While the six dreaded the fact that the Tidemother had regained its earlier vigor, the quick response team, which Valyr had become the leader of all of a sudden, were currently fighting against the Inferior Tidespawn the Tidemother had spawned against them.
"Screee!!!" Letting out a high-pitched screech, the Inferior Tidespawn focused its attention on Valyr as he was the one at the front of the group. Charging forward, the Tidespawn swept out with both of its front legs, prompting Valyr to jump over it while the others stopped in their tracks, some of them even taking a few steps back in fear.
Landing on his feet, he then took the opportunity the Tidespawn was dazed by his sudden display of skill to thrust his spear forward, sending it towards one of its eyes.
"[Strong Pierce]!"
Puchi!
'-116!'
In response to the move, a light squelching sound could be heard from the attack as some from the quick response team shuddered at the sound. Naturally, with it taking a great amount of damage from one attack, the Tidespawn could not help but shriek as it slashed out with one of its legs.
Swoosh!
Unfortunately, as it was an Elite monster, the speed at which the leg attacked Valyr was too fast for him to react to, causing a large gash to appear on the chestplate he wore, going so far as to cut his chest as he was sent flying.
'-120!'
Thud!
"Gah!" Falling to the ground on his back, Valyr could not help but cough out a bit of blood as those near where he had landed sharply inhaled air, wondering if he could even move after such an attack.
Unexpectedly, even though the large gash on his chest sent wave upon wave of pain coursing throughout his body, Valyr gritted his teeth and stood up, knowing very well that only a few of the people in this team would take the initiative to fight. With that, he needed to set an example and give them a reason to think that the monster in front of them was not unbeatable.
"Aaaahhhh!!!" Letting out a loud yell, Valyr dashed towards the Tidespawn once more as a bit of blood started to drip from the fresh wound the Tidespawn had inflicted upon him. Knowing that the being in front of him had sustained damage from its earlier attack, the Inferior Tidespawn doubled down on its ferocity, utilizing the same attack it had dealt earlier to force Valyr to dodge.
However, instead of dodging, Valyr had completely changed the direction of his run instead, quickly making a sharp turn before jumping in midair to land an attack on its neck.
"[Strong Pierce]!"
Bang!
'-171!!'
Watching as Valyr had successfully landed yet another attack on the monster before them, those at the front could not help but tightly grip on their weapons, hesitating whether or not to move in.
Noticing this hesitation, Valyr let out a peal of laughter as he allowed his body to be sent flying once more by another attack.
Swoosh!
'-61'
"Although the monster in front of us might be difficult to handle…"
Thud!
"It's not… gah!"
"It's not… impossible!" At the very moment Valyr finished his words, a fire seemed to have been lit inside everyone's bodies as those at the front finally gained the courage to move forward, utilizing the advantage they had in numbers to overwhelm the Tidespawn's senses, landing attacks on its body.
"We're not dealing enough damage!" Though, once they started to land blows on its body, they quickly realized that all of the damage they were dealing to the Tidespawn only resulted in single-digit numbers, with double-digit numbers being a rare occurrence. Noticing this as they dodged the Tidespawn's attacks to the best of their abilities, they knew what they had to do.
"Distract the monster as much as possible! Give the man from earlier the leeway to attack!" Soon, a yell resounded out in the surroundings, prompting everyone to yell in unison as everyone made it their mission to give Valyr the freedom to attack the Tidespawn as much as he wanted.
"Heh." Standing up once more, Valyr could not help but stifle a chuckle as he looked at the damage dealt to the chestplate he wore. What was once a large gash on it had now turned into a X-shaped cut that showed the same wound on Valyr's chest. "To think Tristan's chestplate wouldn't withstand the attack of an Elite monster…"
"Then again, it's an Elite monster we're talking. It's already a miracle it's still holding up." With that, Valyr took in a deep breath as he mustered up all of the energy in his body, dashing forth once more to land an attack on the Inferior Tidespawn.
Whoosh!
Within seconds, he had arrived in front of the Tidespawn once more, nodding in gratitude towards the people who were distracting the monster for him. With enough leeway to attack however he wanted, Valyr lunged forward before thrusting towards its skull, aiming to end the battle as quickly as possible.
"[Strong Pierce]!"
Crack!
Thrusting his wooden spear forward, the tip quickly collided with the Tidespawn's skull, causing a faint fracturing sound to echo for a bit as everyone looked on in silence. For a while, those in the surroundings could not help but feel a hint of disappointment, wondering if the attack Valyr had sent out was effective in any way. But then…
Bang!
'-600!!!!'
As if the spear Valyr had gained the might to pierce through anything in its way for a second, the spear cleanly pierced through the Tidespawn's skull as it soon exploded into bits, scattering a great amount of blood and flesh in the surroundings. At that moment, everyone looked at that sight in shock, their eyes wide open and their mouths fully agape.
In fact, even Valyr was not exempt from this reaction, his eyes fixated on the deep black number that gradually floated up from the Tidespawn's body. "Is that…"
"A Fatal Hit?"
Thud!
As the headless body of the Tidespawn fell to the ground, everyone from the quick response team cheered in joy as they had surpassed the challenge that had appeared before them. Naturally, all of them knew that it wouldn't have been possible for the man standing before them, his expression the same level of aghast as they were previously.
"Three cheers for Valyr!" While Valyr was still engrossed in the feeling that he had dealt his first ever Fatal Hit, he was swiftly jolted back to reality as those from the quick response team gathered around him and threw him up into the air with great glee written all over their faces, prompting a light smile to appear on his face as he could not help but hiss from the pain on his chest.
Nevertheless, the fact that he had defeated an Elite monster eight levels above him filled him up with great pride, even though it was mostly due to luck, considering his final hit. Curious as to what he had obtained from killing such a high-leveled monster, he went ahead and took a look at his notifications, his mouth slightly agape from what he had just read.
Ding!
[With a 8 level disparity between the user and the opponent, the amount of experience obtained shall be increased by 160%.]
[You have slain a Level 18 Inferior Tidespawn (Elite). You have gained 3708 XP.]
[Due to the feat you have achieved, you have gained the title 'Signs of a True Elite'.]
