บท 82: The Last Territory Boss
The first light of dawn filtered through the misty skies as Alex stood once more at the edge of the Poison Mist Forest. He was prepared today, ready to hunt and kill the third and final territory boss monster, and to uncover the hidden treasure concealed within this mysterious forest.
"The forest area and the barren, deserted land are covered." he murmured to himself. "The only place left where the territory boss monster should be hiding is the marshlands."
The Poison Mist Forest didn't have official names for its different areas, so Alex named them himself, based on the terrain, to help with navigation.
Tracing his steps carefully, he ventured deeper into the forest. His movements were silent and sure as the terrain shifted, signaling the boundary of a new territory.
The ground beneath him softened, and the dense trees gradually thinned, giving way to a swampy expanse thick with mud and stagnant pools of water. Unlike the barren plains or dense forests, the marshlands were cloaked in a damp, rotting stench, and his boots squelched with every step in the muck.
Clusters of twisted reeds and dense patches of venomous-looking flora fringed the edges of murky puddles. Hidden in the mist, Poisonous Marsh Lizards slinked about, their dark green scales gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Alex killed a few that dared to venture too close, their venomous gas and swift, whip-like tails proving to be more of an annoyance than a true threat.
As he pressed on, the marsh thickened, and the shallow puddles morphed into dark, foreboding pools, deep enough to conceal any lurking danger beneath their surface.
Pausing at the edge of one such pool, Alex scanned the water, his senses on high alert.
The spot where Alex paused had the highest concentration of poison toxicity in the area, and it appeared to be the deepest of the murky, muddy pools.
To test the water level and gauge any hidden presence beneath its surface, Alex tossed a stone into the pool. A ripple spread across the water, disturbing the stillness.
Suddenly, the surface stilled once more. A pair of predatory, yellowed eyes broke through the murky depths, locking onto Alex with a chilling, unwavering focus.
Slowly, the creature began to rise. Water cascaded down its thickly scaled body as it emerged—a monstrous hybrid of Komodo dragon and crocodile.
Its massive form was sheathed in rugged, dark green scales flecked with black, each as tough as stone and reinforced by jagged, armor-like ridges along its spine and tail. The damp, deadly sheen of its scales reflected its harsh adaptation to the toxic marshland environment.
Its elongated snout bristled with rows of serrated teeth, each sharpened from countless kills, and trails of poison dripped from the corners of its mouth, merging with the already venomous puddles around it.
Thick, muscular limbs supported the monster, each tipped with long, curved claws capable of shredding anything. Its whip-like tail, tipped with jagged scales, swayed menacingly behind, sharp enough to carve deep gouges into solid rock.
With a low, rumbling hiss, the creature stepped forward, its nostrils flaring as it tasted the air, honing in on Alex's scent.
This was no ordinary monster; it was an apex predator, the Territory Boss Monster of the marshlands. Alex could feel the raw, primal fury radiating from its every movement as it circled him, its eyes never wavering, as if savoring its next kill.
"Looks like I've found my third target." Alex muttered, entirely unfazed by the monster's intimidating presence.
The creature responded with a low, guttural growl that resonated through the marsh. Without warning, it lunged forward, its massive tail thrashing through the water, sending waves rippling outward.
Alex leapt back, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws, his boots sinking into the soft, mucky ground as he nearly lost his footing.
After steadying himself, Alex quickly cast a spell in rapid succession. "<Dark Bullet>!" he shouted, unleashing a volley of crackling dark projectiles. The condensed energy streaked toward the monster's massive frame, striking with precision.
Each impact sent bursts of darkness rippling over the creature's thick scales, but it remained unfazed, advancing with slow, deliberate steps, entirely undeterred.
"Damn it!" Alex muttered under his breath, leaping back as the beast suddenly lunged forward, its massive jaws snapping dangerously close. Just as he exhaled in relief, he realized it's attack was a feint. With lightning speed, one of its massive claws swiped toward his arm.
Alex barely managed to cast <Dark Barrier> in time. The shield absorbed the brunt of the attack, sparing him a devastating blow, but the monster roared in defiance. Its whip-like tail followed immediately, thrashing through the air with terrifying speed.
The impact shattered his barrier, sending Alex skidding across the marshy ground. The force knocked the air from his lungs, and he gritted his teeth against the sting of mud and stagnant water seeping into his clothes.
Frustration mounting, Alex conjured <Dark Fire> and threw caution to the wind. A swirling sphere of blackened flames erupted from his hands, hurtling toward the monster's snarling face.
The fire struck, exploding in an ominous blaze. For a brief moment, hope flickered in Alex's chest as the flames enveloped the creature's head. But as the flames dissipated, the monster simply shook itself, entirely unscathed. Its yellow eyes gleamed with cold malice, as though mocking his futile efforts.
Thinking fast, Alex raised his hand and shouted, "<Dark Ice>!" Shards of frost materialized from the air, encasing the monster's forelimbs in jagged, obsidian-colored ice. Yet, with a violent shake, the creature shattered the bindings, sending shards falling uselessly to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Alex activated <Shadow Walk>, vanishing into the toxic mist. He reappeared behind the creature in its blind spot and leapt toward its towering form in a desperate move.
Placing his hand directly on its rugged, armored hide, Alex unleashed <Dark Lightning>. Arcs of black colored lightning bolts surged across the monster's scales, crackling with raw, dark energy.
To his dismay, however, the bolts merely danced over its jagged ridges before fading away, leaving the creature completely unharmed.
The monster responded with a low, guttural growl, unbothered by his attacks. Its hulking frame turned slowly to face him, yellowed eyes locking onto him once again.
"What the hell is this thing made of?" Alex muttered, realization dawning as he backed away. "It's immune to magic…"
His grip tightened on his sword, and he steadied his stance, accepting the challenge. If spells wouldn't work, he'd rely on brute force. Narrowing his eyes, he growled, "Fine. Let's see how tough you really are."
Taking a deep breath, Alex surged forward, closing the distance between himself and the massive territory boss monster in a heartbeat.
With a swift motion, he slashed horizontally at its side, aiming for the softer area beneath its armored ridges. His blade bit into the monster's tough hide, carving a shallow gash.
The creature let out a guttural, ear-piercing scream, its massive form shuddering from the unexpected pain. Poisonous drool dripped from its jagged maw as it staggered slightly, whipping its tail instinctively to ward off the attacker.
Alex barely managed to duck beneath the thrashing tail, rolling to his feet with his sword still in hand. His eyes flicked to the wound he'd inflicted—a small but vivid slash against the monster's otherwise impervious scales.
"Finally" he muttered, a glint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. But his victory was short-lived as the creature roared in fury, its aggression redoubling.
The wound, while painful, was shallow—a stark reminder of the beast's incredible durability. 'It's not enough.' Alex thought, tightening his grip on his weapon. He'd need to strike harder, deeper, and faster to take down this territory boss monster.
The territory boss monster's guttural roar echoed through the marsh, reverberating with raw fury. Its yellowed eyes narrowed, locking onto Alex with a newfound intensity, no longer viewing him as a mere nuisance.
The creature's stance shifted, muscles tensing as it prepared to strike with purpose. It was no longer toying with him—Alex had drawn its true wrath, and the real battle had only just begun.
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