128 Chapter 128 (2/2)
”What's he referencing?” James's comment caused the pixie to let out a sigh, as she shook her head.
”You've got so much to learn.” She flicked her wrist, pulling up a small screen in front of the two of them, just above the screen they were watching the dungeon dive on. ”It's a television show that was popular with kids and teens in the 90s and early 2000s.” She played a quick trailer for him, as the raid party debated how they were going to go about inspecting the property. They were definitely hesitant of the old lady on the porch but weren't certain if she was actually the boss or not.
James was sure they would quickly realize that fact, once they got a little closer to her. After all, the moment they saw her name, he was sure it would click in their heads. After all, there was no way it could be a coincidence.
”Right, well, might as well go see what all of this is about.” Z motioned towards Oak, indicating for the Indra to take the lead. The party fanned out and took up their positions, preparing for any and all outcomes. As they neared the house, Grandma Jenkins looked up from the porch, and offered the group a sweet, smile.
”Oh, look at all of you.” She let out in a kind, elderly voice. ”Are you all lost? Do you need help?” She stopped rocking and stood up shakily from her rocking chair. As she did, she set down the project she had been working on, resting her knitting needles atop the table by her chair.
”Er,” Oak paused and glanced back at the party. This was the first time a boss had spoken to them the very first time they had encountered it. Their proximity to her, also meant they could finally read her name. A fact that their reactions were betraying. Sure enough, they were connecting the dots.
Normally, James knew his boss's AI wouldn't be extremely advanced. However, as his research levels had increased, and as they progressed on the floors, Rue had informed him that the mobs on the floors, especially the bosses, would become intelligent and sentient much quicker. After all, Old Man Jenkins had finally grown enough sentience that he actually was assigning a quest to players, asking them to help him get his farm back in line. Doing so, got them a unique item from him, and eliminated the need for them to kill him. Of course, so far, most players still killed him after they completed the quest. After all, they were eager to gain as much experience as they could.
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The Terminus, obviously, had enhanced intellect courtesy of the Like a Sir upgrade James had applied to it. When James had summoned Grandma Jenkins, she had been assigned a basic AI, which was quite simple. She could hold an alright conversation but wasn't much for complicated matters. James had needed that to change. Mainly because, if he was going to make the Jenkins a thing, he wanted Grandma Jenkins to really be the start of it. Besides, they were already coaching Old Man Jenkins on the story they were building but had just decided they could play his ignorance off as amnesia. A story he was starting to take to and tell adventurers already.
So, as he had done with the Terminus, James had used a boss mob upgrade point on Grandma Jenkins, enhancing her intellect. The upgrade for her had been labeled Respect Your Elders, and had given her a fancy pair of glasses, that really seemed to enhance her aura. As with his second-floor boss, her AI had immediately developed from that. After that, Rue had begun discussing their plan with their upcoming bosses with her, and the story they were going to slowly build over the floors.
So far, James and Rue had decided, dependent obviously on him winning the Dungeon Wars, to make every odd leveled boss a humanoid boss. They would then give the boss a name, but always put in the name Jenkins somewhere in there. From there, they would tell the story of a family that had become trapped within the dungeon, flung across all the floors. Some would have more tragic backstories than others, but it would all link back to the final member of the Jenkins family. The sole reason why they had all become trapped in the dungeon in the first place. A member of the family by the name of Leeroy.
Of course, Leeroy's actual introduction into the game would likely be a long ways away, as James wasn't aware of a level cap on dungeons or players yet, meaning he had many floors to go. Currently, they were going to play that Old Man Jenkins was married to Grandma Jenkins, and yet he had amnesia from being attacked when he was first sucked into the dungeon.
Grandma Jenkins, on the other hand, had found herself in the swamp, armed only with her skills as a seamstress, and magical knitting and sewing needles. With those, she created the monsters of the floor. The Teddy Knights helped her build her humble abode, and the others kept her safe, and secure, in this strange new world. Which, obviously meant, she wouldn't take kindly to any adventurers who made their way to her, as that meant they murdered her creations on their way there.
”Tell me children.” Grandma Jenkins looked sweetly down at all of the adventurers, who were looking extremely uncertain about the entire situation. James knew, if he was in their shoes, he would be too. This was definitely one of the weirdest things that had to be going on in DCO right now. ”Have any of you come across my husband?” She glanced from player to player, eying them up and down.
It was lucky, for their party, that they were no longer wearing their demonic farm gear. That had been one of the joke triggers they had agreed upon with the boss. Once again, the boss AI's for DCO seemed to give off quite malicious aura's when it came to the adventurers. Of course, James figured that had to mainly be part of the fact that their existence, after all, was to continually fight, and be killed, by adventurers. That would be enough to make anyone dislike the given situation.
”Uhhhh,” The party, still had no way to respond. At least, most of them didn't.
”What's he look like?” Skar had advanced from his place with the party, to move closer to Grandma Jenkins. He eyed her warily, and kept his shield up, but at least had the sense to respond to her. In return, she smiled sweetly down at him.
”Oh, well, you would know him if you saw him. An unfortunate magical accident years ago caused him to get sucked into a demonic realm. Before he completely disappeared, I saw him even growing horns.” She let out a sigh, shaking her head. ”That man of mine. I swear, he's the reason our grandson Leeroy turned out like he did.”
Skar looked back at the party, and then towards Grandma Jenkins. Judging by the way his hand tightened on his shield and sword, he, like the others, had confirmed she was, indeed, going to be the boss they had to face.
Grandma Jenkins's smile turned from sweet, to evil, as she looked at their reactions. ”Ah, I see you must have run into him.” Behind her, the knitting needles she had set down began to glow.
”Maybe once or twice.” Skar responded, and as he did, the party launched their attacks. They had sensed her obvious change in attitude, and they weren't about to let her get the first strike. Of course, it was a solid plan in theory, and they executed it nicely. Magic and arrows and two glowing needles all flew towards Grandma Jenkins. That action though, initiated combat with her, and activated the first of her Unique passives.
Even as the attacks hit her, taking the tiniest about of health from her, given the fact her defense was currently too high for much of their damage to even seep through, her form began to fade away. At the same time, the knitting needles flew high into the sky, and a dome of thread erupted around the party, trapping them within. The Puppet Show had been activated, meaning they now had no chance but to fight for their lives.
”Well, that's just unfortunate.” James whispered as Grandma Jenkins's form completely disappeared. In its place, an adorable rabbit, wearing a bow tie, with a top hat. The party stared at the strange bunny for a split second, starring hard at it as it took off its hat, and offered them a bow. The moment it reached its hand into its hat, the boss fight truly began.