking fruit, pulsating as though it had a life of its own.
"What is that?" Aria murmured with a look of unease.
The projection flickered and faded before they could see what happened next, leaving only silence. The astral form of Atheron turned to them and smiled faintly.
"Grant my king peace," his voice resonated with a mixture of regret and hope. "I'm counting on you..." His form dissipated, scattering into tiny orbs of light that floated upward and disappeared into the ether.
As the room settled, a distinct chi echoed through the air.
[ System Notification: Loot dropped: Staff of the Voidseer, C-Tier Magic Card (Atheron's Shadow Pulse), Shadow Crystal ×2, Ancient Rune Fragnt ×1, Mana Crystal ×3, Gold ×400. ]
The group imdiately went into action, inspecting the dropped items and discussing their distribution.
Aria picked up the Staff of the Voidseer. Its intricate carvings glowed faintly with dark mana. "This... is powerful," she voiced in astonishnt. "It increases dark-type spell damage by 25%. It'll help in the next levels."
Torin chuckled. "Of course, the mage gets the staff. Lucky you."
August reached down and retrieved the C-Tier Magic Card labeled Atheron's Shadow Pulse. He inspected it briefly.
[ C-Tier Magic Card: Atheron's Shadow Pulse ]
He decided to keep it in his inventory for now. There would be ti to decide later whether or not to unlock it. "I'll hold onto this," he said before slipping it into his storage.
Drask picked up the Shadow Crystals as his eyes glead. "These will sell for a fortune at the auction house."
Gareth took the Ancient Rune Fragnt, which he claid could likely be used to craft sothing powerful later.
Viora split the Mana Crystals evenly among herself, Aria, and Torin, given their heavy reliance on magic and ranged attacks.
The remaining Gold was divided evenly among all six mbers, with each receiving approximately 67 gold.
As they gathered the loot, August turned to Aria. "What do you think that fruit was in the projection? It looked... ominous."
Aria frowned while gripping the staff tightly. "I don't know. But if it's tied to the Swordking, it might be the key to understanding his madness."
"Or it's the reason for it," Gareth added darkly. "I an, did you see how much effort Atheron put into protecting it? That wasn't just a regular fruit."
Torin scoffed, adjusting his bow. "If we find it, it better be worth sothing. I didn't co all this way just for a history lesson."
Drask grinned, clapping Torin on the back. "Relax. We'll probably be fighting over who gets to keep it when we find it."
Aria's gaze lingered on the spot where Atheron's astral form had disappeared. "Whatever it is, we need to be prepared. If Atheron was this corrupted by the end, I don't want to imagine what lies ahead."
August nodded with a grim look. "Then let's not waste any more ti."
The group approached the newly revealed doorway at the far end of the chamber. As they stepped through, the air grew noticeably colder, and the ancient aura of the dungeon seed to press even heavier on their shoulders.
[ System Notification: Access granted to Floor 71. ]
As they descended deeper into the dungeon, August reflected on Atheron's final words.
'Grant my king peace.'
It was a plea, not just for them to conquer the dungeon, but perhaps to end the tornt of the Swordking himself.
He couldn't shake the image of the dark fruit in the projection. 'Could it be the rumored Fruit of Sin?' he wondered.
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