< Your Towers on the Bottom Lanes have been Destroyed! >

The Kobolds exchanged glances at each other before looking at Cadmus whose face had already turned beet red from anger.

The Draconic Kobold simply couldn't accept how they were being one-sidedly beaten by the Half-Elf whom they thought was a weakling.

"Maybe he is really cheating," the oldest Kobold Mage said. "There is just no way that we can lose against him. That has to be it, right?"

Before the other Kobolds could voice their opinions, a proud, yet teasing voice reached their ears.

< He is not cheating. >

Keoza's voice made all the Kobolds shudder as they all subconsciously went down on their knees to show their respect for the Crystal Dragon.

< As much as I appreciate the gesture, the more you delay, the more the Half-Elf is going to win this game. I will only give you one piece of advice and one piece only. Do not rely on your brute strength and buy items from the store before it's too late. >

"Your Excellency, can you please tell us what items we should buy from the store?" the Kobold Shaman respectfully asked with his head still bowed.

However, Keoza no longer replied, and the Kobolds no longer felt his presence, making them feel lost.

"You, and you, come with me to the Bottom Lanes to protect our last tower," Cadmus ordered. "The rest, plant those Spy Wards so we will know where the Half-Elf is."

"Should we also plant them inside the forest?" the eldest Kobold Mage asked. "His Skeleton Rider ambushes us from there, so I think it is a good idea to place some Spy Wards over there as well."

"Do what you must," Cadmus replied before turning towards one of the stores to purchase a boot to increase his movement speed. "His Excellency has already spoken. Make sure to check the stores for any useful items that we can use. We will beat that Half-Elf with his own strategy."

-

"Remember, when Cadmus attacks you, activate the ability of that armor, okay?" Lux said.

"Pazuzu understands."

Lux had patiently explained to Pazuzu the items he should get in order to fight against their opponents. Since the Demonic Defender was a tank, the red-headed teenager would dress him up as a monstrous tank that would make Cadmus feel like he was fighting the wrong person.

Just as Lux was about to give an order, he saw four Kobolds enter the forest. Two of them were Kobold Mages, while the other two were Kobold Raiders. The red-headed teenager sneered because he already knew what they were planning to do, so he decided to make a detour towards the forest, alongside all of his minions, so they could earn some easy gold coins.

--

"Okay, I planted all the Spy Wards in my possession," the Kobold Raider said. "How about you guys?"

"I'm done."

"Me, too."

"I've already finished setting mine."

The Kobold Raider nodded. "Very well, let's go bac"

Before he could even finish his words, he saw Lux, and Ishtar, riding on a Warg, alongside the Skeletal Rider, Diablo. He was not only him who saw this scene, his entire team did as well."

"They're here!" the Kobold Raider shouted. "The Spy Wards are working! Now, let's hurry back to the fortress!"

All the Kobolds ran away, but there was one big problem. None of them were wearing any boots, or other items that increased their movement speed.

It only took Lux and Diablo a minute to overtake them, and a battle immediately broke out between the Half-Elf's forces and the four kobolds.

"I will take your head, Half-Elf!" the Kobold Raider declared as he charged towards Lux.

"Well, you need to catch him first," Lux sneered as Diablo charged towards the Kobold Raider using its skill, Hero's Charge.

--

< Hero's Charge >

A full powered charge attack that deals 300% of your overall physical damage to your target. Can only be used when mounted on a beast.

If your enemy is bigger than you, deal an additional 100% damage to your target. Can only be used when mounted on a beast.

--

Right now, Diablo had an attack buff of +1000 points due to the combined Warcries as well as the effect of the Blackrock Legacy Armor. This was a very terrifying number, because Diablo's normal attack damage, plus the damage of the items he had equipped, as well as other passive skills that increased his damage, were excluded from that attack buff.

Now that the Skeleton Rider had used its most powerful mounted attack, his damaged was further increased to a terrifying 300%

As soon Diablo collided with the Kobold Raider, the Kobold's reaction instantly changed as it spat blood from the injury it received from Diablo's attack.

It only took Diablo one more slash at the Kobold Warrior's head to kill it completely.

"By the Kobold Gods!" the Kobold Shaman exclaimed. "A monster has appeared!"

The morale of the Kobolds were instantly shattered as Lux's forces bulldozed through them, turning them into gold coins.

"Ishtar, do it," Lux ordered and the Skeleton Hunter immediately ran through the forest and destroyed all the Spy Wards that had been placed on the ground. She had equipped an item called the All-Seeing Gem, which allowed her to see invisible things.

Cadmus had originally planned to reinforce his comrades, but before he was even halfway to his destination, the Kobolds were already dead.

He stopped his advance and hesitated whether he should continue or not.

'Is this the effect of the items in the store?' Cadmus thought before clenching his fists. 'No. I should kill them now while I can. If I let this continue, they might get stronger. Who cares if they outnumber me? They have no towers to save them here!'

The Draconic Kobold then ran into the forest with determination. He believed in his strength, and he knew that even if Lux was able to easily deal with his comrades, he would have a hard time dealing with him.

Forty minutes had passed since the start of the battle, and Lux's forces were now better equipped. Diablo's and Ishtar's level had already increased to Level 15, while Lux and Pazuzu were at Level 12.

Cadmus was at level 23, which made him the stronger creature on the battlefield.

When Lux saw the Draconic Kobold appear in the forest, the smile on his face widened.

'He wants a direct battle?' Lux thought. 'Good decision. Unfortunately, now is not the time.'

Lux used his Boots of Teleportation and teleported to the Bottom Lanes, alongside all of his named Creatures.

Diablo, Ishtar, and Pazuzu, were all equipped with Boots of Teleportation to allow them to coordinate with Lux's strategy.

Cadmus, who had just arrived at the location where his friends had died, scanned his surroundings with caution.

"Come out!" Cadmus shouted. "Fight me you cowards!"

No one replied to his challenge. Instead, he heard a notification that made him roar in frustration.

< Your Towers on the Bottom Lanes have been destroyed. >

Cadmus was about to run to the Bottom Lanes when he heard another notification.

< Your Stronghold Towers on the Bottom Lanes have been destroyed >

< Barracks have been destroyed! >

< Enemy's Crystal Warriors have grown stronger! >

Cadmus had no time to think and used the teleportation scroll that he had bought at the store located near the forest.

When Lux saw the shining light in the distance, he immediately ordered his forces to retreat.

"Let's go back to the Fortress to do some shopping," Lux ordered as he urged his Warg, Jed, to return to their base.

All the Kobolds had congregated at the bottom entrance of their Stronghold, which had been breached by the enemies.

Although the opponent's crystal soldiers had indeed grown stronger, they were still able to defend it to a certain degree.

Now that the Kobolds had learned the importance of the Store, all of them started to buy items that they thought would be useful to them, allowing them to patch up the cracks in their defenses.

After buying the equipment they needed, Lux led his forces to fight against "Kong Kong", which dropped a certain item that would be useful in their attack on the Kobold's Stronghold.

Now that the battle was inside the Kobolds' base, the Half-Elf knew that they would have no choice but to face Cadmus head-on. In order to prepare for any mishaps, he decided to kill Kong Kong first, as insurance against their clash against the Rank 5 Alpha Monster.

< Kong Kong has been Slain! >

Cadmus and the Kobolds glanced at each other in confusion.

"Who is Kong Kong?"

"No idea. Is he someone important?"

"I don't know. Maybe he's just a nobody?"

"Stop talking and start killing you bastards!" the oldest Kobold Mage shouted. "We are being overrun here and you idiots still have time for idle chat!"

The Kobolds hurriedly returned to their duty of defending their base from the Crystal Warriors that had grown in strength.

It was also at that moment when one of the Kobolds shouted.

"They are attacking the gates at the Top Lane!"

Cadmus didn't think twice and ran towards the gates where Lux and his forces had appeared. He would not allow the Half-Elf the opportunity to destroy another gate, which would make their defense crumble.

"You shall not pass!" Cadmus shouted before he unleashed his Dragon's Breath towards the Half-Elf who was busy hacking at the base of the Guard Tower.

Lux, continued his attack, and ignored the Dragon's Breath because he wasn't fighting alone.

Pazuzu appeared in front of him, and raised his shield. However, that was not the only thing that the Demonic Defender did. Steel Spikes jutted out of his body, making him look like a metallic porcupine

When the Dragon Breath hit Pazuzu's shield, Cadmus gasped in pain because he also received the full brunt of his damage. It was as if the one that got hit by the Dragon's Breath was him instead of the Demonic Defender, whose body had been pushed back several meters, until he hit the guard tower.

Only fifty points remained in the Demonic Defender's health, showing how powerful the Dragon's Breath was.

Cadmus health, on the other hand, had been reduced by a third after he had unleashed his strongest attack.

Pazuzu hastily retreated behind the formation as his health regenerated at a rapid rate. Lux had equipped Pazuzu with a Heart of Behemoth, which increased his health regeneration, as well as provided him with the spiked armor which returned any damage he received back to his enemy. This ability lasted for five seconds, making it one of the most optimal items for the Demonic Defender.

Cadmus roared in anger as he charged towards Lux, but his charge slowed down after he was repeatedly hit by Ice Arrows.

Ishtar fearlessly fired arrow after arrow at the Draconic Kobold who could easily snap her in two in the outside world. But here, things were different. Although Ishtar couldn't beat Cadmus one-on-one, she could beat him if she had backup.

The Nightmare charged at Cadmus as Diablo's eyes shone brightly from under his metallic helmet.

"You mere insect!" Cadmus hatefully shouted as he raised his sword to attack the Skeleton, who was charging at him with flames blazing behind his mount.

Diablo had activated his skill, Hero's Charge, and planned to deal with the hateful Draconic Kobold who looked down on his Master.

The Skeleton Rider was Lux's First Born, and for him, anyone who dared to look down on his Master deserved to be punished severely.

The moment Cadmus' sword, and Diablo's Oathbreaker collided, a metallic rang spread across the surroundings, followed by a minor shockwave.

The two strongest heroes on both sides of the battlefield had clashed, and only one of them would remain once this clash was over.

Lux continued to hack away at the Guard Tower with all of his might. He had full faith in Diablo, so he would perform his role well, and ensure that this siege of theirs would succeed no matter what.