The problem with the [Gardener] was simple but brutal: it knew every single path inside the [Flower Labyrinth].

Every turn, every dead end, every shortcut, all of it was already mapped out in its mind.

So even though Karl managed to put some distance between himself and the boss by using Moonless' speed, the [Gardener] still had the agility and the perfect terrain knowledge to catch up without much effort.

With a single powerful leap, it closed the gap again, landing hard enough to shake loose petals and dust from the ground.

Its massive shears were already raised high, gleaming with that sickly green aura it always carried.

Invincible Magic Barrier!

Karl threw up his barrier just in time.

The glowing shield spread around him an instant before the attack came crashing down.

The blow slammed into the barrier with a sharp, echoing crack that rattled Karl's bones.

The barricade held, but only barely, and Karl knew the truth: if the [Gardener] used its [Life Cutter] skill, the barrier would shatter outright.

It simply didn't have enough durability to tank that kind of power.

Still, right as the [Gardener] raised its shears for another strike…

Claws Strike!

Moonless lunged in from behind like a blur, her claws flashing as she raked across the boss' back again and again.

Her jumps weren't strong enough to push the massive monster forward, but they were sharp enough to grab its attention.

Fwoosh!

The [Gardener] twisted around violently, its movements jerky and aggressive as it swung one of its shears in her direction.

It didn't cut her, but the intention was clear, Moonless had just become a major threat in its eyes.

And that gave Karl the perfect opening he needed.

Fire Meteor! Storm of Lightning! Frostbite Crystals!

Boom! Zap! Bam! Bam! Bam!

-455,400! -161,920! -15,000! -15,000! -15,000!

The spells crashed, surged, and pierced through the [Gardener] one after another.

Fire, lightning, and ice struck its massive body, making it stagger under the weight of the combined assault.

Under normal circumstances, a boss like the [Gardener] would have slowly regenerated health.

They had ways to restore themselves: absorbing lives from nearby monsters, or simply regenerating over time due to their size and power.

But this time, none of that happened.

The [Gardener] had been too focused on Karl from the moment the fight began, even ignoring other players it passed by.

Its obsession was too strong. Its tunnel vision had cost it the time it normally used to heal.

This boss wanted Karl dead so badly that nothing else existed to it.

Moonless backed away after her strike, snarling, ready to defend Karl again if needed.

She glared at the boss with her teeth bared, and Karl could feel her intent as strongly as if she'd spoken it: she wasn't going to let that thing near him again.

Then a sudden echo rang out.

Ding!

["Gardener" has entered a "Berserk" state.]

ROOOAR!

The [Gardener] let out a monstrous roar that rippled through the labyrinth.

Its face twisted, and bright crimson pupils formed inside the empty cuts where its eyes should have been.

A wave of violent power rushed off its body.

BAM!

It slammed its shears into the ground with both hands.

The ground trembled from the impact.

SNAP!

The [Gardener] twisted the shears sharply.

Vine Shockwave!

Huge cracks shot out from the point of impact, splitting the ground in both directions and racing straight toward Karl and Moonless.

'Attacking us both at once,' Karl thought, a small grin forming, 'Guess it's getting stressed.'

He honestly never imagined he could push a level 50 monster this far while he was only level 26.

Even now, as insane as this fight was, that fact gave him a jolt of confidence.

BOOM!

From the cracks, giant vines burst out in all directions.

They writhed like living whips before lunging toward Karl and Moonless.

Slam! Slam! Slam!

Karl's barrier absorbed the strikes, but each hit made it crack more and more.

It wouldn't last much longer.

Moonless wasn't doing much better, she slashed through vines whenever she could, but they were too many.

They wrapped around her legs, trying to pull her down.

'Not good,' Karl gritted his teeth, 'Can't let Moonless die.'

If Moonless got caught, or if she took a few solid hits, she would die.

The system made that painfully clear.

And Karl couldn't afford that, not after everything she had done for him.

Frostbite Crystals!

The spell had a short cooldown, so he immediately fired it again.

But this time, he didn't aim at the [Gardener].

Instead, the crystals zipped straight toward the vines ensnaring Moonless.

Bam!

The explosion of freezing energy shattered the vines, freeing her from the last of them before they could crush or impale her.

The [Gardener] grunted and tried to pull its shears out from the ground, but this time it struggled.

For a moment, the weapon seemed stuck.

'Free attack,' Karl thought, eyes narrowing.

Lunar Beam!

He charged the attack only for a split second, letting the energy gather around the tip of his staff.

And right as the boss jerked the shears free from the ground—

Boom!

The beam shot out like a line of silver light, piercing through the air before slamming into the [Gardener].

It had no time to dodge.

Moments like these didn't happen often.

Bosses rarely left themselves open enough for a fully charged skill to hit.

But planting the shears into the ground had forced the [Gardener] to waste precious seconds retrieving them, and Karl used that opening flawlessly.

-40,000! -40,000! -40,000!

The damage wasn't massive compared to his other skills, but the beam had enough force to push the [Gardener] back slightly.

'Its health is low.'

He could feel it now, the way the boss reacted to each hit, the way its movements got harsher and more frantic.

Its health had dropped. The fight was at its final stretch.

ROOOAR!

The [Gardener] released another roar, but this one sent a shockwave straight upward.

The blast spread out like a ring and struck both Karl and Moonless instantly.

Ding!

[You have been "stunned"]

Karl froze.

His muscles locked up, and he couldn't move a single finger.

Bosses could inflict status effects just like players: [Bleed], [Stun], anything.

Karl had just been unlucky enough to get hit by a strong one.

The [Gardener] turned toward Karl for a moment, its crimson pupils narrowing.

But instead of lunging at him, it turned its head toward Moonless.

Karl's eyes widened.

Fwoosh!

Silver light gathered around the boss' shears as it took its stance, charging an attack with everything it had left.

Shears Slash!

It swung.

A crescent-shaped slash of energy cut through the air and shot straight toward Moonless.

It didn't aim for Karl because it knew Karl still had his barrier. Moonless didn't.

SLASH!

The attack hit Moonless directly, slicing across her side.

Blood burst out, and her howl echoed through the corridor.

HOOWL!

Karl's heart tightened as a panel flashed.

Ding!

[Moonless is in critical condition.]

That meant one or two more hits would kill her.

Fwish!

The [Gardener] dashed forward with murderous intent, raising its shears for a finishing blow.

But at that exact moment, Karl broke free from the stun.

He spun his staff, pointing it with all the force he could muster.

Fire Meteor!

The fiery mass formed instantly and rocketed toward the [Gardener].

BOOM!

-455,400!

The explosion engulfed the boss, and this time, the [Gardener] froze completely.

Bam!

Its shears dropped to the ground.

Then its whole body crumbled forward, collapsing right in front of Moonless.

"Damn," Karl breathed out, a grin forming on his face.

[Gardener HP: 0/2,800,000]

The health pool had been massive, but thankfully not as high as Karl originally feared.

If it had been any higher, Moonless wouldn't have survived.

And then…

Ding!

[You have killed "Gardener" (Level 50 Legendary-Rank Zone Boss)]

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