"Boulder hang in there! We'll get through this!" Zeke woke up to the shouting of the spellcaster named Allesiah. His eyes quickly adjusted to the surroundings and felt how his regeneration kicked in, healing all the bones that the [Hobgoblin Skeleton] was able to break.
"I need to rank this skill up; it'll work wonders in the future." He thought himself as he got up from the ground.
"I'll hold them off as long as I can! Just focus on that spe – AHHH!"
"Nooo!"
Flying toward Zeke's direction is Boulder whom he caught with his arms after activating [Mana Conversion]. They hit a wall in the process but, nevertheless, Zeke didn't break any more bones. It's a good thing that he activated the skill because, the man weighs as heavily as his name, like a goddam boulder.
"Yo!" Zeke said as he dropped the man from the princess carry position.
"P-please h-help her." The shielder was able to say, pointing to Allesiah before he lost consciousness completely.
Allesiah is still unaware that Zeke finally woke up. She's busy shooting what seems to be a freezing spell that has caught three large figures that loomed in a distance.
As Zeke looked at them, the names and ranks quickly came up.
[Name: Muz'thala Az'thul]
[Species: Undead]
[Specification: Goblin Skeleton Champion]
[Rank: D]
[Health: 10,000]
[Mana: None]
…
[Name: Jut'zal Zht'ais]
[Species: Undead]
[Specification: Goblin Skeleton Priest]
[Rank: D]
[Health: 8,000]
[Mana: 1,000]
…
[Name: Az'ghul Mol'thaw]
[Species: Undead]
[Specification: Goblin Skeleton King]
[Rank: D+]
[Health: 10,000]
[Mana: 1,000]
…
"Oh… you guys aren't going to stay hostile for long." He thought, smiling with excitement from the thought of being able to get three stronger monsters.
All around him, Zeke can see blue flames on where the monsters have died. There is a timer that counts [5:00] minutes, meaning any death that comes after this counter are rendered useless.
Zeke took mana potions from his inventory and, after consuming enough to regain his mana, he held more vials in between his fingers. Meanwhile, the monsters have already escaped the spell, breaking the confinement of ice as a strong force of wind came.
Zeke held Allesiah as she was about to faint from exhaustion. As soon as he did, three meteor-looking orbs of fire came after him. He got Allesiah and used [Quick Step] thrice. Bringing Allesiah safely at the side of Boulder.
The Champion quickly made a run after them but, Zeke simply jumped on top of it as he said:
"Conjure."
The tongues of fire grew in size and the room became filled with a hair-raising blue light. Soon after, figures started forming. The shade of blue dominates their color as they are made from mana. The monster Zeke is riding on got engulfed in the process, thrashing about and making Zeke jump off of it.
He then drank from the [Mana Potions] he has, throwing the empty containers and getting more from his inventory.
"Conjure." He repeated, making the room even brighter. The skill has a harder time creating animated versions of stronger monsters at its current rank. Thus, Zeke needs to repeat the skill a couple more times. This doesn't ensure that he could raise the [Hobgoblins] however, it does increase his chances.
The three monsters shouted as they fought with the small goblins that have appeared but, Zeke didn't plan on making them rest. Not one bit. With his three skills, [Legion's Banner], [Alpha's Domain], and [Merlin's Blessing], in effect, the [Conjured] monsters have become stronger – raising their rank by one. Meaning, right now, the [Hobgoblins] are as strong as the Champion and the Priest.
Two of these came out successfully after the second activation of [Conjure]. The [Hobgoblin Conjures] immediately charged with all three enemies having great difficulty in handling the mass of monsters.
"Pathetic." He thought as he stood at a safe distance with two conjured skeleton soldiers at his side. Unfortunately, all the remaining souls have broken after the second attempt. Leaving Zeke with more than half of the archers and soldiers and two hobgoblins.
The enemies didn't stand a chance and, was immediately overpowered. Zeke has half of his mana remaining, And, while he thought that the battle is already over, the [King] shouted, surrounding itself and its two subordinates in a red aura.
As Zeke looked at them, he saw a great difference.
[Name: Muz'thala Az'thul]
[Species: Undead]
[Specification: Blood Goblin Skeleton Champion]
[Rank: D+]
[Health: 15,000]
[Mana: None]
…
[Name: Jut'zal Zht'ais]
[Species: Undead]
[Specification: Blood Goblin Skeleton Priest]
[Rank: D+]
[Health: 10,000]
[Mana: 2,000]
…
[Name: Az'ghul Mol'thaw]
[Species: Undead]
[Specification: Blood Goblin Skeleton King]
[Rank: C-]
[Health: 15,000]
[Mana: 2,000]
The ranks of the monsters and their specification changed. Meaning, the King has a skill that forces an evolution on his comrades. Immediately, the two [Hobgoblin Conjures] and a lot of the small conjured monsters got destroyed.
"Conjure." Zeke said, raising them up again and drinking more [Potions] in order to restore his mana. However, he wasn't worried at all. In fact, his smile grew even more from the strengthened opponents.
"Conjure Mutation."
At this, his monsters screamed and became a single great blue flame. Both the Champion and the Priest tried hitting it but, everything that came in contact with the flame simply got burnt.
At this, the monsters focused their attention on Zeke. Something that he knew would happen soon.
[Mutation Failed]
[Mutation Succeeded!]
[Goblin Skeleton Grand Soldier is made.]
[Mutation Succeeded!]
[Mutation Failed]
[Mutation Succeeded!]
[Mutation Failed]
[Mutation Failed]
[Mutation Failed]
[Mutation Succeeded!]
Game windows kept popping up around the great blue flame and, while this continued, Zeke grabbed two swords that lay on the battlefield, dashing toward the three enemies.
He knew that the [Conjure Mutation] would take time so he fought these monsters head on, relying on [Quick Step] and the newly activated [Mana Conversion] to get him through the battle.
The Priest fired meteors at him but he avoided each attack, getting blasted away by being in its radius. He hit a wall in the process and, the [Champion] leaped to slice him up. Zeke used one of the swords to stab the wall, preventing him from falling. He then lunged himself up. Stepping on the sword as the [Champion's] sword came – slashing the wall below his own.
He then jumped up as another meteorite came. He dodged again but quickly remembered that, a blast will be made after.
"Crap." He said, as the blast flung him mid-air. The [King] smiled at this enemy being beaten down. It stood perfectly still with its sword held in front. Waiting, like a [King], for its men to finish the dirty work.
Another meteor came at Zeke while he is in the air and, upon the moment of contact, Zeke used [Quick Step] – using the meteor's surface as his footing in order to get away. The blast still hit him and, he's sent back to the ground, tumbling a few more meters away before being able to stand again.
His leg got burnt, this is the price he paid for trying to step on a flying ball of flame. And also, his back suffered the same fate as he was nearer within the blast radius this time around. The pain kept on agonizing him brutally but, as the [Lesser Regeneration] kicked in, his wounds began healing.
The Champion didn't give him time to heal these completely. It made a leap, throwing its sword beforehand to where Zeke is. With a half-healed leg, Zeke jumped away using [Quick Step]. The Champion reached the same location soon after and took hold of its sword again. Meanwhile, the ground began trembling, making Zeke jump up. It's a good thing that he did because, spikes came up from where he stood.
Zeke placed the blunt part of his sword below his foot and used it as his footing in order to avoid getting pierced. But then, the ground shook again, signaling another wave of these spikes. Zeke used another [Quick Step] moving further back, with the Champion, running through the spikes, ready to hit him.
As he landed, the Champion is already there. Meteors came flying towards him and, while he ran out of steps to make during this bout. The conjuring flames finally finished. With a dark blue figure rushing in, hitting the Champion with such force that, it is sent flying toward the meteors. Both vanished in an instant, leaving ashes of the Champion in the process.
The King howled at its fallen comrade and finally took up its sword.
"Took you long enough." Zeke said, completely healing his leg and his back as he looked at the newly conjured monster.
[Name: None]
[Species: Conjured Skeleton]
[Specification: Goblin Grand Knight]
[Rank: D+]
[Health: 10,500]
[Mana: 2,500]
As the three passives of Zeke took effect, the monster grew even stronger. Raising its rank to [C-]. The conjured monster wielded a single sword together with a shield made of dark blue flames. Its whole body is covered in dark blue armor, with the small openings showing a raging flame hiding inside. Its helmet looks like something worn by a real knight, creating a figure that looks more human than monstrous.
As the [King] neared them, Zeke gave a single order to his [Knight].
"Devour."