ALL NOVEL Chapter 48
The Flame Demon is a B-rank named monster, which would correspond to about S-rank in terms of regular monsters.
Even a party of third and fourth-year students might struggle to take it down.
However, maybe due to the Reincarnated Academy fanfic author’s lack of skill, the Flame Demon‘s skill set is just a watered-down copy of the Reincarnated Hero‘s Flame King.
The Flame King was notoriously difficult even in the game, and it took over a week for a clearing guide to appear on the forums.
In comparison, the Flame Demon, while I only saw it in fanfics, is lower in rank and brain-dead compared to the Flame King.
In other words, I can confidently say I’ve mastered its strategy completely.
The only variable is that I don’t have the Execution skill, so if it goes berserk, finishing it off might be tough.
But whatever. I’ve got a plan for that too.
By the way…
–Swipe!
I was just spamming attacks on the Flame Demon like crazy, but suddenly…
A bright blue beam, or should I say a laser, pierced through its arm.
[Critical Hit!]
[Additional Damage based on Agility]
[Additional Water Element Damage from Sulyong Poseidros]
[Damage Multiplier: 650%]
[Aggro +99]
[Aggro: 99]
[Successful Block of ‘Rapid Fire Fireball’!]
–Screech!!!
The Flame Demon, realizing too late, started writhing in pain, clutching its arm.
Interestingly enough, the trajectory of the arrow left a distinct trail of light behind.
Just as I was pondering this, a status window appeared before my eyes.
–Shimmer.
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Skill Reallocated!]
———————————
[Mirage Arrow] (Active) (Basic Technique)
Mirage (残影) – The wind no longer blows.
[Combination technique of the first Wind Arrow with rapid-fire and parabolic enhancements.]
[Cannot register with other basic techniques in the skill window.]
[Due to the contract with Ariel, the consumption of wind energy is decreased, and damage increases dramatically.]
———————————
‘Whoa… didn’t expect this…’
This was a combo technique that only existed in the Reincarnated Hero test server.
If added to the live server, the number of techniques would skyrocket, leading to an overload of work, so it was hotfixed off the test server.
‘What a steal!’
It’s a 3-in-1 and my skill window was already short… this is awesome!
But first things first, it’s not the time to be amazed.
Since I’m in front of Aria, I have to deal with it without using Demonization.
–Grrr!!!
Seems like demons can recognize each other.
They’ve started displaying the enemy’s health.
[Flame Demon: HP 88%]
I’ve used quite a bit of wind energy, but taking it down in one shot is still tough.
It uses its flame burst pattern when its HP hits 66.6%, and goes berserk at 44.4%.
So ideally, I should start controlling damage from now on, but…
This isn’t a party.
It’s just me and Aria without any front-liners.
Basically, if I let it hit me once or see its pattern even once, it’s game over.
[Aggro: 99]
With aggro also at 99, I only have one critical hit chance left.
‘So, it’s asking me to use a bug again, huh?’
No choice.
The author’s intentions are all too clear.
If I can’t take down the Flame Demon in one shot, it wants me to experience berserk mode.
But little did it know.
–Shimmer!
———————————
[Currently Registered Skills]
[Passive] – Recluse
[Basic Technique 1] – Mirage Arrow
[Basic Technique 2] – First-Style Wind Arrow – Parabolic
[Basic Technique 3] – First-Style Wind Arrow – Rapid-Fire
[Ultimate Technique] – Demonization
———————————
Normally, combination skills can’t be registered with the base skills, but due to a bug during the closed beta, pre-registered skills don’t get unregistered.
So, I’ll use the combination technique Mirage Arrow with the parabolic and rapid-fire as well.
[Remaining Wind Energy: 56]
I stuffed about half of the wind energy back into loading another Mirage Arrow.
–Swipe!
The Gray Ashen Bolt began to resonate as if it were being torn apart, and…
–Whoooosh!
The sleek, dark red bow began to spiral, drawing in all the air currents around it.
–Thud.
Then, at a certain moment, it fell silent.
–…
Just like the calm before the storm.
And at the moment I pulled the trigger,
–Bangbangbangbangbangbang!!
A fierce gale swept over the Flame Demon like a typhoon.
With a sharp cutting sound, and multiple layers of thick afterimages piling on top of each other…
The Mirage Arrow started firing like crazy.
–Pewwwwwwww!!!
–Pewwwwwwww!!!
The winds, which lingered on my hand for a long time like an aftereffect, began illustrating a blue laser that adorned the Flame Demon’s body.
–Kieeek!!!
[Critical Hit!]
[Critical Hit!]
[Critical Hit!]
[Critical Hit!]
[Additional Damage based on Agility]
[Additional Water Element Damage from Sulyong Poseidros]
[Damage Multiplier: 800%]
[Aggro +99]
[Aggro: 100]
[Recluse passive deactivated]
–Kieeek!!!
[Flame Demon: HP: 37%]
[The Flame Demon will go berserk shortly]
‘Condition met.’
The Rapid Fire Fireball got canceled, and with its health drastically dropping, only now did it finally recognize me.
–Boom!
–Boom!!!
–Boom!!!!!!
Then, the Flame Demon began stomping its feet in frustration.
It was about to unleash its flame burst pattern before going berserk.
———————————
[Flame Burst (Active)]: Used whenever HP drops by 33.3%.
Fires five guided fireballs in eight directions and inflicts the ‘Endless Flame’ debuff on the target.
Causes a powerful explosion upon 5 stacks.
———————————
‘Well, eat this!’
The Flame Demon unleashed guided fireballs from eight different locations on itself, and it didn’t matter.
The wind shield I applied at the start was performing admirably.
–Whooooosh! Whooooosh!!
With each stomp, something was trying to come out from its body…
–Boom!
–Kieeeek?
–BANG!
–Kieeekkk!!!
The wind shield started absorbing the guided fireballs!
And the explosion happens when the debuff stacks to 5.
The guided fireballs that couldn’t erupt from the Flame Demon’s body began exploding along with the wind barrier.
–KABOOM!
–KA-CHOOOOM!
–KA-KA-KA-KA-CHOOOOM!!!
The ear-piercing sound grew louder with each stomp.
The Flame Demon’s death throes had become a distant memory.
–Groooorrr!!!
Finally, its body swelled up like a balloon momentarily as it kept squirming…
[The ‘Flame Demon’ goes berserk!]
–KREEEEEEE!!!
It roared, signaling the start of the berserk pattern.
‘Now’s my chance.’
–Boom.
At the same time, I casually fired an enchanted bolt from me, an ice spell straight from a first-circle magic.
–Ping!
With just that gentle shot…
–Kieeeeeek!!!
–KABOOM!
It dropped down to its knees in disbelief.
[Grapple Success!]
[Error: Berserk]
The grapple was successful, instantly canceling the berserk.
This was a method I often used in Reincarnated Hero for speed runs, a grapple cancel…
The conditions for this grapple involved attacking with a type advantage and inflicting a status effect.
The Flame Demon is weak against water attacks, and since it’s classified as a humanoid, it’s not too hard to inflict a stunned state.
In Reincarnated Hero, taking damage from an explosive attack inflicted a stun state.
Hence, it became stunned due to its own flame burst pattern.
–Kieeek…! Kieeeek!!!
Sitting down, the Flame Demon, trying desperately to cover its weak points with its thin membranous wings, looked anything but evil.
[Time remaining until grapple ends: 8.282 seconds]
“Just wait for it.”
[Remaining Wind Energy: 28]
–Whooooosh!
I poured all my wind energy into loading my final shot.
*
At Claris Academy, the main weapons of students are rather uniform.
Since family legacy is prioritized, no one ever questioned the notion of talent or already predetermined paths.
A crossbow.
The weapon carried by the hunter who saved Aria.
And Lev Denec, now wielding it as his primary weapon.
Because of this, everyone was certain he would fail the selection test and ignored him.
‘That’s why I thought he looked lonely.’
Aria thought Lev seemed lonely.
Perhaps even imagining he was fighting against an unseen force that could be the dark manipulator.
Can she continue to doubt him…?
If everything he does is merely a struggle for survival?
‘…’
The face of the one who ran to rescue her…
Those scenes of him fighting Edwin overlapped in her mind.
The Great Demon, Andras.
That ominous and disgusting magic… seemed like it was about to reappear and sweep her away.
–Peeewww!
“…!”
But it was paradoxical.
What swirled around his crossbow was a beautiful wind, leaving delightful afterimages.
As if it illuminated his solitary path, or like the wind that blew to make it smooth.
It was making a strong appeal to Aria.
*
–BEEP———
–!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the sound cutting through the air from Mirage Arrow…
The Flame Demon, pierced through the heart, was instantly incinerated.
…
…
…
[Achievement Completed!]
[Boss: Defeated the Flame Demon.]
[Remaining Bosses: 98 entities]
[Demon Hunting Reward is available!]
[Check your Demon Hunting Reward]