David used every ounce of strength in his body as he thrust forward. The Kobold’s scales clattered nervously, and it spun around, its sword whipping upward. However, it was already too late.

David’s blade scraped across the Kobold’s weapon without deterring from its path. It pierced several scales and plunged deep into the Kobold’s neck. The Kobold writhed in pain and retaliated desperately. It used its fleeting strength to cut David, who avoided the worst damage while ripping the blade out of the dying creature.

[You have defeated Kobold(Iron III).]

That looks different.

David noted while turning.

He tapped Jack’s badly bleeding leg lightly, using [Cure Wounds], and noticed something accumulating within him. It was almost like he was standing before a barrier again. The sensation was familiar, but David couldn’t focus on it.

David lowered his upper body, the muscles in his lower body bulging as he prepared for a sudden launch when his eyes fell on Sebastian.

The Warrior was covered in blood. His clothes were drenched, and he was pale like a piece of paper. But he was alive, and the Kobold wasn’t. Crimson blood trickled from Sebastian’s blade, all while blood spurted from the massive gash in the Kobold’s chest. The blood pooled around the dead Kobold, creating a small river alongside the floor tiles.

This guy is a fucking savage!

A smile crept up on his face. Jack and Flora weren’t too bad to have on a team. Their support against the Kobolds had been exceptional. He would have been more seriously injured if not for their interference. However, Sebastian was on another level. The Warrior was the best to have in their group. In fact, David couldn’t have been happier to have a Warrior like Sebastian by his side.

“Can we leave now?” Flora asked, her voice weak and cracking. Her legs caved in, but she smiled. They had defeated the Kobolds and could escape through the emergency staircase. It was only a matter of minutes, and the dangers looming around them would be gone.

Jack jumped to Flora’s side and supported her, “We should leave quickly.”

David nodded. He took a stride toward Sebastian, who turned to them with a smile.

“We are a good team, aren’t we?”

The smile on David’s lips widened. He liked their teamwork as well. It required some improvement, of course, but that was something they could handle in the near future. David approached Sebastian to use [Cure Wounds] again. Even though his Holy Sea was already on the verge of drying up – he was surprised he had some leftover holy power –, but it was better to use it on Sebastian to stabilize his condition.

I’m not sure how many times I will have to use [Cure Wounds] on you, but you will be fine. You won’t die!

David commented inwardly, but he didn’t even take a full step from the Kobold he’d killed moments ago when something blue glistening in the stairwell attracted his attention. First, David could only make out one flash, but there were multiple glistening spots a moment later.

David tensed up, and Sebastian must have sensed something as well. His ears perked up, and his head flicked to the stairwell, but it was already too late.

Several spears, three in total, shot through the air at a horrifying velocity and plunged deep into Sebastian’s chest. The impacting force drove the spear blades into the Warrior’s chest, one of them piercing Sebastian’s heart. The Warrior had no time to react. He collapsed to the ground, the life in his eyes dispersing rapidly. His back didn’t even hit the ground yet when all life in his eyes had been drained. His dull eyes stared at the ceiling, the shock distorting his features.

A trio of Kobolds emerged from the stairwell. Their reptilian eyes lingered on their dead brethren for a moment before they turned to the dead warrior and spears jutting out of Sebastian’s chest. They snickered and laughed, approaching the Warrior’s corpse without glancing at David or the others even once.

Fuck.

David’s expression distorted in pain. The turn of events couldn’t have been worse. Their strongest member was dead, killed in a moment of distraction.

David didn’t know Sebastian well, but the Warrior had been a good guy. He didn’t deserve to die like this. Most victims of today’s ‘event’ didn’t deserve to die like this.

But the world was cruel. It was merciless.

Only the strong survived.

Calm down. You aren’t dead yet.

David lowered his body slowly, his empty hand searching for the Kobold’s sword. His hands reached the cold metal, and he picked it up. Holding two shortswords from the Kobolds with an iron-tight grip, David got up again.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Three unarmed Kobolds. If Jack helps a little, it should be feasible. Maybe Flora can release one more [Mana Bullet] before she collapses.

Cold sweat trickled down his back, drenching his tracksuit. However, his expression turned for the worse as more footsteps rang through the stairwell. More Kobolds were on their way. Mere seconds separated them from certain death.

David’s heart jumped out of his chest.

If we kill the three Kobolds quickly, we can run for it.

“Back me up with all you’ve got!” David commanded before pushing forward. One of the Kobolds arrived before Sebastian’s corpse, but instead of retrieving their spears, it walked around the corpse and stomped on Sebastian’s head. The deafening crunch rang through David’s whole body, but he pushed forward.

Flora behind him screamed, however, David barely noticed anything. The Kobolds grasped their spears and were about to pull when David’s Arms shot forward. He didn’t slash the Kobolds’ arms and instead cut the spears’ wooden shafts.

The Kobolds hissed at David and attacked. They didn’t seem to mind the lack of weapons. On the contrary, the three Kobolds pushed forward, forcing David to retreat a step. Their claws swept across David’s chest and arms, cutting deep into his flesh.

I’m slower and weaker. Fuck this shit.

[Your blood has been contaminated.]

And now that?

David cursed, blocked the incoming attack of the Kobold from the left with one sword, and pushed to the side, increasing the distance to the other Kobolds. It was barely noteworthy, yet David was satisfied with the distance. His other arm shot upward, cutting through the left Kobold’s scales, chest, and abdomen in one go.

The wound was several centimeters deep.

A little bit more!

He groaned. The Kobold clawed him again, this time deeper than before, but David didn’t leave it at that. He was a fan of quid pro quo and kicked the Kobold.

The Kobold roared aloud, its intestines spilling from the gash as it burst open.

Blood and intestines spilled like there was no tomorrow. Well. There wouldn’t be a tomorrow for the Kobold. It was only a matter of time before the elimination notification would pop up.

One Kobold was already on the verge of death, but two more were still unscathed. David’s eyes narrowed, and he retreated, hoping Flora’s [Mana Bullet] or Jack’s arrows would pass by him at any moment. However, nothing happened. The Kobolds pushed forward and quickly closed the remaining distance to David.

Did Sebastian’s death take them out? Are they out of their minds?! Grief later, you fucking idiots!!

He didn’t scream aloud. Even if he’d wanted to, David couldn’t do it right now. His throat was burning, just like the countless claw marks covering his body. He was bleeding severely and would probably bleed to death within minutes if nothing was to happen.

I’m going to beat the shit out of you guys the moment we’re done here!

David swore, blocking a few more incoming attacks, which was easier said than done. The Kobolds were highly aggressive, and their strength surpassed him by a notch or two. Their punches were fierce, the impacting force spreading through his arms, rattling David thoroughly, but their fast claw strikes were worse than their powerful punches.

[Cure Wounds]!

His Holy Sea screeched as the last bits of holy power were used. David instinctively sensed that he didn’t have enough holy power to unleash [Cure Wounds] at full potential, but it wasn’t like he had a choice.

The holy power surged through his body, slowly mending his wounds. Simultaneously, the barrier – the threshold holding him back – shattered.

[Your Rank increased by one.]

[Iron II] → [Iron III]

[One Attribute Point has been added]

David’s body and mind moved instinctively. First, he pushed forward, escaping the Kobold’s punches with a risky weave while his mind digested the notifications.

Reinforce Body!!

[One Attribute Point has been used to enhance the User’s Body.]

Low(+)(Basic) → Middle(-)(Basic)

The first enhancement of Body didn’t change a lot. All characteristics related to his physical constitution improved considerably, but that was about it. However, a major upgrade, like moving up from Low to Middle, was different.

David’s body was overflowing with vigor all of a sudden. It felt like someone injected him with pure vitality. He was still bleeding, yet the accumulated exhaustion dispersed. The pain tormenting his body had been suppressed, and his wounds healed a little bit faster under [Cure Wounds] influence. Even his Holy Sea was rejoicing, the first traces of holy power fueling his dried-up energy reservoir.

David got faster, stronger, and more durable. His swords flashed and cut into the Kobold’s side, cutting much deeper than before. The Kobolds responded instinctively to the sudden increase of their prey’s threat. Their tails swept over the ground and took David by surprise as he adapted to the boost of power.

David fell, but the looming threat of the Kobolds was the last thing on his mind when his eyes fell upon the situation unfolding behind him.

Flora was crying, bawling her eyes out, shouting something. However, she didn’t even glance at him. Her eyes were trained on Sebastian’s mutilated body as Jack pulled her away from the battlefield.

Jack wasn’t even trying to help. He slapped Flora and pulled her alongside as he fled the scene.

They were on the run, fleeing the battle as more Kobolds emerged from the stairwell.

Did they just sacrifice me?

That was the only thought lingering on David’s mind as the pair of unarmed Kobolds attacked him again.

His eyes turned ice-cold, and his focus returned to the battle.

So be it…

The battle came first. Revenge would come later.