I stared at the three Gnormites which bared their teeth at me and started making a grunting sound. I was already nocking my second arrow at that point. I aimed at the leftmost one’s head and released it. The Gnormites ducked into the shrub in perfect sync. The arrow ended up grazing its head at the top.

I nocked another arrow and stood still with my right arm pulling the string back. I held my breath and waited yet none of them reappeared. The shrub is dense enough that I am not sure I can hit them through it.

I suppose, now is as good a time as any. I activated [Charged Shot of Phantom Whisper]. I felt a surge of power flowing into the bow, so much that in two seconds, my right hand started straining and the fingers on the string started to sting.

Just when I felt I could no longer contain it, I saw a tiny flicker of movement in the shrubs and I released it. The arrow shot with an explosive boom and reached the shrub much quicker than before. Its point of entry is slightly to the left of where I aimed for but it didn’t matter.

*Monster Slayed - Gnormite Lvl 8*

Level Up 5 -> 6

Upgrade: Strength +2, Perception: +2, Dexterity + 1, Additional Stat Point +1

The arrow seemed to have exploded into the beast’s body. The other Gnormite let out a terrified grunt and started running towards the other end of the shrub. I tracked its movement through my sights as I pulled back the bow and shot it right behind its eyes. It was dead before it even had a chance to hit the ground.

I reached for another arrow when the ground behind me exploded. I swung around to see the Gnormite a few feet away shaking the soil off its face.

Initially, I wondered what the floating heads looked like but now I wish I didn’t. The giant beaver-like heads are supported by a lean hunched over body with unnaturally long arms. It has wide palms ending in three curved claws.

I nocked the arrow as the beast charged towards me. I was confident that I could fire before it gets to me.

I pulled the string halfway when the beast’s right arm which is trailing behind it snapped forward like a whip. With my superior perception, I could see the condensed clump of stones and mud launching like a cannonball.

I released the half-powered arrow aiming for its right shoulder joint. I urged my body to side-step the incoming payload and it moved much slower than to my liking.

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At this range, the arrow hit its mark much faster and even though the damage is probably minor, it served its purpose well. The Gnormite released its grasp on the stone and mud ball instantly, just barely before it reached the end of its swing.

The projectile whizzed past my right shoulder, exploding into the tree bark behind me. My side step turned into a panicked tumble as I slipped on some roots and landed on my side. The Gnormite faltered a bit when the arrow hit but soon resumed its charge.

I took another arrow from the quiver but the beast is already upon me. As it swung its left hand upon me, I held my bow with both my hands as a shoddy shield and the beast struck right in the middle. The strike had enough power that it shook the bow, my hands, all the way to my teeth. Surprisingly, the bow held strong.

The Gnormite grunted and pulled its left arm back to swing again. Meanwhile, I noticed that the previous arrow performed much better than anticipated. The beast’s right arm lay limp twitching erratically.

With the arrow in my right hand, I seized the opportunity to stab it in one of its eyes. The beast grunted loudly and swung its left arm in a much wider swing. I tried to defend with the bow in my left arm but at this close range, its much longer arm swung all the way and found hold in my back.

I clenched my teeth from the rising pain of the three claws piercing in and repeatedly stabbed the Gnormite between its eyes. I kept stabbing even after its body hung limp till I received the notification.

I pushed the Gnormite body away and scanned the surroundings for any more surprises. I scanned through the notifications.

*Monster Slayed - Gnormite Lvl 10*

Level Up 6 -> 7

Upgrade: Strength +2, Perception: +2, Dexterity + 1, Additional Stat Point +1

Upgrade: Bow Mastery (E) -> Bow Mastery (D)

I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? That’s the one that upgraded the Bow Mastery?”

Maybe next time I should attach an arrow to the top of the bow and wield it like a spear

I chuckled at my own dumb joke. That fight turned from easy pickings to well…easy pickings for the beast way too quickly.

Weirdly, it makes sense. With my class and abilities, I either utterly demolish my enemies or they outwit and destroy me completely. There is no middle ground and I shouldn't need one. I just need to be more cunning than these beasts.

That fight could’ve gone much better if I had thought things through before attacking it right away. I have no idea how fast the beast was, what abilities it had or how many there were. Right now, I’m lacking any sort of escape strategy.

In retrospect, I should've started with the [Silent Arrow] shot on the first beast. The other Gnormbites spotted me pretty much instantly - sure, the impact point of the arrow gives away the general direction but the bow twang and zipping arrow are still too loud to be reckless about.