Footsteps echoed through the tall, bck tower, creating a solemn atmosphere. The party tinued until a bck barrier blocked their way further down. They found themselves in a small square space with four doors in all dires.

  Liam picked the best, entering a spacious, round room. deliers hung from the ceiling a dim light. A smell of decay stayed in the air, apanied by the wail of ghosts inating from various bck banners spread throughout the room.

  “I hought you would reach this pce.”

  A familiar voice echoed in the room, taining a chilling ess.

  Heavy steps rang out. A tall demon slowly walked out of the shadows. With a bare upper body and bck-red skin he resembled the city lord Rentrasn’ar. In his hands was a heavy, spiked club with sings of blood on it.

  “Is this the boss?”, asked Cye, somewhat intimidated by the imposing figure.

  “Yes. But no.”

  “What?”

  Cye gred at Liam, annoyed by the ambiguous answer in su important situation.

  But a moment ter she received her answer wheaircase behind them mysteriously flickered before vanishing.

  The party watched the strange se with surprise. The staircase disappeared entirely and revealed a small man with red skin sitting on a throne. He had striking horns, wearing a multi-yered, bck robe.

  A green staff was in his hand which was surrounded by the faces ghosts.

  “You could’ve taken the road to heaven, but you walked straight into hell…”

  “Well, literally.”

  Getting interrupted the small ma Cye with poisonous eyes, apparently not appreciating her joke.

  “Sorry, so on. I will let you finish your speech.”

  “I adventurers! Sinade it to this pce, I will have to take care of you myself.”

  “Master, don’t fet about me!”, souhe Bck Abyss Demon’s deep voice, causing the master to grit his teeth.

  “Of course not. How could I…

  Sughter these intruders and I will reward you handsomely.”

  “You said it!”

  The demon showed a foolish grin, his look towards the party turnihusiastic.

  “Now, it is time for you to stop interfering with my pns. Don’t worry, I will treat your souls well after your deaths!”

  When the small man finished speaking, the party regaihe ability to move. They immediately gathered information.

  [Devil Child KelsnimRank: Boss

  Level: 23

  HP: 8200/8200]

  [Rouna’ar, Kelsnim’s servantRank: Boss

  Level: 23

  HP: 8800/8800]

  “What’s going on? Two bosses?”, asked Cye in surprise.

  Silent Acacia immediately focused on the important questions:

  “Mirage, how should we fight? Do they share damage? Do we o kill one first? Or kill both at the same time?”

  “Let’s focus Kelsnim, the mage! His skills be quite troublesome!”

  “Alright.”

  As if to prove Liam’s words the devil child immediately swung his staff before even leaving his throne.

  A ghostly wail spread through the room, echoed by the bck banners. It got louder and louder, turning into a cacophony of saddening cries.

  The pyers involuntarily held their ears as they entered a dazed state. They watched helplessly as Rouna’ar took a rge step, arrivio Cye, rising his bloody club above her head.

  At this moment a strong brilliance suddenly fshed in Silver Bde’s eyes. Using her skill [Will of the Vanguard] the tank broke out of the dazed state and gained increased magical defense.

  But even so she would still be uo save Cye in time, seeing herself forced to follow up with [Luring Barrier].

  The demon was just about t down his club when he felt affected by a strange force. He turned his head towards Silver Bde. With the club still raised, Rouna’ar relutly switched targets, trampling towards Silver Bde.

  But the demon wasn’t the only one affected. Kelsnim’s sinister gaze fell on Silver Bde’s back. He swung his staff, sending out a sphere of dark magic.

  The attacks of two bosses reached Silver Bde at the same time.

  [-1189!]

  [-1123!]

  Silver Bde was forced to endure a rge amount of damage. Her barrier was immediately overwhelmed, shattering. Some damage couldn’t be averted, affeg the tank’s HP.

  [-375!]

  Fortunately, inal nephilim had a bonus in the Will attribute, helping them to resist against mental afflis. Thus, the others regaiheir ability to move a sed ter, except for Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge.

  “Stupid boss! My head hurts!”

  Cye pined angrily as she swung her wand.

  [-101!]

  [-255!]

  [-139!]

  Three ratacks arrived simultaneously, taking away the first k of Kelsnim’s HP. The devil child appeared to be startled. With a wave of his hand, he turned into grey smoke and flew through the air.

  Kelsnim stopped below one of the bck banners, returning to his solid form. A ghost separated from the banner above his head and drove into his body.

  [+100!]

  “Quick! Destroy that banner! Any amount of damage is enough!”, urged Liam.

  “Let me do it.”

  Balm’s eyes lit up. She was somewhat annoyed by being a pure healer but even her [Holy Strike] simply didn’t deal enough damage to be relevant. She was gd that she could attack for a ge even if the target was only a banner.

  With a wave of her wand, a small sphere of magic flew through the air and hit the bahe slightest touch was enough to cause the bck cloth to crumble.

  At the same time the close bat fighters arrived o Kelsnim and began to drown him in a wave of attacks.

  Liam’s swords moved skillful as always, slig at the small devil’s child.

  [-235!]

  [-117!]

  [-353!]

  Liam attempted to perform his usual bo but before he could apply all the holy marks an angry voice echoed in the room:

  “Get away from the master!”

  R loudly, Rouna’ar smashed his heavy club into the floor, causing the whole room to shake. A fissure spread on the floor, releasing dangerous bck fumes and aiming for the pyers around Kelsnim.

  The devil child himself hastily took on his smoke form, dodging the damage, watg the intruders scramble to escape.

  After a whole day of fighting no one could avoid signs of exhaustion. Quickstep was only distracted for a sed, but it was enough for Rouna’ar’s skill to hit her.

  A heavy shockwave rattled her body while bck magic froze her bones.

  [-1519!]

  [-390!]

  The instahe demon turs body, smming its heavy club towards Silver Bde’s side. Fortunately, the tank remained vigint, defending in time.

  [Stance -33]

  “I apologize for failing my duty. Silver Bde, let me hold back the demon!”

  Radiant Shield’s voice sounded out as soon as the tank could move again. He arrived behind Rouna’ar, smming his shield into the demon’s back.

  Notig that his oppo didn’t turn arou, Radiant Shield khat oack wasn’t enough. He quickly used a skill, hitting his hammer against his shield and sending out a wave of holy light.

  He positioned himself carefully, only targeting the demon. This time his skill achieved its intended effect, catg the demon’s attention.

  Silver Bde Radiant Shield as she was freed up, able to trate fully on Kelsnim, who was already throwing out his attack.

  [Stance -23!]

  Meanwhile the others quickly closed the distaowards the mage. Surprisingly the first to arrive was Bloody Edge, his sharp daggers eager to cut the enemy apart.

  [-223!]

  [-111!]

  [-580!!!]

  Dangerously high numbers popped up as Bloody Edge’s [Cut Throat] nded a critical hit. Silent Acacia didn’t want to fall behind his fellow thief. He activated [Mark of Death] while his arrow glided through the air.

  [-510!!!]

  “hat’s going on with all those critical hits? Did someourn on a cheat?”

  Cye excimed in surprise during her cast. She was somewhat anxious, fearing that Kelsnim might die before she got a single spell in.

  Luckily the devil child still had a few tricks up his sleeves. He ged into his smoke fain, nding below the banner.

  [+100!]x2

  Kelsnim mao heal himself a little before Balm interrupted him by destroying the bahis time however the devil child didn’t turn bato his normal form. Holding his staff in a hand made from smoke he waved it furiously.

  “Pesky intruders, feel the wrath of a devil!”

  Kelsnim’s staff began to shine in a fiery red. All around the room, eight ghost faces slowly came out of the walls. They opeheir mouths at the same time, spewing rge balls of fire.

  The temperature in the room rose while the balls of fire moved slowly.

  Cye gnced suspiciously at the fire moving in seemingly random patterns, asking Liam:

  “What is the catch here?”

  But she didn’t o wait for Liam’s answer as someone else delivered it to her. With an angry roar the bck abyss demon suddenly began to spin, holding his menag spiked club before his body.

  Radiant Shield gulped notig the abnormal movement. He didn’t dare to take a direct hit, jumping out of the way. However just as he nded, he felt a hot air blowing against his face. The tank go the side and saw a ball of fire about to collide with him.