Jacob wandered the empty black rock cavern. His hand traced a path as he walked the perimeter of the room. The room was elliptical with a few protrusions every dozen feet. The entrance consisted of a simple wooden door covered in runes and a glowing red light. Curious, he attempted to open the door only to be repelled by an invisible wall.

Right, no leaving the boss room. He turned his back and examined the center of the room. There appeared to be an incline leading to a miniature hill with a pit in the middle. A cursory view of the pit revealed two paths that would allow one to exit out to either side of the hill. At the end of these exits were another set of inclines leading to edges that dropped off near the walls of the cavern. I’ll have several paths I can take to cut off line of sight, at least that’s assuming they can’t keep pace with my dash.

He looked from his minions to the bottom of the pit. Maybe an ambush will help me take down the adventurers? He walked down into the pit from the right-side entrance/exit with his imps. Once below the pit drop, he looked to three of the imps and commanded, “You three! Guard this position. Attack enemies on sight.”

He looked to the three other imps and guided them over to the other tunnel just out of view from the pit drop. “You three! Guard this position. Attack enemies on sight.” The little imps nodded with glee jumping up and down.

Jacob had just walked out of the left pit tunnel when the wooden door shook with a bang. The glowing red light dimmed while the cavern lighting increased. That’s my cue. He hurried his way to the top of the center hill with the pit. There he supported his weight on his quarterstaff with his hands resting on top.

Two more bangs echoed out from the door while he waited. Each bang flooded the room with more crimson light until he felt like he was standing under a red sun. A fourth bang saw the wooden door flung opened.

Three adventurers of light origin stepped through. In the lead was a gruff human clad in leather armor. His brunette hair was pulled back in a man bun that poked through the top of a thick leather band that protected his temple and forehead. His green eyes scoured the room above his thick curly facial hair. Wherever his eyes scanned his arms followed with a drawn bow ready to fire. He stepped gingerly into the room, his arrow filled quiver bounced at his side with every step. He regarded Jacob in the center for a moment before he called back to the other two behind him, “No minions or traps detected. Boss appears to be waiting in the center.”

The other two adventurers flanked out behind the leather clad human. To his right was a female elf dressed in white robes Her hair and eyes were both silver as she too examined the room before settling on Jacob. She readied her staff in front of her in a guard position.

Jacob noticed the top of the staff was topped with a metal circle inlaid with an upside-down triangle. He grinned at her thinking. You just scream healer. He brought his gaze from her to the last adventurer.

This one was a half-celestial that towered over the other two by a foot. The crimson light that flooded from above seemed to flow around his golden glow. He locked eyes with Jacob while tossing his head back causing his white-haired pony tail to sway back and forth. The half-celestial drew his longsword with his right hand from the scabbard on his waist. He raised his shielded left arm and pointed the tip at Jacob and told his companions, “Follow behind and use me for cover. Fenris, take his flank and start shooting when you think he is range. If he engages retreat to me so I can charge him down. Go!”

Man bun, Fenris, broke into a sprint and headed for Jacob’s right flank. The other two approached Jacob directly. The elf laid her hands on the back of the half-celestial. A blue light flashed around the man, a possible buff from what was likely a priestess.

Jacob glanced to his right and saw Fenris draw his bow string taut. Immediately Jacob picked up his quarterstaff, bobbed up and down while slowly backing away using the angle of the hill to hide his lower half. He twitched his head back to the other two as they advanced. He caught sight of a blur of motion as he looked at the other two. Panic and adrenaline flooded his system which fueled the activation of a dash.

The arrow that had been aimed at his chest brushed by missing him by an inch. Relief filled Jacob momentarily at his successful dodge. That was quickly crushed by the bone wracking blow that sliced into his chest from the half-celestial’s long sword slicing up.

-23 physical damage.

Shock covered Jacob’s face from the coordinated attack. The half-celestial pressed his advantage swiping at Jacob’s exposed midsection. Jacob dashed to the side trying to flank around to the healer only to see her side step keeping the half-celestial between her and Jacob. Frustration painted Jacob’s face as he struck at the half-celestial managing to bang his quarter staff against the shield.

He drew his quarterstaff back prepared to attack again. The half-celestial however, pushed back with his shield and followed up with a piercing strike hidden behind the shield. Jacob again dashed back from the blow only to see an arrow flying directly into his dash. The arrow traced a green light from Fenris’ bow that slammed into Jacob’s shoulder.

-5.7 physical damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

The damage notifications flew up in the corner of Jacob’s vision. He gritted his teeth against the dull electrical sensation his suit was sending into his shoulder. He saw his HP was already down to 413.8 and started to run sideways down the hill to line up the half-celestial with Fenris to block his aim.

The others didn’t wait for Jacob and gave chase. The priestess sent out another buff causing a green flash to surround the half-celestial. She then hid behind him as Jacob pivoted and dashed right at them. The longsword slashed down at Jacob from the left. He pressed forward and activated a dash that angled him 10 degrees past the shield.

The slash clanged into the ground as Jacob dashed to the right of the healer. He swiped with his quarterstaff at her head as he dashed by landing a critical hit. The swipe however left Jacob’s chest exposed once again. Fenris didn’t miss the opportunity and fired another poisoned arrow right into his chest scoring a critical hit of his own.

-11.4 physical damage. *Critical*

-7 poison damage. *Critical*

-7 poison damage. *Critical*

-7 poison damage. *Critical*

-7 poison damage. *Critical*

-7 poison damage. *Critical*

Jacob staggered from the blow. He glanced at his remaining 367.4 HP. He grasped his quarterstaff and swiped horizontally at the healer’s shoulder staggering her in the process. The roar of the half-celestial pummeled Jacob’s ears as the man slashed down with the longsword. Jacob was still in mid-swing as the blade descended towards his left shoulder blade.

Jacob took a gamble and dashed up the hill backwards following the half-celestial’s slash. A grin split Jacob’s face as he was rewarded with the sight of a green arrow streak flying off to his right where Fenris thought he would go. Jacob took his left hand off his staff and flicked his wrist sending a Hellfire Ball plowing into the healer. He spared no more thoughts for the other two and spun around to dash straight up the hill to Fenris.

The archer managed to fire off two more shots as Jacob advanced. Both shots found purchase in Jacob, one in his left thigh and the other one in his right bicep.

-5.7 physical damage.

-5.7 physical damage.

Jacob growled and dashed forward in another burst of speed. Fenris took one startled step back closer to the pit. Jacob’s grin widened as he jabbed forward at Fenris’ head who weaved to the side but took another step towards the pit as a result. Fenris held his bow behind his back and pulled out a dagger that he used to swipe at Jacob’s advances.

Jacob ventured a quick glance behind and saw the other two running up the hill. The elf cast another spell that enveloped her in white light healing some of her wounds. Jacob grasped his quarterstaff in both hands and pressed the attack. He struck out two times, but Fenris dodged easily enough. Jacob judged that they were no more than a few feet from the pit’s edge. He brought his quarterstaff up from a low swipe like an upper cut causing Fenris to lean back. Jacob took the chance and dashed into Fenris pushing the man off balance into the pit.

A scream echoed out from Fenris’ fall followed by a loud crunch from his landing. Sadistic cries of glee erupted from below as the imps swarmed Fenris. “Help! He has imps in reserve! I won’t last down here alone! HURRY!” shouted Fenris accompanied by the barks and shrieks of the imps.

Jacob readied his quarterstaff as he stared down the advancing elf and half-celestial. The half-celestial glared at Jacob and called over his shoulder to his companion, “Jump on, we’re going after Fenris!”

The elf followed the half-celestial’s command jumping on his back. Jacob raised one eyebrow at the two and gestured to one of the lower entrances with his quarterstaff. “Entrance is down there. You better hurry if-.”

The half-celestial roared and banged the hilt of his longsword against his shield triggering an ability. Immediately the two charged at Jacob who had to dash to avoid them. This opened the path to the pit which the two plummeted down.

When the two slammed into the bottom of the pit, a series of clashes and yips echoed out. Jacob recovered and ran to the lip of the pit as flashes of color erupted from the activation of skills. The three adventurers had their backs to each other and were successfully repelling the attacks of the imps. Bright white light cascaded down upon Fenris whenever the elf had the opportunity to cast the heal.

Jacob bit his lower lip. Did not expect them all to end up down there… He grinned at his next thought. Though they are tightly packed down there now and taking damage from the imps… Time to go all out then!

Jacob set down his quarterstaff and stood over the pit. He flicked his right wrist and threw the summoned Hellfire Ball down at the three adventurers setting them ablaze. Curses rang out from below as Jacob flicked his left hand summoning a second one. One after another Hellfire Ball was thrown down the pit until five had been thrown leaving Jacob with a nearly empty mana pool.

He listened carefully for signs of any survivors. Two yelps whined out from the clang of metal on the cavern floor. The flames died away to reveal the half-celestial’s heavily burnt form dispatching the remaining imps. Jacob clicked his tongue in frustration, grabbed his quarterstaff, and leapt down the pit. He managed to slam into the half celestial minimizing his fall damage.

-46 fall-damage.

Jacob dragged himself up off the floor and grasped his quarterstaff in both hands. He saw that only the half-celestial was still alive while everyone else was dead. The half-celestial raised himself off the ground and roared into another charge that sliced into Jacob stunning him. The adventurer followed the stun up with a double-slash skill attack that left Jacob’s chest tingling like it was on fire.

-17.6 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

Jacob struck back with his own blows when the stun wore off. His blows were only doing about 12-damage though. The two danced back in forth trying to hit each other. The half-celestial relented and allowed Jacob to land five more hits bringing him to the verge of death. Jacob was about to follow up with another when his stamina bar flashed red from being empty.

The half-celestial grinned when Jacob faltered. The combination of charge and double-slashes slammed into Jacob peeling away his hit points. One after the other until the half-celestial was also out of stamina.

-17.6 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

-17.6 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

-17.6 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

-16.4 physical damage.

The two stared each other down panting as they waited for their stamina to recover. Jacob glanced at his HP and grimaced at the 108.4 that he saw. His opponent saw the grimace and said, “Is this it? Is that all you have?”

Jacob frowned as his stamina recovered enough to strike the half-celestial. He raised his quarterstaff and aimed for the man’s head. “It was good enough to beat you.” He brought the staff down hard and was blinded when he connected. Though he could not see he did hear the body of the other man crumple to the ground.

He blinked his eyes a few times as his vision returned to reveal a floating orb of white energy above the corpse of the half-celestial. What the…? The orb hovered for a second before slamming down into the half-celestial’s corpse causing a wave of white energy to travel along the cavern floor and into the corpses of his companions.

All three adventurers swirled with grey energy with flecks of white in response to the crash of energy from the orb. Their corpses hovered into the air off the ground in the swirl of grey energy as the flecks of white energy grew in intensity restoring their bodies. Another flash of white light released the three adventurers fully restored.

“Aw come on!” cried Jacob before he was stunned from the charge of the half-celestial.

-17.6 physical damage.

“Gen get the buffs out! Fenris go all out he’s spent on mana and stamina with maybe a quarter of health left!” commanded the half-celestial.

Red flashes of light shone on Fenris and the half-celestial from the elf’s buffs. Fenris followed with another poisoned shot while the half-celestial performed another double-slash.

-8.2 physical damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-3.5 poison damage.

-20.2 physical damage.

-20.2 physical damage.

A sliver of health, 24.7 in all, remained as Jacob recovered from the charge’s stun. He flicked his wrist and threw a Hellfire Ball with the little mana that had recovered at the elf. The half-celestial intercepted the attack with his shield and glared at Jacob who responded, “Can you blame me for trying?”

Fenris drew his bow back for a final attack and the half-celestial twirled his longsword in preparation for another double-slash. Jacob sighed and gave them a quick bow and said, “Thanks for the fight! You taught me a lot.” The others chuckled at his bow. The half-celestial shook his head and then finished Jacob off with a double slash.

-20.2 physical damage.

-20.2 physical damage.

Jacob found himself floating in a black abyss. A smile hung on his face as he reviewed the fight in his mind. I’ve got a long way to go if I want to take on more than three opponents in the boss mode. I need a way to use my abilities more without running out of gas for them. They had me pinned as soon as I was on empty. A blue notification popped up interrupting his thoughts.

You’ve Died!

The following is the calculated rewards based off your selections:

+30 PP (@ 10 PP per player killed)

+25 PP (@ 25 PP per total party wipe)

+0 PP (@ 1 P.P. per surviving minion)

Score Multiplier: 2x multiplier for voiding experience and marks.

Total: 2*55 PP = 110 PP

Jacob’s smile widened upon seeing the total. 127 PP! I should be able to get more abilities to help in my boss fights with that. A purple light flared into existence at his feet. Soon he was enveloped by the portal and returned to the plaza.

He landed with a thud and looked around for Kronos. He gave up after a minute of searching and thought. I guess he had errands to run. I really wanted to go over my first fight with him. He sighed to himself and sat down by the fountain to peruse his choices from his Gifts of the Dark ability.