Battle Of Attrition

 

Quite a few minutes have passed since Tongqiu's almost instant death, this time there were no pierce effect attacks. hence the fight ended up taking much more longer to take down another 5% HP than the previous time. And as expected, just as its hp fell down to [59,940/66,660], the abominable terror started gobbling down its scythe as Tongqiu already intended to form the same tactic, yet, in another manner. Or else the Filthy Spawn's, which its intelligence allows it to adapt, would surely hit, and end him.

Fortunately, it was far from being comparable to an A.I. As it could barely think and act just as much and as good as any sentient being could, like a human, or elves. So he wouldn't sooner or later get obliterated with the abomination's calculations. Which allowed such a puny existence when put at its side to successfully live through such terrorizing instantaneous attack. Of course, mentally taxing, was beyond what any sentient being should be able to withstand, at least on his same level; Tongqiu could only pray that there wasn't that many more skills to such outrageous being, being only LV15, even if it's an Enlightened BOSS it should be quite limited at such low level anyway.

BBBBAAAAMMMNNNGG!!!

As it once again failed to reap his life, this time prepared, Tongqiu managed to successfully dodge even the damnable shock waves from before. However, as if answering his previous prays, the Filthy Spawn started a chant- one that lasted 3 seconds. Afterwards, what followed was Tongqiu's despair.

The next scene that his very own eyes witnessed after that brief chanting, was that of the same blackish lava moving around on the ground, but this time, 7 small sized column-like figures from the same blackish lava soared towards the sky, they extended for quite a few dozens of meters into a seemingly encircling formation against Tongqiu. Once 'they' successfully entrapped him, 'they' transformed into hands at the end of such figures appearing to be around 5 times larger than that of a human's, then 'they' moved towards his body with the intention of grabbing him.

Towards all this, first on guard then relaxed, Tongqiu seemingly did not notice any kind of actual incoming danger from them so he didn't really moved to dodge them or block them in any way. Just to be sure, Tongqiu brandished one of his Sunfacing Brilliant Gladius towards a couple of them, but ended completely passing through them without affecting them in any way possible, even when he completely cut off one of the hands from its extensions.

Finally, the 'hands' took each of his limbs while there other two were adhered intertwining between each other at his torso, then pulled him towards the Filthy Spawn.

It was then that Tongqiu had two types of feelings: one was the understanding that he couldn't dodge nor negate such entrapment, mostly because of his lack of skills and class; secondly, it was a sensation, a kind of premonition that what comes next will be an extremely hard challenge for him, but not impossible to overcome. 

All this happened but in the time of a second through his mind. He then finally put both his arms in a 'X' with his left handed gladius pointing at his north-east while his right handed gladius pointed towards his north-west. At the moment, he could do nothing else but to wait to get in front of the Filthy Spawn and attack, dodge or block in the most nimble yet precise action possible.

It was then, however, the Filthy Spawn did another one of his well-known opening of its torso. This time, unlike any other, was different. It wasn't the same body with the same carcass-like insect anatomy; its insides were completely meaty and bloodied, exactly like a human's body. Except, it had no bones whatsoever, nor any organs. It was instead filled with a head, familiar towards that of the Filthy Spawn's, but formed of a foggy, filthy atmosphere-like substance; impossible to discern. That head spinned non-stop at high levels of speed as it slowly began raising from within the Filthy Spawn's torso. Once it reached the height of Tongqiu's own head, it opened its mouth while its eye, nose, ear sockets and even some of its' 'pores' broke apart, what came next was that same blackish-lava but this time much more foggy, and translucent as if it was a ghostly terror.

'My mind... AAAHH!!!!'

With no time to guard himself, and even then- how could he? Tongqiu just managed to take a hold of himself as he started to 'fight' back with his most primitive reaction, yet also instinctive survival. His head didn't hurt, his entire 'being' felt like it was going to explode. 

'This... this- kind of- pain... this isn't what a game is capable to--- URGH... manifest??!!'

Among many groans and howls coming from his head, he finally felt a kind of blockade forming at his mind, the very same direction he was getting 'attacked' by. He felt slightly numb, his body was completely capable of answering to his calls, but he nonetheless felt as if lethargy struck hard on him. 

-273, -268, -258, -276, -281, -581.

As he attacked and attacked, the mental attack seemed to slowly start to disperse but right when it was about to truly end, a piercing attack was made!

As the Filthy Spawn's bar HP: [58,003] fell, it staggered back for a couple seconds, allowing the now free of lethargy-like numbness Tongqiu to pay back with a couple more swings from his dual gladius swords!

What came right after, was another AOE where Tongqiu had long gone ran away from once it started to stabilize itself from the previous bombardment of his attacks. Tongqiu immediately did not lose the chance to throw daggers like he was a crazy fool in love winning a toy for his beautiful girl in a fair or carnival. The point is, he was crazily throwing them daggers as if he was a robot programmed to do so. All along while his mind was forming amazing, exotic and eccentric ideas or moves to use were he had gotten a bow now; they were so unique that he himself felt the shadow's words from before in the character creation room, were true and wise!

While he was throwing daggers just like the rain had been at him before, which was now pouring like crazy making him believe that a deluge should've occurred already or maybe it already happened but being at the peak of the tallest mountain impeded him from realizing so before, he found out that his character status had a debuff. Deducing it was coming from the previous mental attack, Tongqiu wanted to find out what the hell was it, but to his surprise  it didn't had any description. It did, however, seemed to hint at something as it had a 10/100 stacks mark below the debuff icon. Such thing made him realize that, the skill needed to launch such debuff was triggered once he downed the Filthy Spawn's bar HP at 90%, which meant that he'd probably get yes or yes a 90/100 stack debuffs if he intended to really kill the thing.

On another point of view, this undying-like abomination could perhaps even have an ability, passive or trigger, that would allow it to regenerate HP, or rather, have two lives... such though made Tongqiu's eyes tremble for a while. Then his hands throwing daggers ever so mechanically turned even more determined, fiery. 

...

 

---

 

At the Inner Section of the mountainous area, Misty region. 

Many players were still walking, this time quite burdened by the deluge, heading towards the foot of the core mountains. It's been now abut that of 3 to 4 hours since they've arrived at the inner section. Unlike when they first arrived at the outer section, only taking around an hour and a half to reach the inner section.

The reason why they were taking so long? All the future-mages had to stop every now and then to deplete their whole mana pool into creating 'rivers' to let the water aiming at them, possible of annihilating them in less than a minute, to flow aggressively and monstrously not too far, away from them. Besides that, every player had an item to make the earth they were walking on more and more full of holes so that they would not start an unstoppable chain reaction of one player tackling down two, three players tackling down 6, and so on and so forth. Some used their swords, some spears, some even had actual shovels. The lands, paths all around the mountainous area were impossible to traverse. It was thanks to most priest-like fanatics that had countless amount of Light Blue Potion to regenerate their future-mage's mana pool as well as even using some skills to transfer their and other players' mana to the future-mages.

It was then, where once again their every now and then 'wake up call' sounded in the not so far away distance to remind them and encourage them of their 'journey' here, BMNG!!!! Everyone stopped moving without a care for the unending deluge, nor their precarious situation not having been resolved yet. Even the now sword-shaped tear drops from the sky seemed extremely silent, if it wasn't because of the never-ending sight of water drops exploding onto their bodies and the land besides their feet, it would truly seem as if it even stopped raining. But it was not, and after an honorary silence still unknown to them what the hell could cause that and why, they kept on with their group trekking.

 

---

 

-12, MISS, MISS, -16, MISS, -17, -15, MISS, -18.

It's been quite the long time, and finally, Tongqiu downed the motherfucker from 90% to 51% Filthy Spawn's bar HP: [33,966/66,600].

*Huff, huff* After such long period of time in one single fight, Tongqiu was out of MP and Stamina long ago, the  self-restorative MP+3 and Stamina+6 every 10 attacks from the system was no longer as helpful as he could no longer depend on his Unparalleled Angle anymore to do some extra damage. The only real still usable method for him to keep the fighting on-going was to let the Self-Harming Dagger do the job every time its buff went off. But even then, the Self-Harming Dagger had its limits.

[Self-Harming Dagger]: Type: Special, Grade: Valuable(Light Blue), Effect: Stab both your hands deeply with it, and get a +15% Hit Rate and +5% Attack Power. Moderately used.

From 'slightly' used, it went all the way down with 'somewhat' used, followed by a simple 'used' and then a 'it's been quite' used. And now hits 'moderately'. There probably was only a few more times until it completely entered into a 'Need Fix' state, which would down Tongqiu's hopes even more.

But he kept on persisting, as such, while he was lamenting his soon to be useless Self-Harming Dagger, the Filthy Spawn's bar HP fell down a bit more to 50% HP: [33,300/66,600].

'HUFF, HUFF, HUFF... I'm barely there, there... there, ack.' As Tongqiu's voice was quite hoarse and detuned voice, result of his well-being lowering every time he fell 5% HP of the BOSS.

'Here... we go... huff.' Tongqiu thought, as he kept on breathing heartlessly. He next very tiredly-looking moved to dodge the incoming 'Deathly Spear' as he'd called it, appearing to still be not as much as before but instead even more nimble and agile. The 'Deathly Spear' had no chance, no chance at all.

Then came the source of his troubles, 'Mind Dissonance', as he casually took his 'ride' towards the Filthy Spawn, the routinely attacked its 'core' head-like thing inside its torso, then while it staggered back he let the rain of his sword attack bombardment down on it.

It was at that moment, something incredible and utterly hope-giving plot twist managed to wake him up a little.

*PING*... a brave yet solitary figure, standing against an invincible enemy... in consideration of the player's stats and Mind Power, as well as the player's enormous tenacity and Mental Prowess amassed in the player's being; along with the player's high comprehension ability... the player has managed to effectively form a brand new unique technique  which will be recognized as the player's patented skill. How would you like to call it?

Retreating backwards and dodging whatever swing of a scythe or even rocks came at him, Tongqiu looked at the system notification as he slowly, but clearly understood. His eyes shined next, as his words followed: "Tongqiu's Rain Showdown!"

*PING*... unique skill has been named. Player's 'Tongqiu's Rain Showdown' patented skill has been created.

[Tongqiu's Rain Showdown]: Type: Active Skill, MAX LV: 20, LV: 1, SP needed for next level: 10. Cooldown: 5 seconds. Consumption: 5 MP, 5 Stamina. Range: 0-20 meters. With Tongqiu's weapon or weapons in use, point with it towards the sky to activate this skill to create from the sky an AOE rain of attacks with the shape of the weapon or item in use (arrow, bolt, javelin) without stopping for 5 seconds. Creates around 7 weapon's shadows per second with damage equal to 120% of Tongqiu's Attack Power and Magic Power for each shadow.

Tongqiu's eyes opened, wide, wide, as wide as they could. 'Holy shit!!! I'll have to keep on restoring MP and Stamina only to use this skill for sure! I can make it!'

With Tongqiu's current reserves, he had around that of 20% Stamina and almost 40% of his MP. As long as he lasts and even risks himself for a few extra attacks, he'd be able to bombard like crazy this bitchy motherfucker when it uses 'Mind Dissonance' again.

The now ever hopeful, euphoric Tongqiu didn't became muddle headed from the 50/100 debuff stacks and instead appeared even more energetic than before, his passion, his vision, his thirst of victory... his ambitions, finally showed themselves from Tongqiu's eyes and aura surrounding him like cheerleaders ready to devote their performance to their favorite, Tongqiu.

He unhesitatingly expended 70 SP and upgraded it to LV4:

[Tongqiu's Rain Showdown]: Type: Active Skill, MAX LV: 20, LV: 4, SP needed for next level:80 . Cooldown: 4 seconds. Consumption: 4 MP, 4 Stamina. Range: 0-24 meters. With Tongqiu's weapon or weapons in use, point with it towards the sky to activate this skill to create from the sky an AOE rain of attacks with the shape of the weapon  or item in use (arrow, bolt, javelin) without stopping for 7 seconds. Creates around 10 of the weapon's shadows per second with damage equal to 150% of Tongqiu's Attack Power and Magic Power for each shadow.

His attacks ever more and more precise, more and more determined, and exceedingly more and more perfect, to the eyes of Tonkia

***

As Tongqiu began slaughtering bandits at the outer section mountainous area, Tonkia could see every single one of his slashes, thrust, swings dedicated to behead or directly slicing their heads. Tonkia was full of unending excitement, after all, who wouldn't want their captors who almost managed to get heir hands on herself to be brutally and without pardon slaughtered to no ends? 

When Tongqiu arrived at inner section mountains, then began his already started slaughtering of bandits; Tonkia was happier to see how he did not even flinch once, even at the times where he was about to be hit on the head or his back by a sneaky bandit, how he easily avoided any shit thrown at him make her excited. He basically long surpassed those 'one man army' by instead being a humanoid walking Slaughter Deity. Tonkia, for the first time in her life, felt a 'tingle' down there whenever she saw this man of hers being so unshakable towards such disgusting, hellish sceneries of pure murder.

At the moment Tongqiu entered the core section of the mountainous areas, the center of it all. As she saw Tongqiu fight a LV9, 3 Star Elite before in the inner section, taking some of his time- was an immense surge of excitement for her. But when he saw Tongqiu do the same, with not only much more enemies around but some even of higher level and of the same grade, that for her, that was it. It's just got her nowhere. It was enough for her. So she very naughtily and deviously directed first her right hand towards her pelvis area, and not even 1 second after did she impatiently drove her left hand downwards as well. As if afraid that if she didn't had both of them at the same time would be a sanction against her needy flowery garden. Which Tongqiu was now, although in call of duty, neglecting way too much. It was on the same day she though she wouldn't be able to even get up, but now she couldn't stop herself from... herself.

Helpless Unknown/Unsearchable Voice babysitting the little woman: "..."

At another moment, however, when Tongqiu  met head on with the Bandit Leader, Tonkia suddenly had a kind of sensation alarming her every sense even making her skin full of goosebumps. She suddenly felt, through the connection of her and Tongqiu's union that there was something spying on him, however she couldn't contact him otherwise he would've already asked for forgiveness from neglecting little Tonkia down there.

So as Tongqiu was pummeling down with both his swords, she could smell a horrid and nefarious scent as well as a different kind of smell, a 'smell' which made her feel immensely disdainful, scornful, hatred and utter need to annihilate scent moving towards Tongqiu.

As she was sorrowfully crying with tears already forming a lake on her neck, hysterically moving about here and there demanding to be set out of the white space, yet to not receive any word from that Unsearchable Voice, she could only bitterly and full of sorrow await for her lover to end up victorious, without an ounce of help from her. She knew that, were she actually go out, she would instead just die meaninglessly. Even more she understood that 'Journeyers' could revive, but, she also knew they genuinely experienced death and most of all pain. How could a sweet little wife like her calmly understand and sit down while that happens? 

And so, the greatest torture ever suffered by a naïve Tonkia which though fully devoted to her man, unknown to the endless potential of that same man of hers, was then endured by. Until Tonkia saw her stronger than ever 'hubby' use a skill which he never did before, such a move instantly gave hope and happiness to the little woman, no, little wife. As she began crying more, this time her tears were emanating joy instead of grief, as she watched how the abomination's damnable vitality was slowly, so slowly yet without stopping, bar HP. It finally reached critical points, to where Tonkia could only describe it as 'Utter Destruction'.

 

...