Kaden inhaled deeply, calming his nerves. It was time. He activated [Sanguine Roots], arresting one of the three in place.
The other kobolds turned in alarm, their guttural cries cutting through the forest. Kaden wasted no time. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he summoned Thorn Whip, the barbed tendrils lashing out to ensnare the second kobold's legs. It stumbled and fell, yelping as Kaden closed the gap.
Before it could recover, he punched out its neck, silencing it for the time being.
The third kobold snarled, its crude spear at the ready. It lunged toward Kaden, its attack wild but surprisingly quick. Kaden sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike, and used the momentum to bring his whip around. The thorny tendrils cracked against the kobold's arm, forcing it to drop its weapon with a cry of pain.
Seizing the opportunity, he punched the damn thing with all the strength he could muster. The kobold crashed against a nearby tree. Kaden immediately picked up the crude spear and finished the first one lying unconscious on the ground.
[Ding! You have killed a kobold scout]
He then dashed towards the one that collapsed next to the tree and struck it several times with the same spear.
[Ding! You have killed a kobold scout]
Now only the last one was left. Its eyes bulged in fear and shock as it stared at him, completely unable to move. Kaden remained indifferent to its gaze and skewered its throat, blood spilling everywhere.
Blood drenched the roots and a warmth reached him. Though he did not require any healing at this particular moment, the warmth gently eased his accumulated fatigue.
[Ding! You have leveled up]
[Ding! You have gained +1 Mental Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Physical Strength, and 5 free attribute points]
Kaden swiped the notification away after dumping his points into Perception. He had already brought his mental strength up from the previous level up and now only perception and soul strength were lacking. With this, the perception was taken care of. Next was soul strength.
While he did not plan to forge a complete even build, he also did not want any of his stats to lag severely. These would become glaring weaknesses later on. Many strong heroes from his last life had fallen into these pitfalls and he did not plan to do so.
With this taken care of Kaden resumed his jog. It was time to find some more kobolds.
Kaden moved swiftly and silently through the forest, the rush of leveling up giving him a renewed sense of purpose.
His perception stat increase was already making a difference, sharpening the subtle sounds around him—the rustle of leaves, the faint scuffle of creatures moving through the underbrush, even the far-off crackle of campfires.
The kobold camp was closer now, the faint smell of smoke and charred meat lingering in the air. Kaden slowed his pace, crouching low as he approached the outskirts.
He was not planning on getting any closer. He hid behind a cluster of thick bushes, waiting for someone to pass near him. He only had to wait for a few minutes before a couple of kobold warriors walked past him.
Kaden's grip on the spear tightened as the two kobold warriors came into view. The spear he had taken from the scouts wasn't bad so he stuck with it.
But unlike the scouts, these kobolds were better equipped, their crude armor made from scraps of metal and leather offering them a semblance of protection. Each carried a better-looking spear, their sharp eyes scanning the forest for any signs of intrusion.
Kaden didn't wait for them to notice him. He sprang into action, activating Sanguine Roots before they could react. Roots erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around the legs of one warrior, immobilizing it.
The kobold let out a guttural snarl, thrashing against the enchanted tendrils, but they held firm.
The second kobold turned toward the commotion, its spear raised, but Kaden was already moving. He summoned Thorn Whip, the barbed tendrils lashing out to strike the kobold across its arm. But the warrior was faster and he missed.
Kaden dashed forward, his spear flashing in the dim light as he drove it into the kobold's chest. This time he did not miss. A loud clanking noise sounded when the spear hit the armor, breaking the thing into two.
The kobold shouted in anger and came for him again. Kaden dodged its simple strike but unexpectedly, the one he had tied up with sanguine roots broke free. The second kobold attacked him from behind and managed to land a blow. Blood dripped from his side.