Imperial Black Knight Soulton (II)

Although it seemed like the summoning had succeeded, Soulton still needed some time to actually possess Dorukh's Body. As long as all vitality in Dorukh's body was extinguished, the summoning would naturally fail. 

I immediately sacrificed another 5% of my health and activated vitality flames on the remaining arrow. Notching it on the Bow, I aimed at Dorukh's head. 

I had entered that transcendent state where only my target mattered. Stivi… Soulton… the Cavern… Everything lost its color and faded into the background. 

Soulton noticed the abnormality and sped up the possession process. 

"No!" The undead noble used his powerful voice to disturb my mind but he failed to force me out of the transcendent state. 

The Skull charged into Dorukh and forcefully merged into its bony body. The Dark Gnoll's bones shattered and reformed as they underwent the baptism of power far beyond its threshold. 

Instantly, Dorukh lost another 3% of its health and would've lost more if not for the power of the skull holding its body together.

The description of the Boss also changed from ' Dark Gnoll Dorukh (Slave of Darkness)' to Dark Gnoll Dorukh (Soulton's Incomplete Soul Vessel). 

All of these changes happened within fractions of seconds. However, none of them mattered to me anymore. The only thing I was focused on was the center of the Gnoll's forehead.

I released the burning arrow in my hand and it homed in on the target. 

Soulton still could not use his powers through Dorukh's Body. He tried to dodge but the Gnoll's lower body would not budge. Soulton could only try to defend by covering his face with his hands.

The arrow passed through the small gap between the two bones of the forearm and accurately hit Dorukh between his eyebrows. 

Boom!

The Vitality Flames exploded as the arrow penetrated through Dorukh's Brain. At the same time, Soulton's soul also escaped from the Body, leaving the body to crumble to dust. 

[Congratulations! You have defeated the first Boss monster, 'Dark Gnoll Dorukh.' You have received 17500 exp points.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[Congratulations! You are the first to kill a Boss from Undead Faction. You have completed the achievement, 'Unextinguished Lamp'.]

[Your Reputation has increased by +100 points in the Coven of Elves. The Elven faction will treat you favorably.]

[Your Reputation has increased by +50 points in the Holy Human Empire.]

[Your Reputation has fallen by -100 points in the Death Kingdom. The Undead faction members will treat you with hostility.]

A series of notification chimes rang in my ears but I still could not relax. The Body of Dorukh had perished but Soulton's Soul fragment was still here. 

I could feel the Dark Green Skull that was growing fainter and fainter glare at me with anger. 

"Samar… I will remember you Deathless being."

A hoarse voice, as if coming from the depths of Abyss, whispered in my ears. Then the Skull turned into a fog and charged at me, like Voldemort had charged at the eleven year old Harry. 

[Imperium Black Knight Soulton has marked your soul. Your location will be revealed to Soulton when you are within 10,000 km of Soulton or his Soul fragments.]

[You have been afflicted with the curse, 'Resentment of Dead'. After your death your level will be reset to 1.]

[You have been poisoned with Soul Toxin. You will suffer 100 points of damage every second.]

-100

-100

[You have died.]

Before I could even check out all the notifications, my vision turned dark and I was once again in the empty VR room. I quietly went to the edge of the grip mat and lay down while panting heavily. 

The fight against the Boss was too damn thrilling. It was full of ups and downs but we finally managed to win in the end.

My most significant gain was the Transcendent state I reached when shooting the second Barbarik's arrow. When it had happened first in the Training Grounds, I did not think much of it. However, this time I had a better understanding of it. 

The state was almost like a mixture of my own ability and an in-game skill. I felt like I had touched upon a threshold of a new skill and as long as I could grasp the state fully, I would be able to learn that skill. 

Anyways, that was in the future. After resting for a while, I went downstairs to get a cup of water. Then I spent the rest of the time meditating on that special state, waiting for the 30 minute death penalty to be over. 

Before I knew it, the 30 minutes were over. Lights turned off in the VR room and a familiar scene of Barbarian Village #89 formed around me. 

I immediately opened my notification window and noticed the curse 'Resentment of Dead'. 

Damn! Was my level really reset to 1? 

I quickly opened my status window.

—----

Samar 

Level 1

Titles: [Manufacturer of Disasters]

Race: Deathless (-) Faction: NA

Combat Class: NA

Life Profession: NA

HP: 87 MP: 50

STR: 12 AGI: 11 

VIG: 5 INT: 5

Unused Stat Pts: 0

Hidden Stats Unlocked -

DEX: 5

Skills -

Active Skills -

Rapid Shot: Lv 1

Passive Skills -

Bow Mastery: Initiate (412/2000)

—------

My eyes had first moved to check my level and I despaired. My level really had dropped to 1! 

All the stat points I had earned through level up were also reset with my level. 

The only good thing was that my bonus stats from training with Goku were still there. Most importantly, the hidden unlocked stat Dexterity was not reset. 

Next I began to check my equipment. 

Redwood Longbow - Check! 

Cape of Concealed Death - Check! 

These two were my most important assets right now and I was relieved to see that I had not dropped them after my death. 

Next I checked up on my Quivers and arrows. Then I realized that one of the Quivers that I had tied around my waist was missing! 

Although the loss of Quiver pained me, the loss of my last three White-Wood grade Fire Rune Arrows still inside the Quiver hurt me even more. 

Those were truly the last three Fire Rune Arrows in the Village #89. Even Bowsmith Sangma did not have more of them. 

Next I took inventory of my total arrow consumption during the Boss fight. 

I had used up two dozen Fire Rune Arrows. While I had received the first dozen for free, I had to pay 20 White Fangs on my second visit to exchange the second dozen from Bowsmith Sangma.

I had also used up nearly three stacks of ordinary arrows out of the five I had in my inventory. Each stack consisted of 99 arrows and was worth 10 White Fangs. 

They should've lasted me for a long time. Yet, they were used up in a single battle. 

Darn Stivi! 'Use arrows without worrying about expenses' she had said. 

Now she better compensate me. 

Speaking of the devil, I noticed Stivi and the group approaching me.