Chapter 143 - Night Hunt Part 2

Rushing forth towards the enemy. Hurling dust upon his wake, he aggressively attacked the enemy in his front. With the sharp gaze Joan has made, he gritted his teeth when the enemy dashed sideways. Appearing in his back, Joan rotated and threw his axe.

The enemy slashed the axe sideways and Joan conjured another one. He hacked the enemy with his weapon and it was stopped by its claws.

Clang!

Joan expected it to happen and so he let go of the weapon as it was stuck. He slashed with his other weapon and he repelled it. Joan conjured one axe and threw the other. Making the enemy swat it sideways successively in the process. Joan then used his skill [Slash] and his weapon wounded the enemy, still, it was shallow and was not still life-threatening. The enemy was taken aback as he has many skills that he used.. They were also random at that. Making Joan, an unpredictable enemy.

Joan switched to his daggers as his weapons were not fast enough. It was then, he threw his weapons at him and conjured daggers. He immediately dashed towards him and slashed with [Rapid slash].

Prrrrrriiiiiiinnnnngggg!!!

The daggers were all repelled. The enemy grinned at him after he was seen panting. The enemy then approached him and clawed right to his face. Joan was surprised by his sudden burst of speed and so he blocked with his daggers. A small scratch was made on his cheeks. It was then, Joan used his chained daggers. Whipping it towards him but the enemy was fast enough to react in his attacks. Joan whipped faster but the enemy saw his attack's direction. Making him saw the pattern ahead and sidestepped in predicting its trajectory.

Joan was then perplexed, it was a first that his enemy has that good evasion skills. Also due to its wings, it was faster than normal mobs. Making it a proper elite on the fact that it was still alive till now.

Joan was in a bind, his stamina was slowly depleting. Though, his enemy was still energetically evading his strikes. It was a battle of endurance and Joan was starting to fall short. He breathed deep and long due to excessive movements that he was forced to do with the current enemy.

Though his rank was a master, it was still hard for him to match his speed. Joan didn't whine at the moment but gritted his teeth. Dashing again while throwing his conjured daggers at them, he was able to deal damage as some daggers were not blocked by his enemy. Still, it was not fatal. Joan dashed towards him and tried to use [Backstab] on his back.

But the enemy was aware of this and the effectiveness of the skill was not to its fullest as it was seen beforehand. It was most effective when it was a surprise attack. Still, Joan used the skill and the enemy turned around. He stabbed towards the face but the enemy blocked it with his palm. Making his hand stabbed in the process. Joan then twisted the dagger and then pulled it out. Making the enemy wail as he does so.

Joan then threw some daggers at him and they landed on his shoulders, some were on his chest. Due to the enemy's pain, it roared and was infuriated. Attacking Joan without a reserve this time. A slash left and right was made and Joan's daggers almost break. Joan bit his lower lips and stepped back a bit. It was then, Joan was hit by its charge. Luckily, Joan conjured a shield on his arms and he managed to lessen the damage.

[Shield charge] [Shield bash]

Two skills were made in succession and the enemy was shaken a bit. Making Joan conjured a hammer on his hands. Smashing it to the enemy's face and then used another [Shield charge] and [Shield bash] on the process.

Bang! Bang!

The enemy staggered on the process after he was hit on the face. Making him attack twice before charging in again. Joan then combo his [Shield bash] and his hammer swing.

Tuk! Bang!

The enemy also regained its footing and then clawed his shield on the process. Also able to make Joan stagger with every hit. As it was heavy with its buffed muscles and body. He smashed his left and right, shielding himself when needed.

It was a tough battle and Joan was on his limits. He was panting hoarser this time around. The weapons he chose was heavy and taxing his stamina. He almost let go of his hammer. It was then, he discarded his shield and hammer as it was heavy. Conjuring a katana on the process.

After making his pose, he dashed towards his enemy and slashed with his weapon. Albeit light, it was sharp and brutal but weak on defending. Making Joan evade the enemy's strikes and not carelessly defend with his weapon. He was able to land hits on the enemy but the enemy was also making claw marks on his body. He was on his limits and then slammed his butt on the rooftop.

'If only I can let loose,'

He was then attacked by the enemy and a silhouette tall and buff was seen to cover him.

Bang!

The enemy was flung towards the edge and then fell.

"You've got guts to solo an elite with a steel rank badge eh? Well, that's what I like about you," The Captain said to him.

"Captain! Wow, glad that you are here," Joan duplicate almost shouted.

Joan then tried to stand up but the Captain forbids him. He was ordered to rest for a while and he will take care of things here from now on.

The enemy then flew upwards and then dropped himself to the roof. The two then battled without reserve.

Bang! Boom! Bing!

The fight ensued and the gargoyle was flung left and right. Thanks to [Heavy hitter] skill of Paladins, it was a skill that made the enemy have a hard time on. Every blow was bone-breaking and the enemy suffered the most out of the two. The Captain has bruises too as the enemy has brute strength. They continued fighting until one of them gives up or was killed. But still, no one surrendered.

The Gargoyle elite then let out a shriek and then all the gargoyle on the den heard it. They all soon rounded up and attacked the Stronghold. The Captain tried to silence him but it was for nought. Soon after, the place was flooded with flying creatures.

The adventurers rounded up while the others went on a killing spree. Killing one creature one at a time. This time, Joan helped with their extermination. As he was useless on duelling the Gargoyle elite. He found his purpose in killing off these flying pests up in the sky.

The fight lasted for hours and they were exhausted. The corpses disintegrated while Joan duplicate sucks the essence dry on the place. The adventurers who were killed were placed on a bed of dried branches and were burned. They were burned this time around to honour their bravery. Souls were collected by an Angel and they went to the heavens. Joan saw it but the others didn't. He prayed for their eternal rest until the morning came. Ashes were left on the burned woods and so their bodies were made dust and were cast to the wind.

The Captain was there too to give sympathy. But it was a normal thing that will happen from now on. Deaths were inevitable to the ones who fight. Not all were given a painless death but eternal rest was waiting for them.

Morning came and their lives continued. The place was in chaos so they repaired their base again. Roofs were replaced with the new wood plank. Joan also joined in cooking for the soldiers. Slicing the basic spices and some vegetables. They made a soup for everyone's stomach and they enjoyed it.

Joan then observed them have a meal that they emptied the pot of cooked soup as a result of their hunger and tiring night. Others started to taste the water on the well and it was clean. Making them drank on its content. Supplying their containers and others bathed with it. They didn't regret it now that they conquered the Riverside stronghold at the moment and enjoyed its resources.

It was then, the soldiers rested for a while after a whole night of the monster raid. Others have the energy to train and so they wasted their energy at their sparring. Joan just watched on the training field for the other's progress in their pursuit of greatness. They wanted to be strong and so Joan thought them a thing or two.

The Captain saw it all and he was impressed. And so, Joan was then promoted by the Captain as the drill instructor and trainer. They have none at the moment and so it would be a great way to improve their general strength and improve their forces as a whole. His life went busier that time he showed his talent for teaching others. Still has those old self that teaches students on the past.