**If there is something I've always hated about mobs in this damn Virtual Reality, is that they can be freaking persistent.**
"And I also hate Vitality brutes... They disgust me..." A tired smirk formed on Amelia's lips while constant drops of blood dripped from her chin. She chuckled after realizing her current estate. Her right knee was kissing the ground, and half of her face and clothes were sticky and stained in red.
**I wonder if I'd have done the same for Marco a month ago... No... I'd rather not think about it.**
She slowly stood up, barely glancing at the hulking enemies surrounding her.
"I must protect the mansion from intruders..." one of Housekeeper Bilmur Duplicates said, even though he looked eager to lay on the ground and take a nap.
"I'll make sure that nothing interrupts Alan Warden's training..." another said, cracking his knuckles, a drowsy expression on his deformed face. Official source is N()velFire.net
"I must destroy any User getting in Master's way..." a third said, carrying a boulder as huge as himself.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! You've said it fifty times already!" Amelia shouted as she channeled mana. "Solar Pulse!"
Irradiating heat in a 100 feet radius around her, she easily eliminated them and scorched the ground itself.
**But more will come.**
"Superior Fire Crafting..." Amelia started casting. Something that would take her time, so she did not have a second to waste. "Elemental Construction Style."
**While flying, I saw more of those annoying maids, unlike that 'spider guy', as Clara calls him, and that strange werewolf. Those two have completely disappeared. So I have a theory about it...**
"Falsus Anima..." 10-feet height flames engulfed her protectively. In a matter of seconds, the fire turned ethereal, transforming into a pseudo-metallic suit that mirrored her clothes. Her new face resembled a pink-skinned female demon with black-painted lips and flame-shaped hair. "The Stranded Hell Princess!"
"What is that?" an approaching Bilmur asked, followed by two others. "Is that your Second Form?"
The demoness smirked. "Don't compare me with you." She dashed in an instant, making a hole through his torso in one punch. "This is just a change of clothes."
The other two Duplicates emanated a dark aura. Their muscles swelled, their skin turned light-purple, and their eyes glowed yellow. Once again, they towered over her, despite her suit being 9.8 feet tall.
**Just in time...** Amelia sighed. She could see hundreds of tiny, similar lights at the distance. **If my theory is correct, Alan is captive in the original dungeon, and every time he defeats the original boss, it prevents more duplicates from being created.**
She kicked the head of the Bilmur in front of her, making it explode, and with her new demon tail decapitated the one trying to attack her from behind. She then sprouted fire wings, took flight, before launching herself downwards, acting like a meteorite, getting rid of five more Bilmur Duplicates. "A move that would make that Scarlett bitch proud." She chuckled.
She looked around the newly formed crater as a dozen Duplicates slid down to confront her.
**I can keep fighting for a while, but once Ashley or the others find Alan and take him out of here, I'll freaking nuke this whole area. So, come on, Alan! If you're taking this seriously, kill the remaining bosses and come back to me as quickly as you can! **
**This isn't going as planned!** Alan thought as a rampaging Bilmur tore the kitchen's doors down.
"Master does not allow me to enter the Mansion's rooms," Bilmur said in a soft voice, "but my duty is to train Alan Warden and level him up at all costs..."
++"Isn't the poison working?!"++ Alan asked his Anima, who floated above his shoulder.
++"It is working, but his Second Form transformation is constantly healing him."++
"Come on, Dylak! Give me a break!" Alan cried out loud while taking cover behind a shelf.
++"We could use Cook Monier's artifact,"++ Aaron suggested, descending to stare at the kitchen knife attached to Alan's combat rifle. ++"It has a 'Bleed Out' effect."++
"Easier said than done," Alan said, as Bilmur grabbed the shelf and lifted it above his head.
++"I could do it now!"++ Alan thought while using his 'Quick-Thinking' skill, watching Bilmur move in slow motion. ++"I can stab him in the stomach!"++
++"Bilmur will crush you with the shelf after that."++
++"True..."++ Alan jumped sideways, preventing instant death. ++"If I intend to improve myself, I can't rely on the mansion's respawning system anymore... I must fight as if this was my last life."++
Alan shot three rounds before Bilmur tried to crush him under his enormous fist. The Boss' HP dropped by 6%, but it slowly regenerated.
**His HP won't heal beyond 97%,** Alan noticed as he made his escape. That must be the poison still doing its work. **If I add the Bleed Out effect from Monier's knife...**
"Bilmur! What's the meaning of this?!" a gentleman shouted from the kitchen's entrance. "You're not supposed to enter the other Bosses' rooms."
"Butler Marick," Bilmur slowly pronounced. "I know the rules, but--"
++"Now!"++ Alan ran forward and stabbed Bilmur in the back with his improvised bayonet. ++"And just to be sure..."++ With all of his strength, he made a horizontal slice, cutting his flesh with ease. Blood sprouted, staining Alan's coat. ++"This is what I call a really sharp chef's knife!"++
Bilmur's HP dropped by 12% as he wailed.
"You..." Butler Marick said, reaching Alan before he could escape, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him off the ground. "Mister Alan... Go to sleep while I teach this fool some manners..."
Instead of physical pain, Alan felt as if a chilling cold traveled through every inch of his body, and at the same time, a heat strike targeted his brain and heart.
**I know this damn pain! It's the same as the spells that man uses... This is Shadow Magic! I can't... move...**
As Alan's HP bar dropped to half, the sound of the main door opening and hurried footsteps made Marick turn around. "Do I hear--?"
A silhouette emanating lightning bolts punched Marick in the face, sending him flying towards the brick oven. Before Bilmur could react, the intruder punched him in the stomach, making him step back.
"No way..." Alan said, squinting, watching what seemed like 'that man' stretching out a hand to him. "No freaking way..."
**Why would he save me?**
When Alan's vision became clear, he stared at a pair of wolf ears, finally recognizing NPC Fabio's face.
"Master Alan, are you okay?"
"Fabio! I'd never thought I'd be so happy to see your smug face!"
"Good to see you too, sir," Fabio said, programmed to ignore Alan's passive-aggressive words. "Glad to be on time. I'll contact the others." He then picked his left animal ear.
"Um, Fabio? We can't commu--"
"Alan Warden!" Bilmur shouted, showing that his HP was at 71%. His voice had become distressed. "You must train alone! Those were Count Dylak's instructions!"
"For once, I agree with you," Butler Marick said, while his skin turned red and horns grew out of his forehead. "You won't become strong if you rely on others, Mister Alan."
"Sorry, but this is the path I've chosen!" Alan replied, pointing his rifle at him. "And I can't waste more time here. Someone is waiting for me outside!"