He quickly warned his team, "Guys, get serious! That thing is a level 48 mutated monster. Its power has been enhanced!"
Theron also spoke, clenching his fist. "I can feel a huge amount of dark element coming from that creature. Be careful, it's corrupted and might use crazy dark elemental attacks."
The team reacted instantly. Draven ran to Silas's side, and Silas quickly and quietly whispered what he had learned about the monster so no one else could hear.
At the same time, Kael moved closer to Rhys, while Theron pulled Jacob to his side for protection.
The monster licked its lips, its eyes filled with hunger. "It's been a long, long time since I've eaten humans! Those people didn't bring me enough food. Today, I'll get my fill."
The Kobold King, a grotesque crown perched on its head, stared at them, drool dripping from its gaping mouth.
Silas quickly took command. "Kael, Theron, and Draven will fight on the front line. They're the only ones who can injure it. Rhys, Jacob, and I will provide support from behind."
"Yes!" they all replied in unison. They had been on enough raids with Silas to know that his plans were their best shot at survival.
Silas moved first, summoning a crackling bolt of lightning to provoke the Kobold King. The goal was to draw its attention, buying the others precious seconds to prepare their own attacks. He held back his true power; a level 37 attack was a secret he had to keep, no matter what.
Just as the enraged monster lunged for Silas, claws extended, Draven moved to intercept. His sword met the monster's claws with a loud TUNG! of metal on bone, the force of the collision sending sparks into the air.
Kael darted in, his movements a blur. He unleashed a flurry of sharp wind blades and piercing ice arrows, but the projectiles bounced harmlessly off the monster's hide. Even after a relentless assault, he hadn't left a single scratch.
Frowning at the creature's defense, Kael fell back just as Rhys moved in. Rhys unleashed one of his own powerful sword techniques, his high-grade blade glowing with energy. He managed to do what Kael couldn't, leaving a shallow scratch across the monster's chest.
It was a minor wound, but it was enough to infuriate the Kobold King. It roared in anger and was about to retaliate with full force when a shimmering water shield suddenly appeared between it and Rhys. Kael and Jacob had cast their water spells at the exact same time.
"This monster is concentrating the dark element into its skin like armor!" Theron yelled, his teeth gritted. "Only Rhys's blade can even cut it!" He tried to electrocute the monster, but the dark energy covering its body completely neutralized the attack.
Cornered and enraged by these persistent ants, the monster stopped all movement. It threw its head back and let out a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the cavern.
A wave of pure dark energy exploded outwards from its body. The blast was instantaneous and unstoppable. Silas, Draven, Kael, Jacob, Theron, and Rhys were all slammed off their feet and thrown several meters back, landing in a heap of broken limbs and shattered morale. Their injuries were serious.
As pain flared through his body, Silas thought desperately, System! Open the store! Find something to heal us, fast!
[Ding! Found the specific medicine in the store.
1. Regenerative Pills (Pro Level): Can heal any kind of wound almost instantly.
Price: 1000 gold coins per piece.]
Silas gritted his teeth against the pain. Buy a hundred of them!
[Ding! Purchase successful. The money has been deducted from your space pouch.]
Six small, black pills appeared in his hand. He immediately tossed one into his mouth and felt his wounds seal and his bones mend in a matter of seconds. Perfectly healed, he moved with a new urgency, darting between his fallen comrades and placing a pill in each of their hands.
Seeing Silas suddenly get up without a scratch, they didn't hesitate. They swallowed the medicine instantly, and just like Silas, felt their bodies return to their peak condition in seconds.
The entire process took only a few moments, and the monster, still admiring its handiwork, hadn't had time to launch another attack.
"Rhys, give your sword to Draven," Silas commanded, his voice sharp. He then turned to Draven. "Let's do it this way. If we can restrain that monster, you can use the seventh form of your Death Sword technique to kill it."
Draven nodded grimly. He had considered the same possibility but hadn't said anything because he lacked a weapon strong enough to pull it off.
Kael looked at Silas with hesitation. "Silas... I'm sorry to ask this, but I think only you can make it vulnerable, even for just a moment."
Silas knew exactly what he meant. His space element. "Forget it," he said, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. "I'll take care of that part using my space element."
Hearing the words "space element," the faces of Theron, Rhys, and Jacob lit up with a mixture of shock and renewed hope.
Silas then locked eyes with Theron. "Theron, we were just caught off guard. I think you can manipulate the dark element and disrupt its flow, right?"
Theron nodded, his expression hardening with resolve. "Leave that to me. I'll disrupt its power."
Finally, Silas looked at Kael and Rhys. "Rhys, I'm giving you the rest of these pills. If this doesn't work, get them to us if you see an opening." Rhys nodded, understanding his new role. They both knew they couldn't contribute much to the direct assault. "Kael," Silas continued, "protect us with your water element alongside Jacob."
"Leave it to us," they both said.
Now, they were all ready. It was time to fight again.
This time, they moved with a clear plan.
Theron went first. He reached out with his own dark affinity, seizing control of the residual dark energy left behind by the monster's previous attack. With its Raging Waves skill still on cooldown, the Kobold King was powerless to reclaim the ambient energy. Theron gathered it all into a harmless, swirling ball. "Done!" he shouted.
With the stray energy secured, Silas and Draven began their deadly dance. They moved in perfect sync, darting in and out, their attacks precise and harassing, drawing the monster's full attention. Blinded by rage and with its low intelligence, the Kobold King fell for the bait completely, believing the tiny ants were just making a futile last stand.
"Aim for the head!" Silas yelled to Draven. "We have to kill it in one blow before its healing kicks in!"
"Be careful," Draven responded, his eyes locked on the target.
Silas closed the distance, seemingly ignoring his own safety. The monster slashed at him wildly, its claws screeching against the shimmering water barriers that Kael and Jacob threw up in perfect succession. Kael also launched attacks with his wind and ice elements, not to do damage, but to distract the beast and give Silas the opening he needed.
Finally, Silas was ready. He focused his will, and a beautiful, hazy silver light coalesced in his palm. He thrust his hand forward, sending a small, shimmering circle of light flying above the monster's head. The circle expanded rapidly, growing larger and larger until it fully encompassed the enraged Kobold King.
Then Silas unleashed the spell. "Space Refinement!"
Instantly, the entire cavern froze. An absolute silence fell. Only those Silas permitted could move; the monster itself was locked in place, confined within the glowing magic circle, its face a mask of fury and confusion.
Everyone stared at Silas with awe. They knew he was powerful because of his divine affinity with lightning, but this... this was something else entirely. A massive, complex magic circle woven from the space element itself, powerful enough to freeze the entire boss room.
"Draven, now!" Silas shouted, breaking the silence.
Draven moved. Using his intricate footwork, he flowed through the difficult stances of his Death Sword technique. Wielding Rhys's enchanted blade, he unleashed the seventh form. A storm of immense sword shadows materialized around the frozen monster.
With a single, devastating touch, the shadows converged, and the Kobold King's body was sliced into a dozen pieces.
The monster died with a final, terrifying scream that echoed through the now-silent room.
As the Kobold King's dying scream faded, its body disintegrated into motes of light, leaving a pile of loot in its place: four monstrous claws, a tough-looking kobold hide, and the grotesque crown it had worn.
The adrenaline vanished, and Silas collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent. Draven, breathing heavily, sat down beside him. The moment the danger passed, the others rushed over to them.
Rhys was already laughing, giddy with relief and excitement. "Hahahaha! That was awesome, Silas! And Draven, that sword technique was insane!"
Jacob chimed in, equally impressed. "Yeah, Silas! Why did you hide your space element until now?"
Silas just gave Jacob a pointed look. It was a bit rich coming from him, considering he was hiding his own light element. But Silas respected Jacob's choice and said nothing.
Theron scratched his head, looking at Silas with a mixture of awe and confusion. "Silas, if you don't mind me asking... what kind of affinity do you have with the space element?"
Silas paused for a moment, then said nonchalantly, "Oh, it's a divine affinity."
Except for Draven, everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. They all shouted in unison, "WHAT?!"
Theron stammered, unable to process the information. "Mmm...my god! Do you have any idea what that means?"
It was Kael who answered, his voice hushed with disbelief. "That means he's the only person on this planet to have two divine elemental affinities." He gulped nervously, the full weight of the statement sinking in.
Silas and Draven exchanged a private look. If they're this shocked about two divine affinities, they both thought, what would they do if they found out about the others?
"That's why I don't want anyone to know about it," Silas said, his voice serious. "So please, keep this a secret. Don't tell anyone."
Everyone nodded immediately. "Don't worry, Silas," Jacob assured him. "Your secret will be known only to us, no one else."
As the group recovered, Draven returned the enchanted sword to Rhys. The others went over to check the treasure box left behind by the boss, but after seeing its contents, Rhys, Silas, and Kael lost all interest. The rewards inside paled in comparison to the drops they'd already collected from the king itself.