Chapter 17: Killing a Commander-ranked Nightmare Hound

" Dinner is ready !"

The meal was peaceful with everyone eating silently.

I ate two full bowls of rice with vegetables before satisfying my hunger.

My mother was already doing the dishes by the time I completed my food while my father was in the living room, managing some files for tomorrow.

I also did my job of cleaning the kitchen room before entering my room. I didn't stay in the living room with my parents as I had around half an hour's time to spend in my lord's space today.

"Enter the lord's space"

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[ Beep…. Killed 30 Tier-0 monsters and 3 Tier-1 monsters. Obtaining 340 SF points]

[ Stored 45 kg of Tier-0 meat, and 10 kg of Tier-1 meat into the granary]

[stored 7 Nightmare leather(White), 2 Nightmare spine( white), 4 pairs of Nightmare fangs(white), and 3 pairs of Nightmare talons (white) in the warehouse.]

[ Stored 1 pair of serrated fang( grey) into the warehouse]

[ Stored Nightmare Gaunlet( grey) into the warehouse]

The first thing I listened to before even properly materializing inside my territory was the amount of SF collected by killing the monsters outside the territory.

Looking at the food and items stored inside the granary and Warehouse, I was speechless.

I mean, I had already obtained two pieces of grey equipment on the second day of awakening as a lord.

" Were those items something that a tier-0 lord like me should have in his storage.?"

Nope, Only those families that controlled the floating cities would have the ability to provide grey-tiered equipment to the tier-0 lord within their family.

Such families would only provide one or two at max, grey-tiered equipment to the most talented juniors within their families.

As for normal lords hailing from families without any lords in their lineage like me, only some extremely lucky lords would get their hands on the grey-tiered equipment when they were tier-0 but most would only purchase after reaching tier-2 or tier-3 as a lord.

I quickly took out the Nightmare gauntlet from the warehouse before checking its stats.

[ Nightmare gauntlet(gauntlet)]

[Tier: 1 (Grey)]

[Attribute: none]

[Skill: none]

[Description: Made from high-quality leather obtained from Tier-1 monster Nightmare Python. Is flexible and has a great defense.]

Looking at the stats of the gauntlet floating silently in front of me with a greyish glow, I was satisfied.  Although the gauntlet didn't retain the attribute of the Nightmare Python nor did it have any skill attached to it, it was pretty powerful as the main function of this gauntlet was to provide me with defense.

The gauntlet in front of me was covered with dark scales, that shone with luster and had the stitches arranged in a way that created the ferocious face of the Nightmare python at the back of my palm. There were little bony claws sticking out from the knuckles flickering with ruthlessness. The only thing lacking from thus equipment were runes.

They turned into specks of light before clamping into my hands once I willed them.

I was already feeling at the top of the world as no one below tier-1 ( low) would be able to harm me with their strength. It was amazing stats for something without defensive runes to be able to provide me with such defense just based on the material used to make it.

Now, I didn't have to worry about getting hurt by the monsters below tier-1 (mid) giving me confidence in exploring the forest more effectively.

I had been protected by Lilith from the beginning when others were hunting and collecting the drops from the monsters. It was actually hindering the speed at which we could explore the area while hunting monsters every day.

Thinking of the fact that I was going to be able to fight the Nightmare hounds without getting afraid of their attacks, my lips curved upwards.

So, I hurriedly exited the spatial screen and went towards the direction from where I was able to faintly feel the connection I had with Lily and Lilith.

I was able to reach the place where both Lilith and Lily were engaging in combat with the giant Nightmare Hound by themselves.

It was several times bigger than other Nightmare hounds hunted by our party. It even had a visible strand of dark flare revolving around it, protecting it from attacks from both Lilith and Lily.

Looking at the visible flare of darkness revolving around the Hound. I was able to recognize it as the Commander of the pack as only those monsters that ruled or controlled other monsters had such ability.

(NOTE: Rank of monsters: Soldier/Elite/commander/King/Emperor for now)

Looking around, I even saw several corpses of Nightmare Hounds within the vicinity making me ponder.

They all had their Flares plundered from their body, making them look like empty husks.

<For the lord>

[ Beep…. Killed one (initial)Tier-1 Nightmare Hound. Since the Nightmare Hound was an elite-level monster the SP is doubled, Obtained (30*2)60 SF points.]

Just as I heard the loud roar from the Orc, This message flashed in front of my eyes.

"Tier-1 Nightmare Hound, it was even an elite-level monster!!", This was the most powerful monster hunted by my party, one rank above soldier-level Nightmare Hounds hunted by my party till now.

So, I hurriedly looked at the stats of the Nightmare Hound that was engaging in fierce combat with Lilith and Lily on equal footing.

[ Nightmare Hound Commander]

[Rank: Commander]

[Attribute: Dark]

[Strength: Tier-1(mid)]

[State: trapped inside illusion]

[Skill: Nightmare Claw, Nightmare Bite, Rage]

[Description: King of the common monster, Nightmare Hounds found within the Greyvile forest, one of the deadliest areas within the Azaroth Planet. Has been angered as it was ambushed by the intruders while helping the most powerful member of its hoard to evolve and become its successor.]

Roar...

Just as I had completed reading its stats, The monster in front of me went through drastic change along with its roar filled with fury.

The pitch-black fur covering its body had turned dark red. Its talons also turned blood-red. The flare of darkness also had a tinge of red mixed into it. And the most notable change it had gone through was its eyes, which had gone from grey to blood red making it even more ferocious. I could even feel the Bloodlust from the Nightmare Hound in front of me.

Looking at the changes the monster had gone, I lost all the colors from my face.

" It went in rage mode.", I shouted hysterically in my mind but was able to control myself as the monster in front of me was still under the illusion but was slowly regaining its sense.

[ Nightmare Hound Commander] ( Has entered Rage mode)

[Rank: Commander]

[Attribute: Dark]

[Strength: Tier-1(mid)]

[State: trapped in illusion( Slowly awakening)]

[Skill: Rage]

[Description: King of the common monster, Nightmare Hounds found within the Greyvile forest, one of the deadliest areas within the Azaroth Planet. Has entered the rage mode as the successor it had painstakingly nurtured was killed by the intruders. ( Increased speed, attack, and defense by 2 times for five minutes.) ]

Looking at the stats of the Nightmare Hound after entering the rage mode, I was definitely nervous as it had its everything doubled for five minutes.

It was even slowly awakening from the illusion as its eyes flickered from dazed to normal several times before finally stopping at daze.

Looking at the eyes that didn't become normal I was finally able to relax.

"Deceitful Charm is definitely top tier skill.", I secretly wanted to take the skill for myself but refrained from it as it belonged to my beautiful Maids.

My hands were sweaty right now as even I didn't know whether Lily would be able to finish the monster in front of her all alone as Lilith was busy using her skill to trap the monster inside the illusion.

Lilith had already stopped fighting and was utilizing her skill to trap the Hound inside the illusion barely trapping the Commander-level nightmare hound in the illusion.

But looking at the light injuries that Lily was doing to the monster, my heart literally threatened to stop itself at any time.

< For the King>

Oof... Listening to the shout from the Orc I finally relaxed myself as Lily wasn't someone that had high combat ability but Orc was.

Orc was covered in blood from head to toe and had heavy and ragged breathing but it directly charged in front of the Hound with the bony club that was soaked in the blood of the previous hound.

Squelch... The monster had its head cracked with blood splattering all over the area.

Orc literally looked like the god of war that was soaked in the blood of his enemy, he was looking at the monster in front of him with a serious face.

Roar... Roar...

The monster was finally out of its reverie.

The first thing it did was attack the Orc in front of it with its powerful talons inflicting injury to the Orc.

< For the Lord>

The orc also bulged his muscles, his blue veins pumping extreme amounts of adrenaline and blood all over his body. He even stopped the blood that was splattering out in front of him from the injury in his chest area before finally attacking the monster head-on.

Lily also stopped attacking and started helping Lilith to trap the monster within the illusion from time to time helping Orc in the process.

The battle was brutal as the orc was exchanging injuries with the Nightmare Hound Commander in the war of attraction. Although the Commander was a mid-level Tier-1 monster and weaker in terms of strength, the Orc had to fight fiercely with the help of two maids for five minutes in a bloodied battle before finally being able to defeat it once it was weakened.

ROAR...

Finally, with the roar of unwillingness, The Commander-level Nightmare Hound stopped breathing.