"Because Kan is getting the boss buff, since this is essentially a rank two dungeon now," Black Dragoon sighed while rubbing the back of her neck before continuing. "As you've probably already realised, rank one dungeons are only for players up to level nineteen; this is because level twenty-five is a type of watershed for boss-class mobs.
Up until then, all boss-type mobs had similar stats to regular mobs at their level, just with a few extra skills and the rage mechanic; however, that changes from level twenty-five. At this point, all boss-class mobs have stats and gear similar to regular mobs of the rank above them; take Kan, for example. He might only be a veteran boss, but his stats and gear are on par with elite mobs."
"Okay, makes sense," John nodded before asking, "But why level twenty-five and not level twenty?"
"Because level twenty-five is when players can get their second class upgrade," Shizu answered.
John nodded in understanding before glancing at Emberslag and asking, "So what's the plan?"
Emberslag thought for a moment before saying, "Although I'd like to follow our previous strategy of AOEing them down, I'm not sure if that will work now that the dungeon rank has increased. I suggest we use this confrontation as a test and do it the old-fashioned way.
Vincarna will use his charge skill on Kan, attracting the attention of all the other mobs, before I attempt to draw Samblar's attention," Emberslag continued, causing Shelur to look at her in surprise and ask. "You plan to tank?"
Emberslag sighed and nodded before saying, "Vincarna may have crazy stats, but at the end of the day he's still only level seven, and even leaving him to tank eight mobs is too much." As she reached this point, Emberslag turned to John with an apologetic smile while adding, "I'd rather draw more off you, but I'm afraid tanking isn't my forte, and I'm only confident in tanking Samblar because of his low endurance stat."
"This is why I told you that you should have completed your class upgrade," Shelur reprimanded, causing Emberslag to slump her shoulders and nod.
"It's fine," John replied. "I need to practice, and they say the best way to learn is by throwing yourself in at the deep end."
"Thanks," Emberslag replied while giving him a grateful smile before turning to Shizu and asking. "Ninth Wonder of the World, can you keep your slow debuff up on their casters and your haste buff up on Shlur and Dream Star?"
"No problem," Shizu replied, to which Emberslag nodded before turning to Black Dragoon and Shlur, saying. "Since Black Dragoon's in heavy armour and can take a hit better than the rest of us, she should try to draw the aggro of one of them to lessen the pressure on Vincarna. You both need to nuke it down quickly before moving on to the next."
Black Dragoon and Shelur smiled at each other and nodded while Emberslag turned to Mel and said, "Prioritise Vincarna's health, but try to help Black Dragoon and me out when possible. Vincarna and I have our own heals, so we can help keep ourselves topped up, but I'm sure you know how tough your job's going to be going forward."
Mel sighed and glared at Shizu again, saying, "I'm aware that this spoilt princess just had to come join the party uninvited."
"It's not my fault," Shizu replied again, though everyone noticed that she failed to meet Mel's eyes before adding. "I'll make it up to you."
"Damn right you will," Mel replied before turning to John and saying. "Sorry, but your health is going to be all over the place from now on. There's a reason dungeons are five-man, after all."
John simply nodded at her to show he understood, while Shizu said, "I'll also throw out some attacks. My haste and slow spells weren't the only ones that I learnt."
"Sounds good, but your priority is to keep slow up on the casters so their damage output drops," Emberslage replied before taking a deep breath and asking. "Is everyone ready?"
"Ready," Everyone replied with a nod before Emberslag glanced at John and said. "Lead the way, Mr Tank."
John took a deep breath before raising his shield and focusing on Kan, after which he muttered, "Thundering Charge," just as Kan came out from the kitchen, causing him to dash into the mess hall and straight past bandits that were dining there, surprising them, before he smashed into Kan's flank.
[Due to the effects of Thundering Charge, Kan has been stunned for two seconds.]
"What the fuck was that?" Gurak cursed as he turned in Kan's direction, only to find a human in shitty armour swinging a long staff at Kan's throat while saying, "Cosmic Strike."
[Super Critical Hit]
[Damage Dealt: 4 to Kan]
[MP: 340>>315]
[Cosmic Strike Cooldown: 3 Seconds]
[Class Mission update:]
[Cast Cosmic Strike and damage an enemy 10 times: 5/10]
"WHAT THE FUCK!" John cursed out loud as he saw the damage number. "I dealt only four damage with a super critical?"
"Fuck that's bad!" Emberslag said in alarm as the others came in through the door, surprising the dining bandits even more as she asked. "What's your basic attack?"
"Sixty-six," John replied, only for Shelur to chuckle and say. "Too bad it's not sixty-nine."
"Not the right time, you perverted orc," Emberslag snapped, while Shizu nodded in agreement with Shelur.
"Doesn't that mean his attack with a skill only did one damage to Kan, and that his basic attacks did fuck all?" Mel asked in alarm, just as one of the bandits overcame their shock and asked angrily, "Who the fuck are you guys?"
Emberslag ignored the bandit's outburst as she thought quickly before saying, "Okay, slight change of plan, Shelur, Black Dragoon, target Gurak first before moving onto Shum; we need to take them out since Vincarna won't be able to easily hold aggro on them; his attacks are too low to do any damage to them."
"On it." Black Dragoon nodded before leaping towards Gurak after saying, "Lunge."
Shizu turned to Mel and raised her hand to her while saying, "Haste." After which, she turned to Shelur and Emberslag and repeated the process, just as the bandits jumped to their feet while grabbing their weapons.
"Temporal blast," John said with a sinking feeling in his heart, and much as he expected, the notification screen that appeared caused him to sigh.
[Damage Dealt: 1 to Kan]
[MP: 315>>290]
[Temporal Blast Cooldown: 3 Seconds]
[Class Mission update:]
[Cast Temporal Blast and damage an enemy 10 times: 5/10]
"Rising Dragon."
"Lightning Bolt."
"Corruption."
"Slow."
The women stated as they launched their individual attacks while Emberslag and Shelur tried to lock down their individual targets.
Unfortunately, that left five of the NPCs free to choose who they wanted to target, and unfortunately for Shizu, right at this time, Alas, who had been the target of her slow spell, cursed and said, "Bitch cast some crazy debuff on me; kill her."
"Shit!" Shizu cursed in a very unprincess-like fashion as the five mobs turned on her.
John noticed this and quickly skirted around to the other side of Kan just as his stun effect ended and the boss roared, "OI, YOU BASTARDS, YOU DARE TO START A FIGHT IN MY MESS HALL, BOYS, KILL THESE FOOLS."
"LET'S TRY THIS, BLACK DRAGOON, GET CLEAR," John yelled as Kan turned towards him, and Black Dragoon stabbed her lance towards Gurak while asking. "What?"
However, John's next words made it perfectly clear what he was planning, so she quickly used her leap skill to clear the area.
"Draconian Empress's Breath," John stated before the dragon-like mouth on Bahamut's Aegis opened and spewed out black flames that covered all the NPC's.
[Damage Dealt: 121 to Kan]
[Damage Dealt: 156 to Samblar]
[Damage Dealt: 96 to Shum]
[Damage Dealt: 144 to Pem]
[Damage Dealt: 145 to Wegub]
[Damage Dealt: 172 to Alas]
[Damage Dealt: 96 to Gurak]
[Damage Dealt: 146 to Ralad]
[MP: 290>>140]
"GAH! FUCK THAT BURNS!" Ralad cursed before turning to glare at John and adding. "Forget the Kitsune bitch, deal with the bastard who disrupted our meal first."
"Yeah, after we finally got to eat Venison in so long," Wegub added as the five bandits who had originally been heading towards Shizu turned and made a beeline for John.
Shizu sighed in relief while casting a slow spell on Samblar and saying, "Thanks, Vincarna."
"It's my job," John replied just as Kan threw a punch at him that he barely managed to block.
[Perfect block. Damage Taken: 0]
[Class Mission update:]
[Use Block to successfully nullify 10 attacks: 3/10]
"Fucking brat, you really think I'm going to go easy on you after trying to cook me? I'm the chef here," Kan cursed as his body smoked from receiving the draconian empress's breath at point-blank range, and he pulled out his bow before nocking an arrow.