Chapter 532 – Physical Training.

Roland took a deep breath as the Storm Eagle screeched, the piercing sound causing the very air around him to vibrate. He steadied his stance, his hammer glowing faintly as it drew upon his mana. The weapon had been designed not only to channel his mana for spellcasting but also to function as a conventional weapon – something he had neglected to use it as. This was one of his weaknesses: his heavy reliance on his creations and the magical damage they could inflict. But what if he found himself unable to use them? Would he still be able to survive?

“Let’s see how well I do without my gear…”

His voice was barely audible over the roaring winds as he approached the monster, holding a heavy tower shield in his left hand and his hammer-staff in his right. The creature was close to level two hundred – not much of a threat compared to the tier-3 class holders he had faced before. Even the weakest Knight Commander he had defeated would have been stronger.

His goal was to grow stronger, and relying solely on his runic equipment could sometimes put his life at risk. While his mana pool was vast, it wasn’t infinite. He could already envision himself faltering in a prolonged battle. The more powerful his creations became, the more mana they consumed, and he needed to prepare for the possibility of encountering an enemy capable of nullifying his magical tools or draining his energy.

While dispelling anti-magical dust was feasible, he needed to plan for opponents employing entirely different methods. His level wasn’t that high so battling these types of enemies would allow him to level up his previously ignored battle skills more easily. Thus he raised his shield and got ready as the bird monster was getting ready to pounce.

The eagle lunged first, its massive wings whipping up a gale-force wind that sent debris tumbling from the temple walls. Roland crouched, bracing himself as the gust slammed into him. He put all his weight behind his shield, taking the charge head-on. The black mithril barrier absorbed the impact of the monster’s talons. A normal person would have had their arm shattered, but thanks to his enhanced body – strengthened by the Overlord class – Roland managed to hold firm under the immense pressure.

‘ I barely managed to defend myself…’

He hadn’t activated any buffing spells or Overlord’s Might to enhance his power. This was his base physical strength, bolstered only by his tier-3 multiplier, which allowed him to stand toe-to-toe with the boss monster. Still, he felt the strain in his wrist and knew that staying rooted in place would be a mistake.

The creature’s talons slashed downward, crackling with lightning-like energy. The surge rippled through Roland’s frame but was mostly absorbed by his armor. However, he noticed a glaring weakness – the red mithril, while excellent at mitigating fire-based attacks, was far less effective against wind and lightning. A sharp pain shot through his body, but he gritted his teeth and pressed forward.

Seizing the moment as the creature overcommitted to its attack on his shield, Roland swung his hammer at its exposed side, the weapon increasing in speed as he activated one of his attacking skills. The hammer crackled with raw energy as it connected with the Storm Eagle’s flank, the force of the blow sending a shockwave through the air. The creature let out a deafening screech, the impact throwing it off balance. Roland capitalized on the opening, stepping forward and striking again, this time aiming for the creature’s wing joint.

Instantly, his system chimed with a notification: one of his previously unused skills had leveled up. It was a tier-2 skill he had acquired long ago but rarely trained. The system had boosted it by two levels almost immediately, rewarding him for engaging in true combat with a monster near his level which seemed to exceed training on immobilized undead. He made a mental note of this before turning his attention back to the airborne beast.

The eagle recoiled, one wing folding awkwardly as it struggled to stay aloft. Green wind energy erupted from its body, forming miniature tornadoes that spiraled across the chamber. The swirling winds threatened to throw Roland off his feet, but he crouched low, driving his shield into the stone floor to anchor himself against the relentless gale.

‘It changed tactics…’

Roland observed the monster carefully. After taking a few solid hits, it had disengaged, flying higher to gain distance and a better vantage point. The strategy was simple yet effective – securing the high ground to regain control of the battle. Normally, he would use his own range spells to counter this issue but this was a test of his physical skills, so he needed to adapt in other ways.

Roland took a moment to analyze the Storm Eagle’s movement, observing how it used its massive wings to channel mana into its surroundings, creating those chaotic tornadoes. The air was thick with raw elemental power, and the gusts made it hard to focus. He could feel his body straining under the constant pressure, but he wasn’t about to back down now.

‘Something is coming.’

Though he wasn’t actively using his runic skills, Roland relied on his mana sense to monitor the situation. A massive amount of energy was converging in the monster’s abdomen, gathering for something big. The energy surged upward through the creature’s neck as it reared its head back, clearly preparing to unleash an attack. He assessed his options: use his shield to block the impending strike, attempt to dodge, or go on the offensive and attack before the monster could complete its move.

The decision was made in an instant, his hammer clicked as a sharp spear-like head emerged from the top, turning it into something that resembled a pole-axe. He gripped the transformed weapon tightly, his muscles coiling as he prepared to throw. The Storm Eagle’s throat glowed with green and yellow light as the gathered mana surged upward, a telltale sign of an imminent breath attack. Roland had seen enough dragons and elemental monsters to know how devastating such an attack could be, especially in an enclosed space like this.

With a deep exhale, he hurled the poleaxe with all his might, activating another stamina-based skill. The weapon streaked through the air like a lightning bolt, slicing through the chaotic winds as if it were nothing. The Storm Eagle didn’t even have time to react; the poleaxe embedded itself deeply into its stomach, just as the creature opened its beak to release its attack.

The impact was immediate and catastrophic. The sudden disruption to the mana flow caused the gathered energy to explode prematurely. A deafening boom shook the entire temple as a violent surge of wind and lightning energy erupted from the Storm Eagle’s body. The blast obliterated parts of the temple’s interior and sent cracks racing across the dungeon ceiling above. Chunks of stone tumbled down, some narrowly missing Roland as he scrambled for cover.

Agni, positioned at the chamber’s entrance, howled in alarm but held his ground. His fiery aura flared brighter, deflecting smaller debris. Roland crouched behind his shield and took cover as the monster’s energies ran wild. When the dust settled, the once-majestic Storm Eagle lay crumpled on the ground, its body twitching as residual sparks of lightning danced across its feathers. The creature let out a weak, rasping cry before its form disintegrated into motes of green and yellow light, leaving behind a cluster of high-quality wind crystals along with an orb that was its core.

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Another of his skills leveled up – one he had acquired alongside the previous but had rarely used. With the mini-boss defeated, Roland strode over to retrieve his weapon from where it lay on the ground. The battle had gone exceptionally well, but the victory was owed entirely to his calculated tactics and the versatility of his multipurpose weapon, which misled his opponent into thinking he lacked ranged capabilities.

Still, he couldn’t ignore the risks he had taken. A misjudgment of even a millisecond or a millimeter could have resulted in a missed strike, leaving him without a weapon to continue the fight. Even though he had emerged victorious, fatigue began to set in. Using only his physical stats was something he wasn’t accustomed to, but if he wanted to address his weaknesses, it was an aspect of himself that needed strengthening.

With the battle over, Roland reactivated his runic spells, summoning his hammer back into the palm of his hand. His gaze then shifted to the spoils left behind by the monster.

‘More wind crystals like those from the wind elementals, some strange feathers, and a core…’