NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Clash with the Lizardman Chief
The Lizardman Chief charged with terrifying speed, its claws slicing through the air as it lunged at Aryan. He barely had time to raise his sword to block, the force of the impact sending vibrations up his arms.
"Rahul, take its left!" Aryan shouted, stepping back to regain his footing. "Priya, look for an opening!"
Rahul responded with a roar of his own, swinging his heavy sword toward the Lizardman Chief's side. The creature twisted its body, narrowly avoiding the blade, but Priya was already in motion. She darted in from the opposite side, her daggers aiming for the Lizardman Chief's underbelly.
The Lizardman Chief anticipated her move, leaping back and swiping its tail across the ground. The tail hit Priya mid-air, sending her crashing into the cavern wall.
"Priya!" Aryan's voice was filled with concern, but Priya groaned, pushing herself up.
"I'm okay," she managed, her eyes blazing with determination. "It's stronger than we thought, but it's not invincible."
Aryan nodded, focusing back on the beast. They needed a strategy. This wasn't just about brute strength; they had to outthink the monster.
"Rahul, distract it with heavy attacks," Aryan commanded. "Priya, aim for its legs to slow it down. I'll go for the head."
Rahul adjusted his stance, his sword raised high as he charged in, unleashing a series of powerful strikes. The Lizardman Chief deflected them, its attention fully on Rahul.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Priya circled around, moving low and fast. Her daggers flashed as she slashed at the Lizardman Chief's legs, causing it to roar in pain and stumble slightly.
Aryan seized the moment, sprinting toward the creature and leaping into the air. His sword glowed faintly as he brought it down with all his strength, aiming for the Lizardman Chief's head. The blade struck true, embedding deep into the beast's skull.
The Lizardman Chief let out one final, deafening roar before collapsing to the ground, motionless.
Breathing heavily, Aryan pulled his sword free, the blade slick with the monster's blood. "It's over."
Rahul leaned on his sword, exhausted but grinning. "We did it. That thing was tough."
Priya approached, wiping sweat from her brow. "Well done, both of you. That was a team effort."
As the Lizardman Chief's body began to dissolve, several items and a large Aura Stone appeared.
Item Status Window
Name: Lizardman Chief's Scale
Rank: Rare
Effect: Can be used to craft high-quality armor.
Hidden Feature: Detected. (Further analysis required.)
Item Status Window
Name: Large Aura Stone
Rank: Rare
Effect: Can significantly enhance weapons and armor or be sold for a high price.
Hidden Feature: None.
Aryan picked up the large Aura Stone, examining it closely. "This will be valuable. We can use it to strengthen our gear or sell it to fund our next venture."
Rahul nodded, collecting the other items. "Let's not waste any of this. It'll all come in handy."
As they gathered the loot, Aryan's status window flashed, indicating a level up.
Status Window - Aryan Sharma (24)
Title: None
Affiliation: None
Rank: E
Level: 6
Class: Warrior
Stats:
Strength: 24
Agility: 20
Aura: 14
Intelligence: 11
Unallocated Stats: 10
Skills:
Basic Swordsmanship (E)
"I'm allocating points to Strength and Aura this time," Aryan said, adjusting his stats. "We'll need more power and endurance for the next challenge."
Status Window - Aryan Sharma (24)
Title: None
Affiliation: None
Rank: E
Level: 6
Class: Warrior
Stats:
Strength: 28
Agility: 20
Aura: 18
Intelligence: 11
Unallocated Stats: 0
Skills:
Basic Swordsmanship (E)
Rahul and Priya followed suit, updating their own stats to prepare for future battles.
As they exited the dungeon, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the landscape. The townspeople greeted them with cheers, celebrating the defeat of the dungeon that had plagued their town.