Looking at my status window, I realize that I have gained levels, but the most surprising thing is that some assimilations have been added or are in progress. Seeing this, I use my Synchronization skill, and a beautiful energy envelops me. Once again, the feeling of being reborn is felt, and my status window updates:
Name: Heolstor Xel'Mourndor
Level: 05
Profession: Void Merchant (Ordinary)
Talent: Void acquisition
STATS: ● Strength: 10
● Agility: 11+3
● Intelligence: 10+1
● Mana: 10+2
● Dexterity: 11+1
● Luck: 10
● Constitution: 10+2
STATS TO DISTRIBUTE: 15
Skills:
● Sales Listing ● Psionic attack ●
● Electrification (passive) ●
● Sharp vision (passive) ●
Void acquisitions :
● Radonix (+1agi/+1int/+1dex) ●
● Dramodo 30% ● Treealtor 70% ●
● Chaekren (+2mana/+1agi) ●
● Red head eagle (+1agi) ●
I had gained some stats and two new skills:
Electrification (passive-active):
Allows me to electrify emitted projectiles.
Sharp Vision (passive):
Grants me eagle-like vision, allowing me to see farther and with more detail.
It really helps to have these skills. Honestly, I can't tell others that I'm able to gain skills by killing monsters, as attracting everyone's attention could create problems. Today, I'm going back to do some requests. I hope to find some regarding a particular monster: the Arfovix. This imposing infernal creature resembling a bird has rabbit-like legs, a crocodile head, and the body and arms of an owl. Its plumage is gray and dark red. It lives in wooded areas and attracts its prey, which includes ordinary beasts, other predators, small creatures, and humans. It attacks with quick strikes, bites with its fangs, and can project a darkening mist and a burning gas.
Upon arriving at the association, I see a thin man rubbing a damaged armor and a dark-skinned woman walking towards the small bookstore while reading a book. It's already busy this morning and it's not even eight o'clock. One of the receptionists greets me and asks me what she can do for me. I ask her if she has any requests regarding Arfovix and she looks through her papers and comes back positive. Two missions are available. The first is to retrieve teeth, and the second is to collect one or more eggs. I accept the first one because collecting eggs might be a little too difficult for me. I thank the receptionist and head towards the forest. Since I synced with the red-headed eagle, my eyes can see much farther and more precisely. If I concentrate, I can see every blade of grass on the ground, the water droplets on the leaves, the ants crawling on them, and all of this at more than a hundred meters away. This passive skill is really effective and will go well with my musket. I continue my way, avoiding unnecessary attention from monsters as much as possible.
While searching for an Arfovix, I find some medicinal plants and decide to harvest them. I'll give them to Pepper when I get back, she might be able to make me some potions. Upon closer inspection, the forest is bright and quiet, with the trees forming a protective canopy over the small clearing. The leaves rustle gently in the light breeze, creating a soft murmur that resonates in the calm air. The deep blue sky hosts the sun, which high in the sky, floods the forest with its golden light. The air is fresh and pure, smelling of pine and moist soil. Only the sound of the leaves rustling under my feet disturbs the peaceful silence of the forest.
I continue to search for the monster, but I can't find it. As I think about where I might find one, I hear a hiss and turn around just in time to see a snake attack me. I easily dodge the surprise attack. I think my increased agility stats make a difference. I quickly aim my musket and fire. BAM! The snake disappears and reappears a little further away. My shot missed, so I reloaded. I activate my Electrification passive at the same time.
The serpentine monster dashes again and tries to bite me. I roll to the side and shoot. A small lightning bolt discharges instead of a small blue bullet. I hit the snake and small electrical arcs emit around it. The creature dashes towards me again, but this time it's much slower. I think my Electrification skill is causing this. I easily dodge its attack by rolling to the side. I shoot again after reloading. I hit it once more and the snake slows down significantly. It writhes and stops completely, but just in case, I take the time to reload my musket and shoot it in the head. I put its small carcass in my backpack and continued on my way. I arrive in a section north of the forest, where the trees are taller and wider. The grass is a bit more scarce.
In this area, you can find more dangerous monsters but rarer herbs. I have to keep my eyes open because I don't want to end up in the belly of a monster, I tell myself while trying to lift my spirits. I make sure my musket is loaded and I look up at the trees to avoid getting attacked unknowingly. Few animals are present in the surroundings, which means I am in a monster's territory.
Looking into the distance, about two hundred meters from here, I see what appears to be a nest. In one of the trees is a half-sphere of branches and other materials. I approach a little closer. I see, on the edge of the nest, a massive and angular crocodile head, with a gaping mouth full of rows of sharp teeth. The creature doesn't seem to have spotted me yet.
If I attack it right away, I can shoot it in the head, but I don't know if one shot will be enough. Wanting to give myself the best chance, I decide to take the snake's carcass and throw it further away. I hope the Arfovix will be tempted, as it will give me an opening.
Shortly after, I see the creature rise from its nest and look towards the corpse. I hide so it can't see me. I hear its wings flapping in the sky, as well as a raw sound when it touches the ground. I take a quick glance and see the monster's back turned to me, devouring the snake's carcass. It's the opportunity I've been waiting for. I aim and shoot. BAM! The small yellow bullet lodges in its skull and covers it with small yellow electric arcs. The Arforix roars and turns towards me. It spreads its wings and dashes with its powerful legs. Seeing it coming towards me, I take refuge behind another tree without waiting. Boom, the one I was standing behind gets pulverized by the creature, leaving a cloud of sawdust in the air. It searches for me with eyes filled with rage. I can still see the small electric arcs zapping its eyes from time to time. I then use my psionic attack skill and the Arforix staggers. I took advantage of this to shoot it a second time, but this time in its right leg. The creature falters, opens its mouth, and bellows with a deep guttural sound. My eardrums almost burst, but I hold on. The monster dashes towards me again, but its speed has significantly decreased. It's one of the side effects of my skill. I run to take refuge behind another tree, but at that precise moment, the Arforix begins to flap its wings, opens its mouth, and produces an opaque gray smoke. "Oh no," I exclaim, panicking. "I can't let it use its skills, or it'll be the end."
If the creature succeeds, it becomes invisible in the smoke and is able to produce a second kind of smoke that will cook me alive. While the monster produces the gray smoke, I take advantage of it to shoot it right in the mouth. The Arforix stops and looks at me with rage. Without letting myself be intimidated, I reload my musket while running to hide behind a tree and use my psionic attack. It's the last time I can use it before reaching OUM. The monster shakes its head in pain, and I shoot. This time, I hit its eye, and it fell backwards. The creature gets up and tries to flee, realizing it can't do anything against me. I reload as the Arforix reaches a hundred meters away, a hundred and fifty, two hundred, two hundred and fifty, three hundred, three hundred and fifty. Now that I have the sharp vision skill, such a distance no longer affects me. I aim and shoot. The creature falls from the sky, shoots down and crashes to the ground. Without lowering my guard, I go to the body and make sure it's dead. Once that's done, I skin its carcass. I keep its teeth for the request and take its medium-sized crystal as well as other parts of its body that sell well in town. My return to town goes well; I only encounter a few scared small monsters and ordinary animals.