Chapter 13 - Growth Type

BOOM--!

Slate. Originally, is the target quest of Zero One on his bounty hunting. But because Slate find the atmosphere heavier than usual, he stopped hunting monsters nearby and saw a man with golden colored hair with a curved blade in its waists, slowly walking towards the center of the forest where Slate is currently grinding.

Conversely, Slate is actually a hidden ranker as he is rank one in terms of level and the only Player who's soloing monsters in this entire forest.

Unfortunately, he found rumors about the bounty hunter and it happens that he has 5 infamy from the former village he stopped by. Although he don't like killing players, its their fault why they die within his hands. With that, he was afraid being targetted so he always stay vigilant when hunting. After all, he is 3 levels ahead from his competitors and if he die, his effort will go down to notch. Afraid that the hand of others are slowly reaching his feet and drag him down.

It also happens that his second 'progressive-quest' or 'chain quest' are in this area, so instead of trying to follow its trail, he train instead, for once, because levels and monster's attack pattern here suits his current equipment and taste bests and is quite peaceful, so he didn't let it flew past. But to think there is an event that will unfold during his training time.

Momentarily, the guy he's been following has encountered a man with question mark above its head. After their few exchange of words, they exchanged blows.

The Black and the Golden hair collides in the process, but the Black one is at its losing end. Slate had a hunch that this is not your normal event so he immediately pulled out an item out of his inventory with its glass glowed in blue hue.

Glass of Truth (3/3)
Type: Magnifying Glass
Rarity: Rare
Usage: An item that show the status of one's self and/or specific person from the user's field of view.

Although this same item is common in every MMORPG's. Not in this beginning phase of the game. The game has full of mystery for a reason and need a certain level of affection to know a single NPC's name and its background status. Although there are few who give their name on the spot, not every NPC did the same, hence made this game even more realistic than any other game and also difficult at that. After that agonizing process, the said Player can now easily distinguished what kind of NPC they're dealing with, that or they invested their time to a normal NPC.

So with the use of this item, Slate could identify an NPC without even conversing or lifting a finger. But to only use it three times made him at lost of words at first. Still, he didn't doubt his instinct.

Tornejya
Level: 500
Affiliation: {Frontier Kingdom}
Title: {Frontier Saviour}, {Frontier Guardian}, {Mass Slaughterer}
Skill: ??????

"E-h? w-what the hell? Why would such monster exists!?" Slate grasps his breath, surprised and at the same time, appalled. Its not even a month since the Game started and his level is not even reached 50, taking into account that he is the highest level player. But who would have thought that he already encountered this kind of monster so soon? Not only that. Its golden colored name are now floating above its head.

"And a named-NPC at that!" he sucked in a breathe of cold air and gulped.

While absorbed in his own world, the Black-haired guy and Tornejya continue their bouts and sure thing, the Black can't keep up.

At first, Slate decided to identify only the Gold looking NPC but after realizing the importance of the floating question mark above the head of the other guy, even if it dies, he still decided to see through it. After all, an item as rare as this is obsolete at the latter part of the game, so he is lucky enough to witness this greatness and decided to feast it with his own two eyes.

On the battlefield, the Black one is now using bow, nocking an arrow from the mid-air, making Torneyja burrow to a nearby tree from the impact. Another nock and one of the curved sword of him destroyed from the collision, telling Slate that the table have turned to former's favor.

But Slate, instead of disappointment, turned agape and almost blow his head: "This is!", after using the item---

#01
Level:108
Affiliation: {Village of Blood}, {City of Courage's Tea Shop}
Title: {Village of Blood's Zero Digit}, {Goblin Slayer}, {Village of Blood's Soldier}
Skill: Wrath of Bloodborne(B) • Blood Sacrifice(B) • Blood Phantasmal • Weapon Mastery(SS) • Swift(SS) • Stride(SS) • Borrowed Strength of Goblin King(S) • Keen Sense of Smelling Blood(SSS)

Not its weird name, title nor affiliation that made Slate surprised but, its level and also the color of its name whose now hovering above its head.

"S-silver! How come a normal elite-NPC is fighting toe to toe with a named one! This is surreal!" He couldn't help but pressed his chest. Not only that, but Torneyja was also pushed back for a few seconds after Zero One changes his weapon to a bow!

Slate is still doubting and muttered: "Broken!" as its clearly be seen that Zero One can keep up with an NPC much higher level than him. Not only in level but in rarity.

After all, eveyone knew the difference between the type of NPC's. They are divided by rarity like a wall separating their value, even if the two has the same level and skills, one cannot overlook that the difference of elite and named one is like heaven and earth. Even with exceptional skill-set Zero One had.

"Is it their difference of influence?" Of course, a named one has an influence or has a major role given by the settings of the game, especially as a veteran gamer, but he couldn't hide the fact that 'maybe' Zero One has influence or role greater than the latter. So he silently take a note where this two was affiliated. It might helpful on him later on the later date.

"Or maybe, a super Growth-Type!" in the end, he concluded and believed that it might be the latter, of course he still believe it might be a mix with the former.

Not only he witnessed the named NPC, but also found out that there's such a thing as 'Growth type' in their kind.

He couldn't help but tapped the sheathe hanging in his waist. The sword inside of it has an attached 'Growth' after its name. So, its not surprising that even an NPC have their own growths as well, too.

He is thinking that this game made him even more interested than what he thought. He grip his center chest out of the blue.

And while in deep thought, Slate didn't realize that his time to retreat is running out. Never did he know that he's life is in danger and the target of '#01' to begin with. He was too absorbed that the only thoughts and eye of his was glued towards the duo.

Momentarily, Slate blew off a mouthful of cold air as the forest turned dim. The wind current around Tornejya had changed after taking off a thin and long stick around his height from out of nowhere.

"Heh, for a mere soldier to destroy my favorite sword, how unsightly" Tornejya stabbed an empty air and afterwards pointing at Zero One, and in return, the latter pushed back as if hard and long thing aura--punctured his right shoulder.

Kuh--!

THUD--!

Zero One fall off like a bird losing its wing after screeching from pain. Creating smoke and a ground breaking sound. . .

SWISH--!

But another arrow was nocked off from his position towards Tornejya, piercing the thick smoke, but: "Stop shitting me! Don't think that a single arrow can injure me!"

PA--!

Like a gun that triggered its bullet, the arrowhead and the tip of Tornejya's stick, collides with his swing, creating dusts and at the same time---

DASH--!
Kish Kish Kish--!
Pa Pa Pa--!

Three successive arrows coming from the smoke, arrived towards the said strongest. Three swing and the arrow perished as Torneyja continue striding towards Zero One.

KLANG--!

As the smoke subsides, Zero One has an arrow and a knife holding in his arm and surprisingly, a half-body phantom-like blood in a form of Zero One hovers behind, equipped with Bow and nocks another arrow.

'Blood Phantasmal' activates.

Of all Zero One's skill, this one don't have any ratings as it effect depends on how many blood he spill out of his body during the battle. Currently, its a one sided battle in favor of Tornejya, thus creating a phantom from his own blood is a menial task.

And because Zero One was locked Torneyja's weapon with his. Pulling it delayed the latter's evasion as the arrow arrived in his chest. Or so, Zero One believed.

"Kukuku, amazshing! Dish ish amazshing!" KASHIK--!

Tornejya bit the arrowhead instead! Then crushed it with his teeth and spew.

He used his mouth to defend the arrow from point blank!

Terror could clearly be seen from within Zero One's pupil but he grit his teeth and grab Tornejya's arm.

This time, the 'Borrowed Strength of Goblin King(S)' activates. The skill he obtained from the Oni-Goblin he defeated increases his fighting strength for a mere moments. This skill alone nailed himself in a position as the strongest Zero Digit.

"Keh, You want a contest of Strenght!?" In return, Torneyja grab Zero One's and laugh "Kuhaha, amusing!", stimulated as he wanted to dissect the man in front of him.

KSSSHHH~

Surprisingly, Tornejya didn't get any word of reply except the silent yet long breath coming from Zero One. Thin smoke silently exited from each side of his mouth.