POTLS - Chapter 14: Elite

Paul tossed another dry branch into the campfire as the flames weakened, no longer hot enough to roast the rabbit meat.

Today's harvest was more than sufficient. Reaching level 8 on the first day was his best result yet. Though his increased stats helped him manage dangerous situations, the Secret Horde area had been quite confined, causing his stamina to deplete faster. The hit-and-run strategy remained far more effective, allowing him to isolate monsters and ensure each strike was lethal.

In contrast, down in that chamber, it had taken two or three slashes to kill a single Ghoul. Even with abundant stamina, continuous action couldn't help him.

Furthermore, after level 5, the experience shard drop rate was no longer 1:1, similar to the sixth night of his previous run. Many monster corpses yielded no reward. This time, he must have killed over a hundred Ghouls to gather the three hundred experience needed for those three levels from five to eight. In total, he'd collected more than 60 blue experience shards.

In previous runs, he'd barely reached level 6 even with diligence and sufficient strength. When abilities fell short, choosing the safer path remained the priority. On the first day with low levels, excessive risk-taking was ill-advised.

Today, his first experience with a Secret Horde had opened his eyes. The unpredictability in low-rank portals like Rank F remained significant despite understanding many variables.

As for fleeing immediately after climbing to the surface—that was pure self-preservation.

Killing people also granted experience.

Especially a lot of it.

The calculation mechanism remained completely random. Nevertheless, everyone agreed the figure ranged from 33% to 50% of the experience value the victim possessed before death. Someone like Paul with approximately 800 total experience would yield about three hundred experience when killed, equivalent to the struggle and danger he'd endured for hours among the Ghoul horde.

Just thinking about it was enough for consideration. Especially with a team of four.

Paul was too broken to trust strangers. He preferred caution.

Others might have stayed, proposing mutual cooperation to overcome the Secret Horde's numbers and difficulty. But not him. Either he would cause their failure, or he would be exploited. He refused to be trapped in either undesirable extreme.

After eating, he found a tree sufficiently large with sturdy branches. He launched himself up with skilled movements, utilizing protruding points.

The night sky lacked the malevolence of the sixth night. Simply a silver moon, drifting clouds, and gentle sounds.

Except for the final two days, all previous nights required adequate rest. He needed to replenish stamina and the necessary focus.

When Paul awoke, the sun was rising. The first day had ended peacefully.

He'd skipped the night hunt with the Blood Bat swarm. He would make up for it later. Despite only four hours of sleep, he felt unusually invigorated. The added physical stats seemed to create this effect. He wondered if rankers from D upward needed sleep to recover. He guessed not, or very little, since Rank D portals were already much more challenging.

After packing up, Paul headed toward the small forest stream to refill the water he'd emptied yesterday.

Familiar faces greeted him—Shadow Hounds and Ghouls. Ghouls typically appeared on the second day alongside those ugly dogs. The Secret Horde area Paul had encountered yesterday seemed to store these monsters, releasing them at scheduled times.

He glanced at the notification panel that hadn't closed since last night.

//

<<You leveled up! Choose your skill!>>

<<Option 1: Lunar Flare>>

• Area explosion with blind effect

<<Option 2: Crimson Echo (Level 1 -> Level 2)

• More phantom strikes

<<Option 3: Blade Dance>>

• Rapid series of strikes

//

Paul debated endlessly what to choose. More phantom images for [Crimson Echo] had been his initial preference. The skill truly synchronized with his existing abilities.

However, [Lunar Flare] became quite necessary when thinking ahead. As a solo player, he could easily be cornered. A crowd-control skill was essential. Especially tonight when Blood Courtiers would appear. Especially on the second night with an Elite monster. Whatever it might be, it would have numerous minions.

[Blade Dance], after analysis, seemed redundant with the three-hit combo from [Silver Strike] and the lingering strikes of [Crimson Echo]. Its strength would make him an unstoppable attacker. And possibly lead him to death more easily.

Yesterday's Secret Horde had somewhat sobered Paul. He possessed Rank E stats, making him somewhat cocky. But his talent offered no help during the actual run. He still needed his usual caution. Missing any skill that appeared risked never encountering it again. He gritted his teeth.

[Lunar Flare] was chosen.

During daytime, this skill would have limited effect, perhaps enough to blind one or two monsters if used close enough. Night would be the perfect playground for it.

Paul wasn't overly concerned; with his remaining skillset, he felt confident navigating today smoothly.

As predicted, daytime passed without much excitement. Monster swarms merely repeated their patterns.

The main issue was experience shard quantity.

From morning until evening, Paul barely gathered enough to reach level 10.

At Level 9, he forced himself to resist choosing [Blood Siphon], a skill allowing life-draining from marked enemies. Its inconsistency meant each use ranged from negligible to unbelievably positive results, depending on whether targets were too distant or too weak.

His reasoning was that with [Blood Barrier] and [Blood Resonance], two of the three conditions for the [Immortal Defiance] evolution had already appeared. He needed the skill he'd obtained previously: [Last Stand].

[Immortal Defiance] not only doubled [Last Stand]'s effects but also provided superior recovery abilities. Any wound would benefit from its effects. Most importantly, the skill user couldn't die. That wasn't entirely accurate—decapitation remained fatal. But all other scenarios became survivable, even heart impalement.

For this evolution, Paul decided to wait for later levels, choosing instead to upgrade [Blade Mastery].

Finally, tonight's main character appeared as Paul wandered the grasslands.

Tonight's Elite designated for him was a Shadow Hound leader.

It wasn't larger than other Shadow Hounds, but possessed tougher skin, almost thick and hard as metal. Its claws were longer and sharper. Its eyes contained not just frenzy but intelligence, calmly observing its prey.

It howled once, and two rows of Shadow Hounds appeared beside it. Then they split into two directions, targeting the human.

When the monsters approached, Paul didn't hesitate to use [Lunar Flare], immediately putting the skill on cooldown.

The night darkness and rising moon made this skill vastly superior. Without covering his eyes, even Paul would have suffered momentary blindness.

His legs moved swiftly among the monster pack, each sword stroke flashing bright. Pain-filled shrieks answered his performance. Those nearest fell instantly.

Those distant enough to avoid [Lunar Flare]'s effects still moved in organized formation, not recklessly charging toward the human.

They circled behind, creating a pincer movement with those just arriving at their leader's command.

Another howl rose, and the Shadow Hound standing on a small hill sprinted forward. Each footstep thundered with authority.

It weaved through its minions, charging directly at Paul.

His sword glanced off the monster's thick skin without effect.

Immediately after, the other Shadow Hounds likewise charged. But they didn't pile onto him as the Ghouls had done, crushing each other in their attack. Instead, four would come from four angles, exploiting blind spots.

The trouble from behind infuriated Paul. This was why Shadow Hound elites were so despised. Unlike Ghoul elites and Blood Bat Elites, Shadow Hound elites were special, bringing organization to their companions.

Normally, a pack of dozens of Shadow Hounds could be eliminated easily without posing any viable threat. Once directed, however, humans would certainly lose at least flesh if not bone.

The tentative attacks made maneuvering difficult for Paul. He had to strike those in front while dodging those behind. Fortunately, [Blood Barrier] blocked most damage.

Since he'd killed several, he could stand in their blood to increase his strength through [Blood Resonance]. Though somewhat labored, he maintained his offensive position.

Blending with its kind, the elite Shadow Hound delivered a powerful slash that dissolved Paul's shield.

"Shit!" he exclaimed.

[Blood Barrier] remained in cooldown. For the next few seconds, he was completely exposed.

The elite monster's lips seemed to curl with contempt.

Now the Shadow Hounds abandoned their previous pattern and charged simultaneously.

Paul dropped to one knee, using [Blade Mastery] knowledge to swing his sword in an arc while activating [Crimson Echo]. As his sword finished its path, the phantom followed with its own strike. Though each successive hit reduced damage, it was enough to repel the monsters, keeping them at bay.

A Shadow Hound lunged with jaws open, razor teeth poised to clamp around its prey's neck.

Paul's turn to smirk—[Lunar Flare] had finished cooling down. He snapped his fingers while closing his eyes.

Upon opening them, he shifted to one side, driving his sword's point straight into the target's mouth.

The elite Shadow Hound, eyes white with blindness, shrieked in pain as the sharp edge sliced through its upper jaw. In an instant, it made a cruel decision, twisting its head sideways, causing the thrust to tear through its cheek. Using its teeth to grip the sword as leverage, it rolled to escape the vicious attack.

When everything normalized, the leader beast glared at Paul with hateful eyes. His minions had been scattered by Paul's assault.

The elite Shadow Hound tried to howl but its jaw now hung loosely, its tongue severed, blood pouring abundantly beneath its feet.

Frenzy and rage replaced its modest intelligence. It roared from its throat, then ordered what remained of its army to charge the enemy.

Paul shook his head, smiling. The elite Shadow Hound had thick skin difficult to cut, but what monster in Crimson Moon Estate lacked a soft spot to attack? He'd already succeeded halfway by provoking his opponent.

Now he held the upper hand.

After more than half an hour of struggle, the elite Shadow Hound finally surrendered. It stumbled toward the hill, casting its eyes toward the moon, thoughts unclear. Perhaps it hoped supreme beings like vampires would come to help and heal it. It had become elite through fighting its own kind. Yet now its mouth was tattered, messy beyond recognition, its teeth all fallen out. Even its proudly tempered skin had been slashed to reveal internal organs.

The human was truly difficult to consume.

It tilted to one side, collapsed to the ground, and exhaled its final breath. Two red experience shards emerged from its body.

Paul, with somewhat labored breathing, approached to collect them, enough to reach level 10.

He had crossed the threshold; from here on, more experience would be required to level up. More monsters would need killing.

But he had progressed further than before. He had enough confidence to reach the sixth night fully prepared.

He would survive.