Chapter 31.1: Tales from the Crypt Part 1
The dullahan was not moving from the center of the room. As if it was gauging its enemies strength, the dullahan was not moving from its stance. It was as if it was waiting to find the right moment to strike. Adrian then observed the situation carefully. Unique monsters have different behaviors compared to their counterparts. Not only do their stats vary differently but also their skills. Normal Dullhan's have a weakness that pertains to their head. When a dullahan's head was dealt with damage, it would weaken considerably and lose fighting power. For a dullahan the head is considered its main power source: well, at least in past video games that was the case.
Adrian could not contain the itch to attack so he initiated the battle.
" Sirius Howl, Kanlaon Fire Dragon's Breath" Adrian commanded.
As if a start signal was launched, the dullahan then slammed its fists on the ground and created two craters. From the craters if pulled out a sword and a shield that had the same aesthetics as its armor. The dullahan went to its battle stance and used the shield to block Kanlaon's breath. Seeing its breath being blocked Kanlaon stopped firing it and circled the dullahan instead and waiting for the precise moment to strike. Sirius then charged at the dullahan with vigor. Sensing Sirius charging to it, the dullahan also charged with its sword to confront Sirius. The dullahan now apparently distracted Kanlaon fired its breath hoping to damage the enemy. As if having eyes at the back of its head, it raised it shield to block the breath attack. Unexpectedly, the shield was blown away from an explosion. Adrian also went to the offensive and timed the spacemine to explode the moment the dullahan's shield would block the breath attack.
"Sirius Phantom Rush" Adrian commanded.
Like watching a beautiful dance, Sirius attacked the dullahan at the places where the breath attack was not hitting while also dodging the mana spheres that Adrian was bombarding. The dullahan tried its best to protect itself from the bombardment of the attacks but it could not take the damage anymore and entered its berserk mode. A shock wave erupted from the dullahan and pushed Adrian and his soulbounds towards the wall smashing thereby receiving a small amount of damaged. The shock wave cancelled all the skills that was targeting the dullahan and its flame coated its weapons.
As Adrian and his soulbounds recover from the shockwave, the dullahan slammed its sword and shield together and the flaming weapons merged. From the sword and the shield, a flaming spear was created. The dullahan twirled the spear as if practicing its skills with it. After a brief moment of showing its skill prowess the dullahan stopped and raised its right hand. The ground below the dullahan cracked and a neigh could be heard coming from the cracks. After a few seconds the cracks widened and from it a horse emerged. After fully emerging, the floor returned back to normal as if nothing came out of it.
The horse has whitish blue flames that replaced its mane and tail which was complemented by its black color. The horse's eyes was red and its hoofs produces the same flame when it strikes the ground. The horse was also covered in armor of silver and its breathing was powerful that it produced small gusts of wind from its nose. Of course Adrian and his soulbounds are not idle but they were forced to be. An invisible force was holding them to their battle stances. This was probably the cut-scene for the battle with the dullahan which happens rarely. Only important boss monsters have cut-scenes and it usually means there was a follow-up quest. Boss monsters like these were rare and hard to find because they were a one time thing. A few top guilds managed to find some of these boss monsters during a broadcast and manage to slay it leading them to a more powerful boss monster with unique drops. Unique drops can be skillbooks, loots and maybe even job advancements since they were after all special.
The dullahan boarded his mighty steed and that was when the invisible force holding Adrian and his soulbounds disappeared. Adrian inspected the dullahan to check the remaining HP it had left.
Monster: Dullahan (Mounted)
Lvl: 18
HP: 1100/2000
Adrian could not believe his eyes. The dullahan's HP doubled. It was a blessing that the damage he dealt still took effect. If it didn't he would have called Atlas Inc. and berate their game designers that it was unfair and unplayable. Adrian was in thought of what should he do next when the dullahan charged towards Sirius. Its a pain that undead do not bleed which limited Sirius' damage output. Sirius dodged just before the spear landed but Sirius was still struck by the spear as it was swung towards him by the dullahan.
-250 HP
"This is going to be a problem" Adrian muttered.
Adrian and Kanlaon charged towards the dullahan intercepting it from finishing off Sirius. Kanlaon parried the spear with its tail while Adrian punched the steed's legs in order to throw off the dullahan but the horse endured and managed to kick Adrian but he blocked it using his gauntlets that resulted in him getting pushed back. His lips curved into a smile because of the sudden realization.
-100 HP
He managed to inflict damage to the dullahan by attacking the steed which means they are connected but that also means he would not be able to throw off the dullahan from its steed.
"No matter, the bigger the target the easier to hit it" Adrian said smirking.
"Kanlaon use Fire Dragon's Breath" Adrian commanded.
Adrian thought that the dullahan would not be able to block the breath but contrary to his expectations the dullahan twirled its spear blocking the breath attack. Adrian was shocked but recovered from it quickly and once again tried to attack the steed while the dullahan was occupied in defending itself from the breath attack. The steed seeing Adrian charging towards is again moved away. Kanlaon stopped its breath attack and panting which is an indication that he is low on stamina. Sirius ,recovering from the damage of the swing, bared its fangs seemingly angry for it getting flung by an attack. Kanlaon charged towards the dullahan again despite the exhaustion it shows. The dullahan then did an unexpected thing by throwing its spear and aiming at Kanlaon.
-600 HP