The skirmisher that had attempted to howl earlier was still clinging to life, an arrow lodged deep in its throat. I swiftly ended its suffering. Turning away, I checked my latest notifications.
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Skirmisher Lvl 20*
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Skirmisher Lvl 19*
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Skirmisher Lvl 22*
Level Up 18 -> 19
Upgrade: Strength +3, Perception: +2, Dexterity + 1, Additional Stat Point +2
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Skirmisher Lvl 19*
A single level per three skirmishers. I gained two levels the last time I encountered a skirmisher trio. It feels as if the system is pushing me toward fights with greater risks and higher-level foes.
While the idea of faster leveling is tempting, charging headlong into the beasts that vastly outmatch me seems like a quick way to death. Still, sooner or later, I'd prefer to hunt down that [Gnoll Ravager] myself rather than wait for it to catch me unprepared.
Dealing with the four skirmishers would've been easy, if killing them was the only goal. The real challenge had been taking them out quietly, preventing any chance of them calling for reinforcements.
I walked past the debris and destroyed roots scattered across the site, straight towards the pile of freshly dug-up mushrooms. I scooped one and activated [Identify].
[Heartwood Truffle]: Minor boost to Constitution and temporarily buffs regeneration
A few truffles stood out - larger and noticeably darker than the rest. I separated them out and cast [Identify].
[Aetherwood Truffle]: Enhances mental clarity and boosts focus
There were twenty three Heartwood truffles and five Aetherwood truffles. It was a decent haul. When I realized what was underneath the mushroom pile, I froze for a second. My hands quivered slightly as I moved the mushrooms to pull out the cloth underneath.
“Yes! Finally, some good news!” I couldn't help but fist-pump the air, the first words I'd spoken out loud in what felt like ages.
A piece of cloth. Not some beast skin or wood bark but an actual piece of cloth.
It probably looked ridiculous to be this excited over a scrap of cloth, especially one that was crumpled and with layers of mud smattered all over. But it wasn’t about the cloth itself, but what it signified. It meant that I am not alone in a monster infected world. It’s hope that there were other people and maybe, they were even close by. Then again, considering the cloth ended up in gnoll paws, maybe not close by anymore.
I bundled the shrooms at one end of the cloth. I would’ve preferred to secure it around my waist but there wasn’t enough fabric left. So, I fastened it just below my left shoulder, keeping my bow arm free.
I continued on, ensuring I was only moving side-ways and never deeper into the gnoll territory. I don’t know what lies further in and also, don’t want to go too far from the riverbank.
As I darted in the shadows, carefully avoiding anything that might crunch underfoot, I noticed something—several sets of fresh gnoll tracks. No leaves or dirt had yet covered them; these were very recent.
Upgrade: Tracking Lvl1-> Lvl2
The change was immediate. The nearby prints still appeared the same, but now, focusing on them allowed me to spot tracks several feet ahead as well. Adjusting my course slightly to the right, I began to follow the trail.
From the tracks, I could discern there were three gnoll skirmishers. After a couple hundred feet, another pair joined the pack - this one, without any prior trail. Must’ve jumped down from a tree
Upgrade: Tracking Lvl2-> Lvl3
I moved swifty, my movements fluid and nearly soundless thanks to the enhanced [Phantom Shroud]. The upgrade to D-grade has amplified its noise muffling and movement enhancing ability. Still I couldn’t help feeling that it could do much more.
Before long, I caught up with the patrolling gnolls. Two skirmishers led the way, with a third lagging behind, its snout to the ground. Meanwhile, another gnoll scout leaped between branches above them. A quick [Identify] revealed their levels were around Lvl 20.
I followed the pack from a safe distance, careful to avoid any noise. The gnoll scout periodically took short detours from the pack. Its ability to leap between distant trees enabled it to catch up with the rest easily enough.
Making up my mind, I followed the scout when it took the next detour. It headed right, the direction towards the crimson oak region and riverbank. But stayed within a couple hundred feet from the main group. The scout stopped at the very edge of its territory, never crossing into the Crimson Oak region. Its large yellow eyes darted, scanning the area.
Hidden about two hundred feet away within the underbrush, I summoned [Phantom Whisper] and my left eye flared green. As the scout paused to survey the surroundings, the arrow pierced through its skull, hitting the critical red spot. The silent arrow pierced much deeper than it ever did before. So the arrow pierces easier through the back of its skull. Learning something new every day.
As the lifeless scout tumbled down through the branches, I retreated just enough to blend back into the shadows. Within moments, the remaining gnolls arrived. The largest among them snarled furiously and charged toward the crimson trees, while the other two lingered by the fallen scout.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Wasting no time, I nocked an arrow, drawing the bowstring back as I aimed for the closest beast. The skirmisher was sniffing near the dead scout when the shot caught it in the side of the head. It yelped as it fell down sideways.
With two more arrows already in hand, I aimed away from the beasts and released the first one activating the [Phantom Blink Shot]. Nocking another, I turned back to face the remaining gnolls charging at me.
I poured strength into the arrow, activating [Charged Shot of Phantom Whisper], letting it charge for a split second before releasing it. The arrow struck the lead gnoll’s snout, detonating on impact. I blinked out of sight just as the other gnoll lunged at me, and two notifications confirmed the kills.
Thankfully, the last one chose unrestrained rage over calling for reinforcements. With a guttural snarl, it charged headlong at me, only to take an arrow to its chest. As it fell backwards, I walked closer and shot another arrow into its heart.
Slaying the beasts when they charged me with murderous intent felt instinctive. But putting down those that were crippled yet still clinging to life left a sour taste in my mouth. I tried to justify it, reminding myself that if given the chance, the beast would tear me apart, even in its half-dead state.
There’s no denying that this place had transformed me – more in a few days than years of my past life ever could. Here, feeling pity is a weakness, a flaw that needs to be discarded before it kills me. Here, there is only the hunter and the hunted; the victor and its feast.
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Scout Lvl 15*
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Skirmisher Lvl 19*
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Skirmisher Lvl 20*
Level Up 19 -> 20
Upgrade: Strength +3, Perception: +2, Dexterity + 1, Additional Stat Point +2
*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Skirmisher Lvl 21*
I was hoping for a new ability to unlock at Level 20, given the last one I got came at Lvl 10. But no new notification appeared.
My fingers throbbed from the charged shot despite the brief charge time. The gap between my strength and constitution was likely too wide, a fact that became all too clear when using the [Charged Shot of Phantom Whisper].
I opened the Status screen.
Name: Rokthar Dreseus
Level 20
Title: Fight Above Paygrade (Grade D)
Inherited Title: Eye Of The Dronawk (Grade A); Cover Of The Grixivyne (Grade A)
Age: 17
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Class: Eidikos of Nexyna (Rare)
Trademark: Phantom Whisper (Awakening - Grade E)
Stats:
Strength: 61
Dexterity: 36
Constitution: 20
Wisdom: 11
Perception: 47
Will: 15
ASP: 14
General Skills:
Identify Lvl 17
Cooking Lvl 6
Tracking Lvl 3
Spirit Vision Lvl 3
Active Skills:
Phantom Shroud (D): The Shroud of Eidikos allows the user to move quickly and quietly through the environment
Silent Arrow of Nex (D): Specialized technique of Nexyna that allows Eidikos to stifle the sound of arrows fired.
Phantom Blink Shot (D): The blink shot of Phantom Whisper enables the wielder to instantly teleport to where it lands
Charged Shot of Phantom Whisper (Unique): The Phantom Whisper enables Eidikos to channel their strength and focus into a single arrow, increasing the power and range of the shot
Passive Skills:
Bow Mastery (D): Grants wielder minor proficiency with handling bows. Minor bonus to accuracy, range and damage when wielding a bow
I told myself I had been saving the Additional Stat Points for a rainy day, but the truth was, I couldn’t decide where to allocate them. For now, I was satisfied with my Strength—my shots had been enough to cripple or kill the skirmishers in a single blow. Dexterity would likely improve my firing speed and reflexes with the bow. I initially thought of Constitution as purely defensive but I’d come to realize there’s more to it - it doesn’t matter how strong my Charged Shot could be if my body couldn’t withstand shooting one.
But the stat I felt most lacking was Wisdom. I was sure it impacted how many Blink Shots I could make, but I had no idea how much difference each stat point would make. What if I invested in it and only saw a slight improvement?
I let out a weary sigh. I couldn’t help but wish the System was more transparent in how it worked. I will hold off a little while longer before assigning them.
Turning my attention to Phantom Whisper, I noticed it seemed to be in a good mood, or at least that’s what I felt as it thrummed softly in my hand
[Phantom Whisper] (Awakening - Grade E)
(Step 1/2): The Phantom Whisper stirs (Progress: 26/100)
I made some progress - a quarter of the way there now. It had risen by one for every kill. The only time it had risen higher was when I killed the Forest Troll which started the progress at five.
From what I’ve seen so far, there was a clear disparity in strength between beasts under level 25 and those above. Creatures like the Forest Troll and Gnoll Ravager were far more powerful compared to the Gnoll Skirmishers and Emberbeak Specters.
Having gone sideways into the gnoll territory, my path back to the riverbank took a new turn. While the crimson oak trees I have explored so far had been about fifty feet tall, the fiery red trees ahead were much larger, their trunks thicker and branches reaching up to eighty feet into the sky.
Curiously, I scaled one of the trees - it was pretty much a bigger version of a Crimson Ember Oak tree. I explored a couple more till I found what I was looking for - the fire nuts. These were larger than the ones I had encountered before.
[Fire Nut of Crimson Inferno Oak]: Minor boost to Dexterity and enhances fire affinity
As I plucked one from the tree, a sharp squawk pierced the air—a much higher-pitched cry than the usual sound from the Emberbeak Specters.