The Third Return of the Necrotic Magic Swordsman

[14th Everdusk 2103], CGA branch, Dyna Crest country.

I looked at the heap of corpses and, after giving them another glance, decided to walk away as there was nothing else to do. Most of the monsters roaming around had been killed, and only a few, including the boss, remained. I resolved to find him to progress to the next stage.

”But where should he be right now?” I wondered aloud while walking away from the area.

A few minutes later, in the same place where Evan had left, a figure appeared, running from the opposite direction.

It was a wolf by body structure, but its fur and body size were different from normal. Bloodlust was evident in its eyes as it eyed the small heap of corpses, which included its pack members.

”Growl...” it growled in anger and began sniffing for the suspect. It caught the scent of someone and immediately disappeared from the spot, heading in the direction Evan had gone.

Several meters away, I was walking, lost in thought, when I remembered something.

”Oh, I nearly forgot about the thing,” I said, recalling the ten unassigned points I had received from leveling up to Lv.7.

I called up the screen and allocated points as I deemed necessary.

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{Stats}

Health Points (HP): 240 --> 270 (HP= 1:10 Vitality) (Regen: 1.35/minute = 27*.05)

Mana Points (MP): 330 --> 340 (MP = 1:10 Intelligence) (Regen: 1.70/minute = 34*.05)

Strength (STR): 26 --> 28

Agility (AGL): 30

Vitality (VIT): 24 --> 27

Intelligence (INT): 33 --> 34

Endurance (END): 22 --> 23

Stamina (STA): 25 --> 28

Unassigned Stats: 00

Attack Power: 70+7 {Physical} [ATK: STR+AGL*1.2], 51 {Elemental} [MAG: INT*1.5]

Defense: 51+12 [DEF: END+STA*1]

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”I should be cautious now as that wolf can attack me anytime,” I said, as I was eyeing my status screen to find something interesting when I heard the sound of bushes moving. Just before I could look back, I felt a huge force hitting my back, sending me flying toward a tree. The tree couldn’t hold me and my body, and after crashing into it, it was destroyed. I continued flying, destroying several trees in my path.

I, who didn’t know what had happened, quickly plunged my blade into the ground to stop myself and looked back toward the place I came from, feeling intense pain as blood droplets from my back fell to the ground.

”Arghhh... it feels like several needles are poking continuously,” I said as I tried to touch the wound caused by something, but I couldn’t tell what it was.

I looked in that direction, and then a silhouette appeared from that direction.

/Growl/ /Growl/ /Growl/

”Looks like I made a mistake by thinking about the boss,” I said as I saw it growling at me with intense rage.

”Huh, a single wolf... wait, it isn’t a normal one. Looks like I don’t have to look around for you as the prey is already here to try and hunt the predator, huh.” I said as I thought the boss should be in a pack, but here it was, standing alone in front of me. While thinking, I stood up from the ground with some crackling sounds coming from my back due to crashing times into the trees.

”You will pay for the damage, b*t*h,” I said as I rushed toward it. The Alpha wolf also rushed toward me with its massive body strike and its deadly-looking claws, which I defended against with my sword.

’Even after the increase in stats the plunder, I am less powerful than the boss, and why wouldn’t I be, as titles aren’t meant for show or something,’ I thought as I continued to block the attacks of the angry boss, whose eyes were filled to the brim with the madness of killing me.

I then decided to try a different approach as blocking the attacks only will cost me my sword which I just enchant.

”Okay so you really leave me no choice.” I said as I backed away from the restless attacks of boss and conjured skills to make some distance in ourselves.

”{Bone fang strike} {Shadow bolt}’

Both Fang and Bolt were launched toward the boss after another, with Bolt reaching the boss first due to its speed and injuring him on his back. Upon seeing the attack, the Alpha dodged the fang, as it could not withstand such an assault at the same time.

The boss’s HP bar appeared above his head, with a few chunks depleted after the hit, indicating that the wolf’s defense was not very high.

As my confidence built up, I moved toward the boss attack, which was my biggest mistake. When I rushed in to fight, he showed no fear or concern, as if the wound was insignificant and his fighting capability was unaffected. Unlike me, who was still feeling pain from the boss’s hidden attack, the Alpha remained in good health, and his speed showed no signs of diminishing. His attack speed was still the same, or perhaps even higher, as rage burned in his eyes.

I was now blocking the attacks with ease, as I could gauge the wolf’s strength and, after measuring its attack power and speed, I realized the stat difference between us was not significant.

I stared at the big wolf, ready to pounce, but before I could react or prepare for its attack, the wolf disappeared. Shocked, I tried locating to where it was, but the wolf was already in front of me, swinging its claws. Luckily, I raised my hands in defense, preventing severe damage.

I backed away, looking at the wolf, ready to move again. I could feel my grip strength and hand power decreasing slightly but not significantly.

My hands were now stained with my blood, not the monster’s, as I felt the pain but had no time to soothe it.

I looked at the wolf, confused as to why it didn’t attack me when I was weak, then realized its skill must be on cooldown.

”Oh, so even you have a cooldown,” I thought after seeing that it didn’t attack me now.

”{Undead summon}” 

My two summoned skeletons appeared as I ordered them to take some time off the boss while I planned something. I didn’t have much stamina or mana left to spam my way inside.

[72/340 MP]

”Looks like only using that method is now okay in this situation,” I said as I pulled out my screen to see one of my skills which I haven’t used much right till now as it’s need was not necessary.

I sneakily walked toward the boss, who was engaged with my skeletons, and I quickly ran up to his side and slashed with my full strength as I used my skill.

”{Power slash}”

By some unknown stroke of luck, my sword’s random flame ability activated as I delivered a heavy blow to the boss. The boss’s attention was drawn by the light of the flames, but before he could react, my sword had already made contact with his fur, which was burned as the blade pierced his skin and began to cut through his muscle. The cutting stopped midway as the fire was extinguished by the blood before I could exert more strength.

The wolf disappeared and reappeared in a nearby location.

The side of his stomach was severely damaged by my attack, with much of the fur in that area burned and blood continuously oozing from the wound. As the boss’s HP dropped below half, his demeanor changed, and a glint of light appeared in his eyes.

/Howl/ /Howl/ /Howl/

He howled into the air and waited as noises began occurring beside me. I knew what it was—the summon. It was a skill that allowed some monster bosses to call for help when in danger.

But perhaps my fear was unfounded, as fewer than five wolves appeared. Only three came to aid their pack leader. The reason was not that they failed to appear but that the others were already dead, killed by me. Before confronting the boss, I had eliminated the pack, leaving only these three.

The most exciting part was seeing the sly and cunning expression vanish from the alpha’s face, as he expected more than ten wolves to come to his aid. The actual number was pitiful. I and my summons were ready to fight, and I ordered them to finish the wolves while I moved toward the boss, who was now dead serious. I was prepared for all his tricks, and these next blows would decide his fate.

If he succeeded, he would live; if not, he would die, as was the case for me.

Our exchange of attacks resumed. The wolf tried to strike with his claws and even bite me, but nothing worked. The massive blow I had delivered changed his movements entirely. He was now slow, and the power of his attacks was weak.

I knew the reason: the wound I inflicted was too large to stop bleeding on its own. Blood was pouring out, and HP was dying every minute. Even if I did nothing, he would die.

But I didn’t want to prolong the fight, so I started attacking aggressively, landing many blows on his head and body.

The fur and defense of his body were quite tough, as the marks were shallow compared to before, which I understood to be due to skill and the effect of flame.

I was observing everything: my HP, the boss’s HP, and the skeletons who had just finished off killing the wolves.

I found that the boss’s health bar was nearly depleted, and he was on his last stand. One more attack and he would be dead.

It looked at me, and he stared back with a deathly expression, as if saying, ”If I’m going down, I’ll pull you down with me.”

I was ready for the last exchange of attacks. The wolf disappeared again, and I looked around to find where he would appear. He materialized northeast of my body and struck at my throat, trying to kill me.

But I was prepared for this move and plunged my blade straight into the alpha’s body, ending its life.

”Sorry, buddy, but I am not bound to die here. Not even the gods can stop me from achieving my goals this time. So just lie down and embrace the sleep you deserve,” I said as I saw the wolf trying to lift its paw. It fell, as the battle had ended, and I was the sole winner... no, we were the winners of the battle, I thought, looking at my trusted bones allies.

-- To be continued --