The Anthrolisk was confident it would wipe the floor with Val as believed its movements to be invisible to Val, and how can one defeat an opponent they can’t see?
Oh, how wrong it was!
Val’s Heavenly Eye pierced through the fabric of reality and look into the Other Side. What was Anthrolisk’s invisibility in front of it? Its stealth was nonexistent in his gaze, as he could clearly see it approaching!
The Anthrolisk launched a powerful punch, yet Val easily dodged it, causing the monster to freeze, its bulbous eyes widening in surprise.
‘Can he see me?’ the Anthrolisk thought in confusion. ‘No, that’s impossible!’
In reality, it was possible, but it was unwilling to believe such a bitter truth and attacked Val repeatedly. Val, however, evaded all of its subsequent attacks effortlessly. Then, he delivered a powerful kick to the creature’s gut, causing the Anthrolisk’s stealth to fade away as it was sent sliding backward.
Val decided to step up his game. Calling upon his mastery over blood, he channeled his power into one powerful move which he named: The Blood Maelstrom.
This move transformed his blood into a roaring whirlwind of crimson energy that bombarded the Anthrolisk. The impact sent the beast crashing against the chamber wall, where it slid down and collapsed onto the ground, spewing blood from its mouth.
Slowly, the Anthrolisk raised its head, glaring at Val with bloodshot eyes, its body trembling with suppressed rage. Val could see that the Anthrolisk was teetering on the edge of rage. He saw an opportunity and decided to exploit it by taunting it. Taunting his enemy to the point where it would lose its cool could lead to it making a critical mistake that would inevitably become its downfall.
“Did I crush you that easily?” Val taunted the creature in a haughty tone, “Seems like you’re no more than a weakling just like I had assessed earlier.”
The Anthrolisk’s antennae twitched violently, its bloodshot eyes narrowed, and it gritted its mandibles together. Rage bubbled up within it like boiling tar, yet it kept its fury in check.
“I admit,” it managed to grind out through clenched teeth, “you’re stronger than me. On my own, I might not be enough to defeat you. But when my children come into the picture, everything changes.”
“What children?” Val’s eyebrow raised.
The Anthrolisk responded by clapping its hands elegantly. Suddenly, the ceiling overhead split open, and gigantic cockroaches, each half the size of a human, crawled out. Their shiny exoskeletons gleamed ominously under the faint light of the chamber.
“Shocked, aren’t you?” The Anthrolisk gloated, a wicked grin stretching across its monstrous face. “Let’s see how you fare against my children! Little ones, get him!”
With the command given, the cockroaches crawled down the wall in an eerie synchronicity, their multitude of tiny legs clicking against the stone walls of the chamber as they closed in on Val.
Val, however, merely smirked, causing an ominous chill to creep down the Anthrolisk’s spine. It could feel that something wasn’t right. 𝚘𝓋𝔩xt.𝑐𝒐𝚖
“You’re not the only one with henchmen,” Val retorted casually, his smirk broadening into a wicked grin that mirrored the Anthrolisk’s earlier expression.
A sense of foreboding filled Anthrolisk and it moved to stop Val from doing whatever he was planning to do.
However, it was too late.
“Descend to the living realm, my army of the undead!” he commanded, his voice echoing throughout the chamber.
Suddenly, reality seemed to bend and ripple around Val, as if it was a mere illusion.
Out of these distortions, five undead creatures emerged, tearing through the very fabric of space itself to answer their master’s call.
Their hollow eyes burned with a spectral fire, their skeletal forms imposing and dreadful. It was a sight to behold, a haunting spectacle that sent chills down the spine of even the Anthrolisk.
“Wreak havoc on those unfortunate enough to be my enemies,” Val ordered.
Following his command, the undead began their assault, closing in on the paralyzed cockroaches with frightening speed.
The Level 2 undead used the Nightmarish Aura skill. The aura of dread and despair that surrounded them surged forward like a tsunami and crashed onto the giant cockroaches, invoking visions of their impending death and causing absolute terror to grip them.
It resulted in them freezing in place as if they’d turned to stone.
The undead, swift and merciless, took full advantage of the situation. They employed their Corrosive Claws, from which a corrosive liquid sprayed out, splashing onto the cockroaches.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
The potent liquid melted through their tough exoskeletons, revealing the soft flesh beneath.
With their defenses compromised, the cockroaches, no matter how large, stood no chance against the relentless onslaught of the undead. Their claws ripped into the cockroaches, yanking out their innards and crushing their hearts in their powerful grip.
Suddenly, a system notification popped up in front of Val.
[System: Your undead minions have killed 4 Level 20 to 24 Giant Cockroaches. Gained 850 EXP!]
A smug smile spread across Val’s face. It appeared there was no difference in the experience gained, whether he killed a beast or his undead minions did. He found it quite satisfying.
Meanwhile, Val’s first and only Level 0 undead was run over by a group of cockroaches.
Immediately, another system notification rang in Val’s ears.
[System: Your Level 0 Undead has returned to the embrace of its father.]
[Number of undead decreased to 4]
Undead were created from death, meaning it has died.
Val chuckled lightly, “Quite poetic.”
“Avenger the fallen!” Val commanded, and the four Level 2 undead immediately attacked the group of cockroaches that killed the Level 0 undead, their claws gleaming ominously.
While all this was taking place, Val turned to the Anthrolisk and cracked his knuckles. “While our minions strive to emerge victorious, let’s settle our score,” he stated. “Ready or not, here I come.”
The Anthrolisk flinched as Val approached, its numerous eyes wide with terror. However, it wasn’t ready to give up just yet.