CH 203

"Are we going to challenge a rare boss? I'm itching to test my skills"

"Hnn, looking forward to"

This was the reply I got when I informed Rika and Lana, after we eventually settled on using the flute to fight a rare boss.

Seeing both of them so thoroughly attached to the dungeon, I was so happy.

"So, what's <Slactuar> rare boss version, Zephyr? Is it stronger than <Fatty ghost special>?"

"Now that you say, both of you have experienced the battle with <Fat ghost special>, right?"

At that time, it was Hannah in our party instead of Sierra. Hmm, it's just a few days ago matter, however it feels nostalgic remembering about it now.

Though, that means it's not their first time fighting a rare boss. Already experienced means they wouldn't be surprised at the power up condition.

Since, the recommended level for rare bosses and normal bosses changes by nearly 10.

"The rare boss of this dungeon is <Cactus cowboy>. In appearance, it's like an emerald-colored cowboy (?) riding the emerald cactus horse, err, think of it as a Slactuar which can move. It's also specialised in long-range attacks but that emerald cactus horse can do charge attack. And the most dangerous attack is rope throw"

Imagine a cowboy that appears in the western movies, but cactus edition this time. (What even is a cactus edition!?)

I can't put forth a better description but seeing no one has any question, I continued with my explanation.

"Not only will you be unable to escape if captured by its rope throw attack, you wouldn't even be able to guard yourself and will fall into predicament at once. Since it's also possible for a tank to fall, be sure to thwart the rope using guard skills and solely focus on avoiding. You absolutely can't let yourself be catch by it"

"How should I deal if captured?"

"If you are captured by chance, act as much violently as you can first of all"

It's the so-called mechanism of smashing the D-pad blindly. Also known as lever gacha.

Anyway, you can break out by smashing the D-pad, so you will have to wait for the escape while following everyone just like in down condition.

However Rika was making a strange face even after explaining how to deal with it. Not only her, Lana and Sierra have the same expression on their faces. I could vaguely read [There's no way ladies like them can act so disgracefully] written on their face.

I tried to imagine the appearance of Lana going all wild when captured. But the resistance turns out to be futile, and she's slowly dragged under the cowboy. Though the opponent is a cactus.

Quite a problematic scene, it is. The targeted age range of the <Dungeon Activity> will have to be increased then!

※The targeted audience of <Dungeon Activity> game is B (Suitable for only or above age 12).

"W-Well, that's right. I recall a certain celebrity once said, <If it can't hit you, it can't hurt you>. That's why, just avoid it with all your might if it throw the rope"

"I will!"

"I will absolutely not let myself pull!"

"With all my due respect, I reject it!"

I received intense replies when I tried to console (?) them.

I feel like I have aroused thier bloodlust more than the motivation. Might just be my imagination......

Incidentally, Only Karua was looking puzzled as if she didn't get the meaning.

Our start looked pretty good when we entered the boss room after blowing the flute and saw the rare boss appearing.

The deepest part of the desolate boss room was shining, it was the effect of the rare boss pop-up!

What appeared from the effect was a horse shaped cactus, which is about the same size as a normal horse, and riding it was a human shaped cactus dressed in cowboy style, one you could see on western movies. It properly comes with two hollow eyes and a mouth. However the horse cactus face looks awfully surreal.

This is the rare boss of <Flower garden of the solitary dungeon>, <Cactus cowboy>. Quite hard-working it looks.

"I am going to pull the aggro. <Aura point>!"

"Leave the buff to me. <Divine protection of the guardian dog¹>! <Divine Protection>!" (T/N : Last time, I named the blessing as a lion instead of a guardian dog. The Word "lion" in Japanese basically means both as a lion literally and also as a guardian dog. So I'm going with it, which gives it more essence than literally naming it as a lion. You can google koimanu for reference and images)

Sierra attacked first to pull the boss whole aggro towards herself. Lana followed after her and applied buffs to raise everyone's attack and defensive ability as a whole.

<Cactus Cowboy>'s target turned to Sierra.

"Fufufu, hahahahaha!"

And laughingly, aimed it's free hand (?) that was not holding the reins at her.

I knew what that gesture meant.

"Gatling incoming! Don't gather beside the tank, quick disperse!"

"Roger!"

"Escape"

Just when everyone finished taking distance from the tank at my instruction, "Du-Du-Du-Du-Du", the boss began to shoot thorns indiscriminately from its arms like a machine gun. How in the name of god does sparks come out of boss arms when it's not even holding a machine gun. What principle does this monster even follow!

The thorn it shot didn't have any precise aim etc function so it was a kind of small AoE attack. It's just shoot thorns blindly in a circle, taking Sierra as centre.

Sierra has manifested a kite shield in front of her, completely safe from the gatling attack. This kind of attack isn't even enough to make her serious.

I remember next will be the rope throw attack!

"Run Sierra!"

"<Cover shield>!

Sierra easily evaded the attack the with defensive skill she can use when moving.

All right, it's counterattack time!

The first one to take action was Karua. As expected of Eden's top speedster.

"<Scale break>! <Twin blade wildcat scratch>!"

Karua straight away attacked with defense debuff skill <Scale break>, followed by a single target <Twin blade wildcat scratch> attack.

The <Cactus Cowboy> who received the two attack in continuation crossed his arms and made a gesture of gaining momentum.

――It's the sign of an AoE attack!

"Fuhahaha!"

"Karua, quick escape!"

At the same time as Karua escaped from that spot quickly, the boss spread its arms and fired gatling and the horse unhurriedly circled around in that spot, I.e. a rolling gatling attack. I quite find this scene dashing. Albeit the cowboy is a cactus.

Karua barely gets herself out of AoE attack range. Phew, no injury.

"Fuhahaha!"

Following after, it turned both of his arm towards Sierra and fired double gatling. However, it couldn't buzz Sierra's shield.

"The approach is complete, we are going to attack now. Blast it with your attack until my next instruction!"

"Understood! <Parallel slash>! <Cross Cut>!"

"<Brave slash>! <Lightning Slash>!"

"I'm coming! <Sonic force>!"

"Fuhaha? Fuhahaha!"

The boss once again crosses its arm receiving the massive damage from Karua and Rika's attack.

"Get away!"

"Roger!"

"Hnn"

What followed was another round of rolling gatling. This attack deals fair share of damage and there's also a chance to be inflicted with poison. However for Karua, the one with the lowest defense among us, a single attack is enough to shave off half of her HP. So I hurriedly instructed her to exercise caution.

The boss then followed with a charged attack right after it unloaded its gatling. Similar to the <Shaman Marionette> riding its segway, the horse shaped cactus indiscriminately dashed here and there.

However, this was a blessing in disguise.

"I will stop it! <Shining sabre of the sacred light>!"

"<Cover shield>!"

"<Light blade>!"

"Fuya!?"

Lana launched her strongest move when the horse was immersed in its mad rush.

Together with a thud sound, the horse attacked by the <Shining sabre of the sacred light> staggered a bit. Right then, Sierra swiftly made her entry and blocked its path.

A superb combination! The fruit of battle with <Shaman Marionette> is showing itself here!

The posture of the opponent which was already stumbling from the attack of Lana, crumble down even further after becoming the pray of Sierra's <Flowing shield arts>, and right then Lana's follow up attack, <Light's blade>, strike the cactus horse's leg, splendidly knocking it down.

Oh, it slipped down!

"Go all out! <Sonic Sword>! <Swift strike>!"

"<Gust>! <Quick Slash>! <Scale break>! <Twin blade wildcat scratch>!"

"<Rise of the sacred tree>! <Divine pillar>!"

"waaaah!?"

The boss was a bit far away from the position but I somehow managed to hit the boss using <Sonic Strike> when it was under Knocked down status. This was a lot of damage.

Unfortunately, Rika was too far to join us but Karua had enough leeway to participate as she closed the gap with mid range dash skill <Gust> which can be used even while evading and launched her offensive one after another.

"Fuhahahahahaha!"

"<Induction cover>!"

The mad <Cowboy Cactus> Immediately fired an AoE attack after recovering from knockdown status but Sierra blocked it using her defensive skill flawlessly.

"Receive the healing, <Healing prayer>!"

"Thank you very much, Your Highness Lana. <Taunt>! <Guard stance>!"

The boss after recovering tried to target Lana however Sierra Immediately attracted its aggro towards herself once again.

But,

"Fuhahaha!"

"No wait, the target hasn't changed! It's going to use unique skill!"

Unluckily, the <Cowboy Cactus> had already moved in to activate the unique skill before the target could change. A familiar red effect covers the whole body of the boss. Once activated, it can't be cancelled.

<Cowboy Cactus>'s unique skill is <All out Fusillade • Cactus style>. The boss unloads all its bullets in a straight-line, ranged attack, dealing massive damage.

"Crap, Lana, quickly shelter behind the Sierra! Cover, Sierra!"

"<Cover shield>!"

"Rika and Karua concentrate on attacking it! Anything is fine, just blow it"

"Understood!"

What bad timing.

Lana has her defensive skill <barrier> she used during <Fat ball special> battle, however it's only effective against magic attacks. It cannot defend against this unique skill.

The only way to defend is to be covered by Sierra and gods forbid, Lana would no longer be able to fight if she take a direct hit!

Sierra slides in between the boss and Lana and projected the shield forward.

"<Iron wall>! <Citadel shield>!"

"Lana, you give your all to maintain Sierra's HP"

"<Heaven's Mercy>! <Divine protection>!"

"Fuhahahahahahahaha!!"

"Kyaa"

Sierra used her skills to quickly tighten her defense which Lana supported her by healing her from behind.

Just when they finished their action, the boss also began to fire it's unique skill <All out Fusillade • Cactus style>.

The whole body of <Cowboy Cactus> spit out fire and shoot thorns. The horse didn't stay quiet this time as it also shot a thorn missile from its hollow mouth and eyes. What a cowboy to have these features in its horse.

It may not look impressive, but its firepower is anything but mediocre. After all, it possesses the firepower same as an intermediate lower grade dungeon, and this was its unique skill to boot. I had confidence in Sierra's ability to withstand, but...... Her scream just now gave me fright. I'm very much anxious if Lana is properly following up with her healing. Right now, I can only believe in them in focus on my task.

We are currently approaching the Cowboy who couldn't move under the barrage of attacks, firing at Sierra and Lana and preparing for our ace attacks.

And thus, right after it was in immovable state from using unique skill, we commenced our all out attacks.

"<Brave Heart>! Oryaaa一 <Brave Slash>! <Lightning Slash>! <Shine lightning>! <Lightning Burst>!"

"Haaa一 <Parallel slash>! <Cross cut>! <Swallow flip>! <Sword bash>!"

"<Scale break>! <Twin blade wildcat scratch>! <Vital stab>! <Force sonic>!"

"Hahahaha一一fuyaa!?"

The <Cowboy Cactus> was knocked down, receiving the critical hits from our attacks as it finished firing a whole volley of its thorn bullets.

Yoshi, another chance! I will let it know why the unique skill is a double edged sword!

Afterwards, the boss couldn't make a comeback under the barrage of our second all out attack and eventually sank into the sea of effects and disappeared.

T/N : Sorry for the delay, a couple hours late due to the blackout here.

2.Some skills may sound stiff, I will rename them once I find their respective description in previous chapters.

3.Incidentally, if anyone is bored by continuous battle chapters, the next arc will start after 5 chapters. So you can look forward to it!