Drake knew he was in a precarious situation. Three Deep One Warriors surrounded him, their glowing eyes fixed on him with predatory intensity. The Swamp Rot continued to weaken him, and his mana reserves were dwindling. He had to act quickly and decisively.
He used Void Step again, teleporting behind one of the Deep Ones. This time, instead of using Shadow Strike, he used his *Street Fighting* skills to deliver a swift kick to the back of the creature's knee.
The Deep One shrieked and stumbled, its leg buckling beneath it. Drake followed up with a quick slash of his short sword, severing the creature's webbed hand.
*Notification: "Damage Dealt: 30. Target Crippled."*
The crippled Deep One fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The other two Deep Ones turned their attention to Drake, their rage intensifying. They attacked with renewed ferocity, their claws slashing through the air.
Drake dodged and weaved, barely managing to avoid their attacks. He felt the Swamp Rot burning in his veins, slowing his reactions and making it difficult to move. He knew he couldn't keep this up for long.
He channeled the last of his mana into one final, desperate attack. He used Void Step to teleport above the two remaining Deep Ones, then unleashed a powerful Shadow Strike, channeling all of his remaining darkness magic into the blow.
*Notification: "Skill Activated: Shadow Strike (Level 4). Cost: 50 Mana. Damage Dealt: 90. Critical Hit!"*
*Notification: "Mana Depleted."*
The enhanced Shadow Strike struck both Deep Ones simultaneously, the dark energy tearing through their flesh. They shrieked and collapsed into the murky water, their bodies sinking beneath the surface.
*Notification: "Enemy Defeated: Deep One Warrior (+400 XP)."*
*Notification: "Enemy Defeated: Deep One Warrior (+400 XP)."*
*Notification: "Experience Gained: Deep One Encounters (+1200 XP)"*
*Notification: "Stat Points Available: 12"*
Drake gasped, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had used all of his remaining mana and was still weakened by the Swamp Rot. He stumbled back, leaning against a decaying tree for support.
As he caught his breath, he noticed something rising from the center of the pool. The water began to churn and swirl, and a large, shadowy figure emerged from the depths.
It was a massive Deep One, much larger and more imposing than the warriors he had just fought. It was at least ten feet tall, with thick, slimy skin, powerful muscles, and a large, fish-like head with glowing green eyes. It carried a massive trident, which it held aloft, the prongs dripping with murky water.
*Notification: "Boss Enemy Detected: Deep One Guardian. Threat Level: Extreme."*
The Deep One Guardian roared, a sound that shook the very ground he stood on. It fixed its glowing eyes on Drake, its expression filled with rage.
Drake knew this was going to be a difficult fight, even if he was at full strength. He was weakened, exhausted, and low on mana. He had to be smart, resourceful, and rely on every trick he had learned.
He quickly allocated his stat points. He put 6 points into Constitution to recover some health and mitigate the effects of the poison, 4 points into Strength to increase his damage output, and 2 points into Dexterity to improve his agility.
*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Constitution +6. Current Constitution: 29."*
*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Strength +4. Current Strength: 25."*
*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Dexterity +2. Current Dexterity: 19."*
*Notification: "Health Restored: 60/100"*
He felt a surge of energy as his Constitution increased, but he knew it wouldn't be enough to fully recover. He needed a strategy.
The Deep One Guardian roared again and charged, its massive trident aimed directly at Drake. The battle was far from over.