Vivian was casually walking in the forest and thinking about a lot of things but just enough that she was still more or less aware of her surroundings.
Beak!
Beak!
Beak!
She turned her head to the direction of where the sound was coming from and her eyes widened when she saw 2 Bukaroos flying toward her -- the one on the right already was ahead, while the other was behind.
Vivian's eyes narrowed and she quickly got into a fighting stance.
Definitely got to use it…
The moment the first bird got within her attacking range, she immediately activated a skill.
[Power Slash].
Woo-Braaak!
Beee--!
"Eh…?"
Her stick connected and shredded the bird into bits and pieces that it didn't even have the chance to finish its cry before dying. But right after that, the entire stick disintegrated into dust.
Beak!
Vivian heard the crow of the other Bukaroo and immediately snapped out of her trance. She saw the other bird was already close to her and was about to sting her face with its tail.
"FUCK!" she cursed and tried her best to move away.
She felt a quick and sharp pain on her left arm which was immediately followed by a numbing sensation.
"Fucking hell…!"
Her left arm was quickly going numb so she moved the stick to her right hand before turning towards the remaining bird which was turning around to deliver another attack.
When the bird got within her attack range, she stepped to the side and swung her stick.
Whaaack!
Beeeaaak!
Thud.
She immediately rushed towards where the bird crashed and raised her leg.
Bam!
"Fuck you!"
Bam!
"FUCKING FUCK YOU!"
Bam!
Bam!
After stomping the bird to death, Vivian walked away and sat down in the corner to rest.
However, all of her senses were on full alert.
Given that her left arm was currently paralyzed, she decided not to do anything and waited in case another enemy appeared. But once the paralysis effect disappears, which will take about 3 minutes based on her experience, she will go back into hunting monsters, especially the Bukaroo.
I see, so that's what happens…
I honestly didn't expect that…
I was assuming that force or power helping to increase my damage doesn't really affect the weapon…
Was that why my dagger snapped into two…?
I mean, sure, it looked old and cheap, it didn't look like a combat dagger, and I used it to chop that trunk monster...
But had I not used [Dagger Stab] with it, would it have lasted longer…?
The skill [Power Slash] had no specific move except for one thing: It must be an attack using a weapon that can be classified as a sword. And just like her other skills, once a skill like [Power Slash] or [Dagger Stab] is used, it looks like any normal attack. The only difference is that the weapon would be enveloped with an invisible force, wind or whatever one would like to call it to give it a more destructive power.
However, as the skill gives more destructive power, it also puts a lot of stress on the weapon.
Vivian scoffed.
It doesn't matter...
With how much fighting I'm doing, it would still eventually break sooner or later no matter what…
And plus, weapons are meant to be used as weapons, not decorations…
She raised her head and looked at the trees, her eyes eyeing the branches.
"I'm gonna need another stick…"
***
Vivian had 2 sticks on her hands as she strode along the forest.
Whaaack!
The forest had no designated pathway and there was an overgrown plant blocking her way so she swiped it away to give herself a clearer path.
She continued moving and stumbled upon a trunk monster.
As she got closer, it immediately turned around to face her and then charged.
Vivian stopped and looked around if there were other monsters nearby.
After confirming that there weren't any, she dropped one of her sticks and took out a stone that was as large as an adult's fist.
Woooh!
Braaak!
She threw it will all of her strength and a part of the trunk monster's body shattered, causing it to stop for a moment and bleed out green liquid.
It resumed charging towards her.
Tch!
Vivian clicked her tongue and took another stone which was the same size as earlier.
"I really don't have time for you…"
Woooh!
Braaak!
The stone shattered another part of the monster's body and it fell to the ground.
Ding!
'Unlocked [Body Art Mastery] (Throw Mastery) - Level 1!'
"Oh, I forgot about this skill…"
She waited for a minute in case another monster appeared. For all she knows, they could be nearby and smell the blood -- if the green fluid of the trunk monster can even be counted as blood.
I think it's clear…
Status Panel…
***
Name: Vivian
Class: Thief
Race: Human
Age: 24
Affinity:
• Poison - x1.4
• Fire - x1.2
• Dagger - x1.2
Stats:
• Str - 11 (+13)
• Vit - 9 (+7)
• Agi - 12 (+15)
• Int - 8 (+5)
Mana: 16/26
Skills:
• [Dagger Mastery] - Level 1 (x6.2) (Max/16) - Dagger Stab (10 mana points)
• [Dagger Mastery] - Level 2 (x6.2) (Max/81) - +2 Str, +1 Vit, +2 Agi, +1 Int
• [Dagger Mastery] - Level 3 (x6.2) (??/161)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Dagger Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Dagger Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (??/50)
• [Poison Mastery] - Level 1 (x6.4) (Max/16) - Poison Strike (20 mana points)
• [Poison Mastery] - Level 2 (x6.4) (Max/78) - +2 Agi, +2 Int
• [Poison Mastery] - Level 3 (x6.4) (??/156)
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - Power Leg (10 mana points)
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (Max/100) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 3 (x5) (??/200)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (Max/50) - +2 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 3 (x5) (Max/100) - +1 Vit, +1 Int
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 4 (x5) (??/500)
• [Savage Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi, +1 Int
• [Savage Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (??/100)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (??/50)
• [Throw Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - Power Throw (10mana points)
• [Throw Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (??/100)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Throw Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Throw Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (??/50)
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - Power Slash (10 mana points)
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (??/100)
Lore:
• Village Girl
• Adventurer
• Zhey/Zhem
• Otherworldly - Grants [Growth] - all affinity x5
• Nemesis of Beasts - Animals and beasts have a natural aversion to the bearer
***
Hmm…
So all [Body Art Mastery] at Level 1 gives +2 to Strength and Agility…?
At least that's what it looks like compared to my other [Body Art Mastery] skills linked to my other skills…
So Level 2 will give me +2 to Vitality…
And then Level 3 will give me +1 to Vitality and another +1 to Intelligence…
I need more INT…
She looked at the rest of her skills.
Out of all of my skills, the only one left that doesn't yet have a [Body Art Mastery] is my [Poison Mastery]…
But why isn't it unlocking its [Body Art Mastery]…?
I didn't have to use any skills to unlock the [Body Art Mastery] of the others, so why doesn't this one…?
Perhaps it doesn't have one…?
Or maybe I have to use the [Poison Strike] once and then it will start finally learning the Level 1 [Body Art Mastery]…?
But then again, that logic would go against how [Savage Mastery] got its [Body Art Mastery]…
She scratched her head.
If only [Poison Strike] was only 10 mana points…
Right now, with my lacking equipment, the aggressive monsters and I don't have any companions, I don't have the luxury to go around spending 20 mana points just to cast a single skill…
I might as well shoot myself in the head right now if I were to do that…
She closed the Status Panel and let out a sigh.
"I really need to increase my Intelligence…"
"Anyhow, on my next enemy, I better use these sticks so that I can unlock [Body Art] [Sword Mastery] Level 1 for another +2 to Strength and Agility. Hehehehe~!"
Vivian had a huge grin on her face as she resumed strolling around the forest.