Chapter 66: Settling The Score
There was no hesitation on Leonard’s part.
While Joker was to remain mimicking his master’s form, potentially confusing the dragonkin, Leonard lunged toward the Orc Shaman the instant Cassie finished mending his wounds.
"Stop hiding and come out. I have a personal score to settle with you." He ordered coldly, hurling Titanic Oath.
The throw did its job. The Orc Shaman realized that her cover had been blown, and she emerged from her hiding spot, dodging the axe.
Leonard recalled Titanic Oath back into his grip, his steps unfaltering.
"So you managed to find me, brat? And what good will that do you?" She mocked him, her lips curling into a repulsive grin.
"You think you can kill me? Besides, are you sure it is a good idea to abandon your battle with the dragonkin and focus on me? It seems you aren’t all that bright."
Her insults proved ineffective against Leonard. He prepared to attack.
"Hilarious!" She laughed out loud, widening her stance and raising her staff.
Unlike the battles until now, Leonard was truly alone, facing a Level 16 monster.
Before, he had party members to rely on if things got out of hand, or at least his summons, who would be able to help him out of a pinch. Yet currently, they were all focused on a different enemy.
Leonard, being Level 9, had to find a way to kill the Level 16 Orc Shaman, and quickly at that.
They exchanged several blows, yet the shaman always came out on top, as he was incapable of dealing any sort of harm to her body.
Fatigue slowly started to settle in. His limbs felt heavier under the strain, and his breathing grew ragged, having trouble keeping up with the exertion for so long.
"I don’t get it. What was the point of everything until now? You lost your tribe just to offer sacrifices to the dragonkin? Why are you working for him? Considering you are just an orc, you shouldn’t have anything in common."
His question rang out as he swung.
She merely smirked as she used her staff to block the attack. Her weapon absorbed the frost of the axe effortlessly.
"Who says I work for that lizard? He is just a pawn in a larger game, and I am simply choosing to side with whoever offers the most benefits!"
The Orc Shaman replied before kicking him away. Although her physical strength wasn’t her specialty, the level difference between them was enough to prove challenging to overcome.
"You were simply the biggest fool, thinking you could beat me alone!"
She took out a potion from her robe and threw it toward him. Unable to react in time, the potion shattered against his chest.
[You have been poisoned by Grade 1 toxin.]
[Hardened Physique lessens the impact of the harmful toxin by 80%.]
Leonard’s trait negated most of the effect. He felt slower than before but was otherwise fine.
Nevertheless, he covered his mouth and began to cough violently, doing his best to act tormented.
"Got you!"
Certain of her victory, she narrowed the distance. Ready to inflict the finishing blow.
By the time she realized her mistake, she had already entered his attack range.
[Lightning Strike activated!]
This time, he attacked with everything he had, aiming for a particular spot in her staff.
All this time, Leonard hadn’t been aimless swinging. With each exchange, he had targeted one spot over and over, steadily weakening its integrity.
To her absolute horror, the force of his attack proved successful, and the staff split in two!
"Brat! I swear I will feast on your flesh!"
Enraged by the loss of her weapon, she used her superior agility to retreat backward and prepared to hurl more potions.
However, Leonard had anticipated her movements, and he threw Titanic Oath once more.
"Again?! Your attacks will never hit me!" She declared, dodging the axe by sidestepping.
Just then, her eyes narrowed as she realized that while she had been focusing on avoiding Titanic Oath, Leonard had already been charging another attack.
[Dragon Slayer activated!]
The silver javelin had already formed inside his grip, the weapon’s edge pointing straight toward the shaman’s head.
"Who is the fool now?"
She was unable to move out of the way in time, and she had no armor or defensive effect to lessen the impact.
The last thing she saw was the ever-nearing javelin before everything went black.
The projectile struck the Orc Shaman’s head dead center. She perished on the spot.
[You have defeated a Level 16 Orc Shaman.]
[All gained experience and Evolution Points have been doubled!]
[You have gained 900 Experience!]
Level: 9 [Experience: 1,200/1,200]
[You have risen to Level 10!]
[You have gained 10 Attribute Points and 100 Evolution Points!]
Level: 10 [Experience: 0/1,500]
[You can undergo an ascension and choose a class!]
Leonard didn’t let joy cloud his judgment. He staggered forward, exhaustion wearing him down as he searched through the orc’s corpse. The laughter of the dragonkin behind him urged his movements.
His eyes darted around hurriedly until they finally settled on the amulet the shaman had been carrying this whole time.
Not lasting time, he embedded his mana into the amulet.
"We are the participants of the academy entrance exam and are in desperate need of reinforcements! Do you copy?!" He practically yelled toward the amulet with all the strength he could muster. "Whoever is sending the help, I don’t care! Please just answer!"
Leonard held his breath, his eyes fixed on the treasure. Many things were riding on calling for help from the academy, and if nobody arrived, they were truly screwed.
Before he could despair, the amulet shone, and a voice echoed from the other side.
"Report your status."
He had never felt so relieved in all his life.
"Our party, led by Lady Elizabeth Starlight, has entered a temple in the Silver Palace and is facing a Level 30 Corrupted Dragonkin. There are casualties among us, and we won’t last for long! As for the rest of the participants, they have been scattered throughout the surrounding area, and the corruption is soon going to kill them!"
Leonard deliberately mentioned Elizabeth’s full name. Considering that she was part of the Starlight household, aid was sure to come rushing in the second they heard her being involved.
"Understood. Do your best to hold on. First Gradeless Unit is incoming."
The connection was cut off, and the amulet lost its signal. It had been a miracle that a contact had been established amidst the temple’s walls in the first place.
Regardless, Leonard had achieved what he had set out to do. His eyes returned to the dragonkin, ready to rejoin the battle now that he was Level 10.
His gaze shifted toward the system interface, eager to choose a class.
"At this point I don’t care what it is! Just let it hit heavy, and I will figure you out the rest!"
[Upon undergoing an ascension, different classes will be presented based on the deeds you have accomplished, along with the rank of your Bloodline.]
[Initially, an awakener is limited to a single class. At a later date, they can unlock Class Change, granting them the ability to obtain and wield multiple classes simultaneously.]
[Primordial Bloodline stirs in your veins.]
[Your maximum number of classes has been set to infinite.]
"?!"