Chapter 109: Dangerous One Red snuck into each house, going on a killing spree. While not every house had kobolds, he had found nine kobolds after the first two. He had killed eleven kobolds in total, netting him twenty-nine cores.
While all the cores were inferior quality, he gained so much that his new absorption rate was high. He had maxed out his Strength and Dexterity with those twenty-nine cores. He opened his status sheet with a smile plastered on his face, checking on his satisfying progress.
Name: ???
Level: 9
Health: 928 Stamina: 944 Mana: 1398
[Tier 1 Might]
Strength: 120 (+4, +20) Endurance: 98.4 (+3) Vitality: 95.2 (+3.6) Dexterity: 145 (+5, +45)
[Tier 1 Magic]
Intelligence: 144.6 (+3.4) Wisdom: 141.8 (+2) Arcane Perception: 141 (+2.6) Mind: 142.6 (+5.2)
Skills:
Tier 1 Skill: Mana Sense (Passive) - Level 15, Levelheaded (Passive) - Level 20, Appraisal - Level 18, Bleeding (Passive) - Level 2, Fireball - Level 5, Bow Mastery (Passive) - Level 6 (+1)
Tier 3: Mana Smelting - Level 6, Mana Refining - Level 4, Mana Sharpening - Level 3, Mana Repair - Level 3
Tier 4: Mana Forging - Level 1, Mana Tempering - Level 3, Mana Authority (Passive) - Level 4
Tier 5 Skill: Infernal Berserk - Level 1
Positive Attribute:
Mystic Chef Blessing: Strength +20, Dexterity +20, Dexterity +25
Minor Health Regeneration I
Minor Stamina Regeneration I
His Intelligence stat was almost maxed out as well. He just needed to absorb one Magic Core and land on Intelligence, then it would be maxed out. He was pretty sure his smallest gain from a single core was 0.4. The Intelligence should be maxed out in the next five Magic Cores.
Red didn’t know if the monster he killed influenced the drop or not, but he got more Might Cores than Magic Cores from the kobolds. Out of twenty-nine cores, he got seventeen Might Cores and twelve Magic Cores. That was how he maxed out his Strength and Dexterity.
When he first awakened his window status, he wanted more Might Stat, but his set of skills changed his mind. He wished to have more Magic Stats now. He wished to have more mana to work on a new armor and weapon.
’There’s still the level 10 evolution... I might gain something from that.’
Red checked his buff duration; he still had a little over one hour. He wanted to go back to make a report, but he was tempted to stay as well. The gain from hunting the kobolds in their own village was so big that he didn’t want to miss it. He was getting closer to reaching level 10.
’Let’s stay for another half an hour.’
He decided to continue his hunt, moving out of the house and entering another one. The next five houses were empty, and he realized that he was already at the center of the village. It was no longer as quiet as the outskirts.
Red stepped out of the house and heard noises- steps. He stepped back into the house, closing the door. He was squatting next to the door, his ears perked up, keeping out the noise. The noise was getting closer to the house.
He slowly pulled out the spear, holding it in his right hand. The steps were getting closer to the house he was in. He realized they might come into this house and unbundled his sword, readying it for a battle.
Sure enough, the door was slammed open as a small figure dashed into the house. It was a small kobold, slightly shorter than his chest. It was then followed by two kobolds that were slightly taller than him.
The two kobolds were walking casually, much slower, side by side. The moment the two kobolds were in his range, he sprang into action. He thrust the spear at the closest kobold. The spear pierced the kobold’s neck from the side. He then pulled a second spear, swinging toward the second kobold’s throat. His movement was too quick for them to react, as both adult kobolds fell on their knees, gurgling.
Red picked up his sword and thrust it into their chest, killing them before they made more noises. Then he looked up as he saw the small kobold staring at him with wide eyes, in fear.
He left the sword stuck on the ground as he pulled the third throwing spear. There was not a shred of hesitation as he threw the spear to the small kobold’s gaping mouth. The small kobold was flung backward, landing with a loud thud.
The small kobold was still alive, gurgling and convulsing in tears and pain. Red approached with the black sword in his hand. He sliced the small kobold’s neck, killing it instantly.
His chest heaved down in relief. He managed to kill the small kobold before it could scream. Maybe it was too shocking that its parents were killed inside their own house. Regardless, it worked his way as he silenced the small kobold before it could alert the village.
Red retrieved the spear from the small kobold and exchanged the body for loot. The body dropped five copper coins, and he knew it would not yield anything. He just wanted to get rid of the body, reducing the amount of blood that spilled. He didn’t want the smell of the blood to alert the village.
Then he returned and exchanged the two parents. He didn’t check their level as there was no time for it. He would miss his perfect ambush if he used Appraisal first.
It seemed the parents were higher level than him as they dropped four cores, and again, it was three Might Cores and one Magic Core. He got more Might Cores than the Magic Core.
He absorbed them all, leaving the coins behind. Darla might like the coins, but it would be stupid to bring them even though he might leave a trace behind. The coins would make noise and alert the kobolds.
Red opened the back door, trying to hear if there were more kobolds nearby. As he was about to step out of the house, he heard a series of hurried footsteps. It came from the front, and he could tell that each footstep was heavy. He estimated more than ten kobolds were approaching the house from the front.
He quickly slipped out from the back door, looking for another house to hide. That was when he heard steps too late from the side, from his right side. He snapped out, only to find armored kobolds with spears in their hands.
Three kobolds came, trying to surround the house from behind. They didn’t expect to find Red at the back of the house.
Red didn’t hesitate to turn left and run before the three kobolds alerted the other kobolds. It never crossed his mind to confront them. That was never the plan in the first place. He was not that crazy to face the whole village by himself, no matter how desolate the village was.
Once his present was found out, Red didn’t hesitate to flee. Thirty-three cores was a good harvest, after all. There was no need to be greedy, especially when the Chief was on his way. He could get more cores later.
Red dashed toward the entrance. He had killed the guards there, so he should be fine. That was what he thought until a figure landed next to him with a boom. He subconsciously turned toward the figure.
It was a kobold with similar black armor, but this one was bigger and taller. It didn’t wear a helmet, and the sword remained sheathed. His eyes widened in surprise.
The massive kobold raised its leg, sending a kick toward Red.
Red was caught off guard, but he managed to react. His reaction was fast as he raised his shield across his chest.
The kick landed on the sword’s face, pushing it back to his chest. He could not stop the kick as he was sent flying, crushing into one of the houses. He went through to the back of the house.
His hands were trembling and sore from the kick. His back was burning in pain. He didn’t hesitate to leave his prized sword behind, supporting himself up on his feet and running forward.
Red didn’t run in a straight line, turning to the right. He heard the wood getting crushed behind him, but he didn’t bother to look back. He turned to the left after passing one house, then turned to the right at the next house, using the house as a cover.
Red was genuinely grateful for the food made by Darla. He ran faster because of the Mystic Chef’s blessings. He could hear the hissing voice and ruckus behind, but they were getting further and further away.
The sound of the big kobolds smashing the house also could be heard, but they were not catching up.
His head was just focused on running, then he saw the fence. He jumped off and quickly made his way to the jungle, climbing up the tree. Only then did Red stop, taking a deep breath to calm down.
He turned around and saw the big kobold. It kept smashing the house, still looking for him. He was not expecting to encounter a more dangerous kobold than the black-armored kobold who attacked the village.