"Surrender or die. Die!"
Picket's roar filled the tunnel the moment he met one of his brethren.
A few joined them in their rebellion while most refused, just one.
"Fools! The leaders are absolute. Absolute! They'll behead you soon for your transgressions."
As the words lingered, a flash of dark light crashed on the creature. Its head caved before its shoulders broke in discordant noises. The thoracic cage followed, then the legs. In the end, only a flattened mishmash of blood and broken bones covered a small crater in the ground.
The dark hammer responsible for the carnage suddenly twitched like a living being. A second later, it assumed its original intricately carved blade form in Adam's hand.
[Tier two magical beast: Dreg'nar defeated. Party member Anya has gained 200 experience points.]
He sighed and shook his head. They only met low-tiered creatures thus far, making the hidden Anya reap all the experience points.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he turned to the group of thirty-five rebellious Dreg'nars.
"Aren't you supposed to fight instead of screaming threats behind my back?"
"Human strong. Strong! No need help from us. We are just guides."
Picket's answer made him inhale deeply.
'So you rebel, but I do everything?'
For creatures wanting to free themselves from slavery, they understood the concept really well...
"Whatever. How do I infiltrate the tier three area?"
His even tone echoed in the now empty outer part of the tunnels.
"Easy! We run in screaming. Screaming! They will be distracted, and you kill. Kill!"
Another sigh escaped his lips.
"How could I expect a decent plan from you..."
Then, he added, a steely glint flashing in his eyes.
"Gather them all together. I don't want to waste too much time on this."
After another round of screaming about killing their superior, Picket guided him through the complex tunnels until stone barricades blocked the way.
Taller creatures wearing crude metallic armors and spears stood guard as the noise of vigorous mining reverberated from behind.
"Help. Help! A powerful enemy is killing us!"
Without waiting, Picket and his friends rushed to the frowning guards.
"Gather our forces. It's a mage. A mage!"
Upon hearing the last part, they faltered. After a second, they turned and struck their spears against the ground.
"Gather at barricade number three. A mage is attacking us!"
They roared in unison, their voices reaching several hundreds of meters.
Instantly, the noise of footsteps and clanging reverberated from everywhere.
Soon, hundreds of Dreg'nars gathered to defend their territory. Meanwhile, Picket and his friends moved further inside the tunnel, wanting nothing to do with any battle.
Finally, Adam left the corner he hid in. Ominous shadows danced on his face as his red coat fluttered behind him.
With an epic gravitas, he raised his arm, pointing his blade towards the ceiling.
The creatures shrieked in response, tightening their ranks to face the invader.
The wind rose and swirled around them. Lightning cracked and condensed in a violet spectacle engulfing the ceiling. Then, a thick spinning wind sphere caged the creatures, howling in their ears and making them tremble.
One, too scared by the mysterious spell, scrambled away, only to be lacerated by the high pressure.
In the next second, he slashed down from his position.
The condensing lightning bolts roared with furious abandon as they crashed to the ground like purple rain. Armors melted, rocks exploded in rubles, and the Dreg'nars clenched their teeth.
The lightning paralysed their nervous system, not letting them scream despite the agony. Ugly burns covered their bodies, and their eyes rolled in their sockets as they spasmed.
Charred smoke rose from their bodies, and the smell of burned flesh filled the air, creating an awe-inspiring yet terrifying scene for any onlookers.
Simultaneously, kill notifications flooded his interface.
[Tier three magical beast: Dreg'nar defeated. you have gained 100 experience points.] x122
A wide grin split his face. He reached the tenth level!
Without waiting, he summoned his interface window.
Intelligence: 56.8->66.8
Free attribute points: 5->0
Now that he had the puppet, he changed his distribution to focus on intelligence. After all, putting points on anything else wouldn't improve his wooden body.
As he grinned at his success, Picket and his friends returned. Like savage beasts, they eviscerated the dead army and swallowed three cores each while their leader stuffed his mouth with seventeen.
"The heck are you doing? Give me my cores!"
However, his roar died down in his throat because, before his enlarging eyes, Picket changed.
His bones cracked, enlarging. His muscles swelled, becoming more defined and vigorous, while his eyes reflected a sharp glint of intelligence.
His friends echoed his power outburst with excited shrieks as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
Then, he saw him turn, offering a grateful smile.
"Thank you for your help. The six last enemies dwell further in the ore-rich area. I'll compensate you for the cores after becoming the mountain king!"
"You'd better. You just swallowed a fortune you did nothing to get!"
He clicked his tongue, the corner of his lips twitching in suppressed anger.
'See what I'll do to you if you steal from me again.'
Somehow, he understood how Luna must have felt after he stole her mana for his ritual...
"What are a few minerals against a kingdom? I won't lie to you."
Picket's voice resounded with righteousness as he turned and walked deeper into the mine. Yet a red light flashed in his eyes.
He followed him in silence, their steps the only noise reverberating in the tense silence.
After half an hour, they passed by two more empty barricades before reaching a spacious cave.
Five houses built out of rocks surrounded a crackling campfire, illuminating the place.
Seated on crude chairs, four Dreg'nars his height heard the sounds coming from the tunnel.
Instantly, they rose to their feet, gripped their crude magic staves adorned with sparkling brown gems and eyed the newcomers warily.