Syanic Earth 4: Meteonis Arc

Chapter 8: Mortis Sforzando

Lord Emphynixyion, the Branded Phoenix

Level 799

HP: [465,972/799,999]

Emphynixyion soared to chase the airborne Naivern and Ampyria. Naivern shielded their backs to protect their one HP from taking a hit. They led the phoenix under an arch, where the police droids detonated the trap. The bird swatted the rubble away with its giant wingbeat and hissed when part of the arch bonked its blood-stained beak. Enshiron's snipers and Ritom's rocketeers ambushed the boss from the nearby apartment windows while Shien punched the phoenix's talon until Antijuvenoid Prozosis hit.

When Enshiron's Vampiric Zephyr hit the phoenix's head after Terrorphobia ended, the flying menace jumped into Enshiron's apartment. Emphynixyion drilled its beak into the building like a hungry woodpecker, but Enshiron and others were lucky to escape. The phoenix then closed into invincible sphere mode and steamrolled through the apartment Ritom's team established. Ritom, Esarin, and Ruddigus quickly escorted their team out of the crumbling tower as the asteroid-sized ball bounced up and down like a deadly basketball.

Everyone faced away from the wings' cognitohazard alchemy inscriptions that were too dangerous for human eyes to comprehend. Then, a fourth trait appeared.

Lord Emphynixyion, the Branded Phoenix

Level 799

HP: [399,184/799,999]

Trait 1: Pianissimo 001

Trait 2: Orbital Crescendo

Trait 3: Cognitohazard Staccato

Trait 4: Mortis Sforzando

"Come on! Another trait? Enough is enough!" Ritom fumed.

The boss landed in the center of the battlefield, grooming its feathers.

"We should attack while it's on the ground!" Mivangeline instructed.

As the players charged for Emphynixyion, the phoenix opened its beak and faced upward. The megaphone glowed with red electricity along with a charge meter. A circular warning area expanded from Emphynixyion's location.

"Warning! I detect that this attack will kill us in one hit. We must avoid the blast radius!" Phoenicia grabbed Shien and Mivangeline.

Everyone ran away from the expanding circle as the charge gauge filled to maximum. The phoenix shoved its energized megaphone into the ground, causing a sonic boom that fractured the earth in blood-red fire. The players jumped away from the mystical flames that annihilated all within the circle.

"Wah! That was close!" Elysia's tail caught on fire. "I don't wanna be deep-fried for that thing!"

Ears bled as the phoenix screamed its air raid siren to drop all HP to one.

"Don't stop! Keep attacking! I'll lure it!" Mivangeline bravely taunted the boss with Paladin's Aegis while Ritom and Enshiron's gunners bombarded it with their artillery.

After Shien palm struck it with Antijuvenjoid Prozosis, the boss retreated into sphere mode. The players ran their tired feet from the bouncing asteroid.

The phoenix opened its bright wings, forcing all to look away from the alchemic writings. Emphynixyion landed in the center of the battlefield again, facing its megaphone up to charge its Mortis Sforzando attack. Mivangeline checked on the players to find them tired and beaten with no healing items left. She knew they couldn't last another four-trait movement of Emphynixyion's concert.

"Don't run! We must press forward!" Mivangeline shouted at the players who fled from the expanding warning area. "This boss wants us to play defensive until we tire out. We got to be aggressive if we want to win!"