Re: Apocalypse Game

Chapter 214 The Witch

?Alan stepped into a gloomy chamber, its ominous atmosphere setting the stage for what appeared to be a typical boss battle. However, to his surprise, he found himself in a situation where the witch-like figure, Morgana, displayed an unusual interest in the NPCs he had brought along.

"Merlin... You are here," Morgana exclaimed, genuine surprise reflected in her features. "The curse... Is the village safe?"

Before the old wizard could provide an answer, the beautiful fey woman, Guinevere, reacted with anger, blaming Morgana for the suffering inflicted upon the village. Alan observed a glimmer of remorse in Morgana's cold expression, hinting at a complex history.

Drawing from his extensive experience and knowledge of the Apocalypse game, Alan began to piece together the situation. It became evident that he had encountered the dungeon boss, Morgana, but with a unique twist. The prerequisite of completing the [Lift the Curse] quest seemed to have initiated this conversation rather than an immediate confrontation.

"This one?" Morgana inquired, her gaze shifting toward Alan with curiosity. It was clear that she was referring to him and his role in stopping the curse that had plagued the village.

Alan found himself increasingly intrigued by the unfolding conversation. In his experience, dialogues with legendary NPCs often came with valuable benefits, and he was eager to see where this interaction would lead. He listened intently as Merlin attempted to persuade Morgana to reconsider her stance and join their efforts to thwart the Lich King.

It suddenly struck Alan that his quest had never explicitly called for Morgana's demise. The quest title, [Stop Morgana the Fey Witch], could be interpreted in a different light—perhaps it meant convincing the witch to switch sides and assist him instead.

Morgana appeared to hesitate, her gaze shifting toward the altar where a dark book lay open. Even from a distance, Alan could discern that it was the infamous [Book of the Dead]. Morgana's attention returned to him, and she spoke with a measured tone.

"You cannot stop the Lich King, not without utilizing the power of this book," she declared, alluding to the book's significance in their quest to confront the formidable adversary.

Alan's anxiety grew as he realized that there might be one more crucial prerequisite to fulfill in order to successfully complete the quest. Morgana's words hinted at the possibility that he needed to possess a certain magic job class like acolyte or a certain minimum spirit points attributes in order to use the book and gain her confidence. The prospect of this requirement left Alan on edge.

The tension in the chamber escalated, with Morgana seemingly prepared for a confrontation. However, Alan chose to make one final gamble in a bid to persuade her.

"I didn't need the book to defeat the evil spirit at the shrine," Alan asserted confidently, "so you can bet I can defeat the Lich King without it either."

His words were a declaration of his capabilities, drawing upon his past achievement of completing the B-rank quest [Kill the Evil Spirit]. To further bolster his argument, Alan brandished the [RingWraith] sword as tangible proof of his prowess.

Morgana's expression shifted, and to Alan's surprise, a slight smile tugged at her lips. However, her response held a challenge: "Prove your words." It seemed that she needed concrete evidence of his abilities before committing to their cause.

Morgana's demeanor underwent a stark transformation as soon as she uttered the word, her once-crimson pupils turning bloodshot. Dark veins crept across her pallid skin, and her fingers elongated into sharp claws. It was a daunting sight, and Alan braced himself for the worst, fearing that his efforts had been in vain.

Just as he was resigned to the possibility of failure in convincing the witch, a notification from his gamelink interrupted his thoughts.

[Prove your strength to stop the witch]

The sudden update left Alan baffled and disoriented. He barely had time to process the new quest objective when the witch launched a swift and ferocious attack. The speed of her assault caught him off guard, and he couldn't even raise his sword in time.

Using his enhanced agility, Alan managed to evade her initial claw strike by rolling along the ground. However, Morgana wasted no time and launched another attack. This time, Alan was prepared. He activated his [Swift Blade] skill, granting him the speed required to parry her incoming strike and retaliate.

[Stabbing: Inflicts 42 damage]

Alan's counterattack landed successfully, a mere dent in what he estimated to be her formidable pool of around1500 HP. Her incredible agility made it apparent that taking her down on his own would be a nearly impossible feat.

To his dismay, when Alan glanced at Merlin and Guinevere for assistance, they showed no inclination to join the battle. It was a disheartening realization, but it also reinforced his belief that defeating Morgana might not be the true objective of the quest.

Changing his strategy, Alan decided to adopt a defensive stance. He focused on blocking and parrying Morgana's attacks while utilizing his skills to save him from critical attack and his spells primarily for healing to prolong the fight. His extensive experience and mastery in swordplay were put to the test as he preemptively anticipated her movements, compensating for the vast difference in their speed.

Alan pressed on, trading blows and countering Morgana's strikes, but the witch showed no signs of relenting. Alan couldn't help but voice his growing frustration. "It's already 1000 HP, why isn't she stopping yet?"

Alan's confidence began to swell as he fought on, and he started to believe that his earlier assumption might have been mistaken. He contemplated the possibility that he could actually emerge victorious in the duel against Morgana.

However, as the witch reached a critical phase in the battle, she remarked, "You are strong indeed." These words were followed by a sudden surge in her speed that caught Alan completely off guard.

[Impact: Lethal Strike inflicted 82 damage]

Morgana's claw attack was devastating, forcing Alan to retreat. To his astonishment, she appeared behind him with lightning speed, overpowering him with her immense strength. With him in her grasp, she shockingly sinking her teeth into his neck.

[Your health was drained]

The witch possessed a skill that allowed her to absorb Alan's health, leaving him weakened and unable to break free. Alan's HP dwindled rapidly, and he stole glances at the two NPCs who remained passive observers, their indifference adding to his frustration.

It took Morgana half a minute to bring Alan's HP to a critical level, but just as he teetered on the brink of death, the witch released her grip. Alan fell to his knees, his life ebbing away. Yet, what followed was an unexpected notification that left him stunned.

[You have contracted Vampirism]