However, this person really is outstanding. It seems he will escape before I could even reach him. “[Boulder Throw]” I hurl a giant mass of earth at him, shattering my own snare spell in the process. It is so big that his entire body is hit, causing some severe blunt damage to occur.
He falls onto his back, and is enjoying a healthy dose of concussion based on his confused, dazed glance.
I can tell that he has some amazing Vitality number from what I’ve seen from him thus far, so I’m fully aware that he will be back in a fighting state in the span of a few seconds.
After all, Vitality isn’t just a HP booster, but a general resistance and durability one.
However, a few seconds is a lot when you are dealing with superhumans with insane levels of power.
Using my high Agility stat I erupt towards him, and activate [Power Strike], aiming straight for a clean decapitation. My saber meets his throat, and cuts into it, but doesn’t sever his head from his neck.
Blood gushes from the wound, and I can’t help but shake my head. “Seriously… Vitality is such a broken stat. I can’t even one shot kill this guy by dashing at his throat like a cannonball with my sharp blade.”
“Grrghh!!!” Luke attempts speaking, but his throat isn’t really functioning perfectly right this moment. Only sounds of desperate gurgling can be heard.
“It was a good fight. I learned a lot from this. Thank you.” I voice my gratitude while raising my saber high above my head, then I bring it down with all my strength, aiming for the top of his neck this time.
“Seriously…? You’re making me feel like a weakling now, Luke…” His head is still in place, though he certainly isn’t going to get up from this without the Goddess’ timely intervention. On both sides of his neck, half-inch wide cuts are present.
“I would love to torture you for trying to purchase my beloved mate, but we don’t know when the next explorers will arrive after finishing their hyena boss battle, and we will even need to properly clean up the crime scene, so I will let you off easy. They say that third time’s the charm, right?” I ask while grinning at the dying man sinisterly.
I replicate my previous swing, aiming for the back of his neck on the exact same spot. *Swss* My blade slices through the air, reaching his skin, his muscles, his spine, then his muscles and skin once again, after which it is once again only enveloped by air.
Finally, I cut his head off. What a tough guy.
[You’ve slain Luke Winterwood (Level 17). You’ve gained 1968 XP.]
[Warrior 10 → 11]
[Elemental Sovereign 1 → 4]
Damn, I beat a guy in a fair duel who had three levels on me. Though, to be fair, statistically I’m also higher than my screen states. I’ve gotten 15 Attribute points when I went through my Primordial Breeding Physique evolution, which granted me 5 in Str, Vit, Agi, and my Primordial Villain class effects also boost all of those further.
What can I say?
I’ve finally become a noteworthy presence on the field of battle. Me defeating a guy who obviously had elite trainers since birth, a better armor and weapon, and many, many years of experience on me had been single handedly triumphed over by yours truly.
As Luke’s body slumps unceremoniously to the ground- loyally following his head- my gaze immediately shifts to the golden gauntlets. I can’t help but greedily lick my lips like a famished pig before a grand feast.
“Let’s see what you’re hiding,” I mutter to myself, kneeling beside his corpse. The ornate golden gauntlet on his hand is in the way, but that’s not a problem. I grab the gauntlet with both hands and yank it off, tearing the straps loose and casting it aside without a second thought. My eyes fixate on the ring, a delicate but sturdy-looking band encrusted with a few tiny gemstones.
[Spatial Ring]
[Rarity: Epic]
[Spell: Lesser Spatial Storage]
I can’t help but grin wickedly as I slide it off his finger. I quickly bring it up to my face, inspecting it closely. It’s finely crafted- definitely worth a pretty penny if nothing else. But I’m not looking to pawn this one off, that’s for sure.
Unless some offers me a king’s ransom, this one is staying with us.
Without hesitating, I push a bit of mana into it, activating the storage compartment inside. A flicker of magical energy runs through the ring, and suddenly I feel the pull of the items within.
I can instantly tell just off of the feel that it’s size is 5 cubic meters (~177 cubic feet). Yours truly have been paying attention to math class this once, and I still remember Mrs. Rogers telling me that 5 cubic meters is 5000 liters.
It’s a very sizeable storage space, despite its ‘lesser’ moniker. It can hold more than enough everyday items for us to be able to ditch the backpacks.
Now, it’s time to inspect its actual contents. The coin purse is in it, as Luke put it back when I said I would rather exchange it for a slave instead.
There are tons of monster drops as well. They also went through the labyrinth from the first floor just like us, so it was a buy one, get one for free kind of deal for us. We’ve basically doubled our drop loot that we’ve earned on this run thanks to this noble’s charitability.
What a good guy.
Beyond that, I only see a few health and mana potions. Sadly he clearly emptied the ring out before coming here, expecting to fill it up with the loot they earn. I put my hand on his corpse and will it into my ring.
I face no resistance whatsoever. I knew that living things can’t be placed inside, but corpses seem to be fair game. Thankfully. Cleaning up would’ve been nigh impossible otherwise. I replicate this action for all the other corpses, and my new epic ring is filled with smelly, bloody, dead men.
How lovely.
“You did it!” Aurora shrieks and lunges straight into my arms.
“Blossom thinks that Master has become very strong!”
“I have to agree, Quinlan. It was a fine duel. You have my respect.”
I can’t help but chuckle. Getting praised for beating a respectable combatant in a duel feels great, amazing even. “Your words mean a lot to me, my gorgeous lovers. Let’s finish this before the next team comes through. Although we didn’t climb as high as we planned to, our day turned out to be truly bountiful, so we can’t complain at all. Let’s meet our new servants properly this time.”