Thraz and the others had just managed to enter the cave. However, that was where the strongest kobolds lived. Just as they entered, they were beset by a few large kobolds that held large clubs.
Just like always within this group, Thraz rushed forward to face them head on. He hefted his two-handed axe, and smashed it against the club of the nearest corrupted scum. However, it managed to bear the brunt of the hit. The impact only managed to send the beast sliding backwards.
“Thraz, help!” A shout from Declan made Thraz spin around on his heels. Ditching his previous target, he moved at high speed to help the others. Two of the larger kobolds had charged toward the main group. One of them hefted a club, while the other held a strange, slender dagger. Victor, and Jake were dealing with the other two to the side.
He swung his axe once more and it managed to find its target. The blade sunk into the monster's fleshy arm, but the other was quick to react. It swung its club at Thraz’s open side.
Glancing to the side, he wondered where his help was in vexation, but they had already abandoned him, and moved onto focus another one further away. They left him to fight two at the same time, while they gained the experience from the other, safer enemy. He had left his original target just to help, and it put him in even more danger.
Noah wouldn’t do that. Thraz grit his dragon-teeth.
He snarled in anger. All he could do was raise his arm in an attempt to block the hit. Smashing against his arm, he seethed in pain, and then rage took over.
Activating [Dragon Might], the blood in his body boiled to a point where his own instincts took over. In a broiled wrath, he swung his axe with all the strength his body could muster, and slammed it to the monster's skull. However, it ducked under the hit, and Thraz’s axe continued until it made contact with the other kobolds head. Red splattered along with fragmented bone.
He crouched down to the ground, grabbed a handful of sand, then threw it into the other monster's eyes. It stumbled back in disordered panic. Thraz took advantage as he swung once more, but a dark shadow covered its body. Behind it, the image of a strange monster looked back at him. It attempted to move under the guise of the shadows, but the dust in its eyes caused it to stumble.
Thraz attacked it, but time-after-time, it managed to escape like a slippery worm. Not only that, it the monstrous image within the shadow filled him with trepidation. But it wasn’t enough to cause him concern. The monster was too weak. It obviously was just granted the power, of course, he could sense its potential. If it was a stronger kobold, it would prove to be a glorious challenge.
Knowing that it was a rare evolution of kobold, he wasted no time as he stepped forward once more. Backing it into a corner, it had nowhere to hide. With a swing of his axe, he reaped its life.
To hell with honour. To hell with being a meat shield for the humans who would abandon him for their own gain. At the corner of his eye, a sparkling purple sizzled the air. No-one had seen it, so he sprinted for it, and covered it with his large body to stop the light from shining outward.
“Thraz, help!” A shout came, but for the first time–he ignored it. Instead, he placed his attention on the Pathstone that he had obtained.
You have obtained an Epic Dexterity Pathstone - Shadow of a Monstrosity: Obtained from a rare evolved monster, the Shadow of a Monstrosity is capable of advanced stealth techniques using their own natural powers. Only those with the connection of a monster are able to use this Pathstone.
| Stats per Level: Dex +3, Will +2.
| Stealth Skills are 10% more effective.
| Attacking within a short time after leaving stealth, increases damage dealt by monster by 10%
There was only one person he knew that had a connection to a monster. It was Noah. He stored it within his pouch, then headed to the other monsters. Now, he would fight for himself.
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Twenty minutes earlier from Azug’s order.
Noah had ordered Krall to wait by the thick fort doors, while he snuck through the sewer tunnels. Thanks to his heightened senses from [Hunting Instincts], the putrid stench of the sewer assaulted his nose. He was about to gag, but he held it back with a struggle.
He had to pout his upper lip to block most of the smell from entering. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Noah’s feet traipsed through the thick sludge underneath, and judging from the fact that it was a sewer, he refused to think of what was within.
Noah glanced at his shiny dagger granted by the System. He had kept his spear with Krall. The hallways were going to be too narrow to rely on his primary weapon, so he had to make do with what he had. That left him with a mace, a dagger, and a sword by his side.
Should be enough. Noah thought to himself as he avoided a floating piece of ‘debris’.
Just as it passed him by, a sudden sense of danger caused his heart to jolt. Eyes appeared from the debris, followed by an opening jaw filled with razor-sharp teeth. The monster snapped at his arm.
Already having an inkling of what was going to happen, Noah leapt to the side. His body submerged in the murky water, but he didn’t have time to think about the smell as the monster was already upon him.
The mouth crunched the water next to his head. Noah’s eyes widened at the near death experience. Using the time it took the monster to re-open its mouth, he [Thrust] his dagger into the side of the monster. He felt the resistance of scales, but it swiftly entered its flesh.
It was about to roar in pain, but Noah attacked its throat this time. He was afraid to alert anyone, or anything, within the tunnels, so he made a hasty strike.
The knife entered, but he was now too close to the beast. It spun its body, and Noah was forced to let go of the knife. The force of its movement almost broke his wrist.
It thrashed around hard enough to cause the tunnels to quake.
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Noah knew he had to put a rest to its movements, but with it entering a death roll, he couldn’t near it. In the distance, indistinct hissing encroached onto his position.
Shit. Noah spat. He glanced at the alligator, and crouched into a pouncing position. The moment it showed its back, Noah leapt onto the beast.
The moment he latched his grip around the monster, he felt a tremendous force whisk him to the side. It was like he had entered an overpower washing machine as it threatened to displace his internal organs. Because of the water, he couldn’t see anything. In desperation, he used his free hand to feel around for the dagger, and with luck, found it still lodged into its throat.
Taking it out, Noah repeatedly stabbed the beast. Five times, ten times, twenty. He kept stabbing until the death roll stopped.
You defeated a - Level 35 Sewer Alligator.
| Extra experience is rewarded for fighting an enemy above your level!
At his Level with Krall by his side, he could probably obliterate the monster. But it was clear how difficult it was to face monsters above one’s Level without the use of Skills.
The hissing was getting louder. Noah sprinted through the vile water and approached the last of the sewer. It split off to the right with a sharp corner where he presumed it was a ladder, or something to lead to the surface.
Slap. He could hear the kobold footsteps approach in haste, just as they were about to turn the corner, Noah was there–knife in hand.
[Shrouded Presence] extended around him like a shadowed blanket. The first kobold couldn’t even react in time as he plunged his knife into its throat. He spun around, piercing the dagger into the second kobolds eye, through to the brain.
Dead in an instant, Noah took a rushed step forward, and went to strike the third kobold. Just as the kobold was about to block it, Noah pulled it back. His hand snapped upward like a viper strike. The blade disappeared within the beast's throat.
The other two didn’t stand a chance as he reaped their lives with accurate and swift strikes with his dagger.
Leaving their dead bodies on the cracked brick flooring of the tunnels, Noah set his eyes on a wooden ladder that led upwards. To where exactly, he didn’t know, but it was the only way into the fort, so it would have to do.
Touching the ladder, it was rickety. It moved side-to-side at the slight touch, but not only that, the steps were half rotten. It looked like something had chewed it until the structural integrity was compromised.
Damn kobolds. Of course he didn’t know if it was them, but he needed someone to blame.
He made sure to step up on the more sturdy looking steps, and hoisted himself up. In fear of ruining the more solid step, he alleviated most of his weight by simply pulling himself up with his arms.
WIth that, he climbed the ladder, and peered out from the hole at the top. Hissing chatter tickled his ear drums as he gazed at a group of kobolds. They were standing under a dilapidated roof. It had obviously collapsed a while ago as old clay tiles lay shattered on the floor. A lit brazier flickered next to them, illuminating the monsters. Past them, was an open hallway that seemed to lead toward an open courtyard as Noah could see numerous shadows of moving monsters. Placing his attention on the kobolds, they looked worse for wear. Bones protruded from their scaly flesh. It seemed they hadn’t eaten anything in days at least.
Guess Miles was right. Noah smiled in appreciation at his friend's plan.
Looking closer, the kobolds were hunched over a pile of–Noah squinted his eyes–bones. Red mixed with pink were picked from them, and the sight was only made worse when the monsters placed it within their mouths.
Are they cannibalising each other? Noah grimaced. Well, not that he could blame them. If they had to eat, then they had to eat. But what the hell was their leader doing, or thinking for that matter.
If the leader relied on their number advantage, they could swarm him until he wasn’t able to rest, or regain his strength. It would be a slow death, but a death nonetheless. Something must be going on within the fort. Noah surmised as he looked to the other left.
It was a hallway, but instead of the flat path past the kobolds, this one had steep steps leading down. Based on the location of them, it must be past the wall of the sewer. Of course he didn’t plan on blowing up the wall to find out in fear of making too much noise.
There was a perfect staircase after all.
Noah used [Shrouded Presence]. The shadows swirled all around him, and he took the chance to hoist himself up, and out of the hole. He didn’t waste a second as he darted down the stairs. Thankfully his muted footsteps were further reduced by the chomping noises of the beasts.
He made his way down until it branched off. The left travelled further down, while the right was another staircase leading up towards a hefty door. From the noise seeping through the grate in the middle, it was clear that was where the majority of the kobolds were.
Down then. Noah nodded to himself as he continued down the stairs. To his surprise, there weren't as many kobolds patrolling the area as he thought they would be.
They knew an enemy was killing them, so how could they be so lackadaisical? It was to Noah’s benefit, so he didn’t dare complain.
It didn’t take long for the stairs to end, and for a putrid smell even worse than the sewers to begin. Noah held his sleeve to his face in an attempt to block the smell, when his dark vision from his Class took effect. Cages lined the wall in the hundreds. It even continued, going down even further into the earth.
It was a multi-layered prison. But what would such a small fort need a massive prison for? Noah didn’t know, but a plan was forming in his mind.
He stalked past the cells. They were filled with kobolds, and other monstrous races that he had never seen before.
Ignoring them, he made his way further into the prison. Only after he made it to the end did he stop. He looked within the deep cells and only after seeing the frightening visages of the prisoners did the plan cement itself.
Noah grinned. How angry would hundreds of prisoners be?
He decided to test it. It didn’t take long for him to find a set of keys, and began opening up the cell doors in rapid succession. Noah had to be quick in fear of the prisoners turning on him. He didn't know how long they had suffered within the metal walls, or how far their minds had degraded, so it was best to be clear of the area when they left.
Finishing opening the last cell, their murmurs turned into a cry for violence. Time to run. Noah bolted through the prison, and was about to turn up the staircase when he heard numerous kobolds approaching. He didn’t know if they were sent to check on the prisoners or not, but he didn’t want to be caught in between two soon to be warring factions.
His head darted around the room until it landed on a huge vase that was embedded within the wall. There seemed to be enough space to hide behind it. There was no time to find out as Noah bolted to the vase, then squeezed himself into the crack behind it. He sucked in a deep breath as the heavy vase, and the wall behind him, pressed up against Noah.
The sound of kobolds, and the cries of prisoners approached in haste. Noah peered around the vase, but snapped his head back as the prisoners charged straight for the kobolds.
In a bloody clash, it didn’t take long for the strongest prisoners to rip apart the kobolds.
Fight, my minions. Noah held his breath as the prisoners did his job for him.