NukEncore grinned at once and slammed another spell into the same side. The red explosion did not destroy the armor, but it heated the cracked section and filled its line with fire.

The blue crystal did not cool at once. Red light stayed trapped beneath it, glowing through the fracture like heat under thin ice. A brittle, high-pitched sound spread from the boss’s shoulder, and for the first time, the armor no longer looked absolute.

NukEncore’s smile turned brighter. "There we go. Even that ugly thing looks better after I touch it."

Kill Clause had already nocked another arrow.

Her sharpened sight caught the difference immediately. The heated seam stood out from the rest of the armor, and the crack that had looked thin a moment ago now carried stress deeper into the plate. It still wasn’t enough to break him outright, but it was enough to strip away the sense that he was indestructible.

The Dark Blue Goblin realized it too.

His laughter died on the spot. He twisted that side of his body away from them and snapped his crystal sword up, no longer fighting like a king showing off, but like something cornered and furious.

NukEncore did not give him room to recover. Smaller bursts of fire crashed around his feet and the throne steps, forcing him to keep moving while heat stayed trapped in the damaged section.

"Hold still," she called sweetly. "You’re finally getting interesting."

Kill Clause drew deeper, her posture calm and merciless. Now that they had found one real weakness, all she had to do was keep taking it apart.

Kill Clause’s next shot landed in that heated seam. Dark green crystal mana wrapped the arrowhead at the moment of impact, the struck section splintered more sharply than normal, and a thin fracture spread from the point of impact.

The boss lunged at her with the crystal sword, far angrier than before.

[Crimson Vein Ember Legwraps (Orange)]

[Type: Cloth Leg Armor]

[Requirement: Lv. 5]

[Defense: 26]

[Mana: +30]

[Agility: +20]

[Vitality: +12]

[Durability: 200/200]

[Appearance: Layered black legwraps reinforced with flexible leather bands and thin red crystal inlays running down the outer thighs and calves like glowing veins.]

[Skill: Return Rush]

[When stamina is spent on sprinting, dodging, or rapid repositioning, a portion of that cost is returned as mana.]

[Crimson Vein Ember Boots (Orange)]

[Type: Cloth Foot Armor]

[Requirement: Lv. 5]

[Defense: 20]

[Mana: +22]

[Agility: +18]

[Vitality: +10]

[Durability: 170/170]

[Appearance: Lightweight black boots reinforced at the toes, heels, and ankles with slim crystal ridges, built for quick footing and abrupt changes in direction. Their crystal lines glow a fiery red when mana runs through them.]

[Skill: Ashstep]

[After a short reposition, the next AoE fire spell gains improved spread and a slight increase to its radius.]

NukEncore skipped back from his path, robe and hair snapping behind her. The burst of movement fed a little mana back into her, and the next spell swelled as soon as she planted her feet.

She thrust her staff down and cast at the floor instead of at the boss.

The fire spread wider from the start, catching the ember crystals she had already placed around the throne steps. Linked explosions burst upward in a ring around the Dark Blue Goblin and blew apart the lesser goblins trying to bodyguard him.

The boss came through it, but his cracked shoulder plate now showed a web of damage instead of a single line.

Kill Clause drew again, deeper this time.

[Viridian Vein Prowler Legguards (Orange)]

[Type: Light Leg Armor]

[Requirement: Lv. 5]

[Defense: 32]

[Agility: +30]

[Vitality: +18]

[Strength: +10]

[Durability: 220/220]

[Appearance: Tight black legguards layered with flexible leather panels and slim green crystal inlays running down the outer sides like glowing veins.]

[Skill: Return Step]

[When stamina is spent on sprinting, dodging, or rapid repositioning, a portion of that cost is returned as mana.]

[Viridian Vein Prowler Set]

[Set Type: Light Armor Set]

[Pieces: 5]

[Appearance: A dark light-armor set of black leather threaded with glowing green mana crystal. Its design is sleek, practical, and predator-like, as though shaped from the remains of a crystal-infused cave hunter.]

[2 Pieces — Blue Relay]

[Mana spent on bow charging or bow skills restores a portion of stamina.]

[Stamina spent on sprinting or dodging restores a portion of mana.]

[4 Pieces — Prowler’s Step]

[Greatly reduces movement speed penalty while drawing.]

[Dodging or sidestepping during Resonant Draw no longer fully cancels the charge.]

[Instead, the current resonance is reduced by one stage.]

[5 Pieces — Twin Current]

[When mana or stamina falls below 30%, part of the higher resource is converted into the lower one for a short duration.]

[While Twin Current is active, charged shots gain bonus penetration and accuracy.]

The Dark Blue Goblin suddenly ripped his damaged shoulder back and lunged straight for her, the needle crystal sword punching forward in a brutally straight line.

Kill Clause burst sideways at the last instant.

The charged draw dipped, but it did not collapse. Resonance dropped by one stage and held there, alive in the bow instead of shattering apart. At the same time, the stamina she burned in that evasive step bled back into mana through the legguards and set, allowing her to rebuild the charge almost at once.

"That set looks ridiculously good on you, Elder Sister," NukEncore called, delighted even in the middle of combat.

Kill Clause kept her gaze on the target. "Focus."

She released.

The arrow drove into the cracked shoulder plate and finally broke through. Dark-blue shards burst outward, and the boss reeled as one side of his armor collapsed enough to expose flesh beneath.

NukEncore did not waste the opening.

[Crimson Vein Ember Robe (Orange)]

[Type: Cloth Chest Armor]

[Requirement: Lv. 5]

[Defense: 38]

[Mana: +48]

[Vitality: +30]

[Agility: +10]

[Durability: 250/250]

[Appearance: A dark robe of heavy black cloth reinforced with smooth red crystal seams across the torso and lower edges. Its split hem keeps the lower body free for quick movement despite the garment’s fuller shape.]

[Skill: Split Furnace]

[When mana is spent on fire spells, a portion of that cost is returned as stamina.]