As he jumped in the air, he begin to float. He scurried the islands where his eyes may meet as he focused his vision to the source of the cry. It didn't take long for him to find the source as an island that was two islands away from him had its trees bustle wildly. A huge monster burst it's giant wings up in the air destroying the trees that surround it as he flapped in the sky.
"I've only seen it from the video footage leaked and seeing one in person feels more terrifying than I expected. Just it's presence alone feels like it could swallow up my entire existence in one big swoop." Kal gulped his nervous saliva as he observed the Griffin. A griffin is a monster that had a head and wings of an eagle, and body of a lion. The Griffin's size was as big as an adult elephant and even though it size was smaller than Kal anticipated, the sheer pressure it emitted was enough to make a weak willed person die from shock.
Fortunately Kal had learned to have a strong mind so his will was unwavering yet it still made him falter a bit. It didn't take long for the griffin to find Kal who was slowly descending down the ground like a feather and cawed at him with full murderous intent.
Kaaaaaaaaaaw!
[BOSS MONSTER: -juvenile- Griffin (S)
Level: 60
HEALTH: 1,000,000/1,000,000
SKILLS: Roar (S), Trembling Pounce (S+), Sharp Pursuit (S+), Nab (A), Lion Claw (S), Berserk (SS)
Ting~
[Title: Iron Will has been activated]
[+20% status increase]
The griffin flapped it's wings violently and blasted to Kal's direction in a speed of a fired sniper bullet. Kal hurriedly accelerated his fall and jumped right back as his feet touch the ground.
Bang!
Right as Kal had jump, the griffin crash right to the island and destroyed everything in its collision.
"Even if it's a juvenile, it's level is triple to mine, it's health is over a million and it's skills are too much! How am I gonna defeat it?" Kal contemplated to himself due to the dire situation. He pulled his bowstring and fired an arrow right at the griffin who was on the island ready to pounce again.
Pak
-420
The arrow hit it's white feathery head and bounce back as it fell to the ground. It only dealt a miniscule amount of damage to the griffin, it didn't even look unfazed by it, it had looked like a small twig had just hit it. It stared at Kal with its eagle eyes and flew at him.
[THE GRIFFIN IS USING SHARP PURSUIT]
It flew at Kal in the speed of sound and almost looked blurry to the eyes. Kal didn't hesitate and used [Wind Barrier] as he float. Gust of wind mixed with poison and fire appeared to form a protective dome around Kal. The griffin hasten it's speed, and crashed on the barrier.
Shaa!
-101900*
-6200
-8034*
.
.
The griffin collided with the barrier causing a huge explosion to occur. It's feathers were engulfed in flames and it's body was struck by poison that made its veins bulge in green. Kal was surprised by the damage it dealt. It's health immediately fell by 10%. He only wanted to use the barrier as a means to slow down the griffin and try to land to another island, he didn't knew it would be so effective.
"I thought this would be harder than I thought but it seems I was just overestimating a juvenile griffin." Kal grinned in thought but his smile quickly disappeared when his barrier had suddenly disappeared into thin air.
Ting~
[WIND BARRIER HAS BEEN FORCIBLY DESTROYED!]
Kiiyaaaah!
[THE GRIFFIN IS USING ROAR]
A defeaning screech turned into a sonic wave. The barrier disappeared and the flames and poison in the Griffin's body had also disappeared leaving the scorched feathers to flap.
"Khuaaak!" Kal puked a handful of blood as he was blast away by the sonic wave. His ears bled, his eyes was bloodshot red and he had a nosebleed. He crashed to a nearby floating island toppling all the trees in his direction.
- 510!
[YOUR MANA FLOW HAS BEEN DISRUPTED!]
[Unable to use skills for 30 seconds]
[YOUR SENSES HAS BEEN DESTROYED!]
Ting~
[ANALYSIS HAS REPAIRED YOUR SENSES]
[YOUR ARE NOT INTIMIDATED BY THE PRESSURE]
The bloody look on Kal's face quickly diminish as he slowly stood up from the ground. His health had fallen sharply and Kal looked like he was about to lose consciousness yet his body wasn't in anyway fatally damaged.
'Fortunately, [Spring] had absorbed most of the damage, if it didn't, I might have died. Also the Iron Will's effects are quite good. Even if I use my status points, I'm not certain I can defeat it head on, I still don't know it's weakness so I have to stall some time until [ANALYSIS] is finished analyzing this griffin.' Kal said to himself. He opened his window panel and checked on his status window.
Ting~
[NAME: KAL NIETES
RACE: HUMAN
JOB:
TITLE: Iron Will
LEVEL: 17 (6%) (+3)
HEALTH: 360/370 <+500>
MANA: 550/600 <+100>
STRENGTH: 92
AGILITY: 114
INTELLIGENCE: 60
STAMINA: 37 <+50>
STATUS POINTS: 0 (+30)
WIND: 2 <+10> POISON: 15
FIRE: 10
WATER: 0
TERRA: 0]
'If I want to stall time, I have to increase my agility. With my skills temporarily disabled, I also have to increase my strength to the very least deal a considerable damage.' Kal distributed 20 of his points to agility and 10 to strength.
Ting~
[NAME: KAL NIETES
RACE: HUMAN
JOB:
TITLE: Iron Will
LEVEL: 20 (17%)
HEALTH: 360/370 <+500>
MANA: 550/600 <+100>
STRENGTH: 92 (+10)
AGILITY: 114 (+20)
INTELLIGENCE: 60
STAMINA: 37 <+50>
STATUS POINTS: 30 (-30)
WIND: 2 <+10> POISON: 15
FIRE: 10
WATER: 0
TERRA: 0]
Ting~
[STRENGTH ATTRIBUTE HAS REACHED 100 POINTS!]
Ting~
[Active-(Buff/DMG)-Override: Upon activation, the next attack will deal 200% more damage and if a weak point is hit, it will deal 500% more damage. But if next attack misses, instead is paralyzed for 3 seconds.
Mana cost: 200
Cooldown: 5 minutes]
Kal didnt have time to read the rewards as the griffin was still in pursuit. Kal's body became faster and stronger. He stood up from the ground and stared at the griffin who landed on the island to check on him.
Kaaaaaaaaaaw!
Seeing that it's prey wasn't even hurt, it leaped like a lion lunging itself on a gazelle.
[GRIFFIN IS USING TREMBLING POUNCE]
The griffin opened its beak showing the sharp teeth that could shred even the sturdiest of shields.
[THE INTIMIDATION HAS STUN YOU! ]
- Weakened for 30 seconds.
"Urk!?" Kal groaned in shock as his body moved slowly like an elderly.
[INTIMATION HAS BEEN NULLIFIED]
The stun effect immediately disappeared from his body and he quickly activated [Shadow Leap] to hide on a nearby shadow. His body vanished on the shades that confused the griffin as it pounced into nothingness.
It looked around to find Kal but couldn't and it began to thrash the entire trees like a mad man (Mad bird, or mad lion?).
'Although it's an S-rank monster, unlike other monsters on its level, it has a low intelligence which shows why it's still a juvenile.' Kal sighed in relief seeing the stupid griffin, destroying the forest in the island.
'This skill is pretty awesome! All I need to do is not move and I could blend in the shadows as if I was not there at all.' Kal couldn't help but be in awe. As he continued to focus on the griffin, the entire island began to shake violently. Huge cracks and faults appeared on the ground and the floating island broke into smaller pieces as it quickly fell in the sky and down to the deep abyss.
'Let's leave.' Kal didn't waste anytime and jumped to a nearby island. As he was about to reach the island, he suddenly felt shivers on his spine. He sprayed on his back and saw the griffin just a feet away from his.
[THE GRIFFIN IS USING NAB]
'[Strike]!' As the griffin thrust it's gaping beak over to Kal in a millisecond, Kal's bow flashed in green flames as he evade thw incoming strike with a bash of his bow.
Bang!
A loud explosion occurred upon impact and smoke covered the area. Kal tried to remove the smoke to see the state of the bird from the counterattack but he suddenly felt like he was falling down faster than he expected.
'What the? Did my body controlled my fall in instinct?' Kal felt off. As the smoke dispersed, Kal's face immediately change in fright yet his face didn't seem to show it. What he had seen was the griffin was fine and only a bald spot around its head was seen on impact but what truly shocked him was that not only was the body still on his hand, his hand was not with him.
'The griffin swallowed up my body in an instant that I didn't even felt the pain. Damn, I shouldn't have underestimated the griffin being juvenile, although it's dumb, it's still super strong!' Kal couldn't help but be in awe and blame himself for his mistake.
Ting~
[YOU HAVE DIED]
************
When his vision had went blank, he regained it in a matter of seconds and saw himself standing back in the floating island. Unlike in his last death, Kal didn't felt the trauma and despair and it felt more of a regret and astonishment. His mind felt clearer as if he had attained enlightenment.
"Now that I have a good idea of how strong it is, let's not be so rash next time." Kal said to himself and grinned in thought.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to check this one out." Kal opened his inventory and pulled out a set of light gauntlets.
"This was the item I got from killing Byson. Let's see how it may help me." Kal equipped the gauntlets on his hands and a window panel appeared on his view.
Ting~
[IRON GLOVES
Grade: A+
Type: Gauntlet
Durability: 1700-1700
Effects:
+30% Attack Speed
+15% Physical Damage
+400 Health
Passive-(Buff)-Prime: Hand-to-hand combat will be more polished and fluid yet maintains the explosive power. Any physical skill will increase a rank. All types of defense will be fortified by 40%.
Requirements: Expert fist mastery, 100 Strength, 100 Agility,]
(Note: Items will now be determined by grade not rank since it's sounds to off-putting, also skill rewards from the system like rewards for reaching 100 points in an attribute will not have ranks but will just be the same as item skills. Only skill rewards from quest, boss and such will have ranks because I get confused by it.)
"This is amazing! The effects are solely based on my own attributes, so if I become stronger, it's effect will also strengthen me as a result! The passive skill is quite great! It's like this gauntlet was made for an all-rounder. Although that all-rounder must specialized in physical combat, it's still pretty OP. This must be one of the best A-grade items I've ever seen." Kal didn't hesitate and equipped the gauntlet. He immediately felt the item's effects enhance his power. He was bolstering in speed and strength that he felt like Hancock (Hancock is a God-like antihero in the movie Hancock which was starred by Will Smith).
Once he had fully equipped himself. He devised a plan on how to deal with the griffin. With his short experience from the soaring monster, he could make out a strategy. He pressed the restart button and his points was decreased by 1000.
The floating island slowly shake as a wild screech of a griffin resonate around the skies. Kal jumped up in the air to meet the griffin and as he looked around with his bird like vision, he met his eyes with the monster who also stared art him with deep murderous gaze.
[GRIFFIN HAS USED PURSUIT]
As it activated it's skill, it flashed towards Kal like thunder and immediately slashed it's huge lion claws that shred even the strongest of metal into chunks of pieces. Kal's speed had been significantly improved air tend he control his body to quickly land in the ground.
Seeing that the griffin had miss, it looked down in the ground and pursued Kal again who was looking at it with a disdainful look. In its mind, it thought that Kal was terrified so it felt cocky and go down with its claws again to scare it more. Truthfully, Kal was definitely afraid but he didn't show that fear in his face, he only made a terrified look to lure the griffin to go towards him in a tacky manner so he could find a weak point he could use as an advantage.
The claws were ready to meet Kal yet as soon as it made contact with his beautiful face, Kal's body melted into shadows as he disappeared in thin air.
"..?" The griffin had a confused expression as it began to look around. As it was about to check the surroundings, it suddenly felt a surging heat around its belly and as it looked down to check it, it saw an arrow burning in green flames.
'[Strike]!' Kal under the giant Griffin's shadow fired the arrow that went right into its abdomen. Without any ribs to defend it, not even it's thick hide could protect it from an arrow being shot from point blank range.
Kiyaaaaahh!
-9970!
-8820*!
-1700*
-2301
.
.
.
The griffin squealed in agony. It's belly had been ruptured badly by the arrow which had of it stuck inside it's abdomen. Poison and fire slowly spread on its insides that even flapping it's wings to out out the fire wouldn't be much of a help.
'I was lucky to hit a weak point!' Kal exclaimed in thought. He jumped out of the shadow and looked at the groaning griffin. He didn't waste a single second for it to regenerate and began to throw dozens of punches onto the arrow sticking in its belly.
'Jab!' Fist went flying on the air as they collided with the arrow's end. Each punch pushed the arrow further into its body and as the last 5th punch pushed the arrow entirely inside it not only damaging it's organs, the griffin had been stunned heavily due to its weak point making it unable to move for a while.
It's health had fallen sharply by 30% and it's health still fell down. With the arrow inside it, the bird couldn't do anything to get it out, all it could do was thrash around angrily as it tried to attack Kal.
[GRIFFIN IS USING LION CLAW]
Kal quickly retreated back after seeing the griffin about to use a skill. The griffin performed two slashes in the air with its claws and generated a wave of golden claws that expanded as it moved towards Kal's direction. Kal knew the golden claws were dangerous and even getting in contact with one could mean fatal to him so he immediately used [Shadow Leap] to hide under the shade of a tree but before he knew it, the island collapsed into rubble so his skill had been cancelled.
'Shit! [Sprint]!' Kal's body went lighter than feather as he dodged the claws sideways. His speed had grown further that he almost felt like time passed slowly. He began to use the falling debris as footholds and ran on to it and as he stepped on a big chunk of rock, he jumped up in the air and arrived in a nearby floating island.
Khieeeh!
The griffin had been gravely injured and with its organs damaged, it was flying abnormally almost similar to a helicopter crashing down a mountain (RIP Kobe).
It crashed on the same island as Kal and with its body weakened, Kal didn't waste a single second and began dealing as much damage as he can to the bird. He fired multiple arrows in a single struck of his bow and each drilled on its belly. Although only the arrow head had manage to pierce it, Kal punched the arrows the penetrate the arrows deeper into its gloated belly.
Damage indicators continued to pop up in its head as it health dropped down by another 30%. Still it was a boss monster and S-rank so it had a managed to diminish the arrow inside it's body but it still left quite a damage in its insides.
It's face had shown agony and hatred at Kal and as it flapped it's wings away from Kal, it's body suddenly underwent drastic changes.
[GRIFFIN IS USING BERSERK]
'What the hell? It's health is still 40% yet it can already go berserk!? I thought a boss monster has to be under critical health before it could activate? The case must been different from this boss monster since it's an S-rank monster or its skill is just the strongest it has.' Kal said to himself. He immediately feed as far as possible so he could hide until it's berserk was over.
Unlike the Kobold champion, the griffin didn't shrank in size and went rabid, the griffin had become bulkier and it's skin had turned gold, it's wings had became pure as white and it's eagle head had widened. It now looked far majestic than its normal form, it felt like a god had descended over the earth.
It was glowing brightly, even in the light of day, it was bright, it almost looked like almost look like miniature sun if watched from a far but no matter how Kal had been impressed by its changes, it still knew that the griffin had become a far more dangerous opponent to deal, all he could do was hide or use as much time as possible until the berserk state had been over.
Khieeeeeeeaaaaa!
[GRIFFIN IS USING ROAR]
The scream that sounded like a mix of a lion's roar and an eagle's shriek had toppled the forest around all the floating islands. Kal was in the farthest floating island from the griffin yet roar had made him kneel in response to the pressure. Kal had the title: Iron will and he had already trained himself to have a strong mind but this one felt awfully stronger than he anticipated. He could only slowly stood up from the ground as he controlled the beating of his heart and as he stood up straight, the griffin was already in front of him.
It's eyed were shining gold as it peered on Kal's own brown eyes. Kal couldn't tell if the bird was furious at him because it's expression almost looked like sympathy over the weak. It's health was still 40% but everything in its body had been completely healed including its organs and the arrows around it had disappeared, not even a trace of marks on its body.
Sweat drip on Kal's forehead and before he could run away, the griffin had slowly raised its right arm ready to tear Kal down. It's purposely slowed its movement to make it look quite arrogant as it knew that Kal couldn't do anything against it.
'No matter what I do, I'll be killed eventually, I have to restart again and I'm not sure if I can still earn an S grade but what can I do? This is just too much for my level-?' Kal suddenly felt like something bright was blinking in his eyes. Although the griffin was right in front of him beaming with golden light that not even a shadow surround it's presence. Kal could definitely see something blinking from far away. He peered his eyes in what it may be and as he went a closer look, he saw that below the floating island in front was a golden crystal embedded on its rocks from the bottom edge of the island.
'Is that the soul shard?' Kal was 95% sure that his assumption was true, there was nothing interesting that could be found in the islands aside from the griffin and the trees, there was not even a single bug around.
'If this truly is the soul shard, there might be something good that will happen after I get it. I might not get another chance of finding it since it may change in location knowing thats its expert mode and even if it not, let's not waste this opportunity. Since this bird is being induced with its enormous power, getting the soul shard shouldn't be too hard.' The sharp claws were about to contact with his neck, Kal vanished in the shadows. The griffin had already realize that Kal would do this so it flashed it's entire body to brightened the entire island. Kal teleported into the shadows in a blink of an eye and before the flash could disperse the shadows around him, he arrived at the edge of the island.
He jumped in full speed towards the island in front of him and grab hold of a rock as he descend down the floating island. The griffin immediately caught sight of Kal and chased at him and as it saw Kal nearing a golden crystal, it faced turned sour as it hasten it's speed.
Kiyaaaah!
Kal realized that the soul shard might have been a big deal seeing the sudden scream of the griffin. The soul shard was embedded in the rocks but Kal could tell that the crystal like shard was in the shaped of a Philippine eagle's head. Kal broke the rocks that stick to it and pulled the soul shard out. A window panel appeared in his view.
Ting~
[GRIFFIN SOUL SHARD HAS BEEN OBTAINED (1/1)]
[Griffin nearby, do you wish to use the soul shard? (Y/N)]
"Yes."