Infinite Realm

"Roar."

With the activation of [Kobold Supreme Roar], the already big gap in attributes was widened even further. Not just their individual strength but the collective strength o the group had taken a massive plunge for the worst. The kobold chief had truly become a big boss at this moment and it could easily take down anyone of them with just 2-3 moves.

*Bang*

The kobold chief stomped heavily on the ground, creating a crack twice the size of its foot and propelling itself once again towards the mages. Despite the many intrusions and disturbances, it still wanted to get rid of these people.

'Can't let it happen.' Fudo thought as he steeled himself.

"Xue Yan, run!"

For this raid to be truly successful, Sato and Xue Yan had to survive at the very least. The reason was simply because of the contract they had both signed. The terms of the contract stipulated that Sato helped her defeat the world class boss and he takes the entire loot for himself. Two main points could be realised from this.

First, Sato had to help Xue Yan defeat the world class boss and nobody else. Participating in the raid counted so there was no problem in getting help. So long as both he and Xue Yan had a hand in the monster's death.

Secondly and lastly, they both had to be alive to witness its death. This was because, when a player died before the monster did, they wouldn't receive any reward for slaying the monster, simply because they died before it did. So for Xue Yan and Sato to say that they defeated the monster and for the System to approve of this, they both had to live till the end of the raid. So no matter the cost, Fudo had to make sure Xue Yan lived till the end. As for Sato, he didn't need to worry about him; Sato obviously knew how to take care of himself.

"[Fire Gush]!"

A wave of fire burst forth from in front of Fudo, flooding the 3 metres space right before him and extending an extra 3 metres forward. With the large size of the flame, the heat that emitted from it was scalding to the skin. Even the air became dry and stuffy, thanks to the insane heat from the spell.

-71 (243/1500 kobold chief's HP)

The skill Fudo had used, was one from his new staff, which he had been saving for a perilous moment; exactly what he defined this moment as. While the spell was quite intimidating and daunting, its abilities weren't as powerful as it looked. It was most effective in group battles, but in a one-on-one fight, it wasn't as useful anymore especially against a much stronger creature or target. That was why Fudo had ordered Xue Yan to run. He only intended to use this spell as a smokescreen.

Xue Yan didn't argue nor say any heart-felt words as she took to her heels and escaped in the opposite direction. Seiichi looked on as he stood on standby with his bow aimed at the blazing conflagration, looking for the smallest movement that would Identify the kobold chief's figure. None of them believed that this attack would do much to impede the kobold chief.

*Whoosh*

A white bone spear exited the flames as the tip headed for Fudo's forehead. Though it was still some distance away, Fudo felt a murderous aura suffuse from the tip of the spear. Just staring at it made him feel his body go cold. Unknowingly, Fudo had entered an illusion where all that existed was just himself and the bone spear.

*Phew*

Just as Fudo had lost himself at the sight of the bone spear, Seiichi had made his move, firing an arrow at the kobold chief who had just exited the flames.

*Clang*

The kobold chief reacted quickly, swinging its spear at the arrow. This resulted in Fudo being released from the illusion since the spear was forced away from his sights.

"Fudo! What the hell are you starting at? Move your lazy ass!"

As Fudo was released from the illusion, he recovered just in time to hear Yato's lecturing yome from a far. Fudo only smiled wryly as he refocused his attention on the battle.

When Seiichi had forced the kobold chief to block his arrow, he had become the targeted for the creature. This wasn't because he had interrupted its attack but because he had actually followed up with a few more of his own, forcing it to continuously dodge or block his arrows, till the monster got frustrated and advanced towards him. Even though he was not an Expert or anywhere close, Seiichi still had good gaming skills, having devoted a part of his life to this activity. He knew when to retreat and advance, how to attack, when to attack and where to attack. Because of this accumulated knowledge of his, though Seiichi couldn't get the upper hand of the battle, he was able to remain safe and uninjured.

'Die.'

Yato fearlessly closed the gap between himself and the monster, slashing his sword from behind. Of the craziest among Sato's team, Yato surely took the title of 1st place. Only he would dare to do such a suicidal act.

The kobold chief didn't receive such massive powerups, that even made it sense Lu Zhen in stealth, for nothing. Even before Yato had arrived, it had sense him far out. It didn't react back then because it wanted him to approach it first. With Yato now being within its attacking range, there was no way the Kobold chief would let such a free-kill slip out of its fingers.

With a swipe of its spear to deflect the closest arrow, the kobold chief abruptly turned behind with its spear following close, before thrusting it at Yato's figure.

Despite seeing the bone spear, Yato dauntlessly ignored the spear as if it wasn't a spear but rather a toothpick aimed at him. He wanted to exchange a hit-for-hit against the monster!

Almost at the same time, Seiichi strung an arrow and fired right at the monster, sealing its path of escape. As for the reason why, this was because a flaming ray of light was closing in on the Kobold chief just as Yato was about to make a suicidal move.

Sato wasn't left behind in this attack as he took the opportunity to close up the gap but he was still at least 5 metres away. The same went for Lu Zhen, who had recovered from the previous smack.

Seeing as it was surrounded and about to get hit again, the kobold chief didn't stop its charge, thrusting its spear all the way to Yato's chest.

*Clang*

The bone spear felt a little resistance as it collided with the plate armour on Yato's chest, which he had equipped before the raid. Even though the armour was there, the resistance was little, this was because with the kobold chief's current strength, a level 5 Mid-tier Mortal rank armour was just like a block of cement; pretty strong but can still be smashed through with enough force.

*Crack*

-125 (5/130 Yato's HP)

It didn't even take a second as the bone spear went through the armour, right into Yato's chest. Because the kobold chief didn't know the anatomy of humans, the spear was just aimed at Yato's chest; missing his heart due to a lack of knowledge.

Yato had yet to get a subclass so he lacked a level's worth of attributes when compared to Sato and co. As a true [Swordsman], in his own words, a majority of his points were spent boosting his attack power so his HP inevitably lacked the digits. If not for the armour shielding quite a bit of the force from the bone spear, Yato would have lost his life already.

[Critical Hit]

-33 (210/1500 kobold chief's HP)

"Roar!"

At the same time as he got hit, Yato's sword made its mark on the kobold chief's flesh, specifically targeting a spot he presumed to be a weak one.

No matter how strong or overbearing the kobold chief was, there was no way that it would take a direct hit from [Kōjin's Arrow] without an injury. While its flesh seems to have only been burnt black, there was a spot that had a hole recently formed. Because the lighting of the floor was bad to begin with, added to the fact that the injury was black, it was quite difficult to spot this hole. Yato only discovered it by luck and had targeted this point. Originally, he wanted to use a thrust to attack, but having confirmed the spot, Yato didn't want to stop at one move.

With a bone spear still stuck within him, Yato held hi sword with both hands and moved it to the side, slicing through the kobold chief's sturdy body.

[Horizontal Slash]

[Double Critical Hit]

-85 (125/1500 kobold chief's HP)

"Roar!!!"

The kobold roared in agony as an extremely tormenting sensation of pain flooded its nerves. It didn't even recall the follow up attacks from the others and simply punched at Yato.

Seeing the fist closing in on him, Yato smiled wryly as he realized that this was the end for himself. Before he had made his move, he had poured a bottle of health potion in his mouth but didn't swallow it. As such, the effects of the potion was limited and was used so soon. It was only after he got injured that he swallowed it down. Nonetheless, the amount of HP he recovered was meager and only meant to let him survive the spear hit. Against this punch, he would undoubtedly die.

'I guess this is the end for me.'

As Yato thought this, the punch arrived in front of his face.