Chapter 191: Final Strike

Re: Apocalypse Game

"No!" Alan adamantly refused to give up on the B-rank quest. It presented too good of an opportunity to significantly boost his stats, and he wasn't ready to abandon it just yet—only if he had no other choice.

[HP: 211/350]

[Stamina: 28%]

[Spirit points: 30/110]

He had faced Wraiths before and was familiar with their capabilities. Even before the ghastly creatures could strike him with their swords, they emitted a piercing shriek that could affect one's mind and inflict magical damage.

[Mental damage: 1 Health Point inflicted every second]

The numbers provided some relief to Alan. He knew that these mental attacks normally inflicted 3 damage per second, totaling a massive 90 damage over three minutes. However, it seemed that his [Shield of the White Knight] and [Excalibur] were working wonders for him, providing a 60% magic resistance.

Alan made a decisive move, charging towards one of the closest wraiths. He expertly blocked the dark sword attack from the wraith and countered with a powerful strike from the Legendary Sword.

[Stabbing: Block attack, Received 4 damage]

[Stabbing: Inflicts 142 damage]

His strike was forceful enough to push the wraith back, but another wraith lunged at him from the side.

SPLATTT!!

[Stabbing: Received 21 damage]

Quickly stepping away from the wraiths, Alan assessed the situation. He had the numbers he needed, and his brain raced to calculate his chances of victory.

Chased by the relentless wraiths and undead, Alan continued to run around the island, simultaneously dispatching the skeleton archers and searching for a potential solution.

"It's possible!" he thought, a glimmer of hope shining through the chaos.

With the legendary sword in his hands, Alan saw a glimmer of hope to complete the quest. The sword's high damage and defense gave him a fighting chance, but he needed to replenish his stamina and spirit points first.

A new plan began to form in his mind, one that would yield high rewards even if he failed to defeat the wraiths. Without wasting any more time, Alan retrieved a special item from his bag.

[Name: Overdrives]

[Type: Medicine]

[Rarity: Superior]

[Attributes: STR +4, PER +2, AGI +2, END +2 Damage Resistance 50% for 300 seconds] [Effects: HP and STAMINA - halved for 30 minutes]

[Able To Bring Outside The Game: No]

It was a rare medicine, but without hesitation, Alan injected it into his body.

[Strength: D] +4 [D > B-]

[Agility C+] +2 [C+ > B]

[Perception: D] +2 [D > C-]

[Endurance: D-] +2 [D- > D+]

The effects of the medicine immediately boosted his attributes, significantly enhancing his combat capabilities.

With the extreme buff from the Overdrives medicine coursing through his veins, Alan's entire being felt invigorated. His body responded with newfound strength and agility as he prepared for his daring assault on the wraiths.

Alan seized the opportunity to execute [Shadow Strike] with remarkable finesse. He materialized behind the wounded wraith, Excalibur gleaming with a lethal intent. The blade struck with precision, inflicting devastating damage.

[Stabbing: Lethal Attack. Inflicts 184 damage]

[Critical hit inflicted from sneak attack, 97 damage]

The two remaining wraiths, undeterred by their companion's demise, moved swiftly to counter Alan's assault. With their ghastly swords raised, they slashed at him from both sides. However, Alan's Overdrives-enhanced defenses held firm, significantly reducing the incoming damage.

[Stabbing: received 11 damage]

[Stabbing: received 12 damage]

Undaunted, Alan initiated his most formidable skill, [Blade Frenzy]. With blinding speed, he launched a relentless barrage of strikes, his blade dancing through the air. The wraiths found themselves under a relentless onslaught, unable to fend off the relentless assault.

[You have killed the Wraith]

[You have received 2000 XP and 1000 Survival points]

Alan's calculated gamble paid off as he triumphed over the wraiths. The thrill of victory surged through him, accompanied by a substantial reward in the form of experience points and survival points.

With the exhilarating victory over the wraiths, Alan wasted no time in executing a tactical retreat. His notifications still fresh in his mind, he relied on the [Lunge Strike] skill to propel himself back toward the root bridge. His condition was dire, and he knew that staying any longer in his current state would lead to certain death.

[HP: 99/350]

[Stamina: 7%]

[Spirit points: 15/110]

Alan's vital statistics were teetering on the brink, and a sense of urgency gripped him. Wisely, he decided to regroup, seeking refuge behind the horde of skeletons on the bridge.

His newly acquired attributes played a crucial role in his escape plan. The boosted agility and perception gave him an edge in maneuvering through the labyrinth of skeletal foes without falling prey to their strikes. With his upgraded B- Strength, Alan could dispatch the skeletons with ease, eliminating the need to cast [Minor Blessing] to increase his damage output. Moreover, his enhanced endurance allowed his stamina to recover gradually, offering a glimmer of hope in his dire situation.

With his life hanging in the balance, Alan knew he had to pull out all the stops to improve his chances of survival. He quickly accessed his skill list, focusing on upgrading his [First Aid] skill. With his newfound rank reward in hand, he was ready to make the upgrade.

[Upgrade]

[Choose a skill to upgrade]

[First Aid (Expert)]

[Rarity: Uncommon]

[Better use of medicinal items]

[Prerequisites: Agility D, Intelligence D]

[Cost: 5500 survival points, 1 x Rank D Reward, 1x Rank E reward]

[Proceed?]

Alan didn't hesitate for a moment. With the fate of his character at stake, he confirmed the upgrade without hesitation.

"Yes!"

It was a two-level upgrade, granting him access to a new set of abilities that could prove invaluable in his current predicament.

[Increase recovery by 30%, learned active skill]

[Battle Heal]

[Heal twice faster]

[Cooldown: 5 minutes]

While the active skill, [Battle Heal], was a welcome addition, what Alan needed most at that moment was the 30% boost in healing. It significantly improved the efficiency of his [Medical Bandage], increasing its effectiveness from 90 HP in 1.5 minutes to 120 HP. It might not seem like a monumental difference, but every bit counted in a battle where survival was uncertain, and Alan was determined to exploit every advantage he could find.

With his enhanced setup, Alan continued to fight with determination for three more minutes, tirelessly dispatching dozens of skeletons that stood in his path. The efficiency of his healing and the boost in his stats kept him going strong.

[HP: 282/350]

[Stamina: 58%]

[Spirit points: 105/110]

As the five-minute effect of the [Overdrives] injection neared its end, Alan seized the opportunity. He activated his [Minor Blessing] and executed a swift [Lunge Strike] toward the second Wraith.

"Go! Back to Hell!"

Alan unleashed a devastating combo, dealing massive damage to the wraith. It was a desperate attempt, with attacks coming from all sides and pain coursing through his body. But Alan pressed on, summoning the power of [Power Strike], and with a mighty blow, he vanquished the second wraith.

[You have killed the Wraith]

[You have received 2000 XP and 1000 Survival points]

In the midst of his triumph, disaster struck from both sides. The relentless assault from the left and right demolished his steel arm, forcing him to drop his shield. Simultaneously, a warning flashed in his mind:

[You are disoriented]

Alan's vision blurred momentarily due to the adverse effects of the injection, and his stats were severely reduced:

[HP: 142/175]

[Stamina: 28%]

[Spirit points: 88/110]

The loss of his steel arm and shield, along with the disappearance of the 50% damage resistance buff, left him in a vulnerable and precarious state.

"ARGGH!!! Not Yet!"

With sheer determination and a cry of defiance, Alan refused to give in to defeat. He plunged the legendary sword into the ground and summoned his remaining strength to cast the most powerful [Force] spell, sending all the surrounding skeletons flying. He then hurled multiple [Magic missiles] at the last wraith:

[Magic: inflicted 45 damage]

[Magic: inflicted 44 damage]

[Magic: inflicted 46 damage]

His health points dropped below 100, his spirit points dwindled to a mere 18, Alan was running on fumes.

Fueled by sheer determination and the last vestiges of his stamina, charged headlong at the last wraith. He unleashed a [Shadow Strike], followed by a relentless onslaught with [Swift Blade], dancing on the sword's edge between his dwindling HP and the looming wraith. The wraith's unearthly, blood-curdling shrieks echoed through the cavern as its ghostly form clashed against the brilliant steel of Excalibur.

[You have killed the Wraith]

[You have received 2000 XP and 1000 Survival points]

With the wraith defeated, Alan had not only survived but also completed the B-rank quest, earning him a well-deserved reward:

[Quest completed: Kill Evil Spirit]

[You received B-rank reward x1]

[You received 20,000 XP and 10,000 survival points]

Despite his exhaustion and battered state, Alan summoned the last of his strength to sprint toward the altar and place the legendary sword.

[Quest completed: Lift the curse]

[You received C rank reward x1]

[You received 10,000 XP and 5,000 survival points]

[Level Up]