Without further ado, the three candidates took position before the crystal. Since Aahan excelled in close quarters, he stood vanguard, followed by Maya with her bow, and lastly, Arjun stood at the back.
As they prepared to deal with the incoming wave of demons their way, Aahan was busy staring at his weapon for the round.
The Katar was unlike any weapon Aahan had seen, let alone wield. Its blade was as black as the depths of the Yamuna River and was engraved with intricate patterns representing the Naga serpent's scales.
The handle was wrapped in dark leather for a secure grip, and a small compartment in the middle of the blade contained some kind of liquid, which Aahan later realised was poison.
But the katar had much more significance than Aahan thought initially. He only recognised the blade's value when he was informed about it by his ID.
---
[Kaliya's Fang]
Rank: C-
History: Kaliya was a mighty serpent who resided in the Yamuna River. When Lord Krishna danced on the serpent's many heads, Kaliya was humbled and surrendered to the divine.
Kaliya's Venomous Katar is said to be crafted from a scale shed by the repentant Naga as a symbol of submission to the divine will.
Stat(s):
- Durability: 100/100
- Attack Power: 40-55 HP per strike
- Weight: 1.5 kg
Bonus stat(s):
- Speed: +10% agility when equipped
Unique Ability:
Poisonous Strike: The blade of Kaliya's Fang is coated with a potent venom that seeps into wounds inflicted by the weapon.
Upon a successful hit, the poison deals damage over time to the target, sapping their health for an additional 5 seconds after the initial strike. (Poison deals 10HP damage per second for 5 seconds.)
[Description]:
The poison ability makes it a favoured weapon among assassins and those who prefer a stealthy approach. A single well-placed strike can incapacitate an opponent over time, allowing the wielder to slip away undetected.
However, due to its somewhat fragile nature and relatively lower attack power than higher-ranked weapons, it is best suited for those who value subtlety and finesse over brute force.
---
Although Aahan wasn't sure about preferring finesse over brute force, Kaliya's fang was the perfect weapon for him as it suited his newly acquired stealth skill.
But Aahan wasn't sure if he should reveal the skill in front of everyone as they would surely question him about the skill later.
'If it comes to it, I'd rather reveal the skill than get myself disqualified,' Aahan took a deep breath and prepared to face the demons.
"Are you ready?" Amrita asked the trio, who nodded back. "Then, let's begin!"
With Amrita's signal, the creatures appeared out of nowhere and charged toward them with menacing snarls and outstretched claws.
Aahan gripped his Katar tightly, his muscles tense with anticipation. Behind him, Maya notched an arrow to her bow, her gaze locked onto the demon in the lead.
As a dozen demons closed in, their grotesque forms became more distinct. They had gnarled, misshapen limbs, and their eyes gleamed with malice. Each step they took kicked up dust from the desolate ground, adding an eerie atmosphere to the impending battle.
"These are Vetals, Preta-level threat," Arjun said as he stepped forward. "Also known as Soul leeches, they feed on the souls of living beings by latching onto them and always attack in groups."
He continued, "They're weak creatures on their own, but once they attach to a host, they become a formidable threat. Our best strategy is to prevent them from latching onto us in the first place."
"What?" Aahan was a bit confused. "If they can latch onto us, how am I supposed to deal with them using a katar!?"
"Relax, information is power!" Arjun smirked. "Maya would be the star of this round while we protect her, and by we, I mean you, Aahan. Make sure none of those creeps can get close to her."
Maya nodded, her fingers deftly nocking an arrow to her bowstring. She took a deep breath, her aim steady as she released the first arrow. It flew true, striking one of the Vetals and causing it to dissipate into a wisp of ghostly mist.
But there was no time to celebrate. The other Vetals, undeterred by their companion's demise, rushed forward. Aahan, armed with his Katar, stepped forward to counter them, believing in Maya's skill to protect him while he protected her.
As he moved, Aahan could feel his feet moving faster. No, not only his feet. Every action he executed was faster than what he was capable of. It took a couple of minutes, but he soon got used to the increased agility bonus offered by Kaliya's fang.
Meanwhile, a Vetal attempted to attach itself to Aahan's arm, but he spun away, swinging the katar in a massive arc. With a swift, calculated strike, he severed the demon's head. It let out a spine-chilling wail before fading into nothingness.
Maya continued to provide cover fire. Her arrows found their marks with uncanny accuracy. Their translucent forms flickered like dying embers in the eerie light of the demon realm.
"Good work, guys! Only a few of them are left!" Arjun cheered them on from the sidelines until he saw something. "Aahan, Maya! Look out!"
A Vetal, determined to breach their defences, made a sudden, lunging leap toward Maya. She was defenceless, but Aahan rushed to her aid. He intercepted the creature's path as his blade slashed through the air, impaling the demon's heart and turning it into mist.
"You good?" Aahan asked Maya, who nodded and immediately got back to work.
Something weird happened as Aahan got into position to deal with the remaining Vetals. Maya raised her bow above her head, stretching the bowstring as far as possible.
The following moment, Maya's bow shimmered with a mystical silver light. Aahan watched in awe as countless icy-blue ghostly arrows materialised above her.
In one fluid motion, Maya released the bowstring, and the ethereal arrows descended upon the remaining Vetals like a rain of deadly icicles.
The demons, caught off guard, were impaled by the spectral projectiles. Their ghostly forms wailed in agony as they dissipated into nothingness, leaving only a chilling mist behind.
Aahan, his Katar was hoisted, ready to fight, couldn't help but be amazed by the sheer power of Maya's skill. As every Vetal got turned into mist.
<78 KP have been assigned to you for defeating 3 Vetals!>
<250 KP have been assigned to you for surviving the first wave!>