"There's two wandering bosses? Hmm, I'll step in then.", the Third Stage player joined the group.
Several thoughts flashed through Akiol's mind. He wondered why these players thought he was an NPC. Yet there wasn't time to delve into this matter.
Escaping some Second Stages wasn't a huge problem, it was the Third Stage player that proved to be the issue. Simply because the Second Stage NPC would struggle to flee from a Third Stage. The gap between Stages was simply too large.
Thus Akiol changed plans. He flickered to the barrier and a large X shaped cut formed at the barrier. The newly created flaps created an exit, and the Second Stage NPC sprinted towards the opening. As the barrier was mana based Stars' passive ability of magic immunity was easily capable of cutting through it!
Chasing after the NPCs the players unleashed a flurry of Skills to slow down their victim. Akiol eyed these and flickered forward. Arriving in front of the players he freed Stars and his scabbard from his waist. With the blade still sheathed he reached up and tapped the forehead of a player with the sword's guard.
A blast of wind hit the players as all their Skills were revealed to be diced apart. This dramatic flair was intentional, it was to drag the attention of all players towards him instead of the NPC! This effort worked extremely well, for the Second Stage players all immediately took great effort to protect themselves.
A Defender class smacked their shield with a taunt ability. Akiol's attention was naturally drawn towards him, and in response he flicked forward a small projectile made of mana. Upon taking the slight damage the player's taunt ability was negated and Akiol was freed from it.
Immediately Akiol took a step to the side and a downwards cleave slice through several graves. Leaving a sizeable gash in the abandoned cemetery. Glancing back he found the Third Stage player holding a saber positioned towards the ground.
With the Framework Akiol probed for a bit of information. The simple Epithet "Scarlet Saber" came to mind. Likewise Scarlet Saber also used the Framework, "Star Driven Sword? A Third Step wandering boss! Talk about a jackpot!"
Pinching the brim of his straw steeple hat Akiol vanished from sight and stood atop the tallest pillar of the graveyard. Slightly adjusting his voice with mana Akiol asked, "You take pleasure in this?"
The reason for masking his voice was simple, he didn't need to be recognized elsewhere! This was already troubling, his Epithet and appearance would be known. For some reason the players think he's an NPC, making him a prime target for one of these 'hunts'. So it was best to adjust his identity! With his slime body he could adjust various features of his body to not make him recognizable at a glance, and coupled together with the cloak very few should be able to sense he's Third Stage!
This sort of deduction was made with his ample experience in dealing with troublesome situations!
"If I manage to kill you here, who knows what kind of drops I'll get. Either way just informing my Sect will bring quite a few rewards. So I'm feeling really lucky."
"That so. . . ?", Akiol was slowly filling the gaps to complete this rushed persona, "Then let's rid of the bystanders."
The players blinked and Akiol disappeared entirely from their sight. Scarlet Saber grimaced, "Use your-!"
It was too late, the Second Stage players all fell dead. Many items scattered across the floor. Akiol's figure was behind them, Stars remaining sheathed.
The hole in the barrier caused the entire barrier to collapse, a heavy bellowing wind made Akiol's cloak flutter. Holding onto his straw steeple hat Akiol looked towards Scarlet Saber, "I'm not one to perform in front of an audience."
"Nervous?", a scarlet flame shot down the saber as Scarlet Saber took up a stance.
'The Epithet 'Scarlet Saber' is a little too on the nose. . .', Akiol felt bemused as he thought to himself.
"I just remove the distractions.", Akiol answered as he held Stars in his scabbard.
Swinging forward Scarlet Saber unleashed a curved flame. The heat licked anything it could, burning overgrown vines on the gravestones. Akiol leapt over the attack and watched as the flame easily cleaved through several trees.
This sort of destruction wasn't uncommon for Third Stages. However for the attack to be this easy to perform. . . was it a Skill?
Scarlet Saber grinned as he slashed several times towards Akiol. The Scarlet Flame extended the length of the saber, allowing the slashes to reach Akiol. Bouncing off platforms of mana Akiol observed the Skill while remaining untouched.
The scarlet flame held aspects more similar to a passive over a Skill. Perhaps it was more of a Unique Class than it was anything else. Allowing the class to wield this Scarlet Flame with their attacks. Since it was this powerful it was likely Scarlet Saber utilized this effect more than other Skills, thus earning him the Epithet.
Lingering scarlet flames converged as Scarlet Saber clenched a fist. Surrounding and encompassing Akiol. Suddenly silver Aura that sparkled faintly of Red, Blue, and Purple dots shot outward. They formed into rings, slicing apart the converging flames.
Akiol fell to the ground and lightly landed. A frown formed on his face, but at the angle he was in this expression was masked by the straw steeple hat. Scarlet Saber sliced downwards and the earth split once again, this time decorated by lingering flame.
In his observations there was a critical issue with Scarlet Saber. The technique they used to swing their saber. . . it was all too simple! For a Third Stage to be lacking in technique, how did they make it so far? Dodging the attacks was too simple, there wasn't any effort in predicting Akiol's dodges, or even to lull him into a false sense of security.
This guy was just entirely relying on the might given by this Scarlet Flame!
Akiol was under the impression that those of Third Stage couldn't be ordinary at this stage of the game. Although it was clear the west was quicker on obtaining Third Stage, it almost felt like they were lacking in quality.
He stowed away these thoughts for now until he came across more Third Stage players. Scarlet Saber might just be an outlier.
Once again the horizontal scarlet flame slash was unleashed. Akiol walked towards it calmly, as if braving the attack. Scarlet Saber grinned and rushed forward with his saber. Then a line of silver Aura manifested and split the horizontal attack in half! Akiol walked through the gap casually, Stars still sheathed in his offhand.
Scarlet Saber leapt forward while throwing an item from his pouch. A strange totem burst apart as what seemed like dark black hair launched out of it. With a mind of its own the long hair shot forward to grapple Akiol. Threatening to squeeze the life out of him.
As the hair was mere moments from completing this action several thin lines of Aura manifested and cut the hair into strands. They floated uselessly towards the ground. Scarlet Saber closed the distance and swung his saber with both hands. Akiol lifted the scabbard of Stars, used his thumb to reveal the slightest bit of Stars' blade, and blocked the saber. A metallic ring rang across the abandoned graveyard.
Akiol noticed just how much strength Scarlet Saber had. It was certainly a surprising amount for what he assumed was a simple above average player. Yet it couldn't compare to someone who was linked with both a Dragon and an Origin Hydra. Additionally there was the might of Stars as well!
With a shove Akiol deflected the saber and pushed Stars back into the scabbard. With a swift kick Akiol caused Scarlet Saber to double over, and several lines of silver aura manifested on Scarlet Saber's body.
{Way of the Galaxy: Photon Cutting Slash}!
Scarlet Saber didn't react to the slashes, and also fell dead. As a Third Stage Akiol knew he'd need more than a few slashes to finish off the player, thus he performed several cuts to finish the fight. He had originally intended to drag out the fight to witness the Skills of a Third Stage, but Scarlet Saber was too reliant on those scarlet flames.
A few items spilled out and Akiol fell into thought. Although the 'wandering boss' turned out to be an NPC, the dropped items from the players could potentially give him enough money if he sold them. Especially the Third Stage items. . .
Akiol placed Stars back onto his waist and extended a hand. His fingers warped as they extended via slime. Reaching out Akiol touched the items and absorbed them. After cleaning the loot he pinched his straw steeple hat and turned his gaze towards the direction the NPC fled.
As far as he could tell the NPC had long since vacated the area. He could no longer sense him with {Star Guidance}. With no other witnesses Akiol released a sigh.
This was more trouble than it was worth!