Antony's finger hovered over the shimmering 'Yes' option on his system screen, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. The powerful new arrival, the Level 70 Physical Damage Attacker, was a game-changer, a beacon of hope in the chaotic nightmare that had become his reality. The system, ever patient, awaited his command.
"DO YOU WANT TO ADD THE PERSON BESIDE YOU TO YOUR COMPANION TEAM?" the system chimed, its voice a digital echo of destiny. "CHOOSE 'YES' OR 'NO.'"
Antony looked at the person beside him, the formidable warrior whose presence alone seemed to push back the encroaching darkness. The warrior, in turn, glanced at the terrified guard, who was still bravely, if unwillingly, tanking Lucien's attacks. "What's with this person? Is he your companion?" the warrior asked, his voice calm amidst the pandemonium, his eyes assessing the guard with a professional detachment.
"No, I don't know who he is," Antony replied, a quick, calculated lie. He couldn't reveal his manipulative tactics, not yet. "But he is useful." He emphasized the last word, a subtle hint at his strategic prowess.
"Useful?" the warrior echoed, a hint of doubt in his tone, his brow furrowed slightly. He was clearly a man who valued directness, not veiled implications.
Antony, ever the quick thinker, launched into a plausible explanation, a narrative designed to impress and reassure. "Don't get me wrong. When I arrived here, I saw him standing still, not budging from his place. So I thought he might have some skill, like a tank, since he isn't losing his health at all. See? He's just standing there without being affected." He gestured towards the guard, who, despite the monstrous blows raining down upon him, remained stubbornly upright, his HP bar, visible only to Antony, holding steady. It was a half-truth, a carefully constructed facade of observation and deduction.
"Oh yes, he does seem like it. I don't have anyone with tank skills in my team," the warrior agreed, his doubt receding, replaced by a flicker of professional interest. He was clearly impressed by the guard's unexpected resilience, and perhaps, by Antony's apparent foresight. This was good. Antony was gaining his trust, his respect.
"So he purposely joined me. But he's not my companion. He was just a guard here who's helping me now," Antony said, looking at the guard, a silent apology for the deception, a silent promise of future reward. He needed this alliance, and he would do whatever it took to secure it.
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DO YOU WANT TO ADD THE PERSON BESIDE YOU TO YOUR COMPANION TEAM?
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CHOOSE 'YES' OR 'NO.'
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The system chimed again, its message a gentle nudge, a reminder of the decision at hand. Antony's heart pounded with anticipation. This was it. The moment of truth. "Yes, I choose to add him to my companion team," Antony selected the 'Yes' option on the screen, his finger firm, his resolve unwavering. The system processed his command, a faint hum accompanying the digital confirmation.
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THE COMPANION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE TEAM!
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The warrior, however, noticed the subtle shift in Antony's demeanor, the sudden intensity in his gaze as he interacted with the unseen system. "What are you doing? Are you up to something?" he asked, his voice sharp, a hint of suspicion returning. "It seems like you can see something in front of you. Is there something?" His eyes narrowed, trying to follow Antony's gaze, but seeing nothing.
"Ah, nothing! I was just thinking about what to do—how to defeat this monster," Antony said, scratching his head, a feigned gesture of innocent contemplation. He had to maintain the illusion, to keep his system interface a secret. "This demon is proving to be quite resilient, wouldn't you agree?"
The warrior, seemingly satisfied with the explanation, turned his attention back to Lucien, his gaze sweeping over the monstrous form. "I think I have found a way," he said, his voice thoughtful, a hint of excitement in his tone.
"What is it?" Antony asked, his curiosity piqued. He had been so focused on his own strategy, his own desperate attempts to survive, that he hadn't considered the warrior's perspective.
"Can you see the scales on his left hand?" the warrior began, his voice low, conspiratorial. "It's wide open, almost like the monster is breathing from there, like a fish. But I'm sure that's risky, as he's emitting dangerous poison from those scales. So it's risky to attack that spot, even if it could do lethal damage." He pointed with his Aura Sword, its tip glowing faintly, towards a specific area on Lucien's massive left arm, where a cluster of scales seemed to pulse with a faint, greenish light. It was a brilliant observation, a critical weakness Antony had completely missed in his panic.
"I think I have a plan," Antony said, his mind racing, connecting the dots. The warrior's observation, combined with his own Fire Element, could be the key. "If I distract him from my side while you deal a high-lethal damage attack from the other side, we can keep him distracted long enough for me to finish him off with a fire element charge for the final blow." It was a risky maneuver, a coordinated attack that required precise timing and unwavering trust. But it was their best, perhaps only, chance.
"Okay, let's do this," the warrior said, a determined glint in his eyes. He didn't hesitate, didn't question Antony's sudden strategic insight. He simply ran, a blur of motion, to the other side of Lucien, positioning himself for the attack. The stage was set for the final confrontation.
Lucien, the Ebnostic Demon, sensed the shift in their tactics, the sudden coordination between his two adversaries. His monstrous head swiveled, his glowing eyes fixing on Antony. "SO, YOU HAVE FORMED AN ALLIANCE, ADRIAN. I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D MANAGE TO PULL THIS OFF SO EASILY. BUT YOU HAVE NO WAY TO ESCAPE FROM ME, NO MATTER WHAT HELP YOU GET FROM THIS UNKNOWN PERSON." His voice, a guttural growl, was laced with a chilling mix of contempt and amusement. He was confident, arrogant in his overwhelming power.
"Ha ha, who said I couldn't?" Antony retorted, a defiant smirk on his face. He was playing a dangerous game, taunting a Level 50 demon, but he needed to keep Lucien's attention, to draw his focus. "You're only level fifty, while this person is level seventy. Do you think even if I fail to defeat you, he won't?" He charged his wooden sword with his fire element, the simple wood now blazing with an intense, orange flame. He aimed for Lucien's left hand, where the flapping scale, the monster's vulnerable breathing apparatus, pulsed with a sickly green light. It was a direct hit, a calculated risk.
"YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE WRONG OPPONENT, ADRIAN!" Lucien roared, his monstrous voice shaking the very foundations of the facility. He swung his massive left hand, a blur of scales and claws, aiming to crush Antony. The blow connected, sending Antony flying, knocking him to the ground with a sickening thud. Pain flared through his body, but he ignored it, his eyes fixed on the flapping scale.
"YOU COULD NEVER SUCCEED." Lucien sneered, his monstrous laughter echoing through the hall. He was confident, too confident. That was his weakness.
"No, I have to get through to his left hand at any cost," Antony muttered, pushing himself up, his body aching, but his resolve unbroken. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes locked on the target. He had to reach that scale, to deliver the killing blow. With a desperate leap, he jumped onto Lucien's massive hand, gripping the slimy, green poisonous scales, his fingers burning with the contact. The system, ever the harbinger of doom, chimed with a series of urgent warnings.
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THE TIME IS DRAINING FAST.
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POISON IS ENTERING THE PROTAGONIST'S BODY.
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"I know!" Antony mumbled, the words a desperate gasp as the poison began to seep into his system, a burning sensation spreading through his veins. He ignored the pain, ignored the warnings, his focus solely on climbing onto Lucien's hand, moving inch by agonizing inch towards the flapping scale, the monster's vital breathing supply. The air around the scale shimmered with a visible miasma of toxic fumes, a testament to its lethal nature.
He looked across the monstrous form of Lucien, his eyes meeting those of the Level 70 warrior, who was relentlessly dealing damage from the other side, keeping Lucien distracted. Antony nodded, a silent signal, urging him to attack, to keep the demon's attention. Just as Lucien was about to swat Antony off his arm, his attention diverted to the warrior, who, with a blinding flash of his Aura Sword, stabbed him in the back, making the demon roar in pain, a torrent of black blood gushing from the wound. The distraction was perfect.
"YOU ARE REALLY BEING A PAIN IN THE ASS," Lucien growled, his voice a mixture of pain and fury, as he turned his attention to the warrior, unleashing a barrage of attacks. This was Antony's chance.
"Now my turn!" Antony shouted, his voice hoarse with effort. With a final, desperate surge of his Fire Element, he plunged his wooden sword, now a blazing inferno, directly into the flapping scale. The wood, imbued with his power, pierced the tough membrane, and a sickening squelch echoed through the hall. Lucien screamed, a sound of pure, unadulterated agony, a shriek that tore through the very fabric of the facility. The monstrous form convulsed, then, with a deafening crash, collapsed, its immense weight falling directly on top of Antony, pinning him beneath its dying bulk.
"Hey, you disgusting monster! Get away from me!" Antony said, his voice muffled, struggling to push Lucien's massive body off him. The stench of decaying flesh and toxic fumes was overwhelming, making him gag. Just as he thought he would be crushed, the Level 70 warrior, a blur of strength and speed, rushed forward, his Aura Sword glowing, and with a powerful heave, managed to dislodge Lucien's body, freeing Antony from beneath the suffocating weight.
"Hey, you okay?" the warrior asked, his voice filled with genuine concern, his eyes scanning Antony for injuries. Antony pushed himself up, gasping for air, his body aching, his head swimming. "Yes, I'm—" Before Antony could finish, he noticed a faint, sickly green mark spreading rapidly across his arm, a tell-tale sign of the demon's toxic touch. It was the poison from the scales, insidious and swift.
"You've been poisoned!" the warrior exclaimed, his voice sharp with alarm. He reached out, but hesitated, unsure how to help.
"Yeah, I guess I have been poisoned. From what I know, he's a mix of frog and snake demon. That's why his entire body is lethal and filled with poison that can kill anyone in just a few minutes," Antony said, his voice surprisingly calm, despite the growing burning sensation in his veins. He knew the lore, the weaknesses, the dangers. He had gambled, and he had won, but at a cost.
Just then, a chorus of triumphant chimes erupted from his system screen, a celebratory fanfare that cut through the lingering tension.
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ANTONY COLE CLEARED THE QUEST TO DEFEAT THE EBNOSTIC DEMON!!!
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YOU HAVE OBTAINED THE REWARD!
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THE SCALE OF THE EBNOSTIC DEMON! THE 'A' LEVEL REWARD HAS DROPPED!
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THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL HAS INCREASED!
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LEVEL UP! YOU HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO LEVEL 10!
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SKILL LEVEL UP OPTION HAS BEEN UNLOCKED!
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YOU CAN UPGRADE YOUR WEAPON TO A HIGHER LEVEL!
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The system chimed nonstop, a relentless cascade of notifications, making Antony hold his head in dizziness. The sudden influx of information, combined with the creeping effects of the poison, was overwhelming. He swayed, his vision blurring.
"What's happening? Is the poison getting to you? Let me help you," the warrior said, his voice urgent. He turned, calling out to his companions, who were now approaching, drawn by the commotion and the sudden silence of the demon. "Hey, over here! He's poisoned!"
A girl, her face etched with annoyance, pushed through the crowd, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. "Hey, what's going on? We managed to get everyone out, and you're here with this kid?" she asked the warrior, her voice sharp, accusatory.
"Stop with your nonsense, Liah! Can't you see we defeated the monster, and this kid has been poisoned?" the warrior retorted, his patience clearly wearing thin. He was focused on Antony, on the immediate threat.
"Yes, yes, I can see that, but I don't see how this kid helped you defeat the monster. There's already a man lying dead over there. It's obvious you helped the kid, not the other way around. He's only been a nuisance," Liah said, looking away, her gaze dismissive. Her words were a stinging blow, a dismissal of his efforts, his sacrifice.
"Liah, if you're done with this, then heal this kid. The poison has already spread all over his body. If you don't, he might die," the warrior insisted, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. He was clearly the leader, and his command was absolute.
"What's in it for me if I heal him?" Liah asked, her voice a cool, calculating tone. She was a healer, but clearly, her services came at a price. Antony's vision swam, the green mark on his arm spreading rapidly, a chilling reminder of his impending doom.
"This is not the time to bargain, Liah!" the warrior snapped, his voice rising in frustration.
"For me, it always is," Liah argued, her gaze unwavering, her stance defiant. Antony, his body growing weaker, his mind clouded by the poison, felt a cold dread settle over him. "Is this how I'm going to die here?" he thought, the question a desperate whisper in the face of the encroaching darkness. He had survived the demon, but now, it seemed, he might succumb to the very allies he had sought. The game, it seemed, had one more cruel twist in store for him. But he was Level 10 now, and he had new skills. He wouldn't give up. Not yet. He had to find a way to survive, to continue this game, to uncover its ultimate secrets. He had come too far to die now. He had to fight, even if it was against his own allies. The game was far from over. And he, Antony Cole, now Adrian Corleon, was ready for the next challenge. He would not die here. Not like this.