Chapter 64

  A new notification appeared in response to Keith’s decision.

  Challenge 2: Precision.

  Description: Monsters will spawn. Attack their weak spots to instantly kill them.

  Note 1: Monsters will have a glowing weak spot somewhere on their body.

  Note 2: There are three types of weak spots: large (green), medium (yellow), and small (red).

  Note 3: Monsters will not take damage from any attack unless you hit their weak spot.

  Note 4: Monsters in this challenge will not provide experience or loot.

  Time remaining until the next challenge begins: 10 minutes and 28 seconds

  Would you like to begin now?

  “I’ll wait,” Keith said after reading through the notification.

  It was wise to recover as much energy as possible before the next challenge started. And so, Keith withdrew a chair from his grimoire and sat down, drinking some water as he rested.

  Ten minutes later, he took back the chair, buffed himself, and summoned twenty-some Arsenal of the Desert weapons. All of them were daggers – tiny and agile. Keith guessed that speed was key to this next challenge. He didn’t know how many monsters would spawn, and with there being an instant kill mechanic, it was best to keep their numbers under control. He didn’t want to get overwhelmed.

  Five…

  Four…

  Three…

  Two…

  One…

  Right as the countdown hit zero, three arrays appeared atop the arena floor. Rising from them were kobolds – humanoid rats covered in prickly brown fur. There were many types of kobolds, and these three were Kobold Warriors. They were celestial grade and matched Keith’s level. As for their health, it showed only a single digit: 1.

  Of the three Kobold Warriors, one had a glowing green mark in the shape of a circle on their left shoulder, about six inches across. The second had a yellow mark, also in a circle, on their kneecap, about three inches across. The third’s mark, colored red, was under its chin, about an inch across.

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  As soon as the Kobold Warriors spawned, they brandished their crude hatchets and rushed at Keith, snarling like rabid dogs.

  “Go,” Keith spoke softly, pointing forward.

  Under his control, three of the daggers hovering around him shot off toward the Kobold Warriors, designating a single dagger for each. Seemingly oblivious to their weak points, the Kobold Warriors recklessly hacked at the flying daggers.

  At the same time, six more arrays appeared on the arena floor, from which more Kobold Warriors arose. Just as they spawned in, Keith’s daggers maneuvered around the Kobold Warrior’s hatchets and slashed across their weak points. The three Kobold Warriors shattered like glass, killed instantly without any fanfare.

  Interesting, Keith thought, marveling at the challenge’s weak point mechanic.

  Unphased by their kindred’s instant deaths, the freshly spawned Kobold Warriors charged forward. Keith sent out three more daggers, and a moment later, the six Kobold Warriors broke apart.

  Without delay, more arrays appeared.

  This time, among the Kobold Warriors was a Kobold Ranger, holding a crossbow.

  They aimed at Keith and fired, releasing a bolt that whistled through the air.

  Keith tilted his head to avoid the projectile while simultaneously striking the kobold's weak points. He easily handled the start of the challenge, but as time went on, more and more kobolds spawned in. There were also new types of kobolds like Kobold Mages, Kobold Summoners, Kobold Warlocks, and others.

  Fifteen minutes into the challenge, around 30-40 kobolds spawned in at a time.

  At that point, Keith needed to utilize all his summoned weapons, including those from Quickdraw. Utilizing Mind Divison and Mind Enhancement, Keith controlled over thirty-five conjured daggers. They were like a swarm of enraged hornets, flying around and striking wherever the nearest weak point was.

  The kobolds with ranged attacks barely got an attack in before dying, which Keith avoided with ease.

  At the twenty-minute mark, the number of kobolds spawning in at a time outnumbered the maximum number of Keith’s summoned weapons, and with all his focus on Arsenal of the Desert, Keith was unable to effectively use other skills.

  Yet, there was one thing he was most comfortable with using: himself.

  Withdrawing a longsword from his Grimoire, Keith approached a Kobold Berserker that just spawned, piercing its weak point with the tip of his weapon. Moving around the arena, he did what he could to keep the kobold's numbers under control.

  Even then, as the challenge went on, the number of kobolds spawning in continued to rise. At twenty-five minutes, there were over sixty in the arena, with half of them possessing ranged capabilities.

  Dark Arrow, Magic Missile, Fireball, crossbow bolts, arrows, and all sorts of attacks rained down on Keith, who relied on nimble footwork or used kobolds as cover to avoid them.

  Inevitably, a few attacks struck true, wounding Keith.

  Now overwhelmed, Keith activated Mana Vision, finding clarity in the chaos.

  The next five minutes went by quickly, and the challenge ended at the thirty-minute mark. Gasping for breath, Keith sat on the ground, too tired to stand. He withdrew a bottle of water and poured it over his face to cool down. Then, he withdrew another to drink.

  After several minutes, Keith’s racing heart calmed, and he relaxed.

  Looking up at the blinking notification, he saw his reward.

  Congratulations! You’ve passed the second challenge.

  Reward: Celestial grade skill upgrade token.

  Do you want to attempt the next challenge or take your rewards and leave?

  Time remaining until forcibly expelled: 57 minutes, 2 seconds