The Strongest Player is a Demon Lord

Taste of Blood

Kobolds.

These are the normal monsters that can be found within a cave. Kobolds tend to live within closed spaces such as these – similar to goblins. Though a major difference is that kobolds are better at handling weapons and setting up traps. Evident in how they are able to capture the woman that is fleeing from them.

“NOOOO!”

The woman screamed from the top of her lungs. Frantically running for her life – with her vision being tunneled to the path in front of her. That’s why she isn’t able to see the kobold arrow that struck her from the side. Making her fall down as it pierced her waist. The searing pain being evident from her scream.

“AHHHHHH!”

The woman will die. A couple more seconds and her life will be forfeit. She can feel this. The cold and alienating embrace of death. Welcoming her to the nothingness that comes shortly after. But Merlin isn’t going to let this happen.

“Flicker.” The half-demon teleported to the nearest kobold. Utilizing one of his two starting skills.

[Skill Name: Dark Flicker]

[Skill Type: Active]

[Mana Cost: 15]

[Cooldown: 10s]

[Rank: F]

[Information: Instantly transports through a short distance.]

The poor creature didn’t expect it so it couldn’t do anything. Merlin grabbed the knife from the waist of the unsuspecting kobold. Slicing through the side of the monster’s body as blood sprayed. This left it momentarily paralyzed and, in a swift motion, the half-demon stabbed the top of its head. Blood came gushing out as the kobold squealed. Flailing its arms in an attempt to reach the half-demon. A vain enterprise as its life is made forfeit five seconds later.

This brought the attention of the remaining kobolds towards Merlin. The woman is still safe and alive. But the same cannot be said for Merlin who must now deal with the rest of the kobolds. A task he’s already prepared for.

Ten kobolds. When Merlin inspected the scene, he saw ten kobolds. Three using crossbows, five using daggers, and two holding clubs. The monsters are divided in such a way that the woman they are hunting is in the middle of a long and narrow pathway.

Two kobolds are waiting at the front. While one is at the back. The same one that Merlin just killed. Then the melee are divided in such a way that two dagger users are waiting at the front along with the crossbow kobolds. And as for Merlin’s position, well, he decided to begin with the kobolds in front. He took the crossbow from the hand of the kobold he killed. The reason why he took it.

[Weapon Name: Kobold Crossbow]

[Grade: F]

[Accuracy: 50%]

[Information: Fires five arrows in rapid succession. Instantly reloads after ten seconds.]

Merlin is knowledgeable about monster weapons. That’s why he aimed to kill a crossbow-wielder first. This makes his life easier because all he has to do now is pull the trigger. Arrows aimed at the dagger kobold on the right. The closest one. There are five arrows that came flying towards this new kobold. Three of these hit – damaging the monster that is now unable properly take action. Dropping its weapon to the ground.

Without a shred of hesitation, Merlin ran towards the direction of the wounded kobold. Immediately grabbing on to the dagger that is dropped. He then stabbed through the heart of this new target as he heard the sound of a crossbow firing nearby. But this will find no target because, ten seconds have passed.

“Flicker.”

Merlin changed locations once again. Letting the arrows hit the already dead kobold that he stabbed. Reappearing in front of the kobold that just fired at him. The poor creature is caught by surprise by the suddenness of it all. Preventing it from taking action as Merlin threw dirt towards the face of the monster. Blinding it temporarily as the half-demon reached for this new monster’s waist where a new dagger is waiting for him.

Merlin grabbed hold of this and immediately stabbed through the kobold’s chin. Blood spraying once again and coating his hand with it. He then gripped both hands on the daggers hilt and sliced downwards. Cutting through half of the body of the kobold as more blood gushed out. Taking away the creature’s life as Merlin took the monster’s crossbow.

Seven kobolds left.

The last kobold of this ambush group is another dagger user. Merlin immediately fired the five arrows loaded into the crossbow and threw it away. Meanwhile, his opponent got hit by two of these. Not enough to kill it, but enough to leave it in the same state of pain that Merlin has taken advantage of with the other kobolds.

Merlin closed the distance between them immediately through Flicker. He took a large rock from the ground and smashed the face of the kobold. The creature dropped to the ground and Merlin screamed as he smashed it with a rock three more times. Killing it like the rest.

Merlin scanned the area quickly. There is one last long ranged kobold but it is on the opposite side of where he is. As for the woman, she’s still alive. Not being touched by the remaining kobolds which are now frantically running towards him. A decision that left a slight smirk on his lips.

“Suit yourselves.” Merlin ran back to the first crossbow he dropped. He fired the five arrows and threw the weapon towards the kobolds.

Merlin then flickered once more. The arrows aren’t meant to hit. These are simply meant to serve as a misdirection, the same with the crossbow that was thrown. With the split-second that his enemies took their eyes off him, Merlin teleported to the second crossbow.

There’s no way for the kobolds to follow this movement. Merlin is now on the far-left side – completely outside the field of vision of the kobolds. He then fired the five arrows from this new crossbow, hitting the club kobold that’s nearest to him.

By sheer luck, four of the five arrows hit their mark. Sinking deep into the flesh of the intended kobold that squealed in pain. Merlin then ran towards it. Stabbing the monster’s head with the dagger that was left on the same location as the crossbow.

The kobold dropped its club which Merlin grabbed. Flickering once more, this time to the opposite side of where the monsters are looking. Weapon on hand, the demon swung it vertically – smashing through the head of this new target. An attack that brought an unexpected consequence as one of the kobolds is near enough to attack Merlin within the interval, stabbing its knife through the arm of the half-demon.

Merlin kicked this kobold away and took the liberty of using flicker once more. The last that he can cast. He’s already made use of the skill five times during this fight. Leaving his mana pool in a state where it shows [10/100].

This, along with the wound left by the kobold would’ve been a problem. If not for one other factor that Merlin already took into consideration.

[You have leveled up!]

“Finally.” Merlin smirked.

The wound on his arm, the depleted mana pool, as well as the feeling of fatigue, all of these got washed away instantly. The feat of leveling up within this game creates does two things. One is it increases the base stats to a certain extent. And two is that it refills the health, stamina, and mana of the player. Meaning another thing – it is basically a full heal.

The kobolds do not know this though. All they know is that they are about to hit him and, the idea of finally landing a hit has tunneled their vision. Looking only at Merlin and nobody else – the perfect trap.

“Right, let’s continue shall we?”

Merlin ran again, this time towards one of the two crossbows that he threw nearby. Both of these being thrown earlier on with this idea in mind. That he’d be able to reach them easily. He pulled the trigger, aimed at the nearest kobold. Then he fixed his eyes on the final crossbow using kobold. Leaving a grin on his lips as he activated the same spell he has been using since earlier.

“Flicker.”

The half-demon got in front of the monster. A bit farther than intended but close enough for what he wants to happen. Making a short dash that closed the distance entirely. He then kicked the crossbow of the monster up. Making it unable to target him as he slid his hand at its side – where a dagger is waiting for him again.

He then swept the feet of the monster with his leg. Making it fall to the ground as he swiftly took its life. Stabbing it in the chest just like the previous one. Killing the monster instantly as more blood adorned the seeming festivity. Then, Merlin stared at the remaining kobolds.

Four kobolds left.

Merlin took down the monsters without them being able to do any real damage to him. Like a phantom. Instilling fear unto the poor creatures that began to make steps backwards.

“Now don’t be like that.” Merlin slowly stood up, his murder weapon still on hand. His whole body is now covered with kobold blood. It reeks. But it’s no time to complain about this. Nor does he have time to notice it as well. His eyes are just focused on the enemies left and how he’d deal with them.

Slowly, his lips curled to a sinister grin. He doesn’t notice this. But his enemies do. The kobolds can see it with the torch that poorly illuminates that battle scene. And at that moment, it would seem that the real monster is this murderer. A half-demon who went into fighting stance as he mouthed the words:

“We’re just beginning.”