The Orc Lord roared, its monstrous voice reverberating through the cavern. With a thunderous step, it launched its first attack, swinging its massive spiked club with terrifying force. To Leo, however, the world seemed to slow down. He watched the club's trajectory with a keen eye, noticing the raw power it carried. The ground beneath the attack cracked open, leaving a gaping gap where the club had struck. Dust and debris flew into the air, adding to the chaotic scene.
Leo dodged easily, his movements fluid and precise. He marveled at how effortlessly he evaded the Orc Lord's attack. "Must be the stats," he thought, a grin forming on his lips. But he needed to test his limits further.
The Orc Lord's attacks were relentless, each swing as destructive as the last. The ground trembled with every strike, creating craters and sending shockwaves that rippled through the cavern walls. The once-silent chamber was now filled with the sounds of crumbling stone and the Orc Lord's furious roars. Despite the chaos, Leo danced around the attacks with ease, the creature's movements appearing almost sluggish to his enhanced reflexes.
"This must be agility," Leo mused, dodging another bone-crushing blow. In the games he used to play, agility influenced attack speed, reflexes, and dodge rate to name a few. He was curious about his other stats, particularly his stamina. Normally, he wouldn't dare to take a hit from such a formidable opponent, but his newfound confidence urged him to test his endurance. His gut instinct told him he could survive a single strike.
Sweat trickled down his forehead as he stood still, a confident smile playing on his lips. The Orc Lord, enraged by Leo's audacity, let out another deafening roar and charged at him with renewed fury. The ground shook under the monster's immense weight, and its eyes burned with a fierce, red glow.
Leo braced himself as the Orc Lord swung its club in a wide arc, aiming directly at him. The power behind the swing was immense, the air whistling as the weapon sliced through it. The impact was brutal. Leo felt the force of the blow reverberate through his entire body as he was sent flying across the cavern. The ground where he had stood exploded, dirt and rocks scattering like shrapnel.
He bounced several times across the hard stone floor, each impact jarring his bones. Finally, he collided with the cavern wall, the force created a massive dent as large as the Orc Lord itself.
The area was shrouded in thick fog, a momentary silence enveloping the battleground. Then, the sound of falling rubble broke through the stillness. The Orc Lord stood at the forefront, its grip tightening around the club's handle with such force that small chips of wood flaked off. Through the haze, the creature's eyes caught sight of flashing red lights, pulsing rhythmically in the fog.
A menacing red aura began to envelop the Orc Lord, veins bulging and snaking across its massive arms and body. With a thunderous roar, it charged toward Leo, each step leaving craters in the ground. The fog swirled violently in its wake, the sheer force of its movement displacing the heavy air.
Leo's smile widened as he watched the monster approach with all its might. The exhilaration of the previous hit still coursed through his veins. "I didn't feel any pain!" he thought, elated. This meant his power far exceeded that of a level 50 monster. He stood from the rubble with a menacing grin, feeling the thrill of battle in every fiber of his being.
Having confirmed his agility and stamina, Leo decided it was time to test. "Strength!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern. He jumped and thrust forward, the movement so swift that the fog trailed behind him in a delayed reaction. In the blink of an eye, he was face to face with the Orc Lord, his body fluid and precise.
The momentum of the Orc Lord's charge left it no room to maneuver, its only option was to swing its massive club. Leo hardened his stomach and clenched his right fist, feeling the raw power surge through his arm. As the Orc Lord swung, Leo's punch connected with its torso, the impact humming ferociously.
The force of the blow sent shockwaves rippling through the area. The Orc Lord's body began to disintegrate upon contact, fragments scattering in all directions. The throne area was blasted wide open, and the shockwave extended far beyond, laying waste to a kilometer-long stretch of forest. Trees were uprooted and debris flung into the air, the sheer power of Leo's punch leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Leo landed gracefully, the ground beneath him still trembling from the aftermath. The fog began to clear, revealing the extent of the devastation. Where the Orc Lord once stood, there was now only a massive crater, the remains of its throne scattered like dust in the wind.
Leo stood in awe, surveying the aftermath of his attack. He had expected to reciprocate what the Orc Lord did to him, but the sheer devastation caused by his punch left him speechless. He looked down at his hands, marveling at the power they held. A gentle breeze rustled his hair, and as he looked up, the vibrant blue sky and blinding light of the sun filled his vision. The scene was so surreal that he momentarily wondered if he was dreaming.
Taking a step back, he missed his footing and fell to the ground. It was a nasty fall, but his enhanced endurance kept him from getting grazed. Lying on his back, he realized he had landed in a much larger gap in the ground, created by the force of his punch. "Was that punch really that powerful?!" he wondered, gasping at the enormity of the crater.
"Thud." The sound of a stick hitting the ground caught his attention.
"Young man," a high-pitched, antiquated voice of a woman called out. Leo looked up and saw a woman standing above him.
In her hand, she held a long staff, taller than she was, crafted with such elegance that it seemed to be made of pure ice. The head of the staff was a masterpiece, its intricate carvings and crystalline structure making it look legendary, a symbol of great power.
"Dost thou be well, young man?" she asked, her voice carrying the tone of someone much older and wiser. "Pray tell, what transpired here?"
Leo, still stunned by the sight before him, was speechless. He barely understood what she said; she sounded deep and old, and his mind still reeling from the encounter. The woman looked slightly disappointed.
"Alas, the young of this generation ought to study more diligently," she muttered to herself, shaking her head slightly. She shifted to a more relaxed posture, but her tone still carried a hint of antiquity. "So, young man, what hath brought thee to such a state?"
As she spoke, a message appeared before Leo's eyes,
You have encountered Winter Warlock.
System User details acquired.
Open details?
Without thinking, he tapped the "Okay" button. The window expanded, displaying detailed information:
Name: Kurea
Level: 70
Job: Wizard
System: Winter Warlock
It then detailed her status, skills, abilities, and the benefits she received from her system. Leo remembered what Ranna had told him about system users being able to see each other's systems. Kurea noticed him staring intently at her, though she interpreted it differently.
"Tis most unseemly to gaze upon a lady's form in such a manner," Kurea remarked, her voice a blend of chiding and amusement. She placed a hand over her chest, causing her elegant blue dress to shimmer with intricate ice-like patterns. As she moved, her white pointed hat tilted slightly, casting a shadow over her long, white hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkled with both reprimand and humor.
Startled, Leo stammered an apology, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
Kurea sighed, waving a hand dismissively. "Forget it, young man. This place is not safe for one of thy low level. Be gone with thee, lest thou meet thy end."
Leo immediately stood up, bowing slightly. "Thank you." He turned and walked away quickly, his heart pounding. He thought to himself, "Dodged another bullet this time."
As he made his way out, he suddenly noticed a chilly breeze against his skin. He looked down and realized, to his horror, that his shirt was completely blown off. He had been so caught up in the moment that he hadn't noticed earlier. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he tried to cover himself with his arms.
"Damn it, why am I just noticing this now?" he muttered, feeling the cold bite of the air. The shirt was a gift from Amanda, and the thought of losing it pained him more than the cold. "It must have been blown off when I was struck by the Orc Lord," he realized, sighing deeply.
As he hurried along, trying to avoid being seen, he couldn't help but take a moment to admire his body. This was the first time he saw himself after syncing with Amanda, and the transformation was striking. Gone was the slightly pudgy tummy and the average build he had back on Earth.
Instead, his body was now well-defined and muscular, with toned abs and broad shoulders. "Wow, look at me," he thought, a mix of surprise and admiration. He flexed his arms slightly, marveling at the newfound strength and definition. "Not bad, Leo, not bad at all," he whispered to himself with a smirk, feeling a bit more confident despite the situation.
But the cold quickly reminded him of his predicament. "Okay, focus. I need to get home without Amanda seeing me like this," he thought, resuming his hurried walk with his arms crossed over his chest for warmth.
Leo passed a group of soldiers heading towards Kurea. He overheard snippets of their conversation: no signs of any other powerful adventurers in the vicinity, and confirmation that the Goblin Dominion had been subdued by the defeat of the Orc Lord.
She glanced at Leo, let go of her staff, and crossed her arms. The staff lit up and transformed into a magical owl, its feathers shimmering with an icy blue hue. The owl's eyes glowed with an ethereal light, and its presence radiated an air of ancient wisdom. "Coco, hast thou sensed anything on him?" she asked.
The owl fluffed its feathers, looking somewhat offended. "He seems like a normal non-adventurer citizen," it replied, its voice tinged with irritation.
"And do not call the legendary owl 'Coco'!" the owl squawked indignantly, but Kurea seemed to ignore it as she continued to watch Leo until he disappeared into the woods.
Comments (0)
See all