Roh stood his ground as the predator charged at him, its roar echoing through the forest. He steeled himself for the attack, but at the last moment, his foot caught on a hidden root and he stumbled, falling to the ground.
The predator seized its opportunity, leaping at him with its razor-sharp claws extended. Roh rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being impaled, but the creature's claws still raked across his chest, leaving deep gashes in their wake. Roh gritted his teeth against the pain and struggled to his feet, determined to take down this beast. He could feel the blood dripping from his wounds, but he refused to let it slow him down.
Roh stumbled through the dense underbrush, his low agility causing him to trip over roots and brush. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he tried to keep up with the agile creature darting through the forest.
Suddenly, the creature turned on him, snarling and baring its teeth. Roh froze. The creature lunged at him, its claws raking across his chest and leaving deep gashes in his skin.
Roh fell to his knees. He had become acutely aware of the gulf between his abilities and the creature's lightning-quick agility. The bitter taste of impending defeat clouded his senses, reality hitting him harder than any adversary could.
The beast, now perched on a jutting outcrop of rock, was a cruel silhouette against the forest backdrop. Its heaving sides gleamed with a dangerous allure under the fading sunlight, and its steely eyes regarded Roh with a predatory interest that was chilling. It appeared to be patient, its body coiled with the promise of explosive movement, like a tempest waiting for the opportune moment to unleash its wrath once more. In its piercing gaze, Roh could see the glint of calculating savagery, a promise of the impending carnage.
Roh, clutching his chest, could feel the heat of his own blood seeping through his fingers and his hopes dwindling. His heart hammered against his chest wall, each beat an echoing reminder of his mortality in this game. But he knew that he had to move. To stay meant certain death. Mustering the last vestiges of his energy, he sprang into action. A dance of survival commenced, with Roh darting, twisting, and pirouetting through the underbrush, evading the beast's subsequent charges.
The untamed, wild environment felt eerily calm, indifferent to his struggle for survival. Noona was engrossed in her own world, placidly munching on a cluster of leaves. Her obliviousness to his perilous situation was a harsh reminder of his solitude in this game.
However, as the rhythm of the fight wore him thin, Noona paused her meal. Her massive eyes, akin to two dark orbs in the golden sunlight, drifted towards Roh. Their gaze met in a brief moment of understanding. Her normally tranquil demeanor transformed, a mighty bellow echoing from her, the sound reverberating through the dense woodland, startling not only Roh but the predator as well.
The beast paused, its focus fractured by the unexpected sound. Its deadly glare, moments ago focused solely on Roh, now locked onto the auroch. This slight deviation, the split-second distraction, was the opportunity Roh desperately needed.
The resonance of his battle cry mingled with the fading echo of Noona's bellow. He harnessed the surge of adrenaline, lunging forward with an unprecedented ferocity. His blade found its mark, piercing the heart of the beast, ending the life-or-death struggle.
The creature let out a final, pitiful cry before collapsing to the ground. Roh stood panting over the beast, his chest heaving and his knife slick with blood. He let out a sigh of relief, his heart still racing. Despite his wounds, he couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph.
He knew that it had been a close call, but he had triumphed over the odds and emerged as the hunter, not the prey. However, he had been lucky this time and he knew he couldn't count on luck every time. He needed to work on his agility if he wanted to survive future encounters in the wild.
It wasn't until the fight was over and her rider emerged victorious that the auroch finally took notice. She looked up from her grazing, her big brown eyes curious as she gazed at her rider and the lifeless predator at his feet.
Roh chuckled tiredly and patted the auroch's neck, grateful for her help during the crisis. He knew that he had been lucky to come out of the encounter alive, and he was thankful to have the steadfast auroch by his side.
"Hey, just wanted to give you a shout out for what you did back there. That predator was no joke, and I don't know if I could've taken it down alone. You really saved my ass," Roh said, patting his muscular friend on the back.
Noona snorted and shook her head, as if to say "it was no big deal".
Roh continued, "Look, I know things got a little tense between us after I lowballed you on the price, but I didn't mean to disrespect you. I'm just a gamer always looking to save a buck. But I realize now that I messed up, and I'm sorry."
The auroch met his gaze, her big brown eyes showing a mix of skepticism and understanding.
"You know, I've come to appreciate you a lot more than just a mount. You're like a teammate to me, and I value your presence on this journey. We may have had some bumps in the road, but I think we make a pretty badass duo. What do you say, partner?"
The auroch let out a low rumble and nudged Roh with her head.
Congratulations! Your bond with your auroch mount has reached a new level!
Looks like you two have come a long way from that awkward first meeting when you tried to haggle for a lower price. Who knew that all it took was a little bit of adventure, a few close calls, and a whole lot of mutual respect to bring you two together?
Your bond is now stronger than ever, and you can count on your auroch to have your back no matter what. Just try not to get too sappy on each other, okay? After all, there are still 9 levels of bonding left to go.
But hey, when the going gets tough and the tough get going, it's always nice to have a trusty mount by your side. Here's to you and your auroch, may your bond continue to grow stronger with each passing day.
Roh let out a triumphant cheer as he read the notification on his screen, a huge grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, we did it!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air. "We're bonded! Nothing can stand in our way now!"
But he also couldn't help but feel a sense of annoyance at the witty comments included in the notification. He appreciated a good joke as much as the next guy, but sometimes he just wanted to be recognized for his achievements without the snarky asides.
Congratulations! You have finally killed your first prey and have officially achieved the rank of “Actual Hunter”!
No longer will you be the awkward, bumbling beginner that everyone would pity. You are now a full-fledged hunter, to be feared and respected by all. Okay, maybe you're still a little green behind the ears, but hey, everyone has to start somewhere. And let's be real, that first kill is always the hardest. But now that you've got it under your belt, there's no telling what you'll be capable of. Just try not to let it go to your head, okay? Remember, with great power comes lots of dirt, sweat, and gore. But hey, it's a small price to pay for all that sweet, sweet loot and bragging rights. Here's to you, the newest hunter in the land. May your hunts be plentiful and your prey be...prey-like. Just try not to get too cocky, okay? After all, there are still bigger and badder beasts out there, waiting for their chance to take you down. But hey, that's what makes it all worth it, right? So go out there and make your mark.
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He rolled his eyes at the sarcastic asides. He was either getting desensitized to them or they were possibly even growing on him as he was almost expecting them, perhaps even looking forward to them.
Roh let out a loud whoop of joy as he read the notification on his screen, grinning from ear to ear. He had worked hard to become a skilled hunter, and it was gratifying to see all of his efforts paying off.
"Finally!" he exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. "I'm an actual hunter! No more bumbling around, trying to figure things out. I've arrived, baby!"
As he sat there, basking in the glow of his newfound status, Roh knew that there were still challenges and dangers ahead. But he was ready for them, armed with his skills, his wits, and his auroch mount by his side. He was an actual hunter, and he was ready to take on whatever the world had to throw at him
After defeating the predator, he set to work harvesting its meat. He knew that the creature's flesh would be tough and gamey, but he also knew that it would be a valuable source of food and sustenance during his journey through the forest, not to mention he was starving.
He began by gutting the beast, carefully removing its organs and setting them aside. Next, he skinned the creature, taking care to remove as much of the fat and gristle as possible.
New Skill Unlocked
Gained Skill: [Harvesting Lv1]
New Passive Ability – [Monster Hunter Experience Boost Lv1]: +25% XP bonus from harvesting meat from monsters.
(Gained from successfully extracting meat from slain monsters.)
After reading the prompt, Roh's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile as he whispered to himself, "This passive ability is quite useful - with all the hunting I'll be doing, I'll have plenty of opportunities to harvest monster meat and level up quickly."
With the meat prepared, he built a small fire and set a pot of water from his waterskin to boil. He cut the meat into small chunks and added them to the pot, along with a handful of wild herbs and vegetables that he had gathered from the surrounding area.
As the stew simmered over the fire, Roh sat back and tended to his wounds and gashes on his chest. He remembered the Mending Gel that he had tucked away in his bag.
He quickly dug through his bag, his fingers closing around the small, compact vial. He pulled out the cork stopper and squeezed a generous amount of the thick, orange gel onto his fingers. As he applied the gel directly on the gashes, he felt a cool sensation wash over the wounded areas. The gel quickly went to work, numbing the pain and promoting healing.
Roh could see the gash closing and healing before his eyes. The gel hardened, forming a protective barrier that would prevent further injury and contamination. He let out a sigh of relief, feeling the gash start to fade away.
The smell of the cooking meat made his stomach growl, and he couldn't wait to dig in.
The stew bubbled away on the campfire, filling the air with its rich, savory aroma. Chunks of succulent meat and vegetables swam in the thick, hearty broth, and a sprinkle of herbs lent a hint of earthy, aromatic flavor.
Roh couldn't wait to dig in, his mouth watering at the thought of all those flavors coming together in one delicious, satisfying dish. He knew that it would be the perfect fuel for whatever lay ahead on their journey, a warm, comforting meal to fill his belly and strengthen his spirit.
Finally, the stew was ready. As Roh sat down to enjoy his very first meal of predator meat, he couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh. He dug in with gusto, savoring each and every bite. The juices from the meat dripped down his beard as he ate, and he wiped them away with the back of his hand, not wanting to miss a single drop of the delicious stew. Despite the tough, gamey flavor of the predator's meat, he found it to be surprisingly satisfying and although he didn't usually enjoy the taste of predator meat, he was so hungry that he devoured the stew with relish.
New Skill Unlocked
Gained Skill: [Cooking Lv1]
You have also gained the "Well-Fed" buff, which increases your health regeneration rate by 10% for the next 4 hours.
Enjoy your newfound culinary abilities, and don't forget to use them to keep yourself nourished and well-fed on your adventures!
Recipe learned:
Gamey Stew
3 x [Raw Meat Chunks]
2 x [Vegetables]
1 x [Herbs]
Achievement unlocked!
[Learned a recipe] Successful experimentation, or in this case common sense, paid off
Learning trade secrets could prove useful and lucrative
Reward: A warm fuzzy feeling from self accomplishment
Level Up!
Level 3
Title: Actual Hunter.
It looks like you've finally taken down your first creature. Keep up the good work, and don't forget to hone your skills and improve your agility. Who knows what kind of beast you'll encounter next? Happy hunting!
Max HP +20
Max Stamina +10
Two stat points gained.
Sweet, this time I will add both stat points to my agility as I almost died because of it. It’s still my lowest stat at three points. Still not great, but it’s getting there.
He scouted the area once more to ensure that it was clear of threats. No more distractions.Now that I’ve had some food and leveled up, I need to complete my quests. Let’s try to find some more Zulgarn traces.
Roh was deep in the heart of the forest, his senses on high alert as he searched for the elusive Zulgarn behemoth. For ages he had been tracking its scent, and now he was closing in on his prey.
As he crested a rise in the trail, he suddenly caught the faint scent of something musky and foul. He slowed his pace, hand instinctively reaching for the knife at his belt.
Carefully, he approached a clump of ferns and pushed them aside, revealing a tangled mass of fur. Roh let out a low whistle, his heart racing with excitement. He had finally found the first trace of the beast.
He approached the fur carefully, studying it intently. The fur was thick and shaggy, and it was streaked with dirt and blood. Roh was a seasoned hunter, and he knew the dangers of the Zulgarn behemoth all too well. He carefully collected a sample of the fur, storing it in a small pouch at his belt.
Main Quest Updated!
Objective: Collect Traces of a Zulgarn 2/3
+50 Behemoth Research Points
With a fierce grin, Roh set off once again, his quest for the final trace now more urgent than ever.
And then, just as he was about to crest another rise in the trail, he caught the scent of something even fouler than the fur. He followed it, moving quickly and quietly, until he came across a small pool of drool. Roh let out a triumphant roar, knowing that he had finally found the second trace of the beast.
He approached the drool carefully, studying it intently. The drool was thick and glistening, and it reeked of decay and rot. Roh carefully collected a sample, storing it in a separate pouch at his belt.
Completed! Main Quest - Zulgarn of the Primal Lands
Rewards:
500 XP
100 Gold
+50 Behemoth Research Points
New Main Quest - Obtain a Pathfinder
Pathfinders are flying creature companions that assist hunters in tracking their quarry. They are able to pick up the scent of a hunter’s target and lead them to it. Your task is to obtain one to be your companion and assist you on your journey.
Objective: Obtain a Pathfinder
Location: Vendor in Cazador
Recommended Level: 3
Conditions: None
Failure Conditions: None
Rewards:
1000 XP
200 Gold
+100 Pathfinder Research Points
With a fierce grin, Roh set off once again, his quest complete. The Zulgarn behemoth was now within his grasp, and he was determined to bring the hunt to an end.