Chapter 10 : Battle of creed 1
Lucian wiped sweat from his brow as he pocketed the Fog Basilisk Fang, cracking his neck. "Oi, system, don't hold out on me. What's next? I'm ready to send another poor soul back to their maker."
The air grew frigid. A bone-chilling cold settled over the battlefield as the faint sound of hooves echoed in the distance. Lucian's eyes narrowed, his breath visible in the icy air.
Ding…
Incoming Challenge!
Lucian turned to the horizon, spotting a dark figure galloping toward him. As it approached, the mist parted to reveal a massive knight astride an armored spectral steed. The knight's armor pulsed with necrotic energy, dark runes glowing faintly along its surface. The steed's mane and tail burned with flickering blue flames, its hooves leaving trails of frost with every step.
The system chimed again.
Quest: Defeat the Deathbound Cavalry (0/1)
Rank: Mid-Level Demon (D)
Description: The Deathbound Cavalry is a hybrid of death magic and elemental power. A harbinger of destruction, it combines the relentless assault of a death knight with the elemental fury of its enchanted steed. Be prepared for a battle of endurance and strategy, as this foe is as cunning as it is brutal.
Skills:
Soul Cleave: A devastating melee attack infused with necrotic energy, capable of weakening the target's vitality.
Frost Gallop: Charges with explosive speed, leaving a trail of ice and slowing everything in its path.
Death Surge: Summons an AOE wave of death magic that saps health and stamina from nearby foes.
Elemental Resonance: The steed can unleash elemental attacks (fire, ice, or lightning) depending on its rider's command.
Reward:
200 Faith Points
Spectral Knight's Amulet (Boosts resistance to death magic and elemental attacks)
Deathbound Steed's Core (Crafting Material)
Failure:
50% stamina drain for 24 hours
Permanent decrease of -3 Strength
Lucian rolled his eyes. "Of course, a bloody knight riding a magic horse. How original. Let me guess, it also has a dramatic villain laugh?"
The Deathbound Knight unsheathed a massive black blade crackling with dark energy and pointed it at Lucian. Its voice echoed unnaturally.
"Face me, mortal. I shall send you to the abyss!"
Lucian smirked. "Oh, it talks. Great, now I've got to deal with a chatty ghost knight. Alright, mate, let's dance."
The Deathbound Knight spurred its steed, launching into a Frost Gallop. Ice crystals spread across the ground as the steed charged, its glowing blue eyes locked on Lucian.
Lucian sidestepped at the last second, narrowly avoiding the devastating charge. He summoned Mediodis, shifting it into a dual-sided glaive. Lightning crackled along the blade as he swung at the passing knight, but the steed's icy aura deflected the blow.
"Oi, system, this thing's built like a bloody fortress! Gimme something useful here!"
The Deathbound Knight turned, raising its sword. A wave of necrotic energy pulsed outward as it unleashed Death Surge. The ground turned black, and Lucian felt his energy being sapped.
"Alright, nope, we're not doing that." Lucian leaped back, activating his lightning affinity to counteract the draining effect. Sparks danced across his body as he charged forward, aiming for the knight's exposed flank.
The knight blocked with its massive sword, the clash of blades sending shockwaves through the air. The steed reared, releasing a burst of icy wind that sent Lucian skidding back.
"Cool trick, but you're not the only one with elemental flair!" Lucian shouted, summoning a concentrated bolt of lightning and hurling it at the steed. The energy struck its flaming mane, causing it to rear back in pain.
The knight snarled, raising its sword. "You dare defile the Deathbound Cavalry? I shall obliterate you!"
Lucian laughed. "Defile? Mate, you're the one bringing death vibes to my nice walk. Let me send you back to wherever spooky hole you came from."
The knight dismounted, its steed circling Lucian with frost-covered hooves. The knight advanced, unleashing a flurry of precise, devastating strikes with Soul Cleave. Lucian parried, the necrotic energy sparking against his weapon.
"Alright, this guy's got skills. Respect," Lucian muttered.
He shifted his glaive into a longsword, summoning a burst of gravity magic. The ground beneath the knight cracked as the sudden increase in pressure caused it to stagger. Lucian darted in, slashing at the gaps in the knight's armor.
The steed intervened, releasing a burst of lightning from its burning mane. Lucian barely dodged, rolling to the side and retaliating with a bolt of his own.
"Oi, horsey, stay in your lane!" he shouted, launching a gravity-enhanced leap onto the steed's back. He drove Mediodis into its spine, channeling both lightning and gravity into the strike. The steed shrieked, its elemental aura faltering as it collapsed.
The knight roared in rage, its sword glowing with malevolent energy. Lucian turned just in time to block a powerful downward strike, the force sending him to one knee.
"You're strong, I'll give you that," Lucian grunted. "But you're not the only one who can play dirty."
He activated his Eyes of Truth, locking onto the knight's core. A dark orb pulsed within its chestplate.
"Found you, mate," Lucian said with a grin.
With a burst of speed, he drove Mediodis into the core, shattering it in a burst of necrotic light. The knight let out a final, ear-splitting scream as its body disintegrated into ash.
The battlefield fell silent. Lucian staggered, catching his breath.
"Alright, system. That was a proper workout. What's next?"
Ding…
Quest Complete! Rewards Granted.
Lucian stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles, basking in the aftermath of the intense battle. "Oi, system, what's next? Throw me something spicy, yeah? I'm warmed up now."
The ground beneath him rumbled, the vibrations growing stronger with each passing second. Lucian's smirk faded as cracks spiderwebbed across the earth, and a metallic gleam caught his eye.
A massive, silver-armored beast burst from the ground, sending debris flying. Its body was covered in reflective silver plates, each piece shimmering like a polished mirror. The creature stood tall, balancing on powerful hind legs, its razor-sharp claws glinting in the light. Its armored tail swung menacingly behind it, carving grooves into the ground as it moved.
Ding…
Incoming Challenge!
Name: Argentclad Armadillo
Rank: Mid-Level Demon C
Description: The Argentclad Armadillo is a heavily armored mid-tier demon known for its unparalleled defense and ferocious offensive capabilities. Its claws are coated in a deadly silver alloy capable of shredding through most materials, while its reflective armor can deflect or absorb magical attacks.
Skills:
Silver Slash: A devastating claw attack that can cleave through armor and flesh.
Reflective Guard: Temporarily reflects magical attacks back at the caster.
Armored Spin: A high-speed rolling attack that crushes everything in its path.
Burrow Ambush: Digs underground and launches surprise attacks from beneath.
Reward:
300 Faith Points
Silver Demon Core (Crafting Material)
Argentclad Bracers (Enhances physical and magical defense)
Failure:
Severe internal injuries (temporary stat debuff for 48 hours)
Permanent decrease of -5 Dexterity
Lucian blinked, rubbing his temples. "Right. Of course, it's got claws sharper than my wit and armor tougher than my patience. System, you're killing me here."
The Argentclad Armadillo let out a guttural roar, its claws raking the ground as it charged toward Lucian.
Lucian quickly summoned Mediodis, shifting it into a twin-bladed spear. He crouched, lightning crackling around him as he prepared to meet the charge.
"Alright, shiny boy, let's see if you're all bark and no bite!"
Lucian darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the Argentclad Armadillo's charge. The beast crashed into a nearby boulder, shattering it into dust. Its silver armor gleamed menacingly in the aftermath, reflecting the faint glow of Lucian's lightning.
Lucian twirled his twin-bladed spear, sparks dancing along its edges. "Alright, shiny boy, I see you like to play rough. But guess what? So do I!"
The armadillo roared and spun into a tight ball, its armored plates locking into place. With a deafening screech, it launched itself at Lucian in a deadly Armored Spin.
Lucian crouched low, his instincts screaming. He planted his spear into the ground and used it as a pole to vault into the air. The armadillo whizzed past beneath him, cutting a deep trench into the earth.
"Yo, chill! I'm not trying to redecorate the place!" Lucian shouted mid-flip, landing gracefully a few meters away.
The beast uncoiled, glaring at him with glowing red eyes. It dug its claws into the ground, and Lucian's eyes widened. "Oh no, I know what you're up to!"
The armadillo sank Into the ground with surprising speed, disappearing into the earth.
Lucian groaned, scanning his surroundings. "Seriously? You're pulling the burrow trick? Typical coward move, my guy." He tightened his grip on Mediodis, electricity surging along the blade.
The ground rumbled beneath him, and Lucian instinctively leapt to the side just as the armadillo burst forth. Its claws sliced through the space he had occupied moments ago, leaving deep furrows in the earth.
"Missed me, shiny boy!" Lucian taunted, channeling lightning into his spear. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, aiming for the exposed joints in the creature's armor.
CLANG!!!
The spear struck, but the silver plates deflected the blow, sending vibrations up Lucian's arms.
"Damn! This thing's built like a fortress," he muttered, shaking his hands.
The armadillo retaliated with a swipe of its claws. Lucian barely managed to block, the force of the attack pushing him back.
"You've got claws, but do you have brains?" Lucian quipped, jumping back to create some distance.
The armadillo roared again, charging forward. Lucian grinned, his eyes glowing faintly as he activated Eyes of Truth.
Ding… Target Weak Point Identified: Unarmored Abdomen.
Lucian's grin widened. "Gotcha now, tin can!"
The armadillo lunged at him, claws raised for another swipe. Lucian rolled under its attack, positioning himself beneath its massive body. With a burst of lightning-infused strength, he drove his spear upward into the creature's soft underbelly.
The beast let out an ear-piercing screech, thrashing violently. Lucian held firm, channeling electricity into the spear.
"Let's see how you like being zapped, you oversized tank!"
The lightning surged through the armadillo's body, causing its movements to grow erratic. It tried to retreat, but Lucian wasn't letting go. He yanked his spear free and jumped clear just as the creature collapsed.
Panting, Lucian watched as the beast struggled to rise. He wiped sweat from his brow and smirked. "Still kicking, huh? Respect. But this is where we end it."
Summoning the last of his energy, Lucian charged forward. The armadillo swung its claws desperately, but Lucian ducked and weaved through its attacks. He leapt onto its back, raising his spear high.
"Say goodnight, shiny boy!" he shouted, driving the spear into the back of the creature's neck. A final surge of lightning coursed through its body, and the armadillo let out a final, pitiful roar before collapsing in a lifeless heap.
Ding…
Quest Complete!
Rewards Granted:
300 Faith Points
Silver Demon Core
Argentclad Bracers
Lucian dropped to the ground, sitting cross-legged beside the fallen beast. "Whew… That was a workout. You were one tough nut to crack, shiny boy. Respect."
He glanced at the shimmering bracers in his hands and grinned. "Well, don't mind if I do."
With a satisfied sigh, he stood up and stretched. "Alright, system. Who's next?"