Chapter 8: VS Needle Lizard
As I made a powerful step forward, aiming to close the distance between myself and the Needle Lizard, it reacted swiftly.
"Hissss!"
"――――!"
The Needle Lizard spun around in place, using the momentum to launch its spikes at me. Five spikes in total, each one large and deadly.
(And each tip coated with poison, making them even more troublesome.)
But I wasn't going to let myself get hit that easily.
"Parry!"
I dodged three spikes with agility and deflected the remaining two to the sides using [Parry]. The five spikes missed me entirely, embedding themselves into the walls and ground instead.
With the Needle Lizard's tail now devoid of spikes, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to attack. If I were inexperienced, I might have believed that.
But the next moment, new spikes grew out from its tail. Seeing this, I allowed myself a small smile.
"…Well, of course."
The truth was, the Needle Lizard generated its spikes by converting its internal mana. As long as it had MP, it could keep using [Needle Shot].
However, I had anticipated this from the start. As soon as the spikes had regrown, I moved to close the distance again.
"Hissss!"
Following its instinct to keep enemies at bay, the Needle Lizard launched another [Needle Shot]. Once again, I dodged and deflected all the spikes with [Parry].
Feeling a sense of accomplishment, I nodded to myself.
"Alright, this should work."
One of the conditions for revealing the Inheritance Shrine in the Thornneedle Lair was to defeat the Needle Lizard when its MP was zero. In other words, I needed to endure all of its [Needle Shots].
Thus, even if I had the chance to finish it off, I wasn't going to take it yet.
"Alright, let's keep going!"
With renewed determination, I continued to evade and parry its attacks.
Time passed, and the Needle Lizard kept using [Needle Shot]. The turning point came when it had fired over a hundred spikes.
"Hisss!?"
The Needle Lizard spun to launch another [Needle Shot], but nothing happened. Its tail was empty—it had run out of mana.
"Finally."
Confirming that all preparations were complete, I gripped my short sword tightly and moved in. This time, it wasn't an act. I intended to take it down while it was disoriented.
The Needle Lizard, realizing its predicament, abandoned [Needle Shot] and engaged me directly with its body.
But—
"Shah!"
"Parry."
"!!!?!?!?"
Without its spikes, the Needle Lizard was slow, even slower than the training knight I defeated yesterday.
I deflected its tail attack with [Parry] and followed up with a powerful slash. My silver blade cut through its tough scales.
"Shaaa!?"
"It's not over yet."
I relentlessly attacked the writhing Needle Lizard, carving deep wounds into its body. Eventually, it could no longer move. With one final blow, I plunged my short sword into its head.
『Gained experience. Level up.』
『Acquired 4 stat points.』
The system notifications rang out. The battle was over, and I had won.
And then—
『Solo clear of the dungeon confirmed.』
『Confirmed no HP loss during boss fight.』
『Confirmed boss MP was zero at time of defeat.』
『All conditions met. Generating door. Please use the keyword to enter.』
Just like in the Newbie's Training Grounds, a door appeared. Seeing it, I smiled broadly.
"Alright, time to get my second inheritance skill."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone