Nyxian Trial-[2]

The monsters were numerous and Arvian had to find a way to defeat all of these monsters by preparing a proper strategy.

'I need sometime to think a littlr bit but how am i going to buy time ...'

Arvian glanced to his right and left, then his eyes went on a large, broad tree.

Arvian sprinted toward the tall tree.

As he approached, clutching a sturdy branch with both hands, he leaped toward it.

Suspended in the air, he swung his body back and forth, gathering momentum with each motion.

With a final burst of strength, he pushed himself up and thumped to the branch.

He took a deep breath and quickly regained his balance after his footing momentarily faltered. He quickly opened the inventory and picked up both the blade and the long rope.

He did not know what he was going to do next. But he was looking for the most effective way to take down these monsters.

Most of the monsters had gathered a few feet away from the tree in a tightly packed group.Their bright eyes stared at Arvian, and they all snarled together, but they were too stupid to think of anything.

"Think... think about what to do with this rope and blade... hmmmm......."

"Ah... I've got it."

Arvian turned his head upward, noticing the broad branch just inches away from him. He threw the rope over the branch and raised his arms to bind it tightly.

Arvian now pulled the rope from the ground, gripping it tightly by its tip. His gaze shifted toward another branch, slightly higher and in the northeast direction, a challenging distance away, to the opposite direction of monsters.

He studied it for a moment, calculating his movements carefully.

"That should work," he muttered to himself, determination flashing in his eyes.

Without hesitation, he decided to make his way to the branch and secure the rope there.

Something was going in Arvian's mind like a plan was forming in Arvian's mind; he felt confident that he had prepared a solid strategy to defeat the monsters all at once.

Now he bound the rope tightly with this branch also.

After he was done.

With the blade, he went to the root of the branch and started cutting it with the blade.

Again to make sure the rope was solid and would not come loose, Arvian bound it firmly to the second branch.

He tested its strength by pulling at it several times.

Once he was satisfied, he moved carefully to the root of the branch with his blade drawn.

He took a firm hold of the hilt, positioned himself, and started making clean and hard cuts at the base of the branch.

The blade sank into the wood, sending chips flying with each swing. He breathed steadily and worked with unwavering concentration.

Whatever plan he had in mind, it was clear he intended to use the branch as a crucial part of his strategy.

As Arvian cut the branch almost entirely from its base and then he shifted to the center where the rope was tightly bound.

With a tight grip, he leaned his weight against the rope and began pushing the branch with all his might.

The branch groaned and cracked, and then suddenly, with a sharp sound, it broke free.

It swung forward like a huge pendulum, gathering speed as it fell recklessly toward the crowded monsters ahead.

With a thunderous crash, the branch crashed into the densely populated monsters, causing devastating force.

The swinging branch threw the creatures backward, crushing them under its weight.

The force of the blow killed them instantly, endding their ruthless short roars.

The branch lost momentum and started to swing back like a pendulum. However, Arvian leaped from it precisely and landed in a crouch on the ground before it could reach its zenith.

As soon as his feet touched the ground:

**[Level up]**

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**[Level up]**

The notifications flashed in front of him, but he didn't have time to celebrate. A handful of monsters, the ones that had been waiting at the base of the tree, snarled and prepared to attack.

Arvian stood, wiping sweat from his brow, his eyes sharp and ready.

Since it was his first encounter with monsters, he was terrified inside and his heart was pounding like a drum.

Using his intelligence, he was able to kill nearly every monster. But regrettably , he was physically weaker than these monsters.

Counting rapidly, Arvian's eyes moved to the tree's base.

"Four left..."

He gripped the blade more tightly. With claws digging into the ground, one of the monsters, bigger and more hostile than the others, split off from the others and charged in his direction.

With heavy breathing and pounding blood in his ears, Arvian steadied his posture. Unexpectedly, he rushed forward to meet the beast halfway after his legs tensed like coiling springs.

Arvian raised his blade in a roar as they closed the distance.

With its claws, the leading monster lunged toward his chest. The sharp wind of the claws brushed Arvian's hair as he ducked low.

In a single, desperate arc, he swung his blade upward, striking the monster in the neck. Its head tilted strangely as the steel bit deep, and then the body crumpled to the ground with a wet crunch.

However, there was no time for rest. A second monster lunged forward, snarling and baring its teeth. Just as he turned to block, Arvian raised his blade, but the force knocked him off balance. His left arm caught the sharp edge of a broken root as he staggered backward.

"Aahahhh!!" Arvian screamed.

Even though he was in pain, he continued. He gritted his teeth and pushed the blade forward, sinking it into the monster's chest as blood trickled down his arm.

Before collapsing with a final growl, it thrashed wildly, its claws raking at him, one tearing across his shoulder.

Arvian gasped and stumbled back, clutching his wounded arm. Now, the final two monsters circled him, their movements deliberate, almost premeditated.

With a low crouch and a trembling blade in his hand, he steadied himself.

The monsters lunged together, and Arvian sidestepped the first, slashing across its back. It shrieked but didn't fall. From his blind side, the second one swiped its claws at his bare chest.

Just in time, he twisted, causing the claws to tear through his shirt rather than his flesh. An adrenaline rush caused him to thrust his blade upward into the monster's stomach.

Blood splattered across the dirt as its weight fell on him, causing him to roll.

The last monster, wounded but alive, charged with a desperate rage. Kneeling and struggling to stay upright, Arvian pushed himself to his feet. He lifted his blade, waited for the ideal opportunity, and then slashed the sword directly into the beast's gaping maw as it leaped.

Because of its momentum, the creature slammed into him and pinned him to the ground. His ragged breathing and the sound of blood seeping into the ground were the only sounds in the momentary silence.

He pushed the dead body off slowly and lay there with his chest heaving, staring at the red sky.

He mumbled, clutching his bleeding arm, "That… was too close," as the notifications came into his line of sight.

[Level up]

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[Level up]

..

[Level up]

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[Skill Unlocked: Basic Combat Reflexes]