"This isn't working; we can't harm this guy at all! Everyone, fall back and use magic swords! Lefiya, Riveria, keep at it!"
After a few minutes of fighting, Finn and the others realized something was off. Gundyr's speed was too overwhelming, much faster than that of Iudex Gundyr. Even Ais had to use her magic just to keep up, and Finn himself needed to activate his Berserk skill to match Gundyr's pace.
The weapons wielded by Tiona and Tione were too heavy to land a hit on him, and even Gareth's formidable defense couldn't keep up with Gundyr's relentless assault. Despite being surrounded, Gundyr effortlessly held his own.
Moreover, Gundyr's armor provided him with immense defense, and combined with his massive weapon, every sweeping attack forced everyone to scatter. Their attacks barely fazed him. Against Gundyr, even getting close seemed impossible.
The battle had reached a stalemate, where both sides were forced into a prolonged endurance test. Champion Gundyr, however, seemed unaffected by stamina drain, as he had already faced death once and wasn't concerned about such limitations.
Meanwhile, Finn and his team, although large in number, faced the real risk of exhausting themselves.
Knowing they'd be at a disadvantage if the fight dragged on, Finn made a quick decision: they'd resort to their magic swords. These weren't ordinary weapons but specially crafted artifacts from Orario.
Each high-grade magic sword could unleash devastating power, potent enough to one-shot a boss if used effectively.
Each of the top magic swords can exert huge power. If this power is used well, the boss can easily kill it in seconds.
Thus, everyone had come prepared with an arsenal of magic swords provided by Hephaestus Familia. They had no choice but to go all-out, and now was the time to use these magic swords to their full potential.
With a single strike, the magic swords unleashed a blinding explosion that engulfed the entire dark arena, resembling a miniature sun.
Riveria and Lefiya added their powerful magic to the attack, making it even harder for Gundyr to defend. Breaking through his armor was the team's biggest challenge, but if they could shatter it, the battle would tilt in their favor.
As long as the opponent's armor is broken, the next battle will be much easier. This is the role of this pile of explosions.
The enormous smoke cloud from the explosion was quickly blown away by Riveria's wind magic, revealing Gundyr. He no longer looked as imposing, as his armor was now in tatters, with large sections blasted into fragments, leaving him in a rather sorry state.
Though his weapon hadn't been completely destroyed, visible cracks had formed, making it appear fragile. A few more hits would likely cause it to shatter entirely.
Gundyr's current predicament was quite pitiful.
In the game, if you came here as an Ashen One, you'd be almost helpless against this powerful opponent unless you were an experienced player.
Newcomers would struggle, receiving a harsh lesson from Iudex Gundyr and later from Champion Gundyr. Like a relentless beast, Champion Gundyr never seemed to stop attacking, acting like a fearsome adversary that drove many players to quit.
Of course, Gundyr wasn't quite as formidable as some of the ultimate bosses, but he was still a significant challenge.
Now, with Gundyr's defenses compromised, the team finally felt like they had a chance. They could focus on taking him down without running around aimlessly like headless chickens.
With Gundyr injured, his movements were visibly affected. Being undead, he didn't feel pain the way a living person would, which meant typical injuries wouldn't impact him. But if the damage became severe enough, such as a broken leg, it would hinder him regardless.
If Gundyr were still alive, his wounds would likely prevent him from moving, but as an undead warrior, he pressed on, ignoring the pain, at least until his body could no longer function.
With his body now struggling to hold up, Gundyr's movements were visibly affected. For him, though, pain was irrelevant, and he continued on, unfazed.
"What a monster. We used over twenty magic swords and unleashed two massive magical bombardments, and all we've managed is this minimal effect!"
Finn couldn't help but marvel at Gundyr's resilience. Despite the relentless assault, this guy hadn't fallen yet. But now that Gundyr was finally on the ropes, Finn and the others pressed forward without hesitation. However, Gundyr adapted, shifting to a new fighting style.
Previously, even fully armored, Gundyr moved with incredible speed. Now, with his armor shattered, his defense was compromised, but without the heavy armor weighing him down, he moved even faster.
The original weight of his equipment was significant, enough that in-game, players would need specialized load rings to keep from moving like a turtle.
With his armor gone, Gundyr's speed surged. Fortunately, his earlier injuries hindered his movements, and gaps began appearing in his attacks and dodges.
Recognizing these openings, the team launched a furious assault. Each successive injury piled up, making it increasingly difficult for Gundyr to fight effectively. At one point, Finn even blew off one of Gundyr's legs, leaving him vulnerable.
But Gundyr, true to his indomitable spirit, was relentless. Even as he lay crippled, unable to stand, he fought back with shattered weapons, punching and using his icy hammer with whatever strength remained.
It took an agonizingly long time. Just as the group began to lose hope, they finally defeated the tenacious warrior.
"What kind of existence was this guy like when he was still alive?" Gareth muttered in disbelief, still awestruck by Gundyr's seemingly unbreakable tenacity. The fact that he had continued fighting with just his bare fists and a broken weapon left everyone in awe.
According to Ludleth, what was left of Gundyr after death was mere instinct, a residual fighting drive preserved in his body. Against any opponent, this alone made him terrifying.
Gundyr had been a supreme warrior in his time, comparable even to the Lords of Cinder. Some Lords would likely fall outright if they encountered him, his strength was that overwhelming.
"Well, at least we managed to put him down," Finn said, a bit uncertainly. "There shouldn't be anything else ahead, right?"
Although it seemed that their path was now clear, there was still an air of caution. After all, this wasn't the exact same place they were used to.