Chapter 17: Defeating the 'Feathered Scourge'

[Mini-Boss HP: 14323/25000]

It still had more than half of its life, while Stark on the otherhand was one attack away from dying (two if he counts the 'chosen one' talent's perks, but he didn't know how it worked so he would rather not take his chances).

'Time to use this and hope…' he looked at his hands, which were surrounded by that same crimson aura, and tightened them both.

'Aura Smash, activate!' he reserved this skill for the perfect situation since the 30s cooldown was annoying, but what better situation than him being on the verge of death?

Almost all of Stark's aura went into his right hand, making it shine brighter than it ever had before, even though in the face of death, Stark was still smiling, showing utmost confidence.

The remainder of the aura on the otherhand was still focused on his legs, and the reason for that was obvious: Stark began running in circles around the mini-boss, him not moving at all for a while would obviously make the scourge attack him after all.

The mini-boss stared at Stark as he was running around it, its yellow shiny pupils following him.

And then… it did the unthinkable.

It flapped its wings gently, making it float a few centimeters in the air, then it put its two hands together, lifting them up at the sky.

'What the hell?' Stark was still running in circles, trying to aim his fist at the mini-boss.

"DIVINE STRIKE!" a golden text that announced the mini-boss's ultimate attack appeared above it, making Stark's eyes widen.

And although the feathered scourge could only use divine strike once on a powerful enemy, it decided Stark was worth it.

Immediately, Stark looked up at the sky to see a golden shiny halo above him, following him closely, it was shining so bright that even the people at the beginning of the 'City Ruins' were able to see it.

"Hey what's that?" someone asked.

"A beam?" another answered

"…?" Lana on the otherhand looked at the sky after eliminating another monster, "Weird…"

Stark instinctively knew that he would die if it hit him, so he focused on his movements.

And then…

~BOOM~

A beam of divine light came hurtling toward him from the halo above.

Stark dived forward before the beam could hit him, avoiding it by a strand of hair, and then continued running.

The light beam was following him closely, and he knew that if even one of his fingers touched it, it was over.

The mini-boss on the otherhand was flapping its wing from left to right to avoid its own attack, meaning that it also wasn't immune.

And this gave Stark an idea.

"DIE!" he threw his aura smash at the scourge, and the giant crimson fist appeared as predicted, heading toward the mini-boss at incredible speed.

It hit it directly, creating a massive explosion of aura.

"-5281!" the amount of damage was not enough to kill the monster, but what Stark was praying for was…

[Enemy stunned!]

"YES," the mini-boss was suddenly unable to flap its wings and fell to the ground, wondering why it couldn't move.

Still followed by the 'Divine Strike', Stark began running toward the mini-boss, jumping right above it instead of hitting it, and the reason for that was because… the halo was also heading toward the mini-boss.

Instinctively, seeing its attack returned against it and because it couldn't move to avoid it, the 'Feathered Scourge' deactivated 'Divine Strike', making the halo and golden beam dissapear.

But this was its biggest mistake.

"BINGO!" Stark jumped behind the mini-boss and smashed its head with his aura-filled fists.

"-3718!"

The damage was incredible because Stark was absolutely dominating the battle now.

And so what had to be done was done.

"-3829!"

And finally…

"-4273!"

[Mini-Boss HP: 0/25000]

The feathery creature crumpled to the ground, the once-glowing feathers now dull and lifeless. Stark took a moment to catch his breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked around at the wreckage of the battle.

He had quite litterally just "beaten a boss to death".

[You have slain 'Feathered Scourge lvl15 (Rift MINI-BOSS)', gained 40000EXP]

And soon after that panel came a familiar golden glow that surrounded his body.

[Your level has increased to level 7, granting you one skill point and boost in stats]

And…

[You have beaten the mini-boss without getting hit (NO HIT achievement), granting you a better equipment piece]

'Well… more like it's either I no hit that guy or I die…'

Stark looked at his hands, still glowing with the remains of the Aura Smash, and smiled. He had done it. He had defeated the Feathered Scourge, his first mini-boss in this treacherous world.

Right on top of the scourge's body appeared an item, his reward for the NO HIT achievement, and so he grabbed it.

It was a necklace.

As Stark picked up the necklace that had materialized atop the defeated Feathered Scourge, a warm sensation spread through his body.

The necklace was exquisitely crafted, with intricate designs etched into the metal and a radiant gem at its center that seemed to pulse with energy.

…

[Equipment:] Soulbearer's Embrace

[Type:] Necklace

[Class:] Domination

[Tier:] Rare

[Required Level:] 10

[Quality:] Good

[Attributes:] +20 Strength; +100 HP

[Special Perk:] Grants the wearer the ability to absorb a very small percentage of damage dealt back as health.

…

This was a necklace that required him a level 10 to use, but also the domination class, meaning that only someone with this class would be able to use it.

'Maybe it's because the domination class is the best that it's so overpowered…?' he frankly didn't know, but getting HP back sounded op.

He clearly remembered reading about items and equipments back at the library, and so he listed what he knew.

There are 8 tiers for each item/equipment piece/skill: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, Godly, Immortal.

And as for the quality, there are seven categories: Bad, Normal, Good, Exquisite, Perfect, Artifact, Unbeatable.

But for now, he couldn't use that necklace since it was restricted to only people that were level 10 to use.

'Spatial Inventory,' he mumbled and the inventory void opened next to him.

Then he put the necklace inside, 'See ya later, little necklace, when I am capable of using you…'

When Stark beat the boss, the giant wall of silver fog disappeared, meaning that Kent and Bill, who had been looking at it from afar, were now allowed to pass through.

"Holy shit, he actually did it alone!" Kent was astonished.

"…" Bill on the other hand looked at the disappearing fog with a blank expression, he was surprised too, but also very interested in 'Stalk'.