Chapter 14: A Solitary Battle

Ryan held his breath, hiding within the dense foliage as he quietly observed the kobold shaman's dark ritual.

The low murmurs of incantations echoed ominously through the clearing, resonating like a dark melody.

A sphere of sinister, dark-purple energy slowly formed in the kobold shaman's hand, pulsating rhythmically with eerie intensity.

Atop the sacrificial altar, a demonic shadow with monstrous horns gradually solidified. Its crimson eyes glowed hungrily, fixated upon the girl bound helplessly on the altar, clearly preparing to drain her very life force.

Ryan felt urgency grip his chest. He couldn't afford to wait any longer.

Gathering his mental energy, he summoned his ten Nightmare Imps. Instantly, the imps emerged around him, their forms materializing from the shadows.

"Attack!" Ryan commanded decisively.

Like fleeting shadows, the imps dashed swiftly through the trees toward the altar.

The kobold shaman whipped around instantly, eyes flaring angrily. Raising its staff high, it unleashed a guttural roar. 

Immediately, numerous kobold raiders poured out from all corners of the encampment. Unlike the usual disorganized mobs, these kobolds moved with shocking precision, forming orderly defensive ranks due to the kobold shaman's "Team Cooperation" ability.

"Is this what makes mutated kobolds so troublesome…?" Ryan muttered, brow furrowing deeply, quickly commanding the imps to launch a frontal assault.

But before they could close the distance, the kobold shaman raised its staff again, swiftly chanting the dark incantation.

"Boom!"

A powerful wave of dark-purple energy exploded violently outward, the force blasting the three imps leading the charge back into the dirt. Their pained shrieks rang sharply through the clearing.

Ryan flinched slightly, shocked at the kobold shaman's fierce long-range power, and immediately shifted his tactics: "Spread out! Don't group together!"

Reacting swiftly, the remaining imps dispersed into various directions, attempting to flank the kobold shaman. 

However, the cunning kobold leader continuously positioned raiders in their paths, creating a moving barrier while maintaining a relentless bombardment with its dark spells. 

Each precision strike narrowly missed the agile imps, forcing them constantly onto the defensive.

Ryan gritted his teeth in frustration, recognizing he was quickly losing control of the battle. The only option was to eliminate the kobold minions first.

"Clear out the peripheral enemies quickly!" he ordered urgently.

The imps changed targets without hesitation, diving swiftly into the ranks of the kobold raiders. 

Utilizing their agility advantage, they quickly thinned enemy numbers. Yet, the kobold shaman's relentless dark blasts only intensified, each strike narrowly missing, placing immense pressure on Ryan's control.

Suddenly, one imp couldn't evade quickly enough, taking a direct hit from the dark magic. With a shriek of agony, it collapsed and dissipated into black mist.

"Damn!" Ryan cursed inwardly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The situation had deteriorated far beyond his initial expectations.

He swiftly adjusted the formation, ordering the remaining nine imps into a mobile formation, avoiding direct engagement and relying instead on swift movements to dodge the incoming spells while steadily clearing the kobold raiders.

Minutes dragged by, and finally, the last kobold raiders fell. Only the kobold shaman remained standing, exposed and enraged.

Seeing its defensive perimeter annihilated, the kobold shaman roared furiously, waving its staff in increasingly frantic arcs. Its spells intensified, blasting chunks from the ground and trees around, reducing the battlefield into a chaotic wasteland.

But by now, the imps had adapted perfectly to its rhythm, expertly timing their movements between attacks to inch closer. Ryan saw the brief opening clearly.

"Now, attack!" he shouted.

Simultaneously, all nine imps sprang forward like bolts of darkness. The shaman, now overwhelmed, desperately swung its staff, unable to maintain effective spellcasting. Outnumbered and outmatched, it was quickly wounded, collapsing at last with a final howl of despair.

Ryan released a long-held breath, racing immediately toward the altar. Without hesitation, he sliced through the ropes binding the girl and gently caught her as she fell limply into his arms. Gradually, her pale complexion warmed slightly, and her breathing steadied.

At that moment, the horned demon's phantom atop the altar spoke in a low, sinister voice, heavy with mockery, "A human...who summons demons to fight for him? How intriguing…"

Ryan raised his head, fixing the shadowy figure with an icy glare.

The demon laughed coldly, its crimson eyes narrowing dangerously. "You've ruined my plans this time, Ryan, demon summoner. I'll remember you. You won't be so fortunate when we meet again."

As the echo of its words faded, the demon's phantom gradually dissolved into nothingness, plunging the clearing back into an eerie silence.

After a brief moment of silence, the system's voice echoed once again.

[Mutated Monster Killed: Kobold Shaman, EXP +1000]

[Level Up: Lv.7]

[Task exceeded expectations. Bonus reward guaranteed]

Ryan stared at the empty altar, an uneasy feeling settling within his chest. A demon capable of controlling mutated kobolds was undoubtedly unusual, and he was sure this wasn't the last they'd meet.

Gazing downward, he noticed the girl's brow twitch slightly, indicating she might soon awaken. Ryan sighed gently, relieved. Holding her carefully, he turned to exit the clearing, moving cautiously through the dense forest.

The lingering rays of the setting sun pierced softly through the thick canopy of leaves, casting gentle streaks of golden-orange glow upon their path. 

Slowly, the oppressive darkness that once filled the clearing receded, replaced by a quiet serenity.