337 CHPT 337: Lifeless Amalgamation, Fruitless Confrontation....

DING!

[The Tangent Boss has been discovered! Use your strength and perseverance to work with your team and defeat The Undead Dweller!]

The sound of Claude's System notifying him went unnoticed in the presence of the gluttonous Ghoul as it continued to fail in trying to satiate it's perverse cannibalistic hunger. It skittered and scrambled all through it's cold and damp playpen of grizzled corpses like it was frantically trying to find a bone or dismembered limb with more than one bite of rotten meat on it.

Every failure only made it angrier and more hungry. The sight was horrific-- even in terms of Tangents. And there was a reason for it.....a reason that was coming to him in the form of a long repressed memory of a time he lived a happier life.

"...Hey, kid. Check it out, new Tangent discovery made today." His Father's voice came like he stood right next to him, showing a paper littered with his complex studies.

"What is it?" He almost didn't recognize the voice of his younger self.

"It's something I found today while working with a small startup Guild. We we're in a regular Tangent suited for Gold-Ranked Heroes-- no irregularities in terrain or biological life. Everything was normal except for the Monsters....the social interworkings and norms were almost non existent."

"Dad....english please..."

The Undead Dweller continued to mindlessly crush and stuff it's face with Ghoul carcasses as his memory played onward, subconsciously pulling him into understanding what on earth he was looking at.

His Father's voice came again-- a welcomed yet painful sound that held firm in his memory, "The Monsters-- they weren't acting right.....they were afraid. When we found the Boss-- we immediately knew why."

"Why?"

"It turned on them. I don't think I've ever seen it before, but I've read separate studies made by independent Tangent Biologists. Not really an accepted study in our circle as a whole, you know? But I think it's real....and it seems to be growing more common as our time with these Tangents continues...."

"Bosses turning on the Monsters....is becoming more normal..? Isn't that good, Dad?"

Everyone around him stayed as still as stone as the memory played out for him-- whether from being in fear or in wait was something he couldn't tell. He was too focused on his Father's response.

"No, goofball. By turning on the creatures within, they seem to be growing stronger as a singular threat. Especially Magical Existences-- think Elves for example...imagine all their vast magical power poured into one all-powerful Elf. Luckily, there hasn't been studies of any Elven Bosses going rogue like that....but it seems like the studies grow more expansive every year. I'll have to read up more on it-- but for now, it seem's like Deviant Bosses are real...."

The memory was gone even quicker than it came-- leaving him raw and aggravated by pain. But it also left him with the information he needed.

"Possibly a Deviant Boss.....It's been eating it's followers to grow stronger as a singular threat. This may be above the Bronze Level. Stay ready, try not to get hit." Claude spoke to everyone through the Pack Bond, feeling his thoughts run along the web of connection as smoothly as a calming ocean tide.....if that ocean tide was running over land in the midst of an earthquake.

He could feel their intensity lingering beneath the message. They were wary-- but ready nonetheless. He let it change him.

In a matter of seconds, followed by the cracks and pops of shifting joints and expanding muscles, he stood silently in his painfully brought on semi-transformed state. Not yet perfected into a Skill-- but still a boost to his physicality that he assumed would be needed.

His change inspired the rest of the pack, hitting every member as hard as the last until they all stood in their own brand of ferocity and preparation.

Nothing was left to prepare. They had grown tired of the sounds of mindless consumption, the smells of ageless rot, the sickly air that cloaked them like a sheet of grime. Their goals of completing the Tangent and growing in power both lied in the death of the undead glutton ahead. And they all knew it.

SPTOO!!

Without a moments hesitation projectiles sliced through the damp and horrid smelling winds like magical bullets.

SQLCH!

The thrown short-spear, ice pick and flaming barb sunk into the back of the Ghoul with a wet flesh tearing sound-- it was cut short by the monstrosity arching it's pack in pain and screaming loud enough to make their ears bleed.

Something within Claude pulled him to respond as they ran through the dark halls to meet the Undead Dweller.

He roared, letting his Wild Magic and power as Alpha roll over the pack as a blanket of power. Their shared glow illuminated and swallowed up the darkness as they closed in.

Claude let his speed carry him closer and closer with Gil and the Phantom Wolves beside him, with the glow of their pack power, he could see it's horrific screaming face in full detail. It's eyelids were gone, shriveled and eroded, leaving it's completely black eyes with undead blue irises to stare into him endlessly.

It opened it's mouth to scream again, causing his eyes to pan down and see the dozens of Ghoul claws that ran through it's lips-- as if it were trying to make a second layer of teeth.

"SCRAAAA!!!" The monster screamed so loud it's pointed white ears shook before it turned and began running around it's den.

Claude's Prey Drive grabbed hold of his limbs, leading them in a monstrous game of cat and mouse....or Wolf-Pack and Zombie.

As it ran, it ruffled through the carcasses surrounding it's throne before one of the arms stitched to it's back rose from the pile holding a cracked black-bladed broad-sword. The right arm moved to dive into the pile as if in search of another.

"No!" Claude snarled before sending out his Malevolence Tether as he entered the foul smelling layer of carcasses.

He leapt over the pile that ran across the front of the room and felt his chain wrap around the arm, pulling it back before it could reach the pile that seemed to house it's weapons.

The flames began scorching it's flesh, causing it to screech and begin running and yanking Claude along with it while the others followed.

In a flash, he was suddenly headed straight for the throne covered in bile and ichor. Before his face could smash into it, he leapt and used the seat as a boost, jumping again before hitting the far wall of the lair just as the Undead Dweller started to pull him again while swatting at the pack in an attempt to run him in circles around the room until it escaped.

He had other plans.

Before the Ghoul could continue skittering on all fours at insane speeds once again, he pulled himself to the creature, leaving the wall in a blur of black and green.

FWOO!

He lunged at the Ghoul's back with his spear, hoping to puncture another portion of it's body.

SHNK!

Before he could, he felt the blade of his spear chip and slide off the surface of the sword it held in it's back arm, causing his attack to be expertly deflected in an odd way.

As a result he was left open, and the Ghoul didn't hesitate, immediately using it's naturally formed left arm to swat him away as he sailed through the air beside it.

CRACK!

"AACK!" He croaked in pain from the hit to his ribs before smashing into a distant pile of Ghoul carcass.

[85% HP Remaining! (607/715)]

"Not bad.." He growled before getting up just in time to see Ursula entering the room. Her snowy cold blue Aura flowed like blue flames, rising and falling with her roars as she swung her frost covered axe down at the Ghoul.

FWOO!

CHOP!

The Undead Dweller rolled and dodged the overhead slam of the axe while also swinging at the Phantom Wolves in the process, causing it's dirty feet to connect with a few of them.

It tried to close in on the shadowy wolves it hit, only to have it's left ankle slashed open by Frosty. Ursula followed up with an Aura shrouded punch that knocked loose a few of it's claw--teeth.

Before it could currently retaliate, Claude was back in the fight. The Undead Dweller welcomed him with a flurry of slashes and attempted bites while it's extra arms swung around psychotically, creating a defensive aura the rest of the pack couldn't safely penetrate.

He used his speed to slip and dodge the barrage while returning attacks when he could. He ended the initial sequence by ripping his other short-spear out of it's back as he bounded over it mid-attack.

WOO!

SHLCK!

"Keep it busy! Don't let it get near the carcasses! There's weapons hidden everywhere, I can smell the metals." He announced to the pack as soon as he hit the ground behind the Dweller.

The fight continued onward, more cuts, more stabs and more bruises to all parties. Along the way, Claude felt himself entering a groove with everyone-- albeit a bit slow considering the complexity of their target and his urge to keep Ursula from taking serious damage, but a groove nonetheless.

Ursula's heavy attacks forced the Boss to move, closer to the surrounding pack and Claude, which allowed him to attack and his own dodges gave clearance to the others in attacking. Slowly it was being worn down, but the continued magical blue pulse that ran along it's skin like ocean waves kept him on his toes.

They had to end it quickly.

***

Another few minutes passed...

BOOM!

Claude rolled and skidded to a halt in a tangled heap with Ursula after he was punched out of the fight with her. As he laid against the cold foul smelling ground, he could hear the sizzling burn of the Ghoul's flesh from where it's fist connected with his cloak.

He cussed to himself in pain as he got up in preparation to re-enter the fight. Before he could get far, something grabbed hold of his cloak, holding him in place. He turned around and found Ursula holding a handful of it in her clawed and furry hand.

"Stop..." She said in a husky voice.

"Ursula, what?"

"Stop.." She repeated, her eyes burned like twin white flames.

"Stop what!"

"Stop focusing on protecting me, dammit! You can't fight your best if your missing attacks every-time your trying to keep it focused on you or taking hits for me."

"But I have a responsibility.." He replied, thinking of his own feelings and Rollan's words.

"Yea, and we have an objective...just in case you've forgotten it's to beat the shit out of that thing!" She huffed before inhaling deeply and continuing in a voice closer to her normal tone even though the change was on her almost as much as him, "Listen, I understand you feel guilt and responsibility over us all.....it's natural and respectable. But don't forget we're a team, we have roles that we need to play within. Look at them.."

She stood beside him and pointed at the pack as it faced off against the Boss. Gil danced and dodged around them in all in the distance while he looked for opportunities to put another flaming barb in it's flesh. Frosty and Shadow were the prime aggressors up close and personal. Ashe was patient more experienced in her movements that the rest followed while Blackbeak added a crude form of aerial support.

"You've got your attackers....speed, range, power-- you've even got somebody for disorientation. The one thing you haven't had in your group is a shield. I'm your tank, Claude. I'm tough, remember? Let me be your shield. It's my role and I'd like to play it so we can gut this musty bastard." She said, all semblances of mindless rage were gone from her slightly transformed face as it shined against her boosted Aura.

"[She's got a point, mate.]"

A lightbulb went off in Claude's mind as he watched them fight. They were doing well, because they were following a pattern. He'd been so wrapped up in everything else that he'd forgotten a simple option. They were fighting in the way he'd trained with them. Like a sort of controlled frenzy that was based on availability and openings. It was meant for overwhelming opponents and he'd just completely forgotten about it until now.

Before he could reply, the Undead Dweller screamed and swatted the pack away. In a rush, it skittered to the carcasses surrounding it and began heaving and throwing up a thick glowing turquoise goo onto the undead mangled mess. The magical power washed over him like a cold wind, followed by the goo flowing and seeping into the carcasses and reanimating them in seconds.

Long dead life was reborn from the pit of mutilation in all it's partially consumed and decayed glory as beings reconnected and deformed back into existence with the Undead liquid magic.

No more time for waiting.

"Ok. I have an idea, just stay next to me and follow the rhythm....we have a thing. Anyway, now's the perfect time for a shield."

Ursula nodded, "Good, I think I'm getting the hang of this HellSlayer's Aura thing."