Chapter 180: [Bonus Chapter] Last Chance [The Hag has entered Last Stance Mode]
"Last Stance Mode?"
This was uncharted territory for Xin.
He had never encountered an enemy, especially a dungeon boss, with such a mode.
Typically, it was a feature reserved for World Bosses or occasionally Hidden Bosses, not something expected in the heart of a dungeon.
Yet, Xin reasoned that perhaps this unexpected development was due to the unique nature of The Abandoned Fortress, a newly added dungeon.
The developers might be introducing new mechanics and challenges, pushing the boundaries of the game’s dynamics.
The current situation settled heavily on Xin’s shoulders. The Hag was far from defeated and had resorted to this desperate gambit.
Alone with the boss, he braced himself for the unknown, uncertain of the tricks the Hag might have up her spectral sleeves.
The stakes were high. If he failed and perished, their entire group would suffer a colossal EXP penalty.
While he could handle the consequences alone, the idea that his actions might cause Victor and the others to lose levels was unbearable.
What were his options?
Seizing the moment while the Hag was preoccupied gloating over her perceived advantage, Xin carefully observed his adversary.
The Hag’s once-enormous HP had dwindled to three digits. Could he, with the combined force of his Golems, eliminate her in one swift strike before she had a chance to retaliate?
Doubt gnawed at him, considering the vast level of difference between them.
Yet, a spark of realization illuminated his thoughts. He might not possess the strength, but he knew someone who did.
In the aftermath of the explosion, the Hag’s physical form was obliterated, leaving behind only her ethereal essence –– a spectral soul, a mere echo of her former malice.
Yet, her consciousness remained intact, and in the eerie emptiness of the chamber, her disembodied voice slithered like a serpent.
"You may have destroyed my body, but you cannot eradicate my essence," the Hag hissed, her words dripping with venom. "I am a creature born of darkness and hatred. Death is but a momentary inconvenience for one such as me. I can just find another body. Death is nothing to me!"
A chilling, hollow laughter echoed through the chamber, the sound sending shivers down Xin’s spine. The Hag’s spectral form flickered like a dying flame, yet her malevolence blazed undiminished.
"You think you’ve won?" she taunted, her voice echoing in the emptiness. "Oh, no. Killing my physical form only fuels my rage. My soul remains, and I will make you pay for every moment of suffering you’ve caused!"
Her words hung in the air, pregnant with menace, as Xin braced himself for the retaliation of a vengeful spirit, realizing that the battle was far from over.
In the wake of the Hag’s ominous threats, chaos erupted once more within the chamber.
Xin’s Titanium Golems sprang into action, their once-cursed bodies now freed from the Hag’s bewitching grasp. The enchantments that had rendered them motionless statues were shattered when the Hag’s physical body got destroyed, allowing them to move again.
However, any hope of victory quickly shattered.
The Hag’s spectral form, rather than dissipating harmlessly, bypassed the Golems entirely, moving with an unnatural speed that defied comprehension. It pierced through the very defenses Xin had relied upon, aiming directly for him.
Before Xin could react, the Hag’s spectral essence infiltrated his body like a chilling gust of wind, sinking into him like a dark parasite.
A gasp of pain escaped Xin’s lips as he felt an agonizing surge of power drains away. More than half of his HP vanished in an instant, leaving him reeling from the intensity of the attack.
To his horror, Xin soon discovered that his Titanium Golems’ defenses and his Elemental and Basic Golems’ attacks were utterly futile.
Their strikes and magical assaults passed through the Hag’s spectral form as if she were made of smoke and shadow.
Physical blows, once powerful, now met no resistance, while spells dissipated into nothingness upon contact.
It was not something Xin would like to face right now.
The Hag became impervious to both physical and magical harm!
Xin stood before an enemy that seemed invincible, a force of darkness that defied all logic and reason.
Panic clawed at his chest as he realized the dire straits they were in. The battle had taken a drastic turn, and he was facing an opponent against whom all their previous tactics were useless.
"What were the Developers thinking?" Xin’s internal scream reverberated in his mind. How could they introduce an unbeatable boss into this dungeon?
It felt as though they were deliberately preventing the players from achieving victory!
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The DEVELOPER’s Distress
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"By the way, I’ve analyzed the logistics of the Abandoned Dwarven Fortress and discovered that only 1% of players have managed to complete Dungeon 3. Most of them couldn’t progress to the final dungeon."
"Ah, Dungeon 3 is notoriously challenging. We’ve received numerous complaints from players frustrated by it."
"They claim they can’t defeat the Hag, no matter what they try. They believe it must be a bug."
"Ahahaha! It’s not a bug. They’re just sore losers! The Hag was intentionally designed that way. The dungeon isn’t meant to be conquered through sheer brute force. Players need to engage their minds."
"What kind of boss did you put in there?"
"It’s a boss that, once in Last Stance Mode, becomes impervious to all attacks."
"Isn’t that overpowered?"
"No wonder the players complained."
"It’s because they didn’t pay attention to the clues in the notes. If they had, they would have stumbled upon an item that could defeat the Hag."
"Is that so?"
"Most players struggled because they were too cautious to trigger traps and face enemies they couldn’t defeat, so they refrained from interacting with items and grabbing treasures. Consequently, they missed the item meant to defeat the Hag."
"But with an almost unbeatable enemy and puzzling traps, players ended up traumatized and simply wanted to finish the dungeon."
"Of course, all of that was intentional. Those who conquered the third dungeon earned it through their bravery and wits, while those who didn’t simply didn’t deserve to progress –– it’s as simple as that."
. "Devious."
"I’d call it genius."
"Anyway, enough of that. Has anyone received updates on Lord Schrodinger?"
Silence fell over the room.
"Keep searching! We need to track him as soon as possible!"