['Shanny (★)'s soul is being awakened!]
['Shanny (★)' has obtained the skill, 'Berserk'!]
Holy shit!
Berserk was one of the rare skills many players were gunning for their heroes to have.
Be it early game, mid game, or late game, that skill was sought after by Pick Me Up players.
And it was for a reason.
['Shanny (★)' has gone berserk!]
[Her strength, stamina and agility have increased by 5!]
[Her intelligence has decreased by 90%!]
Berserk was an active skill that could serve as an ultimate move.
The temporary buff it provided to my 1-star Shanny made it as if she just levelled up several times.
Imagine the bonus stats once the skill was levelled up further.
Of course, heroes under the Berserk skill would also got their intelligence suppressed, causing them to lose restraint in their movement and act.
But it was worth the trade-off.
Shanny was able to charge through groups of enemies at once, killing dozen in mere seconds.
What a powerful skill.
She would never obtain it in the safer lower floors.
Only boss stages could trigger this kind of significant improvement on heroes.
Eventually Shanny reached the final hill range. The path behind her had been cleared of monsters.
['Shanny (★)' is no longer berserk!]
['Shanny (★)' has entered the state of exhaustion!]
[All stats have decreased by 90%!]
Damn.
This was also a downside of Berserk.
Heroes could fall to this severe debuff state if they overused the skill.
But at least she managed to carve a path for the party.
Since there were no enemies blocking their way, Jonah and Serafina immediately rushed up to the collapsed 1-star by the hill.
Jonah then picked the unconscious Shanny up and the three of them proceeded to the hilltop.
Serafina triggered a landslide on the slope behind them to ward off the pursuing monsters.
Crash!
My heroes had reached the final hill range.
There was only one patch of forest left for them to go through.
The objective statue was within sight.
But there remained a huge obstacle blocking my heroes.
[Goblin Lv.3 x213]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x206]
[Direwolf Lv.4 x197]
[Harpy Lv.4 x192]
That was a shit ton of enemies.
Jonah did not have his throwing spears. Serafina's magic was limited due to her mana overflow. And Shanny had been incapacitated with her exhaustion state.
But my heroes must overcome this boss stage challenge.
They must! They had come so far already!
Serafina and her comrades then descended the hill and charged toward the last forest patch.
The 4-star mage immediately casted a fire spell.
Boom!
It was not a strong magic. Probably a Second Circle.
But Serafina manually spread the flames to the environment and created a secure burning path for the party.
Jonah then charged through the fire trail while carrying Shanny.
Serafina ran closely by them and warded off the enemies coming their way.
Since Jonah was occupied with carrying his comrade, it was up to Serafina to deal with the monsters.
The 4-star proceeded to cast basic magic that was barely enough to protect them.
Even so, I was still not certain they would be able to reach the statue at this rate.
There were simply that many enemies.
If the ogres approaching from behind my heroes could not stop them, then the monsters ahead would.
Eventually the party stopped on top of a large rock formation protruding above the mud flood.
Why did they stop?
Were they resting or trying to find a safer and faster route to the statue?
Whatever they were doing, they needed to do it immediately and it had to work.
The ogres had descended the hill and were rapidly approaching their position.
Serafina then casted a shield around herself and began casting a fire spell.
Hmm…
What was she trying to do?
Did the 4-star mage still have enough mana to cast whatever spell she was preparing?
She must thought she did.
Hopefully her plan would work. Whatever it was.
Suddenly Shanny got off from Jonah's back and wielded her weapons again.
She must had recovered enough energy to fight once more.
But I doubted her exhaustion debuff had been lifted.
Nevertheless, Jonah and Shanny assumed a defensive formation around Serafina and readied themselves to fight again.
[Goblin Lv.3 x54]
[Goblin Archer Lv.3 x41]
[Direwolf Lv.4 x37]
[Harpy Lv.4 x38]
The monsters had discovered my heroes.
They immediately set out to attack them.
Jonah and Shanny engaged the enemies while Serafina was casting her spell under the protection of her own shield.
Whoosh!
A large circle of flames began to emerge around the 4-star.
She was preparing an offensive spell.
But it would take a really powerful one for it to matter in this situation.
['Shanny (★)' has been inflicted with bleeding. Her stamina will be reduced for a period of time.]
A harpy injured Shanny.
I knew she would not be able to put up much resistance.
Jonah quickly came to her aid.
He took on most of the enemies around them as Shanny retreated back.
But more and more enemies poured in from all over the forest.
No matter how skilled Jonah was, the monsters would overwhelm him eventually.
['Jonah (★)' has been inflicted with bleeding. His stamina will be reduced for a period of time.]
The flames around Serafina started to grow larger. Her body ascended and began floating in the air.
She had never casted a fire spell this long and in this manner before.
It must be a really powerful spell. Above Third Circle, at least.
['Serafina (★★★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Mana Overflow Resistance'!]
The 4-star likely had to push herself very hard to cast such a high-tier magic in her debuff state. She even obtained a resistance passive for it.
Thankfully there was a shield surrounding Serafina. So the monsters could not harm her no matter how they tried.
Jonah and Shanny, however, unleashed everything that they had to survive the onslaught.
Crossbow arrows rushed in from all over the forest.
Shanny took cover behind her shield while Jonah parried them with his spear.
['Jonah (★)'s Projectile Defense has levelled up to level 2!]
The ogres had entered the forest and were approaching the rock formation my heroes were on.
Jonah and Shanny fought on as Serafina kept casting her large spell.
['Shanny (★)' is on the brink of death. Her life is in danger!]
A goblin severed Shanny's right hand while a direwolf bit her left leg.
Jonah rushed in and annihilated the enemies with swift powerful moves.
['Jonah (★)'s Basic Spearmanship has levelled up to level 6!]
The flames around Serafina raged wildly.
It must had been a torture for her to spend this much mana.
['Serafina (★★★★)' has been inflicted with bleeding. Her stamina will be reduced for a period of time.]
Kroaah!
The ogres finally reached my party of heroes.
Jonah put himself in front of the collapsed Shanny and bravely stood against the army of monsters facing him.
['Jonah (★)'s Composure has levelled up to level 2!]
It was exceptional that he did not fall to the debuff state despite the terrifying situation he was in.
But Jonah would die if he fought these enemies on his own.
Serafina better wrap up her casting or this party would get wiped out right now!
[In the face of situation that tests the heroes' limits, the heroes' souls are being awakened!]
['Serafina (★★★★)'s Intermediate Fire Magic has levelled up twice to level 8!]
Suddenly the barrier shielding the 4-star dissolved and the raging flames around her shot up to the sky.
All the monsters surrounding my party were thrown off by the shockwave.
The entire battlefield gradually turned crimson.
Boom!
Tornadoes of flames suddenly descended from above and scorched the forest.
Every monster within the battlefield was burned by the spinning pillars of fire, many were consumed and decimated instantly.
My heroes used this chance to escape.
Serafina dropped back to the ground having casted her spell while Jonah carried Shanny that had collapsed once more.
The 1-star had not died yet, or I would receive the notification.
Hang in there!
Whoosh!
My heroes then charged through the burning forest.
They maneuvered around burning patches, falling trees, and other obstacles.
None of them could fight anymore.
Serafina likely had used up all her mana to cast this powerful spell. While Jonah was occupied carrying Shanny.
All they could do now was escape, as the mission suggested.
['Jonah (★)'s Fire Resistance has levelled up to level 2!]
['Shanny (★)'s Fire Resistance has levelled up to level 2!]
It was wise to get the heroes develop that passive before trying the boss stage.
Otherwise these 1-star heroes would had died from their comrade's own spell.
['Serafina (★★★★)' has been inflicted with bleeding. Her stamina will be reduced for a period of time.]
Damn.
A goblin managed to shoot its arrow at the 4-star before a tree collapsed on the monster.
Fortunately, despite the injury, Serafina kept on running.
Good.
Just get to the statue and you would be returned to the lobby and be healed completely.
Kroaahhh!!!
Some ogres managed to catch up to my heroes. Shit!
Hopefully the giant bastards would stumble on something and let my heroes escape.
But they did not.
Serafina immediately waved her hand toward the ogres.
She used Telekinesis to cause a bunch of burning trees collapsing on them.
Would it be alright for her to do that?
Suddenly the 4-star mage fell to the ground.
['Serafina (★★★★)' is experiencing mana overflow.]
Damn it!
You were so close!
Get up!
Jonah rushed back to the collapsed Serafina. He did not seem to want to leave her behind.
The 4-star soon rose back up and the heroes continued their escape.
Thank goodness!
My heroes rushed on through the burning forest.
Eventually the surviving enemies noticed them and gave pursuit.
There were more than a hundred monsters surviving despite Serafina's powerful spell. They still posed a large threat to my heroes.
Would Serafina and the others make it?
Of course, they would!
Suddenly there was a scorched direwolf charging beside the party.
It immediately rushed toward Jonah who was vulnerable while carrying Shanny.
To my surprise, Serafina grabbed Jonah's spear and thrusted the weapon into the monster.
I supposed in desperate situation even mages would take arms and dirty their hands. Noted.
The heroes went on as the direwolf's corpse collapsed limply to the ground.
They certainly needed to make haste since there was a huge wave of monsters not far behind them.
An ogre suddenly broke off the horde and started sprinting toward my heroes. It was closing the distance between them rapidly.
Serafina and Jonah ran and ran toward the statue that was now within sight of the screen.
But the ogre kept closing in on them.
OH FUCK OFF YOU BASTARD!
My heroes jumped toward the statue just as the ogre was about to reach them.
It was then that the mission paused.
Bright light started to engulf my surviving heroes.
[Stage Clear!]
['Serafina (★★★★)', 'Jonah (★)', 'Shanny (★)' levelled up!]
[MVP – 'Serafina (★★★★)']
[Reward – 30,000G, Iron Ore (B) x3, Leather (C) x2, Wooden Planks (B) x3]
[Congratulations, Master! You have cleared the 5th Floor.]
[The Weekday Dungeon is now available.]
[Gather materials and strengthen your heroes in the lobby.]
We did it.
We actually did it.
WE DID IT!
Now that I had cleared the fifth floor, I could properly call myself a Pick Me Up master now.
But fuck me…
What a mission that was.
I was so engrossed observing the boss stage that I just now realized it was past midnight already.
Seyoung-eonni would surely chew my ears out tomorrow.
But my heroes did really well completing the insanely difficult mission.
They did most of the work while all I did was transporting weapons from the storage.
The fifth floor really had proven the capabilities of the heroes' AI.
I was now more confident to trust and rely on them in the future missions. Especially the 4-star Serafina.
She really bailed the party out with that OP fire spell of hers. Not to mention all the effective support she provided throughout the boss stage.
And due to their incredible performance, Jonah and Shanny had also cemented their position as my top aces in the lobby.
I would not trade them out of the party even if I summoned another advanced hero.
They worked really well with Serafina and that seemed to matter more than stats and skills in this game. Even though the two did also have above-average stats and high skill proficiency.
Anyway, how were my heroes doing?
Jonah and Shanny had made their way to their rooms in the lodging.
I was so glad that Shanny survived after all she went through.
It would be a waste to lose a hero like her when she just obtained a rare skill.
Jonah did well guarding her near the end of the mission too. He also developed his combat skill to level 6, which was awesome.
But where was Serafina?
I looked around the lobby and eventually found her collapsed inside the Magic Hall.
['Serafina (★★★★)' has fallen to the state of mana overflow!]
What was she doing in here?
She was supposed to be resting now!
Why would she go to the Magic Hall instead of the lodging?
But this would be the first time I saw the 4-star hero this spent.
The fifth floor did this to her.
So that was how a boss stage could turn out to be.
It definitely was not a normal mission.
I shuddered to imagine what other challenges waiting for us in the higher floors.
All masters of Pick Me Up wanted to reach the top of the tower.
Only five masters were able to get past the 80th floor of the Main Dungeon so far. With Loki being one of them, the only one in Korea to obtain that achievement.
I did not know how high in the tower my heroes and I could reach.
But I knew for sure it would be a hell of a climb.