Epoch: A Berserker's Rise

The wolf's last HP disappeared just like that. But it wasn't finished though. Because he used Mighty Strike, Adam's strength was strengthened again, and allowed him to send the wolf's body flying.

Moreover, it was already in mid air, full of momentum, so Adam just had to deviate its trajectory a bit, and push it that way. The result was the wolf's dead body flying in the Scarlet Fanged Snake's direction.

The snake threw a side glance at the wolf's body and used its tail to smash it away, sending it back with even more force. That allowed its head to continue fighting with the three.

But that also allowed Adam to arrive behind it. He didn't slash his sword at it as it wouldn't be effective, but instead tackled it!

Obviously Adam wasn't strong enough to make it fall, but it was enough to disorient it for a fraction of a second, and that was enough for Arno and the wolves to attack it once again.

Adam had to jumped away quickly though, to escape the snake's wrath. But just as he thought he had escaped danger, he saw that one of the wolves didn't attack the snake, but instead tried to avenge its fallen comrade!

This time, even with Old Adam's skills, Adam wasn't able to dodge the bite.

-85 HP!

Adam retreated in a fright. Had that been a critical hit, he would have died without a doubt. The wolf tried to attack him once again, but that was a bad decision as it left its guard open. The snake, enraged because it lost 150 HP from Arno's and the wolf's attack, took its revenge upon the unguarded wolf.

Critical Hit! -326 HP!

The snake had even used a skill! Of course, the wolf died right away, and Adam didn't receive any XP. Though, he was able to stay out of the battle for a moment. He retreated a little bit and started eating bread.

+25 HP!

+25 HP!

In 14 seconds Adam was able to recover 50 HP, placing him into a comfortable zone once again. Recovering any more would be useless. Any of the snake's attacks would empty his entire HP bar, and a wolf's attack would either let him survive, or do a critical hit and empty his whole bar.

As Adam returned to the fight he looked at the different parties' HP.

[Scarlet Fanged Snake] (Elite, Level 5)

HP: 347/800

[Dark Wolf] (Common, Level 5)

HP: 210/400

[Arno] (Level 7, Iron, Poisoned)

HP: 248/600

Arno was still somewhat safe, but he absolutely couldn't be hit by one of the snake's direct attacks. Even if it isn't a critical strike and he doesn't die, the little health he would have left wouldn't last him all the way back to the village.

Adam rushed back into the fight and aimed for the wolf this time.

-15 HP!

That was a normal strike, just enough to get its aggro. It followed Adam out of the fight, letting it become a one vs one between the snake and Arno.

Arno began panicking, but Adam cried out "Hold on, I have a plan!" Arno gritted his teeth and activated a skill that enhanced his speed. Adam seemed to be his ally, so he might as well listen.

Adam dodged one of the wolf's attacks, and kicked its side, pushing it away.

-3 HP!

Adam then rushed toward the snake, and attacked its side again.

-4 HP!

The snake turned its head and sent a venomous look at Adam. The latter grinned in provocation and fell back, while saying "Retreat!"

As he said that, he threw his sword in the air, confusing everyone present. But Arno listened and retreated, transferring the snake's aggro from Arno to Adam. The snake tried to take a bite out of Adam, but without his sword Adam was much more nimble.

He lowered his body, bending it backwards, dodging the bite, and then pushed the ground with his hands, jumping feet first upward. Although Adam was very weak in its eyes, the snake still dodged Adam's feet, making it raise itself straight.

As it prepared to attack Adam, who couldn't dodge midair, it suddenly felt a pain on its abdomen. It turned out that when Adam dodged the snake's attack, the wolf had tried to attack him from behind. But when he jumped, the wolf lost him, and thus attacked the snake in front. Moreover, it was undefended and a bigger threat so it activated its skills and bite the snake.

-75 HP!

-74 HP!

It was able to attack twice before the snake bit down in rage.

-170 HP!

Because it bit down, Adam, who was in mid air, was able to use its now flat back as a platform to launch himself even higher, and he was able to grab his sword in the air.

Because of its weight, he fell with an even bigger speed, and as the snake launched its second attack against the dying wolf, he activated Mighty Strike and hacked on its head. As he did so he cried out "Attack with everything you can!"

-180 HP!

Critical Hit! -16 HP!

Adam landed, and used Charge against the snake, stunning it. Arno arrived, and attacked as well using his skills.

-80 Hp!

-105 HP!

The snake only had 3 HP left! As the snake woke up, and was about to bite Arno, Adam slashed its back.

-4 HP!

[You have defeated 'Scarlet Fanged Snake'! XP +600!]

[You are now Level 3! AP +5!]

[You are now Level 4! AP +5!]

[Your skill 'Mighty Strike' has leveled up!]

[Your skill 'Charge' has leveled up!]

[Congratulations for being the first player to kill an Elite Monster in your kingdom! Your achievement shall be spread around the land! Do you wish to show your name?]

Adam was ecstatic hearing the sound from all the notifications, he had defeated it! He killed it! He then looked at all the notifications, a smile hanging on his lips. That was by far the most intense fight he had ever been in. He had to thank the Old Adam from learning those tricks from Shaolin masters!

As he looked at the last message, Adam did not hesitate. Wasn't that his precise objective? Getting fame to join a big guild and earn money for his brother?

[System Message: Congratulations to 'Valiant Heart' for killing the first Elite monster in Azure Sky Kingdom! Reward: 100 Fame in the Azure Sky Kingdom, 5 Silver Coins!]

This message was heard by every player within the Azure Sky Kingdom. Instantly, various reactions swarmed the chat.

"Hey, who is that 'Valiant Heart'? I never heard of him? Is he a pro?"

"Never heard of him either! Maybe a pro who changed his ID?"

"Guys, he's cheating! Elite Monsters are only supposed to spawn after an hour in game!"

"Right, now that you mention it I remember reading about that! Report his a**!"

"Haha, player above, you tried to curse? No can do here! But still, ban his a**!"

But as the players started protesting for Adam to be banned, the system displayed another message in the chat.

[After checking, it had been verified that player 'Valiant Heart' did not use any bug or hack. Please celebrate for the rise of a new hero!]

"WTF, he really killed an Elite Boss by himself? Impressive! Valiant Heart, I invite you in my guild!"

"B******! You think you can poach him like that! Come in my guild, I have a lot of advantages I can offer you!"

Adam read the messages gleefully, that was exactly what he was waiting for! But he didn't answer to any of them, and instead closed his chat. The guilds he aimed for wouldn't take him in just for that achievement, and even if they did they wouldn't contact him by the kingdom's chat.

As he closed the chat Adam looked at Arno. The latter who becoming blacker and blacker, but right now he was looking at Adam in shock.

Adam tilted his head and asked "Can I help you?" Arno blinked and asked "Are you really a berserker? Or are you an assassin in disguise?"