The shockwave ripped through the ground in great length, creating a slash mark a few inches deep. Something's wrong. I've researched the Town of Genesis and had a look at all the nearby dungeons, and in this one, the mini-boss Kobold Captain isn't said to be this strong, it's absurd.
[Kreek, human, dare to invade our domain!]
The words spoken by the Kobold captain sent shivers down my spine. It's quite unusual to encounter a mini-boss that can actually speak, especially for kobolds. They aren't known for using the human tongue. Typically, only highly intelligent monsters possess the ability to communicate in languages other than their own. This revelation led me to believe that the captain is not just any ordinary boss; it must be a named boss of considerable significance.
Dark smog covered its body as its eyes glowed dark red, I took a few steps back allowing myself some space as I carefully observed the surrounding for a way out of this, since the horde of kobolds is gone then I could go back to the way we came from, but that would lead to a dead end, then the only choice is going forward and hope that I meet another party.
"Shit, that'll be hard."
[Human, prepare to die!]
It closed the gap between us almost in an instant and I reacted to it as I followed the pathway of [Death Mark], as I took a step forward, then it swung its giant sword down using both of his hands. I went in further into the gap it created by utilizing my speed and size difference as I stabbed the illuminated parts on the sides of his stomach, penetrating the gap between its armor.
[You deal critical damage!]
[You deal 98 damage!]
[You deal critical damage!]
[You deal 98 damage!]
After that, I slid beneath him and took a couple more steps back; I was fortunate in that moment, but I have to wrap this up within 30 seconds; otherwise, I'll lose my greatest advantage in this fight. However, contemplating the situation, I questioned the need to engage in combat. Since our original positions have already reversed, I could simply choose to flee.
[Damn, human!]
It howled in rage as it turned around to charge at me, and at that moment, it was decided.
"I'll run away!"
I ran, and it followed me.
[Come back here you rat, face me!]
"No! Don't want to!"
[You coward!]
20 seconds…
[Fight me!!]
"Never!!"
10 seconds…
I sprinted with all my might, but I couldn't seem to shake off the relentless pursuit of the kobold. Surprisingly, it matched my speed stride for stride, refusing to fall behind. As this intense chase continued unabated, I realized I had no other option but to locate the exit of the cave...
"Hey, do you hear that?"
"Yeah, the ground is shaking as well."
This gave me a maniacal idea, as a wide yet evil smile spread on my face. I ran in the direction where their voices echoed out from, and I saw the light of a torch and a familiar face.
"Zolan, you traitor! Take this!"
"H-huh? Azrael, you're alive?!"
"Wait, what is that?!"
"Oh lord, it's a Kobold Captain!"
"Wait, why is he running towards us?!"
"Run, you fools!"
With a well-balanced party composition consisting of approximately six players, the odds were in our favor. However, I couldn't help but fear that soon those six players would be reduced to mere casualties. If I chose to escape alone, I could secure my own safety and continue my journey without hindrance. On the other hand, if we stuck together, we might have a chance to confront and defeat the boss.
2 seconds… until I run out of mana.
[So you've called upon your allies!]
Nope, I'll just run away… I reached the party players in a short amount of time and I canceled the [Shadow Step] skill and got past the party of players.
"W-wait, you bastard!"
"This is a boss pass!"
Boss pass or mob pass, it's a term by which you pass the boss or mobs to an unexpecting group of heroes, its opposite is luring where you lure the boss or horde of mobs into a trap where your party is waiting for the boss or mobs.
"You'll pay for this!"
The echoes of their battle filled the air, reverberating with intensity as the Kobold Captain clashed with their party. Amidst the tumult, an agonizing scream pierced through, a testament to the fierce struggle. Strangely, I felt no remorse for their plight; instead, a sense of satisfaction welled up within me. This outcome brought me an unexpected joy, as it granted me an early taste of revenge against Zolan.
I got as far as I could and I entered a dead end sticking to the side of the entrance I rested letting my mana regenerate back to full, I checked the updated version of my skills and just smiled, with this I might kill the boss, if and only if I've someone with me to attract their attention.
******
Dual Wielding (II): When you're wielding two weapons, your damage deals an additional 30%.
Shadow Step (II): You can continuously consume mana 2 mana per second to move faster in the shadows and in darkness Increase by 30%.
Death Mark (II): grants you the ability to place a mark of impending death upon a target for an hour. Once marked, a luminous trail of light will guide you to the location where the target's demise is destined to occur, revealing the method of their demise. Striking the mark guarantees a critical hit, delivering devastating damage. Moreover, any critical strikes directed at marked targets unleash an additional 100% critical damage. This costs 20% of your mana to cast, but if you kill the marked creature within the time frame. You can freely switch it to a different creature with no mana cost.
******
,After half an hour, I got up and stretched.
"Hopefully, they dealt enough damage to it."
Fighting a monster like that would surely attract the attention of nearby players and mobs. If I were to go back there, then it might either be a place full of dead players or dead kobolds.
"Good thing [Death Mark] is still active."
[Duration: 10 Minutes!]
With [Death Mark] I could see the streak of light leading me back to the boss, I used the same method I did when I traversed through the forest; it isn't as fast as when it was continuously active when I ran away, but it's still a pretty fast method of travel.
In any case… I need to defeat that thing in…
[Duration: 5 Minutes!]
Bloodied plate armor, hundreds of dead corpses player and kobold alike laying on the ground. A strange aura of death surrounds it, its giant sword drenched in blood and its body damaged. Its gaze fixated on me as it raised the giant sword one more time, letting out a rage-filled roar.
[There you are, rat!]
"Yeah, here I am."