[Health: 85/200]
"Ahhh—"
I screamed in pain. The arrow shouldn't have penetrated my strong defenses, but it had struck precisely where the scimitar had wounded me earlier. The compounded damage was far more devastating than I had anticipated.
[Health: 40/200] (-45)
Fortunately, neither the original wound nor the arrow had pierced directly through my heart, it wasn't a death sentence, at least not immediately. I clung to that consolation as waves of agony washed over me.
Through my bloodshot eyes, I spotted the imps that had retreated earlier. One of the smaller ones gripped a bow, already notching another arrow.
'Shit.' That was my first thought. I had severely underestimated them, and now I was paying the price.
The ten Imps that escaped came back; maybe that was planned by the Medium Imp. If it was so, then the cunningness of this monster was far more terrifying than I imagined it to be.
My vision blurred from the pain, and I slowly knelt on my knee to the ground with gorginess. Blood slowly trickled down, forming a small pool underneath me. I was 100% sure of the fact that I would die here if this continued.
As I struggled to regain my composure, yet another arrow found its mark, striking dangerously close to my previous wound. Fortunately, this one lacked the force to penetrate deeply enough for a fatal blow.
[Health: 35/200] (-5)
Cough!
I spat a mouthful of blood.
To my growing despair, the Medium Imp had already hauled itself upright and began its deliberate approach towards me. Each thunderous step sent tremors through the ground beneath me, the vibrations traveling up through my wounded body.
I felt as though Death itself had extended a personal invitation.
Memories began flashing before my eyes in fragmented bursts. At this rate, there was no escaping the inevitable, I was going to die here.
'Damn it,
However, regret wouldn't help me in this situation. My eyes flashed with a fierce survival instinct.
This was my moment to turn the tide. How could I let it end like this? Would I truly be satisfied dying so soon after receiving a second chance at life?
The answer thundered through my soul: Absolutely not!
The Medium Imp closed the distance and raised its gleaming blade high above me, preparing for the killing blow.
"Ahhh..." I bit down hard on my own arm, using the sharp pain to cut through the fog clouding my mind, and dodged the slash aimed to slice my neck clean off.
The Medium Imp let out a low, mocking chuckle, advancing toward me with the casual confidence of absolute victory.
A surge of pure rage erupted within me. That smug expression, that arrogant swagger, I wanted to tear the creature apart with my bare hands, to wipe that grin from its hideous face forever.
However, I managed to maintain my calm. With a quick decision in mind, I turned and locked my gaze on the group of remaining Imps. I ran toward them, pushing my body to its absolute limits.
The Medium Imp froze, stunned by the scene, it quickly realized my intent but it was a little too late to react.
With my speed and strength, defeating the ten Imps wasn't difficult. I swung the scimitar with precision, cutting them down swiftly.
In just a few breaths, all ten were dealt with. I turned my attention back to the Medium Imp, which now lunged at me with bloodshot eyes.
"Now I have the high ground."
Before I could even grin, my limbs went weak and veins burst across my body and I became almost immobile.
"Huh?"
The Medium Imp's fist slammed into my cheek, sending me flying through the air before I crash-landed on the ground.
[Health: 5/200] (-30)
The poison from the Belladonna I had ingested fully took hold.
Though it had given me a temporary surge of strength, it was still poison and now it was ravaging my body.
I gritted my teeth, my life teetering on the edge. I, the Son of Gaia, was about to die to a Medium Imp!?
Just then, [Sophi]'s mechanical voice rang in my ears:
[Host, the skill cooldown has ended.]
[There are four skills available for you to choose from:
[Which skill do you want to merge?]
I couldn't think of any combination that would instantly save me, but this was my only chance to survive.
"[Sophi], choose
Vomiting a mouthful of blood, I watched as the medium Imp arrived in front of me. Its sword tip aimed straight for my heart and it landed without mercy, piercing my heart.
I violently spewed blood, my eyes wide with terror. My body convulsed and trembled uncontrollably.
It seemed like the end. With only five HP left previously and a sword buried in my chest and poisoned at the same time, survival felt impossible. Could I really live through this?
The Medium Imp grinned triumphantly, as if victory was already in its hands.
[Merge successful. You have gained the skill:
But then my golden pupils flared with vitality, and I shot to my feet in an instant. The Medium Imp's victorious grin froze mid-expression.
My fist tore through the air and smashed into its neck, breaking it in a single blow.
The Medium Imp collapsed, its body went limp, the light in its eyes snuffed out in an instant.
"Ha… ha…"
I gasped for breath, each inhale came ragged before collapsing to my knees. I had won the fight but did I truly win the war?