Chapter 181: Conquering the 3rd Dungeon! The chamber echoed with the sinister laughter of the Night Hag, her voice reverberating like a haunting melody.
"Oh, dear," she taunted, her tone dripping with spite, "all your efforts, all your struggles –– futile. You’re nothing but a mere mortal, and I am darkness incarnate. Your doom is inevitable."
Xin gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he revolved his eyes around to find what he was searching for. And when he found none, he had made a decision to use that.
He knew the Hag was right; another strike like the one before would surely be the end of him.
In a desperate bid to survive, he hastily grabbed a handful of HP potions from his inventory, their glow illuminating his face in the dim light of the chamber.
With swift movements, he consumed the potions, feeling their healing energy surge through him.
The Night Hag’s laughter boomed once more, mocking his attempts at self-preservation. "Drink your potions, little mortal," she jeered, her voice like shards of ice. "They won’t save you from your fate. You’re merely prolonging the inevitable –– your demise at my hands."
Despite the Hag’s taunts, Xin felt a renewed vigor coursing through his veins as the potions worked their magic, replenishing his HP.
However, a gnawing uncertainty lingered in his mind.
How long could he keep this up? How many potions did he have left, and would his idea even work in the first place?
Xin knew that time was not on his side.
With his HP restored, he steadied himself, determined to find a way to break through the Hag’s impervious defenses and turn the tide of the battle.
As the Hag prepared to launch another assault, Xin’s eyes darted around the battlefield.
At that moment, without any more choice, his hand found the familiar weight of the [Shell of Oceanic Power] in his inventory, a very rare item he had carried for countless battles.
He released the spell contained within the artifact, invoking a potent tier 4 water spell known as [Aqua Torrent].
The very fabric of reality warped and shifted as the spell manifested, forming a roaring cascade of water imbued with magical energy.
The Aqua Torrent was an embodiment of the ocean’s wrath, surged forward with unstoppable force. It cut through the air like a relentless tidal wave, aimed directly at the Hag, who stood there with a wicked grin, convinced of her invincibility.
"You think this will save you?" the Hag scoffed, her laughter echoing through the chamber. "Useless! I am beyond the reach of your feeble spells!"
Undeterred, Xin ignored the Hag’s taunts. He whispered a single name, his ace, when all seemed lost.
"Elysia."
At that moment, the Aqua Torrent struck the Hag head-on. The impact was cataclysmic. The water spell engulfed her spectral form, its force so powerful that it seemed to shake the foundations of the Dungeon.
The Night Hag’s laughter echoed through the chamber, a chilling symphony of mockery that filled the air as the Aqua Torrent surged forward.
However, the powerful water spell merely passed through the Hag, leaving her unharmed. Her eyes glinted with malicious delight as she mocked Xin’s efforts.
However, just as the Hag prepared to strike back, something extraordinary occurred. The rushing water of the Aqua Torrent seemed to twist and warp, its form changing before their eyes.
It transformed into a figure, a radiant and ethereal presence emerging from the heart of the torrent.
Within the waters, an arm materialized and grabbed the Hag’s spectral form.
"Where do you think you’re going?" Elysia’s voice, like the gentle lapping of waves against the shore, cut through the chamber.
There was a subtle yet undeniable authority in her tone, a command that demanded respect even from the malevolent entity before her.
The Night Hag’s laughter faltered, replaced by a flicker of fear. The malicious grin on her face wavered as she stared into the eyes of the sea elf, realizing that she was no longer dealing with mere mortals but akin to a goddess herself.
Elysia’s voice, though sweet, held a power that resonated through the room. "What are you doing to my man, you old hag?" she said, her tone firm yet laced with an otherworldly sweetness that sent shivers down even the Hag’s spectral form.
The Night Hag was caught off guard by the unexpected intervention and found her tongue-tied, unable to utter a single word.
Elysia’s eyes narrowed with disdain at the Hag and exuded an aura of ancient power that seemed to repel even the darkness that clung to the Hag’s essence.
The Hag sensed the overwhelming force before she hastily retreated, her once-arrogant demeanor crumbling into fear.
"You think summoning a goddess would save you?" the Night Hag hissed, attempting to regain some semblance of control. "I am already a mere ghost. No attack would work against me!"
Elysia, however, only chuckled in response. "True," she said, her laughter like the tinkling of wind chimes on a gentle breeze. "But I know how to deal with your kind."
.
Before the Hag could react, water began to gather in front of Elysia, forming a glimmering, translucent bottle.
With a swift motion, she pulled the cork from the bottle, and an unseen force siphon the Night Hag’s spectral form into the container.
The old Hag’s enraged wails echoed briefly, then fell silent as she was imprisoned within the confines of the bottle, her once-menacing presence now reduced to a mere whisper.
Elysia sealed the bottle. "Your reign of terror ends here," she declared.
Holding the bottle containing the Hag’s essence, she turned to Lord Schrodinger, her smile warm and reassuring. "You are safe now, my dear. The threat has been contained."
Xin let out a relieved breath and managed a small smile. "Thank you, Elysia. You always find a way to rescue me from trouble."
Elysia gracefully floated towards Lord Schrodinger, her watery hand reaching out toward him, a shy yet proud smile playing on her lips.
Xin was momentarily puzzled, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Payment," Elysia murmured, her hand delicately gesturing in front of Lord Schrodinger.
Understanding dawned on Xin, and a small smile broke across his face.
He gently took Elysia’s hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it, acknowledging her aid and expressing his gratitude.
[CONGRATULATIONS! You defeated the Boss, NIGHT HAG!]