Now that I knew my enemy, I tensed, readying myself for a fight. This would be tough, but I could still beat it. Monsters Leveled differently from Humans, so it wasn't like a Level 5 Wood Wraith would be similar in power to a Level 5 Classer. Even in my state, I could probably take this on. Hopefully.
The second it looked away, I sprung out, crashing through my brittle walls. I slammed into the beast and gripped my hands into its fur.
You have struck Level 6 Wood Wraith for 4 damage using your Body.
I hurriedly shut my eyes – both to keep myself from accidentally glancing into the Wood Wraith's own eyes, and to help me focus on activating my magic. I could feel it thrashing around, trying to free itself from my grasp, but my arms were strong from years of training and physical labor. I kept trying to activate Noxious Grasp, but the thrashing of the monster and battle fever raging in my head distracted me from my Mana control.
Still, it'd take more than that to get my hands off of– OW, SHIT!
You have been bitten by fangs. 24 damage.
Your Health is 74.
My arms instinctively withdrew from the monster, pain shooting up my bicep and shoulder. My eyes still closed, I could feel blood leaking from a bite mark on my arm. It seemed the beast had wriggled its way into being able to bite me. I heard it scurry away, stopping not too far from me, as I got to my feet. I couldn't see, but I was afraid to open my eyes. I heard a growl from nearby and a pawing at the dirt. It didn't seem like it wanted to leave the area – it'd probably realized I was easy prey, and was considering a counterattack.
Shit, I thought. If I couldn't see it coming, I was as good as dead.
Ugh, fuck it.
I opened my eyes to look around for it, and immediately doubled over in nausea.
You have been inflicted with sickness. 12 damage. 6 Stamina drain.
Your Health is 62. Your Stamina is 50.
Found it.
The Wood Wraith was standing a few paces away, having retreated from my ambush, but was now looking at me with a hunger in its venomous glare. I stood and readied myself, arms up in a position that would let me defend myself while also keeping my hands between my eyes and its, that way I could avoid its gaze. It wasn't a very clean solution, but at least now I was only partially blind instead of fully.
I also kept working to try and activate Noxious Grasp while we stood facing off against each other. It seemed the monster was cautious to attack, which was fine by me – it was incredibly difficult to cast a Spell while fully rested and in serene silence, much less sleep deprived and actively fighting something. I was running through my mind, trying my hardest to push the Mana where it needed to go–
Shit!
The Wood Wraith rushed at me, and – finally! I got my Noxious Grasp activated just in time. Out from my pores began leaking the familiar purple-gray mist. I leapt out of the way as the beast approached, but my self-imposed sight-blockers worked against me, and I dodged too late. Its teeth sunk into my arm once again, and a pained grunt escaped my throat.
You have been bitten by fangs. 29 damage.
Your Health is 33.
It grabbed me tightly with its strong jaws, to the point where I didn't think I could yank my arm free. However, I had a self-defense mechanism. The poisonous fumes leaking from my skin started sinking into the Wood Wraith's body the moment it touched me, and I could immediately sense the Spell doing its work. Not only could I mentally feel its Health ticking downward, but I could also literally see the effects of the Spell, the flesh under its skin sinking inward as it was eaten away in real time.
The Wood Wraith yelped – I was sure it felt the effects of the Spell too – and immediately let go of my arm, leaping away from me once again.
You have struck Level 6 Wood Wraith for 8 damage and drained 4 Stamina over the course of 0.8 seconds using Noxious Grasp.
2.4 Mana Cost. Your Mana is 48.
But I was ready for that, and I lunged forward, grabbing onto the beast yet again and averting my gaze as I wrapped my arm around its head. It growled and thrashed its body around, trying to get away from me as the energy drained out from its skin.
It snapped its jaws and flung its paws, but I had gotten a solid hold on it this time, and its already-weakened body had no chance of getting away. The monster's Stamina and Health quickly leaked from its body, and its efforts to free itself got weaker and weaker. Eventually, it stopped moving entirely.
You have struck Level 6 Wood Wraith for 139 damage and drained 69 Stamina over the course of 13.2 seconds using Noxious Grasp.
40.7 Mana Cost. Your Mana is 7.
You have slain Level 6 Wood Wraith.
You have earned 37 XP. Your XP is 60.
Threshold reached. 50 XP.
Your Level has increased to 1.
Due to achieving Level 1 in the Minute Mage Class, you have been granted the following benefits:
-You have gained 1 Endurance.
-You have gained 2 Conjuration.
-You have gained 1 Intelligence.
-You have gained 3 Stat Points.
-Time Loop Talent Rank has increased to 1.