After absorbing the four ant corpses, Norlun’s body was suddenly enveloped in a shimring, rainbow-colored aura. It rose to its full height, the effects of [Silkbind Shot] instantly dispelled.
Kael and his clones didn't stop their assault, but every arrow that struck the creature was t with a single, damning word: Immune.
The newly risen Norlun didn't counter-attack imdiately. It closed its eyes, taking a long, deep breath as the iridescent light from the aura flowed inward, absorbed into its flesh.
Suddenly, the air cracked like thunder.
A violent shockwave of pure force erupted from Norlun’s body. Kael, standing fifty yards away, was caught in the blast. A high-pitched whine filled his ears as the force slamd into him, sending him flying.
-10,000
He landed in a heap a hundred yards from his original position. By the ti he got to his feet, Norlun’s transformation was complete.
Kael quickly assessed the situation. The boss's size hadn't changed, but its skin had shifted from white to a deep, blood red. Faint, shimring markings had appeared on its hide, tracing the outlines of the four ant bosses it had consud. Its claws were sharper, its eyes burned with a new intelligence, and its entire presence had changed from that of a re beast to sothing far more terrifying.
[Norlun (Lord)]: Level 35
HP: 10,000,000 / 60,000,000
Physical Attack: 22,000
Magical Attack: 15,500
Physical Defense: 15,500
Magical Defense: 8,500
Its stats had skyrocketed. But Kael wasn’t focused on the numbers. If it were just a matter of stats, the passive from his Galeharrow would still keep it locked down and helpless. He needed to know what new skills and attack patterns it had gained that could pose a real threat.
Playing it safe, Kael and his clones held their positions, waiting for Norlun to make the first move.
Norlun glanced at Kael, then lowered its body, coiling its powerful hind legs. With an explosive push, it launched itself forward. In the space of a few breaths, it had covered half the distance between them.
Kael was stunned. That speed… it was nearly as fast as his own.
He couldn't afford to be careless. He imdiately opened fire.
-45,251 (Kael's attack)
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-21,891 (Clone's attack)
The damage was pathetic. Norlun’s actual defense was far higher than its stat sheet suggested; it had to have a passive damage reduction skill. But low damage was the least of his problems.
The passive from his Galeharrow didn't bind it.
To be precise, [Silkbind Shot] did trigger, but the effect vanished the instant it was applied. The magical silk ropes snapped the mont they touched its skin. Its resistance was now unbelievably high—far stronger than even the hardened Rock Ant Chieftain.
While Kael was still processing this catastrophic failure, Norlun was upon him. It raised a claw and swiped.
-8,231
Corrosive Strike applied: Armor -5,000.
Three more damage numbers imdiately ticked over his head.
-3,000 (Corrosive Poison)
-3,000 (Corrosive Poison)
-3,000 (Corrosive Poison)
It was the Carrion Ant's ability. A single strike had cost Kael nearly 20,000 HP. Thanks to his high health pool, any other archer would have been one-shot. The only way to beat this thing would be a zerg rush, throwing wave after wave of players at it and trading lives for damage.
Seeing the damage, Kael changed his strategy instantly. His main body stopped attacking entirely. He turned and ran.
Norlun, as expected, gave chase. Kael chugged a health potion, kiting the beast while his clones peppered it with arrows from behind.
-20,031
-19,255
-22,919
...
Since their movent speeds were comparable and the clearing was large, it was theoretically possible for Kael to whittle the boss down this way. But when Norlun’s health dropped to eight million, it suddenly stopped. It cast a buff on itself. A healing buff.
200,000
200,000
...
Kael felt sick. Are you fucking kidding ? The skill was even more potent than the Leafcutter Chieftain's original version. Without a dispel, all he could do was watch as the buff ticked for ten seconds, healing Norlun for a full two million health. All that work, erased.
The heal was an instant cast. The mont it was done, Norlun resud its pursuit. Kael didn't even dare to turn and fire with his main body. He had to wait until his clones had re-established aggro before he could risk a shot or two.
Then, at six million health, the boss did it again.
200,000
…
Another ten seconds, another two million health restored.
The healing just ant the fight would take longer; it didn't change the inevitable outco. Still, sothing bothered him.
Norlun has used the abilities of three of the bosses it ate: the Leafcutter's heal, the Rock Ant's defense and resistance, and the Carrion Ant's corrosion. So why hasn't it used the Acid Spitter's ranged attack? he thought.
As if on cue, Norlun gave him his answer. When its health hit five million, it stopped chasing him. A globe of white light began to coalesce in its claws, solidifying into a ball of hissing acid. It hurled the projectile at Kael.
-14,931
Sunder Armor applied: Armor -5,000.
Corrosive Strike applied: Armor -5,000.
Imdiately after, the poison DoT began to tick away at his health.
-3,000 (Corrosive Poison)
-3,000 (Corrosive Poison)
-3,000 (Corrosive Poison)
"Shit," Kael muttered. This was bad. With his armor shredded by ranged attacks, kiting was no longer an option.
Did he have to use [Apollo's Descent]?
He hesitated. Using his ultimate ant suffering a one-hour weakness debuff, which was trivial. But the twenty-four-hour cooldown was a massive problem. It ant they couldn't attempt the Ant Queen for a full day.
But what choice did he have? He had maybe five or six seconds before Norlun finished him off.
Fine. The Ant Queen can wait. He could spend the next day clearing out the rest of House Myrden's minions in the realm.
His decision took only a second, but in that ti, two more acid bolts struck him, and his health bar dipped below fifty percent. He steeled himself to activate the skill as Norlun’s fourth bolt soared through the air.
Just as the projectile was about to hit him, a massive shape appeared in front of him. A greatsword.
SPLAT.
The acid bolt exploded harmlessly against the flat of the blade.
Lila was here.
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