Chapter 41：Flesheater (2/2)
”Leave this one to us,” Arthur told Kira, and the latter stood back. It has been a while since they were together and Arthur realized Kira understood basic instructions. He had no idea why it was so attached to him, but Arthur couldn't help but grow fond of this.
”Can you let me deal the final blow to the monster?” Arthur asked as Miko took out her two daggers and got ready to battle. Arthur had slight anticipation for her strength, but he decided this should be his prey since he needed to get strong faster. Miko simply nodded and didn't say much.
”GAAAAAA!”
It was then that the monster arrived, with a screech that came from different directions, Arthur finally saw its species and found it to be a Flesheater as big as a horse. It had the body of an Anteater and four tentacles-like snouts with each having a row of sharp teeth that seemed especially deadly.
Arthur's heart had a sliver of fear as he saw how it looked, but he still felt assured by the allies he had gathered. He picked up his weapon and used his enhancement runes. He tried to conceal the runes from Miko, but he couldn't do anything about the glow.
”You take the right side and I'll take the left.” Arthur crouched down and his mana drained as he activated the runes on his boots. Timing his dash with the force pushing him forward, Arthur bolted toward the monster with his sword in hand. He was by the monster's side in an instant and he slashed at the side of its abdomen.
He didn't feel Miko move at all, but she was already there by the time he slashed the monster. She also attacked its abdomen with one of her daggers before using the other to inflict wounds on it.
Arthur couldn't maneuver as skillfully as she did and ended up clumsily halting his steps before attacking as well. The monster was shocked by the sudden ambush and the damage it sustained, and it used its tentacles to attack the two.
Arthur couldn't focus on Miko's battle anymore as he had his hands full with protecting himself. Using the protection runes at this moment, he was granted with a defense that negated double his strength. That meant it was almost a hundred points.
However, since the runes were two layers each having 49 points, they broke down as they sustained the monster's attack. They were enough to deflect them allowing Arthur to slash using his mana, Poison, and Force-II rune to get a more powerful strike.
The strike landed cutting deeply into the monster's tentacle, almost cutting it off completely. It dangled as it bled out with the poison making the skin turn greenish.
The Flesheater roared in agony as it used its skill to attack the two, firing its teeth toward them like arrows. Arthur was quick to jump using his boots. As Arthur was mid-air and descending, he was stunned to see Miko suddenly appear beside him out of thin air, and the two slashed at the monster's neck from the sky each landing a blow on a different side.
Dark blue blood sprayed out from its neck as it started to stumble before it fell to the ground, bleeding.
”You can finish it.” Miko started wiping her daggers as she gestured to Arthur. The latter nodded and walked toward the panting monster. Blood kept flowing from its many wounds, and Arthur realized how much Miko has helped him. Her wounds were a lot deeper than his, and he saw that most of them were under the monster's tough skin. He didn't know how, but she was able to slash its insides. Now, it seemed that most of the work was done by her.
Arthur raised his sword in the air as he looked at the dying eyes of the monster. Usually, the killing happened in an instant and Arthur had no time to think about it. However, everything paled in comparison to one thing.
'For my survival.' Arthur struck the wound, ending the monster's life.
[You have leveled up. 2 Stats points have been gained.]
Arthur sat down next to it pretending to pray. However, he used his legacy at this time to absorb the monster's essence.
[Strength has been increased by 1.]
[Strength has been increased by 1.]
[Strength has been increased by 1.]
[Strength has been increased by 1.]
He saw these messages and felt relieved. Although it was a shame that he didn't get a skill or a rune, Arthur knew he would have to kill one on his own to gain these benefits.
”What are you doing?” Miko asked with confusion as she saw his posture and the light surrounding him.
”Praying for its soul, and healing my body.” Arthur lied with a straight face.
”But you weren't wounded…”
”Oh, some internal injuries due to my amplification ability,” Arthur said some bullshit about his ability, but Miko simply nodded. There were a lot of abilities in the world, and one with a price wasn't rare.