Chapter 25: The End In Sight
The amber glow surrounding Grifear signified a large skill attack that was about to be released when enraged. It was known as Earthen Blade Cyclone, beginning with Grifear pounding the ground.
The crystalline blades on its limbs broke apart as the ground split opened and spewed fragmented projectiles in every direction.
It was a skill that most players were incapable of dodging because the spacing between projectiles was almost nonexistent. Because of this, Kieran had everyone line up behind him in a straight line to minimize their exposure.
As Kieran mentioned, Grifear was the amalgam of every monster thus far, so remembering the old patterns was the key to surviving against it.
Usually, what Kieran was doing would be handled by the party's tank, but there was none.
Peng! Peng! Peng!
Kieran deflected the incoming crystal and earth projectiles, losing Health every time he did so. However, he had Cygnus apply a Restorative to help replenish the Health he lost frequently.
Cygnus and Sithik would alternate supplying a Healing Light or Mending Aura when needed.
Despite the alarming impacts, Kieran didn't find it unbearable and continued to persist against the consistent bombardment.
'This much is necessary. It's nothing I can't overcome,' Kieran thought. They were too close to the end for him to give up now.
By the end of the storm of crystal projectiles, Kieran's Health had fallen to 15%, but Sithik used Regeneration Burst to quickly return a large amount of Health.
Though Kieran's Health rose quickly, his worried expression didn't change. Contrary to Guraha, who entered a weakened state after unleashing its large skill, Grifear seemed perfectly fine!
Grr!
Grifear growled after seeing that its target had survived its attack. The instinct to rip them limb from limb surfaced in its mind.
All of a sudden, Kieran tapped his interface and disabled his helmet's cosmetic effects, which similarly revealed his deep black ear-length hair swaying with the light wind.
Most individuals assumed that he wore a helmet to hide his sub-par looks, but it seemed that wasn't the case. Kieran wore his helmet simply because it was part of the set supplied to him.
After removing his helmet's effects, Kieran sighed in relief as he felt the breeze against his cheek. 'This game is truly the best outlet, allowing me to release my repressed emotions,' Kieran thought before revealing a satisfied smile.
It had truly set in that he had returned to his glorious battlefield—Zenith Online!
Whoosh! Bang!
While basking in this feeling, Kieran felt a sudden change in the wind caused by Grifear's haphazard charge. Its immense figure pounded the ground and slammed down a few moments later.
Kieran responded by double-handedly slashing his sword up.
Boom!
The ground around Kieran's feet fractured while his feet formed a deep indent. A quarter of his Health vanished, but a Mending Aura replenished a portion of that instantly.
The situation wasn't the best, but Kieran remained calm. Skills on cooldown? It was no issue for Kieran. He was confident in his current STR, AGI, and CTL.
"Heal me continuously," Kieran said.
Afterward, he engaged in a battle of physical might with Grifear, something that made the stream viewers gawk.
Who had the gall to match a Boss pound for pound?! Was he insane?
"More! Fight back more!" Kieran bellowed, challenging the boss with a crazed look seeping into his eyes.
Despite wielding a heavy greatsword, Kieran's attacks gradually accelerated to the point many began to question if he were wielding a normal longsword rather than a greatsword.
Unknowingly, Kieran's expression morphed into one of a smiling demon, and his heart began to pound harder.
Bang! Bang! Ting!
Although his Health continued to rise and fall, like the readings of a heartbeat monitor, Kieran ignored it. This current brutal fight served as an outlet for him to channel many of his resentments.
Because of how focused he was, Kieran exhibited an intrinsic understanding of his skill cooldowns. Approximately twenty seconds later, Kieran ducked underneath Grifear's retaliation and struck upward.
"Force Slash!"
Grifear wasn't Dazed this time, but Kieran linked his movements together seamlessly and triggered the Knockback effect. When Grifear stumbled, Kieran followed up with another attack.
"Charge!"
Thud!
Grifear's Health dropped considerably due to the two attacks, but it depleted further with Kieran's next action.
"Savage Break!"
…Booom!
-1,605! «Critical Hit»
'This is insane,' Altair thought in silence. He looked at Kieran with an unusual gaze and subtly shook his head. 'I thought my combat mechanics were good, but this guy is a monster. I could learn a few things from him.'
There were times when Altair felt Kieran had been put in a predicament where he couldn't dodge or retaliate, but he continued to prove him wrong by unleashing attacks or movements from the most awkward positions.
Any average person would have failed if they were put in such a precarious situation. It took confidence to carry out these actions—confidence that one would succeed no matter what.
Kieran's actions resulted from his years of proper training from reputable combat trainers, which he grew to surpass.
"Did you all survive?" Kieran casually asked before glancing over his shoulder.
Grifear had unleashed a cone-shaped attack earlier that involved several brittle boulders exploding, so Kieran was ensuring that they had survived. Though, their survival was no longer required to clear the run.
It was approaching its last stretch.
"I'm a-okay. But I'm terrified and shocked as well," Sithik said, almost distraught.
Eventually, Aspaira's magic attacks lowered Grifear's Health until its body began swelling and pulsating with a berserk power.
Upon reaching 15% of its Health, Grifear roared to the sky and released an increasingly berserk aura and savage expression, bearing its fearsome fangs.
〈System: «Grifear, King of the Forest» has entered its «Berserk» phase.〉
〈System: Grifear's STR and AGI have increased by 20%.〉
〈System: Grifear's DEF has decreased by 25%.〉
The Berserk Phase was a system available to all bosses, but its effects varied depending on rank, level, and type.
Beasts typically experienced increased STR and AGI at the expense of DEF while going Berserk.
'Finally,' Kieran inwardly remarked.
Although Kieran was happy that this change finally occurred, he could no longer be careless and engage in a frontal assault. A 20% increase in STR meant Grifear's attacks had become incredibly dangerous.
Swoosh!
Grifear's AGI boost hastened its movement, which kicked up a violent gust of wind.
Kieran instinctively activated the Hardened Skin ability attached to the Crystalline Ring. He gained a 10% Damage Reduction, but the damage from a single strike was ridiculous.
-100
Kieran blocked part of the strike, but it claimed nearly a third of his Health. Even with Cygnus and Sithik's healing, Kieran didn't feel comfortable suffering so much damage.
'It's faster, but because it's Berserk, it's also more dangerous,' Kieran thought.
After receiving the attack and being forced back, Kieran noticed that Grifear targeted Altair next. Grifear's attack pattern no longer followed the aggro values; Grifear attacked based on the closest target.
BOOM!
Altair was sent flying from a vicious swipe, losing more than 150 Health. Seeing as Altair's Health barely surpassed 190, it was a massive amount of damage.
Because of Grifear's increased AGI, Aspaira failed to land any spells, which naturally frustrated her.
"It's so fat and fast!" Aspaira scowled and stomped her foot.
"It's deserving to be the Dungeon Boss," Altair commented, rolling his shoulders and grimacing. A Restorative Mist enveloped his body and gradually soothed some of the pain he felt.
"We're close. Don't let your spirits be defeated now. It has less than 2,000 Health remaining," Kieran said.
His words reinforced their desire to clear the dungeon, but it was somewhat challenging to handle the beast until Kieran's skills came off cooldown.
Soon enough, Kieran realized that handling Grifear's rampage fell upon his shoulders. "After two hits, cast Regeneration Burst and then unload your weaker heals."
Kieran met Grifear's advance a second later and unleashed a Heavy Slash.
After three exchanges, a burst of pleasant energy encompassed Kieran.
+192
Bang! Bang!
Another burst enveloped Kieran.
+204
Whoosh!
Kieran unleashed a Force Slash after the second Regeneration Burst appeared but to the party's dismay, Grifear dodged the attack!
"No way! How did it dodge that?!" Sithik exclaimed. His anxiety had increased to the point that he began biting his nails.
If it had become fast enough to dodge at such a close distance, wouldn't that mean his Savage Break could potentially miss?
After following Kieran's direction, the only skill that remained available was Healing Lights, but even if they unleashed it together, it wouldn't save Kieran from a fatal attack.
'Remain calm,' Kieran told himself.
While the others could panic, he couldn't. What he needed was to focus.
As soon as Charge came off cooldown, Kieran coupled it with a Directional Slash, hoping one of them would trigger the Knockback effect.
-250 «Resisted»
-169
Unfortunately, the Berserk Phase made Boss Monsters more resistant to abnormal statuses.
However, Kieran wasn't the type to give up due to one failed attempt. Kieran continued swinging his sword.
Finally, once Savage Break returned from cooldown, Kieran closed the distance until he was eye-to-eye with Grifear.
"This is the end," Kieran remarked coldly.
-1,643! «Critical Hit»
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ApexPen
ApexPen Make sure to point out any spelling errors, grammar errors, or numbers/information that wasn't properly updated so I can immediately rectify those issues.
Thank you, guys!
P.S: A LOT of game terminology will appear in the novel, because well, I'm a gamer. :shrug:
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone