Jumping from Level 1 all the way to Level 7, Nidhogg could feel his body changing even more dramatically. He was flooded with richer combat experience from nowhere, his reactions were faster, and his muscles felt denser and stronger.
After cutting down a few defenders, he would have been slightly out of breath before. Now, his breathing was steady and even. He even felt... calm.
Nidhogg was a little startled by this change, but he accepted it gladly.
It was a good thing. He was still on a chaotic battlefield. The stronger he became, the better his chances of escaping safely.
But this new quest... Eliminate the "Ashen Knight" Jackson? That towering, bear-like knight who had captured him? Kill him now? He should count himself lucky Jackson hadn't killed him then.
Emotionally, of course, Nidhogg wanted Jackson dead. If not for that bastard, he wouldn't have been tortured and left to rot in a cell for days. But rationally, he knew the man was trouble. A hard fight.
But what if he failed the quest? Would there be a "penalty" this time? And what would it be? Forget it. No use worrying about that now.
Nidhogg pushed the questions aside and picked up the iron shield that had been under his foot. He glanced at its description.
[Heater Shield]
A sturdy metal shield.
Metal shields offer excellent damage negation, making them a popular choice on the battlefield.
[Skill: Parry]
A skill that deflects an attack and throws an enemy off balance.
Use it just as an enemy's close-range attack is about to land.
If you throw them off balance, it opens them up for a "critical hit."
With a shield in his left hand, a sword in his right, and clad in the full Vagabond Knight set—helm, armor, gauntlets, greaves—Nidhogg felt a surge of confidence.
As for the quests... he would play it by ear and do what he could.
He continued his quiet ascent up the spiral stone staircase and emerged at the top of the tower. Several crossbowmen were lying prone on the battlements, firing bolts down into the courtyard battle below.
One of the crossbowmen happened to turn his head. He saw Nidhogg. His eyes went wide with shock, then he pointed and screamed.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Instantly, every crossbowman on the tower whipped around, their faces a mixture of shock and panic.
They thought Nidhogg was an enemy soldier who had somehow gotten behind their lines. A cold sweat broke out on their foreheads as they frantically aimed their crossbows, ready to shoot.
Nidhogg was just as stunned by the sudden confrontation. But he didn't freeze. Instinct took over. He lunged forward, targeting the nearest crossbowman, and used the longsword's Square Off skill, thrusting forward with explosive speed!
Schlick!
The crossbowman never got a chance to loose his bolt or flee. The longsword punched clean through his chest and stomach. The skill-augmented thrust pierced his armor as if it were a layer of soft hide!
Nidhogg hadn't expected it to be so easy. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly wrenched his sword free. Blood sprayed onto the stones.
"Shit... Loose! Loose!"
The remaining crossbowmen had already reacted. Sweating with terror, they aimed and fired their sharp bolts.
But Nidhogg, with his enhanced physique and newly acquired combat instincts, stayed calm. He did the smartest thing possible: he raised his heater shield and charged toward the tower bridge that led away from the battlement.
He didn't want to retreat back down the narrow spiral staircase where he could be easily cornered.
Clang! Clang!
The heater shield and his Vagabond Knight armor caught most of the bolts. Moving fast, Nidhogg made it onto the tower bridge unscathed.
The crossbowmen gave chase and loosed a few more bolts, but they all went wide.
One of them shouted to soldiers on other towers, warning them that an enemy had reached the battlements and calling for them to send men to cut him off.
Nidhogg knew he couldn't afford to delay. If he was surrounded, even with his new strength, he might not make it.
He blocked a few more bolts, quickened his pace, crossed the bridge, ran through a connecting walkway, and ducked behind a wall, momentarily breaking line of sight with his pursuers.
Seizing the chance, he sprinted toward a door, wrenched it open, and found a stairwell leading down, with a long corridor at the bottom.
He leaped down the stairs and tore through the corridor. He soon encountered two more soldiers with spears and shields. They saw him and charged, clearly part of the force sent to surround him.
Nidhogg didn't dare be careless. He slowed, steadied himself, raised his heater shield before him, and held his longsword low and ready behind it.
The two soldiers screamed and thrust their spears. Nidhogg swung his heater shield and used his Parry skill.
Both spears were deflected aside by an unnatural force. The soldiers stumbled, almost falling, with shock plain on their faces.
In that instant, Nidhogg slashed with his longsword. The blade bit through the armor of the soldier on his right, carving a deep, bloody gash across his chest.
The soldier's strength left him. His legs buckled, and he pitched forward.
A guard counter. That was surprisingly effective. Nidhogg felt a thrill. It was his first time using it in a real fight.
The other soldier had managed to keep his footing. He saw his comrade fall, saw Nidhogg raise his sword again, and quickly brought up his own shield. The blow landed with a loud clang!
Nidhogg pulled his sword back and kicked the soldier's shield.
The soldier staggered back several steps before he could brace himself, but his shield was knocked aside, leaving his body exposed.
Nidhogg didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, thrusting his sword in a powerful lunge. The blade pierced the soldier's armor, and this time, the man went down for good.
Two bodies lay in the corridor. Nidhogg barely had time to catch his breath before he heard hurried footsteps behind him, along with more shouting soldiers. Another wave of pursuers was closing in.
I've really stirred up a hornet's nest. I need to get off this battlefield, now. At the very least, find a hiding place and wait out the battle for the castle. Then I can figure out my next move.
Forget the quest to kill the "Ashen Knight" Jackson. He just ran, head down, through the castle's corridors.
But the castle's interior was a labyrinth. Constantly dodging soldiers, Nidhogg went up one stairwell and down another. He had no idea what floor he was on anymore. It felt like navigating a maze.
Luckily, his random running seemed to work. The enemy had breached the gate, and the pressure in the inner courtyard was immense. The soldiers chasing him eventually gave up and returned to their posts. He slowed down, catching his breath.
Just as he started to relax, he rounded a corner and came to a dead stop.
A group of fully armored men were packed onto the tower bridge ahead, completely blocking the passage. They didn't look like regular troops or knights. Most of them had a rough, seasoned look, and they were periodically loosing cold arrows into the courtyard below. Mercenaries.
Nidhogg's heart sank. The last thing he wanted was to run into a large group.
At the same time, the mercenaries heard his approach. They turned, saw him, and their eyes narrowed with suspicion and hostility.
One man in particular, wearing a helmet adorned with a white eagle, fixed Nidhogg with a gaze as sharp as a blade. It felt like it could pierce right through him.
The quest updated before his eyes.
[Short-term Quest] Eliminate Obstacles on the Castle Battlefield (1/1) / Eliminate the "Ashen Knight" Jackson / Encounter Key Members of the Eagle Company (0/6)