30. Ruler of Lightning
Magic-related classes always came with at least one auto-defense skill attached. It deployed a protective barrier to bolster durability against physically superior foes—like the one this Lizardman was using.
Wasn't that a bit shameless? A warrior packing a warrior-counter skill. Was the weapon it was holding actually a staff disguised as a spear? But no, its muscles were jacked like a maniac's.
The electric attribute was another problem. None of my resistance skills covered lightning. And given lightning's nature, getting hit could lock up my movements the instant it struck. Of course, I wouldn't know for sure until I tested it.
Anyway, first things first: figure out how to crack that shameless barrier. There had to be some limitation.
-Tatata!
I widened the distance from the charging Lizardman and pulled a few rocks from my inventory, hurling more at it. Thankfully, the bastard wasn't that fast, so I could freely kite and harass it.
-Pajijik!
The flying rocks got shot down by lightning again, blocked just like before. Fine, since we're doing this, let's see how many times it could block. I had plenty of rocks stocked in my inventory.
This time, I grabbed five small rocks at once and scattered them like buckshot. Three got intercepted, and the other two missed. But honestly, even if it'd stood still, only two would've hit properly—I'd thrown them that way on purpose.
The fact that it bothered blocking non-threatening rocks suggested an automatic skill, not manual. And since it even shot down the ones that wouldn't have hit anyway, I could roughly gauge the barrier's activation interval.
Obviously, that barrier couldn't last forever. Was it time-limited? Usage-count limited? Or a toggle skill that ran until MP hit zero?
Thanks to our speed gap, I held the initiative. I'd peel away its tricks one by one, given time.
-Whoosh!
This time, no rock—I chucked my shield. Heavier than stones, so same throw, way more impact.
Lightning collided with the hurtling shield. With a crackling zap, it bounced off—not shattering like the rocks, just deflected.
So the barrier's lightning output stayed constant, regardless of projectile type or power.
-Kerruk!
Apparently pissed at my one-sided ranged spam, the Lizardman charged faster than before. I equipped a spare shield from inventory, raised my longsword, and met it head-on.
If my read on the barrier's interval was right, a thrusting attack—not a slash—could bypass it. I fired my trusty staple, Sword Charge, aiming for its heart.
It must've expected more cheap ranged bullshit, because confusion flashed across the Lizardman's face. Perfect thrust against an opponent not prepped for counterattack—this had to land.
-Pajijik!
But my Sword Charge sliced empty air. More precisely, it passed straight through a flashing lightning effect.
The Lizardman had turned to lightning, flowing around my strike. It flanked me and thrust its spear.
What the fuck? You got physical immunity or some shit?
Instinct Lv.8
I twisted away from the spear stabbing my back on pure instinct and leaped back, resetting my stance.
Instinct Lv.8 gave that telltale prickling warning when attacks came from outside my vision. At low levels, I'd wondered what the hell it even did, but at 8? Cheat skill supreme.
Facing elite Lizardmen warriors, I'd had tons of moments where it felt like eyes on my back. Now, I moved like I had eyes back there.
-Chwak!
Missing the thrust, it swiftly switched to a horizontal spear sweep. Fast transition speed—elite red-banded Lizardman level, no doubt.
A shaft swing like that? I could've tanked and countered. But I dodged anyway. Lightning user meant the pole might be charged too.
Besides, close-quarters brawling wasn't wise here. One slip, and I'd eat barrier interval.
I hurled the handaxe from my belt and kicked off the ground, creating space.
"Hoo."
Fuck, that startled the shit outta me. What the hell was that? Not some natural fruit ability from a pirate manga, turning to lightning to dodge? If it was real, wasn't that uncounterable? Dude only won 'cause he was rubber. Nah, no way it was true physical immunity. Had to be a limited evasion skill—cooldown or usage cap, one or the other.
Biggest issue remained the barrier. Step into its interval, risk electrocution—no moves possible.
"Time to switch weapons."
I stowed my sword and drew a spear similar to the Lizardman's.
Basic Spear Technique Lv.8
Perfect timing—I'd learned spear skills for exactly this.
Once I started seriously scrapping with elite Lizardmen warriors, I quickly hit my weapon's limits. Specifically, realized how much reach mattered in close combat.
Lizardmen used swords, shields, axes, hammers—everything—but spears dominated. Already towering at 2 meters with superior physiques, they kept distance with longer weapons. Nightmare fuel.
Forced me to master infighting, but swords had clear drawbacks.
So, with my swordsmanship plateauing anyway, I branched out. First up: spears.
And I had killer instructors—the Lizardmen themselves, spear masters.
Sparred spear-on-spear in real combat, snagged the skill, leveled it to 8.
Not just spears. Axes and blunts next, even shield-only no-weapon fighting.
Sword-and-shield still my best, but now I outclassed elite Lizardmen in most weapon arts.
Just a basic Warrior class, but basically a Weapon Master. All beginner-level, sure, but damn solid for Floor 3.
I shifted into classic Lizardman spear stance, and the white one gripped its spear tighter, startled.
-Whoosh!
I lunged first at the rattled foe, thrusting. Slow reaction—shocked bad. Kept outside electric barrier range, outboxing with spearwork.
Seemed highly skilled, but with odd sloppy moments.
"Ah, getting it now."
Learning spears taught me: Lizardmen had forms, stances. Veterans flowed smoothly, covering gaps seamlessly.
But this one? Lightning barrier made it sloppy outside forms.
-Pajijik!
Exploit the gap, strike—and it'd lightning-evade to reposition.
Skill-patching form flaws, not experience. But patterns emerge after reps.
First long fight for you, huh?
-Chwak!
Predicted its flank via lightning evade, spun, slashed with my sword. Freshly leveled weapon arts? Waste not to mid-fight swap and exploit.
Already clocked the evasion's usage limit. Couldn't dodge—face gashed.
And from that handaxe toss earlier? Confirmed the barrier's weakness.
Lightning blasts inside its range weren't that strong.
Perfect—I'd been itching to build electric resistance anyway.
-Pajijijik!
Entered the interval—lightning pierced me. Stings, sure. But bearable.
Ditched the spear, yanked a dagger from my belt.
But as I aimed for the throat—
The Lizardman's face twisted weirdly. Fought 'em enough to know: that was a smirk.
Not joy. The sneer when your trap springs perfectly.
"Oh, shit."
Blinding lightning coiled around me. Obvious now: it'd hidden its trump card.
The ring of lightning unleashed hell inward.
-Pajijijik!!
Dagger slipped from my hand. Pain minimal, but muscles spasmed wildly.
Area paralysis via lightning on anyone entering range. Worst nightmare counter for melee warriors.
The white Lizardman approached my electrified, immobile form with that signature sneer.
-Kerruk, keruk!
Snatched my dropped dagger, raised it high—like, dodge if you can.
Knew how broken this paralysis trap was in warrior duels. Hence the cocky gap exposure.
But hey, lizard punk—know my paralysis resistance level?
-Puk!
Fresh dagger from inventory pierced its throat, crit effect exploding.
No prior lightning exposure made me cautious, but paralysis was just a side effect. Not enough to breach my cocktail of poison resistances—from paralysis venom to everything shoved in.
Obviously, for a Floor 3 field boss.
Paralysis Resistance Lv.11
Double-digit resistance? No way it punches through that easy.
That vaunted lightning barrier? Evasion skill? All flash, no substance on closer look.
"Ruler of Lightning, huh?"
Rule what at this level, you worthless lizard fuck?