Chapter 7: Hoarder

[Status Screen]

{Basic Stats:}

Name: Hoarder

Level: 2

Race: Undead

Class: Fighter

{Physical Stats:}

Strength: 22

Agility: 15

Dexterity: 25

Toughness: 20

{Skills:}

Expert Hoarder (Level 1)

Weapon recovery (Level 2)

Weapon Mastery (Level 2)

{Abilities:}

Dual swordsmanship: This ability allows the Hoarder to effectively wield two swords simultaneously. It grants a significant boost to its accuracy and attack speed while using dual swords. It also enables it to perform complex sword techniques that would be impossible with only one sword. However, this ability has a high stamina cost and can only be used for 5 minutes before the Hoarder's stamina runs out.

Suicidal Charge: This ability allows the Hoarder to make a powerful charge attack that deals massive damage to the target but leaves it vulnerable to counterattacks. The Hoarder sacrifices precision and rationality for brutal strength to deal extra damage. The ability can only be used once per day. If the target survives the attack, the Hoarder will receive significant backlash, making it more vulnerable to further attacks.

{Inventory:}

Twin Blades

Strength Requirement: None.

Damage: 1-3 slashing damage each.

Rarity: Common.

Description: A pair of matching short swords with slim, lightweight blades designed for quick, nimble strikes.

Condition: Normal (no bonuses or penalties).

Type: Light melee weapon (pair).

{Quests:}

Main Quest: Exit the Nameless Tower– On going!

Side Quest: Offer ten thousand weapons to the Nameless Tower – (2930/10,000) – On going!

Side Quest: Eliminate those who seek to exit the Nameless Tower – New!

No wonder there weren't any weapons laying around. This bone head was responsible for gathering them all, Scott thought as he perused the status screen.

[You have received a new Quest!]

[Side Quest: Defeat the Hoarder and exit the Nameless Tower – New!]

The creature turned, exposing its bony visage. It unleashed a ghastly howl, drawing its twin blades. Scott remained undaunted, summoning his war hammer.

The undead creature tilted its head from side to side, tightening its grip around the twin blades as it slowly approached. A flickering crimson mist swirled in its empty eye sockets, giving it an eerie and otherworldly presence. It observed the strange intruder with an unsettling air of malevolence.

Scott, despite being in the face of the otherworldly creature, remained remarkably calm, even though the battle could prove too challenging, as he lacked any combat-oriented skills or experience.

Scott narrowed his eyes as he assessed the Hoarder's stats. I can't drag this out. The war hammer could shatter at any moment.

The skeletal adversary paused its advance, raising the twin blades as crimson mist enveloped its bones, mirroring the eerie glow in its eye sockets.

[Hoarder has activated Ability – Suicidal Charge!]

Scott's expression darkened as he realized the Hoarder had no intention of dragging out the confrontation.

The undead released a sickening howl, its strength, dexterity, and agility stats surged by ten percent, while its toughness was reduced by half. In a split second, the creature darted toward Scott with unnatural swiftness, its twin blades raised menacingly, aiming to decapitate the intruder in a single strike and complete its nefarious task.

[Quick Step Activated!]

The Hoarder arrived in a blur, both blades poised to strike with deadly intent. It was convinced that its attack could not be dodged. To its astonishment, Scott's form shifted with incredible speed, narrowly avoiding the twin blades that whizzed past him.

[Ability – Hammer Strike Activated!]

Scott's right arm bulged, and thick veins distorted his pale face, as he swung the war hammer with all his might on the stunned creature. A crisp crack echoed as the sharp, jagged end of the weapon landed on the skull of the undead creature.

[Critical Strike – 25% damage added!]

The undead creature fell face-first on the floor, a thin lattice of cracks lining its bleached skull. Scott ignored the flashing system panels. Instead, he sidestepped, positioning himself to loom over the fallen creature. Only three seconds remained until Quick Step deactivated.

He kicked away the twin blades while raining a violent storm of strikes on the creature's right arm. In a mere two seconds, the echoes of shattering bones filled the air as the skeletal arm of the Hoarder detached from its socket, all to the misery of the suicidal creature.

[Critical Strike – 25% damage added!]

[Quick Step's duration has ended!]

Scott moved again, putting more distance between himself and the wailing hoarder.

[Warning! Durability of Item: Uncommon Warhammer has reached its minimum value!]

Scott inhaled deeply, his eyes, now clear and resolute, shifting between the Hoarder, the shattered war hammer, and the system's message. "That was tougher than I thought it would be. If it didn't go all out from the beginning, I might've been the one lying on the ground."

He tightened his grip on the war hammer's handle once more and swung the damaged weapon with all his strength, aiming directly for the Hoarder's skull. The fragile hammer offered no resistance and shattered on impact, leaving deep cracks in the Hoarder's skull. The crimson mist enveloping the creature's bones sifted back into the skull, but the cracks were too extensive to contain it. The mist dispersed into the air.

Scott walked over to the Hoarder's twin blades, retrieved them, and approached the now immobile and silent undead. With a determined resolve and crude savagery, he began hacking away at the skeleton's bones, shattering them one by one. Moments later, the familiar ding echoed in his ears.

[You have defeated a being born from the essence of the Nameless Tower! EXP: 50!]

[You have participated in your first battle in the Tower of Champions! EXP: 50!]

[You have won a battle in the Tower of Champions! EXP: 100!]

[The Nameless Tower acknowledges your right to leave!]

[Abnormal Stat: Perception has increased by 1! Perception: 26 (+1)]

[Skill: Survival has leveled up! Survival (Level 2)]

[Side Quest: Attain the minimum requirements for Class advancement – Completed! EXP: 50]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]

Scott furrowed his brow as he examined the updated stats on his system screen. "No change in my physical stats again," he mused. "Perhaps they can only be improved through training or something like that."

He continued to scroll through his stats, his fingers tracing the panel as he stopped at the abnormal stats section. "I probably wouldn't be alive if I didn't have such a high composure," he muttered softly, his gaze turning to the fallen Hoarder's corpse. Composure had been crucial in maintaining his calm and making the right decisions in the brief but intense battle.

Scott's thoughts returned to the class section, where the options [Yes] and [No] blinked before him.

I'm not sure if I should wait or do my class advancement now. Normally, a better array of skills should offer a more useful class, right?

With a sense of curiosity and a lingering desire to explore his options, Scott clicked on [Yes]. Another ding sounded, and a new system window appeared before him.

[Warning! Full details for classes will not be presented to the Champions!]

[Warning! Champions will decide which potential classes suit their abilities best!]

[Warning! Champions cannot change classes unless certain conditions are met!]

[Potential Classes available to Champion: Scott Dorsey!]

Rogue: With your Agility, Dexterity, Perception, and Mental Manipulation abilities, you could excel as a sneaky, cunning rogue, able to pick locks, avoid traps, and trick enemies. Your impermeable shapeshifting abilities will propel you to rank among the top Champions in the rogue class.

Ranger: With Nature's Bounty, Perception, Survival, and Running ability, you will make an excellent ranger. You will be able to track and hunt prey with ease. The ranger class will also enable you to take advantage of your Carpentry and Fishing skills.

Mage: With outstanding Intelligence, Wisdom, Composure, and Mana Points, you could excel as a mage who utilizes mental manipulation and mind control abilities to control and defeat enemies.

Warrior: With sufficient Strength, Toughness, and Endurance stats, you could also make a formidable warrior, able to withstand heavy hits and deal significant damage with your Hammer Strike ability.

Mad Warrior: With sufficient Strength, Toughness, and Endurance stats; coupled with your exceptional Madness and Composure stats. You will thrive as a Mad Warrior, using your insanity to bring destruction upon your enemies.

Eldritch Knight: As an Eldritch Spawn, you're more than qualified to thread the path of the great old ones. Hastur's gaze, Siegel, Shapeshifter, Mind Control, Madness Explosion, and Mental Resistance all but guarantee you will make a reputable Eldritch Knight.