Jeremiah held his forearm over his eyes, blocking a gust of snow-filled wind. Earth’s climate had become significantly more moderate since the Integration, but it was still November in the mountains, and there were going to be frigid winds. And snow.
The light dusting of snow that covered the ground was at times helpful as it showed him there were dozens, if not hundreds, of monsters in the area around his newly claimed Estate. Unfortunately, the gusts of wind blew away the footprints whenever they weren’t shielded from the blasts of frigid air, so it was impossible to track any of the monsters.
That didn’t stop Jeremiah and Benjamin from searching out and eliminating them. The Weapons Master was even more aggressive in rooting out unwelcome guests than Jeremiah was. The man truly enjoyed battle and was ready to use his extensive skills day or night.
A deep, booming shout in a language Jeremiah didn’t understand reminded him that tracking wasn’t actually necessary. The monsters around his new home were more than eager to tangle with the mountain’s newest resident.
Six towering creatures skidded down the mountainside in a controlled yet very fast descent. They wore metal-studded leather armor and conical helms with horns jutting from each side. Their skin had a bluish tint, and they carried huge battle-axes.
>
>
> Name: Frost Giant
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> Level: 48
>
> Health: 1672
>
>
>
> Giants inhabit almost every Integrated planet. Frost Giants come from dark and frozen planets and thrive in cold places. Their tolerance to cold makes them immune to ice attacks, and their large size offers significant protection from most melee attacks. If you want to avoid the cold embrace of death, it’s probably best if you don’t mess with Frost Giants.
>
>
Jeremiah cast Advanced Analyze on one of the monsters to get a better idea of what he and Benjamin were facing.
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> Name: Frost Giant
>
> Attributes:
>
> * Durability: 64
> * Strength: 72
> * Agility: unknown
> * Charisma: unknown
> * Intelligence: unknown
> * Strength: unknown
> * Vitality: unknown
> * Wisdom: unknown
>
> Items:
>
> * B Grade Helmet
> * B Grade Armor
> * C Grade Battle-axe
>
> Special Abilities:
>
> * Extreme resistance to Ice attacks
> * Ice Storm attack
>
>
He didn’t get a full analysis of the monster’s attributes because the creature was at a higher level than he was, but what he did get painted an extremely dangerous picture. The creature’s high strength and C Grade weapon could cause a lot of damage, and the B Grade armor would absorb much the damage he and Benjamin dished out.
Jeremiah smiled anyway and summoned his favorite weapon, one that was specifically created for monsters like these. Not that it was a bad weapon for any situation. In addition to the giant-specific powers, the weapon was also enhanced by his Dimensional Weapons Storage Belt, which increased the level of the weapon by one grade for twenty-four hours.
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> Enhanced Giant Strike Sledgehammer
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> * B Grade Weapon (enhanced for 24 hours)
> * Causes very high damage.
> * Damage increased by 8% per Strength point.
> * Base damage increased by 50% against giants and any creature at least twice the size of wielder.
> * Requirement to use: Level 30
>
>
He twirled the sledgehammer in one hand, slapping the shaft into his other hand as he spread his feet and prepared for battle. Next to him, Benjamin summoned two swords and turned sideways, holding one sword overhead and the other across his midsection.
Jeremiah imagined they looked quite heroic as they faced down the literal giants.
“I’ll take the three big ones.” The Weapons Master flashed him a smile.
Jeremiah chuckled. “Thanks. I will do my best with the small ones.”
That was all the time they had for banter.
Benjamin raced forward to meet the charge. He spun to the right, his blades swinging in a wide arc as he ducked under a large battle-axe, and his swords sliced into the giant’s leg.
The monster bellowed in rage and kicked at the comparatively small man, but Benjamin was already out of range, his swords gashing the next giant.
The Weapons Master darted around the giants like an annoying fly, leaving bloody gashes everywhere he went.
Jeremiah turned his attention to the three Frost Giants on the left and cast a spell.
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> Spell: Walking on Air
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> Type: Air Magic
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> Requirement: Advanced Level Air Magic
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> Effect:
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> * Walk on steps of air, traversing any terrain with ease.
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> Range: 50 Feet
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> Cost: Moderate Mana per second
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> Cooldown: none
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>
He leaped forward, using the invisible steps of air to propel himself up and over the charging monsters.
Jeremiah dismissed the spell as he cleared the last monster and began to fall. He twisted around as he plummeted to the ground and swung his sledgehammer down with two hands—onto the rear Frost Giant’s head.
There was an explosion of light as his Lightning Strike skill activated.
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> Lightning Strike:
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> The ancient gods rained lightning down on their enemies, dealing death and destruction from the heavens. Now you can do the same. Imbue every strike with the power of Zeus!
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>
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> Requirement: Any Advanced Level weapons skill
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>
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> * Master Level – Deliver lightning damage equal to 200% of base damage of any attack. Chain lightning strikes up to 5 nearby enemies causing damage equal to 50% of primary lightning strike.
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The lightning infused weapon shattered the giant’s helmet and bolts streaked out to strike the other nearby monsters.
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> Sledgehammer scores critical hit, increasing damage by 100%.
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The monster staggered forward and bowled into its two companions, who were trying to skid to a stop and turn around at the same time. All three tumbled to the ground.
Jeremiah sent his sledgehammer back to his weapons storage belt and began summoning throwing axes.
>
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> Enhanced Throwing Axes (Set of 12)
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> * B Grade Weapon (enhanced for 24 hours)
> * Causes very high damage.
> * Damage increased by 4% per Agility point.
> * Axes that miss the target may be automatically recalled.
> * All axes automatically return to inventory after battle is over.
> * Requirement to use: Level 30
>
>
>
> If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
He launched the weapons one after another at the giants as they tried to rise, paying special attention to the monster he’d just smashed with his sledgehammer. His Master Level Marksman skill increasing the effectiveness of each axe.
> Marksman:
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> The safest way to attack a powerful enemy is from a distance. The Marksman skill makes that easier by increasing range, accuracy, and damage done for all ranged attacks.
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>
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> Requirement: Advanced Basic Archery or Advanced Throwing Weapons
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>
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> * Master Level – Ranged attack damage increased by 100%, range increased by 200%, accuracy increased by 100%. Gain a 25% chance of scoring a critical strike.
Jeremiah quickly ran out of axes, but not before one of them scored a critical strike on the helmetless monster.
>
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> Throwing Axe scores critical hit, increasing damage by 100%.
>
>
The Frost Giant staggered backward, half a dozen throwing axes embedded in its chest and blood flowing down its face from an axe stuck in its skull. The monster then stumbled forward and righted itself.
What’s it gonna take to kill this thing?! Jeremiah wondered and cast a spell that should be particularly effective against an ice affinity monster.
> Spell: Basic Fireball
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> Type: Fire Magic
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> Requirement: Expert Level Basic Magic skill
>
> Effect:
>
> * Causes a moderate amount of damage to primary target.
> * Causes a small amount of damage to others within five feet of primary target.
>
> Range: Sight
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> Cost: Moderate Mana
>
> Cooldown: none
He punched forward with one hand, and a fireball shot forward. The ball of flame smashed into the Frost Giant and knocked it backward. The monster flailed its arms as the fire washed over it. The creatured stumbled then fell on its back and lay still.
>
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> You have defeated Level 48 Frost Giant. Experience points awarded.
>
>
Finally! Jeremiah declared silently as he turned his attention to the other two monsters who hadn’t yet attacked for some reason.
Realization dawned on Jeremiah when he noticed that both remaining Frost Giants’ hands glowed blue.
He dove to the ground and covered his head with his arms as a double storm of ice shards shot forward.
Jeremiah gritted his teeth as razor-sharp ice shards sliced his arms and back, thankful that most of the razor sharp pieces had missed, and that his C Grade Flannel Armor reduced the damage from the icy shrapnel.
He felt the ground shake as the giants thundered toward him, and he leaped to his feet. He summoned his sledgehammer and stepped to the side to avoid an overhead swipe from the first Frost Giant’s battle-axe.
He spun in the opposite direction and avoided the attack of the second monster and found himself behind them again.
Jeremiah turned around and cast another spell.
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> Spell: Fist of Air
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> Type: Air Magic
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> Requirement: Basic Level Air Magic skill or Combat Magic skill
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> Effect:
>
> * Create a concussive blast of air.
> * Causes a moderate amount of damage to a single target.
>
> Range: 50 Feet
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> Cost: Moderate Mana
>
> Cooldown: none
>
>
He used his Dualcast Band to double the spell, creating two individual attacks.
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> Dualcast Band
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>
>
> Allows double casting of combat spells. This can be in the form of doubling power or doubling the number of attacks. Using the dualcast ability doubles the cooldown time and triples the Mana cost of casting the spell.
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Jeremiah’s Aircast Ring then increased the damage done by each invisible fist.
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> Aircast Ring
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>
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> Increases the power or duration of Air Magic spells. This can be in the form of a 50% increase in damage done or 100% increase in the duration.
>
>
It still wasn’t a particularly powerful spell, even with the enhancements, but Jeremiah wasn’t trying to do significant damage with the attack.
Two invisible fists slammed into the giants’ backs as they tried to come to a stop and knocked them forward, creating space between Jeremiah and the monsters.
He then cast a spell that he knew would do some real damage, especially after being enhanced by the Dualcast Band.
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> Spell: Fire Breath
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> Type: Fire Magic
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> Requirement: Advanced Level Fire Magic skill or Combat Magic skill
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> Effect:
>
> * Causes a significant amount of damage to primary target.
> * Causes a moderate amount of damage to others within five feet of primary target.
>
> Range: 50 Feet
>
> Cost: Significant Mana
>
> Cooldown: 1 minute
Jeremiah stepped toward the Frost Giants as they finally managed to stop and turn to face him. He threw his arms out to the side and roared as he leaned forward.
Flames shot from his mouth like a dragon and washed over both Frost Giants as they held up their arms in a futile effort to protect themselves from the deadly fire.
Jeremiah could imagine them screaming, “I’m melting!” as they writhed, but both giants burst from the flames in a clearly nonmelted state. Charred, for sure, but also incredibly angry.
It would be a couple minutes before he could use that spell again, so he prepared for melee.
The Frost Giants were more cautious now that they had been burned—literally—by the small human. They moved to either side of Jeremiah to force him to fight on two fronts.
It’s time to let my armor do a little work, Jeremiah declared to himself.
>
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> Flannel Vest of Fire Protection
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> * C Grade Armor
> * Reduces damage by a very high amount from non-magical attacks.
> * Reduces damage by a very high amount from fire-based attacks.
> * Requirement to use: Level 30
>
>
The enchantments weren’t relevant to battling Frost Giants, but the C Grade armor still gave him substantial protection.
Jeremiah surged toward the giant on his left and easily ducked under the monster’s battle-axe. He swung his sledgehammer with both hands, and the metal head slammed into the Frost Giant’s side with an explosion of lightning.
The giant stumbled backward and fell on its backside.
The sharp blade of the other Frost Giant’s battle-axe bit into Jeremiah’s back. His armor took some of the damage, but the force still launched him forward before he could finish off the monster.
He went with the momentum of the blow, ignoring the pain and blood that began to flow down his back, and rolled forward.
Jeremiah came out of the somersault and leaped to his feet. He swung his sledgehammer around in a wide arc as he spun to face the charging giant.
The Frost Giant leaped over the attack and brought its large axe down with lethal intent.
Jeremiah dove to the side, barely avoiding the strike as he tucked his head into another forward roll. He popped to his feet right next to the Frost Giant and swung a quick jab with his sledgehammer, which exploded with another flash of lightning and sent the monster stumbling to the side. It crashed into the other giant that was trying to stand. They both collapsed in a heap.
He sent his sledgehammer back into his weapons storage belt and cast a Fireball spell, using his Dualcast Band to double the power. Instead of immediately launching the ball of flame, Jeremiah let it coalesce in one hand and cast the spell again. An instant later, both hands were surrounded by dualcast-enhanced fireballs.
Jeremiah stood there for a moment, waiting for the Frost Giants to regain their feet. As soon as they did, he swept both hands forward and launched fireballs at each of them.
Balls of flame slammed into both giants, and they staggered backward. Neither monster fell, and both roared in pain and anger as the flames sizzled before dissipating.
What’s it take to kill these things? Jeremiah complained.
It was clear that both of the monsters were on their last leg though. Their armor smoked, and their blue skin was charred black in many places. Nonetheless, they ambled forward, swinging their large battle-axes menacingly.
No more messing around! Jeremiah decided as he cast his most powerful spell.
> Spell: Thunder Punch
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> Type: Air Magic
>
> Requirement: Advanced Level Air Magic skill
>
> Effect:
>
> * Sheath your fist in a storm of thunder and lightning, delivering a high amount of damage on impact.
> * Once cast, spell stays active until used or dismissed.
>
> Range: Touch
>
> Cost: High Mana
>
> Cooldown: none
Jeremiah used the Dualcast Band to sheath both fists with storm energy, and his Aircast Ring increased the power on each, as did his Master Level Air Magic skill.
His fists crackled with lightning as he took two quick steps and leaped into the air.
The closest Frost Giant leaned back, surprised by the apparently unarmed attack. It raised its arms in front of its face, but Jeremiah’s glowing blue fist smashed through the feeble protection and exploded into the monster’s face, sending it flying backward.
Jeremiah landed in a crouch then leaped up and delivered an uppercut to the jaw of the other giant. Lightning crackled and thunder exploded as the monster was lifted off its feet.
Both Frost Giants crashed into the ground in quick succession and didn’t move again.
>
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> You have defeated Level 47 Frost Giant. Experience points awarded.
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>
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> You have defeated Level 49 Frost Giant. Experience points awarded.
>
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“Finally!” Jeremiah exclaimed then turned to see how he could help Benjamin.
He needn’t have worried. One Frost Giant had already been downed, and the Weapons Master had effectively isolated another monster, using the creature as a shield so the third giant couldn’t land a blow. All the while, he was slashing and stabbing, leaving bloody wounds each time he struck.
Jeremiah sucked in a ragged breath and prepared to cast a spell to give his friend a little help just as the second Frost Giant fell.
Benjamin danced away from the third Frost Giant as it tried to attack over the dead body of its companion, creating plenty of space for an attack spell to be cast.
Jeremiah held off, knowing what was coming next.
The Weapons Master stepped toward the Frost Giant, his swords moving in a choreographed dance as if he was practicing sword forms. All the while, Jeremiah knew he was drawing on the power of Master Level sword skills in a calculated attack that would massively increase the power of the final strike, if he could land it.
Jeremiah threw a quick Fist of Air at the Frost Giant, causing the monster to look his way just as Benjamin finished the Choreographed Strike.
The Weapons Master’s blades sliced forward faster than Jeremiah could follow. The blades cut into the Frost Giant just above the waist, and a circular shock wave blasted out in every direction, kicking up dirt and snow.
When the cloud of debris settled, the giant lay in two pieces on the ground, Benjamin’s swords having sliced all the way through the monster.
The Weapons Master was down on one knee next to the lower half of the giant. He looked up at Jeremiah with a huge grin on his face.
“I see you handled the smaller ones alright.”
Jeremiah shook his head ruefully then a broad grin split his face as well.
>
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> Ding!
>
>
>
> Congratulations! You have advanced from Level 44 to Level 45.
>
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The battles in Zone 4 were definitely harder, but the rewards were far greater. This was the second level Jeremiah had gained in less than a day after being stuck at the same level for what had seemed like a very long time before he’d defeated the King of the Mountain and claimed his new Estate.
“Let’s head back to the Mountain Lair and take care of our level ups,” Jeremiah said as he helped Benjamin to his feet, confident his friend had leveled up too.