Heaven's Greatest Professor

Thankfully, the problem with the Drakes was something Warden was fully capable of dealing with. After all, these cursed creatures were straight with their needs, unlike the elusive woman, who talked round and round and left.

After chasing the ghost in the night, he shot back to their camp, only to find no sign of it was left behind, stomped by dozens of lizards nonstop.

His three teammates were enclosed by a pack of drakes. They were experienced in dungeon delving and it would take them a lot more than some pack of lizards for them to fall. They hadn't received any critical injuries in the meantime he was away, though it did not look positive on their faces.

Nina's job was to protect the healer, but now she found herself struggling to protect herself in the mix of dozens of drakes. She brought out her heavy bow and fired nonstop at the lizards until they closed the distance and pounced on her. The healer forced barriers on Ward to help the huntress, as Jason barely got there in time to save the healer.

Jason carried the healer to his back and dashed, choosing a direction. He was not faster than the lesser drakes by any means with his heavy armour, not to mention the load on his back, making it more difficult. Still, he managed to buy his time, using his sword with one hand to fend off the attacks.

Warden jumped into the fray, his sword enlarging to 2 metres, emitting a dark, ominous aura of energy and intent alike. The blade flashed, cutting off the head of a lesser drake. The head didn't fall to the ground as blood sprayed in the air. Warden leapt at his next target, swinging the blade.

The blade pierced through its head, killing it instantly. Another opponent came from behind. Warden sent it flying by flaunting the [Void shroud] in its direction. He swung his blade in wild abandon, eyes sparkling dark purple as he found his rhythm with every move.

[You have slain lesser Drakes (iron), 5x]

[+2.3 strength]

[+1.2 dexterity]

As he gained more advantage from slaying the drakes, the boost naturally became lower and lower. Still, it was worthwhile.

[Your strength has reached the hundred-point mark.]

[Prepare yourself for your First Boon.]

A current surged through him, but Warden had no time to pay attention to what kind of benefit he received. There were too many of these lesser drakes, and from the look of it, he did not find any matriarch within the vicinity yet.

A slow, blood-rending pain surged through his body. He hadn't thought that reaching the hundred-point mark would be cathartic or metamorphic, but he could not stop now. Besides, his pain tolerance was higher than the common rankers. He could endure it.

Blood sprayed on him like a fountain with each slash of his blade. With him joining the fray, the others finally had a moment to recollect themselves and take up their positions. The healer, Zim, supported them with his Buffs, as Nina covered the distance between them for her designated job.

Jason delivered the healer to her and joined Warden to ward off the lizards.

"About time you came back," she said. Her tone had a hardness, but with how pressured she was, she couldn't complain about his conduct now.

Warden acted like he didn't hear. He had something more on his plate to worry about. He clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth to continue. His body grew sluggish with the surging pain. It became more unendurable to fight in such a state. Agony swelled through his skin, muscles, and his core the more he fought.

There are still dozens of these lizards, and more of them were coming, but so far none of the Drake matriarchs had shown themselves, though Warden would be a fool not to consider their participation in this attack.

"We need to get out of here," the healer said. "There are just too many of them."

"I agree," Jason said. "Their numbers are only rising."

They have not taken any critical blows, but they're already on their last breath. Warden too agreed. He needed to get out of here and find out what it was all about.

"I will open a path," Warden said, as none of them had the capability of doing it alone. Although he was benefiting from killing these cursed creatures, the merciless pain was making it difficult for him to see reasons, as if he was even capable of such deeds at this moment. However, he had to, as only the intoxicating feeling from the boosted attribute soothed the pain.

Warden braced himself, surging with more power. Void energy churned through his core and into the divider. He bolted onwards, triggering Reaper's edge to alter the form of the sword, closer to a spear.

Warden entered the thoughtless mode, spear in hand. He pierced through the hard Drake's skin one after another, taking only one move or two to slay a beast.

Bodies fell around him, as Warden stopped moving. He let the lizards come to him as the others darted to safety.

[You have slain lesser Cursed Drakes (Iron), 9x]

[+2.7 strength]

"Everybody, go go go!" He heard Jason scream, as he cleared the path for them. The drakes too focused more on him, as he was the main offender, decreasing their numbers.

Warden devised the void shroud around him to make himself completely immune to their attacks. He led them to come to him as he swung the blade in full arcs, slicing through their tough scales like a hot knife through butter.

Void energy burned through his skin, as well as whatever the heck was happening with him, attaining a hundred points in strength. There was a hunger in him now as his skin devoured all the more essence he could find by killing these monsters.

[If you are on the precipice of attaining your first Boon of the body.]

[Please choose one between these options: might | heaviness | invulnerability]