The two remaining bullywugs fell to their knees, prostrating themselves before their massive god as it shook the cavern. Ethan used the opportunity to finish the nearly dead summoner. It posed no threat to him, but he needed to vent his anger at how bad this situation had just gotten because of his failure. 

The frog god was massive, the top of its head nearly reached the top of the fifteen foot ceiling. It’s entire body was purple-gray and looked too fat to move. Curved horns erupted from several places on its massive head and red eyes glared as it scanned the entire room. 

“I AM FREE!” The corpulent frog’s mouth opened wide enough to swallow several cows at one time and Ethan was able to make out perfectly straight teeth that all ended in sharp points. 

Ethan had no idea what to do. The only other time he’d fought this monstrosity he’d died quickly. He knew the Elder Shaman had more potent lightning spells than regular shaman, but he had no idea what the frog god was capable of. 

Fuck it. The worst that happens is I’m back here in a couple of days and I don’t make the same mistake. 

Adrenaline coursed through him as he barreled towards the Elder Shaman. The large bullywug had risen but was still facing its god. A low swipe of his axe caught the Elder Shaman in the back of the leg and it fell to the rock floor. Holding his axe as if he was going to split wood, Ethan swung into the body of his prone foe. A peel like a bell echoed through the cave as shockwaves reverberated through his arms. His target had managed to roll out of the way of the downward blow. 

Suddenly, the air around him went frigid and dagger like ice shards pelted him from behind. His armor blocked most of the weak ice attack, but his exposed skin felt like dozens of frozen razors had been raked across his body. Ethan didn’t have time to risk a glance at the god behind him, whatever it had done had hurt but he had to finish his current target. 

The Elder Shaman had scrambled to its feet, blood running down the leg Ethan had damaged in his attack. He swung his axe over his head and the bullywug raised its hands in the air, forming a net of electricity to block that attack. At the last second he swung wide over his own head and into an upward swing targeting the already injured leg of the Elder Shaman. 

The iron axe head cleaved through the bone, removing the limb above the knee and slicing into the other leg. Hot arterial frog blood sprayed him in the face as the bullywug fell, slashing his armor with its claws. But Ethan swung again, lodging his axe between the shoulder and neck of his foe. 

“Master….” it gurgled out in a croak as it died. 

With his target dead he turned his full attention to the colossal frog behind him. Frost rimmed it’s grotesque maw, remains of the breath attack it had just used. Electricity crackled from its eyes and it lunged forward launching a bolt of lightning from its mouth. Ethan dodged and it struck the ground where he’d been standing, showering him in rocks. 

“Puny mortal, you cannot defeat Ggoorgolax.” The deep voice rattled through the cavern, taunting him. Fear took him, even if he would respawn death would still be painful. 

Back on his feet, Ethan looked for any cover he could use, but the entire cavern was open. He had no choice but to face the god head on. 

The giant frog lifted an enormous webbed paw and slammed it into the ground. A line of jagged rocks shot forward in a line directly at him. He rolled out of the way of the boss’ third attack and raced towards it. He needed to get in close or the boss would kill him at range while he did nothing. 

It’s eyes crackled again and it launched another lightning bolt. Ethan dodged it again. The frog inhaled deep, inflating it’s vocal sac as frost formed around its teeth. Frozen wind pushed him back as ice shards ripped through his exposed skin from the breath attack. While he tried to regain his footing, stalagmites shot towards him in a line from the ground knocking him flying into the air. 

He landed hard on his chest and rolled. With a quick glance he checked his health. 

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Ethan

HP: 67/118

Rage: 82/100

Mana: 50/50

Stamina: 192/260

He was hurt, but not dangerously so. No need to waste a health potion yet. 

Back on his feet, he tried charging again. The monstrous frog reared its head back and spat it’s tongue at him, catching him in the chest. With a jerk he was flying back to the god. He attempted to slash the tongue with his axe but missed. He swung again, his axe glanced off the muscle. But it caused enough damage to wound the soft appendage and Ethan swung wildly in the air as the monster croaked in pain. 

Instead of trying for a single strong strike, Ethan began hacking as fast as he could. His attacks landed quickly and erratically, but after four swings he managed to sever the tongue and fell to the ground. 

The frog god recoiled in pain. 

“You wuh die-uh.”  It howled in pain, the loss of its tongue making words hard to form. 

It tried its breath attack again, Ethan dodged as soon as he saw its chest inflate. But the god screamed again. The frigid air blast had frozen its own damaged tongue. 

He used the frog's anguish as a distraction and leapt at his enemy, Enraging as he jumped. He landed near one of its hind legs and used his axe to steady himself by slamming it into the soft flesh like an ice pick. 

The massive amphibian thrashed wildly trying to dislodge him and he drove the axe deeper, using both hands to hold himself on. 

Using his left hand he reached for a throwing axe and drove it into the flesh of the beast. Blood mixed with the frog's slime coating and made its back even more slippery but he climbed as fast as he could using his weapons to steady himself. Each time he pulled an axe free, he dug his boot into the wound he’d created as foothold. 

A kick from a hind leg caught him in the back swinging him to the side, but his grip on his weapons held and he hung on. A roar of pain ripped from the frog god and he continued his climb. 

He was sure he was only causing minimal damage from the bloody climb, but he couldn’t tell. The frog was so big it’s health bar clipped into the ceiling. Ethan had no way of knowing if it was close to death or if he’d barely scratched it. 

When he reached the head he slammed his battle axe into the massive skull. Even with his enhanced strength, the weapon stuck in the bone but didn’t penetrate it. With a swing he dodged the horns around him and swung his throwing axe into the left eye, not releasing his grip on his main axe. Blood and ocular fluid shot out at high pressure from the destroyed organ, knocking his throwing axe from his hand.

With both hands he swung himself around the head to the other eye. It’s smaller front legs clawed at him and he almost lost his grip on his weapon but he managed to lodge another throwing axe in its right eye. It roared again, shaking its massive head and Ethan and his weapon were finally thrown off. 

He landed hard, but on his feet. Blinded, the monster thrashed wildly trying to hit him.

“I wuh kuh you!” It’s low voice roared in anger and hatred as it swiped several feet away from where Ethan had landed. 

He dashed forward and started attacking its enormous belly, dodging massive webbed claws. Blood poured out of foot long wounds from his axe while he whittled down what he assumed was an insane health pool. The boss began to slow, its attacks were weaker. Ethan felt like he was beginning to win the fight. 

As he rolled to dodge another attack an alert popped into his view. 

****Your stamina has dropped to 35/260***

So engrossed in combat he hadn’t checked his own status, the long Enrage was eating away at his stamina. He needed to finish the boss quickly or he’d become exhausted and it would definitely kill him. 

Ethan leapt at his massive foe and swung his axe at its throat. The axe head sunk into the soft flesh of the frog God’s vocal sac. With only a few seconds remaining of stamina and enrage he pulled down on his weapon ripping open its stomach like a zipper. 

When his feet touched the ground another alert flashed at him. 

****Your stamina is depleted. You are exhausted. You must rest to recover stamina. Movement speed, attack speed and damage reduced by 75%****

Ggoorgolax hoarsely croaked as Ethan disemboweled it. Ethan stumbled back, slowed by his exhaustion and slipping on entrails. The frog god seemed to collapse in slow motion as it died. A final gust of hot air, it’s last breath expelling from its lungs, propelled him forward onto his chest. 

For a second, Ethan lay in the gore he’d created, stunned by what he had just done. He had killed a god. 

Golden light suddenly flared around him in a rush of air. 

Congratulations! You have reached level 9! You have two unspent skill points.

If only leveling up restored my health and stamina like other games… He groaned as he rolled over onto his back.