52 The Meat Shields 1

"Aggro on me!"

ShHrRieEkK!

The Maiden of Agony locked on Leonel and used its skill [Multiattack] on him.

Looming over him with a face scarier than his most demented dreams, Leonel almost passed out again if not for Ren's shout.

"Raise your shield, idiot!"

At Ren's voice, Leonel automatically raised his shield, and he was jolted awake when the Maiden of Agony's hammered its two heavy arms against his defense.

BaAmM!

BaAm!

Even with his shield up and DEF, Leonel still suffered HP reduction.

–27

–22

And since the Maiden of Agony had its passive skill [Cunning Action], she was granted a bonus attack.

–17

Isolde and Ragnar were about to attack when the Maiden of Agony snuffed all the light for two seconds and hid in the dark before she completely turned invincible because of its passive skill.

Tsk. "Her skills are annoying." Ragnar clicked his tongue, axe in a tight grip as his eyes seek the Maiden in the dark.

If this was going to continue, how would they attack it? It will appear if it's going to launch an attack with a bonus attack upon its every action. What's more, it could snuff all light and hide in the dark for another sneaked attack that would surely end their life with a critical hit and poison.

"Stay vigilant. Don't let it attack you from behind," Isolde warned Leonel since the aggro was still on him.

"Easy for you to say. I can't even see you, much less her." Leonel's hold on his shield shook, and his body was trembling in fear.

He hated the dark. Even more so, if there was a scary monster hiding behind it and only revealed its hideous face at the time he least expected it.

Leonel swore that he would never watch horror movies again.

He then drank two [Health Potions] to restore his health. By this, he had already consumed all his Health Potions, and still, his HP was near half.

At the side, Ren saved the Maiden of Agony's skill [Multiattack LV.4] and erased the previous skill he got from the Dread Widow since the one from the Maiden had a higher percentage chance of successful hit even though he could only attack three times.

He also erased [Web of Doom LV.1] that he got from the Arachnid and replaced it with the Maiden of Agony's skills [Cunning Action], [Shadow in the Night], [Torturing Venom], [Multiattack LV.4], and [Snuff Light LV.2].

With this, his [Mind Palace] was full.

Ren's eyes were shining in excitement, even if facing an enormous threat. The Maiden of Agony's skills were a combo that he could pretty much use in his succeeding fights.

And since the monster's skills were changed to fit his race upon saving in his [Mind Palace], he was even gladder that he used his Books (?) early on.

In the future, he could just eliminate the lights in the cave and hide in the dark before making a sneaky attack that would guarantee critical hits. He could pretty much one-shot anyone with two digits ATP with this combo. And with [Multiattack] and [Cunning Action], he was guaranteed four total attacks. Plus, if he injected [Torturing Venom], it was a sure kill without an antidote.

Ren was in a good mood before he cast [Multiattack]. One [Heal] on Leonel. He didn't release all three [Heal] on Leonel since it was useless. Even with three [Heal], the amount of HP added to Leonel was still insufficient to combat the Maiden of Agony if it successfully landed a critical attack.

In truth, Ren wouldn't cast any [Heal] at all, but he did, so that Leonel wouldn't feel that he was a meat shield and being sacrificed to the Maiden to prolong his life. Even if it was true.

Ren's other two attacks, he cast [Fire] and used it as light so the Maiden of Agony couldn't sneak behind Leonel, avoiding a critical hit and its venom that would surely end Leonel's life.

"Ha! There you are!" Leonel timely flung his shield at the Maiden of Agony's sharp arms when the Fire illuminated some areas and revealed the Maiden near Leonel's side.

Leonel quickly took a step back when the Maiden's wide mouth almost bit a chunk of his flesh. He shivered from its menacing eyes and scary face.

"Quickly attack it before it can use its skills again!" Leonel shouted at the others.

He didn't have to remind the others. Isolde and Ragnar were quick on their toes. The two didn't leave anything to chance and wanted to reduce the Maiden of Agony's HP ASAP!

Isolde used the very best of her skill, consuming more than half of her MP in one go.

‖ B U L L E T

D I V E L V. 1 ‖

–– a piercing attack that deals true damage

–– MP –40

––can cause Knockback and stun for 1 second if STR is higher than the enemy

–– cool down 10 seconds

‖ E N D ‖

A loud BaAnNG resounded, followed by a hissing sound of a bullet seeking its enemy. The Maiden of Agony was hit straight on its bulging stomach, but only a minuscule amount of number appeared on its head due to its resistance against none magical attacks and piercing damage.

– 24

"That small?" Isolde couldn't believe her eyes. When she used that skill in the past, it was a guaranteed one-shot to Craze Wolves and Horned Rabbits. She knew she wouldn't be able to one-shot the Boss, but she was expecting at least +40 damage with her skill.

Her STR was still lacking too much.

It was Ragnar's turn, and he also used the most devastating skill in his current arsenal.

‖ B R U T A L

S T R I K E S L V. 2 ‖

–– a wild torrent of attacks that overwhelm any foes

–– MP –50

–– can perform x4 attacks

–– cool down 10 seconds

‖ E N D ‖

Ragnar was enveloped in a faint golden light as he dashed towards the Maiden of Agony with his axe. Four slashing strikes hit the Maiden straight on her torso, but it felt like the monster's hide was made out of metal.

– 12

– 15

– 12

– 14

Ragnar's eyelids twitched. The Maiden of Agony's resistance to slashing and none magical attacks was an eyesore.

The Maiden of Agony hissed, saliva-coated her wide mouth, and Leonel gasped when some of its slobber splattered against his shield.

Leonel used his skill [Dash and Slash], so he could cancel the Maiden of Agony's skill when it was about to make an attack. And his action was followed by Ren's [Multiattack].

Thanks to Leonel's skill [Dash and Slash] that could cancel any skill and spells, it had brought enough time for Ren's [Fire] to cool down, and he cast three [Fire] using [Multiattack] and another bonus attack from [Cunning Action] a total of four fires.

– 1124 Critical Hit!

[ Maiden of Agony suffered from BURN

–5% HP every minute ]

–250 (BURN)

The Maiden of Agony screeched. The tiny furs in its skin rattled before the [Burn] status was gone. It used its skill again, and all light disappeared from the torches as it hid in the darkness.

"Ren used your fire again," Leonel shouted.

"It's still in cooldown," Ren replied in a calm tone.

"What?!" Leonel had a cold sweat running on the line on his spine. He felt that his death was fast approaching in the form of a hideous giant spider with two spear like arms.

The Maiden of Agony's [Snuff Light] had a two-second cooldown, the same as Ren's [Fire]. And by the time Ren had the chance to cast [Multiattack] again, the Maiden of Agony would already made her move.

And like what Ren expected, the moment the torches returned and his [Fire] no longer in cooldown, the Maiden appeared behind Leonel.

When everyone came to, Leonel was already pierced in the stomach by the Maiden of Agony's two sharp spear like arms, raising his body from the ground.

– 214 Critical Hit!

[ You have suffered from POISON

–10% HP every minute ]

–17 (POISON)

[ You have DIED!]

"AaArgGhH!!" Leonel screamed in shock.

But then he realized there was no pain, and he checked the two spear-shaped arms that pierced his stomach.

"Egh? It doesn't hurt?" Leonel chuckled, but then he realized that he was slowly dispersing into particles, and he quickly looked at Ren and growled.

"Ren, if you can't kill this spider and I suffer from ATP lost, you owe me a big bowl of ramen!"

And Leonel burst into nothing but fine sparkles of dust.

The Maiden of Agony's wide mouth stretched to the maximum that almost ripped its head into two. Its eight red eyes locked on Ren.

"You're . . . next . . ." It slurred with its raspy voice, pointing the edge of its arm on Ren.