Chapter 33 "Bloody Throne"

The Players witnessing this could only spare sympathy for Ioki. If a Dungeon Boss itself is proven to be challenging for a full party to fight, then what would a low leveled Player do against him alone?

Yet, Ioki warmed his body and did a little footwork. He raised his fists and tried to give a palm salute, imitating what the Nine Paws did before.

*WOOSH*

Dusts spread from where the Pack Leader was standing. He is nowhere to be seen besides the trace of his furs that fell when he launched off into the air. Slowly, a giant shadow cast over Ioki's body...

Ioki looked up to see the Pack Leader locked his paws together, ready to strike from above as he approached Ioki at terrifying speed.

*BOOM*

The rocky ground crushed upon contact, and rocks and specks of dust dispersed throughout the Arena. Even Ioki got blasted to the edge of the Arena as he tried to dodge it by jumping.

A chunk of his HP was gone by the knockback, and before Ioki could even get up, the Pack Leader's foot was already before his face. Ioki rolled forward and performed a donkey kick on the Pack Leader's other leg.

Although it didn't deal much damage, the Pack Leader's body was shaken. The Pack Leader's attention shifted to Ioki, who was still lying on the ground. They locked eyes with the other party having his tongue out and a sinister smile showing on his muzzle.

"Umm... Hii!" Ioki waved his hand at the Pack Leader.

Paying no attention to his waving, the Pack Leader stomped the ground beneath him. Ioki rolled again, but because of the Pack Leader's strength, each hit was like a truck. Destruction and shock waves always followed.

"How am I even gonna fight this monster?" Ioki thought as he ran away from the Pack Leader.

"Just like I thought, no one in their right mind would go fight a Dungeon Boss solo... Not even the rankers would be that overconfident with their skills!" A voice from the crowd appeared.

Suddenly, as if the voice rippled through the crowd, they started making a fuss and thought of Ioki as simply a newbie who didn't know his place.

Of course, while Ioki is trying his best not to waste energy worrying about what happens outside the Arena, the crowd's fuss affects his mental...

Suddenly, Ioki stopped running and turned around.

"They are right, I am Lucky! If I made it all the way here because of being Lucky, then I will bet my money on my hands!" Ioki shouted.

Seeing Ioki stop running, the Pack Leader loaded his right arm and launched a punch. Ioki greeted it with his left arm as he stepped forward with his right foot.

"Fist for a fist, this is how I had been fighting all this time. Why is the first thing I do is run away?" Ioki thought as his pupil contracted when their fists clashed.

*BAM!*

*Critical Hit!*

Thunder-like sounds echoed as their fists collided, accompanied by a massive gust of wind. The Pack Leader's fist was deflected, and blood burst from his massive arm.

The Bleeding effect had taken hold; his stout figure now wavered, his bloody arm knocked back. He quickly regained his balance and stance. He launched another attack, a kick this time, leveraging his massive body as if he were kicking a ball.

Ioki shouted, "Air Punch!"

An energy of wind appeared as he sent his fist forward as if controlled by someone else. His other arm followed and launched another energy of wind from his fist.

Flowing Water Fist (Passive)

The Nine Paws martial arts. This martial art originated from the East. It made its way to this land as one of its practitioners asked for guidance from Nine Paws.

There is a 5% Chance of a double-attack if the user is not fighting with weapons.

The passive that he obtained from the Nine Paws was the reason he threw another fist. What was supposed to be a single punch skill turned into a combo of 1-2.

Upon reaching the Pack Leader's shin, the energies exploded and swayed the trajectory of the kick. Giving Ioki a chance to dodge to the side.

Ioki tried to rush into Pack Leader's hind leg. Alas, the Pack Leader kicked up bags of dust that disturbed Ioki's vision. As Ioki tried to focus, a shadow rapidly approached outside the dusty vision.

Ioki threw another punch straight to the shadow. It was a shame a crit didn't procced this time... Ioki got knocked to the back because of the force behind the punch equal to a truck running at him.

Suddenly, the figure behind the dust grew brighter orange, and Ioki smiled as he watched the large figure panic and jump as the bright orange danced wildly around him.

"About time..." Ioki smugly murmured.

"Fiery Retaliation (Passive)

No one dared to anger The Warden, for they knew the consequences.

Upon receiving damage, the attacker has a minor chance of being inflicted Burn status."

Ioki rushed into the silhouette behind the dust while raising his fists. Ioki approached the Pack Leader with his burned fur and threw another punch.

"GODDESS FORTUNA, BLESS MY PUNCH!" Ioki shouted.

The two fists clashed again.

*BAM*

*Critical Hit!*

The Pack Leader, with years of battlefield and brawling experience, adapted rapidly upon the impact of the critical hit. In a "Kobold-eat Kobold" world, he won't sit on the throne for long if he doesn't do the bare minimum.

After having his arm wounded and bleeding from the impact, the Pack Leader no longer lost his balance. He threw another punch instead, and Ioki welcomed it with another punch.

Slowly, as they exchanged blows and miraculously achieved critical hits, the Pack Leader's troubled expression transformed into a smile. It was as if he was enjoying the fight with Ioki.

The Pack Leader howled, and Ioki screamed in response. The side skirt where the Players kicked up a fuss and ridiculed Ioki as he challenged the Pack Leader turned dead silent as they admired the fight happening before them.

The Pack Leader's arms were bathed in blood, but he showed no signs of stopping anytime soon. Each punch and wound on his arms only made his smile broader.

Reaching the zenith, standing atop other Kobolds, the Pack Leader had never had a chance to enjoy a fight with an opponent he respected while unleashing his full power.

If the fight between Ioki and the Nine Paws was a battle of wits and reflexes, then this was a fight of Luck and attrition. After every few blows they traded, one hit would get through, knocking Ioki back.

"Ah! What's that?" A voice from the crowd shouted in surprise.

Ioki wasn't paying attention to it, but slowly a white apparition entered his vision, throwing punches following each and every punch he traded with the Pack Leader. He turned his head a bit to the side and found a familiar figure.

"So this is what it meant, huh?" Ioki thought as he kept trading blows with the Pack Leader.

"Warning! Your stamina has been depleted, find a place to rest or go to a nearby inn." A blue window popped up.

"FUCK! NOT NOW!" Ioki screamed as his body was thrown back after he lost his concentration and failed to parry the fist coming.

Ioki was wary and readied himself for an incoming attack, but the Pack Leader simply stood there tending to his wounds by licking them. He occasionally stared at Ioki and grinned.

"Help yourself with this!" Ioki said as he threw a glass straight to the Pack Leader.

The Pack Leader reflectively caught the item and crushed it in his hand. Slowly, his injuries were healed.

He stared at Ioki with a weird expression and slowly laughed. Rather than a laugh, it is more of a resemblance when dogs bark when they are happy. He looked around into the other Kobolds and opened his muzzle, "Bark! Bark!"

"Awoo!" The Kobolds howled in return.

After drinking Potions himself, Ioki readied himself again.

He rushed right into the Pack Leader. The Pack Leader did the same and rushed straight to Ioki as well. They traded blows again.

"This is exactly it! Nothing beats the excitement of trading blows with a strong enemy! Fuck! Am I getting addicted to this?" Ioki thought while smiling. "All the worries and problems that's gnawing on my mind, all of them are gone... As if time stopped and I enjoy the moment!"

Slowly, the white apparition could be seen again throwing fists following Ioki's rhythm. As if the Pack Leader himself was proud of fighting Ioki, he smiled even wider when his fist was met with unified fists of two different realms.

"I really enjoyed fighting you, but it's a shame I only hired the capsule for 6 hours! I plan to savor each hour of it!" Ioki shouted as he loaded his arm backward.

Rather than the usual jab or straight, he loaded his arm back and readied himself for a big attack.

"Lucky Strike!" Ioki shouted.

Slowly, his fist glows in gold. Sparkles and glitters formed as his fist dashed through the air.

"Enhanced Luck is in effect!"

"Ad astra per aspera, Carpe Diem!"

In a short span of time, the Pack Leader's expression went through many phases as he felt the force behind Ioki's fist. His eyes widened, turned to disbelief, then slowly a smile of satisfaction.

*BOOM*

*CRITICAL HIT!*

Ioki's other hand is raised by its own, glowing in gold as well.

*BOOM*

*CRITICAL HIT!*

A blinding golden light appeared as Ioki 's fists connected to the Pack Leader. The place where Pack Leader was standing is now clean and spotless, with him nowhere to be found.

Crowds cheered ecstatically after the brawl finished, with Ioki emerging as the winner.

"WOAH! WHAT THE FUCK!? THE PACK LEADER'S CORPSE IS EVEN BLASTED TO OBLIVION!"

"A marvelous fight to behold. I'm glad I stayed here and watched the fight! I'm your fan from now on, Ioki!"

"IOKI! LET'S GET MARRIED!"

Ioki turned to the side and saw the Nine Paws in spirit form, extending his fist towards Ioki. Ioki bumped his fist before the Nine Paws spirit slowly disappeared into Ioki again.

"SPECIAL QUEST SUCCEED!

You've defeated the Pack Leader in a brawl! Go claim his throne as yours!

Clear Grade: S+

Rewards: Diamond Chest, Unique Pack Leader's Chest, + 50000 EXP, + 5000 Golds, Honor +200, The Kobolds respect you.

"The Boss | Grade: Mythic

Boss? Yeah, that's me!

Bonus: +5 All stats"

"Brawl Star | Grade: Unique

You are the star of the Brawl!

Bonus: +3 all stats, Brawler's Evolution Book (Unique)

"Pugilist | Grade: Mythic

Pave your way to the top with fists.

Bonus: +10 Str, Hardened Fist (Passive), Martial Artists NPC will treat you with respect."

"Pack Leader | Grade: Unique

Kobolds have a strong sense of loyalty to their Leader.

Bonus: +10 Cha, You could command Kobold(s) from now on, Dog's Treat."

"Level Up!" windows popped up.

Ioki swiped the windows as he slowly walked to the throne. The crowds went silent again as he slowly made his way through.

After standing in front of the throne, because of the height difference, Ioki jumped. Barely reaching the edge, he grabbed it and pulled himself up.

He looked at the entrance where the crowds were watching, and he looked to the tribune where the kobolds were.

"So, this is the view of a King..." Ioki said as he looked at the chat, "Mr. Turtle and KumaKuma, I am waiting for your bet. For now, I will celebrate my win!"

"AWOOO!!!" Ioki howled.

Soon, the Kobolds followed his howl. The howls of human and Kobolds synchronized as they filled the cave.

"Bloody Throne | Grade: Unique

You've inherited the Bloody Throne, blood will shed for each step you take.

Bonus: +10 Str, +5 Cha, Bloody Seal"

Suddenly, the entrance to the Arena was sealed as a mysterious force knocked back the Players that stood near them.

Lights appeared on the walls, food was served in the Arena, drinks appeared out of nowhere, and the Kobolds howled slowly, barking again as their tongue lolled out.