Chapter Eleven
Ambrose Severen considered cutting into the foot with his axe, but he’d just end up squished like an ant anyway. With that in mind, he deftly rolled out the way. Ambrose chose to roll to the other foot, lashing out with a [Smite] as he did. The axe bit into the massive knight’s green leg just above the ankle right as his foot slammed into the ground, causing the room to rumble.
Ambrose kept his balance rather easily. How many times did Raylen make me do balance training? Ambrose thought as he removed the axe. Silver-white fire ate at the Green Knights's leg, but the creature just didn’t care. It turned and slashed out with the giant blade, but Ambrose leaped over it and, using the same motion, brought the axe down at the green kneecap of the creature, once again using [Smite]. More silver fire detonated against the knight. Ambrose used a little more mana this time, and the monster rocked backward.
Ambrose set his mouth into a grim line, narrowing his eyes. This isn’t working. The thought was annoyingly true. Ambrose could eventually win by dodging and taking bits and pieces out of the knight at a time. Except I’d run out of mana that way and could make a mistake. Another true thought. He couldn’t keep smiting forever, and if he made one mistake, even a simple one, the knight could land a decisive blow, and that would be that.
Sometimes, the best way to defeat an enemy is to have them beat themselves. Raylen’s words echoed in Ambrose’s mind, describing what they always tended to do in situations like this. It does give me an idea. Looking around, Ambrose spotted a long vine on the wall hanging in a sort of U shape. Ambrose rolled away from the green knight, creating distance between them. Then, he hefted his axe and used [Mana Infusion]. Clear blue mana swirled into existence around the axe, and Ambrose threw it overhand at the U-shaped vine.
His throw was accurate, and the vine swung low, hanging vertically now. Ambrose rushed forward and leaped; his hand outstretched. He grabbed the vine and pulled it. It was long enough that it reached all the way toward the ground, but otherwise, it was firm. The green knight had not been idle during all of this and swung that massive sword towards Ambrose. Ambrose let go of the vine and dodged underneath the sword with a roll.
Alright, let's see how this works. Ambrose grabbed the vine and rushed forward in between the knight's legs. Alright, Star Wars, don't fail me now. Ambrose began to weave between the green Knights legs, using the vine to wrap around them as he did. Except for one thing, the knight might have been strong enough to break the vines. Ambrose had used [Mana Infusion] on it. Clear blue mana mixed with the dark green of the vines creating a turquoise light that pulsed as Ambrose wrapped it around the knight’s legs. So even though the knight struggled to flex his powerful legs, he could not free himself, and before long, physics did its job.
The dark green form of the green knight began to topple like a great big tree, shaking the cavern with a low rumble. Wasting no time, Ambrose climbed the remaining bit of the vine like the rope in gym class; reaching up and grabbing his axe he pulled it free from the wall. He walked towards the front of the massive creature and looked down at it as it writhed.
It was trying to roll over. The problem was its massive size. It took up most of the caves, and it was so wide that it barely had enough room to move. In fact, Ambrose had to step on parts of it just to get over it. Tightening his grip around the axe, Ambrose hefted it and went to work.
It wasn’t long before he got the message he was waiting for.
[You have defeated The Green Knight-Level 55. You have received increased experience for defeating a foe of a higher level than you. You have advanced to level 35.]
That gave Ambrose fourteen attribute points to spend. Before he could think about where to spend them the monster below him burst into orange-gold light. As before the light formed into an object. This time it was a simple silver hilt but going even despite there being little light in the cavern. With the level up came a surge of energy and power through Ambrose's body so he was feeling good.
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Feeling like his wisdom and intellect were falling behind, Ambrose put ten points into wisdom and the rest into intellect. Ambrose closed his eyes; this is mine seemed to surge with renewed energy as if he had just had a shot of espresso or a great night's sleep. Ambrose decided to bring up his profile screen, given that he hadn't looked at it in a while and had gone through much.
[Name: Ambrose Severen
Level: 35
Race: Human [E-Grade]
Traits: Ruthless [Uncommon]
Class: Paladin [E-Grade]
Profession: N/A
Mana: 550/550
Health: 360/360
Skills: [Mana Infusion-Common],
[Insight-Common], [Smite-Uncommon], [Sanctuary-Uncommon]
Constitution: 36
Strength: 31
Intellect: 29
Wisdom: 35
Willpower: 55
SC: 0
Attribute Points:]
Ambrose tapped the bridge of his nose. He was still wondering what E-Grade was. It implied some sort of upgrade; perhaps it was a way of measuring power, but if that was the case, what did levels have to do with it? I wish Alice was here; she would know. But his wife wasn't here and never would be here. Ambrose felt his chest heave as his grip tightened around his axe anger pulsing within him like a loud beating drum. He needed to focus on his goal to destroy Eric Delrosa and everything he ever built. Needed to remember what he was doing all this for. Even now, as Ambrose fought, bled, and advanced, Eric was doing the same thing and had a head start.
Ambrose wasn’t a forerunner, whatever that was. He was, however, a killer of men. It was what he was, what his father had forged him to be. I tried to be different, Alice. For you, I tried.
His wife was no longer here and he had no reason to keep the monster in its cage.
I'm coming for you, Eric, you bastard.
____________
Ambrose returned to the others, putting the silver hilt on the table with the pummel. Darren looked up at the time and grunted as little Jenny ran to his side.
“You're back Mr. Ambrose! What kind of monster did you beat this time? I bet it was a mushroom monster; mushrooms are gross!”
Ambrose looked down at the little black-haired girl. Unbeknownst to him, a fond smile was twisting his lips.
“No, sweetheart, it wasn't a mushroom monster. I almost wish it was.”
Little Jenny's face twisted into disappointment.
“I bet you fight a mushroom monster next.”
She skipped off towards her father who looked at Ambrose.
“Well, you have one more tunnel left.”
Andrea looked over at them,
“Good thing, too. I'm so tired of this musty, horrible tunnel.”
Ambrose walked over to Thomas who was on the ground by Andrea. The old man was still passed out soft snores escaping him.
“He seems to be doing okay,” Ambrose mused aloud.
Andrea snorted.
“For now, until the next freaky monster thing comes along.”
Ambrose did not reply. He simply made his way to the entrance of the third and final tunnel. It's time to finish this riddle.
The final tunnel began to take a light golden sheen the dirt changing as he went along. It was almost as if Ambrose had stepped into a portal to the African plains. The tunnel widened, and as Ambrose stepped into the final cavern, he looked around, taking in rocky outcroppings that dotted the area. It really did feel like Ambrose had been transported to Africa. Trees sprouted up from the golden sand, their leaves swaying despite there being no air that Ambrose could feel.
A roar reverberated through the air, shaking the walls and shifting the sand with its power. From the largest rock near the back of the cavern, a massive golden form strode forward on massive paws. Ambrose readied his axe as he gazed upon a large, golden lion.
Its mane was gleaming ivory with golden highlights throughout, and the lion’s eyes were the precise shade of the ocean on a cloudy day. It was the size of a truck, and as it roared, Ambrose got a good look at the sharp, deadly teeth that lined its maw. It’s tail swished behind it like a rope.
Ambrose used [Insight] to get an idea of what he was dealing with.
[Golden Lion-Level 58]
Ambrose twirled his axe, readying himself for the fight to come. This was the highest-level thing that he had faced so far. The lion’s blue gaze narrowed at him, filled with deadly intent. The big, mythical cat launched itself at Ambrose; deadly claws extended and ready to tear him limb from limb. Ambrose allowed his mind to focus, a process made easier by his increased intellect, and the world seemed to slow. It was him and the enemy. Ambrose ran forward, axe at the ready, meeting the deadly big cat head-on. It's time to finish this.