Chapter 17: The Unseen Foe
Cruz could feel his blood roaring defiantly, his body fighting against the gnawing pain of the wound at his back. The deep gash had worsened, and now a sickly purple liquid mixed with his blood dripped from it, staining the ground beneath him.
His vision blurred for a moment, and he knew he was in trouble. His health points were declining fast, and the venomous burn from the wound was relentless.
He glanced at his health:
Health Points (HP): 23/55
The low number made his heart pound. No time to think about the pain. No time to think about death.
He needed to survive.
The creature, a grotesque assassin born of the gate, loomed ahead of him, its thin, blade-like limbs twitching unnervingly. Cruz stumbled, momentarily losing his footing. He glanced at the spear in his hand, feeling an odd disconnect.
He had always been used to his daggers—the swiftness, the precision, the comfort of knowing exactly how each blade moved in his hand. The spear felt foreign, like an extension of himself he didn't know how to use.
Frustration mounted. He had grown too reliant on his daggers, but now wasn't the time for regret.
As Cruz tried to steady his breathing, the creature moved again, a blur of speed, vanishing into the shadows. It circled him, ready to strike. He unclasped his spear quietly, the cloth that had wrapped it brushing against his sizzling wound, making him wince. His hands trembled as he repositioned himself, barely sidestepping the assassin's strike.
He missed his counterattack and stumbled into a nearby tree, the bark scratching his arm. But then something strange happened. The assassin reacted—swiftly, unnervingly—to the sound of the collision. The pieces clicked together in Cruz's mind.
The creature was blind.
Why hadn't he noticed it before? Of course, he had been so caught up in the chaos of the fight that he hadn't even applied common sense. The creature relied on sound and movement to track him. But now that he knew, Cruz realized he had a chance.
He stood still, allowing his blood to drip to the ground as his body tried to heal the wound. His vitality had always been a reliable trait, but every time the healing process began, the poison would flare up, tearing the gash open again. His life was teetering on a knife's edge. One wrong move, one more mistake, and he would die.
His mind raced as he pulled up his stats.
Character Profile: Cruz Hernandez
Race: Human
Level: 7
Health Points (HP): 23/55
Mana Points (MP): 9/55
Stamina: 12/65
[Poisoned]
He couldn't keep this up.
The assassin lunged toward him, its speed unnerving. Cruz dodged to the side, the creature missing by inches. In a split second, the assassin threw a small dagger attached to a string, trying to yank the spear out of his grasp. Cruz pulled the spear back with all his strength, dragging the assassin closer. The creature hissed as it activated its skill.
[Lethal Strike]
Effect: A precise stab aimed at a target's vital points. Deals 150% weapon damage to targets below 30% health.
It leaped toward him, aiming to take his head off. Cruz roared, his voice echoing in the dark, a defiant cry against the odds. But his roar wasn't just for show. He had a plan.
Letting go of the spear, he drew the assassin closer. As it lost balance from the sudden pull, Cruz lunged at its neck with his dagger. The creature barely deflected the blow, but the dagger scraped against its skin, producing a grating sound that sent the assassin into a fit of hysterical shrieking. Its heightened sense of hearing betrayed it.
Cruz wasted no time. He stepped back, grabbing his spear again. His mana was slowly regenerating, but he needed more time.
Mana Points (MP): 12/55
The assassin snarled, recovering from its brief disorientation. Cruz realized something crucial: prolonged darkness had enhanced the creature's other senses, especially its hearing. And now he could exploit that weakness.
He grinned darkly. The creature's grotesque form flickered in the shadows, its blade-arms twitching as it prepared for another strike. Cruz wasn't going to fight fair. This wasn't a match where he could afford honor. It was kill or be killed.
The assassin grunted and disappeared again.
[Cloak of Shadows]
Effect: Enters an invisibility state for 7 seconds, increasing movement speed by 15% and critical strike chance by 10%.
It vanished from sight, and Cruz felt his heart skip a beat. He couldn't see it. Not again. He was about to panic, but something stopped him. He still had his [Earth Sense].
The assassin's ghostly movements were barely detectable as it darted toward him, its blade ready to strike. Cruz tensed, preparing for the moment. The creature was fast, too fast. For a brief second, Cruz considered using [Descent of Primus]. But he stopped himself. He had no idea what that power would do in a dungeon that was already unpredictable.
Instead, he waited.
As the assassin closed in, Cruz scraped his dagger against the spear again, producing another piercing sound. The creature flinched, disoriented by the noise. Cruz lunged forward, spear in hand, and pierced its form, driving the weapon deep into its chest.
The assassin screeched, its voice sending tremors through Cruz's body. His insides twisted in pain, but he fought through it. He withdrew the spear and, without hesitation, plunged his dagger into the assassin's head. Dark, acrid blood sprayed from the wound as the creature's body flickered like a shadow, its form unstable.
But then, just as Cruz thought he had gained the upper hand, the creature vanished in a puff of smoke.
[Smoke Bomb]
Effect: Releases a cloud of dark smoke, reducing visibility and accuracy. The assassin becomes untargetable for 3 seconds.
Smoke filled the air, obscuring Cruz's vision. He coughed, eyes watering as he tried to track the creature. His [Earth Sense] provided nothing; the assassin was too fast, too slippery. The seconds dragged on, and panic clawed at his mind.
Was the creature retreating? No, it was hurt but not out of the fight. The silence around him only made the situation worse.
Mana Points (MP): 17/55
Finally, his mana had regenerated enough for one last attempt at [Shadow Thrust]. It was his best chance, perhaps his only one.
The smoke began to clear, and Cruz braced himself. His heart hammered in his chest, the poison in his veins making each breath feel heavier. He knew the assassin was still nearby, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
He held his spear tightly, his body tense. His senses screamed that danger was imminent, but nothing could prepare him for the speed at which the assassin moved. Its thin blade shot toward him with lethal intent. At the last moment, Cruz sidestepped the strike, barely avoiding the blow.
The assassin hissed, frustrated by its failure. Cruz couldn't let this drag on any longer. His health was low, his stamina nearly gone. This fight had to end now.
With a deep breath, Cruz activated [Shadow Thrust].
The world seemed to slow down around him. His body moved with the shadows, becoming one with the darkness. In that instant, everything was silent. The assassin lunged at him again, but Cruz was faster. He thrust his spear forward, aiming for the creature's heart.
His spear pierced through the assassin's chest, the tip emerging from its back. The creature let out a gurgling shriek, its body convulsing as dark blood spilled onto the ground.
For a moment, Cruz stood there, panting, the spear still embedded in the assassin's body. The creature twitched one last time before its form dissolved into shadows, leaving behind only a pile of ash and a faint echo of its final scream.
Cruz fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His health was dangerously low, and his body felt like it was on fire from the poison coursing through his veins. But he had won. He had survived.