[One Who Overcomes Hardships]
[The possessor of extreme mental strength.
* The special stat 'Indomitable' has been opened.
You won't give in to any trials.
* The skill 'Strong Will' can be used.]
'Umm... Isn't this the title Huroi acquired during my starting days as Pagma's Descendant? I still remember how awful the requirements needed to clear the quest were for him. He suffered immensely because I wasn't strong at the time, including my personality which was even worse.'
Grid reminisced when his life had just started going on the right track. One of the reasons why his life started improving was Huroi—who became his friend at the start of his journey as Pagma's Descendant. He didn't forget the sufferings his first real-life friend went through in Satisfy. He was even prepared to lessen his sufferings this time around...
'However, that quest did play an important role in the establishment of a good relationship between us. Huroi is the first player whom I can truly call a companion of mine. This time... I won't let him suffer that much during the quest. I will also make sure his strength grows faster compared to the past.'
Grid didn't dwell on past things anymore and started thinking of ways to improve the status of his dear friend, Huroi, in the future.
'Anyway, this title is great, especially the skill it provides.'
He then moved on to the next description...
[Indomitable]
[Has a certain probability of invalidating a portion of the incoming damage. The lower the health, the higher the probability.
* The higher the number, the higher the effect.
* Stat points can't be distributed to this stat.]
'Same as before. Sigh... With my terrible luck, it doesn't matter to what degree I can raise the stat since it wouldn't benefit me anyway. Anyway... better having it than nothing, I guess?'
Indomitable was a very useful special stat when the effect it provided got activated. In particular, it was an essential stat for tankers. However, because the probability of the stat's effect being activated was extremely low, people treated Indomitable as a trash stat.
Despite having a large amount of points in the stat, Grid almost never experienced the effect provided by Indomitable in the past turn. An unreliable stat like Indomitable that had a chance of invalidating a portion of damage received wasn't something the unlucky Grid could lean on.
This was the reason why Grid wasn't very happy even after obtaining a special stat known as 'Indomitable'.
Though he was very happy to acquire the skill provided by the title... Yet the description of the skill smashed Grid's expectations so hard that they got shattered like a mirror—
[Strong Will]
[Any attack from the enemies of level above 30 or below from the user's level can be resisted for 10 seconds after the skill is used. Only basic and normal skill attacks are subjected to be resisted under the effect.
Skill Resource Consumption: 200 Mana
Skill Cooldown Time: 2.5 hours.]
'F*ck! Damn it! What the heck is this shit?!'—Grid screamed in his mind.
Unexpected to Grid, the skill's description wasn't the same as what he had heard.
'Damn it! Morpheus definitely nerfed the skill given to me.'
Strong Will—the skill that Huroi had acquired from the title 'One Who Overcomes Hardships' didn't mention any level limit.
Additionally, although the skill was tricky to use, it worked against most attack skills except the legendary and above-rated attack skills, not just the basic and normal attack skills.
Unlike Huroi's skill, the one acquired by Grid was obviously nerfed by Morpheus, perhaps because it was still too early for such a broken skill to appear. And in Grid's hand nonetheless, the player who had already surpassed S.A. Group's expectations just at the beginning of the game.
'Anyway, let's calm down. It wouldn't change anything. Let's pay attention to other things.'
[Persistence]
[You never give up, even in the face of a difficult task. You won't get tired easily. The weight limit for your possessions has increased. The feeling of satiation will last for a long time.
* The higher the number, the higher the effect.
* Stat points can't be distributed to this stat.
* Every time 10 points are gained in this stat, the 'Indomitable' stat will increase by 1 point.]
'Hmm... It's the same. Sigh... At least it's not altered. Nice that I acquired the stat earlier. I can raise it from the beginning now.'
Grid would have obtained Persistence stat eventually even if he he hadn't acquired it now. With the labor and hard work the blacksmithing required, it was easy for Grid to acquire the stat at that time.
Persistence was a very good special stat, especially useful for the classes that required high labor such as Blacksmith and Miner.
It was a hybrid stat between Stamina and Strength. Although it didn't provide extra stamina, it reduced the rate of stamina depletion. Similarly, it didn't increase the physical attack power of the users but increased their weight limit—the amount of weight a person could carry effectively.
That's why, it was one of the most important stats for blacksmiths and miners since they could carry out their activities for a longer period with this stat working in their favor.
'Let's check Poison Resistance now.'
[Poison Resistance]
[Stage: Lesser/Degraded | Level: 1
Type: Passive Skill
When exposed to the abnormal state of being 'poisoned', it helps in building up the resistance to poison faster.
* There is a certain probability of resisting the abnormal state of 'Lesser Poisoning'.
* You can't resist the higher states of being 'poisoned' at the current stage.
* The higher the percentage of Poison Resistance is built up, the higher the effect of the skill will be.
Current Poison Resistance: 1%.]
'Hmm... Not something extraordinary, as expected. Anyway, it will help me until I become a Legend. Till then, I should develop my Poison Resistance because I wouldn't be able to after I become one.'
In his previous turn, Grid wasn't able to acquire the Poison Resistance skill. It was mainly because a Legend didn't need Poison Resistance since they couldn't be poisoned by normal poisons. Secondly, he wasn't able to acquire it as a Warrior since he didn't know how to play the game correctly at the time.
Once any normal poison started affecting any Legend, the 1st passive effect of the 'One Who Became a Legend' would resist the effect and negate it completely. This hindered the growth of their Poison Resistance completely, hence became the reason why a Legend couldn't build Poison Resistance normally.
He also had another poison-attribute skill...
[Poison Bullet]
[Level: 1
The most basic spell of the poison-attribute magic series.
* Deals damage equal to 10% of your current magic attack power to the target.
* The target hit by the spell has a low probability of falling into the abnormal state of 'Lesser Poisoning'.
Resource Consumption: 40 Mana
Skill Casting Time: 1 Second
Skill Cooldown Time: 30 Seconds.]
Poison Bullet was the most basic spell of a Poison Magician—usually acquired after one acquired the class or specialized in a similar field. However, for Grid, it was a spell he acquired after he absorbed the Poisonous Platinum Slime's Core completely.
Grid got lucky, yet it didn't mean much to him—someone who had experienced 'Braham's Enhanced Magic'. Just a somewhat useful spell for the beginning part of the game.
'Decent. Although its damage coefficient is lacking just like the normal Magic Missile, it can be used as a debuff and crowd control skill if the second effect of the skill occurs. It should be somewhat useful in the beginning. Anyway, I can't expect much from a normal basic spell.'
Grid then started checking the growth of his swordsmanship-related skills...
Grid's Beginner Sword Mastery had reached level 3 so the buffs provided in the physical attack power & attack speed were increased by 1%. In total, it provided a 5% increase in physical attack power and attack speed now. This wasn't anything extraordinary and the same as what Grid remembered it to be.
As for his slash skills...
[Vertical Slash]
[Level: 2 (1%)
Unleash a vertical slash made from energy. Correct execution of the technique is needed for the skill effect to occur swiftly.
* Deals damage equal to 180% of your physical attack power to a single target within 3 meters.
* Has a certain probability of the 'Cutting' effect occurring.
* Has a very low probability of the 'Bisect' effect occurring. (Cooldown Time: 5 minutes)
Resource Consumption: 72 Mana
Skill Cooldown Time: 1 Minute.]
Both skills, the Vertical Slash and the Horizontal Slash had similar descriptions, even after leveling up. Although their damage output and resource consumption increased with the level up, the range and cooldown time were the same as before.
Anyway, the 30% increase in damage output of the slash skills wasn't wasn't something to scoff at. Grid was already content with his current skills and their growth rate. With the advanced knowledge of Satisfy, he already knew they were more than sufficient for the beginning part of his journey. He also knew of other methods to acquire more skills.
Grid then glanced at the mana cores he had acquired by hunting slimes...
[Slime's Core]
[It is ordinary slime's mana core—the lowest grade of mana core. It contains a very small amount of mana.
* It is one of the main ingredients used to make the 'Lowest-grade Mana Core Training Potion'.
Weight: 0.1.]
'Umm... Also the same as before. Anyway, it wouldn't be of any help to me now that I have already achieved the first stage expansion of mana core.'
[Elite Slime's Core]
[A rare slime's mana core not found in everyday markets. It contains a small amount of mana.
* It can be used as a main ingredient for making the 'Low-grade Mana Core Training Potion'.
Weight: 0.1.]
'Hmm... Huh? This can be useful. As far as I remember the Low-grade Mana Core Training Potions are needed for training the first stage mana core.'
Yet there was another factor that stopped Elite Slime's Core from becoming useful right now...
'Since this kind of potion-making would require either an Alchemy Facility and Alchemist or a Great Magician, it should be impossible to utilize this item currently.'
Although Grid knew the potion could help him in training his mana core that had achieved first-step expansion, he didn't forget that trying to make the potion by himself was impossible currently.
'Ohh... I forgot... I can get acquainted with the Great Magician Ashur by doing well in the Patrian's reserve forces training and try to use him to get some magic-related quests as well.'
Grid started contemplating how to use the Great Magician of Eternal Kingdom to pave his path as a magician.
'I won't let the system trick me this time. With my knowledge, I can find methods to remove the obstacles that would restrict my growth as a magician.'
Previously, Grid wasn't able to become a proper magician despite having acquired a legendary magician-type class twice. One of the factors that contributed to making Grid a half-assed magician was his untrained mana core.
For magicians, the mana core was a familiar system as a top concept of the Intelligence stat, unlike the non-magic users like Grid in the beginning.
Usually, the magicians trained and expanded their mana core little by little through mana core training potions, hidden quests, and class quests. It could also be developed by elixirs. The best elixir was the Dragon Pill which could expand the mana core significantly.
'Sigh... Let's not dwell on Morpheus' trickery and my foolishness. I should focus on important things I can achieve right now.'
After contemplation, Grid started walking to the area where the 4th and last kind of beginner monsters appeared.
***
Grid arrived in the deep forest, leaving behind the lake shore where Green Slimes dwelled. It was the area where Hungry Bears appeared.
Grid then started hunting the bears after he found them...
"Poison Bullet!"
Shaak!
Grid used the newly acquired spell even though he knew that it wouldn't do any damage to the target. He used the skill only because he wanted to accumulate proficiency to increase its level and check its probable crowd control & debuff effect.
The small pellet made of poisoned water hit the bear.
[The target has received 1 damage.]
As he had expected, nothing happened. Grid's magic attack power was seriously lacking, and it wasn't like he had targeted any weak spot. Even if he had done that, it wouldn't have resulted in a critical hit anyway.
Meanwhile, the bear who acknowledged Grid's presence charged toward him to rip apart the body of the attacker, who appeared suddenly, leaving an opening during the process.
Grid took full benefit of the opening and continued with his other skill...
"Vertical Slash!"
Shaak!
[Critical hit!]
Grid targeted the spot near its lungs and heart. He knew the attack pattern and weak spots of the Hungry Bears. An opening was necessary to target the lungs and heart of a bear. Otherwise, only the neck remained as a weak spot.
However, as was the case with most monsters, the Hungry Bears also didn't have much intelligence. Hiding their weak spots against an experienced warrior wasn't something they could achieve.
The slash made of energy tore through the tough hide of the dull-witted bear, who had considered itself as a hunter and Grid as a prey, leaving its ribs and lungs exposed due to its carelessness.
Yet the bear didn't die. Grid used another skill immediately after seeing the result, targeting the same spot again...
"Horizontal Slash!"
Grid was able to use the skills repeatedly, not fearing the current mana consumption, only because the amount of his mana was increased after absorbing the Platinum Slime's Core.
Shaak!
[Critical hit!]
[You have defeated a Hungry Bear.]
[You have acquired 10 bronze coins.]
[You have acquired bear meat.]
[35 experience has been acquired.]
The slash made of energy tore through the exposed ribs and lungs, shattering the heart hidden inside, and killing the bear in the process. It was the result Grid wanted to see.
...
Usually, a Hungry Bear wasn't a target a lone beginner could defeat easily.
A Hungry Bear looked like a brown bear with dimensions around 6 feet in length, 3 feet in height, and 2.5~2 feet in width.
The Hungry Bears were giant and the strongest monsters for beginners to face. They had high defense and attack power because of their thick & furry hides and high physical strength, respectively.
Although not as agile as the Thirsty Deer, the Hungry Bears had decent movement and attack speeds just below them. They also had abilities such as physical damage resistance, Bite, Claw, and Hug.
Let alone hunting them effectively, the Hungry Bears weren't a target that any beginner could defeat easily. Usually, a team of level 9~10 beginner players containing 5~6 members was needed to effectively take them down.
Yet Grid was able to hunt them easily because of having 3 epic-rated equipment, information about their attack pattern, beyond-godly control, and the skills he had acquired previously. It would have been deemed abnormal if he couldn't do something like this even after having such information, resources, and talent at his disposal.
'Hmm... I have to find another bear now. Wait... Won't it consume a lot of time with this method, and I won't be able to complete the hunt in the required period, huh?'
Grid had also guessed the hidden condition to trigger the last HEFB based on that information and wasn't as anxious as he had been in previous scenarios.
Yet there was a problem he had to solve first. It was related to the time—the period in which he had to hunt a specific number of Hungry Bears.
Since the bears were mostly solitary creatures, Grid had to find them one by one to hunt them. It wouldn't be effective hunting since he would waste a lot of time in finding the targets. That would most likely exceed the required period needed to clear the 'hidden condition' to trigger the HEFB.
'Let's do it this way. Find a bear first, don't kill it swiftly, and let it make some ruckus. Its roars and growls should be enough for attracting the other bears around the area. If that doesn't work, I'll see what happens.'
Grid started searching for the next target to implement the plan he had contemplated...
Soon after, Grid found a target. He didn't use his attack skills this time, only basic attacks while maintaining a safe distance so he wouldn't get bitten, clawed, or hugged by the bear. He only attacked when he was sure he wouldn't be in any adverse condition.
Ptaak!
"Hufff!"
Ptaak!
"Hufff!"
"Grrrrr!!"
The Hungry Bear started making huffing and roaring sounds soon after the battle started. Its roar called for help from the other bears living in the forest near it.
"Grrrr!!"
"Grrrr!!"
The bears nearby also growled and roared, signaling their arrival and the upcoming support to the Hungry Bear that was being tortured by Grid.
From this, Grid was sure his plan had succeeded. He used an attack skill just after to swiftly kill the bear he had been torturing with basic attacks before the arrival of the other bears.
"Horizontal Slash!"
Shaak!
[Critical hit!]
[The 'Cutting' effect is activated.]
[Extra damage equal to 150% of your physical attack power is dealt to the target.]
[You have defeated a Hungry Bear.]
[You have acquired 10 bronze coins.]
[You have acquired bear meat.]
[35 experience has been acquired.]
The slash made of energy cut through the lungs of the battered bear, shattering its heart, and relieving it from the pain it was suffering. The 2nd bear finally died but other bears arrived at the place, 6 more Hungry Bears.
The newly constituted pack of bears charged toward Grid to attack in full swing.
Grid used the footwork of his sword dances to avoid their attacks and retaliate at the same time. He also used the attack skills and Poison Bullet repeatedly during the process...
"Poison Bullet!"
Shaak!
[The target has received 1 damage.]
[The target has fallen into the abnormal state of 'Lesser Poisoning' for the duration of the battle.]
"Grrrrr!!"
"Vertical Slash!"
Shaak!
[Critical hit!]
"Horizontal Slash!"
Shaak!
[Critical hit!]
[You have defeated a Hungry Bear.]
[You have acquired 10 bronze coins.]
[You have acquired bear meat.]
[35 experience has been acquired.]
Although Grid could use the skills one after another because of having sufficient mana and increased mana regeneration rate from the Meditation skill, he still had to face the cooldown times of skills. Because of this, he wanted to reduce the number of bears first.
...
"Vertical Slash!"
Shaak!
[Critical hit!]
[The 'Cutting' effect is activated.]
[Extra damage equal to 150% of your physical attack power is dealt to the target.]
[You have defeated a Hungry Bear.]
[You have acquired 10 bronze coins.]
[You have acquired bear meat.]
[35 experience has been acquired.]
[Your level has risen.]
[10 stat points have been acquired.]
It was the fifth bear or third bear of the pack Grid just hunted down, and his level rose. He reached level 6. He invested all the newly acquired stat points immediately.
"Increase agility by 7 points and strength by 3 points."
[Your Agility has risen.]×7
....
[Your Strength has risen.]×3
Since Grid now had a sufficient amount of mana and could manage things with the current amount of stamina, he didn't need to invest the stat points further into the intelligence and stamina currently.
Rather, Grid paid more attention to maintaining a 1:1 Ratio between agility and strength to achieve the initial Golden Ratio of Stats. This was also the ideal way of stat point distribution for beginners.
Grid took care of the whole pack of 6 bears in a few minutes. During the battle, the proficiency of Grid's skills was also rising steadily. He then proceeded to implement the same plan as before in another area nearby.
...
Grid kept on hunting, implementing the same method repeatedly. He hunted 32 more bears, leveling up once more. He reached level 7 and invested the newly acquired stat points again, 6 in agility and 4 in strength.
[Your Agility has risen.]×6
....
[Your Strength has risen.]×4
Grid took down 12 more bears after the level up... He had hunted down a total of 49 Hungry Bears in 60 minutes till now. The hidden condition he wanted to clear was cleared and triggered the last HEFB for the beginner known as Grid...
[A total of 49 bears were hunted by you in 60 minutes.]
[A 'hidden condition' was cleared!]
[The 'last hidden event for beginner' would be triggered!]
[The hidden field boss 'Diamond Bear' has appeared!]
[The elite monster 'Iron Bear' has appeared.]
[The elite monster 'Iron Bear' has appeared.]
[The elite monster 'Iron Bear' has appeared.]
[The elite monster 'Iron Bear' has appeared.]
[The elite monster 'Iron Bear' has appeared.]
"Shit!"
This was more than what Grid had expected. A pack of giant bears appeared in front of him and the battle ensued...