"Well that took a dark turn, i thought some wizard had experimented on it or something."
After some time, My health had regenerated completely, so i stood up and dusted off my armor in preparation for my next journey. As the night was about to fall, Ren made his way to the village, aware of Elena's warnings about top predators hunting during the night in Hola Balcu Forrest. While I felt confident about my strength after defeating the moose, I was not eager to test my luck against the forest's top predators at night, and decided to leave the forest before dark to avoid any potential dangers. 'Maybe next time when i can see in the dark'.
"Its day 2 but why are there no players in the inner forrest?"
As i was racking my brain to solve the puzzle i decided to check my stats
Ren
Level - 5
Health - 650/650
Mana - 150
Experience - 750/5000
Race - Titan
Class - Thug
Strength 75
Endurance 65
Dexterity 30
Inteligence 15
Wisdom 15
5 Unused stat point
Racial Talent: Impenetrable, Giant body
Skill: Thrust, Consecutive strike.
"Ohh now i get it, if i am taking so much damage with my talent how will normal players survive."
When Ren reached the village, it was already quite dark, but he could still spot players killing mobs in the forest outskirts. Ren noticed that it was close to 6:30 PM, which means that the merchant will still be open.
Rasnov being a smaller village meant that getting to the store did not take very long for Ren to arrive. Upon arriving, no other customer other than the store owner Paul was present.
"Still as barren ever paul, you sure you are not about to bankrupt."
"Bugger of kid, Its not that my shop is barren its just that you come in wrong time, you should come during lunch time to see how many adventurer are standing in line to buy my goods."
"Sure sure whatever makes you happy boss, By the way the your torch was live saver."
"I didn't ask in morning but i don't remember a cave near the village that can fit you, what did you use it for or is there are some big ass secret cave that i don't know about."
"I used it to burn wolves its quite effective."
"You did what! never mind show me the torch."
I was little confused but still compiled and showed him the torch. Ren looked over his torch to see that it was no longer the new and shiny item he had that morning. Instead, the torch looked battered and worn out, perhaps due to the numerous fights and challenges he had endured in the forest. A closer examination also revealed a crack at the torch's button. Despite being worn out, the torch was still holding up fine, and Ren considered it another testament to the quality of the merchandise sold by Paul.
"What the hell Ren this is one step away from breaking into pieces."
"Come on chill, didn't you say it was consumable."
"I did say that but i didn't know you will use it like that."
"Common on if it brakes it will be your profit, i would buy another torch from."
"Wait you said it is quite effective against wolf right"
Paul eyes gleam as he said that, it was as if a snake has found its new victim.
"I think i found a way to become rich thanks Ren, here take one more torch its on the house."
"Uhh alright buddy, actually i came here to ask a question."
"Sure shoot your shoot, i will try to reply."
"Why does the torch becomes so big when i use it, same with my armour, and for some reason the weight of the item remains the same."
"Well its a long story, many millennia ago there was a King who wanted to create a cost-efficient army, so he hired a team of wizards, enchanters and blacksmiths to help. These experts developed a rune that could adjust the size of equipment based on the user, allowing old equipment which are in good coundition to be reused instead of having to be scrapped. This was a revolutionary invention that allowed soldiers to have perfectly sized weapons and armor, while also being efficient in terms of cost. This rune is called malleability. The king was able to save a lot on material since all you have to do is to create a small armour or weapon and it will change according to its user."
"Oh, thats why."
"By the way are you gonna order a new armour or weapon."
"Why do you ask?"
"Many large warriors have expressed their displeasure with their equipment weight, claiming that it is too light for their tastes. As I'm not a fighter, I'm somewhat clueless about the problem in itself, but wouldn't lighter equipment offer more maneuverability?"
"Well i kinda understand where they are coming from some people like heavier equipment because they like the feel and heft of a hefty weapon or heavy armor. These light equipment make me feel like i am naked and i unintentionally use to much strength while using my spear."
"Alright then, by the way you didn't came here just to chat right."
"Yeah i wanna ask how much are you willing to pay for wolf claws and hides."
"I can give 2 copper per claw and 3 copper per hide the price is not negotiable, but i recommend keeping the hide if you want to make a leather armour."
I sold 32 pieces of wolf claw and 20 pieces of wolf hide, but kept 24 wolf hide with myself. After selling those items, I gained 1 silver and 24 copper coins, which when combined with my current stockpile of money, totaled 2 silver and 24 copper coins.
"Paul i nearly forgot to ask what was the name of the king who started the development of malleability and what was his dynasty called?"
"The king name was Liu Bang he was the ruler of han dynasty."
After expressing gratitude to Paul, I return to the inn to take a well-deserved rest and enjoy a lovely meal. While having dinner i ask the one waitress about the local gossips ' i must say the game ai is very advance.'
"By the time guards arrive Carl was beaten black and blue by the girls."
"Well deserve for peeping on girls while they are bathing, by the way what kind of punishment did he get."
"Oh he was thrown in prison for a month plus he was finned."
While I was chatting with the waitress, a young man, tired and exhausted from whatever he has been doing prior, steps through the doorway. The young man has a lanky frame with unkempt black hair and dark bags under his eyes, though he attempts to conceal them with makeup. His eyes are a dark brown, and he appears to be worn out and trying his best to stay afloat despite whatever he has been going through. After a quick peek around the area, he eventually takes a seat at a random table and ask about whats for dinner.
"Who's that guy."
"That's Cristan, the local poet, he is a regular customer that only comes out to eat at the inn and then retreats to his room. he is odd guy, but not a bad person overall. When I cleaned up his room, It was filled with poetry books and papers scattered all over the place."
"What's a poet doing here shouldn't he be in a city."
"He said he prefer the calmness of the village, as compare to the bustling and hectic nature of big cities."
While conversing with the waitress, I finished my meal and paid for the food while leaving a tip of 10 copper behind. Then I returned back to my room to take a much deserved rest and go to sleep. However, before I fully committed to sleep, i decided to check the entries in my journal. There were two unread entries.
New Entry -
Moose
Common grade
Level range - 1 to 10
Moose is a majestic beast known for its impressive size and strength. Only the fiercest predatory animals may hunt this beast, which is a herbivore by nature. A mother moose will display extreme aggression for the sake of protecting its young, often going as far as to fight to the death if anyone threatens her offspring. They are often found residing in cold climates.
Weakness - Fire
Skill:
Charge - The moose will tap into its internal energy reserves to power up its next attack, known as a "charge." This extra source of energy will allow the moose to cause increased damage, along with greater force and speed in the "charge" attack.
Mutated Moose
Elite grade
Level Range - 11 to 20
While it is uncertain as to what might have caused this moose to surpass its natural limitations in such a rare manner, the result is a moose that is stronger, faster, and more intelligent than its ordinary counterparts, and it may even possess the ability to learn spells. This mutated creature is indeed a remarkable and anomalous event, and one can only wonder about the potentialities and possible threats it could pose if encountered. Some of these mutated moose may even have the ability to use telepathy.
Weakness - Depends on the mutation it received.
Skill:
Charge - The moose will tap into its internal energy reserves to power up its next attack, known as a "charge." This extra source of energy will allow the moose to cause increased damage, along with greater force and speed in the "charge" attack.
Spells:
Entangling Roots - The user roots a target for 5 sec using magical roots.
Cost: 25 mana
Heat impact - User transfer Heat to his weapon which when strike deals 200% physical damage and 300% magic damage of fire element.
Cost: 50
Required class - Any class under Wizard school.
Seeing the spell description i was speechless 'Not even my dead body will be remain if i was hit by that'. Ren expression turns solemn when he realise that the only reason he won that battle was because the moose was enrage. After taking some time for self-reflection, Ren decided to retire for the night. But before he drifted off to sleep, he removed his armor to ensure comfort while resting.
Ren woke early at the start of the day, and after a good sleep, he had his breakfast. Once he was done, he paid the innkeeper for a week's stay.
"Time to lvl up."
It would appear that the number of players present in the village has increased significantly since the first time Ren arrived. The whole village is getting crowded although most people make way wherever ren goes.
I spent a few hours hunting wolves, but I noticed something, I was not only players in this part of the forrest, a party of players are currently fighting wolves. These players comprised a group of 6 individuals, each with their own portable torch. It seems that the other player parties in the inner forest were, too, hunting wolves. However, not possessing the same endurance as me, they rely on teamwork to make up for this shortcoming.
After discovering another party, and then yet another one, Ren noticed that the forest was quickly becoming populated with players. Some of these players even tried to invite Ren into their party, but Ren politely declined the offer. Because he was socially awkward person.
'Man my hunting spot is taken, it will be a waste of time to compete with these guys lets just head back, i will just accept some quest and earn money.'
There is a quest board in the middle of the village, where players could accept objectives and tasks. However, my first destination was elder Elena house, i want to ask her about the wolf hunter armour. Upon arriving at her home, Ren saw Elena engaged in paperwork.
"Good afternoon Miss Elena, I hope i am not disturbing you."
"No i am just creating this month village's financial report, what can i help you with."
"Miss Elena have you ever heard about wolf hunter series."
Elena's manner changed, as she asked in a surprised voice.
"Why do you know that name?"
"Well its a short story."
Ren spent some time explaining to Elena about his encounter with the moose, as well as how he acquired the horn of vengeance after putting the poor beast out of its misery.
"Thats how i learn about the series, so Elena how do you know about this armour."
"This armour belongs the greatest hunter of our village, my father Trevor."
"So umm did the animals killed him."
Elena snorted disdain as she spoke.
"Even if the number of animals triple they won't be able to kill my father it all happened because of that dammed demon."
"If you don't mind can you explain more about what happened to your father."
" 'Sigh' It happened many years ago i was just 8 years old at that time, during a huge storm green flash of light were coming from the thick, dark forest. My father sensed something and roused the other hunters in the village to remain vigilant. However, soon after, a demon visitor appeared at the outskirts of the village and stood there menacingly. The demon, humanoid in form and boasting a sharp tail and claws, with the body made of molten metal and green glowing eyes, appeared near the village and began to fight with the hunters. My father led the demon away from the village and managed to slay him, but he sacrificed his life to accomplish this feat. The demon was killed, but not before taking a deadly toll on my father, who passed away in the forest. By the time hunters came to retrieve his dead body it was eaten by other animals only his bones remain."
"My condolence to you Miss Elena. Your father was brave man."
"After eating my father flesh those animal become stronger and rule a part of the forest. So Ren i have very important task for you i want you to butcher those animals who desecrated my father's body."
Quest Received
Elena's request
Hunt the 5 major rulers of Hola Balcu forest.
Rewar the wolf(1/1)
Hause the bear(0/1)
Mutated tarantula(0/1)
Iron boar(0/1)
Mier the quickshot(0/1)
Reward: 1 × Trevor's Blade, 1 × skill book , 10 × silver coin.
Quest description: Elder Elena ask you to hunt the beast that desecrated her father dead body.
Select 'Accept' to begin the quest, or 'Decline' to reject it.