Chapter 12

Twilight Catastrophe

Twilight, the time of day between daylight and darkness, whether that's after sunset, or before sunrise. It's a time when the light from the sky appears diffused and often pinkish. It was the current time of day in the area Lost was in.

"Its name is Raven and it has wings, huh?" Lost said, "A little bit on the nose, don't you think?"

The pinkish light covered the entirety of the Twilight Cat. A pair of majestic black wings sprouted from its back. Its yellow eyes turned into glowing gold. It grew eight horns, with the same color of its eyes. It was a feast for the eyes. Freedom Fantasy was well known for its wonderful views, but this was the first time Lost was amazed by a monster's design.

'Why do you look so familiar?' He wondered, as he drank a mana recovery potion.

It was then that he recalled something from the past.

'Ah.'

He was young and filled with anger. He didn't know what to do. His parents always told him to transfer his anger towards doing something productive, so he did. He drew something at school, a creature.

It was the devil that took his best friend's life one night. He gave it horns, as well as wings in addition to the real form of the creature.

'Enough reminiscing, there's something more important.' He looked towards the two newcomers.

"Hey good job out there, boss helper." Lost said calmly, with a sarcastic tone.

"Who are you calling a boss helper? I saved your life!" The girl replied not so calmly.

"Who else is there? Are you also blind?" Lost said, slightly irritated. "What do you mean you saved my life? You saved the boss' life, dumbass."

"How dare you call Lady Ann tha-" The man accompanying her retaliated, before getting cut off. At almost the same time, they looked towards the sky and hurried to activate their skills.

"Speed Burst!"

"Flicker!"

"Billow!"

Three magic spheres were shot in succession, which they dodged successfully. Lost dashed quickly towards safety. The girl teleported backwards in a flicker of light. The man accompanying her turned into an undulating mass of smoke, as he evaded the magic spheres.

Lvl. ??? Field Boss

'Did the title change?' Lost wondered as he read the name of Raven. He then checked the other two players.

"Not bad for boss helpers." Lost complimented the two.

"You're not just saying that, are you?" The girl asked, "Can you elaborate more?"

"Uhh, are you familiar with the myth that cats have nine lives?" Lost answered, as he used speed burst once more as he dodged another attack from the cat.

The girl's eye widened, "Ah, I see how it is."

The time in Freedom Fantasy wasn't just there for the aesthetics, but it had its function as a game system. One of the applications for this was the change of certain monsters' attributes if certain requirements was met.

"My name is Ann, I'm a Fire Tyrant" The girl introduced herself, "This is Larron, a Smoulder Thief."

"A thief wearing a knight's armor? What a unique choice." Lost responded.

"H-haha.." Larron laughed, "What about you? Tell us about yourself."

"I'm Lost, and I'm a Swift Rogue." Lost said, lying. He was cautious about telling others his class.

It wasn't even a real class, Lost just slapped two words together, wishing the two wouldn't notice.

"Well then." Ann said. "I'm sorry, Mr. Swift Rogue."

And they didn't. Lost was relieved.

Now that he had to hide his class, he couldn't use his Monster Devourer skills. This was a shame, but his current teammates are quite strong. So he stayed positive, since it would be better for him since he was lacking many skills.

"No worries." Lost said.

'Yes worries, actually.' Lost thought.

Ann looked relieved when Lost said those words. He quickly continued.

"Your skill back then would have killed it, but.." Lost explained.

"It has nine lives now, since it's twilight." Ann continued.

"Exactly, it's on its second life now."

"But, how do you know all this?" Larron asked, out of breath from dodging the attacks.

"I just know." Lost answered.

He didn't know what else to say. There was no way he could say "I actually designed this monster and showed it to my father, who created the ideas for this game." Even if he said that, they would think that he was delusional.

"Now, I'm sure you don't want to kill it 8 times, so do exactly as I say." Lost commanded them.

"Who are you to tell Lady Ann-" Larron retaliated before getting cut off once more.

"Larron."

"L-lady Ann, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry about that, please continue."

"Tell me about your skills and what items you're holding right now."

"Very well." Ann replied immediately. She showed Lost what they had, followed by explanations of the two's skills.

After thinking about it for a while, Lost figured out what they had to do. He quickly explained the plan to them.

"Well then, let's start."

"Inferno Blade." Ann said, as she hovered her hand over the blade of her sword, moving outwards. Her sword was then covered in a layer of flames.

Inferno Blade Active Skill

Covers the sword with fire for 10 seconds. Hurling fire with every swing of the blade.

Cooldown: 30 Seconds

Cost: 50 Mana

She swung her sword rapidly, sending projectiles of burning slashes towards the cat.

The slashes dealt less damage than the charged skill from before, but it was enough to enrage the flying feline.

The winged cat dove towards Ann as it sent out a bullet hell of magic spheres, attempting to stop the barrage of attacks.

"Larron!" Ann shouted, as she flickered all over the place while continuing the attacks.

"Yes ma'am!"

When the cat was within range, a cloud of smoke suddenly appeared behind the cat's neck.

Smoke Sneak Active Skill

Teleports the player in a cloud of smoke towards the back of an enemy.

Cooldown: 45 Seconds

Cost: 30 Mana

And from the smoke, came out a hand holding a dagger.

Smoulderstrike Active Skill

Strike through the shadows, dealing 850% physical damage to your target. 20% of dealing burn.

Smoulderstrike's range is increased to 25 meters and damage is increased by 25% while player is inside of a smoke.

Cooldown: 10 Seconds

Cost: 40 Mana

Grraww!!

The cat screamed in pain, it didn't expect to be attacked from behind. It responded by letting out a magical breath upwards. The belly of the cat now faced Lost. This was when Lost pulled out a bow from a distance.

Standard Electric Arrow Ammo

A mass produced arrow that can cause the 'stunned' state

Effects:

+Electric Damage

+10% Chance of Stun

'The arrow I found on that guy had better chances of stun.'

He shot the arrow towards the cat. It reminded him of when he was an Archer.

As the arrow hit the cat right on its belly, the flurries of fire slashes hit the cat at the same time. This caused an elemental reaction.

[Explosion! You have dealt 1130 damage!]

Just like other Freedom Fantasy's mechanics, elements were all connected. In this scenario, the fire and electric damage combined into an explosion, but there are hundreds of other reactions.

The cat screamed once more as it experienced a very painful attack.

"Ann, now!"

"I'm on it!"

Ann charged up her skill. When Raven was about to hit the ground, she finished charging.

"Punishment awaits."

Tyrant's Law: Death Sentence Active Skill

Focuses dark and fire power into a slash projectile that deals (225% of weapon damage + 225% magical damage)

Cooldown: 1 Minute

Cost: 125 Mana

A giant slash was unleashed from Ann's blade. The cat wanted to scream, but it couldn't. The slash turned the cat's momentum towards the body of water. One of Raven's horns fell off.

"My turn." Lost bent his knees, "Speed Burst."

"I hate to admit it, but he's pretty fast." Larron said, watching Lost move so swiftly.

The cat fell onto the body of water. And Lost followed soon after, pulling a dagger.

Lost slashed towards Raven's head and missed, or did he? No, he was aiming at the horns. Out of reflex, the cat quickly reacted and blasted the dagger away with everything it had. The mermaid dagger instantly broke.

"Wow." Lost muttered, "I knew it."

"I drew nine horns, but you only had eight." Lost said, underwater, "These are your 'lives' aren't they, Raven?"

"If you value your life that much, why did you take my friend's?"

Lost turned his arm into the Ravenous Arm, as noone could see him and the cat.

"You may look like a monster,"

[You have equipped the characteristic “Black Iron Body”.]

"Without a plan, there's no attack. Without attack, no victory."

-Curtis Armstrong

"But it looks like my victory, Raven." Lost uttered.

"Blood Gna-" Lost paused for a moment. "Steel Fang."

Steel Fang Active Skill

Bites at an enemy, deals damage proportional to 125% of a normal physical attack. 100% chance of ignoring armor on that target. 25% chance of breaking a monster's part.

*Ravenous Arm can be used to bite an enemy.

Cooldown: 1 Second.

Cost: 75 Mana

***

"I used the Ravenous, to destroy the Raven." Lost said proudly.

Lost had removed all the horns from Raven's head. They were labelled as "Twilight's Catastrophe Horns", Lost thought they were good crafting materials, and put them away in his inventory.

"Speed Burst"

He leaped towards the surface, and signaled to the other two.

"No more extra lives!"

"Rest in peace." Anna said, swinging her sword downwards.

Tyrant's Ultimatum: Guilty Guillotine Active Skill

Focuses dark and fire power into a downwards strike that deals 1500% physical damage.

Cooldown: 24 Hours

Cost: All remaining mana

"Whew." Lost whistled.

Notifications popped up in Lost' view.

[You have defeated Catastrophe of Twilight, Raven!]

[You have obtained ‘Malec's Teddy Bear’!]

[You have obtained 2 ‘Twilight Horn’s!]

.

.

.

[You have levelled up to 44!]

The Twilight Cat's corpse was reduced into what a real life cat would be like.

"Amazing, Lady Ann!" Larron complimented her.

Similar notifications popped up in Ann's.

[You have defeated Catastrophe of Twilight, Raven!]

[You have obtained ‘Shadow Core’!]

[You have obtain...]

.

.

.

[“Shadowblade V (Final)” Quest Complete!]

[The 5 items in your Inventory are resonating with each other!]

[Shadow Billet, Shadow Gem, Shadow Cloth, Shadow Soul, and Shadow Core are combining into one!]

[“Shadowblade V (Final)” Quest Rewards has been given!]

Excited, Ann quickly checked the item's description. But she wasn't able to.

"Hngh!!" Ann screamed in pain, as blood flowed down her mouth. "L-larron!?"

"Well done, Lady Ann." Larron said, with a villanous look on his face. "Thank you for your hard work."

"H-how could you?!" Ann shouted, "I won't let you get away with this!"

"And what can you do? You don't have any power left."

"Give it back!"

"Very well."

Holding the quest reward, Larron stabbed Ann's back.

"You backstabbing piece of-" Before Ann could finish her words, she disappeared into white light.

Larron changed his equipment. It was a black suit, fitting more for assassins than thieves. His head was covered by a hood, with his face hidden by a white mask, which had a red insignia painted on.

"Now, I'll need to silence you too." Larron said, pointing his dagger at Lost. But he was no longer there.

Earlier, Lost had grabbed the cat's corpse and ran away. Larron didn't hear him as Ann was screaming.

"Fuck this shit I'm out~𝅘𝅥𝅮 "