The Bloodforged Kin

Chapter 214 - 208: Zavier - Boss Battle

The descent into the mountain felt eerily familiar to his experience playing The Lost Mine of Phandelver, with even the terrain and rooms looking a little too 'uncanny valley.' There had been some changes - deeper caverns, more monsters, but all of it felt too similar to be coincidental. He'd battled cave trolls that had hidden under the bridge that crossed the expected river. He took out the Cragmaw Goblin Tribe - yes, that's what they were named. Red Brand criminals barred his path, he fell into a nest of Black Spiders, and survived sonic assaults in the Wave Echo Cave that he'd been pretty sure weren't in the original game. All of it led him to where he stood now - in front of a massive pair of wooden doors that were studded with bronze rivets and steel bands. He pushed the doors, surprised at the ease with which they swung open, and stepped inside.

Zone Challenge: Congratulations! You have discovered the lair of the Dungeon Guardian! Defeat the Guardian to complete your trial.

Note: No other success criteria exists for this level. The level ends when you have defeated the Guardian or have died.

The door slammed shut behind him with a finality that echoed through his bones just as much as through the space ahead. There would be no going back through those doors. He took a steadying breath and ramped up the power in his light spell, illuminating the area ahead of him.

Tall, wide pillars of stone were arrayed randomly throughout the space, giving the impression of forming circles without actually doing so. They overlapped in such a way as to prevent him from seeing beyond the next row. The ceiling was lost to darkness above, and the outer wall of the room stretched in a circle that he estimated to be a few hundred feet in diameter. Resigned to the challenge, Zavier began moving between the pillars. He'd been trapped in this dungeon for almost six months now and was dying to get out. When he'd started he'd assumed that he would be in here for a few weeks at most before joining back up with his family, stronger and more ready to help them. He knew, now, that his growth had not been enough and that he was barely stronger than he was when he'd entered. Maybe defeating this Guardian will be the thing I need to push me to where I need to be. The thought felt hollow, even to him, but he wished for it anyway.

He crossed through the last series of pillars and found himself in a wide, circular space that was dominated by a massive stone chair in the center. He dismissed his light - the cavern was well-lit enough from unseen light sources. His eyes were drawn to the massive, muscular creature sitting on the throne.

It was a Cyclops - easily twelve feet tall, at least 800 pounds of thickly-bunched muscle, and completely orange. Even the single eye that was staring at him was a deep, glowing orange. Without preamble it leapt out of the chair, spreading it's tree-trunk arms and legs wide, roaring a challenge at Zavier. Drool spilled from its mouth and spittle flew outward with the roar. The cyclops began running towards Zavier, its heavy footfalls shaking the ground as it did.

Zavier leapt to the side in a roll, throwing his chains as the creature passed him. The Razorlink chain sliced a deep gash across both thighs while the spear-point of his pen chain punctured into its chest, hitting bone with a deep thunk. Zavier used the momentum of his leap to fling himself around, memories of his fight with the spiders in the Evernight Woods and his battle with the wyvern fresh in his mind. He swung through the air, hoping to fling himself around the monster and wrap its limbs up tightly with the chain, then use the Razorlink chain to saw its head off.

The cyclops wasn't as dumb as it looked, though. It grabbed the chain and ripped it from his torso, swinging it to send Zavier flying across the chamber to slam into a pillar. Zavier hit with a crunch and groaned as he slid to the ground. He scrambled out of the way of a huge fist, the blow shattering the pillar and sending its top half flying backwards. Zavier slammed the tip of his pen into its calf and tried to run around it again, wanting to tie its legs up. He made a full loop and started pulling, only for the cyclops to kick and send him and his chains flying backwards again.

Zavier ran, punched, ran, flung his chains, ran again. He aimed for the eye, but the cyclops batted the chain away. He whipped out the Razorlink in vicious circles and unpredictable patterns, each strike cutting deeply into its legs and arms, but never able to break past its defenses.

He hoped to wear it down, maybe bleed it to death with a thousand cuts, but every strike only seemed to enrage the creature more, until it had reached a true bloodlust rage.

The attacks came faster and faster, the cyclops fighting with intelligence. Zavier had prayed that it was just a dumb brute, but his prayers weren't answered. It deflected every blow, blocked every chain, protected its vital areas with perfect defense. Zavier was pummeled, hurled, stomped, and kicked until his health bar dropped below 10%.

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A crushing blow knocked Zavier face-first onto the hard stone, his body bouncing upwards with the force of it. He was at 2% health now and every part of him wanted to lay there and just have it be over. He stayed still, waiting for death - realized that it hadn't come. He lifted his head and stared through bloody, swollen eyes at the beast in front of him.

It stood, waiting. Judging, Zavier felt. That singular eye was fixed on him with an intensity he hadn't seen in any System-generated creature before.

It was waiting, Zavier realized. Waiting to see what he would do next. Waiting to see if he'd lay there and die, or face his death on his feet. It wasn't even a question for Zavier.

He slid his hands underneath him slowly, pushing himself up with weak arms. He pulled one knee up, then the other. One shaky leg was next, then the other. Long minutes later he was on his feet, swaying in place. The creature took a step forward and Zavier held up a hand.

"Wait," he gasped. "Just give me a damned second to catch my breath."

The cyclops' eye widened in surprise but it stopped. Then it did something Zavier wouldn't have predicted in a million years - it spoke.

With a voice that sounded like boulders grinding together, it spoke. "Little human is weak. Not worthy. Little human must leave."

Congratulations! The Dungeon Guardian has recognized your weakness and inferiority and offered you an opportunity to save yourself!

At the entrance to the cave Zavier heard the doors swing open. The cyclops pointed lazily over Zavier's head, then dropped his arm and turned to plod back to his throne. Zavier considered. He wanted to live - holy hell did he want to live. He wanted nothing more than to return to his family.

But not like this. Not weak, defeated, and with nothing to show for it. He'd put them through hell, left them for six months, and he'd be showing up the same man as when he left? No. NO. That was unacceptable.

Fury rose in him hotter than any fire. He might be about to die - probably was, but he'd be damned if he walked out of here with his tail between his legs. Flames and lightning began to course down his chains. Zavier recalled his light orb and set it blazing like a tiny sun. He pushed the weakness from his body and straightened, wiping blood from his eyes and spitting bloody phlegm onto the ground.

"Hey asshole," he said, his voice calm. Deadly. "I'm not done with you yet."

The cyclops turned slowly to face him, eye wide. Zavier didn't hesitate - he sent the ball of light flying into its eye before it could register the attack. It hit with a wet plop, not doing any damage but temporarily blinding it. He called up as many life-seeking missiles as he could create and sent them in a wave that exploded across the cyclops' body, each one hitting with a hissing, popping sound that sent it stumbling backwards. It waved uselessly at them, roaring in pain and fury.

Zavier's chains came alive, fire and lightning cutting deeper and causing more damage than before. With the cyclops blinded and distracted his attacks landed, cutting and gouging chunks of flesh from its chest and stomach. With a savage grin Zavier flung them back as far as they'd go, then sent them hurling straight for the thing's heart.

The cyclops caught them in one meaty hand, wiping tears from its eye with the other. Its eye narrowed and it fixed Zavier with a glare that promised pain and death in equal measure. It jerked the chains and suddenly Zavier was flying through the air towards the monster.

It caught him by the head, squeezing as it lifted him. Zavier could see between the fingers as his face was brought close to the cyclops' eye.

"Weak." It squeezed and Zavier's head popped like an overripe fruit.

Zavier groaned and gripped his head, trying to force back the splitting headache. He was laying flat on the ground in the entrance room to his trial. As before, the only light was from a pedestal in the center of the room. He climbed slowly to his feet and made his way there to read the parchment.

Challenge Dungeon: Zavier Torres

Attempt 1: Defeat. You have been defeated by the guardian of the dungeon.

Current attempt: 2 of 5

Complete the dungeon by defeating the guardian.

"Well fuck me," he said. "At least I'm not dead, though." The thought brought little comfort. He half-wished that he'd just have been kicked out of the dungeon rather than go through it again. His happiness with not being dead was mitigated by the knowledge that he was going to have to spend another six months in this hell hole.

"Welp, well done is better than well said," he said with resignation and walked to where the door was supposed to be. The door didn't appear and Zavier patted the wall, running his fingers along the space where it had split and opened the last time. His confusion and searching was interrupted by a smooth, deep, melodic voice.

"Zavier Torres, you have completed your first attempt at your trial. Before you begin your second attempt there are matters to be discussed."