Chapter 10: Tomb of the Gnolls (2)

Chapter 10: Tomb of the Gnolls (2)

Kai looked at the health bar floating above the Gnoll Skeletons' heads.

They’re healing? How is that possible?

He had used Holy Explosion right at the beginning of their encounter, significantly reducing their health. But now, their health was almost fully recovered! Moreover, their health was still rapidly regenerating.

There’s something more to these guys.

They weren’t just high-level monsters.

Kai, who had been beaten like a dog, quickly realized the severity of the situation and checked their information.

[Gnoll Skeleton LV.55]

[Status: Recovering HP.]

[These creatures have received a blessing from the dungeon’s boss, the Undead Gnoll Chieftain. Increased effectiveness of recovery skill significantly increased rate of healing.]

They’re being healed by the Undead Gnoll Chieftain?

This was the hidden secret! Kai's eyes sparkled, and the next moment, he used the Sacred Flare skill.

Flash!

Click, click, click!

Taking advantage of the Gnoll Skeletons' weakened attacks due to the blinding brightness, Kai narrowly escaped their encirclement.

Using Holy Explosion to defeat them isn’t enough.

Those crafty and despicable bones would never wait for his skill to be cast.

Then I need to use a skill with no casting time...

Currently, Kai had two skills without casting time. One was Heal he learned during his Cleric days, and the other was Sunlight's Warmth.

"Neither of them is an attack skill," Kai clicked his tongue lightly and then blinked several times.

Wait a minute, why am I looking for an attack skill?

For Undead and demonic monsters, a Cleric's Holy Power itself was practically an attack. In fact, high-level Clerics often enjoyed hunting Skeletons using Heal skills in cemeteries or ruins.

I've forgotten it completely, always being in a support role.

Moreover, the Gnoll Skeletons were currently under an enhanced effect of healing skills.

Kai's lips slowly curled into a smile. Sensing the ominous aura in his smile, the Gnoll Skeletons hesitantly stepped back.

"Where are you going? Busy?"

Kai, with his hands full of bright white Holy Power, gestured toward them.

"Come here for a moment."

***

MID Online had a variety of monsters. Among them, undead monsters were known for being tricky to handle due to their high health relative to their level. These tenacious creatures would rise again and again if not properly taken down!

Fortunately, there existed an energy that was inherently opposed to them, and that was Holy Power. Even simple healing skills were attacks against them, which was why Paladins and Clerics were highly sought after in undead hunting parties.

Of course, the damage from healing skills isn't as strong as that of attack skills.

However, most Heal skills had no casting time and very short cooldowns. This was the result of continuous buffs by Pegasus Co., as Clerics were a challenging class to level up and not many players chose to play them.

Plus, there's the advantage of attacking and healing at the same time.

"Sunlight's Warmth!"

Kai's hand was enveloped in a golden glow. This hand was originally meant to heal allies, but Kai clenched his fist and pounded the Gnoll Skeletons. At the same time, their health began to rapidly decrease.

Ding!

[The target's healing skill effect is greatly enhanced. You inflicted 757 damage.]

[The target's healing skill effect is greatly enhanced. You inflicted 704 damage.]

It was certain that neither the Undead Gnoll Chieftain nor the developers had anticipated such a scenario.

Faster, before my Holy Power runs out.

Kai moved through the Skeletons that beat him, like a real Envoy of God.

"You, I remember the shape of your skull. You're the one who hit my ribs, right?"

The Gnoll Skeleton shook its head.

"No use denying it."

Crunch!

Each time Kai swung his fist emitting Heal, a Gnoll Skeleton shattered. It was the simplest yet most efficient attack!

"Phew."

Kai looked around the aftermath of the quick battle and started picking up the bones.

[You have acquired 3 Gnoll Skeleton Bone.]

[You have acquired 1 Gnoll Skeleton Bone.]

Kai buffed himself up and touched the stone door.

Ding!

[Warning: Entering the boss room will disable logout and return until the battle is over. Would you still like to proceed?]

"Of course."

Screee.

The old stone door slowly opened with a sound like nails on a chalkboard.

Kai walked into the room without hesitation.

"Hmm."

Inside was a massive square room. Four large pillars supported the ceiling, and at the end of the room, there was a chair made of bones.

"...A skull?"

Kai looked at the Gnoll skull on the chair and started casting a spell. Although he had seen Gnoll skulls before, this one was easily three times larger than any he had seen.

That big head must be the Undead Gnoll Chieftain.

Kai quietly began using his skills.

Trrrrr.

The inside of the boss room slightly vibrated. At the same time, red glows flashed from the eye sockets of the skull.

[Boss monster, Undead Gnoll Chieftain has...]

"Holy Explosion!"

Kai launched a preemptive attack even before the enemy completed its transformation, and that wasn’t the end.

[Woken up from a...]

"Holy Explosion!"

[...deep sleep.]

"Holy Explosion!"

Boom! Boom!

White beams of light continuously struck the skull of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain. The Chieftain's health quickly dropped by half.

Click, click, click!

The skull, as if angered, moved its jawbone and then slowly rose into the air. As it did so, the bone chair supporting it disassembled and formed the creature's body.

It’s big.

Transformed into a formidable being over two meters tall, it glared at Kai with a fiery glow in its eyes.

Kai immediately looked at the information floating above its head.

[Undead Gnoll Chieftain LV.58]

It was a level 58 boss monster! Normally, it would require a party of at least four adventurers, each above level 55, to take on such a creature.

Click, click, click!

The creature aggressively gnashed its jawbones and raised the staff it was firmly holding in its right hand. Simultaneously, wisps of smoke rose from the floor of the room.

"What's that smoke?"

It was the same smoke that Kai had chased after for three days but could never catch.

[The Undead Gnoll Chieftain is summoning the souls of Gnolls.]

[Gnoll Skeletons being summoned.]

"This is..."

Thud!

The Undead Gnoll Chieftain forcefully slammed its staff onto the floor. In sync with the sound, the smokes began to take on the shapes of Gnoll Skeletons one by one.

"Even on the brink of death, dungeon bosses do this, huh," Kai murmured with a hollow laugh, while the Undead Gnoll Chieftain looked down at him as if it were a king.

Pass through my minions and ascend the stairs to face me!

It seemed as though the creature was shouting that, although unlikely. Its fiery glows were that intense.

Silence descended in the room.

"...."

"...."

The silence, which felt like it would last forever, was broken by a single drop of water from the ceiling.

Drip!

The drop of water hitting the floor acted as a signal flare. Thirty Gnoll Skeletons all at once surged toward Kai.

Alright, bring it on.

Kai's hands, ready to face them, were soaked in golden light.