William stood up from the ground of the dilapidated house. He had to get to keep moving and not stick to one spot for too long after having finished a fight. He didn’t need to leave any clues to connect him with the usage of both his Venom and Lightning. He had to move around while keeping an eye out for other adventurers or people in the area. Zefor contacting him about keeping an identity made it clear enough that there were others around the area close enough that he was likely to interact with them.
Or rather, it was expected for him to do so based on whatever master plan the ancient thing had.
It was not something he wanted to encounter, had it been up to him. Dealing with random people meant dealing with random personalities and disadvantages. He had no clue what type of sociopaths he would meet or if the people he encountered were decent individuals. The complexity that would be guaranteed in such an encounter with others made him not want to have to go through it.
Which would definitely happen if he stayed in one spot.
He stepped out of the hut and began running ahead with the previous massacre and battleground he had been in rested to his right.
William was sure it had attracted other monsters or some of the fauna of this dungeon to feast upon the carcasses there. Just the stench alone of burned and molten fur and muscle would've been enough to act like a beacon of light in a storm. The adventures too would flock like moths in that area as well.
The grass plains whizzed by as he sprinted as fast as he could. Enjoying the obvious increase in power and speed that he had gained from constantly fighting the Corrupted Dead. What he was doing now was relatively impossible by any human standard. William laughed, enjoying the feeling of the wind passing by him and whipping his hair back and forth.
It was an enjoyable atmosphere. If only the dungeon hadn’t been filled with monsters trying to eat his face, maybe then it would have been a great vacationing spot to get away from the constant hustle and bustle of life. Isolated from the masses, quiet and with only natural ambience, a cool breeze, and a non-scorching but warm sun. He could imagine a company or two building entire swimming resorts in the area. It was a perfect little haven full of potential for greater things–
William stopped in his tracks as he felt the ground underneath him rumble.
He waited for a few seconds as he tried to figure out which direction it was originating from. Only when he couldn't pinpoint it did he resort to other tactics. First and foremost, he summoned four venom bullets that hovered around him and then his [Chain Lightning Domain] came to life. Second he pulled out his sword in case he needed it. Once prepared and with weapons in hand, he went to the highest elevated point and jumped with as much power in his legs as possible. He scanned the northern areas first, spinning just slightly enough to focus in one direction. Not finding anything in the path that he was heading towards.
William kept trying to find what was causing the ground to shake, but found nothing as he scanned the area–
It happened quicker than he expected.
One moment, the ground was solid and firm beneath his feet. The next, everything started to rise. William dove backward as soon as he sensed something erupting from beneath his feet. Encountering the Death Knight and its unmatched quickness had prepared him for anything that this dungeon could potentially throw at him. He risked a lot to never be caught off guard again, over and over again against that monstrosity.
William rolled and jumped to his feet, blasting the dark figure that was rising from the ground with all four of his venom bullets.
He watched with satisfaction as they thunked into its figure.
He summoned four more and blasted it again. Repeating the same process until whatever it was, covered in dirt, dust, stones, and grass, dropped to the ground roaring to the heavens in pain.
Yet, with almost a dozen bullets having slammed into it, it was not dead yet, getting back up to its hands and knees and preparing itself for another barrage.
He paused to get a good look at what was before him.
Gigantic shoulders heaved in effort as they struggled to breathe while on both its hands and knees. All William saw in the fog of dust were massive horns that spread from its head, and rippling muscle of its oddly humanoid form. He could see it move back and forth, struggling to shift even a little, as it bellowed as loud as it possibly could. Red eyes pierced the dark fog and stared directly at him, death and rage filled its eyes.
It struggled to its feet, its heavy weight causing the ground to shake with every wavering step it took.
The creature bellowed again as it stepped out of the fog.
First came out a bull head that was adorned by the horns he had seen through the fog. Rippling muscles covered by black and silver fur and hoofed feet sank into the ground. The Minotaur roared again, this time its rage found a target to pinpoint. Foam covered the corners of its mouth and spit flew toward William, never reaching him as the lightning domain zapped anything that got close.
William frowned in disgust.
He could smell its rancid breath, even from a distance, but that could not hide the distinct smell of burning fur and flesh he had witnessed after killing the felines.
Twelve distinct holes carved its massive torso apart. Each one hissed and smoked something fierce before visibly calming as the effects of the corrosiveness disappeared. His venom bullets only lasted a fraction of the time his blob had though they tended to have more punch when they hit anything. There were advantages and disadvantages to using one or the other.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
It was easier to call for bullets than it was to bring out a venom blob to his hand and throw it.
Better distance too.
Each one would thump into his target with a satisfying sound, though the overall diameter of damage and total damage was less than the blob’s concentrated effect.
The system pinged him with a notification.
Enemy Detected!
Roaming Boss - Mines and Tunnels Minotaur (E-)
Danger Ranking - Overwhelming
Tips and Hints -
Mines and Tunnels Minotaurs are relatively small compared to their free roaming counterparts.
Do not be fooled by their smaller stature, they are equally as berserk as their larger brethren.
William let a sadistic smile spread across his face. This roaming boss was only as strong as the Corrupted Dead he had faced so far. The same ones he had been dominating ever since he figured out their abilities and strengths. Now that he was dealing with a flesh and living creature, his attacks would have far more effect and cause more grevious injuries.
Not even a Minotaur could not fight through its face being melted through its haze of anger and berserker state.
Being shorter than all other types of Minotaurs made no difference to him because the gigantic thing still towered over him.
“C-Partair sti L-iKark–” the Minotaur shouted in a garbled mess.
He didn’t need to understand its language to know that it was not meant to be speaking it. The Minotaur likely didn’t have vocal organs that were designed to speak sophisticated language, much less make it sound smooth.
System Language Adjustment -
Learned to decipher Major Hajirai - Noblese
William nearly spat out an unexpected burst of laughter. Not because he was making fun of the Minotaur, but rather at the absurdity of a Minotaur speaking what was considered posh Hajirai instead of any other potential type it could have learned.
“–Y-You find me amusing?!” the Minotaur bellowed and stomped on the ground.
“No! No!” William raised his hands. “Not you… just everything in general right now. A culmination of thing–”
“Silence!”
The Minotaur charged him.
William moved without a second's hesitation and fired his venom bullets. He didn’t even need to look back to know they landed because of the heavy thumps he heard as they hit thick flesh and hide. He kept kiting the large monster and peppering it with his venom. Watching as it started to slow down while trying to get close enough to crush him with massive fists.
The greatest advantage the roaming boss had against him was its gigantic size and potentially stronger melee attacks. While he had [Heavy Strike] and [First Judgement], the majority of his most tested skills were ranged. [Heavy Strike] was likely not that effective against its prodigious size and [First Judgement] was mostly unused by him and had not gone through his stages of experimentation to learn it better as a skill. The cost of making a mistake were greater now that he knew without a doubt that he had a respawn mechanic and not a time-looping one.
I haven’t used my lightning domain against it. It'll be a good surprise.
“Cease your absconding and engage me as a warrior!” the Minotaur shouted, grunting in between words from its melting flesh.
William only gave it a smile and continued his kiting, picking it apart little by little. It wasn’t until the Minotaur stopped in its tracks and gave up on charging him and attempted to dive back toward its hole and escape him that he stopped in his tracks and ran after it. He cursed as he hurried to get close enough for his domain to take effect. The Minotaur grunted in pain as a couple bullets slammed into its back, slowing it down just enough for William to reach it.
He unleashed his [Chained Lightning Domain] at full blast.
The Minotaur stiffened at the electricity coursing through its body. Spasming a few moments later as the lightning continued to tear it apart from the inside. The smell was far worse than the corrosive venom that burned it.
William gagged but did not stop until the Minotaur dropped face first.
Still, it wasn’t dead. He hadn’t gotten a notification of the battle concluding. The thing was still kicking somehow. After a couple dozen venom bullets and being blasted with his domain for a minute or two and it still hadn’t kicked the bucket. That type of vitality was far greater than what he had and the Corrupted Dead were nowhere as difficult to kill as the Minotaur.
This must be the difference between a boss level monster and an average mob. Even if they are ranked the same, there is a qualitative difference between them. Good thing I didn’t even try to test any of its other advantages.
He walked up to its face after sending his sword into his inventory.
The Minotaur trembled as it opened its eyes. Its mouth moved but was unable to voice its words after sustaining so much damage.
“You were far stronger than I expected,” William said as he met its gaze. “Be proud, Minotaur.”
[First Judgement] roared as he activated it around both of his fists. It crackled and screamed for a target to obliterate. Anything. Anyone.
He raised his arms and dropped them, flexing his entire body and torquing his hips to generate as much power in his hammerfists strike. There was only a moment of resistance before his attack exploded around him, turning the Minotaur’s head into shrapnel that flew away from William. Red blood spread out in a semi circle between him and the dead headless body.
Battle Concluded!
Killed - [Mines and Tunnels Minotaur (E-)]
Runes Gained = 2733
Chained Lightning Domain [13/99] -> [14/99]
YaKinov Venom Manipulation [15/99] -> [16/99]
Novice Battle Awareness (F+) [4/49] -> [9/49]
YaKinov Venom Bullet (C+) [7/99] -> [18/99]
First Judgement [2/99] -> [5/99]
Heavy Foot (F-) [1/49] -> [3/49]
Oh? I gained levels in Heavy Foot?
William wondered why he got some this time around and not when he fought the thirty something felines he killed not too long ago. Similar environment and probably more clustered then compared to his fight against the Minotaur. Or did it have to do with the massive hole in the ground that led into dark tunnels. Same one it had tried to escape into.
Should I go down?
He shook his head. Getting caught by another roaming boss in such tight quarters seemed like a recipe for disaster.
The greatest advantages he had were speed, quickness, and ranged attacks currently. Or if he could get close enough to set off his [First Judgement] skill. That had to be the strongest attack in his arsenal. He just needed to get close enough to be bear hugged by monsters for it to be effective.
Something he had no intention of committing to.
Not until he had a huge mace.
Where’s the loot?
