The battle against the world boss was in full swing. The players of the three guilds spread through the ancient city, raining down their skills. The melee players rotated. Around 40 of them could attack at once, using up their skills, before switching with other players. However, although all the players present could be considered pros, they were from three different guilds after all. Their coordination wasn't perfect, and the occasional delay was to be expected.
The fight wouldn't end in a minute or two. A delay of a few seconds when repeated again and again would still amount to precious minutes over time. These minutes could decide the life or death of multiple players. And dying players meant less damage, unnecessarily prolonging the fight. If the guilds weren't careful, the situation could turn from a snowball into an avalanche which could threaten the entire fight.
Of course, the experienced pro players knew about that. Liam and Earthquake did their best to coordinate the players. But this contained another hidden risk as the players were receiving two different calls and had to decide whom to follow. For now, Force of Nature's members naturally prioritised listening to their guild leader while the rest preferred following Liam. This didn't cause any trouble yet, but the hidden danger was definitely there.
This fight was different than the territory challenge. Back then they had enough time to prepare and unanimously decided on Callida as the commander. But Earthquake was also used to leading his friends into fights. It only felt natural for him to give orders in this battle against a world boss.
These dangers simmered below the surface but didn't erupt yet. The fight proceeded in an orderly manner. Five tanks defended against the heavy blows of the rock giant while the rest attacked from all sides. It didn't take too long for Tuechou to lose his first 10.000HP.
"Filthy grave robbers! You think you can handle my treasure? You are nothing before the power of the sun!"
Tuechou's thundering voice echoed through the underground world. He placed both feet firmly on the ground as a flaming symbol representing the sun kindled on his chest. Boiling steam rose from the cracks of the giant's skin. Magic circles appeared in the sky, covering the ancient city.
"Get ready to dodge!"
Blinding beams of light shot out of Tuechou's chest and onto the magic circles. There was no need for mana. The magic circles were fuelled by the power of the sun and swiftly unleashed their powerful spells. Rocks engulfed in boiling magma fell from the sky, aiming for the players below.
"Don't panic! Don't push! Dodge calmly!"
The present players were after all the cream of the crop. Even facing a scene right out of the apocalypse they didn't run around like headless chickens, remaining concentrated.
Cyclone looked towards the sky. One of the first rocks was coming for her. She interrupted the cast of her spell and focused on flash step, prioritising survival over damage. She reappeared a short distance away and was just in time to watch the small meteor slamming into the spot she just left. The air boiled and the rubble was further reduced to dust.
Cyclone gulped thinking that she made the right decision. At that moment another mage suddenly appeared besides her in a shower of sparks. The two collided and both stumbled to the side.
"Hey!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry…"
Cyclone rolled her eyes, but she didn't take it to heart. The underground city was somewhat cramped with 1200 players. Any more and there would be no room left to dodge. But even so some players had their difficulties. If a meteor targeted a particularly crowded area it would always hit two or three players, causing fearsome damage. More than 4000 points were the norm for a non-tank player. Various shouts rang through the city.
"Healer! Healer!"
"Omni! Give me a shield!"
"So much damage! I'll take a potion!"
The tanks employed various means. Silver Blade's [Aura of Ranged Protection] radiated out, covering a large part of the ancient city. Other skills created dome-like barriers in certain places or granted temporary boosts to defence. All in all, the situation remained under control. The meteors weren't dense enough to truly threaten the players. When the spell ended, the guilds had suffered no casualties. They were, however, forced to burn some resources.
"Hahaha! Are you satisfied?! Vermin! This was only a small taste of the power of the sun! Don't worry, I will let you feel it again. I won't kill you instantly. I will slowly bake you. I will make you regret coveting the sun!"
Tuechou's voice had a crazed tinge to it which sent a chill down everyone's spine. Some players realized that even the mighty mage might not have been able to wield the powerful artifact without repercussion.
Tuechou certainly wouldn't agree to this. He revelled in the power he possessed, sending one great blow after another towards the players. The tanks blocked his fists but soon their stance was shattered. They retreated and swapped places with a new group. Yet before they clashed with the world boss, the latter revealed a new move. He stretched his arm, all five fingers pointing at the players on the ground. A red-orange glow shone from his fingertips, aiming at five different spots like spotlights during a concert.
"Magic tanks! Quick!"
Despite the barely non-existent preparation time, Liam had still informed everyone on some things they had to look out for. And this move was one of them. The tanks with resistance against magical damage reacted swiftly, occupying the five spots, raising their shields in front of their faces. A second later the attack arrived. Five thick surges of magma like thin waterfalls erupted from the magma giant's fingers. The tanks endured the heat and the sweat running down their backs.
"Damn, it's so hot! Why did I choose to wear so much armour?!"
"Bro, be more thankful for your armour or you wouldn't be able to endure!"
The tanks needed to let off some steam, but that they could still talk showed that they weren't really under that much pressure. An orange light even erupted from one of Force of Nature's tanks, spreading through the immediate surroundings, raising the fire resistance of all allies.
Liam saw this from a distance and nodded lightly. Really, one shouldn't underestimate other guilds. That tank was not even part of Earthquake's top team and yet he had a full armour set with effects useful against elemental damage.
In such large-scale fights effects which could support once allies were quite precious. Take for example Melodious Edelweiss who constantly buffed her surroundings. The damage increase of such skills was way more influential than if Melodious Edelweiss were just another mage. And Force of Nature also managed to recruit their own bard. After losing in the first guild war against Dream Avenue they didn't spare any efforts to do so. Meanwhile Nest of Flames didn't recruit a bard but instead they managed to attract someone with the rare class of a magic spirit, carrying all kinds of skills to strengthen magic attacks. And she also proved her might.
"Lunar! Buff me!"
In a certain corner of the ancient city, Cherry Blossom let out a shout. Not far from her stood the magic spirit, Blue Lunar, a fair elven maiden in clothes which looked more like a blue dress than a robe. She heard the voice of the guild leader's sister and nodded faintly, waving her hands. One might be surprised thinking that the woman didn't wield any weapons but in fact her gloves were weapons, hiding the gloves of her armor similar to the bracers worn by some warriors.
With a wave of her hand bluish mana particles became visibly, resembling beautiful blue fireflies. They headed her call and surged towards Cherry Blossom, offering their support to the mage. The young woman could feel how everything became much smoother. The cast time for her spells got reduced and their might increased. She swiftly unleashed her next skill. A terrifying frost spread from her feet in a straight line towards the enemy. The ground cracked as a layer of frost formed instantly, freezing everything in its wake.
Cherry Blossom had already warned her allies. They didn't dare to block her path, watching the spell unfold. When the spreading frost reached the enemy, it stopped below the giant body. A cloud of frost was released. Lesser enemies had a high chance of being frozen, but Tuechou easily shook it off. And yet he was too slow to escape the real power of the spell as solid ice suddenly erupted from the ground, shooting into the sky in the form of sharp spikes. A solid wall was instantly created spanning from Cherry Blossom to Tuechou, its spiked tips gleaming in the light coming from the giant.
Creaking sounds could be heard and fine snow drifted about as the ice colliding with the giant broke apart. However, this didn't diminish the damage caused by the spell.
[-19!]
[-519!]