After reaching level ten Izoke headed back to town where he'd seen adventurers sell monster parts. With burlap sack filled with fox teeth, claws, and furs to sell Izoke would need to make a visit. Not to mention getting a better weapon, Izoke thought looking at his shabby dagger that had severely dulled since he got it.

Taking a quick stop at a stream Izoke examined his own reflection. His skin had tanned a little recently but was still smooth and a bit pale like his mother always called "Fair-skinned". He still had the same long black hair and blue eyes as before but something was different. There was a clarity and sharpness in his eyes that Ezoke swore hadn't been there before.

Refreshed and sated from his break Izoke continued his hike back towards town. With an increase in all his stats, the trip felt easier than he would have thought. I could never imagine growing stronger quickly like this. How many days had I worked in the fields at home only to struggle the next day? Yet here I am growing so fast that yesterday's troubles are behind me, Izoke contemplated internally.

Once within the town, Izoke immediately headed to the merchants to cash in his monster parts. Having received his gold Izoke met up with the town's blacksmith to purchase a new sword. Izoke found a decent steel longsword and bought it. The sword only had a blade on one side like a cleaver but was very durable. The blacksmith was charging more for double-sided swords. They cost more not because they were better or had twice as many blades but that they had to be reinforced. For some reason, steel manufactured here is malleable but prone to snapping so blades have to be reinforced in its core by a stronger metal like "Mithril". Mithril is super expensive so one of those swords would cost nearly double the one he bought for a minor boost in its effectiveness.

Having acquired his new weapon Izoke headed back out to grind again. This time the 16-year-old young man was heading into what the "Forum Territory" referred to as real monster grounds. From what he had heard the beasts here spit pure flesh melting acid. The thought of being hit by this made Izoke shiver cold sweat. What a horrifying way to go! Izoke thought.

Once in front of one such creature Izoke marveled at its appearance. It was called a "Slime Wolf" and the beast looked like it was crafted from clear Jade. This environment looked like a barren wasteland even though it was only a mile from dense woods. The green beasts no doubt caused this drastic change in the landscape type with their acid bodies.

Izoke knew the danger in this battle was way greater and success would rely heavily on his speed. Hit and run tactics are what this battle would require. Once the beast was facing opposite his direction Izoke broke into a sprint headed its way. Sword position and ready at his side for a powerful slash. The Giant slime heard the sound of his assault but it was too late to avoid it completely. Izokes Holy Sword slashed along the Green wolf's side. The cut was shallow but was causing the beast pain. Izoke had done his research beforehand finding out that Aura skills like Holy Sword would delay an enemy's ability to heal. It would also prevent shapeshifting monsters from changing form until a certain amount of time passes. It even protects the weapon itself from harm like acid corrosion making it a very desirable skill. It is also a skill that most classes learn eventually anyway. Even with this skill without a healer, this battle looked to be almost unwinnable. Izoke didn't let it get him down though because he knew that he could outlast the creature.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Izoke broke into a sprint back away from the acid beast towards the forest from whence he came. The beast gave chase but stopped after about twenty feet. Yes! Just like the Wiki said, Izoke mentally commented. After a few moments, the beast turned around like it had completely forgotten about him and limped its way back towards its original position.

Readying himself for another charge Izoke once again broke into a sprint and this time got in a lucky strike. The one-sided sword cut off one of the Acid canines hind legs before it was able to react. The beast howled at him in rage unleashing a directional directional area attack called "Acid Howl".

Would you like to learn Acid Howl?

Yes

OR

No

Seeing the devastation of the acid blasting skill Izoke immediately thought, YES!!!

You have learned Acid Howl! The system replied.

Izoke relished his new acquisition. Just the realization that he could learn and use monster skills was awesome. Had his skill not been related to the element that the beast was made from he would have tried using it now.

Having successfully avoided the beast's most powerful skill Izoke rushed it again. Another thing he'd learned was that after this kind of skill was used it took a significant amount of time for the skill to be useable again. People called this "Skill Cooldown".

The acid wolf hadn't expected this sudden act of courage from its cowardly enemy. Its instincts took over and it attempted to bite Izoke straight on. This may have worked if Izoke did not have the Holy Blade skill. His blade cleaved the Acid Wolf's head into like a split sausage. Yet still, the creature didn't die. It has a core! that's what the wiki said, Izoke reminded himself. A closer look at the creature's mobile body revealed a round object within the creature's neck. In one swift movement, Izoke unleashed a Holy Sword slash severing the orb in half and removing the neck from the body of the beast.

You have gained 2 levels!

A prompt screen stated.

"Hell Yeah!" Izoke shouted.

Unable to hold in his excitement at his new directional AOE skill Izoke went to the area between hunting zones. This was often referred to as "Safe Areas" by players.

'Acid Howl", Izoke Shouted and Green sludge Burt from his throat just like the wolf but to a much smaller effect. Then there was also another problem.

"Ahh!" Izoke screamed. His throat was in immense pain and he felt like everything in his mouth and throat vicinity was on fire. So my skills can kill me if I'm not careful? Izoke questioned himself between spasms. Eventually, the pain subsided and Izoke noticed the damage was recovering unnaturally fast.

Two hours later there wasn't even a scar. Ah, so this is why Players say that as long as your health isn't depleted any injury is fine. Players cannot be maimed unless they chose it as a part of they're cosmetics. From what other players had said your own skills will never hurt you but mine had. At least, the one I got from the monster did. Luckily I recover like a player but when I was in town I tried to activate what the players called a resurrection point, Izoke thought.

Contemplating Izoke started talking to himself, "They said that if you touch the goddess statue in the town square and do a praying pose it will give you a prompt that the resurrection point is set. I even actually prayed to the goddess but got no such prompt. Guess she ain't even real... I had hoped maybe she had blessed me but It seems to be blind luck. So if I die there is no coming back. So I'll have to be careful but I also need to use every tool available to me. Ah! Gods what a problem!!!"