Breathing heavily, Jack surveyed the aftermath of the battle. The two Shadowspinner Jackals lay dead at his feet, their blood pooling around their twisted forms. He could feel the effects of the Lifeleech skill fading, leaving him with a sense of relief and a renewed sense of determination. Despite the wounds he had taken during the battle, the Lifeleech Skill had ensured that he had ended that fight with more health than he had started with.
Checking his Status confirmed that his total health was now at 94/250(94/280). The Lifeleech Class Skill had certainly been worth the CP he had spent on it. Speaking of which, there was a flashing notification in front of his eyes.
[You have completed the Class Quest:
Path of the Warrior I
Objective: Defeat 5 strong foes without help
Rewards:1500 Exp, 15 CP
[You have been offered a Class Quest:
Path of the Warrior II
Objective: Defeat 10 strong foes without help
Penalty for failure: None
Rewards: Experience, CP
Accept Yes/No
]
Jack had completely forgotten about the quest he had received when he had first gotten the Warrior Class. At first, he was confused about why he had only completed it now but then remembered that most of the fights he had been in since then had been as part of a group. The only foes he had faced on his own since getting the Quest that time were the three Ironhorn Ramkin who had captured Cael… and the 2 Jackals lying dead in front of him.
Thanks to the quest he now had a total of 20 CP. He wondered if he should buy another Class Skill. He had planned to use Lifeleech to recover his lost health, but it hadn’t been quite as useful as he had hoped. He had drained the health from 2 monsters but had also taken wounds while doing so. The result had been a net gain in health but a smaller one than he had hoped. The problem was his armor.
Jack looked down at the shredded and bloodied remains of his armor. It had once been a sturdy set of hide armor, but now it was barely recognizable. Each piece of the armor was nearing 0 Durability. In short, it provided about as much protection as wearing a paper bag. Berserk doubled his Constitution while it was active but when it ended, the damage he took became more significant. Jack suspected that aspect of the Skill was meant to allow the user to survive otherwise fatal wounds long enough to use a healing spell or potion. The trouble was he was nearly all out of healing potions. With only 2 left, he needed an alternate means of defense until he could find or make better armor. There was a particular Class Skill that he thought might be just what he needed in this situation. Pulling up the Class Skills list he went through it until he saw what he was looking for.
[Ironhide
Requirements: None
CP Cost: 20
Type: Active
Cooldown: 15 Seconds
Stamina Cost: 40 Stamina
Effect: Temporarily increases Natural Armor Rating; reduces incoming damage from physical attacks
Duration: 45 seconds
Description: By channeling the resilience of a true Warrior, you harden your skin to an almost impenetrable state. For a short duration, your skin gains a tough, metallic sheen, significantly enhancing your natural defenses. This transformation reduces the damage you take from physical attacks, allowing you to withstand blows that would normally leave you vulnerable. While active, Ironhide provides a powerful, temporary enhancement to your durability, enabling you to endure the harshest of combat scenarios.]
Jack considered carefully. The Ironhide Skill was exactly what he needed to compensate for his ruined armor and it had good synergy with Lifeleech, but it came with its own set of trade-offs. The Stamina cost was significant, and with only a 45-second duration, it would require precise timing to use effectively. However, the added defense could be the difference between life and death in his next encounter.
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Without hesitation, Jack spent the 20 CP on the Class Skill. He felt a surge of energy as the Skill integrated into his being, the knowledge of how to activate it flowing naturally into his mind. He flexed his fingers, imagining the sensation of his skin hardening to an almost metallic state. This was the boost he needed to keep fighting, even in his current vulnerable condition.
Satisfied with his choice, Jack closed the interface and took a deep breath. He couldn’t afford to stay here much longer. The noise from the battle with the Shadowspinner Jackals might have attracted unwanted attention and he preferred battles with monsters to be on his terms not theirs.
Checking to see that his Stamina and Mana had begun to replenish themselves he continued on through the dim passage ahead (which he could only make due to his Night Vision Skill), where the cavern walls seemed to close in, creating a sense of claustrophobia. His heightened senses, thanks to the Direborn transformation, picked up faint noises in the distance—dripping water, the occasional skittering of small creatures, and the unsettling silence that followed.
Jack moved cautiously, keeping his steps light and his ears sharp. His Stamina and Mana had mostly replenished, but he remained on edge, ready to activate Ironhide at a moment’s notice if he encountered another threat. The knowledge of his new skill gave him confidence, but he knew that overconfidence could be deadly in this environment.
The cave system was a labyrinth of interconnected tunnels and chambers, some wide and open, others so tight that Jack had to squeeze through. The walls were rough and jagged, often cutting into his hands as he navigated the treacherous terrain. He heard his next opponents before he saw them.
The bizarre mixture of low, menacing growls and high-pitched chittering of the Shadowspinner Jackals echoed through the narrow tunnel, sending a shiver down Jack's spine. He could see their three silhouettes emerging from the darkness, their sleek, muscular bodies poised to strike. Their eyes glowed with an eerie, unnatural light, reflecting the malevolence within. Jack tightened his grip on his weapon, every muscle in his body tensing in preparation for the imminent battle.
He quickly activated Berserk, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline flood his system. His vision sharpened, focusing on the immediate threat as his senses heightened. Every sound, every movement around him became painfully clear. His heart pounded in his chest, a relentless drumbeat that matched the primal urge to destroy his enemies. He felt his muscles swell with power, his strength doubling as the Skill took hold. But Jack knew that raw power alone wouldn't be enough. The Shadowspinner Jackals were cunning predators, and he needed protection.
With a thought, Jack activated Ironhide. A metallic sheen spread across his skin, transforming it. He wondered if he looked like Colossus from X-men but his Night Vision wasn’t good enough yet for him to be sure. He flexed his fingers, feeling the newfound hardness of his flesh, a stark contrast to the vulnerability he had felt just moments before. The Jackals were closing in, their claws clicking against the stone floor with every step.
The first Jackal darted forward, a blur of speed and fury. It leaped at Jack, claws outstretched, aiming for his throat. Jack sidestepped but was not quite fast enough, the beast’s claws raking against his Ironhide-enhanced skin as he activated Lifeleech. The attack barely scratched the surface of his skin, leaving only a shallow mark. With a roar, Jack swung his weapon in a wide arc, catching the Jackal in mid-air with the butt of the spear. The blow connected with a sickening crunch, sending the creature crashing into the wall even as Jacks health pool went up. But it wasn't dead. The Jackal scrambled to its feet, its eyes now burning with even greater hatred.
Before Jack could press the advantage, the second Jackal lunged at him. In the narrow tunnel, the monsters could only come at him one at a time. This one was faster and more agile. It slashed at Jack's legs, trying to cripple him. The Ironhide protected him from the worst of the attack, but Jack could still feel the impact through his hardened skin. He spun around, using the momentum to add to the force of his next attack. His spear, empowered by his momentum and Berserk strength penetrated the creature's carapace.
[You have dealt 86 Piercing damage to Shadowspinner Jackal]
[You have dealt 35 Fire damage to Shadowspinner Jackal]
[You have dealt 45 Necrotic damage to Shadowspinner Jackal]
[You have inflicted Corrupted status effect on Shadowspinner Jackal]
Jack stepped back to observe his handiwork. He had seen how the ghostly green flames of his spear spread over a foe's body when he inflicted Burning on them, but this was the first time he had inflicted the Corrupted debuff and he was curious to see what it looked like.
Jack watched as the second Shadowspinner Jackal staggered back, writhing in agony as the effects of Corrupted took hold. Its sleek, dark fur seemed to wilt and decay before his eyes, patches of its flesh turning a sickly gray-green. The creature's movements became sluggish, its once-proud form now trembling as the necrotic energy sapped its strength. Jack’s grip tightened on his spear, feeling the pulse of energy from his Lifeleech skill coursing through him, slowly replenishing his health. And that was good because his Ironhide Skill had just run out.
The third Jackal, undeterred by its companion’s fate, charged at Jack with a terrifying speed. It lashed out with the spider-like limbs that arched from its back, aiming for Jack’s exposed neck. He ducked just in time, the creature’s limbs slashing through the air where his head had been. Jack countered with a swift thrust of his spear, aiming for the Jackal’s underbelly. The spear struck true, and Jack felt the satisfying resistance as it pierced through the creature’s chitinous armor.
He inflicted no status effects but still did significant damage to the monster which retreated even as the first Jackal lunged at his right. Its mouth, a mixture of canine jaws and spidery mandibles gaped wide, aiming to clamp down on Jack's throat.