[Congratulations! Evolution successful!]
[New Class: Skeleton Warrior]
[Status updated…]
Noir narrowed his eyes, if it could be called that, as he watched the long notification floating in the air before him.
[Name: Noir Valenhardt]
[Race: Undead]
[Class: Skeleton Warrior]
[Level: 15]
[HP: 1,280/1,280]
[MP: 300/300]
[STR (Strength): 94]
[AGI (Agility): 107]
[VIT (Vitality): 88]
[DEX (Dexterity): 52]
[LUK (Luck): 1]
EXP: 0/4,500 (Next Level)
Remaining Stat Points: 0
[New Skills Acquired!]
[Bone Guard (Passive)] – Your bones become tougher and more flexible. Reduces all physical attacks received by 10 percent.
[Warrior Instinct (Passive)] – Grants additional accuracy and attack speed when fighting more than one enemy. The bonus increases with the number of enemies nearby.
[Savage Leap] – Leap far toward the enemy and slam the ground with brutal force. Deals area damage and a light stun effect.
[Bone Cleave] – A horizontal slash empowered by death energy. Has a chance to inflict Bleed on the target.
Noir fell silent. Not because he was disappointed, but because he was impressed. His entire body rattled and trembled as his bones thickened and lengthened. His sword, which previously looked ordinary, vibrated in response to the change in his aura.
His bone armor grew thicker, and a faint dark aura began to surround his body. A purple light appeared inside his eye sockets.
He had become stronger.
His body grew taller.
"I feel... more alive than before," Noir let out a low chuckle, ironic since he was an undead.
He clenched his fist. His strength had greatly increased. His jumps were higher. His reflexes sharper. And most importantly, he felt no fear.
"Noir Valenhardt," he muttered to himself. "Now I am truly a warrior, and I will kill all of you who betrayed me." He spoke with seriousness.
From behind the thin mist of the corridor, a deep roar echoed. It was not the sound of a Rotclaw. It was heavier. Deeper. More terrifying.
Duugg... dug... dug...
Those heavy footsteps shook the floor. From the darkness emerged a large black furred monster with glowing yellow eyes. Its breath was like poisonous smoke. Its long tongue was the same one Noir had seen tearing apart a Goblin with a single lash.
[Hound of the Abyss – Lv. 30]
"So you already see me as dangerous, huh?" Noir lowered his stance. The aura of battle surged through his bones.
The Hound of the Abyss growled, exposing its enormous fangs and dripping saliva. A small notification appeared.
[Mini Boss detected. Defeating it has a chance to drop Rare – Super Rare items.]
[Warning: Death will result in losing half EXP and possible permanent bone damage.]
Noir ignored the warning. He stepped forward. He had been waiting for this chance, even if it came a little earlier than expected.
"So you only react to strong opponents, huh?" Noir said.
The Hound of the Abyss roared and immediately lunged.
And the battle began.
**
Noir jumped backward, blocking the attack of the Hound of the Abyss. His body was pushed several meters away, yet he did not flinch.
The purple light in his eyes flared. It was a sign Noir was extremely excited.
"Come on!" Noir challenged.
The Hound of the Abyss opened its mouth. A mass of dark magical energy formed in front of it. Noir had already set his stance.
"This is not covered by Bone Guard."
Noir glanced behind him. He saw nothing but a wall. He realized he had been cornered on purpose by the Hound of the Abyss before it fired the attack.
"You are a cunning dog."
ZRAAAAK!!
The black beam shot toward Noir like lightning. Noir leaped to the left, trying to dodge. However, his hand did not pull back fast enough.
The attack instantly destroyed Noir's left arm. He felt no pain, but... he had lost one of his arms. This was not a good start.
[HP -280]
"Damn... This is bad." Noir gritted his teeth.
The attack had removed a significant portion of his HP.
Before Noir could stabilize himself, the Hound of the Abyss appeared before him and immediately struck with its claws. The creature smashed Noir's body with its front legs.
BOOM!!
Its claws and Noir's bones collided with a loud sound. Noir was flung away, crashing onto the floor and rolling multiple times. Several bones cracked.
[HP -86]
Noir hissed. Some of his left ribs were cracked, and his right collarbone was close to breaking. But he forced himself to rise, even as one knee trembled.
"You really have no sense of mercy, huh? Fine then," Noir said seriously.
"You like playing rough. Then I will entertain you," he muttered while lifting his sword. Or rather, the sword he had picked up. "But I am also stubborn enough to not die here."
The Hound of the Abyss howled again and rushed at him. This time it was even faster. Three claw shadows swept from the left, right, and front at once. Noir twisted his body and tried to block with his sword.
Bam!
He was knocked back again, but he managed to block two attacks. The Hound of the Abyss gave no opening at all.
It appeared right in front of Noir. Instead of being afraid, Noir actually smiled.
"You walked right into my trap, idiot!" he said.
[Savage Leap]
Noir leaped and slammed the ground. The moment he landed, the ground shook. The Hound of the Abyss was stunned for a few seconds.
"My turn!" he shouted.
[Bone Cleave]
Noir unleashed a horizontal slash. His sword was coated in purple death energy.
The Hound of the Abyss could not dodge due to the stun.
Slash!
The strike hit the Hound's neck. Blood splattered, but it did not kill it.
Its flesh was thick. Noir immediately jumped backward as the Hound regained movement and leaped toward him.
"I have your attack pattern in my head," Noir said.
He was a former hero who had defeated the Demon King. Fighting a level 30 monster was not frightening for him, even if he was now only a level 15 skeleton.
But his experience as a sword hero remained in his memory. That was the true cheat.
"The Demon King cursed me so that I would suffer. But he forgot that I am the one who defeated him," Noir said confidently.
The Hound of the Abyss lunged again, but its attacks were easily dodged by Noir.
Noir even managed to land another slash on its body.
SLASH!
Once again, the Hound was wounded. Noir's choice of Skeleton Warrior class was absolutely correct.
He held an advantage thanks to Bone Guard, which reduced all physical damage by 10 percent. He only needed to avoid magical attacks. This made things slightly easier since the Hound preferred using its claws over its dark magic breath.
The Hound of the Abyss roared with fury. Its large, shadow like body was now covered in purple wounds releasing deathly vapor. Its eyes burned with hatred, but also... caution.
The Hound leaped backward, trying to create distance. Yet Noir did not allow it.
"What now? Scared?" Noir mocked, his voice cold like death. "Too bad. I do not give mercy to my enemies."
Noir leaped, his light body shooting forward like a bullet. He raised his sword high. He was ready for a chain attack.
He jumped.
[Skill Chain: Savage Leap + Bone Cleave]
As he descended, he slammed the ground with great force. A thick purple aura covered his sword. This time it was denser, sharper, and far more lethal.
BOOOOMMMM!!
The ground shook violently as his attack smashed into the Hound of the Abyss with full strength. The sound of bones and flesh tearing echoed horribly. Dark blood exploded out like water.
One second...
Two seconds...
The Hound of the Abyss was left stunned. Noir immediately followed with another slash, aiming at the same wound.
Slash!
It struck the creature's neck again.
The Hound of the Abyss stood motionless. Then slowly, its massive body fell to the ground, creating a heavy crash that shook the entire area.
The Hound of the Abyss never expected to be killed by the skeleton it had once underestimated.
[Mini Boss defeated!]
[+23,300 EXP]
[Item Drop: Hound of the Abyss Core (Rare), Fang of the Abyss (Rare Weapon)]
[Level Up! Lv. 15 → Lv. 19]
[+12 Stat Points]
"It only gave this little EXP? This makes no sense," Noir complained.