Bonus Boss - Come on Down!

[mindofathief]

Who: Saori, Mary, Ira, Lydia, Duster, Tazendra, Minato
What: Returning to the Mythril Mines to fight the bonus boss
Where: Mythril Mines
When: Shortly after meeting up in the Village of Santa
Notes: Single thread, please!

Without much of a lead on where everyone else in the world is, the fed, clothed, and rested group returned to the mines. There was something living inside that cave that had likely killed all of the miners, and if not, well, it was one less Calamity beast. It would give them something to do until a ship was prepared to take them to another continent.

"Careful where you step," Duster said as he help his lantern over the body of a former worker. "It's...awful." There wasn't any way to politely describe what had happened.

Comments

[not_most_days]

Mary just frowned as the thing made its escape, rubbing the ink with her sleeve as she looked left and right with her Eagle Vision. All of this just seemed a fair bit too easy. And her thoughts were with Saori's when it came to the dead miners. This wasn't something that they could just let slide.

Though honestly it seemed fair enough to want to kill this thing on principle alone. "It's a mine. There's not many places it can go without passing us, unless there's another exit we don't know about."

[melodiesboss]

From further in the caves, laughter rang out.

That would be a MINER INCONVENIENCE GWEE HEE HEE!

After a beat, (where the Heroes, we assume, did not laugh) the same horrifically annoying voice chimed in again.

...because, if I could sneak around you...I could kill you...it's a pun.

And with whatever humor might have been gleaned from that pun now destroyed in the explaining of it, the voice trailed off. A trail of blood, smelling strongly of fish and copper, could be followed if the Heroes wished to pursue Ultros.

[needsteaplz]

"Oh my dear gods, it even does dad puns. At least he's not very good at being sneaky," Saori said as she managed to find a silver lining. She looked back at the others and nodded, taking in a deep breath.

Eagle Vision was once again active as she followed the trail of blood. Never know what possible traps or ambushes might happen.

[not_most_days]

Mary frowned, both at the pun and the trail. She dropped to her knee, touching it out of instinct to confirm it being fresh. But she didn't like this one bit. It definitely smells of a trap. As Saori went on ahead she moved with her, not too close but not too far, ready for a sneak attack but cautious enough not to carelessly drag Saori into it as well.

She readied a Clone as they went, switching flanks off of Saori with it a few times to confuse which was the real one.

[fearlessherosheart]

"I am starting to feel we have seriously outclassed this creature," Tazendra said. "Still, we cannot leave it here."

[mindofathief]

Duster shrugged at the pun. He was hardened against the worst of them, and Ultros would have made plenty of friends in the Nowhere Islands if it weren't for the fact that, well, he killed all these miners. Maybe. He was claiming responsibility.

"Anyone need any help? Healing? Potions?"

[melodiesboss]

[Should the Heroes follow the trail of blood to its source, it will lead them to a dock overlooking an underground pool. The water was too dark to see through, but as they approach, bubbles will appear as Ultros rises from the depths. All seven tentacles whirl once more. It seems he's fully healed!]

Did ya miss me?

[Warning, he will be deeply hurt if you didn't.]

Boss Battle: Ultros (Round 2)
There is no escape from this purple monstrosity! He gets more annoying with each passing round. And also stronger...sort of. He'll claim he's stronger now than he was during that last fight. It's up to the Heroes to find out if that's true.

[mindofathief]

...Not in the way you're thinking. [A sick burn in Duster Standards.]

I got you, guys. [He plays his custom song, Gentle Rain, and casts Regen on the group, and will continue to do so as long as he plays. This has the additional side effect of resistance against fire, though unless they're going for a suicide move and burning Ultros alive, it isn't going to be of much use.]

[not_most_days]

[Mary glares as she runs ahead to strike at Ultros...or perhaps it was just her clone. As soon as she comes into contact with one of his flailing tentacles it vanishes in a puff of smoke. Standing a few feet back, Mary finished the seals for a Ninjitsu: Raiton, lashing out at the octopus with a swiftly striking bolt of lightning.]

Can't say I have.

[needsteaplz]

Thanks, Duster.

[Another thunder ninjutsu after Mary's but this one came from Saori.

As for answering Ultros's question, she answered with just one word and a smile.]

Nope. Now be a good monster and go down, please.