Chapter 24 – 1 vs 1.

[Might Of The Rhino Beetle] is a skill I got after making the [Insectian Warrior – Rhino Beetle] reach level 20.

Right after I got that skill, I tested it in the second hidden dungeon I found. When the skill is activated, it covers my body with jade color marking that can be seen though my clothes, my eyes also change color to jade color. The visual effect fade away the exact moment the skill ends.

When the skill is active it grants me 3 things.

Increased attack power of all of my attacks by 25%.

Increased [Physical Defense] and [Magic Defense] stats by 25%.

Grants me a barrier that covers my body that absorb all damage I take. The barrier value is equal to 25% of my max HP. I also tested it and it seems that I share my defensive stats with the barrier.

I used this skill before that guy landed on the ground, the skill had instant activation time so there I manage to suffer less damage.

Honestly speaking, the "Getting blown away" thing wasn't the part of the plan. I was aiming for the opening that is made after that guy use that dive attack, where he doesn't move for the moment. I was not expecting at all the attack having that kind of knockback power.

About half of my barrier got destroyed thanks to that attack and hitting the pillar, it would end up way more badly if I didn't activated the skill.

Now here is the question. What the heck do I do?

I used the great crossbow to get rid off both elders and it resulted in that ritual being stopped and now I longer have the time limit threat looming over me, but that doesn't mean it's over.

The boss monsters is still alive with 81% HP remaining.

His stats are quite high as well. He can take a hit, he is fast and he deals lot of damage from basic attacks.

The boss monsters have the long range attack that can be fired 2 times in the row and leap attack where he jumps high into air and then bomb dive.

The bomb dive skill seems to fallow similar logic to my [Horn Charge], with only being able to choose 1 direction and then continue charging in the same direction, without being able to change it. If he could change it, then the first dive bomb attack would hit me, but instead he aimed at the spot where I was last time standing.

The claws attack have bit of the delay. He first cover his claws blade in that weird red stuff, before then slashing the space in front of him. The numbers of the projectiles are equal to those claws, meaning 3 for the each one.

So far, he only showed 2 skills. No wait, maybe he showed 3?

When I killed the first elder, he then somehow manage to get to me very quickly, but when I was running towards the third elder, he was fast, but not as fast as I though. On top of that there was quiet a distance between him and me when he did that first dive bomb attack.

There is a chance that he has a skill related to movement that can boost his movement speed, if so, that would explain how he got to me so fast back then. I think the buff doesn't last long as well, since as soon as he got to me, he was back to normal.

(So far all of his attacks were done using those claws, kicks and the tail. He had sometimes opportunities to use some kind of big attacks when he create an opening, but yet he didn't do it and instead attacked in same way as before. My guess is that he doesn't have any more different skills.)

(Well, even if he doesn't have lot of skills, all of his stats are very high and those 3 skills are quite powerful as well. Honestly speaking with stats alone he is like that boss bear, it didn't used any skills but it was still extremely tough foe to beat, this guy is like that bear, but with much bigger stats and 3 OP skills.) – though Forge while getting up from the floor.

([Horn Charge] cooldown just ended and that is good and the buff still has 4 minutes and 46 seconds. While it's active I can make bit more risky approach thanks to increased defense and can deal more damage to him, but when buff will end, I will probably have hard time again against him. Should I try finish the fight before buff ends?) – though Forge while drinking a potion after potion in hurry.

"Well then, let's start with a different approach."

Forge put away from a crossbow to his inventory and took out a pair of the one handed axes. Kobold chieftain looked towards the Forge and kobolds legs suddenly covered in the red light before moments later launching himself right towards Forge.

(He used that movement skill!)

"Come at me!"

The kobold instantly got close the Forge and tried slashing him with his claw blades, the Forge used his axes to block, counter and attack against the kobold.

(My hammer can deal lot of damage, but against him most of my hits don't land or I can't hit him since I'm forced to block. It was good decision to change my weapon to one handed types, it's bit easier to block now and I land more attacks now.) – though Forge while exchanging blows with the kobold.

The battle between Forge and the kobold chieftain Azruk. Many blows were exchanged and even though Forge was now able to block more attacks than before, he was still getting hit many times because of the kobold high speed. However, the kobold too ended up taking many hits over and over again.

[Kobold Chieftain Azruk] – [HP: 79% -> 71%]

[Forge] – [HP: 81% -> 75%]

(Advance basic alchemist health potion, it cost a lot but it can also heal for a lot, I manage to drink it before the fight resumed. I'm also taking less damage thanks to the defense buff, but the barrier got already broken.)

While Forge was still fighting against the kobold, it jumped backwards, gaining distance and as soon as he did that, the kobold blades begin starting to be covered in the red glowing smoke light as before, but before the blades were fully covered –

"[Horn Charge]!"

Forge launched himself directly at the kobold, right as it was about to say the skill name. The Forge horn ended up hitting right in the kobold chest, dealing damage. However, the kobold skill was ready.

"[Demonic Claw]!"

The kobold attack connected, hitting the Forge at the close range and creating cloud of dust in the process. While the area was still covered in the cloud of dust, the kobold jumped high up and prepared to attack once again with the dive bomb attack, but before it could do that, a sound of rusting chains before two axes from left and right.

Both of the axes flew high into an air while being attached to the chains, they flew right above the kobold before suddenly chains made a contact with the kobold and instantly ended up wrapping around the kobold. As soon as the kobold was wrapped in the chains, the chains themselves were pulled and the kobold with them towards the ground.

The cloud of the dust settles down, revealing the Forge being the one who was pulling the chains.

"Get over here!"

The kobold was getting pulled straight towards Forge and after getting at the specific distance, Forge pointed his horn towards the kobold before moments later the kobold end up straight at the Forge horn, landing his chest right on top of the horn, taking massive amount of damage.

[Kobold Chieftain Azruk] – [HP: 30%]

(He is still alive?! I literally impallided him!)

Forge tried pulling the chains harder, trying to deal more damage on the kobold on top of his horn, but the kobold used his claw blades to cut the chains before than using Forge face as pedestal and jumping away.

"Oh common! I recently made this!" – said Forge with annoyed face.

(But anyway, he really didn't died from that? I literally hit him twice in the chest with my horn.)

(The buff will soon run out too. Can't drag it any longer.)

"Can you just die already!"

Forge took out his wings and rushed straight to the kobold, trying to slash the kobold with his axes, the kobold blocked and then tried counter attacking, the attack landed. Forge in response landed an uppercut with his axe and the fallowed with the strike at the neck with the second attack, but the kobold manage to dodge that.

Kobold tried stabbing Forge with his claws, but Forge stepped aside and dodge the attack, he then grabbed the kobold arm and pulled him closer to him, after that he tired once again slashing the creature neck off, but the kobold manage to block the attack with his second claw.

Forge then beringed the monster closer to him once again and headbutted him right in the face. The kobold for moment lost balance and Forge fallowed up two attacks done using axes.

After that, there was opening and Forge noticed that, he took a swing right at the kobold neck, but before attack connected.

[The effect of the: [Might Of The Rhino Beetle] has ended.]

"…. Shit. That was worst possible timing."

[Kobold Chieftain Azruk] – [HP: 18%]

Because of the decrees of attack power, the attack did not manage to cut off the kobold head off.

As soon as Forge did not manage to finish off the enemy, the kobold counter attacked and pushed the Forge away.

(I think I'm fucked. I can try continue fighting the same method as before, but obviously I don't have the damage and the defense buff anymore, so that is bad idea, I would end up running out of the HP first before him.)

(That guy speed skill will probably be ready soon as well, so trying to gain a distance won't do…. Wait. I can try using that.) – though Forge after noticing something in corner of his eye.

Forge tired getting some distance by moving backwards, but as soon as he tried that the kobold legs begin to glow again. Forge threw the several bottle of the poison straight at the kobold, but before they made contact the kobold already activated the speed boost and dodge the bottles.

The kobold once again closed the distance between him and Forge instantly, making the fight resume.

This time Forge was more focused on defense than attacking and was keep trying to gain distance by moving away from the kobold, but each time the kobold closed the distance, not allowing Forge to gain distance.

(Common, common, just a little bit closer…)

While Forge was still fighting against the kobold, the monster jumped away and send the demonic claw attack right at the Forge. He manage to deal with the incoming projectiles by dodging and blocking them, but moments later the kobold jumped high into air.

(Now!)

Forge took out his wings and beginned running straight towards the damaged column, moments later the kobold launched itself towards the Forge and Forge himself instantly hid behind the giant column and as he did, the kobold flew towards Forge last location, hitting the ground and creating a shockwave, destroying everything around him and damaging the column even more.

As soon as the shockwave dispersed the Forge quickly jumped out from his hiding spot that he used to protect himself from the shock.

Forge swinged his hammer around, but not aiming at the kobold, but at the column.

"Thanks for falling for that, idiot!"

Many cracks begin appear at the spot where Forge striked, before moments later the column beginned collapsing and falling towards the kobold.

"Have fun." – said Forge while running away with his wings out.

The kobold that was still unable to move after using his skill, ended up being crushed beneath the massive column.

"…" – Forge stared at the fallen columns with his hammer in hands while sweating like crazy.

[You have defeated the: Kobold Chieftain Azruk – Level 60]

[You have conquered dungeon: Kobold Hidden Base.]

[You have completed quest: Deal With The Kobolds.]

[You have earned a title: The One Who Defeated The Kobold Chieftain Azruk.]

"Thank fuking god! For moment I though he survived getting buried alive. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he somehow manage to survive that."

"I would literally shit my pants if he did manage to survive. I already run out of the potions and I barely have any HP left as well. I would be actually screwed over if that didn't worked."

(I saw in corner of my eye that column that got damage after I literally slammed against. The column was already damage and I used that guy attack to damage it even more, after that only thing left was to hit it in right spot and let it fall. Honestly it was gamble, there was a chance that column would collapse too early when he released that shockwave and ended up crushing me that was right behind it.)

"Well, it's not like I had any other in the first place."

"Anyway, let's check the rewards…. Hm?"

"Wait what is the deal with this? Title?"

[The One Who Defeated The Kobold Chieftain Azruk]

[You who have successfully defeated the servants of the demon *******, Kobold Chieftain Azruk, also known as the "Beast Killer". Before kobold settles down and named this territory theirs, there was 2 other beast who called themselves the king of this area. The wolf who eat the demons and took their strength, Kiki and the bear who called himself the king of the forest beasts, Guru. The kobold chieftain slew both of them by himself and claimed their territories as their own. The one who slew the king of the beast was slain by your hands.]

[Title Effect]

-Increase all stats by 10 points.]

"Holy shit. My stats really got increased, but from what Kitty told me there wasn't anything like that in beta, there was items, skills and classes level that could only increase your stats. I will have to talk with her about this."

"This is good! What else I got?"

[You have received: Claws Of The Kiki.]

[You have received: Cloak Of The King Bear Guru.]

[You have received: Necklace Of Kobold Chieftain Azruk.]

"Weird, normally boss monsters don't drop items and instead just gave reward boxes, I didn't opened the chest yet or anything but I already got the stuff?. Wait, those are the things that guy was wearing, expect that necklace."

[Claws Of The Kiki] x2

[Long ago, before the kobold territory belonged to the kobolds, there was two beast that ruled this area. One of them was wolf who devoured the demons and turned herself into a demon, demonic wolf Kiki. The kobold chieftain used the claws of the creature to create his weapon that showed his dominance in battle. The weapons comes in pair.]

[Attack Power: 110 – 135]

[Bonus overall attack power: 85]

[Physical Defense: 75]

[Generate skill: [Demonic Claw] level 1/5. If the wearer doesn't possess [Demonic Power] stat, the skill basic cooldown will be set at 20 minute.

[Item Set:

[Claws Of The Kiki] and [Claws Of The Kiki].]

[Item set effect:

2: Increased [Demonic Claw] maximal range by 15% and increase the skill attack size by 15%.]

[Item restriction: Level 60]

[Item tier: 37]

[Cloak Of The King Bear Guru]

[Long ago, before the kobold territory belonged to the kobolds, there was two beast that ruled this area. One of them was bear who enslaved all other beasts, including his own kin, the king bear Guru. The kobold chieftain wears now the hide of the creature as a trophy and as a symbol of his brutality.]

[Bonus overall attack power: 50]

[Physical Defense: 130]

[Magic Defense: 180]

[Generate skill: [Bear Endurance] Level 1/5. This is passive skill that provides 10% damage reduction taken when the HP reaches 15% and below.]

[Item restriction: Level 60]

[Item tier: 37]

".... Holy shit. This is broken like hell."

"No, no, no, no, no, NO. Just wait a bloody second. Isn't this too broken?! I literally will get 280 armor from those, literally more amount than from my heavy armor version."

"Hm? Wait, this guy was wearing this like a cape and those are gauntlets, so does that mean?"

Forge took out the items from his inventory and put them on.

"Oh my god, I can equip them with my current armor and my defense stat is high like hell right now. I kind of feel like this is illegal. Anyway, what is this thing?"

[Necklace Of Kobold Chieftain Azruk]

[A necklace once worn by the chieftain of the kobolds Azruk. The necklace once symbolized as the symbol of the pride that his tribe possess, however he had to throw away his pride in order to save his tribe. The kobolds had looming threat of extinction over their heads after being found out by the human of the kingdoms. Most of the warriors of the tribe died in conflict, making the once mighty tribe nothing more than a shadow of its former glory. The kobold chieftain took a drastic measures and hid his tribe away and decided to sell his life to a demon ******, becoming his slave in order to save his tribe. The chieftain took away off his medallion and never wore it again, symbolizing his loss of his pride after willingly making him and his tribe nothing more than a slaves.]

[All stats increase by: 15]

[Generate Skill: [Might Of The Kobold] level 1/2. This is active skill than when active will cover your body in marking of the kobolds, increasing all of your stats by 5% for 15 minutes. The skill have a cooldown of the 3 hours.]

[Item restriction: Level 60]

[Item tier: 37]

"Holy shit. This is OP as well. Honestly saying I'm kind of glad that he didn't used that thing during our fight."

(Anyway, a necklace huh? Kitty told me that there were items like rings, earning and necklaces that provided increased stats and other things. I tried making some, but so far all they did was increase defense by extremely small amount to the point there was no point of wearing them.)

"Obviously there is one more thing remaining. The quest rewards! I have good feeling about this!"

[You have received quest reward: EXP, gold, fame and [Essence Of The Evolution].]

[Level Up!]

"Oh, an item? Let's see..." – Forge begin reading item description of the yellow gem like object.

[Essence Of The Evolution]

[This crystal posses' unique ability to enchant and forcible evolve the user DNA, evolving them into a new form.]

[This item is 1 time use item.]

[Condition of use:

-This item can only be used by specific races.

-This item can only be used after reaching one of the final forms of their race exclusive class and maxing out their level.]

[Upon use the player will lose 20 levels but will instead gain new class. The gain class depends on the user race. After using this item, the user will gain 1 level and will automatically put the level point into newly acquired class.]

[You possess ability to use this item.]

[You did not acquire the final form of your race exclusive class – Item cannot be used right now.]

[Item Tier: ???]

"Okay??? I think I should not touch that until I talk with other guys."

(Hm? By any chance, that guy used this thing? That would explain why he looked so different from the other kobolds. Then, if I were to use it, what kind of thing I will become?)

[The dungeon: Kobold Hidden Base, will transform into Kobold Old Hidden Base.]