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If there was one thing that MSS always did well, it was the boss fights.

In the courtyard of a temple, flying high above the clouds, you might find yourself facing off against an ogre.

In a deep underwater ocean, thousands of meters beneath the surface, a hidden monster that you'd never seen before; so massive that you could only fight against its tentacles.

Battling against the Six Heroes in their respective domains.

Knights. Walkers. Berserkers.

And I admit, there are times when I miss that feeling. That feeling of being in awe, of my mind swelling with emotion at the scenery before me; knowing that I had an epic battle before me. The feeling of discovering a new boss, what lore and new Core they held, or what items they might drop.

It's a different story now that I'm actually in it.

Winding bodies formed mountains, constantly rising and dipping beneath the waves.

Lightning flashed, thunder cracked and the sky was black with the anger of the Imugis. Monsters larger than life itself, battling each other for dominance underneath the waves.

And on top of these curving serpentine bodies, hundreds of monsters climbed. Through tooth and claw, they clung on –most of them falling to their deaths. Those few that did survive attempted the climb again to the stage set before me. Helplessly drawn by the call of the [Neung-uh's Ocarina].

Lightning rumbled above the clouds, flashing momentarily and threatening to blind us. Giving me a glimpse at Arione's expression.

Determination.

To see this through to the end.

The second phase of the battle began.

｢ Arione Popindale casts [Fireball] ｣

｢ Arione Popindale casts [Fireball] ｣

｢ Arione Popindale casts [Fireball] ｣

Arione didn't bother using [Fireball] on me.

The mage pivoted and aimed straight for the monsters.

The elven mage recognized my strategy immediately; to introduce a new variable into the fight. A variable in my favor. He turned around, his staff vibrating so hard that it blurred in my vision. He fired spell after spell, trying to stem the tide of monsters climbing up; all the while trying to keep me at bay.

It raised my opinion of him. He didn't whine, he didn't panic. He didn't scream about how unfair it was.

He saw. He adapted.

For everything that he was, he was a survivor who'd lived in this world for over 10 years.

It had nothing to do with my personal feelings about him. Recognizing the danger he presented, who he was, what he was like, was a necessary step in dealing with the threat that he posed.

Briefly, he stopped casting [Fireball] on the monsters and waved his staff in my general direction. Ambient mana answered his call, whipping up a wall of wind that spun in on itself and razed the ground with destruction.

｢ Arione Popindale casts [Tornado] ｣

A second spell, utilizing both wind and fire at once. Wind, to distract me and keep me occupied. Fire, to kill all the monsters.

Dual Casting.

I ran to the side, parallel to Arione's movements and running straight towards a crowd of monsters.

Arione snarled something, then whipped hand and staff, sending the tornado hurtling straight towards me.

The sky continued to pelt us with rain.

The rain had been a lifesaver. If it hadn't been for the Imugi's storm, Arione's combination of [Special Field] and fire-type spells would have ended this fight early on. It also served another purpose.

Rain bounced off of the monsters that were cloaked.

[Moonyohuh (文鳐魚)] - Grade 8.

A pack of winged fish that the expedition had encountered before.

I swung out with a sword at the approximate position of the fish-monster. It looked like I had opened up a hole in space, air being cut open to spill guts and intestines on the floor. The Moonyohuh went livid, floundering and trying to get away.

｢ Sadistic Kleptomaniac has stolen [School Teacher] ｣

Crap. I'd been hoping to copy [Finding Moonyohuh], their ability to camouflage.

But just like Arione, I didn't complain. I acted.

I spun in place, pointed my sword towards Arione and activated the ability: School Teacher. The ability worked similar to Hive-mind related Cores; allowing me to control any Moonyohuh in the vicinity. Not any micro-level of control, but something simple like forcing 800-pound tuna-sized invisible flying fish monsters to slam themselves into the fragile body of an elven mage.

I couldn't quite see, but as the ability left my body, I had the briefest experience of being aware of more than a dozen presences all around me. Those minds leapt to ovey, hurtling through the air towards the mage.

As one passed, I nicked one of them on the skin with my sword.

｢ Sadistic Kleptomaniac has stolen [Finding Moonyohuh] ｣

Mana washed over me, turning my skin translucent and hiding me from view.

I saw the first of the fish slammed into Arione.

The Mage spun in place, wincing and holding his ribs. The school of fish acted as one, driving prey and hunting it. But they weren't intelligent enough to know what a Mage was capable of.

Arione cooked most of them with a single cast of [Fireball].

Mages and their AOE spells.

But I'd never stopped moving. Invisible to the naked eye, I headed straight towards another group of monsters. More and more of them were reaching the summit by the second, driven with need to approach by the [Neung-uh's Ocarina]. Some of them sniffed the air, while others looked with strange eyes adapted for the deep sea. All kinds of monsters had been disturbed by the combination of my item and the Imugi's acts.

Arione snarled and clenched his fist, the tornado he summoned turning to nothingness. The mage looked around for me. He put his hand on the ground.

｢ Arione Popindale casts [Wall of Fire] ｣

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Fire sprouted to life, creating a ring of heat around him. From the safety of his flaming castle, Arione began firing more [Fireballs] with punitiveness.

｢ Lock Slaveborn casts [All Mages Must Die: Shadow Blink]｣

I appeared inside the walls of fire, stepping out from the shadows. The smell of acrid smoke assaulted my nose.

Without waiting, I swung with all my might towards Arione's neck.

The Mage spun, his face locked in a snarl. He must have done something, cast some kind of heat-detecting spell, or lack thereof. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the [Wall of Fire] spell had been used to create heat, and being a Mage specializing in [Fire], he'd be able to detect anything inside the walls that was different than ambient temperature.

Just as I had found loopholes in the real world of MSS that didn't exist in the game version, Arione had found his own share. Most likely more due to being an Elf and a Mage.

Arione slammed another palm into the ground, summoning entire towers of flame that rose upwards. The towers traveled in a wave, shooting in my general direction. I was still invisible, he meant to just roast the entire place with AOEs.

I used [Shadow Blink].

Right into another group of monsters.

And–

Jackpot.

A hulking monster more than twenty feet tall scaled to the battlefield. It took one look around and roared.

The creature was nothing more than shadow made incarnate with empty nothingness that served as its eyes. It was vaguely humanoid, except covered in darkness. The whole thing was made of darkness stitched together with someone having punctured two holes into the head that was supposed to be its eyes.

[Lesser Umibozu (海坊主)] - Grade 5

The highest grade-monster that was on top of this battlefield.

That was it. My key to winning.

I rushed towards it. At the same time, keeping an eye on Arione at the corner. He turned towards the source of the sound and saw him reach the same conclusion I had.

But he was too slow. Mages have a lot of weakness, and casting time is one of them. The time it took for him to raise his hands was the time it took for me to reach the monster and slice into both of its legs with [Aura].

My [Aura] combined with [Snow Scream], my sword, to deal ice damage.

In MSS, [Ice] and [Lightning] deal extra damage to anything that's of the water affinity.

I hamstrung the thing and the titan roared in pain, falling on its knees. Simultaneously, its abilities flowed into me.

｢ Sadistic Kleptomaniac has stolen [Surf's Up!] ｣

｢ Lock Slaveborn casts [Surf's Up!] ｣

A single wave of seawater rose out of the scales. The rain from above fed into the ability, and the wave grew larger and larger. Twenty, thirty feet.

Arione screamed in effort, channeling Mana into [Fireball]. His own special field constantly aided in his efforts.

But the rain hindered his, making the amplification not as effective as it should have been. While rain continued to feed into my stolen ability.

It crashed down into the Mage, soaking him from head to toe.

Ever been tossed by a mini-tsunami before?

Arione's body slammed down onto the scales like a ragdoll, the fireball hissing into steam and actually raising the temperature in the skies. The wave continued to pummel into Arione, his body rolling underneath the makeshift sea.

Buying me time.

Turning, I dashed past the [Umibozu] and cut into its arms this time.

｢ Sadistic Kleptomaniac has stolen [Surf's Up!] ｣

｢ Lock Slaveborn casts [Surf's Up!] ｣

Another tsunami wave on top of the one before, forcing the Mage into the defensive.

Driving him into a corner.

I waded into a group of monsters locked in melee. They were too busy fighting each other. A riot in progress.

Perfect.

My turn.

｢ Sadistic Kleptomaniac has stolen [Hyper Soaker] ｣

I summoned a small crossbow-gun in my hands made entirely of water. It belched, once, twice and three times, sending watery projectiles with enough force to cut a diamond. Arione tumbled and summoned wall of fire, barely managing to block it.

I cut into the next monster: [Sea Bishop]. An armored fish-man hybrid of Grade-7.

｢ Sadistic Kleptomaniac has stolen [Sea Church] ｣

Water coalesced with the effects of being drained. Then it burst out into all four corners, creating walls that barely reached my knees. From the center, a small cross rose into the air.

｢Lock Slaveborn casts [Sea Church] ｣

｢You have entered a Special Field: Sea Church ｣

｢ Field Effect - Sea Church is now active｣

｢ Field Effect - Sea Church is now active: +10% Boost to [Water] Type Moves ｣

｢ Field Effect - Sea Church is now active: +10% Boost to [Holy] Type Moves ｣

｢ Field Effect - Sea Church: Sea Bishop can now turn into Sea Pope! ｣

In MSS, there's lots of [Hidden Pieces]. Things that are not explicitly stated in the game. [Special Field] interactions that never show up on the system screen, that can only be observed by secondary numbers like damage and resistance values.

The overworld rain interacting with Arione's [Memories of Hell: First Circle - Limbo] is one. Nowhere does it state that casting the spell in Rain would make it less effective: yet it does.

The same for my Special Field. Even when playing the game, you wouldn't see text indicating that they were affecting each other. But I could sense that the constant burning in my limbs turned cool, feeling the scorching sensation in my heart abate. Less painful.

Arione looked at the cross.

I cut into the [Sea Bishop], beheading it before it could use [Gathering of the Sea Conclave] to turn into the [Sea Pope].

An ability flowed into me.

Please, please, please, PLEASE let it be [Gathering of the Sea Conclave]

｢ Sadistic Kleptomaniac has stolen [Sea Choir] ｣.

A trash ability.

…If I had become the [Sea Pope], I could have used the [Seas-tine Chapel].

The mage was struggling to get up. As powerful as he was, he was still a mage. A [Fire] and [Wind] Mage who had focused on the former of the two.

Grade-2 or not, the field was no longer to his advantage.

He seemed dazed.

I sensed it then.

That moment, right before I'm about to finish a battle. The instant second where my mind sees a path, the path to ending someone's life. The correct steps, the correct Core ability usage and the delivering the final blow. The path lit up before me while the Mage coughed, throwing up all over the Imugi's scales. He waved his hand and sent a pathetic wave of flame that failed to travel more than five feet.

My pupils dilated.

Before I knew it, I dashed the space between us.

Arione quickly switched tactics, summoning a tempest of wind that blew upwards and tried to lift me into the air –into the clouds.

｢ Lock Slaveborn casts [All Mages Must Die: Shadow Blink]｣

I appeared next to him.

And once more, my sword swung.

He raised his hand, attempting to block. They glowed with pure mana. Not [Elemental] mana, but just the basics; something all Mages learn on their first day.

A [Mana Shield], the first spell they learn. The last line of defense before getting access to the soft squishy insides of a Mage's body. Normally, a Mage of Arione's level could deflect a blow from a Monster with ease, maybe even a Grade-4 Monster.

I spun, my blade humming with ice.

I shifted all my buffs to attack.

…My sword sheared straight through them.

His shield, his hands and his arm up until the elbows.

He, too, was [Wet].

[Snow Scream] infused my [Aura] with the [Ice] element.

"AHHHHHHHHH"

The Mage fell to the floor, clutching at his arms.

His elbows were just stumps, covered in ice.

"No, w-wait, AGh FUCK! Wait, you can't, you–, STOP, I TRIED TO–"

I moved towards him.

And the world turned.

The Imugi's body which had been lazily turning around flickered in and out of existence. In the far distance, I saw the edges of its scales turning to nothingness –floating away into motes of light the size of skyscrapers. The sky brightened and I thought the storm was over –white light blanketed the entire ocean as the Imugis roared as one from beneath the ocean.

A deep thrum that made my heart stop for a terrifying ten whole seconds and I fell to the scale, screaming.

Except I didn't fall to the scale, which had served as our arena.

I fell through air.

A gut-wrenching free dive that left my gut hanging somewhere in the air above.

But I had to finish it.

I saw Arione, gripping the staff to his chest with those frozen stumps. He bit the staff right before the head and I saw mana coalescing around him. He could fly, I couldn't.

The surface of the seas was raging with waves, the Imugi's going crazy. They had killed one of their rivals, the one we'd been fighting on. And the monsters fell like flies, dying by the droves from the release of emotion and mana from the Grade-2 monsters. A fucking earthquake, tsunami, hurricane and natural disasters all rolled into one.

I felt blood pour freely from my eyes and ears.

And I was still falling.

While Arione was trying to get away.

But the path wasn't closed to me yet.

The path that I saw to his death was still there. He was hurt. Too damaged. Taking too long. Could he even fly? What would happen if we both fell? Would he both die?

No.

None of that mattered.

There was no after this.

No what ifs.

I'd finish what I started.

I kicked off of my shield and hurtled myself through the air, wind roaring in my ears.

I swung.

[Ice Scream] cut into Arione's Neck.

An inch. Two inches.

He tried to say something.

And I couldn't do it.

Not because I stopped. Something else entirely.

I looked back at what had grabbed my ankle.

Everything happened so fast.

…So fast.

The orc priestess that I'd received from Jared Akka Xalud was there, clinging to my ankles. The hood flying wildly about her face. That crazed look was replaced by something calculating. Something knowing in her eyes.

Like she knew what she was about to do.

How the fuck did she even–

She swung me like a frisbee, away from Arione.

I screamed.

The last thing I saw was the world hurtling around me.

The last thing I felt was the spinning, turning upside down, and my body plunging into the ocean.

Water all around. Entering my ears, my eyes, my mouth.

Huge serpentine bodies all around me.

Sinking.

Sinking…

And touching something bright.

Something round and covered in Black and White scales.

The round thing dissipating.

Streams of light entering my heart.

No…

Can't breathe.

Can't see.

Monsters all around me. Scaled things. In their element. That could swin. Could slither. With fangs, teeth, and tentacles. Slimy.

Eyes in the ocean, looking at me.

Things approaching me. Swimming towards me. Curious.

Blood all around.

No…

NO.

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