Ten.
Ten minutes had passed since the battle began, and the air was thick with tension. A deep gash slashed across Noah's chest, blood seeping from the wound like a crimson river, struggling to stem its flow.
I can't do this alone... Gozen, Mohrolt, I need your help!
The relentless onslaught of the Alpha had left Noah on the brink of despair. Each attack came like a storm, threatening to engulf him whole.
The beast crouched low, muscles coiling like a spring ready to unleash hell. With a roar, it lunged at him once more, a blur of fur and fury.
Think fast!
Noah propelled himself into the air, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws of the creature. The scythe in his hands whirled with deadly precision, its blade aimed at the monster's exposed neck. But the Alpha was no ordinary beast. It dug its powerful hind legs into the ground, uprooting stone and earth, and twisted its body with terrifying agility, claws meeting the weapon mid-strike.
Now, Gozen!
Seizing the moment of distraction, the skeleton warrior stepped into the fray. Legs spread wide, Gozen centered himself, the remnants of his hand grasping the hilt of his katana. He surged forward, determination igniting in his empty eye sockets.
Suddenly, the Alpha turned, sensing the new threat. Its muscles tightened, bluish veins pulsing beneath its skin like rivers of rage.
With a ferocious leap, the creature charged, claws poised to shred anything in its path.
Gozen, undeterred, sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and precise. As the claws whooshed past him, he unsheathed his katana, its blade glinting in the dim light.
"Consecutive Slashes!"
He struck with blinding speed, his weapon cutting through the air. Each slash created a series of ethereal crosses, distorting the space around him as if reality itself bent to his will. The air shimmered as a rift tore open, hurtling toward the Alpha.
Splat!
The beast's once impenetrable hide now bore two deep, agonizing cuts, exposing the ribcage beneath its flesh.
"This is for my master!"
Gozen roared, fury fueling his every move.
Noah, having regained a fragment of strength, leaped forward again, determination igniting within him. With a powerful thrust, he closed the distance, positioning himself just meters away from the furious creature.
The Alpha tracked Noah's movement, preparing to deliver a final blow. Its right arm swelled, muscles rippling with power, poised to crush him.
Noah's heart raced.
Now or never.
As he faced the beast, the Alpha's paw shot forward like a cannonball, intent on delivering a fatal strike.
Not again!
Noah bent his knees and launched himself skyward, narrowly escaping the lethal attack. But the beast was quick, its instincts honed by countless battles. With a snap of its powerful hips, it initiated a counterattack, the left paw slicing through the air toward Noah's face.
"Move, kid!!"
The onlookers screamed in unison, their voices a chorus of desperation.
"Do it, Mohrolt!"
Noah shouted, determination lacing his voice.
"Gàeth Tinfed!"
A powerful gust of wind erupted behind Noah, swirling like a tempest. For an instant, he vanished from sight, the world around him blurring as he teleported.
I won't let this chance slip away!
Noah reappeared behind the beast, his scythe raised high. With a primal scream, he swung down with all his might.
Splat!
The Alpha froze for a heartbeat, its arm still extended forward as if frozen in time. Then, it collapsed, a torrent of bluish blood pooling around it, the ground quaking beneath the force of its fall.
But Noah knew this wasn't over. The beast writhed in agony, refusing to yield easily. Its powerful body thrashed violently, blood spraying in all directions as it fought to regain its footing.
"Get up! We need to finish this!"
Noah commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"Right!"
Gozen replied, readying his katana for another decisive strike.
With a thunderous roar, the Alpha rose once more, its eyes burning with a feral intensity. The previous wounds oozed blood, but they only fueled its rage. Noah could see the determination etched into its savage gaze—the will to fight until its last breath.
"Stay sharp!"
Noah warned, glancing at Mohrolt, who stood at the ready.
"We can't let it catch us off guard again!"
With a guttural growl, the Alpha lunged again, its jaws snapping inches from Noah's face. He braced himself, feeling the rush of wind as he dodged to the side, narrowly escaping the creature's deadly fangs.
The beast wasn't done. It turned its attention back to Noah, muscles coiling as it prepared for another strike. He could see its claws glistening in the dim light, sharp and ready to maim.
"Gozen, now!"
Noah commanded, his heart pounding.
Gozen charged in, katana raised, striking at the Alpha with all his might.
"I'll keep it occupied! Strike true!"
The Alpha, momentarily distracted, felt the bite of Gozen's blade.
"Foolish skeleton!" it snarled, turning its fury on him. With a powerful swing, the beast aimed to take Gozen down.
"Look out!" Noah shouted, feeling the tension rise.
"We can't let it turn the tide!"
The skeleton dodged just in time, rolling to the side as the Alpha's claws tore through the air, scattering debris everywhere.
"Now, Master!"
Gozen shouted, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Fueled by his comrades' determination, Noah charged forward, scythe poised to strike. He could feel the energy surging within him, a power that thrummed in time with his heartbeat.
With a final, devastating roar, the Alpha lunged at Noah once more, jaws wide, its fury palpable.
But Noah was ready. He sidestepped, his scythe arcing through the air.
"Finish it!" he bellowed, channeling every ounce of strength he had left.
With a single, monumental strike, Noah's scythe came crashing down, slicing through the Alpha's throat. The beast's roar turned to a gurgle as it realized its fate, eyes wide with shock.
Crack!
The sound echoed through the clearing as the blade found its mark, severing the Alpha's spine. For a moment, time stood still as the creature convulsed, then collapsed, defeated, its body sinking into the earth beneath it.
Thud.
Noah staggered back, panting heavily, watching the Alpha's massive form lay still, blood pooling around it.
"Did we do it?" he gasped, glancing at Gozen and Mohrolt, his heart racing with adrenaline.
"Master!" Gozen exclaimed, his voice filled with awe and respect.
"You've defeated it!"
The Alpha lay motionless, a testament to their victory, its bluish blood staining the ground.
__________
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE
DEFEATED A FIELD BOSS!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED 7000 EXPERIENCE POINTS!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED 7000 COINS!
CONGRATULATIONS! CITY ISLAND IS NOW YOUR TERRITORY!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE TITLE "KING OF A LAWLESS WORLD!"
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 15!