บท 147: Testing the sword tomb (1)
<If you want to challenge yourself I won't stop you but do keep one thing in mind. Your overall level is 51 while your opponent's overall level is 60. And that is without considering that it's strengthened as a boss monster.>
On the subject of boss monsters. I didn't notice a stronger monster in both the mages' respite and the sword grounds. Are those fake boss rooms or something?
<No, it's possible to change the single monster boost into a much weaker boost that strengthens all monsters equally. The difference is hard to notice and you would only notice if the monsters fought the same kind without the boost in large numbers.>
Then why do it at all?
<Mages' respite and the sword grounds both depend on a barrier that forces adventurers to clear the entire room before advancing. This barrier system works only with boss monsters so the powerful single monster boost is given up in favor of the room mechanic.>
So if you made only one skeleton swordsman the boss monster the adventurers would just focus on that one and leave after killing it?
<Precisely.>
Who set up those dumb rules? Do I even want to know?
I leave those confusing thoughts behind as I step into the sword tomb. The name fits quite well since I feel like I just stepped into a tomb. The damp and gloomy atmosphere increases to the point where I feel haunted just from standing there. Whispers and low whistling echo from all around me like I am in a 360-degree cinematic experience.
Clacking sounds come from further inside the tomb but even the light seems to stay away from whatever is in there. The clacking of bones remains constant and I begin to wonder what it comes from.
I step further inside and suddenly a set of heavy obsidian doors slams shut behind me. Countless skulls are carved into the doors and in all their eye sockets a pale blue light seems to glow.
Moments later the entire tomb is lit up as dozens of torches with pale blue fire come to life. But the bluish flames do not radiate warmth. The temperature instead begins to drop under the influence of the torches and white mist crawls across the floor.
The mist stops increasing when it has reached a height of about thirty centimeters. The entire floor is now covered and I take great care where to place my steps.
With enough light, I spot coffins scattered everywhere in the room. Some are made of stone, others of various metals but all are engraved with different symbols.
Towards the middle of the room, a bronze coffin stands with an intricate sword engraved upon the lid. The pommel depicts another skull with flames blazing in those empty eye sockets.
However, unlike all the pale blue flames around me, these flames are purplish and seem to feel when I look at them. Because the moment I do the lid is pushed over and a skeleton exits the standing coffin.
The skeleton's bones are gray in color with a purplish hue. Its jaw keeps moving, creating the clacking noise I have heard since the beginning. The flames in its eye sockets are of course purple too and seem to have locked onto me.
The sword it carries looks the most menacing. The sword is 1.5 meters long but the grip looks to be one-handed. The blade is entirely black and polished to the point where it continuously reflects the colored flames all around. Just looking straight at it is uncomfortable and it's not even being swung yet.
But really now, what is this? A horror house trying to give you chills or an actual dungeon boss room?
<It's a dungeon alright! The cinematic effects here are a bit over the top but the boss monster can back up the show Hades put on.>
I'll be disappointed if it doesn't.
That sword is longer than I am high so reach is definitely going to be a problem for me. On the other hand, that sword should be quite heavy so speed is my best ally in this fight.
I cautiously approach the skeleton swordmaster. It watches me with a cold gleam in its eyes and the moment I get into range I'm met with a sword thrust. The thrust is quick and ruthless but since I had anticipated an attack to come at this moment I dodge to the side and advance.
The skeleton swordmaster doesn't get flustered as I get past the tip of its blade and instead swipes at my legs. The way it forcefully canceled the thrust and turned it into a swipe show that its strength and control are top-notch.
To save my legs from the swipe I dodge roll further to the side and away from my opponent. If I had been a little faster I could have attacked it but now I'm forced to back away.
It certainly does understand how to wield its sword. But I do notice that it doesn't follow up with an attack right after that swipe. I'd wager that forcefully canceling and redirecting that thrust into a swing put a fair amount of pressure onto the bones in its arm. Therefore it chose to wait instead of connecting the third attack.
Good to know. Though I shouldn't be too certain that it won't do follow-ups after forceful redirections. It could be leading me on or decide to ignore the strain. Both options would put me into hot water.
The skeleton swordmaster loses its patience and steps forward while directing a vertical swing at me with its sword. I am afraid of trying to block or parry any attack from this brute so I step back.
However, the vertical swing is followed by a diagonal swing, then a horizontal slash. I keep stepping back searching for an opportunity to bypass that sword and get close enough to be able to attack with my daggers.
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