[Basilisk King (FF+)]",

    [Level: 5]

    [Physical: 80]

    [Strength: 110]

    [Constitution: 123]

    [Dexterity: 42]

    [Speed: 45]

    [Mental: 72]

    [Intelligence: 99]

    [Wisdom: 19]

    [Charisma: 97]

    [Will: 91]

    Ss faced off against the Basilisk King, his heart beating in a slow, steady rhythm.

    He was a bit biased, but it was truly a beautiful creature. The bed of bones on its head shimmered with a golden color that truly made it reminiscent of a crown, the lines between its dark scales flickering with the same hue, making the snake look as though it was more a deity than a beast.

    The Basilisk King was actually smaller than the other BOSSes by half, being perfectly eye-level with Ss rather than looming overhead.

    Even so, the aura of danger it exuded was on an entirely different level.

    When Ss stepped into its territory with Brant in tow, it unleashed a roar that froze thetterpletely.

    Unlike its counterparts, this Basilisk King had slit irises that were entirely crimson, not even a single drop of a different color in sight. It looked as though an array of shades of red had exploded like a neb within its eyeballs.

    It cast Astral Bind almost immediately, but it bounced off of Ss as though it didn''t even exist.

    Ss released the rope he was using to pull Brant along and rushed forward, his eyes sharp.

    The head of the basilisk shot toward him, and he sidestepped. The stats of this creature were far too strong for him to meet it head on, he had to feel it out first.

    He used his superior Speed and unleashed a cross right into its body.

    Fist met scales in a dull thud and the Basilisk King swayed only for a moment before biting at Ss'' neck with a vicious chomp. Aether glowed along its glistening rows of teeth, revealing a strength that should shatter steel.

    Ss retreated with a fluid step and struck a palm at the edge of the snake''s open jaw, pushing it to the side and parrying its strike in a single motion.

    ''Strong...'' Ss thought as he was forced to retreat again. He was only able to pull that off because of his superior Speed, and yet he had still almost suffered for it.

    The Basilisk King was thrown somewhat off bnce, snapping its maw closed around a gust of wind. Ss moved forward in an attempt to take advantage, but the off bnce BOSS suddenly reversed its momentum under a sudden rush of Aether.

    Ss'' gaze sharpened. He had alreadye forward to attack, and it was toote for him to change direction. Momentum Shift only worked on singr attacks. There was no way for him to use it on his whole body like the Basilisk King just had.

    Ss found the Basilisk King''s head snapping at him once again, its mouth roaring with malice. His arm was already punching forward, its destination the open mouth of the snake.

    Solidify.

    A shield, exuding a delicate green color, appeared. Aether was usually a silvery blue, but Ss had found that whenever it was infused with his Will, it turned into a shade of green.

    And that shade of green was precisely what the Basilisk King crashed into.

    BANG!

    The Basilisk King rebounded, its jaws snapping closed around nothing once again. Ss'' own fist shot right through the shield as though it wasn''t even there, giving the Basilisk King a second dose of hurt.

    It was formed from his own telekinesis. If he didn''t want it to stop him…

    It wouldn''t.

    The basilisk reeled, but Ss pressed forward, unleashing a rain of fists. The creature roared out in pain, its buddy suffering several concussive blows.

    Ss realized immediately that he was doing superficial damage at best, but he expected as much. His Constitution, even with the boost from the Scorned Wraps, was more than 40 points beneath that of the Basilisk.

    Suddenly, the beast glowed with another light of Aether. Its head fell back under Ss'' punches and its tail whipped out for a vicious blow.

    The shield that had begun tog behind Ss shed and appeared in the tail''s path, but it onlysted a moment before it shattered into crumbling pieces.

    ''So that''s what it meant by 200 Physical…'' Ss took note of this as he took advantage of the brief instant his shattered shield had given him, retreating out of the way of the tail.

    It seemed that 200 Physical didn''t just refer to the amount of damage Solidify could take, but rather the umted Physical. Otherwise, wouldn''t the shieldst forever?

    Essentially, if someone had 50 Strength, the shield wouldst for four punches.

    ''I also have to take into ount what boosts Aether might give to strength-output as well.''

    Ss calmly analyzed this matter, unperturbed that the beast had managed to gain itself some breathing room. The more battles he found, the calmer he found himself being, and the sharper his reactions and thoughts process became.

    Of course, his recently tripled Wisdom yed arge role in that as well.

    He took a step, meeting the Basilisk King''s enraged re. It was time to see where his limits trulyy.

    When he was in range, the basilisk roared and unleashed a vicious tail whip.

    Ss was prepared to slip out of the way, but he stopped his movements suddenly. The tail changed its trajectory, mming down to the ground.

    Sudden Burst.

    He erupted from his stopped position and entered a region of closebat. A green glow coated his fists as he punched, unleashing a lethalbination. Blood and chipped scales rained as Ss'' Strength soared.

    Madness pulsed to life as he began to use Basic Aetherflow, his high Intelligence fueling his every movement.

    In that moment, it felt like his mind and body were truly connected as one. There was nog between the thoughts of one and the action of another, and the result was devastating, one that made the air quake.