Finally, there was Adam's weapon. When they started the player would have a set of trash equipment. Trash rank was a special rank for the clothes one would get when they spawn. They are indestructible but they offer no defense, their only purpose is to avoid making people naked when they spawned.
His weapon though wasn't trash, but instead would be a common one. If it breaks, then he has to repair it, buy a new one or fight with his fist. But for now, he hadn't even taken it out. In his inventory he could see a sword shaped totem, and as he took it out he received a notification.
[Please choose your weapon: Sword, Axe, Hammer, Spear.]
Adam chose Sword, and a new weapon appeared in his inventory.
[Iron Greatsword] (Common, Level 1)
Requirements: Level 1, Warrior
Attack: +5
Adam immediately equipped it and then proceeded to look at the stats of the item he would be rewarded were he to succeed.
[Hard Fist] (Uncommon, Level 5)
Requirements: Level 1
Defense: +22
Strength: +10
Adam was impressed, this was exactly the equipment he needed, the additional 10 Strength would be really helpful. As for the possibility of failing? Adam didn't think of it. Although this quest was very difficult, it was just fine for him. After all, with difficulty comes rewards, and he needs those rewards to become stronger, get famous and get money for his family.
Outside the village was a big plain, where plenty of Level 1 Common monsters spawned. The players were using those to level up, and most of the quests needed materials from them anyway. The problem was, it was very difficult to kill them because of the sheer number of players.
Of course, one could go try to kill the higher leveled ones, but they mustn't be afraid to lose their XP.
[You have discovered Rose Forest! XP +10]
Adam's map led him past the plain and into a forest. There, the number of players drastically lowered, and only groups were present. After all, the lowest leveled monsters here were Level 3.
In Epoch, fighting higher leveled was very rewarding, but also very difficult. If an average player fought a Level 3 Monster at Level 1, they would get killed in two or three hits, without the power to retaliate.
That's why, they need to form parties, mostly with their guild members. This would make the fight easier, but the XP would be shared so the reward would be lesser.
At first, the groups of players fighting the monsters allowed Adam to avoid fighting, but at some point the number of teams dropped drastically, as he entered the zone of Level 4 monsters.
He barely walked a few meters in when he was aggroed by a red furred monster.
[Red Boar] (Common, Level 4)
HP: 400/400
The boar growled at Adam, and straight out rushed at him, using the skill Charge. Adam knew that if he was hit, he would die as this would stun him, making him unable to move.
But the developers weren't completely ruthless, they set the fight into a forest of thick trees. As the boar approached him, Adam waited until only a few meters were left, and jumped to the side.
Charge had a weakness, and that was the turning speed. That's why it was very difficult to change one's trajectory once the skill is launched, and why players would rather use it in short range rather than long range like this boar.
The boar missed Adam, and before it could stop charging it hit a tree.
-23 HP!
It turned out that charging the tree inflicted damage. However, it didn't stun the boar. But Adam got it covered. He activated Charge, and rammed into the Red Boar's side with his shoulder.
The boar stumbled and it was stunned. Adam didn't lose the opportunity and directly slashed at it, before activating Mighty Strike and hitting it again.
-12 HP!
-15 HP!
Adam was only able to strike twice before it got out of its stun. He wanted to strike once again since he was on its side, but he saw its muscles twitch, and felt the danger incoming, so he jumped back.
And just on time as the Red Boar's tusks turned into a blood like red color as it swung its head toward Adam. He didn't doubt that if he proceeded with his attack, he would have received this attack, and certainly died from it.
The Red Boar roared as it missed its target, but this time it learned from its mistakes and didn't use the skill Charge and just ran toward Adam.
-11 HP!
As Adam narrowly dodged the attack and slashed the monster, he finally understood the developers' words. Killing higher level monster was really hard, he would die in a single hit or two whereas he would have to hit it almost 40 times to kill it.
He hoped the reward would be worth it… Fortunately, his skills didn't cost any MP and only had a cooldown time. Otherwise, he didn't know how he would have done.
After two minutes of constant slashing, the Red Boar was finally on its last stand, it only had about 20 HP remaining. Adam charged at it, dodged its tusks, activated Charge, stunning it, and attacked it twice.
-12 HP!
-13 HP!
The boar growled, and fell to the ground, dead.
[You have defeated 'Red Boar'! XP +40!]
Adam finally got to stop. That fight was intense! Even with Old Adam's memories, he thought he might lose it. Just the concentration needed for the fight was incredibly high. However, thanks to his powerful soul he wasn't mentally tired.
Adam looked down at what the monster dropped, and picked it up. Unfortunately, it only dropped materials, two [Red Boar's Tusks] and three [Red Boar's Pelt].
Adam put them in his inventory and continued on his way, not wasting any time. But soon he was met with another problem, two actually.
[Red Boar] (Common, Level 4)
HP: 400/400
[Red Boar] (Common, Level 5)
HP: 450/450
The two were calmly walking next to each other when they suddenly turned toward Adam. When the latter saw the Level 5 Boar he couldn't help but curse.
They rushed at him without any warning.
Adam was able to dodge the two, but he couldn't hit them. Now though, they weren't aligned anymore, and instead were on two of his sides, making it more difficult to track of them both.
The two Charged again, and Adam decided to try out something. As they approached, Adam suddenly jumped. The two Red Boars looked up at Adam like he was already dead, they could still hit hit after all.
But then, Adam used the tree just behind him to jump away. The two boars followed him with their eyes, unconsciously slowly altering their trajectory. Then, the two felt they hit something.
-21 HP!
Critical Hit! -66 HP!
As he looked back, Adam saw that it was indeed possible for the two to hit. Moreover, the weaker one got a critical hit, and was stunned.
When two beings use a Charge skill at each other, the one with the higher strength will stun the other one, but still receive damage. Here, the level 4 Red Boar was weaker and thus took damage, and was stunned.
But what was interesting here was that the Red Boar suffered a Critical Hit, so the duration of the stun should have been lengthened. Adding in the fact that the Red Boar's charge was more potent than his own, the boar should be stunned for at least 3 seconds, or more.
Adam stepped toward them, and activated Mighty Strike on the stunned boar.
-14 HP!
-11 HP!
-12 HP!
Adam was able to strike it thrice before the higher leveled Red Boar attacked him, forcing him to dodge. However, it hit its fellow boar again.
-65 HP!
Adam opened his eyes wide, this boar really dealt a lot more of damage! And that was a casual strike!
Looking at the health bar almost half emptied, Adam continued attacking the stunned one while dodging the Level 5, and was able to make the boar's health bar fall below 200.
Then, Adam was forced to move back again. The two boars were aligned once again, and this time they formed some sort of strategy. The Level 5 boar charged first, while the second one waited, so that it could charge at Adam when the later couldn't dodge a second time.
Seeing this, Adam smiled. As expected, he dodged the first one, and the second one was charging at him. Adam activated Mighty Strike, and he could almost see the ridicule in the boar's eyes. And it was right, with how much stronger the Boar was, if Adam tried to stop its charge with his Mighty Strike then he would die.
But Adam didn't do that. Instead, he hacked his sword into the ground, making dirt fly everywhere, including in the boar's eyes, and used the sword as a way to propel himself up. Then, he released his sword's handle.