The Rise Of A Tribal Deadbeat - Chapter 66

The Giant could sense something was different as soon as Zok snapped back from his dream-like state. Also, with Zok’s spear out of his hand, it was the perfect opportunity for the giant to attack him without worrying about a counterattack from Zok. Thus, not wasting any more time, the giant lunged at his opponent with his hands drawn.

‘Shit!’

Zok’s instincts kicked in at the right moment as he ducked and rolled between the giant’s legs to create some crucial space between them. In the meantime, the Giant’s momentum pushed him deep within the pile of bones again.

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The level gap has been reduced by 7 level(s). All of the user’s stats have been increased by 35 points for 10 minutes.

Current probability of winning: 65.39%

Current level gap remaining: 7 level(s).

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Zok was still in a bit of daze from whatever thing he saw in his ‘dream’, but the giant’s sudden attack managed to pull him out of that state. Then, he remembered what the giant had done to Cero.

Zok rushed over to his fallen partner. The area around Cero was soaked in his blood and three deep claw marks could be seen deep within his abdomen. His state looked sensitive, but thankfully, his heart was still beating as strong as ever.

Without wasting any more time, Zok took out the last of his herbs from his inventory and mashed them with his fists before applying the crude paste on Cero’s wounds. Seeing cero in such a sorry state because of his incompetence filled Zok with rage.

On top of that, he now needed to get out of there as soon as he could to either gather some herbs from the wilderness or get Sofina to help him. But to do either of those things, he needed to find the ‘key’ which the giant probably had.

‘No more running now!’ Zok made his resolve clear.

His stats had temporarily increased enough for him to go toe to toe with the giant… or at least try to. The difference of seven levels was not much, to be honest. h could have taken the giant down. The only problem was his spear.

The Giant still had the hold over his spear. Even so, with or without the spear, he had to defeat the giant as soon as possible.

After what seemed like an eternity, the giant finally stepped out of the seemingly endless pile of bones. Zok’s spear was still in that bastard’s hands. However, it did not look like the giant knew how to use the spear.

‘I have no experience in fighting someone hand-to-hand,’ Zok thought to himself before clenching his fists, ‘I-‘

To Zok’s surprise, the giant sudden threw the spear back to him and pointed at his chest. Zok was taken by surprise but the gesture itself was clear enough for Zok to know what the giant wanted him to do. He wanted Zok to try and kill him, that’s why he gave the spear back to him.

At that moment, even though his chances of winning were much better than when he started this battle, Zok could not help but feel a bit… scared. The giant was clearly toying with him… just like Taheton did… Just like his father did… just like everybody he had known throughout the time that he spent in the tribe.

“You don’t need to wish for me to kill you,” Zok gritted his teeth and got into his battle stance, “I was going to do it either way.”

But at that moment, something that Zok would have never even thought would happen, happened. The giant opened his mouth and spoke actually words…

“Pathetic… mortals… born to… die. You think… you can… kill me…?”

That was all the Giant spoke before calmly walking up to Zok. Even though the shock of an actual beast speaking was incomprehensible, Zok managed to keep stray thoughts away from him. A moment later he trusted his spear right into the Giant’s chest.

Just like the last time, the giant tried to once again block the strike with his palm, but Zok had different plans. The moment before the spearhead made contact with his hands, Zok lifted the back of the spear up with all his might.

This caught the Giant off-guard and before he could dodge the attack, the spear had already dug his way deep into his knees. Without his icy armour, the giant was not much of a threat for someone around the same level as him. However, Zok was not done yet. He cleanly sliced a huge chunk of the Giant’s flesh while withdrawing his spear.

“Hahaha!”

But rather than screaming in pain, the Giant started laughing as his leg gave out. As much as Zok wanted to know the reason behind the Giant’s maniacal laughter, he did not give a crap about it.

[The Depraved One is in awe of your fighting spirit.]

‘So you were watching the show, this entire time, huh?’ A smile popped up on Zok’s face as he felt exhilarated to be fighting against the giant, ‘As fun as it is to see your commentary, I don’t think I have the time for it.’

Zok once again raised his spear to attack the Giant and this time, he was going for the head of the ugly bastard. But this time, the Giant caught the spear in the blink of an eye. But he did not attack Zok. Instead, the giant wrapped his other hand around his own neck and began tightening his grip.

“You have proven… your worth… Sofina’s ally…” The giant mumbled, “I can see… why she… chose you to be… our saviour. Do not disappoint us… mortal… for we need your aid.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I too am a guardian… just like Sofina… however, I was cursed to by a mortal witch who desired to rule over the… wilderness. I had been waiting for someone strong to show up… and release me from this prison. But first I needed to test your capabilities… After I die, you will find a key and an egg within my corpse.”

The giant continued, “The key can be used by you to go back to where you came from… and take the egg within my body and keep it with you… One day, when the time is right… I will be reborn again but this time as your ally. There are some… herbs, hidden behind the bones… use them to treat your loyal beast…”

Saying so, the giant snapped his own neck, giving Zok his victory.