[Strength: F -> E]
"Perfect timing," he murmured, a small smile forming on his lips. "Now, I'm ready."
He stood up, stretching his muscles and taking a deep breath. "Shadow, let's move. It's time to face the new tribe."
With Shadow leading the way, Sasaki proceeded east, deeper into level 2 of the forest. The notifications and the experience boost had given him the confidence he needed. He knew the next battle would be tough, but he was ready.
He would use every trick and strategy at his disposal to come out on top.
As they moved quietly through the forest, Sasaki's mind was focused. He visualized the traps he would set and the tactics he would use to exploit the hobgoblins' weaknesses. The thrill of the hunt was upon him.
Sasaki soon spotted the new tribe of hobgoblins. Shadow had identified them as close combatants, relying heavily on brute force.
Sasaki's plan was simple yet effective: lure them into traps, use their overconfidence against them, and strike when they were at their most vulnerable.
He found the perfect location: a narrow alley-like pass between two tall mountain structures, forming a tight path where enemies could only pass in a single line.
This terrain was ideal for setting up traps and launching an ambush.
Although this location was some distance from the actual tribe's territory, Sasaki wasn't worried. His increased strength and speed allowed him to cover the distance quickly, though he knew he still couldn't match the elite warriors of this world.
His advantage lay in his cunning and strategic thinking.
Sasaki set up his traps a few meters apart from the entrance of the narrow pass. His plan was to lure the hobgoblins into the first trap, which would stun them. When they stumbled upon the second trap, he would unleash his 'Epidemic Bullet' skill.
With the hobgoblins forced to enter the pass in single line, it would be easier to infect them all. He could then retreat to his hideout and wait for the infection to take its toll.
With everything in place, Sasaki began his operation. He ran swiftly, drawing the attention of the hobgoblins. As they noticed him, they roared and started their pursuit, confident in their strength and numbers.
Sasaki led them towards the narrow pass, glancing back to ensure they were following. "Come on, you brutes," he muttered under his breath. "Just a little closer."
The hobgoblins charged after him, their heavy footsteps echoing through the forest. As they entered the narrow pass, the first trap was triggered.
A burst of corrupted mana erupted, stunning the lead hobgoblins. Their roars of confusion and anger filled the air as they stumbled.
"Perfect," Sasaki whispered. He jumped into the air, aiming his 'Epidemic Bullet' at the hobgoblins. The skill hit the lead hobgoblin, and the infection began to spread rapidly.
The hobgoblins, disoriented and unaware of the invisible threat, continued to push forward. As they triggered the second trap, another burst of corrupted mana erupted, catching the remaining hobgoblins in its range.
Sasaki fired another 'Epidemic Bullet', ensuring that all of them were infected.
The hobgoblins' health started to drop slowly, and Sasaki could see their growing panic. He didn't wait to see the outcome.
He turned and sprinted back towards his hideout, confident that the infection would do its work.
Back at his hideout, Sasaki leaned against a tree, panting heavily. His heart raced from the exertion and the thrill of the hunt.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled. "Got them," he said to himself. "Now, it's just a matter of time."
He sat down, his back against the tree, and waited for the notifications to appear, indicating the demise of the hobgoblins. As the minutes passed, Sasaki reflected on his strategy and the success of his plan.
"I need to be more careful next time," he mused. "If they figure out my tactics, it won't be so easy. But for now, this worked perfectly."
Soon after an hour, the notifications began to pop up.
[Ding!]
[You have killed a Level 60 Hobgoblin. Experience gained: 24,000]
[You have killed a Level 60 Hobgoblin. Experience gained: 24,000]
...
[You have killed a Level 70 Hobgoblin Leader. Experience gained: 28,000]
[Total Experience Gained: 5,00,000]
Sasaki chose the 500,000 EXP because he needed it to level up. His heart was filled with revenge against the previous tribe, and he wanted to level up quickly so the time needed to defeat high-level enemies would gradually decrease. This way, he could move to the Level 3 forest and take on the challenge of high-level monsters.
For the next six days, Sasaki used the same hit-and-run strategy. He lured the hobgoblins into the narrow mountain alley, killed them with traps and 'Epidemic Bullet,' gained experience, and leveled up. His luck held, and the hobgoblins, foolish and brute, kept falling for his traps. They were low-level intelligence demons, and as soon as they saw Sasaki, they chased him into the traps and died.
Sasaki repeated this strategy for six days. Each day, he got stronger and faster. His level went up to 40. With each level, his body transformed.
His bones became harder than steel, his muscles were now made of steel fibers, and his stamina and strength increased greatly. The time it took to kill high-level 60 and 70 hobgoblins went from an hour to half an hour.
[Stamina: F -> E]
[Strength: E -> D]
When Sasaki reached level 40, his whole body transformed. Every part of his body became harder than steel. He felt a new strength, but he also hit a wall in his progress.
His other stats, like his class level and skills, could be raised by experience points, but his basic attributes had stopped increasing. It was like staring at a wall he couldn't climb over.
[Attributes Panel]
[Stamina: E]
[Strength: E]
[Agility: D]
[Intelligence: E]
Frustrated, Sasaki sat down and tried to think of a solution. He muttered to himself, "I've hit the wall of attributes. How do I overcome this? My class level and skills go up with EXP, but my basic attributes... they're stuck."