The Primal Hunter Chapter 1254 - Finally Final Boss Time

Though Jake and Casper had mostly passed their time in Minaga’s dungeon trading lighthearted jabs and enjoying themselves, moments arose when they had to buckle down, and nearing the ultimate boss marked one of those intense phases.

The defenders of the “Inner Labyrinth” proved far stronger than previous foes, with the initial Gunlancer and Marksman serving merely as a preview of tougher battles ahead. They ran into several comparable squads of similar strength, yet soon spotted three foes roaming the corridor.

Oddly enough, this concluding stretch of the dungeon lacked much in the way of mazes or twists. Actually, Jake could have navigated to the teleporters without Casper’s aid, since none existed here.

Rather, they confronted a relentless series of adversaries. Besides Gunlancers and Marksmen, they battled Technomancers capable of calling forth golem protectors and bending metal to their will, plus Deathstingers armed with venomous rapiers who moved with unmatched swiftness among all dungeon enemies encountered thus far.

Solo in this dungeon, Jake would have opted for guerrilla strikes, targeting enemies individually while steering clear of full-group clashes. Pairs he might manage, but trios would grow overly challenging, and the ultimate quartet – featuring one of every enemy type – would prove unbeatable in open combat.

Casper openly confessed he couldn’t solo even a lone Formation Master. His offensive power fell short, and while he might scheme to eliminate a handful of Elite Guards before pulling back to heal, success in that approach remained doubtful.

Together, however, the duo felt assured tackling up to four Inner Labyrinth foes. Casper excelled at locking down targets and enduring punishment as a near-indestructible specter, perfect for stalling and managing the battlefield, whereas Jake’s devastating strikes ensured victory prior to resource depletion.

Casper couldn’t restrain every foe alone, but luckily, Jake matched or exceeded Casper’s resilience. Admittedly, in raw toughness and damage negation, Jake paled against Casper’s ghostly state, yet he ranked as the supreme evader among C-grades. Purely on defense, Jake believed four Inner Labyrinth enemies couldn’t fell him within a practical duration.

Ultimately, victory came hard-won, but they cleared the four-enemy squad to reach the final boss chamber. The skirmish dragged on, forcing Jake to deploy Event Horizon against one adversary, and even so, it consumed considerable time. This trial’s rigor paid off, granting Jake another level and marking his second gain in this terminal zone.

Just two levels thus far, to clarify. Success against the final boss ought to yield yet another. Prior to that clash, though, exhaustion gripped both Jake and Casper fully upon finishing, and now they rested just beyond the zone where the Risen and hunter suspected the ultimate boss lurked.

“How much time do you figure you’ll require?” Jake inquired of Casper, sincerely seeking an estimate rather than mocking his own weaker Meditate skill.

“More than I’d prefer,” Casper exhaled, having pushed himself to the brink in their latest bout. “At minimum half a day, possibly a whole one. Lyra sustained heavy wounds too, which won’t mend in mere hours.”

“Understood,” Jake acknowledged with a nod. “I’ll pull back slightly and whip up a toxin tailored for the dungeon boss during the wait. Once I’ve recharged, naturally.”

“Sounds good,” Casper agreed, shutting his eyes to commence restoration. He’d already downed a potion mid-fight, but Jake suspected Casper’s recuperation went beyond mere resource replenishment, even without it.

Jake required some recovery time himself, albeit shorter than Casper’s. He’d burned through ample resources in combat, yet dodged severe blows, and unlike Casper, hadn’t overtaxed his enhancement skills.

After nearly three hours, Jake rose and stretched, then glanced at Casper before withdrawing several kilometers to practice alchemy. Though Jake might form an arcane mana barrier to trap crafting vapors, with vast open space around, a quick One Step Mile sufficed to gain separation.

Resuming his seat and retrieving his cauldron, Jake reviewed his intended alchemy focus. From his earlier Pulse scan of the boss room, they’d confront yet another humanoid Aginian, prompting Jake to ready a fitting counter.

Understanding the foe enhanced not only his Protean Arrow’s potency but also let Jake leverage his Bane Poison expertise from the dragon pursuit. The Humanoidsbane and similar brews he’d prepared earlier now bore fruit as he aimed to produce something akin:

Aginiansbane Poison.

Over the past ten days, Jake had attempted it multiple times, given Casper’s extended recoveries, and progress neared completion. The recipe held little intricacy, and fresh Aginian ingredients from recent kills abounded for his work.

Diving in, Jake concentrated utterly, even invoking Invocation of the Malefic Viper to boost his odds. Casper needed a full day to recuperate, but this time Jake delayed the Risen slightly, sensing triumph within reach.

Luckily for both – particularly Jake, aware he’d catch flak for squandering time – he triumphed after just an hour’s wait for Casper. Drawing on his Humanoidsbane Poison know-how and the tougher Dragonsbane creation, Jake forged a novel bane poison unseen across the multiverse.

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The poison’s impacts mirrored Humanoidsbane Poison closely, the optimal outcome given the timeframe. A bespoke effect like his Dragonsbane might emerge after weeks or months of tinkering, but such luxury eluded them.

This version sufficed admirably. Plus, the notion of crafting a wholly original bane poison from dungeon-exclusive beings was half in jest, yet fundamentally true. Jake had birthed an unprecedented concoction, earning Records in turn. Not vast quantities, tied as it was to Minaga’s contrived race, but sufficient for an unforeseen level gain.

“You just leveled up, didn’t you?” Casper queried upon approaching, Jake’s foolish smile giving away his success.

“Indeed,” Jake grinned, promptly allocating all Free Points to Perception before drawing his void lollipop for a satisfying lick.

“It still strikes me as off whenever I witness it,” Casper grumbled, shaking his head. “Regardless, a level and an upgraded toxin for the boss? You know, I’m beginning to believe we might pull this off.”

“Any question in your mind?” Jake quipped, though truthfully a trace of uncertainty lingered for him too, judging by this final stretch’s escalation. Confidence held, yet he refused to underrate Minaga’s cunning dungeon.

“No question we’d throw everything at it,” Casper replied with a shrug. “I’ve got my ultimate ace left if push comes to shove, but recall, I’ll be utterly spent afterward.”

“Got it,” Jake affirmed with a nod.

Casper had briefed Jake on a skill carrying harsh repercussions for him and Lyra alike, demanding days for full recovery post-use – perhaps longer. Hence its sparing, but against the dungeon’s climax, timing seemed ideal.

“And you? Holding any secret powerhouse move in reserve?” Casper probed. “Before responding, note my mixed feelings: I’d relish hearing you lack more absurd trump cards to unleash, yet it’d boost our odds.”

Jake pondered briefly. He could theoretically tap Primeval Origin Energy to mimic his Colosseum of Mortals feat, but avoidance was preferable. Outcomes remained unknown, and he’d rather not discover them sans necessity. Thus, he shook his head.

“Nothing reliable,” he admitted forthrightly. “I do possess a concealed option, but it’s reserved for do-or-die scenarios.”

“Reasonable,” Casper accepted with a nod. “We likely won’t require it, and if we do, fingers crossed for an escape route.”

“It’s held true so far,” Jake said with a shrug. No prior fights sealed exits behind them, so dire straits allowed fleeing at full speed.

Rising, Jake gestured for Casper to trail as they headed to the boss chamber. Stealth cloaked them per usual on approach, Jake having verified earlier they could near without activating the fight.

This terminal chamber resembled those housing Formation Masters, only vaster and centered in the Grand Labyrinth. A enormous round arena dominated, minus the central ziggurat; a broad metal disc akin to the walls took its place. Closer scrutiny revealed it as a portal or cover, featuring a seam suggesting hatch-like opening.

Here, flooring shifted from odd gray sand to vast tiles etched with symbols. Inactive for now, but Jake’s ritual lore hinted at broader significance, a view Casper shared. Given their rampage against Formation Masters to halt... whatever, it fit the pattern, though the precise motive for those kills stayed murky. Minaga’s narrative flair would undoubtedly clarify soon.

The source of that tale stood evident, as one lone figure occupied the colossal arena. Perched cross-legged atop the disc, a hooded form awaited intruders. A swift Identify pegged it as the sought-after boss.

[Aginian Labyrinth Master – lvl ???]

Jake and Casper surveyed the space as Jake signaled the Risen. Casper held position while Jake advanced into the arena’s rear to flank. Minutes later, Casper executed the strategy, exposing himself and drifting nearer the boss.

The silhouette stirred as Casper neared, radiating intense aura. His voice verified him as the enigmatic hooded distributor of crystal missives to Formation Masters.

“I see... You managed to get through the Inner Labyrinth guards and made it all the way here to the center of this grand construction. When I felt my Formation Masters fall one by one, and when the last of my subordinates failed to do his job in time, I knew it would come to this. Fortunately, I predicted the failure of one Formation Master not finishing in time, and your efforts shall be in vain. The grand design shall become reality!”

The speech rang hollow once more, verbose yet shallow, merely hinting at the Labyrinth Master’s vast scheme that demanded his demise to thwart.

“Do you even know what we’re trying to accomplish here? What our goal is? Why we’re building this Grand Labyrinth?”

Jake secretly wished the boss would spill details, since the dungeon’s true aim lay in revealing the Grand Labyrinth’s purpose, not mere boss-slaying. Predictably, no such luck, and Jake braced for revelation in final breaths or aftermath.

“No matter. You have come far and accomplished much, adventurer, but your journey ends here. I would give you the opportunity to turn back now; however, you have killed my subordinates, and it’s only right I avenge them.”

Deliberately, the boss rose, unveiling a stature exceeding three and a half meters. His dark cloak fluttered dramatically as he raised his right arm in theatrical poise.

“Now come! Face your demise!”

From nowhere, a Gunlance plunged from above, embedding before his extended grasp and shattering the impacted tile. Grasping it, the boss surged with mana, shredding his cloak to expose his form.

Initially, full armor seemed to encase him, but scrutiny showed otherwise: robotic components formed his four limbs, much of his torso, and left eye. Armor layered atop, yet even bare, machinery dominated his being.

No matter. With the boss alerted, Jake initiated the ambush. Both had foreseen failed stealth openers on the final foe, anticipating Minaga’s safeguards for introductory monologue.

Monologue complete, Casper braced for solo engagement as the apparent adventurer, while Jake readied a Protean Arrow, channeling Arcane Powershot from concealment.

The moment arrived for Jake and Casper to confront the pinnacle challenge of Minaga’s Awesome and Illustrious Labyrinth Complex Dungeon-5.