After the skill's effects wore off, Zack finally realized that his magic wasn't harming him at all.
The guardian was surrounded by a bright glow, likely a effect from a used skill.
Untouchable I — (Defender/Guardian Exclusive)
→ Envelops the body in radiant markings, providing immunity to all physical and magical damage for 3 seconds. Mana Cost: 100 MP | Cooldown: 10 min
The boss had already leaped at Zack, prompting him to quickly react on instinct, casting Frost Barrier and Blessing of Resolve in rapid succession.
He braced for the impact as well as the pain that exploded through him, breath torn from his lungs. the force sent him flying.
His shield shattered under the immense damage, sending him rolling and crashing onto the ground outside the burning area.
The boss then turned his attention to Dan, who was making his way to the assassin. With her stealth skill now expired, her bow was gone, replaced by daggers.
She readied herself as Dan approached, casting a combination of strikes as he approached within her striking range but the guardian barely reacted; his defense was so robust that her attacks hardly exceeded the 300 damage mark.
Just when she thought she might finish him before the boss arrived, he activated a skill that caused a dark red aura to flare around him, restoring the damage he had taken.
Blood Reclamation Lv1
→ Sacrifices all remaining mana to recover 30% of maximum HP. Cooldown: 10 minutes
The boss reached them just then, swiping its claw at the guardian, who raised his shield to absorb most of the impact. In a swift motion, he hurled a two-handed axe at the assassin, catching her off guard, the weapon struck with brutal force.
525 damage.
Execution Toss Lv2 —
Throws a weapon at the target, dealing physical damage.
→ Deals 130% Physical Damage + Weapon Attack. Cannot be blocked. The thrown weapon is forcibly returned to inventory after 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 15 sec | Mana Cost: 0 MP
Despite her attempt to block it with her weapon, it seemed to possess an overwhelming force, making her defense ineffective.
In a panic, she quickly distanced herself from the boss and the guardian.
The guardian, whose markings had faded completely, switched to a one-handed axe that was smaller in size and pursued the assassin, while the lynx again tried to swat the guardian with it's claws.
Using the boss's impact, the guardian closed the distance to the assassin and unleashed Shield Bash, an active skill tied to his role as it glowed intensely.
The female assassin was stunned for a moment; however, she quickly used a crowd control dispel skill to purge the numbing force that removed the stun effect and rendered her immune to incoming damage for 2 seconds.
Void Slip — Lv1
→ Removes all crowd control effects.
→ Grants immunity to damage for 2 seconds. Cooldown: 5 min | Mana: 80
But this time, the boss had its sights set on her, nostrils flaring in fury as it unleashed an elemental skill, fire pouring from its mouth and inflicting magical damage upon the assassin.
Fortunately for her, she was immune during that skill state. She blurred into motion, her form stuttering and snapping away in a rapid dash that carried her out of danger.
Realizing it was a chance, the guardian, this time flung his one-handed axe at the assassin, but she was prepared; she adeptly twisted her body in mid-air and made a hasty landing, promptly using a health potion to regain her lost HP.
Yet the boss continued its pursuit, and the guardian snorted, clearly pleased at the sight, thinking to himself that he would soon claim the unique item as he watched the assassin flee from the boss.
Suddenly, a massive Divine Ray erupted above the assassin, slamming straight onto her. Her health plummeted as 1,830 critical damage registered in an instant.
The defender snapped his head to the left.
The mage is still alive?
Zack emerged from the fire field with less than half his HP remaining. His passive Second Wind had already triggered, and thanks to fire-resistance potions and several pieces of equipment, he had managed to push through the flames.
Even so, it hadn't been clean.
His health potions and Benediction Aura were on cooldown.
He had refreshed Frost Barrier with Momentum Shift, but for some reason the skill didn't work against the fire at all. He'd been forced to keep healing himself while sprinting toward the edge of the burning zone.
His HP had ticked down relentlessly—45… 50… 55… 60…
The damage showed no sign of stopping until he finally stumbled out of the burning area.
Now, seeing that both of his so-called 'allies' were still alive, Zack decided it was time to return the favor. He went for the female assassin first.
Arcane Surge → Judgment Ray.
She didn't even have time to react.
Zack immediately shifted his focus to the guardian, casting Ice Lance followed by Chain Lightning.
The guardian reacted instantly, activating a skill that caused multiple translucent shields to snap into place around his body, layered runes of pale light locking together as incoming magic slammed against them and broke apart.
Runic Shield — I
Duration: 5 seconds or until all seals are destroyed
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 50
Zack was speechless... Just how many anti-magic skills did this bastard have?
What baffled him the most was how he was able to use a two-handed weapon and a shield. Still, it was clear there were limits, whatever skill that allowed it had already ended, and the guardian could no longer use that configuration.
After negating the magic damage, the final runic shield shattered and vanished, its duration clearly expired.
The Boss seeing its prey gone, switched the focus towards nearest target which was Zack. Who stood still as the Boss was running towards him, he calmly took a item out from his inventory and used it on the spot.
Smoke Flask (Consumable)
Effect:
– Resets aggro for all enemies in range.
The smoke flask broke and dark smoke rose around it.
He didn't know if it would work against the boss or not as it had some hidden limitation like it could only be applicable only one time per mobs in the vicinity but he reckoned it was worth a try.
The boss stopped in its track as if someone had flashed a bright light to reset his memory.
Shaking off the disorientation, the lynx's eyes blazed as it scanned the area, glinting with predatory intent, it pivoted sharply and lunged toward the guardian, who was taken a back.
Most of his skills were already on cooldown, and his HP was running low. Still, instead of retreating, he tried to push forward, attempting to force his way into the smoke where Zack was hidden.
He didn't get the chance as the boss lunged at him, claws wreathed in dark flames. The guardian braced, raising his shield just in time. The impact sent him skidding backward across the ground.
He barely managed to steady himself before quickly downing a health potion.
That was when Zack struck.
Celestial Chains shot out, locking down the guardian's movement.
Zack didn't hesitate— Ice Lance shot forward from his staff, its icy tip humming with deadly mana, followed by a column of searing light that descended from above, Judgment Ray striking like the sun itself had burned through the sky, pinpointing the guardian's position.
Chain Lightning arced from Zack's fingertips, splitting into sharp streams that also leapt toward the guardian.
The guardian threw himself aside desperately, the sharp edge of the Ice Lance slicing past mere inches from his armor but the follow-up attacks hit cleanly finishing him before he could recover.
At last, Zack stood up straight and looked at the beast, which was staring at him. There was hardly a safe place left in the zone, which had dwindled to nearly nothing.
Trees were burning and falling all around him, their snapping fall resonating through the carnage. He let out a long breath, letting the tension drain from his body as a wave of relief washed over him.
Looks like I survived the mess… Miraculously.
But that thought barely formed before a figure materialized behind him then, without warning, a sharp strike hit him.
His body went numb, every limb locked in place. Only then did he realize someone had appeared behind him. His eyes instinctively went to the lynx, as if trying to make sense of the sudden paralysis but it was too late.
The female assassin struck again, unleashing Assassinate, the most lethal skill of the Assassin/Sin class.
Assassinate — II
→ Deals 150% Physical Damage with guaranteed critical if struck from behind. Damage increases by 5% for each additional crit chance the user has.
Mana Cost: 50 MP | Cooldown: 1 min
The dagger struck with deadly precision, a critical hit tearing through him for 1,389 damage. Zack's HP plummeted to zero, and his vision faded into darkness.
The female assassin was the only one left on the field, standing in a small safe spot while flames still burned around her. Her eyes moved to the beast, which had stopped growling and stood frozen for a moment.
Then, the fire around it suddenly died out. The beast's eyes blazed once and just like that, it vanished, as if it had never existed. But the burnt marks on the ground told otherwise.
Her expression stayed cold and unreadable. Once the lynx disappeared, she opened her skill panel, her gaze locking onto a single ability.
Puppetry II —
→ Leaves a clone within a 50-meter radius that the user can switch places with.
→ Can switch with the clone up to 2 times as long as the clone remains alive. The clone has the same HP as the user but no attack or defense. Duration: 1 min.
Mana Cost: 100 MP | Cooldown: 10 min