Chapter 184: Fastest Clearer 8
As Noah cleared the final Fire Lizard from his path, his level increased.
[Level UP!]
After thinking for a moment, he put the two stat points into Strength and Dexterity respectively.
■Status Window
Name: Noah Adler
Rank: Expert
Level 49
Class: Angel of Death
Title: Goblin Slayer
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☆Stats☆
Mana: 122
Strength: 130
Intelligence: 110
Dexterity: 130
Luck: 101
Stat Points: 0
Coins: 25060G
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☆Skills☆
Common Skill: {Basic Swordsmanship},{Basic Close Combat} {Presence Detection} {Master of Weapons} {Mana's Armor Lvl 1} {Shadow Steps Level 1} {Blood Flowers} {Splitting Ripple Slash LVl 1} {Fangs of Insanity} {Flame Art} {Telekinesis Lv1} {Unprecedented Sense LV1} {Super Regeneration Lv1}
Exclusive Skills: {Seal of Death} {Night of Death} {Lord of the Night}
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☆Runes ☆
{Basic Strength},{Basic Speed} {Angel of Death}
Find adventures on m v l e m p y r
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He moved forward at fast speed and the molten landscape finally gave way to a sight that stole his breath. Right in the center of the churning magma lake, suspended precariously on a colossal, flat rock that jutted out from the molten surface, stood the guardian of the fifth floor. It wasn't another Fire Lizard, but a creature that sent shivers down Noah's spine – a Lizardman General.
This wasn't the lithe, agile Fire Lizards he had just battled. This towering monstrosity stood nearly two and a half meters tall, its imposing frame a blend of raw power and reptilian grace. Its muscular physique was encased in a suit of obsidian armor, each plate meticulously crafted to resemble the scales of a monstrous dragon.
The armor, though blackened by the ever-present heat, shimmered faintly with an inner glow, hinting at its magical properties.
Its head, a reptilian visage that seemed carved from polished obsidian, bore a fearsome visage. Razor-sharp teeth gleamed within its powerful jaws, capable of crunching through bone with ease. Glowing orange eyes, burning with an inferno of their own, locked onto Noah with an intensity that sent a jolt of primal fear through him.
Atop its head, a crest of wickedly sharp horns curved back, adding to its menacing profile.
In its powerful, three-fingered hands, the Lizardman General wielded a massive warhammer. The head of the hammer, crafted from a single piece of crimson-hued obsidian, resembled a stylized dragon's head, its maw agape in a silent scream. The haft of the weapon, forged from a dark, volcanic metal, crackled with an ominous energy, imbued with potent fire magic.
As Noah stood there, taking in the sight of this formidable guardian, the air crackled with an invisible tension. The heat emanating from the lava intensified, almost palpable against his skin. This wasn't just a battle; it was a clash of wills – a lone adventurer against a creature forged in the very fires of this infernal realm.
Noah, the air thick with anticipation, opted for a test of reflexes before committing to an all-out attack. He raised the Black Gun, aiming at the imposing Lizardman General across the molten lake. With a silent flick of his wrist, a magic bullet, a comet of concentrated mana, erupted from the barrel.
The monstrous guardian didn't flinch at the initial flash. But the moment the bullet streaked through the air, a flicker of surprise crossed its reptilian features. With a speed that belied its size, the Lizardman General swung its massive warhammer. The obsidian weapon, imbued with fire magic, arced through the air, a blur of crimson and black.
There was a deafening clang as the warhammer met the magic bullet in mid-air. Sparks showered the lava lake as the force of the impact sent the bullet spinning wildly off course. It careened past Noah, exploding harmlessly in a shower of orange sparks as it plunged into the molten depths.
Noah, a flicker of surprise replaced by grudging respect, muttered, "Such a good reaction speed, I'm astounded."
The initial gamble had paid off. He now knew he wouldn't be facing a lumbering brute, but a cunning opponent with reflexes almost as sharp as his own. He couldn't rely solely on his Black Gun's firepower. This fight would require a more tactical approach.
With a predatory glint in his eyes, Noah raised the Black Gun once more. This time, however, he didn't fire immediately. He danced on the edge of the rock, his movements unpredictable, forcing the Lizardman General to track him with its fiery gaze. As the colossal creature shifted its weight, anticipating another shot, Noah saw his opening.
A smirk played on his lips.
Bang! Bang!
Two magic bullets, fired in rapid succession, ripped through the air, aimed not at the guardian itself, but at the obsidian plates of its armor. The first bullet struck true, shattering a plate on the creature's shoulder with a satisfying crack. The second bullet, however, was deflected by a swift movement of the warhammer, disappearing into the lava with another fiery explosion.
The Lizardman General roared in fury, the sound echoing through the cavern. Smoke and molten rock erupted from the shattered armor plating, exposing a sliver of raw flesh beneath. This was just the beginning. Noah had drawn first blood, but the true test of skill and strategy was far from over.
The battle for the fifth floor had entered a new phase, a deadly dance between a cunning Player and a fire-wrought guardian, both locked in a desperate struggle for survival amidst the infernal landscape.
[Ding! New mission, rely only on your gun to win this fight.
Reward: One voucher to increase one of your skill's level!]
Finally the system gave him another mission and this one could be more timely and the reward was too enticing to refuse. He was economizing to buy this Skill voucher who cost, 18.000 Gold anyway. He wanted to have at least 30k Gold before buying it and now he got the chance to get without spending a penny, so there was no way he wouldn't accept this mission.
''I accept!"
The air crackled with a newfound intensity as Noah transitioned to a whirlwind of Black Hand offense. Gone were the test shots and the taunts; this was a relentless assault, a storm of magic bullets aimed at overwhelming the Lizardman General. He danced across the edge of the rock platform, his movements unpredictable, a blur against the fiery backdrop.
Each shot boomed through the cavern, the Black Gun spitting fire in a deadly rhythm.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Tuk! Tuk! Tuk!
The mighty guardian, enraged by the stinging pain of the magic bullets, roared in frustration. Its fiery eyes darted after Noah's elusive form, its massive frame struggling to keep up with the sheer volume of attacks. In a desperate attempt to create a barrier, the Lizardman General slammed its warhammer onto the solid rock with earth-shattering force.
The impact sent a shockwave through the platform, causing chunks of molten rock and obsidian debris to erupt into the air in a deadly hail. For a moment, the cavern was filled with a swirling maelstrom of molten shrapnel. A cruel smile played on the Lizardman General's lips – a smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
''Ops! Sorry!"
Noah, ever vigilant thanks to his Unprecedented Presence, anticipated the counter-attack.
''I have been waiting for ya!"
The moment the debris erupted, his mind reached out, grasping at the fragments with the invisible tendrils of his telekinesis. With a mental push, he reversed their trajectory, sending the molten rock and obsidian shards hurtling back towards the monstrous guardian.
The creature, caught off guard by the sudden change in direction, scrambled to raise its warhammer in a futile attempt to defend itself. The debris rained down upon it, clanging against its obsidian armor, sending searing shrapnel skittering across the exposed flesh of its shoulder. The mighty guardian roared in pain and surprise, momentarily thrown off balance.
Seizing this golden opportunity, Noah appeared in a flash, a phantom born from the smoke and debris, right behind the Lizardman General's blind spot. With a flick of his wrist, he emptied the remaining magical energy reserves in the Black Gun. A dozen magic bullets, a concentrated barrage of raw power, erupted from the barrel in rapid succession.
They slammed into the Lizardman General's back, the point where its armor met its reptilian hide, a vulnerable chink in its otherwise formidable defense.
The air shimmered with the impact. There was a deafening roar, a sickening crunch of bone and flesh, and the deafening clang of obsidian armor buckling under the force of the barrage. The Lizardman General, its monstrous frame convulsing in agony, stumbled forward, its warhammer clattering to the ground with a heavy thud.
Silence descended upon the cavern once more, broken only by the hiss and crackle of the ever-churning lava lake below. Noah stood there, panting, the Black Gun smoking in his hand. He had gambled, emptied his reserves in a single, decisive attack. Now, he waited with bated breath, the outcome of the battle hanging in the balance.
Had he finally bested the guardian of the fifth floor, or would the monstrous creature rise once more to challenge him?