[Player Perseus has leveled up 3 times to level 8 after defeating 3 level 10 orcs.]
[Player Perseus has received x2 Orc Tusks and x1 Orc Regeneration Skillbook.]
My eyes widened at the XP gain and the drops.
"I guess orcs give more XP because they are usually a lot stronger than other monsters at their level. Especially with their Orc Rage skill."
Leaving my gains for later, I quickly asked the system for the optimal fusion for my sword.
"System, what should I fuse with my sword to keep the process under 5 minutes?"
[To keep the time to fuse under 5 minutes, you can choose one orc body and 2 orc tusks.]
"Do it," I said quickly, wanting to get more benefits before the next wave.
[Initiating fusion process. Time Left: 00:04:45]
Now that my sword was fusing, I took out the skillbook drop. Excitement flashed in my eyes as I held a thick book with tattered pages. It had a green aura around it, signifying its rarity among skillbooks in Path to Power. The rarity ranks for most items and consumables were: Common (Grey), Uncommon (Green), Rare (Blue), Epic (Purple), Ultra Rare (Orange), Unique (White), and Divine (Gold).
The Orc Regen skillbook was an uncommon item but very useful. Unless a player started with a race that could regenerate on its own, no one could get back HP unless they used potions. This is why regeneration passive skills were very valuable.
— — —
[Orc Regeneration Skillbook (Uncommon): Passive skill that regenerates 5 HP every 30 seconds.]
— — —
I quickly learned the skill, which took up my first passive skill slot. Both passive skills and active skills were limited to 5 each until level 50, so having a sufficient selection of skills was important for a player's strength.
I then distributed my 12 stat points, leaving my stats like this:
— — —
Status:
{Level} — 8
{EXP} — 31%
{HP: 65/65} {Mana: 20 PTS}
{Strength: 8} {Agility: 8}
{Vitality: 3} {Dexterity: 8}
{Stamina: 4} {Intelligence: 3}
(0 free stat points)
— — —
Once my sword was done fusing with the orc parts, I checked the buffs and was dumbfounded.
— — —
{Loadout} — [Drifter's Sword: x2 Strength | +1 Agility | +3 Vitality | +3 Stamina | -17% damage taken from Dark Mana attacks/debuffs.]
— — —
"2 times strength!? What?" I exclaimed in shock. "How is a buff like this fair?"
Despite the downgrades to the agility buff and dark mana resistance, the new buffs were insane. Especially the strength buff. Double the strength for a permanent buff, if you have a weapon equipped, is only seen in Ultra Rare or higher weapons, usually weapons like a war hammer or battle-axe.
This makes my new stats look like this:
— — —
{HP: 95/95} {Mana: 20 PTS}
{Strength: 8 (x2) = 16} {Agility: 8 (+1) = 9}
{Vitality: 3 (+3) = 6} {Dexterity: 8}
{Stamina: 4 (+3) = 7} {Intelligence: 3}
— — —
16 strength for a level 8 player is unheard of, no matter what class or weapons you have. I finally added points to intelligence because I didn't want to leave my mana at 0 just in case I come across a skill that requires it. The human race starts with 0 mana at 1 intelligence because humans aren't proficient in magic. Other races get mana points at 1 intelligence stat.
[Commencing Wave 3]
The rest period ended after I got over my absurd stats and 5 kobolds with spears quickly surrounded me. I could have avoided it but decided against it to make the fight more interesting.
Each kobold had bright-red, scaled skin with brown loincloths covering their waists. There was a flicker of intelligence in their eyes, so I began to think more strategically in case they tried anything.
After a brief moment of silence, as they surrounded me, several lunged with their spears to pincer me but were shocked to see me vanish from their sight.
Kobolds were an intelligent species with stats that favored Dexterity and Agility but were still outclassed by my speed. Before they could react, one Kobold had already been decapitated swiftly and another lost an arm.
*SCREECH*
The other 8 kobolds quickly dashed back and into a defensive formation in response to my attack, leaving the dismembered lizard alone and bleeding profusely.
"What a selfish bunch," I said, standing behind the kobold that was grabbing its stumped arm in pain.
*SHING*
With a flash, I completely severed the monster's waist from its torso, ending its life on the spot. The group of kobolds across from me warily looked on as the waist and legs fell to the ground in a pool of crimson blood.
Interested in trying something new, I reached down and picked up the fallen lizard's spear. It had a wooden shaft and sharp metal tip that had a little rust.
Slowly looking toward the unmoving group of kobolds, I sighed. "The orcs were a lot more fun than you guys."
*SWOOSH*
Cocking back my arm that held the spear, I unleashed it with all my strength toward the leader of the group who didn't get a chance to defend before the spear left a gaping hole in its chest.
*Thud*
Once their leader was dead, the rest of the kobolds turned angry and charged at me with their spears raised.
"Boring."
…
During the rest period, I lounged around for 5 minutes before the next wave. The kobolds were each level 12 but didn't give me enough XP to level up. I also decided to fuse Drifter's Weapon with all of the kobolds' spears, which gave the weapon a spear form with the same buffs as the sword. I kept all of the drops in my inventory because I didn't have a reason to waste them for marginal buffs. I needed some money after all once I got out of here.
The next wave was also anticlimactic. It was a large hoard of goblin warriors numbered around 25. They gave me enough experience to level up to level 9 and I spent the 4 status points on Stamina, getting it up to 8 base points and with the buff from my weapon, it's at 11 now. I also kept the drops which were mostly Goblin Skin and Goblin Blood.
After the rest period of the 4th wave, something different happened.
[Initiating Special Wave]
"Special wave?" I asked, wondering what it could mean. "Some sort of boss fight?"
[Special Wave commence]
After the announcement, the air on the floor turned cold immediately. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and a heavy pressure descended on my shoulders.
*ROOAAR*
Through the trees, a massive white and blue lizard ran toward me with a frenzied look. Once it saw me, it opened its mouth, and a light-blue orb of light coalesced in front of it.
"Shit."
*BOOOM*
I immediately dived out of the way, barely avoiding a beam of pure ice. As it passed by, I could feel the freezing properties of the skill. I realized if I get hit by it, I'm a goner.
Rolling on the ground and quickly getting to my feet, I glanced back at the lizard that was closing in on me. It resembled a wyvern but without wings. The ice creature had a long tail and very thick leg muscles that propelled it forward at high speeds.
Readying myself for a tough fight, I also ran toward it, watching out for its ice beam attack. As we converged, I was a little slower than it but was able to dodge a swipe from its tail.
Seeing an opportunity to strike, I lunged toward it and clipped its shoulder before it could completely dodge.
*SCRREECH*
Even with the minor injury, it screamed in pain and retreated a few steps back. I gained some confidence as I saw it was wary of my strength and weapon. The lizard had thick scales, so I would have to cut deep, but without any regenerative abilities, I could bleed it out. That was solely dependent on my ability to dodge it because as a human, I was more susceptible to debilitating injuries.
Before I could charge again, the blue light converged at its maw again. I jumped with all my strength and a blue beam of ice passed under me. Seeing its prey airborne, it quickly scrambled underneath me with its mouth open.
"You're not going to eat me, you overgrown lizard!" I yelled as I began to fall back to the ground.
In the air, my sword began to morph and its length increased. I now held a black spear with a red ribbon attached below the blade. On the way down, I gathered my strength and stabbed downwards into the open mouth of the lizard.
*BOOM*
The monster's head was planted firmly in the ground as my spear pierced through the bottom of its jaw and into the black soil below.
*SCREECH*
While it was stuck in the ground, it flung around wildly with its legs and tail but the strength at which I planted the spear in the ground held it down. I left the spear lodged in its jaw and clenched my fist tightly before striking the top of its head.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
After consecutive hits to the head, the lizard lost consciousness and dropped to the ground. I quickly pulled out my spear and stabbed it back into its head, effectively breaking through its scales and its skull.
"Hahh…" I took the spear out and backed away before dropping to the ground in exhaustion. "Tough bastard."
[Congratulations Perseus! You have completed the trial of Drifter's Dungeon! After 5 minutes of rest, you will receive your rewards!]
"Done already?" I asked after hearing the message. "That was a little underwhelming. Probably because my stats are so bloated, especially with the insane strength buff from my weapon."
I took out one of the potions in my inventory and drank it to replenish my stamina. I didn't lose any HP but if I did, then I would have just let it regenerate by itself with my passive skill.
[Player Perseus has leveled up 1 time to level 10 by defeating a level 20 Frost Lizard.]
[Defeated Frost Lizard dropped x1 Frost Fang. x3 Frost Lizard Scales, and x1 Ice Beam Skillbook.]
"Nice. I finally got an active skill."
After distributing my stats and fusing my sword with the materials, my stat window looked like this:
— — —
{Loadout} — [Drifter's Weapon: x2 Strength | +2 Agility | +3 Vitality | +3 Stamina | +5 Intelligence | -17% damage taken from Dark Mana attacks/debuffs | -25% damage from Ice Mana attacks/debuffs | Immunity from Frozen status effect]
…
Status:
{Level} — 10
{EXP} — 56%
{HP: 105/105} {Mana: 90 PTS}
{Strength: 8 (x2) = 16} {Agility: 10 (+2) = 12}
{Vitality: 3 (+3) = 6} {Dexterity: 8}
{Stamina: 8 (+3) = 11} {Intelligence: 4 (+5) = 9}
(0 free stat points)
— — —
Next, I took out the Ice Beam Skillbook.
— — —
[Ice Beam Skillbook (Rare): Active skill that fires a beam of Ice Mana. Has a 15% chance of freezing the target. Cost: 10 Mana Points. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
— — —
I learned the skill, causing the thick white book with light blue engravings to disperse into blue particles.
[Calculating clear reward for Drifter's Dungeon.]
[Grade: S]
[Distrubting S grade rewards.]
I quickly pulled up my character information page and my jaw dropped.
"Isn't this too much?" I asked, incredulously.