The tower groaned beneath the weight of corruption.
Where the last Hollowborn fell, the ground split—cracked open by a presence older, deeper. From within the fissure, a scream rose, not of sound, but of memory and dread. Then the fog swirled violently, parting around a figure that did not crawl, but descended.
A monster cloaked in shadow and bone.
"⟪Boss Encounter Triggered: Hollow King – Mourndrak⟫
Classification: Tier II Aberrant Entity
Rank: Elite
Threat Level: High⟫"
It stood thrice the height of a man, draped in living tendrils that pulsed with green light. A crown of thorns jutted from its skull-like face, and in its chest burned a sickly heart of crystalline corruption.
Leo took an instinctive step back. Even the Whisperveil Cloak felt thin in the face of this monster.
"Formations!" Aerin shouted, her voice razor-sharp.
Kaelgrun slammed his warhammer into the earth beside Leo. "Stay mobile. That thing breathes doom."
The boss moved.
It didn't charge—it unfolded forward, limbs bending wrong, like it was breaking reality with every step. With a sweep of its clawed hand, it launched a wave of corruption.
"⟪Ability Detected: Hollow Torrent⟫
Effect: Corruption Surge in 10-meter cone. Applies Corrosion and Slow.⟫"
Leo dove to the side, activating his skill mid-roll.
"⟪Skill Activated: Shadow Step⟫
Rank: C
Effect: Dash through shadows within 5 meters. Leave behind a shadow afterimage that distracts enemies.
Cooldown: 7 seconds (Modified by Whisperveil Cloak)⟫"
He reappeared behind the beast and thrust the Verdant Fang into its back.
"⟪Effect Triggered: Healing Spores – 5 HP Restored⟫"
But the Hollow King didn't even flinch.
Instead, its spiked tail lashed backward, catching Leo across the ribs and flinging him like a ragdoll. He slammed against a fallen stone pillar, breath knocked out of him.
"Leo!" Sylari yelled, weaving a luminous sigil in the air.
"⟪Skill Activated: Rejuvenation Sigil⟫
Effect: Restores 20 HP over 8 seconds to all allies in range.⟫"
Green light wrapped around Leo's chest, sealing shallow wounds, dulling the sharpest edges of the pain.
Kaelgrun roared and leapt into the fray, hammer crackling with rune-etched might.
"⟪Skill Activated: Earthshatter Blow⟫
Rank: B
Effect: Deliver a crushing strike that stuns enemies for 2 seconds.
Cooldown: 12 seconds⟫"
The impact echoed like thunder. Mourndrak staggered—but only barely.
It countered with a horrifying cry.
"⟪Ability Activated: Dirge of Unmaking⟫
Effect: Instills Fear and lowers Defense by 20% for 10 seconds.⟫"
Leo's vision blurred. For a moment, he saw nothing but failure. Blood. Death. The end of everything.
Aerin's voice snapped him back. "Leo—focus! It's trying to break your mind!"
He clenched his fists, steadying himself.
The fight pressed on.
Aerin darted in close, blades dancing like twin snakes. Her movements were a blur—striking arteries, weaving around counterstrikes. Her knife scraped against the Hollow King's ribs, chipping off shards of corrupted crystal.
"⟪Critical Hit – Weak Point Struck!⟫
Damage Multiplied⟫"
It roared and backhanded her into a wall. She landed hard but rolled to her feet, blood trickling from her lip. "Still standing, bastard."
Leo panted, fingers twitching. The Skill Upgrade Token he'd earned from the previous quest burned in his inventory.
Not now. Too risky mid-fight.
The ground cracked again.
The Hollow King began channeling another attack—its heart pulsing wildly.
"⟪Warning: Cataclysm Pulse Incoming⟫
Charge Time: 15 seconds⟫"
"Disrupt it!" Sylari shouted. "Break the channel or we all die!"
Leo's eyes narrowed.
He activated Shadow Step, lunging toward the crystal heart.
"Not today."
His blade gleamed green, shadows rippling in his wake.