The three of them walked out into the wild lands around the second city. Daryl kept his eye on the new guy Orin. He hoped that this was more than just someone that would follow and do little. It was time to hunt some Stone Ape. After looking at the gear that he would be able to get, some flutter of excitement filled him. At a tier five skill he would have infinite stamina for five seconds. It also came with some massive attacks that were stamina heavy but that would matter little with infinite stamina.
Slowly they approached the first clearing that housed a Stone Ape. These creatures were highly solitary and territorial. Daryl knelt down on one knee in order to talk to his companions. “Ok Orin. What kind of abilities do you have available?”
“Well, I have some power shots and mobility skills. I have a slow attack rate that does a lot of damage each hit. My strongest ability is a rooting shot that will pin a monster in place for three seconds.” Orin nodded at Cindy and Daryl, “What about you two?”
Cindy smiled, “If you root him in place I can use my rain runes to do some serious damage. That could let Dad move in and lock it into place. That way we can pile on the damage.”
Orin looked dubiously at Daryl and frowned slightly, “What skill lets you lock it into place? What about aggro management?”
Cindy spoke before Daryl, “He has been able to keep aggro just by attacking creatures normally and staying in their face. Last time I pulled aggro Dad was able to get between me and the monster.”
Orin shook his head, “I’d feel more comfortable if he had an aggro ability. I have a potion that I usually give my tanks that naturally increases the aggro they make. I can shoot it at you with a special shot. That will be the best we can do to make us safer. If we keep staying together I would like us to build some gear for Dad to help him tank.”
Daryl piped up, “The Stone Ape line has some aggro abilities. It is much stronger than the few pieces of Boroclops I have. Once we finish hunting today I’ll spend my tennies and materials on making these pieces of armor.”
Orin nodded and held his hand out in the center of the three. “Let’s do this!”
Cindy put her hand in excitedly, Daryl wondered how he would fit in there when he placed a single finger on top and did his best not to pin their hands in place. Cindy shouted, “Go Team Awesome Smashers!”
Orin shook his head, “I didn’t agree to that name. If we continue to party we will have to work on that.” He unhooked his crossbow and strapped it into place. He loaded a massive bolt seemingly out of nowhere and half crouched under the weight now that it was slung. “I’ll root the Stone Ape to let Dad close. You two do your thing.”
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All of them stood together and looked out at the monster and Daryl started to run at the creature. It instant whipped around and looked at the first of the trio. A bolt whizzed by his thigh and slammed into the Ape. Instantly a net wrapped all around the creature and seemed staked into the ground pinning it in place.
A rain of poison started to fall on its back as the purple smoke started from each drop. Daryl wound back his arm and smashed it into the monster’s face. A spiderweb of cracks appeared as a giant puff of poison came from the blow. Daryl swung a quick combo of snapping punches into the Ape’s face trying to build its anger to direct it towards him.
Another bolt slammed into the monster and massive cracks sprouted from the hit. Orin wasn’t lying that it did a lot of damage each strike. The poison rain stopped as in moments the Ape began to drool purple showing that he was under the effects of poison status. All the cracks on it started to get bigger each second as it finally broke free.
It went ape. Swinging and slamming fists into Daryl’s guard. He tried to roll with the punches and absorb the damage. He could feel the cracks form on his forearms as Daryl did his best to keep up. Daryl had no time to attack back and as another bolt slammed into the beast it immediately turned and lept into the air at Orin. Daryl’s heart sank as he watched both of his team members.
Daryl’s mind raced as he realized he still had Boroclops' charge still. Timing it right he activated the ability with his mind and blurred across the distance. Ending the charge with the biggest rabbit punch a dirty fighter ever used into the back of the Stone Ape’s skull. It stumbled as the aggro potion slammed into Daryl’s chest surrounding him in a red aura that wisped around his body.
The Ape spun backfisting Daryl across the face that made him stumble back and take a minute to keep his feet in place. The monster stomped so hard the ground cracked under Daryl’s feet keeping him off balance as the Ape slammed into him knocking him back a dozen feet. As Daryl fell back he tucked into a backwards roll. Hours and hours of practice had him back on his feet in an instant. The monster was on top of him.
Daryl felt a healing aura fill him as the panicked call of Cindy filled his ear as she called out the spell. Another half dozen bolts hit the Ape in the back as Orin kept his assault going. “Cindy! I have plenty of hit points, focus on damage!” Daryl could feel his hit point bar at half and climbing rapidly. With his defensive training he would have been able to keep himself alive for longer.
Cindy didn’t listen and kept the healing beam on his back as she focused her magic on him. Orin’s bolt slammed into the monster, rooting it in place. Daryl jumped back so the healing could top him off and let Cindy focus on damage. “Be careful Dad!” Cindy’s voice quivered as she stopped her beam now that he was fully healed.
Orin called out, “He should be mostly dead, focus on damage as much as possible! Let's end this fight!”
Cindy yelled out a spell as a massive ball of fire started to build in her hands as she built a strong hit. Orin seemed to lay down on his stomach and stamina aura started to float above his body and swirl into the bolt’s tip. Daryl stepped forward and slammed an axe kick straight down on the beast and knocked it down onto his hands and knees. The other two attacks slammed into him once more. An explosion of golden motes flew from all three strikes as they received the notification of their victory.
In an instant Cindy was locked on his ankle. “That one seemed so much stronger than before!” Daryl could feel her shake as she gripped onto him hard. Daryl kneeled and stroked her back softly with a single finger.
Orin jogged up, “It must have been an older monster. They get stronger the longer they are in Gaia. We probably should have had another two hunters with us for that battle. We should head closer to town though, they are weaker the closer to town we are.” Orin ran a hand through his hair. “Less drops, easier fights.”