Chapter 6: Though I walk through the Valley...

Max Floor: 19 Level: 30

"...Of the shadow of death I will fear no evil," Eltelm murmured to himself. It was a bible verse from the Psalms if he remembered rightly, and it seemed unpleasantly appropriate right now. The ravine before him was filled with a swirling faded blue-green mist, and the rocks overhead closed off the sun after a few dozen steps. There was still a ghostly illumination however, as the mist itself seemed to be luminescent. The Silent Hunter swallowed nervously and clutched the hilt of his sword tightly.

Toji had told him about this side quest the last time he'd payed her a visit. Apparently there was a powerful mini-boss in Floor 16 that appeared suddenly less than a week ago. Because all of the higher level players weren't prepared to bother with it and it was far too frightening a task for those lagging behind, it had gone untouched. According to NPCs the Valley of Tortured Souls was home to Apollyon, keeper of the keys. He was the master of torture and the dead but "feared the light with a passion". That implied any Sword Skills based around light would have a great effect on him and Eltelm was becoming a specialist in that field.

Since Toji had shown him his initial list he'd added Rays of Fortitude (three seconds of invulnerability), Blessing of the sun (restored 50% health to the target) and Heavenly Wroth (an AoE blast of brilliantly bright light that did significant damage). To Eltelm's surprise all of these abilities were rare, none of them having been given to the same player. "You're becoming the Warrior of Light instead of the Silent Hunter," Toji had said.

Eltelm wondered if that was a coincidence. Since Kayaba was the GM and thus in control of everything, he could probably manipulate events however he chose. It was possible that he was trying to prompt Eltelm in a certain direction. "Stuck up bastard probably thinks he's a god of some kind," muttered Eltelm. Brushing his thoughts aside he drew his sword and strode forwards into the 'Mists of Death'.

The first thing he noticed was that it was very cold. Not quite what he'd call freezing temperatures, but it was cold all the same. He shivered and wrapped his cloak more tightly around him, to no effect. He glanced up at the top left hand corner where his health bar was. There was a small debuff icon that said 'Mists of Death'. Besides the cold Eltelm didn't feel anything wrong with him, but then, maybe that was the debuff. The ground was rocky and cracked apart. Eltelm had to watch his footing as he proceeded down the steadily narrowing ravine. Eventually he was swallowed up by the darkness and the only light came from the pale glowing mist surrounding him.

Eltelm gave a start as a scream suddenly blasted at him, as loud as if it were being made right in his face. The jump scare sent his heart racing and he cursed under his breath. "I hate horror games," he muttered. That was the first scare of many. After a while Eltelm felt he was about ready to crack and teleport home, but he kept walking. "The reward for beating this had better be good," he fumed silently.

Eventually he came out into a space about twenty meters by ten. There was a four metre tall stone statue in the middle of the room, tinged green by the eerie light and the faint wisps of mist that floated up from the floor. It was a man in full armour, with a face like a skull. In his left hand he held a metre tall cage on a chain. Inside was what appeared to be a person, their skin stretched tightly over their bones and shrivelled muscles. Eltelm shivered, "glad that's not me." In his right hand the figure clutched a scythe.

"Oh great, another impossible in real life cliché weapon," Eltelm groaned inwardly. Of course, the weapon would probably work just fine in-game.

A voice that sounded very old and wheezy, but at the same time deep and menacing, as if age had veiled over the owner's former strength, spoke out from the darkness around him. "Sorry," muttered Eltelm, "your words are falling on deaf ears. Well, ears that can't comprehend anyway." As if provoked by his words the voice screamed and cracks began to spread up the statue.

Eltelm readied his sword. The man depicted by the statue looked formidable, this would be quite a challenge. To his surprise though, the armoured figured crumbled away into dust. He'd been expecting the stone to fall away like a kind of shell, revealing the still 'living' warrior beneath it. The cage fell to the floor with a clatter. The stone bars cracked and splintered and suddenly the trapped victim leapt forwards with a screech.

Eltelm was knocked backwards but managed to recover his balance fairly quickly. Two health bars appeared above the mutilated figure's head, as well as a name: Apollyon, First Key. "First? Am I going to have to beat this guy multiple times?" wondered Eltelm before the demented looking man sprang at him.

Activating a skill Eltelm sent his enemy flying backwards and away. Apollyon howled as if in pain, and two chains suddenly shot up from the ground. They wrapped around Eltelm's ankles and pulled him to the floor. The ghoul like creature leapt onto him and rabidly bit into his neck. Eltelm watched in horror as his health bar steadily drained down. With difficultly he managed to shove Apollyon off of him and stagger to his feet.

Now the Boss's eyes glowed like green flames and the chains became gigantic snakes. Eltelm decided now was as good a time as any to test the theory that the Boss was vulnerable to light attacks and activated Solar Strike. Immediately Apollyon howled with pain and covered its eyes, the two snakes dissolving away into nothingness. The mists around Eltelm retreated and the cold vanished. With a fierce war cry Eltelm ran the Boss through with his sword, the energy from his halo of light channelling into the attack and blasting out into a bright nova.

Apollyon gagged and choked, staggering away from him. To Eltelm's amazement, its first health bar was already empty. "You really don't like light do you?" he muttered. With the sword skill over, the mists pulled back and the debuff returned. Since he'd put Solar Strike on cooldown Eltelm was forced to resort to more spamable skills. He performed a triple strike to follow up, and then simply rammed his blade as far as it would go into the Boss's chest. It screamed in pain, before exploding into bright shards.

"That wasn't so bad," said Eltelm. Then, just as he was starting to get his breath back the shards were all pulled back towards an epicentre and fused together into a new figure. "Me and my big mouth," he groaned inwardly. The new Boss was called Apollyon, Second Key. This time he was an old man dressed in battered looking armour and holding a sword with a worn black kite shield on his left arm.

The Second Key attacked like an ordinary player would, slashing out with his sword whilst holding his shield in a position where it could still comfortably protect him. Eltelm parried the blow easily and began to circle around his enemy, looking for an opening in his guard. AI were predictable usually, you just had to find the patterns. The Boss continued to attack with impressive speed and precision, and it was a real challenge to deflect all of the oncoming hits. Eventually Eltelm decided that this enemy was just designed to keep attacking normally and decided to go on the offensive.

Pulling his blade back over his shoulder he charged Guard Breaker. With a cry he unleashed the sword skill and cracks appeared all over the Boss's shield. With a satisfied smile Eltelm attacked, striking at the Second Key's head. The old man parried the strike and attempted to shield bash Eltelm forcing him to jump back. Gritting his teeth he charged back in again, more or less grappling with the Boss and forcing its shield to the side before activating his AoE strike. The glowing red cut spread across the Second Key's face as it staggered backwards. "3, 2, 1 aaaand," the cut exploded with a bright flash of light, sending the Boss sprawling onto its back.

Eltelm noted with satisfaction that its first health bar was now empty. As the Boss climbed back to its feet Eltelm charged up wounding strike and as the old man staggered to regain its balance he dashed forwards. After the first more powerful cut Eltelm followed up with six more, the first two of which smashed against the already damaged shield, breaking it apart. With a cry of triumph Eltelm stabbed the Second Key through the heart, draining its second health bar to zero.

He stepped back as the Boss exploded into shards. Just as before the shards rekindled into Apollyon, Third Key. This time it was a man in his thirties wearing what was clearly the same armour as the old man, but far less worn. His face was haggard and unshaven, his eyes sunk some ways into his head. "I'm seeing this person's descent into madness in reverse," Eltelm realised.

The Third Key raised its sword and a green bolt of lightning shot from the end. Hitting Eltelm in the chest it sent him flying backwards several metres. He glanced at his health as he climbed back to his feet. It was at about 50% after the lightning bolt. "That's manageable," he concluded, "Provided there aren't too many more Keys to fight after this one." Shaking himself slightly and involuntarily shivering at the cold of the mist debuff, Eltelm resumed his stance.

Seeing that Solar Strike was off cooldown, he took up the appropriate posture and charged the halo of light. This time, whilst the mist still pulled away from him and he no longer felt cold, the Boss merely covered his eyes and looked away from the bright light. His health bar didn't fall unlike the First Key. "He's less vulnerable because he's less twisted," Eltelm realised. "Oh well, the damage should still work just fine."

Silently this time he charged his opponent who brought up his shield just in time to take the brunt of the blow. However, since the skill partially ignored armour, some of the damage did get through and Eltelm was pleased to see the Boss's first health bar drop into the yellow zone. He followed up with an AoE blast that temporarily forced the Third Key to cover his eyes at the bright light. Diving forwards Eltelm rammed his blade into the Boss's throat. In response the ragged knight smashed his shield into his chest, sending him sliding backwards.

The Third Key's first health bar was now empty, though Eltelm's health bar had now dropped to around 40% from the shield bash. Casting Blessing of the Sun Eltelm healed himself back into the green zone. With its first health bar empty the Boss's eyes began glowing green as did his sword. The Third Key rammed its sword point first into the ground, spreading a fiery crack over the ground towards Eltelm.

He threw himself to the side and then charged in. Throwing out a knock-up he disrupted the Boss's next sword skill and then executed a triple strike to deal some solid damage. The Third Key slashed at Eltelm but he managed to parry the blow. The Boss charged up its sword and lashed out with a second lightning bolt attack that Eltelm was forced to dive to the ground in order to dodge. He then buried his sword up to the hilt inside of his enemy's chest. As ripped it out he lashed out with a wounding strike, dropping the Third Key's health to zero.

Eltelm stepped back as the warrior exploded into brilliant shards. He let out a long sigh as the figure reformed into Apollyon, Fourth Key. As the figure-now dressed in gleaming steel armour and dazzling bright blue clothes-formed together Eltelm shivered. The face starring back at him with two health bars above it was his own. "Stuff you Kayaba," he muttered. The concept behind the Boss was suddenly painfully obvious. You fought against yourself, watching your descent into madness in reverse. Of course, this Boss was not him; for one thing it was dressed and armed differently. Still, seeing his own face on the target was a little disconcerting.

The Fourth Key's sword glowed brilliant blue and he swung it, releasing a wave of bright energy that knocked Eltelm off his feet and brought his health bar rushing down to 50%. As you might expect, the Boss had grown stronger each time around. "It's not as strong as a Floor Boss though. Plus I'm several levels ahead of it; I can do this." Activating his three seconds of invulnerability Eltelm charged forwards, executing his knock up, triple strike and wounding strike all in quick succession.

With a cry of rage as its first health dropped down to a quarter full the Fourth Key rammed its sword into the ground. A massive explosion emanated out from the contact point hurling Eltelm against the wall of the chamber. He was glad that he still had the last few milliseconds of invulnerability left. The Fourth Key Blasted a lightning bolt at him and he dived underneath it.

Casting destiny to increase his damage for the next twenty seconds, Eltelm charged back into the duel. The two figures were a flurry of blades for a minute or so, both striking and blocking rapidly. The Boss however didn't have reflexes to match the human player and steadily its first health bar was whittled away. As its first health bar hit zero Eltelm scrambled backwards, expecting a transition to a new stage.

His concern was deserved as the Boss's skin was incinerated and it let out a scream. It height increased to four metres tall and a scythe appeared in its right hand. It name now read Apollyon, Keeper of the Keys. The figure now matched the statue exactly, and as Eltelm watched another health bar appeared below the first one. He groaned and grabbed a health potion from one his pouches, downing it hurriedly as the Boss finished its stage transition with several words he couldn't understand.

Eltelm breathed heavily and waited for the Boss to make the first move. Apollyon let out a ghostly howl and swung his scythe, sending a wave of green light that passed through Eltelm. It didn't push him back but his pain receptors went nuts as the damage was dealt. He grunted in agony as Apollyon rushed forwards towards him, weapon held in both hands and poised to strike. Eltelm blocked the blow, and by casting an AoE sword skill pushed the scythe back.

Bringing his blade up in line with his face he activate Solar Strike and rushed forwards. Apollyon hissed at the bright light, staggering slightly. Eltelm leaped into the air, directing all of the energy of his halo into the attack. The resultant blast made the Boss howl in rage and Eltelm was shoved backwards by the butt of the scythe.

He whistled through his teeth as he saw that that attack alone had emptied the first of Apollyon's health bars. "Unfortunately I can't do that again in a hurry," he thought. "Oh well, I suppose it cuts the time in half doesn't it?"

Apollyon was suddenly engulfed in red flames and the mists surrounding Eltelm changed colour to match. Three red orbs materialised and began to orbit about the Boss's head and the scythe became a gigantic battle axe. It was time for the last round and Eltelm found himself genuinely worried that he might not be able to win it without Solar Strike.

Apollyon charged him, swinging his axe down. Eltelm dodged and slashed at the giant's ankles. The Boss brought his axe down to the ground, sending a fissure two metres wide towards Eltelm. The fissure exploded and sent him crashing backwards into the podium that the statue had been set on at the beginning of the fight. Eltelm glanced nervously at his health bar. It was down below 50% after that hit and he had yet to do more than scratch at the Boss's last one.

"Where's a tank when you need one?" he lamented bitterly before scrambling up into a stumbling charge. Smashing the axe swing aside with a sword skill Eltelm swung his blade down in a straight vertical line, sending an immobilisation wave into the Boss. To his horror a notification icon appeared, informing Eltelm that the target was immune to stuns. Cursing under his breath Eltelm stabbed his glowing blade into Apollyon's chest before pushing off with his feet.

He just barely slipped past the axe head and landed with a skid. Thank goodness for agility investments. That attack had managed to reduce Apollyon's health down to two thirds, but Eltelm was rapidly running out of steam. "So far you've been holding back so that you'd be able to escape if you needed to." "Yeah, so what? I'd rather not die for a mini-boss." "You won't be able to beat it unless you go all in." "But it could kill me!" "It may kill you anyway. What exactly is the debuff the mists confer precisely?"

With a sickening feeling in his heart Eltelm backed away, pulling out his teleport crystal. A small notification flashed over it as he held it. It read 'nullified' in English. Eltelm didn't know what nullified meant exactly, but he could put in a pretty fair guess. "Son of a bitch," he hissed. "Still prepared to hold back?" "How the hell did you know?" "I didn't, you suspected though." "I bloody hate you." "Probably."

Growling Eltelm pulled his sword back. The blade glowed brilliant white and he charged forwards. A massive explosion of light was flung out of it and impacted Apollyon in the face. The Boss howled as Eltelm rocketed towards it, sending out strike after brilliant strike. The Keeper struck out at him with his axe and Eltelm blocked it, holding his sword horizontally with a hand on each end in order to catch the axe blade. He tried to push the weapon back but his strength stat was too low. The two stood with their weapons locked like that for several seconds until the Boss withdrew its weapon and swung down for a second blow to shatter Eltelm's guard.

The two seconds it gave him were all he needed. He leapt up so that he was level with Apollyon's head. Activating penetration and destiny simultaneously Eltelm shoved his sword into the Boss's eye. The flaming orbs that had up until that point been passively orbiting the Keeper's head streaked towards him. Flames licked at Eltelm's flesh, but he wouldn't pull back. The Boss's health was falling rapidly but so was his own. "I'm not going to make it!"

Toji was lying sleepily under the pleasant midday sun of Floor 18. Suddenly a shadow fell over her and she opened her eyes irritably. Sitting up she saw a ragged and exhausted looking Eltelm. She opened her mouth to speak but before she could say anything he'd shoved an item at her. It was an amulet with a rainbow gem like an opal at the centre, set inside a silver frame. "Please tell me that piece of junk was worth it," Eltelm gasped.

"What the hell happened to you?" Toji asked as she opened up the item's description.

"I got stabbed, screamed at, bitten and set on fire. I wouldn't be talking to you now if my invulnerability hadn't come off cooldown at the last second. That was the longest Boss fight ever, in the history of Boss fights."

Toji bit her lip nervously as she read the description. "Well umm, I think the main reward from that was meant to be exp," she began cautiously.

"What does it say?" asked Eltelm grimly.

"Pendant of Apollyon. Cosmetic."

The roar of frustration that followed was apparently heard on every single floor.