Beneath the scorching rays of the late-morning sun watching over the Sunblade Savannah, a blonde young man panted in exhaustion, spent as he walked towards his next target.
Daru was certainly not in ideal shape.
But he didn’t care, as it was more difficult to contain his flaming heart.
He didn’t know why, but unlike when he wiped out the hyenas, he strangely felt as though he was in a rebellion, and that resting before fighting the Sunblade King would dull the colors and ruin the storyline that had formed in his heart and head.
He must continue and fight in his current state.
Daru certainly wasn’t thinking straight this time, utterly lost in a trance.
Soon, under Moonpiercer’s utterly stupefied gaze and boggled mind, he arrived a fair distance in front of the field boss, its daunting nameplate in clear view as he assumed his fighting pose with a relatively mad grin, considering the situation he was in.
==
[(Field Boss) Lyon, the Sunblade Lion King Lv. 32]
HP: 10,000 / 10,000
==
Daru was aware that what he was doing was quite dumb.
No...not quite.
It was an extremely stupid decision to fight any field boss when one is on half health, has low stamina, and has a level 2 bleeding status active.
Yet, here he was, standing close to one who was five levels higher than him—a slave to his own, crazy narratives.
In fact, even the boss knew...
Lyon spoke, to Daru’s surprise:
"Why the hell would you throw that fang and decide to fight all of my underlings? Are you dumb? Well, obviously you are, and a little bit damaged in the head..."
"You can speak?!"
The Sunblade King sighed.
"Yep...right on the money...dumb indeed..."
Daru, however, only laughed and apologized: "Hahaha, sorry. I just didn’t expect it, since your underlings could only growl and roar."
A brief silence followed his words before Daru added, "I’ve killed all of your pride members. Aren’t you angry at me? Come, let’s fight. Purge your kingdom of rebels!"
"Eughh...completely right again...a little bit damaged in the head..." Lyon sighed once more, seemingly a bit fed up. "You probably have no parents to guide you, as you wouldn’t be so crazy otherwise...Not that I care...Also, why would I give a crap about those Lionesses? Not like I’m allowed to bang them, am I?"
The field boss stood up from his lazy lounging position, muttering ’Damned gods...’ while drawing his longsword with a light-golden, cross-like handle and pommel the shape of a sun from the sword strap on his back.
He then rested the weapon on his shoulders before continuing:
"Well, maybe this is for the best...Lyon, the Sunblade Lion King, who couldn’t even utilize his big dong even though there are hundreds of ladies around...how mighty! To make things worse, they make me wait here in the scorching sun every day, and guess what? I can’t even sleep at night! Aihh...why don’t they just do me a favor and kill me instead?!" the Sunblade King lamented.
In the next moment, however, he froze, realizing something.
Daru suddenly became a bit more pleasing in his eyes.
Such a mad lad...there’s a chance he’s strong enough, no?
Perhaps the guy could retire him from his boring, torturous post? Lion King his pitiful ass...isn’t he just a poor overworked NPC?!
Clearing his throat, Lyon’s disposition changed.
"Hmph! You think I’ll say something like that? Me?! The ruler of the Sunblade Savannah?! Laughable! Of course, I’m angry at your accursed face! No...in fact, I’m fuming, seething! My heart is overflowing with hatred! Fight me, rebel! I’ll avenge my kin!"
Hearing the field boss’s words, Daru, who was already ablaze, was momentarily dumbfounded, burning even more in the next second.
"Hahaha! Of course, let’s fight, then, Lyon the Sunblade Lion King!"
With a wave of his tachi, Daru sprinted at the field boss, who now had no choice but to listen to his body.
Lyon roared pridefully at the heavens, causing a red sword mark to appear above his head for a second before dissipating.
Daru didn’t understand what had just happened.
However, he was all for it. He shall figure his opponent out as they fight.
Arriving at the appropriate distance, Daru began performing short and strange zigzagging steps, but to his bewilderment, Lyon was already in front of him, stopping him from splitting into two with a rising slash.
The field boss was able to stop him at the perfect moment!
Daru was able to block but was still sent flying a few meters, skidding back a few more after landing before managing to stabilize his footing.
A red damage value floated above him:
[-30]
It was a rather horrifying value, considering his current HP was only 590, plus he was losing three health every few seconds due to the level 2 bleed status.
"You’re strong, Lion King!" Daru praised with a genuine tone as he was forced to clash one more time with the rushing Lyon, losing another small bit of health, but this time, he was able to stabilize his footing faster, aware of the gap in raw strength.
He was able to step back and dodge the next attack, slashing in advance that prevented a follow-up from the Sunblade King.
The two were now back to circling each other.
"Hmph, is that all you got, invader?" Lyon taunted before stepping in and stabbing, but Daru responded almost instantaneously, sidestepping just enough to still be able to counterstrike near the Sunblade Longsword’s handle.
The king almost lost his grip due to the unexpected strike.
Daru then followed up with a sweeping slash aimed at the exposed face, scarring Lyon’s nose as the boss barely pulled his head back on time and activating a level 1 bleed status.
[-40]
He would’ve dealt more damage had the lion king reacted half a second slower.
Lyon stepped back, acknowledging he lost the exchange: "Hmph, nice hit, but sneezing while peeing would hurt more."
Daru only smiled in response. His opponent wasn’t wrong...
This time, it was he who charged first and then jumped to dodge his opponent’s rising slash counter.
Daru, more familiar with the motions after doing it a few dozen times, performed a barrel roll mid-air, cutting a moderately deep wound into Lyon’s forearm.
[- 150]
He neatly landed on his feet, this time without the help of his left hand, immediately transitioning into a combat-ready pose and grinning with competitive spirit at his opponent.
"Don’t worry, Lion King. I’ve got a whole lot more. Don’t hold back and show me your best strikes!"