Monster weren’t much of a challenge themselves, especially as you cracked their movement pattern. They didn’t have much strength on their own, they tried using their body mass to pin their enemies to the ground, most human would be done in this situation. Their speed was average, except the moment they jumped from the sand.

Sand Dweller [Insectoid]Level12Hp[132/140Sp[84/160]SkillsSand Trap [Passive/Active] [NA]

Bite [Active] [Level 7]

Boosted Senses [Passive] [NA]

Chitin Armor [Passive] [Level 3]

Lower Venom [Passive] [Level 2]The creature itself is not much of a threat. It could be easily killed by villager with pitchfork, if encountered in open area.

But here is a trick. You would never encounter it in open area and you would never encounter it alone.

Those monster moves in swarms at night below the ground. During the day, they wait patiently for prey to approach.

Locating them without magic is extremely hard, using element of surprise, their body mass, venom and numbers they devour the whole caravans.

Oh, I am sure they were dangerous. Humans didn’t stand a chance. Most of parties would be doomed thanks to their insane number, ability to hide in the dirt and performing fast surprise attacks. Unfortunately for them, their current opponents were out of their reach. Gisele was too fast and precise, she must have fought against them quite few times before, for she paid barely any attention to her surroundings, moving as if she knew from where another monster would jump from. She would then perform a excellent evade and slash or stab, finishing monsters with one, max two perfect attacks.

I, on the other hand, didn’t need to dodge at all. My shifted body was much taller, fatter and studier, making insect’s struggle to pin me to the ground completely useless. My torso and neck was covered in scales protecting me from creatures mouthparts, and muscle and fat structure on my legs and arms slowed down the venom which their injected.

I stood low on my legs with feet far from each another, digging my feet in sand, almost rooting in place. Rotating my body above pelvis area I put as much strength as I could to horizontal blow. Hammer hit its target – bug that jumped toward me. First I felt as hammer encounters resistance, them the sound of chitin plates breaking could be heard for a moment before the body was send few meters back. Monster wasn’t quite dead. Yet. But as its body was twisted in weird manner, it was only a matter of time till creature would meet its ancestor in world below.

Gisele lunged forward, showing her blade in gap in insect’s armor just few centimeters from its mouth, twisted her blade and took two steps backs. She kept changing her footing every few seconds, putting her whole body mass into each thrust.

It must have looked weird, if someone would be watching us from the side. Our fighting styles were so much different. Fluent and swift movements of Dragoness, every move so very focused and precise, like an angel of death brining eternal slumber to each of her target individually. It was like a spectacle, each swing was a monologue, each move an act in theater play of Macabre. Like uncatchable bird she kept maneuvering between clumsy mass of enemies with expression of excitement and bliss on her face. For her it was both: duty and hobby. She was a grim reaper that changed scythe for sword.

I, on the other hand, was a fortress. Unmovable and untouchable. I almost swing my weapon from side to side barely noticing, if I actually managed to hit something or not. There were times when my hammer met no enemy, and there were moments when I send flying three or even four high in the air in same time. Occasionally I took a glance over “score board”, Gisele was always few kills ahead. Then I would grab my hammer in both hands and started charging using it as ram to get myself into more crowded area. With my style resembling more a wild beast I kept delivering death like a flood. Elegant, swift, painless… these were words you wouldn’t use to describe my crude art.

Ah! All this time I needed to watch over my back. I needed to restrict my strength, halve my power, hide and waste potential given to me, but now, for the first time I could blow off the steam! In company of somebody else! Who wouldn’t judge me! Who did not care!

I enjoyed this! Much more than I would ever want to admit! My senses were screaming, Wrath and Pride were yelling in excitement! I have never in my life felt this… free! Pure! Fulfilled!

Swing from right to left crashed another of my opponents, I used momentum of hammer to lift it over my head after finished swing just to strike from above of my head pulverizing squawking creature into the dirt, splashing its greenish fluid over my legs. As I lost myself in excitement I didn’t notice, or actually I didn’t pay attention, to the monster that crawled to be and burrowed its mandible in my calf.

I roared in anger, not in pain, raising my hoof and starting to kick its back over and over again. First blow of my hoof bend plates on its back, second made it cracked, third send it all over the ground revealing it’s soft insides, fourth, fifth and sixth brought upon it end of its days.

“Sword arts, fifth dance! Skylark!” I heard Gisele cry before she pierced couple of creatures with precision of needle.

Last creature fell on the ground. We were breathing heavily. We kept our race for over than 30 minutes. Gisele said that big packs of those monsters are made of 50 or so creatures. There were definitely more than that. At least twice, of not thrice!

“What… the hell… was that… swarm… made of?!” She panted. “It wasn’t normal! Tha! I am glad I didn’t start seriously from the very start, or I could have run out of stamina! A…anyway… I hope you counted kills… cause I wasn’t… Just don’t you dare to cheat!” She chuckled.

Your skill [Appraisal] has leveled up. [Appraisal] is now level 7.

Via performing a certain action a skill [Hammer usage - Beginner Level 1] has been obtained

Hammer Usage - BeginnerUsing [Hammer] class weapon will be more effective.Damage dealt+ 5%Critical rate+ 1%Status effects rateStun+ 2%Knock down+ 5%Armor break+ 3%Bone breaker+ 2%ManiffestationsPowerful StrikeDamage+ 5%All status effect rate+ 1%Stamina cost7

Your skill [Hammer Usage - Beginner] has leveled up. [Hammer Usage - Beginner] is now level 2.

Hammer Usage - Beginner [Level 2]Using [Hammer] class weapon will be more effective.Damage dealt+ 6%Critical rate+ 1.5%Status effects rateStun+ 2.5%Knock down+ 5.5%Armor break+ 3.5%Bone breaker+ 2.5%ManiffestationsPowerful StrikeDamage+ 6%All status effect rate+ 1.2%Stamina cost7.5/moveWhirlwindDmage- 50%All status effect rate+ 1%Stamina cost15/move

Your skill [Nature Healing Magic] has leveled up. [Nature Healing Magic] is now level 11

Nature Healing Magic [Level 11]All spells of [Nature Healing Magic] are more potentManiffestationsRegenerationHealth recovery rate26/hrStamina recovery rate51/hrMana cost5/minDetoxicationMetabolsim speed+25%Possibility of removing:[Low poison] + 25% [+ lower effect]

[Medium poison] +15% [+ lower effect]

[High poison] + 5% [+ lower effect]

[Fatigue] + 35% Mana cost9/hrViper's BloodGrants[Lower poison resistance]

[Metabolism boost] Duration00h45m00sMana cost40/useStrength of GiantGrantsStr + 7

Vit + 6

End + 5

Challenge!Gisele Redwing51Zariel White Raven38

You have slain [Sand dweller] x 38You have obtained1368 exp

Your party member [Gisele Redwing] has slain [Sand dweller] x 51You have obtained1428 exp

Woah. My head! So, from now onward I will actually know how much my skills costs and what are their exact effects?! That information is… table turning! Now I can plan every move! Appraisal…. Thank you for always being by my side! Now, I am wondering how much powerful it can become in the future? Skills are either ranking up or reaching max level on levels 5,10, 15, 20 and so on. It’s just a guess, but does it mean that Appraisal will hit max in 3 more levels? Every additional information from now onward will be worth more than gold! Ah! I am shivering with excitement!

“Zari! I asked you if you counted your kills?” “Hm? Ah, yes! I am not sure, but I should have killed forty of them. Plus/minus one or two. And as about 90 corpse lies around… Gratz. Ya won.” I said resting war hammer over my shoulder “I am not happy at all! You are a mage! If you would use magic…” “I did. I put on myself quite few body empowering charms. I have also morphed my body. So I wasn’t going easy on you at all, if that’s what you mean. What decided about your victory was the difference in our skills, nothing more and nothing less. Plus, really powerful magic requires time for preparation. Chant, setting targets, measuring mana. If I would fight here alone I would have barely any time to cast some medium level spells, and I doubt these would grant me a victory.” “…Maybe, but if we were facing different enemies…” “But we weren’t. I will beat you next time.” “That’s better be a… you felt it?”

How I couldn’t. Whole ground trembled a little as if behemoth was charging through the forest. The only difference was that there was no forest around and no behemoth could be spotted.

The ground about 30 meter from us cracked and huge worm-like creature emerged.

Sand Dweller [Insectoid] [Giant]Level31Hp[921/1100]Sp[1235/1550]SkillsTrample [Active] [Level 7]

Bite [Active] [Level 27]

Sand Trap [Passive] [NA]

Boosted Senses [Passive] [NA]

Chitin armor [Passive] [Level 19]

Medium Venom [Passive] [Level 2]When lower life form evolve without changing their race they become [Champion], when Champion does the same they become [Elite], and when Elite decide to keep with trend in will finally become [Giant]

That's the very last stage before becoming a [Boss] rank and getting a name. Extremely powerful, and waaay harder to kill than regular specimen of same race.

Still, better to kill it before it would rank up again. You don't want it to attack unprepared city, would you?

“Gis, you took with yourself some heavier weapon, I hope…” “N…Not exactly. Hey, would you mind borrowing me this hammer of yours…” “I am afraid this item would be useless in your hands.” “Crap. His exoskeleton looks hard. I doubt that I can pierce it with my bastard sword…” “Ok, here is a plan. You keep his attention focused on you, I try cracking his armor. Then we switch. I taunt him, you change his reveled insides into goulash.” “Fine by me.”

Same time. Adventure guild of Agrah.

“So, in last year you have finished 11 S rank quests, 92 A rank, 531 B…”

Jericho was listing jobs finished my guild with his nose in notes. The paper work was slowly getting done. Well, they should have finished it by evening… if not glasses of whisky that two guild masters were cheerfully drinking.

Suddenly, a knocking could be heard.

“Open! But, whoever you are, better your reason be important!” “Oh, I am pretty sure it is important.” Wealthy clothed man entered the room “But fear not. I won’t stay in this place for too long. I am here just to personally deliver this letter to you.” “Mortworh. I would say that it’s nice to see you, but lately I am trying to lie as few times as possible. The hell is this.” “My son has been assaulted by one of your visitors. I am here to deliver demand of that barbarian payment.” “One moment. Who.” “Not sure myself. Some white haired kid, as I was told.” “Now, when did it happen?” “Before afternoon.” “Where?” “In this filthy facility of yours.” “Great! Problem has just solved itself. You see, your son is an adventurer. That kid is an adventurer. The offence was taken on the ground of the guild. Here everyone is equal. Even king can’t here make any orders. I would consider your letter as threat of any kind, if this [assault] would be committed outside of the guild. But now, with greatest pleasure I want to say, that you can take this letter of yours, roll it into a ball, and shove it right in your asshole. You. Can’t. Even. Move. Your. Finger. Oh, but wait! There is a way for you to get what you want. One, you can write a complaint letter, which we would ignore, two, your son may does the same, which we will try to delay as much as possible and then reject under any possible reason, or your son can challenge him on duel… Jeremy… that kid of yours will be fine, I presume. Son of this gentleman over here is below average in every aspect.” “Then he will be more than fine. That kid is in league of Gisele.” “HOW DARE YOU! The king himself with know about this offenc…” “And he won’t move his finger. One. Because he is old friend of mine. Two. Because he is a friend of Blackwood. And Blackwood, as you probably know, has his wife sick for quite some time. But I was told that her condition improved and she is almost cured. And her condition improved after certain white haired kid visited her few times… You with me so far? Listen. You have three possible ways of acting. One, you will move administration of kingdom. And you will fail, for he has support of grand house AND council. Two, you can challenge him, and you will fail, because this kid is clearing really hard dungeon one after another. Three. You can turn away, leave this office and spare yourself any further humiliation.” Jeremy put his hand behind his head “And you can use some of your spare time to act that cocky son of yours some humility. He acts as if he was almighty, despite his lacking skills. He is a walking mockery here, and I assure you, there is no more adventure here that would take your family seriously.”

The man got red all over his face.

“Then tell him, that he is challenged by my son. Tomorrow at noon in my mansion. You are all welcome to come too, as arbiters, to ensure that everything is according to rules.” “Hm? And you think we will comply? One. We can’t make any decision in place of Zariel. Two, he may simply refuse or tell that date doesn’t suit him… but we will deliver this message to him. If humiliation is all you want.” “We will see.” The noble left the room slamming the door.” “He is going to cheat anyway, will he?” Jericho shifted his gaze back on his old friend. “No. He is to proud for this. But he will look for loophole. He will get for him some enchanted weapon, get dozen of steroid potions…” “If that’s it, it won’t be enough.” “Ha! You must have never meet anyone drugged with those bloody elixirs! They can turn human into god of war! They would shit their insides out after it, but they would get their job done.” “He can make his own potions, so that should be more than ok.” “Tsh. I hope that you are right. Hey! If everything would turn nicely, I could have kicked that useless garbage out of my guild!” “You can’t?” “I am afraid not. You know how it works, even if we are independent organization, we still have to rely on help of outside administration. And he had really nice recommendation. If you know what I mean. Plus he does bit more than bare minimum to keep him.” “Well, I doubt that Zari would reject invitation. He has his very own grudge toward nobility.” “So, for successful duel?” fatty raised his glass “Toast? Shitty one.” “There is no shitty reason to drink another glass.” “… Well, I can drink for that too.”

Empty glasses once again hit the table.

Back to MC

Gisele started marching toward the creature from the font while I tried to attack it from the side. All this time creature struggled to force more of its body from ground. It already was over six meters tall and we could only guess how much more of it was stuck under the ground.

The creature stopped its efforts and begun to shift its gaze between me and Gisele.

“HEY! YOU UGLY PIECE OF SHIT!” dragoness picked stone from the ground and threw it toward creature’s head.

Either she was very skilled in throwing rocks or her luck was even greater than mine, for projectile managed to hit very small, despite creature’s size, target – its eye.

Monster instantaneously let out loud shriek of pain and anger and it whole upper part of body started jerking in all directions. Once again I inspected it’s status.

50 DMG!? WITH A FUCKING ROCK!? GISELE! WHAT ARE YOU!? OK, easy me. It’s not time to admire the strength of this brute. You have exoskeleton to bend.

The monster finally regain control over pain and looked back with its only remaining eye at Gisele angered. It waited till she would get bit closer, and hit the ground she was standing on with his whole body, making the ground tremble.

As it was occupied, I wasted no time charging on its head currently laying on the ground, raised hammer over my head at hit with everything I got, jumped back at viewed notification

Blow strength - [83]Endurance pass / Chitin armor pass - [92%] damage reductionYou have dealt [6.64 dmg]Armor endurance [98%] left

Tis but a joke! Monster didn’t even bothered looking at me!

I attacked again and again – once in same spot and once into different. With similar effect regarding damage. But the new thing I learned, is that each segment of its armor has separate endurance bar. Actually, that’s logical. It would be weird if after hitting its head his legs would be damaged. So I have to focus on same spot, attacking over and over again till it break… averagely 50 strikes. Nope. I will run out of stamina.

No! Wait! In skill description it was said, that each of my strike has 3.5% of armor breaking effect. Did it? If I read description correctly, it should lower armor durability greatly! And Powerful Strike increase it by additional 1.2%. Almost 5% per blow. Let’s get this shit done!

I focused on releasing manifestation. Changing posture I once again raised hammer over my head and dropped it from above.

Blow strength - [112]Endurance pass / Chitin armor pass - [80%] damage reductionYou have dealt [22.4 dmg]Armor endurance [92%] left

Monster hissed, yet still was chasing Gisele, which was not lazing around. Moving back and forth, evading creatures attacks she tried stabbing uncovered part of creatures mouth. Not very effecting considering damage, but surly – very painful.

I raised the hammer over and over again, wondering if I would have enough stamina to perform enough blows.

Luck Event triggeredCritical blowArmor Breaker effect was added to your blowBlow strength - [227]Endurance pass / Chitin armor pass - [68%] damage reductionArmor breaker ignored [20%] of damage reductionYou have dealt [118.04 dmg]Armor endurance [7%] left

THAT’S IT!

Loud cracking noise followed. Huge part of creature’s chitin armor was no longer serving its purpose. It was the moment when monster lost interest in dragoness

“SWITCH!” I yelled with all I had in my lungs.

In very last moment I managed to raised my hammer in front of me, before the monster mouthparts tightened over handle of D’iabel. The monster begun to jerk its head violently trying to pull the weapon out of my hands. And damn, he was doing great in it.

He was shaking my whole posture with each movement it made. To slow down its efforts, I channeled fire magic through my hands to the weapon, heating it up. Metal is great heat conductor, so I hoped that creature soon enough would let me go.

In mean time, Gisele got over inset’s back, positioned herself over cracked part of chitin, raised her blade and swiftly begun to burrowing it in its flesh, turning the blade inside the wound, and pulling back just to repeat the process.

Monster let my weapon go as it cried in agony. I knew that it was about to focus on Gisele once again. I couldn’t allow this to happen.

“POWERFUL! STRIKE!” I yelled.

Somehow, I helped in executing skill.

Hammer landed over it head, dangerously close to its damaged eye. Yet not close enough. Monster started turning its head.

“POWERFUL, STRIKE! LOOKE AT ME YOU SON OF A WHORE! I AM SURE YOUR WORM-MOTHER HAD HER WAY WITH HALF OF FUCKING COLONY! EVEN WITH FIVE IN SAME TIME! COME ON! LOOK AT ME YOU FILTHY BASTARD!”

Then, an idea sparked in my mind.

“POWERFUL…!” I started, yet before releasing the skill I started channeling my mana yet again “… STRIKE!”

In same time I unleashed mana shock wave. In theory it should deal damage of both smashing and magic nature, in practice, coordinating skills of physical and magical class was even harder than double casting.

The blow forced the creature’s head fall once again.

“GISELE! SHOVE THAT SWORD OF YOURS AS DEEP AS YOU CAN AND RUN!”

She hesitated for a moment, put then, within a second she forced her blade till only handle was sticking out from the body.

I ran in direction of wound, channeling that mixed skill from second ago once again. The creature was heavily weakened, and stunned.

Using power of combined skills and momentum of charge I hit perfectly the sword, pushing it even deeper, then the magic from hammer got transferred to the sword, which started resonating and exploded, turning into dozens of fragments turning its insides into bloody mess.

The creature was dead. Both me and Gisele dropped on our knees fighting for air.

We smiled on each another, but then dragoness said with deadly serious voice

“But it counts as one!”

I could do nothing more, but to start laughing hysterically.