Just as I was getting desperate, |Analyze| suddenly locked on to something.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: ???
Race: Kobold
Gender: Male
Age: 3 Years
Level: 12
Health: 500/500
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 84
Agility: 57
Intelligence: 16
Willpower: 10
Status: Stable
Skills: |Bite| |Power Slash|
Unique Skill: N/A
Titles N/A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
("A… Kobold? Spirit Guide, what is that?") [Solace]
"Response: A humanoid monster with the appearance of man and wolf. Kobolds primarily hunt in packs and are capable of crafting simple weapons such as wooden or stone clubs. They also have the tendency to gather shiny objects and usually equip themselves with weapons and armor found from dead adventurers or any unfortunate being that they encounter." [Spirit Guide]
("So… like a werewolf, but with swords and armor.") [Solace]
There was no response.
("...Well I guess I'll see it soon.") [Solace]
Judging from the direction my |Analyze| locked on, it seemed that the Kobold was ahead of our group. I tried focusing harder on the darkness, but my eyes couldn't adjust with the light from Nash's |Kindle|.
("Damn, that light's annoying. If only it wasn't here.") [Solace]
I focused my eyes even more, practically squinting with my non-existent eyes.
"You have acquired |Night Vision|." [Spirit Guide]
("Hm?") [Solace]
Just then, my vision cleared a bit. I was able to see a bit more detail than before, which allowed me to barely make out the silhouette of something down our path.
("Is that… the kobold?") [Solace]
I saw a humanoid figure that seemed to be five to six feet tall. If I were to try to be accurate, maybe it was 5 foot 10 inches? Anyway, it held some kind of stick which was bigger on one end. Presumably, it was a weapon. As I tried to get more details, I saw its eyes flash towards our little group.
("Oh crap.") [Solace]
"Warning: An individual containing hostility has been detected." [Spirit Guide]
("Yeah, kind of noticed that already!") [Solace]
The kobold turned our way and approached us. It was not until it had stepped into the light that Fina and the others were alerted.
"Stop! One monster ahead!" [Nash]
The kobold revealed itself to be something that looked like a human, but completely covered in blue fur. It had the head of a wolf and claws that gleamed in the light. It's legs freaked me out a bit due to the fact that it was bent backwards like the hind legs of a dog, which of course, is not normal for me.
"Formation!" [Jai]
With a few words spoken, the students went into action. Jai stepped up to the front, Nash in the back, and Medley stood in the middle with Fina.
"Jai, recon!" [Nash]
"One kobold!" [Jai]
Information bounced around quickly, but the noise they made seemed to aggravate the kobold.
("It's attacking!") [Solace]
Letting out a low growl, the kobold lunged at Jai with a wooden club in hand.
"|Earthen Shield|!" [Jai]
Reacting quickly, Jai reached an arm into the ground and pulled out what looked to be a shield formed out of rock.
"You have acquired |Earthen Shield|." [Spirit Guide]
("...Convenient.") [Solace]
The kobold smashed its club into Jai's shield, shattering its weapon into splinters.
"Now!" [Nash]
"|Liquid Bullet|!" [Medley]
Heeding Nash's instructions, Medley fired a droplet of water through the kobold's eye.
"Bullseye!" [Medley]
The kobold howled in pain, and turned its attention towards Medley.
"Alert: A nearby individual has entered an |Enraged| state." [Spirit Guide]
("What?") [Solace]
Hearing the information just given, I had the odd reflex of quickly checking the kobold's status once again.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: ???
Race: Kobold
Gender: Male
Age: 3 Years
Level: 12
Health: 237/500
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 120
Agility: 83
Intelligence: 13
Willpower: 30
Status: Enraged
Skills: |Bite| |Power Slash|
Unique Skill: N/A
Titles N/A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
("Hold up, did its stats just rise?!") [Solace]
I was left baffled. I didn't think the kobold would become stronger just from getting mad. It threw away the broken club and clawed at Jai's rock shield.
"|Reinforce|!" [Jai]
Yelling aloud, a dim glow seemed to shine around Jai.
"You have acquired |Reinforce|." [Spirit Guide]
("Oh, nice.") [Solace]
Jai dug his feet into the ground, keeping the kobold at bay.
"Medley, finish it off!" [Jai]
"On it! |Liquid Bullet|!" [Medley]
She began to point a spell at the kobold, but it had learned. As if it had remembered Medley's attack, it stepped sideways to avoid the |Liquid Bullet| and somehow moved past Jai's defense.
"Jai! Defend Medley!" [Nash]
"Medley, move!" [Jai]
Dropping his shield, Jai tried to catch the kobold.
("He's not going to make it!") [Solace]
The kobold was too fast. It's hind legs packed so much power that it could have possibly rivaled a cheetah. Within an instant, it had Medley in its grasp.
"Ugh…!" [Medley]
The kobold held its hands around her neck, but didn't move. It was then that I realized that the monster had intelligence.
("It's holding her hostage?!") [Solace]
Everyone stood still. It was as if time had stopped at that very moment.
("...A standoff?") [Solace]