"Are you Odo the hunter?"
The man shivered visibly, suddenly slamming the door shut again.
"Odo, hey, I need to ask you some questions!"
"Go away! Go!"
"I'm searching for the culprit who caused the void corruption. I know you were in the forest that day!"
"I…"
"Please, talk to me. I promise no one will make trouble at your place."
After a moment of silence, the door opened slowly, revealing a dark room.
Liam entered confidently, scanning the little hut, its windows barricaded with wooden planks. Odo came out from behind the door wearing dirty, sweaty clothes, and sat on a chair, shivering.
"Please, can you tell me what you saw?", asked Liam gently.
"That day… I went out to hunt as usual. But suddenly I heard footsteps. I got curious and watched from the distance.
Suddenly I saw them. Seven monsters in human form, one more hideous than the other. Their faces were eaten up by violet energy.
At that moment I didn't think about the void. I only saw demons coming to slaughter our village.
The seven monsters carried a large box, crossing the forest. At one point one of them looked in my direction. I will never forget those cold eyes.
My instincts took over and I ran as fast as my legs allowed it, even losing my cloak on some trees.
Since that day I constantly fear that someone would come to silence me. Adventurer! I told you everything. You have to protect me, right? You do, don't you? Say yes!"
Towards the end Odo sounded frantic, his eyes abruptly fixating on Liam. The latter frowned, feeling a faint threat. Just as he wanted to answer, his quest updated.
[
[Step one: Bring the strange creature you found to Therim Riverbell!]
[Step two: Question the villagers for clues!]
[Step three: Confront someone matching the clues you found!]
[Step four: Bring Odo the hunter to Therim Riverbell for protection!]
The slight delay gave Liam a second to get a clearer look on Odo. He suddenly noticed something strange. A faint violet shimmer was running along the man's neck.
Liam's forehead creased. He decided to stall for more time while scanning the hut more thoroughly:
"Odo, I will naturally help you, but I also need your assistance. Please try to remember if you discovered any details about those seven monsters. Some emblem, scars, tattoos?"
While speaking Liam carefully let his eyes wander over shelves and the mattress on the floor. A bedroll was tossed into a corner with a pouch next to it, its opening turned away from Liam.
"What could I have seen? They were wearing black cloaks. Only their faces were barely visible!"
Liam's head stopped abruptly. He noticed a faint silver sparkle next to the bedroll. He moved tentatively, so as to not draw suspicion.
"Can you at least tell me the direction these people came from?"
Coming up with more questions, Liam reached the bedroll, slowly pushing it away with his foot. He suddenly inhaled sharply. He bent down, his hand moving like a flash, grabbing a silver coin.
He held it closer to his eyes, recognizing the horns engraved in the coin, which gave of an ominous aura in the dim atmosphere.
An infernal coin…
As this thought came to Liam's mind, his quest suddenly changed. But he didn't have time to look at it. A terrifying presence suddenly filled the room.
"Humans! You are all the same! Why?! Why are you rummaging through MY things? AHH!"
An oppressive, dark magic suddenly erupted, shattering the hut. Wooden splinters shot in all directions. Liam let out a pained grown as he was thrown away, rolling on the floor.
When the dust settled and Liam stood up, he found a grotesque creature not far away. It looked like a mutated demon, tall but with its back bent like a bridge.
Its body was covered in long brown fur, only revealing its sharp black claws and face, which might remind one of a pig or boar. Repulsive violet energy could be seen running along the little exposed skin.
A quick check revealed its name.
[Benareg
Rank: Sub-Boss
Level: 24
HP: 9200/9200]
As a black fog began to spread over the floor, Liam felt his chest tighten. But at the same time excitement sparked in his eyes. It had been a long time since he faced an unknown boss.
Liam was more confident about his conjecture that this unique quest changed because someone failed in the first place, which never happened in his previous life. He secretly hoped this could happen more often.
"You humans are all the same! You just take whatever you want! But I'm done with you! It is time you pay!"
Done speaking Benareg suddenly flashed and appeared before Liam, its claws drawing a black arc. The movement was incredibly swift, drawing a grin from Liam.
The veteran felt exhilarated, reacting on instinct, his back bending, looking like it might snap any moment. A foul smell entered his nose as the claws passed just above his face.
[Stance -18]
Liam instantly entered combat mode. He skimmed through his status, calculations running in his mind.
>>> <<<
Name: Bleary Mirage
Level: 23
Race: Original Nephilim
Class: Holy Tempest
Primary Attributes:
STR: 6
INT: 69
AGI: 45
HP: 3643/3643
Mana: 546/546
(show more)
>>> <<<
>>> <<<
Secondary Attributes:
PRES: 6
MRES: 2
DEX: 59
CONST: 7
HASTE: 31
SRC: 13
(show more)
>>> <<<
>>> <<<
Tertiary Attributes:
PDMG: 2000
MDMG 627
PDEF: 465
MDEF: 315
CRIT: 10,75
ATKS: 0,9395
STC: 79
MVS: 15,4
HP: 3643
Mana: 546
(show more)
>>> <<<
His ultimate [Holy Tempest] activated almost automatically. Still with his back bent, his swords retaliated with a [Cross Slash], drawing the first blood and applying a holy mark.
Per chance his ring's effect triggered, dealing an additional fire damage.
[-515!]
[-33!]
The smell of burned fur reached both combatant's noses. Benareg's eyes flickered with anger, staring at Liam who took a step back to get into a comfortable position. Immediately a pair of claws followed him.
Liam's thoughts moved but he decided to forsake dodging for an attack. He felt some pain as the claws slashed at his shoulders.
[-653!]
[-326!]
Drawing a sharp breath Liam instantly answered with his own attacks. His swords cut the demon's fur, causing more than 500 points of damage.
The demon clentched its teeth, the void energy wafting around him enhancing its horrifying appearance. It was just about to swing its claws again when Liam moved first. [Holy Wave] and [Brutal Strike] arrived almost at the same time triggering five holy marks, causing a violent explosion.
[-506!]
[-824!]
The beautifully executed chain of skills brought the demon below 7000HP. It wanted to open its mouth to let out a deafening roar of revenge but found its body frozen.
Liam's eyes lit up realizing that the boss was affected by the stun. He managed to deal one more attack before Benareg's body shook heavily, throwing of the stun.
"Die! Die! Die!"
The demon gradually lost its mind. It moved the magic in its body, causing the black fog to churn. The fog formed a small tornado engulfing Benareg and preventing anyone from getting close.
A moment later the tornado subsided, and the demon had vanished.
Liam held his breath, listening closely to his surroundings. Suddenly a patch of black fog was pierced by a red light. It only lasted for less than a second before a human sized claw mysteriously broke out of the fog like a sea monster hunting ships.
Liam felt the claws' unstoppable momentum but luckily the claw didn't come from below his feet. However, before it returned to the fog, a red light suddenly appeared below Liam.
The veteran was already prepared. Gathering all his strength he lunged to the side. A moment later another claw erupted, its sharp edges slicing the air apart.
Liam got back on his feet, his breath quickened by two levels. He stared at the black fog, where claws continued to jump out.
For the duration of the skill, he was attacked twice more but managed to dodge each time. However, he stayed vigilant of the claws' speed.
Fortunately, Benareg couldn't keep the skill up forever. A few seconds later it emerged from the fog, its face looking exhausted. Liam didn't waste a single second, instantly delivering a harsh blow.
"Human!"
Benareg's claws glinted with a violet sheen as it aimed for Liam's face. The latter had no choice but to dodge to the side.
[Stance -18]
His stance, boosted through the effect of his ultimate, began to decrease again. And Benareg didn't let go, throwing out more attacks. Liam didn't allow the boss to get close but suddenly it flashed again, appearing behind Liam's back, its breath sending chills down the player's neck.
"Don't think I will fall for the same trick again!"
Liam scoffed at the boss as a graceful step brought him out of danger. The demon's claws hit empty air, causing it to growl angrily.
[Stance -18]
[Stance -18]