Chapter 8: Awakening of the Hunter
WindBow and party advanced slowly. The spiders were level 10 and there were different kinds. Some spit poison or webbing. Some were completely black and would hide in darkness. In all, they had hard times. But their faces were smiling.
They got high exp. WindBow went to rank 2 and Moon got to rank 11st. She leveled up once. The other members also leveled up to 7 and the main tank, Mountain Shield, even got a rank too, 97th.
Besides WindBow no one had unlocked a gathering skill. But he felt like crying, and it was not of happiness. He couldn't skin most spiders because spider skins were mostly useless and he couldn't gather the good parts because it needs dismantling. He still improved his mining to level 4 and Gathering to 3. Gathering was almost leveling already so the few cave herbs and shrooms gave him enough experience to level. This cave is a mining site so he found lots of ores.
Moon was specially paying attention to him. Most players had trouble with the bow. Although correction helped to improve fast, it took too long to get stronger with a bow. Warrior and Thieves had better close combat. Mages and Healer classes also have trouble of not having skills yet, but at least they could hit with their staves at low levels. Also, a few mages already found arcane bolt skill. There were a few hidden quests to help players get started.
But Samuel didn't follow the trend. His accuracy was high and got better at every fight. Their tank let a spider get past him by mistake. Samuel fought it using a bow, shooting arrows while moving and even jumping. He movements were somewhat messed and unrefined. But it was enough to shock Moon Reflection again.
WindBow was getting better at shooting while moving. Because of his recent fights, especially against the quest boss, the big turtle. The big turtle had enough range to let him dodge, but didn't let him stay still. That long fight taught him how to use his bow while moving. It was the best training partner he could have asked.
While she was admiring his skill, they got to the boss room. How could they know? They could see a big spider around 5 meters high at the end of the room. There was a very large room, probably 30 meters high and even more large.
Mountain Shield was sweating and sending pleading looks to his vice guild master. Just imagining blocking an attack from such a big monster made his heart go cold.
"Everyone, please get ready. We had some trouble with the minions so this boss should be very difficult. Keep mistakes to a minimum. Tanks pay attention at all times. Let's go."
They got inside and observed the surroundings. There was no minion spiders at least.
The boss soon heard their footsteps and got up slowly. It was intimidating to be looked down by such a big creature. Specially one with lots of eyes.
"Kreech!"
The boss high pitched shriek meant the start of the fight. It charged at the tank going at the front. Mountain Shield received the attack with his shield. Even so, the attack was heavy and caused his feet to slide backwards about 3 steps. The fact he could keep his feet on the ground was already praiseworthy.
"It took a fourth of my hp even blocking! Without blocking I'd be dead on a single hit."
"Then don't let it hit you so easily. This boss is fast on straight movements, but not that agile. Tanks keep distance between you two so you can evade some attacks."
The tanks spread apart a little. One got to the spider's side and started attacking. Soon everyone got to see the basic stats.
[Black Mother Spider]
Level: 10
HP: 3294/ 3300
Samuel was extremely annoyed at that description. He vowed to get an observe skill as soon as possible. Monsters were getting more complex and only level and hp were not enough
Moon and her party member's damage was low. They could do from 6 to 10 damage per hit. Samuel's arrows were aimed at the spiders eyes. His damage was almost the same as the whole party by himself.
They didn't have the time to admire his critical though. Because the tanks wouldn't be able to keep the aggro if he went all, he was starting to get bored. He would fire an arrow and wait aggro to stabilize again before shooting again.
The tankers were having a hard time gulping down potions like water. Samuel analyzed the pace potions were being used and helped a little at the front. He would do one more attack to get the aggro on dangerous occasions and give his all to evading the boss next attacks. Like that the tankers felt the burden lighten on them a little. But the absence of a healer meant they were doomed the more this fights prolongs on.
"Moon, there's no use to slowly using our potions like that. We need to end this as fast as possible."
Moon concluded the same as Samuel. She also thought their chance at clearing the boss was close to 0. If they were going to die anyway, better to die fighting back at least. She showed her decisiveness and ordered everyone to maximize damage.
Samuel immediately used double shot and caught the boss aggro on him.
"I will be moving! Careful to not get entangled!"
Samuel avoided to the sides of the spider after every attack. His concentration so high that his movements were becoming instincts. He was reaction at the slightest hint of movement from the boss.
The other heard his shout and thought he was just being desperate. They were soon dumbfounded. He didn't have an otherworldly agility, he was just as fast as their thief. But the boss found it was hard to hit him. When he saw a leg starting to move up, he was already rolling into a difficult spot to be hit. Fighting many spiders until now, he started to get used to their movements and the restrictions of their legs.
WindBow miscalculated once and got cornered. The healer used his body to protect him. A healer who couldn't heal was useless anyway, so he at least used himself to save the only guy that was truly defeating the boss.
The party resumed their raid. WindBow doing over 80% of the damage. When the boss got to 50% it suddenly shrieked again.
Samuel immediately put some distance between him and the boss. He needed space to cope with whatever was coming.
The boss then spat venom at the closest person. The second warrior received the venom and got poisoned. He was taking -100 damage per second. After 2 seconds he was dead. He used all points into strength to go a berserker path. His hp was only 167 hp. The one with highest hp in the party was Mountain Shield. He put almost all of his points into vitality. As warrior he receives, 10 hp per level and 7hp per vitality. Mountain Shield's hp was 205. He could at most live through 2 ticks of damage.
They returned to their scuffle. Although there were two less players, their strategy consisted of relying on WindBow great play so anyone else was, saying it bluntly, almost irrelevant.
Moon Reflection was biting her lips as she dealt as much damage as she could. This was the first time she felt like this. The boy who didn't carry a expert aura actually adapted to the game better than any one other martial artist or pro gamer she had seen. It was as if a fish finally found water, after struggling for a life time out of its habitat. She would steal a glance once in a while. How could he move like that with such confidence? How does he react that fast? How the hell does he know how a spider moves?
There was admiration, curiosity and even a bit of envy, but what she felt the most was anger. She was irated at herself, at her helpless self who couldn't even act as a decent support to a boy probably her age. She was a proud woman who didn't like relying on anyone else. Although she was from a rich family, she was known in her circles for being a strong woman on her own. Her pride was sky high and she was certain that, although she couldn't be crowned the best in the game, she was certainly close to it.
But here was a boy, looking seventeen years old, who could crush that pride. She couldn't imagine herself winning against him. She already admitted defeat in her own heart.
"Where did he come from? This heaven defying talent wouldn't pass unnoticed."
WindBow fight was approaching an hour of duration. His mind was starting to get tired, but he persevered with his strong will.
He never felt as alive as now. Adrenaline! Challenge! After years of suffering and living almost like an invalid, he finally could feel the joy of living again. Although it was just virtual here, he could finally use his talent to the utmost. He could feel his concentration getting even deeper the harder it became.
The boss life dwindled to 10%. They got cautious waiting for anything unexpected. But nothing happened. The boss kept attacking like usual.
"The boss might not gave a berserk mode, but be careful anyway."
They kept hitting until it died. It finally died.
"Yes! We did it. Ha ha ha That's what living is about!"
WindBow was barely containing his joy. There were even a few tears trying to jump out if his eyes. The other teammates, on the other side, were barely containing their shame...
We? What we? He did most of the job! They felt like noobs leeching from a high level player. They pride as one of the gamers in the world was broken completely. They never felt that saying could be so true! There's always a bigger mountain out there.
"Brother WindBow, that was an amazing battle. I'm sorry we couldn't help much, please accept all rewards as compensation. We don't need our part of the deal. Even if you don't need them it's okay. Heaven's Might has it's own pride."
"Well... If that's how you feel I'll respect it. But at least this you'll have to accept, I won't budge on this! If you reject it, I'll keep it here and let it disappear."
He said that while holding a book. Book! Book in games are usually of 3 kinds. Information, usually with lore contents and so on. Triggering special Quests, which just the thought terrified him. But the most common is acquiring Skills! Skill books are rare in LEO. In fact it should really be rare since books only drop from bosses or are given as quest's rewards.
Seeing WindBow so adamant on that decision, Moon Reflection accepted it unwillingly. But when she saw which skill it was, she felt better and even a little moved.
[Heal]
Acolyte basic skill. Little Shade Under the Moon sacrificed himself to save WindBow during this fight. WindBow felt indebted so he gave this skill to him specifically, not to their party. This arrangement didn't tarnish their reputation by accepting an undeserving reward. This action proved he was a man of value. In their eyes he became even more admirable.
"I'll pass this book to Little Shade, you can rest assured."
When a Player dies he or she gets logged out. The first death on the day will get you out of the game for 30 minutes. The second will take an hour. The third two hours and so on.
WindBow looted a lot of things there. There was another skill book for Peddlers. He got a few silver coins and a Spider Fang. It was not a material. It was the quest item to bring back to Grom.
"I'll receive my quest rewards. Thanks for coming here to help me. I'll keep in touch."
Moon only smiled bitterly. She vowed never to feel like this again. She will raise and become someone that could actually help him. As a Phoenix that's returns from the ashes, today's experience shall serve as her rebirth to an even higher stage.
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"This... You actually killed it! You're really like father said! Five years ago there was a big spider nest in there. Although they were killed, looks like one queen egg survived and recreated the nest again. Thank you for helping on this problem. I hope this rare stone is enough of a reward."
[Mine's Extermination Complete]
Rewards:
Level 10 Spider Dungeon unlocked.
Level 10 talent stone.
Favorability with Grom +20.
Reputation in Stone Village +20.
Grom is now Friendly.
You have unlocked Reputation Features. For being the first to unlock Reputation, you get an extra 5 reputation in all cities in the Kingdom of Ult. You receive an extra point from your pioneer title. [20% increase in all "firsts" achievements.]
You are now Friendly with Stone Village.
"I hope I don't trigger another update or something."
[System Announcement: Congratulations to player WindBow for unlocking the first dungeon in the game. Rewards: 1 level, job related skill book.]
"Ugh, George going to talk for hours. Let's hurry and get to school before George starts making a fuss."
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