“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Keoza,” Keoza said in a teasing tone. “I am the Guardian of the Inner Grotto. All of you should be fighting me together in order to gain the treasures that I possess. But, looking at all of you… none of you seemed to have the strength to do that.”
Cadmus and the rest of the Kobolds shuddered. All of them worship Dragons, so there was simply no way for them to attack Keoza as it would be considered a sin on their part to even think of it. Also, even if they did, the Dragon could easily kill them with a snort.
Cadmus would probably die after a slap or two if Keoza really intended to kill him.
“Um, would you believe us if we said that we are just passing through here?” Lux asked with a hopeful tone.
Keoza chuckled and nodded its head. “Indeed. All of you were just doing your best to escape Indus’ from the Outer Grotto. It had been hundreds of years since anyone has entered the dungeon, so I’m guessing that the city of Eshouvell had been discovered, right?”
Lux nodded his head in acknowledgement. ‘So the name of the Ancient City is Eshouvell…’
Keoza gazed at his guests as a bestial smile appeared on its Draconic face.
“Since you came all the way here, I can’t let you go empty handed,” Keoza said. “How about we play a game?”
“A game?” Lux inquired. “What kind of game, Lord Keoza?”
“Lord Keoza? Not bad. I like you, Half-Elf.”
“T-Thank you, Sir.”
Keoza chuckled, but in spite of his amiable attitude, Lux could still sense a foreboding feeling that made him raise his guard.
“Let’s play a siege battle,” Keoza replied. “However, we need to split your team into two. All the Kobolds, including you, the Draconic one, are on one team. As for you, Half-Elf, you will be fighting alone, without that baby slime on your head.”
“Eh?”
“Pa?”
Keoza didn’t bother to reply as its body shone brilliantly, momentarily blinding everyone.
When the light receded, they found themselves staring at what seemed to be a table made up of crystals. On top of the table was a forest, where three paths could be seen. One on top, one at the center, and one at the bottom.
“Let me explain the rules,” Keoza said. “At regular intervals, crystal soldiers will spawn in the two strongholds that are located in the corners of the map. One side belongs to the Kobolds, while the other belongs to you, Half-Elf.”
As Keoza explained, several miniature soldiers moved along the paths and headed towards the center of the map where several watchtowers were standing. Both sides fought after they ran into each other.
But since their forces were equal, no one got the upper hand.
“Your goal is to break the crystal that is inside each of the fortresses,” Keoza replied as he pointed at the two crystals inside the two strongholds. “The first one to break their opponent’s crystal wins the game. However, you can only break it once all the watchtowers are destroyed.”
Lux pinched the bridge of his nose because no matter how much he looked at the map, it still resembled the game called “Doh Tah” he played on Earth when he was still alive.
“There are monsters inside the forest, so if you go there, be prepared to fight them,” Keoza stated. “Well then, Goodluck to both combatants and… how may I help you… what’s your name?”
“Lux, Lord Keoza,” Lux replied.
“So, what’s the problem? Why are you raising your hand?”
“Aren’t I at a great disadvantage in this battle?”
Keoza smiled as it nodded its head. “Of course how could I forget that you still haven’t reached the strength of a Rank 1 monster, while your opponents are all Rank 3, and one of them is even Rank 5. Very well, how about this? You Draconic Kobold over there, what is your name?”
Cadmus respectfully bowed before answering Keoza’s question. “My name is Cadmus, Your Excellency.”
“I see. Well then, Cadmus, you are not allowed to fly. If you fly even once, you will be kicked out of the battlefield, do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Very good. I like smart Kobolds.”
The red-headed teenager wanted to curse internally because he thought that Keoza would at least prevent Cadmus from joining the battle because it was simply too much. Fighting against a Rank 5 Alpha Monster in Doh Tah was like fighting a Level 20 hero when you were still Level 1. Tʜe sourc of ths content s o(v)elꜰre.et
It was a completely unfair matchup and Lux wanted to protest about it. However, before he could even do that, Keoza glanced at him with a devilish expression on its Draconic face.
“I hate Elves, you know,” Keoza replied. “But, since you are a Half-Elf, I only hate you half as much. Don’t worry, if in the off-chance that you win, I promise that I will not be stingy with the rewards, so, please do your best!”
Just as Lux was about to argue, he was covered in a dazzling light and teleported to the artificial battlefield that Keoza created.
When Lux opened his eyes, he found himself inside a stronghold. He immediately went to the Fountain of Life, and checked the stores to see if there were any items that he could use to fight against the Kobolds who had a great advantage over him.
Just as the Half-Elf expected, there were indeed weapons, armors, and artifacts that could be purchased in order to increase a person’s stats, as well as increase their fighting capabilities.
‘There is still some time before the battle starts,’ Lux thought as he gazed at the giant hourglass whose sand was still at its halfway point,’ Lux thought. ‘Keoza didn’t explain the mechanics in detail, even about something as important as how to gain gold in this siege battle, and this is probably my only advantage.’
Lux also looked at the temple near the Fountain of Life and saw his picture, Diablo’s, Ishtar’s, as well as Pazuzu’s.
‘I guess it is safe to say that the four of us are the heroes of our team…,’ Lux mused. ‘I see… so this is why Keoza decided to make me fight the entire Kobold Team alone. It must have also seen Eiko’s capabilities, so it decided that having her with me was too unbalanced.’
The Half-Elf had to agree that his baby Slime was way too overpowered if it became one of the heroes that were to join him in battle.
The red-headed teenager then opened the match-ups and saw Cadmus, One Kobold Shaman, One Kobold Mage, as well as One Kobold Raider on the opponent’s side. The rest of the Kobolds were treated as ordinary warriors to assist them in battle.
The Half-Elf closed his eyes as he took several deep breaths to calm his senses before opening it again.
He then stared at the trickling Hourglass as he summoned all of his Named Creatures as well as Skeletons to fight for his side. He was no longer feeling anxious because he knew that even though the Kobolds were stronger than him, he was more experienced in the mechanics of the game.
Lux was an avid Doh Tah player in his past life. Although he wasn’t a professional player, he was someone that had the skills to reach a high rank.
“I guess it’s time to beat up some noobs,” Lux said with a devilish smile on his face.