Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Garmr the Bonehowl Cerberus Chapter 85: Garmr the Bonehowl Cerberus We stepped into the boss dungeon room together.

The moment my foot crossed the threshold, I felt a powerful, murderous aura creeping over my skin.

It was oppressive, heavy-like a predator’s breath on my neck.

Suddenly, the pitch-black room lit up as torches with crimson flames ignited along the walls, bathing everything in an ominous red glow.

The eerie light made it seem as though we had entered the very depths of hell itself.

Then it appeared-a massive figure emerging from the shadows.

The dungeon boss.

A colossal Cerberus stood before us, its three heads each more terrifying than the last.

The central head was a ghastly skull, its empty eye sockets burning with a hellish light, while the other two looked like normal heads, but the right head has blue eyes, and the left head has red eyes.

The dungeon boss snarling and dripping with malice.

Its body was skeletal and exposed bones stark against its blackened flesh.

Flames licked at the tip of its tail, and just staring at it sent a shiver of terror down my spine.

I immediately checked its status: — Garmr the Bonehowl Cerberus, Dungeon Boss, Level 60 Monster Type: High Undead — “High Undead?

It’s stronger than your average undead…” I muttered to myself, dread creeping into my voice.

“That’s correct, Nao,” Envi’s voice chimed in my mind, analytical and calm as always.

“It’s likely the one controlling all the undead in this dungeon.

That’s why we haven’t gained much EXP from the monsters here-it’s been absorbing it all!” “Understood.

We have to take it down now—” Before I could finish, the boss let out a deafening roar.

A murderous aura surged outward, flooding the entire room and plunging us all into a negative Fear status.

The sheer force of the roar wasn’t just terrifying-it was sickening.

I nearly retched on the spot.

“Damn it!” Julius collapsed to one knee, using his sword to steady himself as he struggled to rise again.

I glanced at my team; they were all affected, their strength draining as the oppressive aura crushed their resolve.

Envi’s voice came again, urgent.

“Nao, the boss’s killing intent is so overwhelming that it’s destabilizing the mental fortitude of anyone below its level.” Realizing the gravity of the situation, I quickly turned to Mia.

“Mia, use your mental defense magic now!” I commanded.

Without hesitation, Mia cast [High Support Magic: Mental Strengthening], bolstering the team’s mental defenses.

Her skill, a result of our earlier discussions about her magic repertoire, proved to be our salvation.

Slowly but surely, everyone began regaining their composure, their breathing steadying as they adjusted to the boss’s suffocating aura.

“Pull yourselves together!” I shouted, rallying the team.

“Julius, Marius, Elan, Mark-you’re our primary attackers.

Activate your Aura Force and prepare to strike!” They nodded and followed my instructions, determination flickering back into their eyes.

“Vivin, Nyssa, protect Mia!

Stay in the rear and attack if an opening appears.

Mia, keep the buffs coming!” Mia immediately cast [High Support Magic: Physical Barrier] and [Support Magic: Haste], granting us a shield that could withstand three physical attacks and boosting our movement speed.

Vivin and Nyssa positioned themselves defensively around Mia, their weapons ready.

Meanwhile, Marius stepped forward to take point.

With a resolute shout, he slammed his shield into the ground, activating [Tank Skill: Taunt] and unleashing a fierce combat aura.

The Cerberus’s attention snapped to him, and it lunged, its flaming tail whipping toward him.

Marius blocked the attack head-on, his shield holding firm.

He countered with [Steel Slash], further enraging the boss as sparks flew from its skeletal form.

“Boss monsters like this are vulnerable to light-based attacks,” I said.

“Mark, Elan, and I will immobilize it.

Julius, focus your full power on dealing damage!” Elan dashed forward, using [Assassin Skill: Thousand Poison] to unleash a barrage of poison-coated knives at the Cerberus’s hind leg, melting the flesh down to bone.

Mark followed up with [Blackmore Swordsmanship: Nisshou-giri], delivering three consecutive slashes to its foreleg, severing it entirely.

Seizing the opportunity, I activated [Aura Force] to boost my strength and executed [Blackmore Katana Style: Inazuma], a swift and precise slash that severed the beast’s other hind leg.

The Cerberus roared in agony, collapsing to the ground.

“Now, Julius!” I shouted.

“Take this!

[Starlight Swordsmanship: Fourth Form, Lightpiercer Slash]!” Julius leaped high into the air, gathering concentrated light energy at the tip of his blade before slashing downward.

His attack pierced through the Cerberus’s back, driving the monster into the ground.

For a moment, everything was still.

But then, the central skull head emitted a haunting howl.

Its body began to glow faintly, the grievous wounds we inflicted healing at an impossible speed.

In a matter of moments, it was back to full strength.

“Haha, of course it wouldn’t be that easy,” I muttered bitterly.

The Cerberus’s middle head roared again using skill [Hundred Hell Hound] summoning a circle of crimson magic that spread throughout the room.

Undead minions- hell hounds materialized, surrounding us.

“This magic…

it’s not Dark Magic.

It feels like something entirely unique!” I analyzed using Eclipse Eyes, my enhanced vision unable to detect any traces of the usual Dark Magic.

“You’re right, Nao,” Envi confirmed.

“These minions aren’t imbued with Dark Magic.

Their power seems to stem from an original source.

Proceed with caution!” “I will.

Envi, about the central head-any insights?” “Yes,” Envi replied.

“It controls the undead and anchors the regeneration ability.

We need to destroy it first.

But stay alert-the other heads may have unknown abilities!” Acknowledging Envi’s advice, I tightened my grip on my katana.

The summoned minions surged toward us, and the true battle began.

We were all stunned by what we saw.

The summoned monsters were feral, relentless, and attacking us with unbridled fury.

They swarmed Vivin, Nyssa, and Mia, who were struggling to fend them off.

Seeing them overwhelmed, I quickly commanded Elan to protect them.

“Elan, cover them now!” Garmr’s attention shifted momentarily, and he lunged at Mark with his iron claws.

“Watch out, Mark!

Move!” I yelled, but the beast’s claws struck before Mark could react.

Garmr’s relentless assault shattered Mia’s physical barrier on him, sending Mark crashing into the wall.

He groaned but managed to stand, albeit unsteadily.

Marius took immediate action, activating [Tank Skill: War Cry] to release a powerful aura.

It bolstered our attack power and drew Garmr’s aggression toward him.

“Mark, stay back and follow my lead!” I ordered.

After regrouping with Julius, we devised a strategy.

“Mark, handle the minions!

Clear the path for us to attack Garmr.

Julius and I will focus on dealing damage to the boss!” Julius nodded, resolute.

“Understood.

What’s the plan for the heads?” “We need to eliminate the middle head first-it’s the source of his regeneration.

I’ll distract the other two.

You concentrate on destroying the center!” With our strategy in place, we moved into action.

I charged at Garmr, channeling my aura into my katana and unleashing [Blackmore Katana Style: Tenshō Kōsen], a long-range slash of concentrated energy.

The attack slashed through Garmr’s body, causing blood to spray.

“Mia, hit me with your lightning magic!” I shouted, preparing to use Resonance.

Mia hesitated but quickly complied.

“Forgive me, Master Naoki!

[Thunder Magic: Lightning Lance]!” She cast her spell, striking me with a high-voltage surge.

“UGH!” The pain was searing, nearly overwhelming, but I gritted my teeth and activated [Power of Incarnation], absorbing the energy with Resonance.

Electricity coursed through my body, amplifying my strength.

Seizing the moment, I leaped toward Garmr, aiming for his heads.

“Take this, you cursed mutt!

[Resonance: Rairyuu no Issen]!” A dragon-shaped bolt of lightning erupted from my blade, slamming into all three heads with devastating force.

Garmr roared in pain, stunned and immobilized for a brief moment.

“Now, Julius!

Use your strongest attack!” I shouted.

Julius sprang into action, leaping high above Garmr and unleashing [Starlight Swordsmanship: Fifth Form, Nova Breaker].

His blade cleaved through the air, erupting with an explosive light aimed directly at the middle head.

But before the strike could land, Garmr’s right head roared, using [Lightning Roar] unleashing a thunderous bolt of lightning that broke the stun effect.

It moved to shield the middle head, taking the brunt of Julius’s attack.

The beast retaliated with its claws, slashing Julius and sending him flying.

His physical barrier shattered from the impact.

“Dammit!

This thing is smarter than it looks!” I cursed in frustration.

Before I could regroup, Garmr’s left head opened its jaws wide using skill [Hell Blaze] and spewed a torrent of flames directly at us, and his right head using [Thunderstorm] unleashing a thunder breath.

Startled, I barely evaded the fiery and thunder breath, realizing too late that its target wasn’t me or Julius-it was Mia, Nyssa, Vivin, and Elan at the backline.

“NO!

DAMN IT!” I screamed as the flames and thunder surged toward my team.

Out of nowhere, Marius threw himself into the path of the fire and thunder, raising his shield to block the attack.

“ARRRGH!” he cried out in pain, his body trembling under the force of the lightning flames.

Yet, he held his ground.

“MARIUS!!” I yelled.

The flames subsided, the lightning struck him, but Marius still standing.

“I’m fine, Naoki!

A little fire won’t kill me!

Hahaha!

Focus on the boss!” His voice was strained but unwavering.

“Mia, heal Marius now!” I commanded.

She quickly cast [Support Magic: Heal], her magic soothing his burns and restoring his strength.

I couldn’t let this escalate further.

Clenching my teeth, I released my katana and summoned my shadow weapon.

“It’s time to end this.

Envi…

Kurogiri, arise!” I called forth my black katana forged from Dark Magic, feeling a surge of speed and power.

“Let’s finish this.

Julius, back me up!” “Right!

Let’s take this bastard down!” Julius readied his blade, determination gleaming in his eyes.

We charged at Garmr together, pouring everything we had into our final assault.

The Cerberus bared its fangs, its three heads glowing ominously as it unleashed an even deadlier killing intent.

The room shook under the weight of its monstrous aura.

This would be the ultimate showdown.