Raven chuckled as Cash brought up Raven's idea perfectly. "Well, Ryan, that. Except more me pulling the boss's attention." He looks at Cash and holds up a disarming hand. "Out of the two of us, I'm the more durable with light metal armor, meaning I can afford to miss the occasional dodge and take the hit." Working across the plan quickly, he stops and looks at all of them. "It just occurred to me none of us use a shield. And I don't even have one, before you ask." Shaking his head, he keeps working, remaining quiet for a fair amount of time before looking up again. "Alright, so I have me and Ryan in the front with Cash and Faeron behind us. Any other ideas, cause this is just an idea I've been tinkering with."

"Me too!" Faeron said, adding on to what Cash had said. She had also been working on her sprint and acrobatics skill. If it meant having a close call with death, she wouldn't mind. As Cash said, she didn't want Ryan nor the others taking all the damage. Things led to another, and another player had teleported. Faeron recognized him instantly as the person back at the town square. She nodded towards him, glad to see him. She listened to what Raven had said, and nodded as well.

"Don't expect me to stay behind you guys all the time," she warned. "I'll move up when you guys need time to heal up." She swirled her spear, a determined look on her face.

Bachus slammed his huge sword into the stone next to the boss door, making a deafening crunching sound. “OK!” He paused to make sure his guild at least was listening. “We go in; we hit it hard with the plan! There can be no room for fear! In this world, if you run, you die.” He turned his head to the door. “Today will be a day to go down in history. The day when the floor clearers of this world began the journey to escape this god damned game!” He nodded his head to Karen. “Ok! Everybody equip your weapons!” He tore his blade from the stone, and slammed his fist on the door. He muttered under his breath. “Please, lord. Give me strength.” He pushed the door open slowly, and stepped inside. Everybody followed accordingly. The door slammed shut, and they were in pitch black.
Flames burst from the sides of the room, lighting it dimly. “Everyone! Get into formation! It’s here.” He narrowed his eye, looking around the room, before he saw it. A set of gigantic yellow eyes in the shadows. A boom roared hallowed out, before the boss leapt out of the shadows.

Bleep a notification appeared on everyone’s menu. “The book of truth has been updated.”

Bachus opened the book.

‘Fire bringer’ – 3 HP bars

This gigantic foe is made from rock, and can produce flames to its own will. It can burn, use 1 of it 4 huge hands to crush, or use its chains as weapons. The only way to damage this beast, is to use sharp piercing attacks. Slashes are useless.

“Crap.”

The boss shot searing flames into the group. The shield’s mostly deflected them, but some people were burned. Nobody was killed thankfully. “OK! BREAK!” Bachus called out. His partner was in fact Karen. “Alright Karen, we’ve got this!” He grinned at her as they sprinted towards the boss. She nodded back. A chain flew towards them, but Karen jammed her blade into one of the chain loops, and Bachus slashed through the main metal. They were both going all out.

"You know the plan! Let's move!" Raven rolled to the side to avoid a chain attack and took the brief time he had to review the boss before growling quietly. Leaping over another chain attack, he barely dodged another jet of flame from the boss. "Guys, change of plan! Faeron deals the damage, we'll distract. Cash and I can deal damage when possible!" As another chain attack comes his way, Raven leaps it and shears through the chain with a well timed attack, landing on his feet and facing the boss with determination in his eye. "FOR FREEDOM!" Rushing forward, he barely avoids getting grabbed and then attacks with a piercing attack, coming out on the other side of the boss. Turning to face the boss again, he barely sees the backhand in time and manages to avoid the worst of it, though he still gets sent sailing across the room from the blow. Picking himself up, he checks his health and sighs. He hadn't taken too much damage and his battle healing was already doing it's job. Still, he had to take a couple shaky breaths to recenter himself and forget the pain.

"Ow..." Looking at the boss again, he moves towards his group, avoiding attacks the best he can.

Ryan stepped through the door, making sure he was the first of his group members, seeing as he could take the hit directly, whereas the others had to dodge more. As he got inside and the door closed he looked around. This will be the most dangerous opponent yet... We have to be careful... Suddenly, the room began to light up, a form began to approach. He glanced to his allies for a second, some fear appearing in them. In any other game this would be a raid boss... People die a lot against raid bosses... Oh god... He began to breathe heavily, reading the rules for this boss in the book before suddenly seeing Bachus and Karen charge the beast. Here's where I come in... You can do this, Ryan... You can do this... He charged forward, shouting a battle-cry as mostly his attempt to get the bosses attention. He put up his axe to block a chain swinging at him, making sure it was only so he could use the time to duck and pull his axe with him before the chain swung around him. Seeing as the boss seemed to be focusing on the others, he began to swing his axe at the closest point on the beast he could, just attempting to get its attention. "I'm your target!" He swung repeatedly, just hoping to get it to focus on him so that he could do something in this battle.

Faeron stopped inside the boss room, suddenly met with a flaming beast. Dodging a chain attack whilst staying close to her group. "Right!" she said, following what Raven had just said. She saw Raven get back handed; but she didn't stop to help him. In the few weeks she was with him, Faeron knew he was capable of handling himself. Without another second hesitation, she rushed towards the boss, piercing the boss with her spear. The boss grunted, feeling the attack as he swung around. Faeron instantly dropped down to the ground, sprinting out of harms way as she prepared to land another blow.

IC: Getting close is going to be hard. Still.

The fire caught him a little by surprise, but not as much as the chain flying after it, nearly hitting him- And something clicked in his mind, his Parry activating to swing Fury's tip to face the chain. "TEMPTATION'S PUSH!"

The spear glowed bright blue, a hellish scream bursting from the point and blasting the chain just enough off course to prevent it from hitting Aaron. He instantly felt drained, the very recently learned skill kicking into its cooldown. Maybe... There was an idea. Aaron activated his sprint, dashing toward the boss and using his parry to hop around and dodge chains, aiming Fury for a weak spot in the armor-

OOC: If the attack hits or not/severity is up to the Co-GM/GM. Temptation's Push approved by GM.

Cash was worried while looking around the dim room, trying to see if he can spot anything other than the bright yellow eyes piercing the darkness. The room lit up with a magnificent show. Stood there, after coming from the darkness, was a large monster on fire. Cash opened the Book of Truth message just as it popped up on his screen. Piercing attacks? I wont be much help there....If I could get behind him, I could take advantage of my Back-stab bonus...But that would be risky and I would be leaving the formation we...kind made. Cash thought as he read the message. Just as he was finishing flames were shot across the battle room, scarring Cash slightly. He looked around, Faeron was already stabbing the monster, Ryan seeming to get the boss' attention, and Raven having landed a solid attack but also slammed into a wall. Cash couldn't be sitting here doing nothing so he jumped in. He activated his sprint skill to quickly get to Ravens side. Cash Helped Raven stand while talking to him in a shaky voice, "Let's distract the boss on his right, and we can get Ryan to protect Faeron while she attacks on the left." He looked around making sure the boss was still busy, Cash added, "I'm sure the legion of light isn't short on attack power, but we can never be to safe when it comes to defence...Right?"

Listening to Cash, Raven nods in agreement to his statement. "You're right, we can't, but you and I can also cause damage. Our weapons have points for thrusting, not lust looks." Spotting a chain swinging towards them, he pushes Cash behind him and swings down, cutting the chain in two and sighing as both halves miss them. "Right, I have an idea. I'll try and pull his attention away from you and get him to present his back. Once he does, use your back stab and remember to use a thrust." Leaving Cash to get ready, he runs off to the left, dashing in and delivering another thrust attack and getting his attention.

Not too much later it was pulled away by a Legion member to Raven's left, who was quickly sent flying by a back hand. "Ouch..." Seeing the boss turn back towards him, he leaps up towards the boss and uses another thrust attack to draw his attention and lock it in. "Now Cash!"

Ryan saw some of the others cutting the chains as they swung towards them. I guess that works He swung his axe, hitting the leg of the beast. Despite doing no damage to it really, it still built up what most gamers would call aggro. As he swung a few times, the boss decided that Ryan was his next target, swinging an arm at him. Ryan spun his axe around, bringing the blade up to act as a make-shift shield. He still took the hit, as well as the damage, but blocking like that reduced it a little bit. As the hand hit the axe, he flew to the side, his foot getting hit by a chain that was swinging by. He watched his health bar take a quick dive before he swung his axe at the chain, releasing himself from it. He then charged back in, swinging once more.

OOC: Completing the attack for kicks and because evidently I'm supposed to.

IC: Sprint's about to drop out-

Using the last bit of his dwindling speed boost and combining it with Parry, Aaron slid under a chain, using his forward momentum and slightly heightened reaction time to launch himself into a jump immediately after, Fury's point right on target-

Haunt buried his spear a deep in a chink in the monster's armor, his feet scrabbling for a hold on the creatures hide, trying to get a spot to push off before the heat got through his armor or the boss could counterattack. He managed to pull his weapon out and kick off before the second could occur, but he burned his hands and feet in the process, his health dropping slightly.

Now all he had to do was get away. Temptation's Push was still cooling down, he was breathing heavily, his trained but weaker Sprint was exhausted... And his feet were burnt.

Hooray.

OOC: Sprint exhausted to compensate for the fact that it wasn't one of his four main abilities. Any help would be awful nice XD

"Karen!" Bachus grunted.

She nodded, before flipping over him and making a block to another on coming chain. Bachus roared and switched with her, driving his blade into the bosses underbelly. He yelled as he did this, before removing the blade, and jumping back. A chain locked on to his leg, and seared his skin. He muffled his cries of pain, helpless to the boss. The boss was taking all sorts of damage from players, and had almost it's first health bar depleted. Fire bringer cast its ghastly eyes on to the now trapped Bachus, roaring. The swooping hand was coming.

"Here I go!" A flash of blue swept past Bachus. He was still in agony. A glint from a blade, and a massive glow slash later, Bachus was free from the chain. He landed with a thud to see karen soaring through the air, the chain caught around her sword. She had saved him. "Maybe next time, you can save me!" She laughed whilst a determined look was cast upon her face.

"Karen look out!" Bachus yelled. The hand that was intended for himself made a huge swiping contact with her whole body, smashing her against the wall, and into a large heap on the ground. "No!" Bachus screamed out, before scrambling to his feet and rushing over to her. "Let me save you now!" He fumbled around in his inventory trying to find a potion.

She put a hand out. "I could've never beat the game anyway. I hope you make it out alive... Goodbye, Bachus." She took his shaking hand and kissed it.

"No! Dont leave me here..." He fumbled some more before finding his potions. "Here!" He pulled it out. He was too late. Her data had scattered. A sea of blue pieces floating gently upwards. Her voice echoed in his head, whilst he knelt there expressionless for a fair time.

Meanwhile in the raging battle, the boss had been stunned by several special abilities from players, was being preoccupied by Ryan, cash, faeron and raven. The legion were also dealing out damage.

He knelt there for a few moment longer before croaking, and clenching his fist. "KAREN!!!!!!!!" He yelled at the top of his voice in remorse. After another few moments he gripped his sword with both hands and stood up. He turned to the boss, and mumbled under his breath. "You... killed my next in command... my friend... my love." He looked upwards into the bosses eyes with and angry glare of his own. "YARGH!!!!!!!!!" He rushed forward dodging a cross attack of two chains. He leaped into the air and drove his blade hard into the stomach of the boss. Thanks to Haunt's temptation's push, the boss was slightly stunned too. The force from Bachus' strike pushed himself and the boss into the far wall, where the boss was trapped, due the being impaled by Bachus and his blade and strength, and by Haunt's stun. It health dropped into it's final bar.

"GO!!!!!" Bachus called out to everyone, tears dripping from his cheeks, using all of his might accompanied with the stun to keep the boss in place. The legion members immediately rushed in, stabbing and piercing, in unison.

Raven didn't have time to mourn Karen's death. He barely had time to perceive it before having to dodge a hand going to grab at him. Leaping up and over the hand, he landed just on the other side of a swinging chain. Spinning to the right, he cut through another chain and slid under another grasping hand, flipping up onto his feet in time to see the boss get nailed by a heavy thrust attack from Haunt and Bachus, the former's attack seeming to stun the boss for a the time being, a good thing to have happen. Looking at the others, he smiles with determination. "Now!" Rushing forward, he positioned himself for a good thrust and leaped up and then dashed through the boss, putting down a heavy amount of damage from the attack.

As he lands back on the ground, a chain heading for the wall on a back swing collides with him and sends him sailing into the wall again, leaving him low on health and stunned. Fumbling through his own menu, he finds a potion and takes it, slowly getting back to his feet.

"Well, isn't this quite a workout. " Rena squeaked out, narrowly avoiding another swing of the bosses' chains. Hey, atleast that swing wasnt meant for her. Most of the fight Rena had simply stood on the sidelines, avoiding damage and only dealing hits whenever he chance came along. She wanted to stay alive. But judging by the way her chest was heaving and the sweat on her brow, it still seemed difficult for her.

Taking a quick glance around, her eyes froze on the sight of one of the leaders and his second in command. Rena's lips formed a tight line as she watched the girl die. It was never a fun sight. It took a moment for her to gain her composure. 'It's almost dead. Now's the time to attack.' Her eyes hardened and she swallowed back the fear she had. "Onward and forward.. " Rena muttered, sprinting forward.

The first chance she got, Rena's hands tightened on her spear and thrust it into the leg of the boss, as deep as she could. Cringing away from the heat of it, Rena twist her spear as she attempted to yank it back out., Her health bar beggining to gradually drop. Her spear was starting to burn her hands and she couldnt help but let out a girlish squeal of pain before finally managing to loosen her spear. Ripping it free, she stumbled back a bit, falling flat on her butt and stumbling to get back up.

~

IC: Aaron's rage built, both that infernal light in his eyes and the blue engravings on his spear glowing brighter. She died. That girl died because of one sad, twisted loser and his games. So many people have died.

But his ability seemed to have stunned the boss, at least somewhat. Maybe-

And a girl fell to the ground, far too close to the boss. He couldn't save Karen, he could never save everyone, but this beast... This beast he could destroy. Haunt ignored the burning on the bottom of his feet as he ran forward. Parry activated, Fury's point stabbing into the links of the chain and spinning it past to keep it from hitting Rena, his eyes all the while watching the cooldown indicator. The heat was starting to get to him, if she didn't get up and get away soon he was going to start taking damage from the fire-

And if she took long enough, his armor might catch fire. Yay for leather.

If he could just get one more move...

____________

Faeron stopped attacking, her eyes glued to the now fading Karen and the crying Bacchus. She spit a curse, now furious at the boss. Karen was gone.. just like that. Her fingers trembled as she gripped her spear, and that was when she realized that she was actually scared. She had never come so close to death itself...would she die just like the others? No. The girl grit her teeth, digging her heels onto the ground as she sprinted towards the boss. She wasn't going to let some jack-ass and his selfish crazy desires rule over her actions. Faeron jumped up, grabbing her spear with both hands as she landed another piercing blow against the boss, ignoring the heat and the mental pain.

Ryan watched as Karen died. He didn't know her very well, but the fact that she died under Bachus's watch... The one who was supposed to be keeping his guild safe... That on its own enraged Ryan. He saw her fade away and he simply glared at Bachus for a moment before smashing his battleaxe into the ground. He tightened his grip on the battleaxe before pulling it back out and walking forward. He was about to run to the front line of the battle to take the hits for others when he saw Raven get hit and sent backwards. He ran over to him, cutting a chain that seemed to be attempting to finish the job. "Raven... did you see Karen die because of Bachus?" He asked in an obviously angry tone, glancing back at him. "If Bachus hadn't been so careless as to have no tanks near him and his second in command, then she might have lived... If he hadn't pulled her away from our group, she might have lived... She would have had the same tactic as we all do of helping each other at every turn rather than just having one person watching your back." His knuckles turned white as he gripped the battleaxe, "I swear... I'll never let Bachus lead one of these battles again!"

Raven grabbed Ryan's shoulder and pointed at Bachus. "He IS a tank, Ryan. Karen only got hurt because she decided to take a hit for him." Pushing Ryan out of the way, he leaps over another chain, flipping before landing and standing up. "Regardless, we don't have time to figure this out, let's just deal with the boss and get to the next floor. Then we'll discuss with the others what we should do." Turning back to the boss, Raven begins focusing his mind, letting the sword glow a bright blue before rushing forward again, using a dashing thrust again which passed through the boss's right leg.

Spinning around to face the boss, he does a series of back flips to avoid another chain and it's follow up, landing just outside it's attack range and panting. This is intense, and that boss is incredibly hot. Not sure I can do that too many more times without it starting to affect me adversely. Backing up, he starts to get ready for another attack.