Alex retreated from his target with a massive leap, barely dodging the blade of wind that shot his way. After killing the first Jarkin, their temporary team had moved to help another squad who were having trouble fighting two of the large beasts. The second battle started much like the first for Alex. He followed Jamie and one of the other team’s warriors in the initial push while the majority of the other team moved to delay the last Jarkin. Managing to get his weapons within striking distance, Alex landed a few minor bleeding blows before moving to back away. The beast kicked out before he could, its large paw’s speed enhanced by the creature’s wind magic. Adrenaline had mixed with overconfidence and by the time he realized what was happening the strike was too close to dodge.
It connected, the impact sending Alex’s body flying away in a boneless heap. Though if there was any true doubt, the sound of cracking as he skipped across the ground assured him everything was still there, if not in the right place. The pain, only further enhanced by Sixth Sense, left him still, with barely enough situational comprehension to be worried. His vision swam as he opened his eyes, though for all Alex knew they might have been open the entire time. Staring upward, he watched a change occur. Initially he couldn’t place it, but as more of the sunny blue sky began to be overlaid by a foggy white mist, he guessed that wasn’t supposed to happen.
A warm sensation enveloped him a moment later and the agonizing pain his mind had partially suppressed started to ebb. His head cleared; Alex looked for the fog’s source through his skill's extended perception. Rather than a broken mind’s hallucination as he’d somewhat feared, the mist was an energy trail originating from the staff wielder of Jamie’s group.
His condition improved quickly as the woman cast her spell and Alex got to his feet only for a bolt of agony to drop him back to his knees. Magic healing wasn’t instant, and it seemed broken bones still need to be set to be properly repaired. Whatever skill she was using on him did so painfully. It took another few seconds of concentrated casting for Alex to fully heal but by the end he felt more energized than he had before getting hit. He figured it had something to do with the magic. Wondering if it’d be rude to ask about the intricacies, Alex looked over what he’d missed during his minute of pain.
The Jarkin who’d injured him was dead. The other was still up, though with Jamie taking point he doubted it would be for much longer. Still the large man called for him by name, and Alex knew his questions would have to wait.
As the second beast went down, Alex stretched his recently repaired muscles. While Jamie had asked for him to join the battle, it was obvious he was having little effect on the battle’s outcome. Especially if his only gaining a single level after helping kill three beasts four times his level was anything to go by. Alex thought back to Anise’s comments on a team carrying him through the forest and had to agree. The experience wouldn’t be worth the cost, though he’d relish the opportunity to wipe out a few Jarkit nest’s while the others dealt with the larger of the species. He wasn’t sure how plausible it was, but depending on the cost it could be worth a try.
As the last Jarkin died somewhere in the distance, Alex learned his earlier assumption about Boss types was correct. They did come after Sub-Bosses, they did not, however, come in the next wave. As if teleported above, the landings of even larger Jar began to scatter across the battlefield, and the silence of their action scared Alex more than their size.
Advanced Analyze.
***
General
Name: Jarking
Race: Evolved Lepus
Type: Boss
Age: Elder
Level: 50+
Grade: E
Class: Unknown
Health: Unknown
Mana: Unknown
Stamina: Unknown
Description: Hailing from the dense forest of Endor, the Jar is known to be the bottom of the beastial food chain. Normally found in herds due to weak individual strength Jar, when unable to escape a foe, are known to attack viciously using their though bodies and large front teeth. With an aptitude for magic unmatched in their species these largest of the Jar are both the strongest and leaders of their herd.
***
If the massive creature’s soft landing hadn’t put enough fear into Alex, the beast’s level definitely did. He might have missed his only chance to complete his quest, the rest of this time could just be delaying. But Alex knew he couldn’t think like that. When he was dead, he could lament on dying. While he was alive, he would fight, level, and hopefully avoid the lamenting altogether.
There weren’t many Jarking, only about a quarter of the earlier Jarkin, but he knew they’d put up much more of a fight. Through Sixth Sense their bodies seemed to vibrate with green light making the glow the Jarkin had held look like a cheap imitation. While he had been staring open-mouthed at the King of the Jar, Jamie and the others moved into position unperturbed at facing such a foe. Alex heard a few calls for “Raid Rules” and “Boss Battlements,” forcing him to look at the team leader for directions. He pointed to the ground at his side, ready for the unasked question, and even through the helm Alex could tell he was smiling. When a Jarking conjured tornado marked the start of the battle, Alex found himself running into the fray once again as Fear Resistance gained another level.
While the support fighters behind him did something to dismiss the beast’s opening attack Alex found himself separating from Jamie. Fewer enemies meant more teams were fighting each rabbit, but even the larger groups were struggling with the higher level Jarking. Jamie was toward the head of the attack, moving at a speed Alex couldn’t dream of matching, even without the thousand-pound armor the other man wore.
His first push failed.
The lack of success of the beast’s initial attack seemed to give it pause allowing the fastest melee fighters to close. By the time Alex was nearing striking range the boss had not only recovered but retaliated, spears of wind beginning to shoot in every direction. He dodged the first that came his way, accidentally dooming a person behind him to catch the blow. Sixth Sense was useful, and the fighting had helped him level the skill, only further increasing its ability. Unfortunately, even with his higher Intelligence it offered too much information for him too efficiently process during battle, often causing Alex to miss much of what happened in the skill’s range. That was how an oddly angled wind spear pierced his shoulder.
He took the hit with much more grace than his last. Silent Strike’s speed boost combining with Dodge to give him enough time to shift, so it connected with his arm rather than his heart or lung. It only continued to push for a moment before the energy dissipated, but it was enough to disrupt his balance. Spinning in an attempt to recover, the blood from his arm adding to the mess that was his new clothing, Alex had to stop abruptly as to not impale himself on the blade of another fighter. Then dodge again to stop from colliding with another person who’d been hit. Glad he’d managed to avoid death twice in just as many seconds Alex felt the warm sensation of another heal and resumed his push stronger than the first.
It didn’t take long for the teams to fall into a rhythm, the strongest coordinating to attack in waves while everyone else followed their lead. Alex was attacking and retreating as ordered, managing to avoid further harm while doing little real damage against the creature’s thick hide. The Jarking was being steadily whittled down, managing to do little more than defend, while any fighters that were hit quickly received heals. At the rate things were going it would die at some point, but that wasn’t Jamie’s style.
“Down,” the metal clad man screamed as he launched upward; his silver hammer glinting off the sun as it spun.
Alex hadn’t learned much about the group due to the continued fighting, but the leader’s showiness was an obvious trait. “Force.” Jamie finished his proclamation with a baritone that reverberated off the land itself, the sound of fighting fading as dirt and rock reversed gravity in seeming acknowledgement of his call to power. Echo fading as the dense energy could no longer hold back the laws of physics, the ground’s pull seemed to double, his hammer connecting with the three-story beast.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Unlike some of his earlier strikes this one had no visible effect on the Jarking’s body. It seemed fine, if frozen, the point where the hammer hit not pulping as one might expect. The surroundings, however, had no qualms showcasing the damage.
The ground cratered in a twenty-foot radius. Rock splintering and newly dispersed wind creating a hurricane force breeze that reached even the wall hundreds of feet away. After his hammer throw Alex come to expect as much from Jamie’s attacks, but the devastation was still astounding.
He hadn’t yet used that specific skill before, but Alex had seen a pattern in the man that revolved around high yield destruction and prepared accordingly. Even so, nearly fifty feet from the strike's epicenter he felt himself pushed by the attack’s echo, a shiver going down his spine at the raw power. Alex was starting to understand why the other team members were ranged fighters, even the healer seemed adverse to the contact healing he’d seen some of the support use.
Twirling his hammer as if it was a stick of bamboo, Jamie walked away from the settling dust cloud and Alex felt another level gained, even from his meager assistance. A similar set of attack calls and finishing blows rang out and after a tense moment of waiting for another enemy, nothing appeared. Letting out a sigh as he attempted to relax the tension, Alex grouped up with the rest of his temporary unit where he questioned whether another wave would be coming.
“Aye, this run’s been a bit different from the usual. Never have bosses this early and rare are there two stages to a wave, but there should be near ten minutes before the next one.” He shrugged, a wide grin spread across his face as he patted Alex’s back. “Don’t see me complaining though, more the better I say.”
Alex jumped with the contact, phantom pain from his shoulder stinging.
Deciding to use the time the best he could, Alex opened his notifications. A flood of effected nonsense assaulted him. The partial information his combat settings had fed him, mixing with the unread messages combining to be essentially useless. He spent a few seconds reordering them and started to read.
***
Your skill [Fear Resistance] has advanced to Level Five.
Your skill [Fear Resistance] has advanced to Level Six.
Your skill [Advanced Analyze] has advanced to Level Nine.
Your skill [Advanced Analyze] has advanced to Level Ten.
Your skill [Sixth Sense] has advanced to Level Ten.
Your skill [Sixth Sense] has advanced to Level Eleven.
Your skill [Silent Strike] has advanced to Level Two.
…
Your skill [Silent Strike] has advanced to Level Four.
Your skill [Thorn’s Touch] has advanced to Level Eight.
Your skill [Thorn’s Touch] has advanced to Level Nine.
Your skill [Tracker] has advanced to Level Two.
Your skill [Dodge] has advanced to Level Eight.
Your skill [Dodge] has advanced to Level Nine.
You have defeated Jarkit (Level 25*). Bonus experience awarded for killing an enemy above your level. (x2)
+8 Gold
For feasting on the blood of an enemy immediately after killing them you have been awarded the achievement: Glutton
Invading Beasts Defeated +1 (x2)
Congratulations, you have advanced to Level Eight.
Attribute Points Granted. Allocate Free (1) Point(s)
…
Congratulations, you have advanced to Level Thirteen
Attribute Points Granted. Allocate Free (1) Point(s)
You have defeated Jar Kit (Level 25*). Bonus experience awarded for killing an enemy above your level. Experience reduced due to partial contribution. (x10)
+22 Gold
For gaining a fundamental understanding of the sword through bloodshed you have received: Sword Mastery.
Accept (Y/N)
For gaining a fundamental understanding of the dagger through bloodshed you have received: Dagger Mastery.
Accept (Y/N)
You have defeated Jarkin (Level 41,44,35). Bonus experience awarded for killing an enemy above your level. Experience reduced due to partial contribution.
+7 Gold
You have defeated Jarking (Level 55). Bonus experience awarded for killing an enemy above your level. Experience reduced due to partial contribution.
+10 Gold
***
It took less than a minute to get through them all, the consolidated information easy to understand quickly. Making sure he still had time Alex checked his surrounding, most of the people were repositioning, though Jamie was still jovially chatting with his team. He wondered what it would be like to have the power and confidence of the other man. Based on what Jamie had done with his Warrior might be a worthwhile class, though the full armor didn’t seem ideal.
Deciding to ignore the descriptions for the moment Alex accepted both weapon mastery skills at level one. He was glad he’d not taken the dagger skill earlier, though it annoyed him that he’d missed giving them level experience. What he knew for sure was that fighting was the way to success, even Tracker had somehow leveled from the battle.
***
General
Level: 13
Health: 949/1171
Mana: 695/887
Stamina: 657/1192
Attributes
Strength: 21
Dexterity: 28
Endurance: 20
Wisdom: 17
Intelligence: 20
Willpower: 16
Luck: 11
Charisma: 12
Fortitude: 5
Free Points: 6
***
Checking over an abridged version of his general information Alex tried to not react to the astounding difference. All his class-dependent attributes had doubled, with the others raising by nearly fifty percent each. It made sense, but seeing it was still something. The scarf had lost its double point boost. It seemed no matter how he wore it the blood, gore, and other… stuff discounted its attire rating. Though as he looked at the tattered piece of simian fur, he was surprised it gave anything at all. He added all but one of his free points to Endurance bringing it up to 25.
Based on his estimation both Strength and Endurance had an impact on Stamina, which was currently his most used energy pool. He wasn’t entirely sure which had a larger effect, but with his class providing extra Strength every level, Alex decided Endurance was best for the moment. The second he confirmed the choice however, he regretted it, what if going all in on Strength was best. He knew there would always be what-ifs, but it annoyed Alex he couldn’t have the time to make the best decisions, like this next one.
“Umm,” Alex intoned, butting into the group's conversation. “I really appreciate the help but, I, uh, I have a quest I need to complete. So if the creatures in the next wave aren’t too large for my blades, I’m gonna fight solo.”
While he was nervous, more at the potential fight than the interaction, Alex made sure to look everyone in their eyes. They’d been extremely helpful so while he wouldn’t tell them much, he felt little need to lie.
Jamie frowned, seeming to think for a moment. It was the first time Alex had seen the large man actually consider something.
“Are you sure you needn’ to fight alone?” his voice was calm and sincere, but it only managed to deepen Alex’s anxiety, like disappointing a parent. Leaning on Acting to appear confident he nodded but didn’t say anything else.
“Look we know you’re not the same level as us, Natalie,” he pointed at the healer, “is good at sensing those things.” He let the sentence hang for a moment and Alex understood the sub-context. They knew but had still helped him. “If that’s what this be about don’t worry, we’re happy to help, whyever you’re out here.”
Alex let his confidence slip, a smile forming at the genuine kindness of these people. “No, that’s not it, really. I appreciate the help, and if you don’t mind, I’d love to be able to run back for a heal if things get bad, but I really do have to do this.”
“I see,” Jamie looked to want to say more, but instead just smiled and nodded. “A person has to do what a person has to do, just come back alive lad, first round is on me.”
There was a similar chorus of agreement from the rest of the group, as they seemed to defer to their leader, though Natalie mentioned she’d need to be within ten meters to dole out a heal. That didn’t seem like something to just tell anyone, so Alex appreciated her trust as he jogged to an open spot a dozen feet away. The clearing was still full of people though after the last battle more teams had grouped up leaving a bit more space. He really hoped there was another wave of Jarkit, or something like it, with his higher Dexterity and Strength Alex wouldn’t have minded charging in headfirst to complete his quest. Unfortunately, as the calls announcing the wave's arrival rang out Alex knew that wouldn’t be the case.
The newest beasts weren’t as large as the Jarking nor the Jarkin, but they definitely beat the Jarkit in size. They were a cat-like beast, somewhere close to the panther, though their bladed dual tails differed greatly from their earth versions. Rather than the rush of the Jarkit these beasts stalked out the forest like the predators they were. A mage shot an earth made spear at one of the creatures, and it nimbly dodged the strike with ease. Alex analyzed it, back to receiving little since he’d never seen or heard of the beast. The only valuable information he learned was an estimated level of 30+.
He smiled slightly, thirty wasn’t the best, but it was certainly better than a forty. Alex knew based on seeing the levels of the beasts after he killed them his estimates weren’t perfect. The one he’d analyzed could be slightly higher or lower, but it gave a baseline that he was willing to work with. Stayed still as ranged fighters continued to launch spells and other projectiles at the beast, Alex waited for him moment. The beasts continued forward at a measured pace some taking a few hits but none falling. He knew he couldn’t wait forever, but with the panthers so grouped up he’d be torn to shreds if he ran in. When one of the Twintails, as Alex heard the others call them, finally fell, the rest seemed to decide the fight had truly started and charged.