Interesting Chapter this time. Ah, Zu... gotta learn how to deal with these types of things. Chapter of the Day, Enjoy!

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Chapter Ten: Third Option?

“Y-you! Give me my damn stat points and fame!” The ‘Jumper’ yelled at Zu. He clenched his sword tight while he grinned his teeth together.

Zu turned his head towards Brent - who was wondering what was going on. “You know what he’s talking about?” Zu asked.

Brent shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t even know why these ‘Jumpers’ were complaining, it’s not like this is the only boss around. “Nope, I have no idea.” He replied back to Zu.

“Damnit! You know exactly what i’m talking about!” The ‘Jumper’ yelled.

Even though he was yelling at Zu, and he clenched his sword he did not attack. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, more like he couldn’t. Before a player reaches level ten, all hostile actions against other players or npc’s are restricted. It is like an invisible force field his holding him back.

Zu looked at the ‘Jumper’ and the other two next to him confused. “Look, I have no idea what happened either. Maybe it's a mistake?” He said trying to calm things down.

The two males next to him slightly nodded their heads. It had to be a mistake, because a npc cannot get stat points. Sure they are able to get fame, but not stat points. Unlike players who level up, npc’s don’t level up. They have to go through different types of experiences for them to hone their skills. Sure when they look at an npc it might have a level above or next to their name, but that level means nothing. Just because it might say level five or level nine does not mean that, thats how strong the npc really is. They can be above or below that in terms of fighting strength.

The ‘Jumper’ started clicking things in the air. However Zu understood what he was doing, he was looking for extra stat points and fame. Seeing how he wasn’t paying any attention to him anymore, Zu turned around.

“The fuck! It isn’t here!!” He screamed.

His extra stat points and fame were not there. So it couldn’t be a bug in the system. That only meant one thing, that Zu actually had took ‘his’ extra stat points and fame. His face turned red with anger and he looked up. He noticed Zu and Brent were actually walking away like they were innocent.

“The hell you think you’re going!?” He asked them in a tone full of fury.

Zu and Brent turned their heads. The two males at the ‘Jumpers’ side looked confused as to what they should do. “Well, we have to finish finding someone.” Zu answered him honestly.

The ‘Jumpers’ face turned very ugly. It seemed that he was not going to let Zu escape no matter what. “No, you are not leaving. Either give me a quest or you will die.” He told them.

Zu turned his head towards Brent hoping to get an answer. Brent simply shook his head. He didn’t have an answer for Zu, so the choice was up to him. All Brent really had to do was follow Zu around for a few more days.

Zu looked back at the ‘Jumper’ since Brent wasn’t going to help him. He shook his head. “Well, I really don’t want to give you a quest. Nor do I want to follow you. So… can I have a third option?” Zu asked the ‘Jumper’.

“Third option! Third Option!? I’ll give you a damn third option!!” The ‘Jumper’ screamed. He took his sword and flung it at a pack of wolves that were a few meters away. Once the sword hit one, all of them rushed towards the ‘Jumper’. He grinned as he looked at Zu with eyes full of rage and ran away. The other two behind him took off as well.

The pack of wolves were following them, but they were too far away. Since they were already enraged and their target left, they had no choice but to attack the two closest to them. Instead of chasing after someone who already ran, they bared their fangs at Zu and Brent.

This is something that most games fail to have. When a player attacks a mob and holds onto the aggro, the mobs will only attack them However when the player runs after s/he has attracted the mob, the mob will them be automatically aggroed to the closest player or npc. The developers of Azure online wanted to make the game more interesting therefore they had this idea. If a person is running away from an angry dog, but the dog cannot catch up, then the dog will run after the next person who’s closest to it.

Zu took out his mace, while taking a stance. He has already fought these wolves before, so these five wolves in front of him weren’t anything too big. He waited until the wolves were in his attack range before he used [Quick Strike] to deal it damage.

You’ve dealt 50 Damage to Demonic Wolf

These wolves had spiky pitch black fur. Their eyes were dark red, and they had foaming coming out of their mouths.

Brent who was beside Zu took out both of his daggers and also started attacking the Demonic Wolves. Together with Zu, they were easily cleaning these beast up. Suddenly a group of ten wolves appeared from behind them. Zu and Brent noticed that, that ‘Jumper’ from earlier was rushing past them with his gang.

They continued to gather more and more Demonic Wolves only to let them aggro Zu and Brent. Zu and Brent could handle a pack of wolves, maybe even two packs. However the number just kept increasing, and increasing. Soon there were thirty-five Demonic Wolves surrounding them.

These two could not continue fighting these beast. It wasn’t that they couldn’t it was that their stamina was dropping fast. The constant movement in battle made them get tired, not to mention they had to dodge or take a few blows. The longer they fought the more they would exhaust themselves.

You’ve taken 35 Damage

You’ve taken 40 Damage

You’ve dealt 55 Damage to Demonic Wolf

You’ve gained 55 exp

You’ve gained 55 exp

The boxes just continued to pop up telling Zu how much damage he took or how much he did. His mace that was light as a feather before, now hung in his hands as if it was a thousand pounds. Each movement was beginning to become slower than the last.

Stamina has dropped below 10 Due to you have little to no stamina movement speed is decreased by 25% and attack speed is decreased by 25%

Zu didn’t care, he continued to attack the Demonic Wolves that were surrounding him. It seemed that no matter how many him and Brent took down, more continued to show up. ‘I can’t die! I only have one life!’ Zu said to himself trying to encourage his body to use every bit of it’s strength.

“Damnit. I should have just killed them if I knew they were going to do this.” Brent coldly said.

As a member of the Army, he wasn’t restricted much. He could murder ‘Jumpers’ if he needed to or even other villagers. However as a member of the Army, he took an oath to protect the lives of those people. This however did not count for the ‘Jumpers’ since they were technically not a part of this world. Even if he faced off against a ‘Jumper’ who was barely able to kill a little rabbit. He wouldn’t be charged with anything serious, as long as he had a valid reason to kill them.

“Fucking npc, this is what you get. Taking my stat points and fame, now you shall DIE!!” The ‘Jumper’ yelled at them. Him and the other two were a few meters away watching Zu and Brent fight the Demonic Wolves. He was somewhat surprised that they lasted as long as they did, however he knew they would perish soon. There was no way that they could continue to fight against those wolves. He sat down on the ground and watched the show. He wasn’t worried about the wolves coming to attack him because after a mob killed off the person who had the aggro, unless someone else was attack it, it would just leave.

‘Wait! I still have those!’ Zu thought to himself. He opened his inventory and took out two green vials and two red ones. They were little, but he had already seen their effects. These were a gift from the four girls who taught him combat, he never thought he would have to use them already.

“Brent, catch!”

Zu threw two little vials at Brent. Brent was surprised at what Zu threw to him, but he still caught it. He already knew what these were, but he didn’t think he would need them. That doesn’t mean he didn’t bring any, but he didn't have them on him. Instead his pack with some vials in it were at the campsite. When Zu put out the fire and came to him, they rushed the Deer King, so he didn’t have time to get his pack. However he never thought Zu would have had them. ‘I guess anything is possible with that guy.’ Brent said to himself as he chugged both of the vials down.

Zu popped the tops off of the vials and consumed both of them. The taste was horrible, but the effects were great. He felt his strength return, and the wounds on his body started to disappear. His attack speed started to increase and he moved faster than before. It was almost as if he was close to his peak again.

You’ve dealt 15 Damage to Demonic Wolf

Demonic Wolf is now stunned

You’ve dealt 55 Damage to Demonic Wolf

You’ve gained 55 exp

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Zu was using all his skills. He first countered the wolf that jumped at him with [Counter Blow] making it stunned, then followed up with [Quick Strike]. Zu was somewhat grateful to those ‘Jumpers’ he was stacking up on exp and getting use to his skills.

It wasn’t only him who started increasing their killing speed, Brent was right behind him slashing away at the wolves. He dodged a blow and stabbed the wolf in its side killing it off. His killing speed was faster than Zu’s but that is to be expected. Brent has been in the Army for a long time, so he naturally has more experience.

Zu felt something inside him. It was burning to be released. His stomach felt like it turned into knots, but Zu didn’t care. Suddenly a burning sensation shot up his throat.

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!” Zu roared like a wild beast.

He didn’t know where it came from, but his body naturally did it. It was like something deep inside him was released. He could not contain the beast inside him any longer and roared.

Ding! You’ve learned Battle Cry

Battle Cry (A) Battle Cry let’s you use your innermost demon to inflict fear on your foe(s). Anything in a five meter range will be inflicted with Stun and Fear. Their movement speed will also decrease by a certain amount.

You’ve inflicted Stun and Fear on twenty Demonic Wolves Stun - All the Demonic wolves cannot move for 3 seconds Fear - All the Demonic Wolves have their stats decreased by 20% for 6 All Demonic Wolves have their movement speed decreased by 15% for 10 seconds

Brent was stunned. He looked at Zu with eyes full of amazement. He didn’t know where Zu got the courage to roar like that, but he helped them out a lot. While the Demonic Wolves were stunned, he didn’t have to worry about dodging. He could inflict the most damage possible.

Zu felt embarrassed. He didn’t even know where that roar came from, but he was glad. He started hammering away at the Demonic Wolves while they were weak.

You’ve Dealt 80 Damage to Demonic Wolf

You’ve gained 55 exp

Zu’s killing speed drastically increased. With the Demonic Wolves stats decreased, his damage output increased. It basically went up a lot, letting him finish off some of the injured wolves in one or two hits. The exp just continued to roll in.

The three ‘Jumpers’ who were watching were utter shocked. They didn’t even know what happened. One moment Zu and Brent were being exhausted wasting all of their strength, the next they were slaying the Demonic Wolves. They heard Zu’s [Battle Cry] but were utterly stunned. Zu did not seem like the type to have such a skill, because for them to learn [Battle Cry] they had to be a warrior class. Not only that, but when they had a class change, they needed to become a Berserker, however Zu was obviously not that.

“L-let’s go.” One of the three males said.

“Y-yeah… we shouldn’t stick around for too long.” Another one agreed.

“Fuck that! He took my stat points and fame, he needs to DIE!” The ‘Jumper’ yelled. He was enraged. He worked hard to gather up all of those Demonic Wolves and have them aggro Zu only to start dying. What type of situation was this!?

The ‘Jumper’ got up and started gathering more Demonic Wolves. The other two sighed as they followed him. It was better to gather up these wolves for him before he started yelling at them.

In two minutes, they gathered around fifty more Demonic Wolves. They started to rush at Zu and Brent who were mostly finished with the other Demonic Wolves. Suddenly they paused. Not paused, more like they could not move.

You’ve been binded.

???? Has used [Death Sentence]

Death Sentence All aggro in twenty meters is automatically shifted to you. All stats are reduced by 50% and you cannot move for 20 seconds.

One of the ‘Jumpers’ looked at the one who caused all of this. “FUCK!” He yelled. He couldn’t believe it, he only helped that guy because he felt that he was wronged. Now that he helped him, he was going to die. He couldn’t move at all, and the Demonic Wolves surrounding Zu ran towards them. The Wolves behind them charged at them as well. All three of the ‘Jumpers’ faces turned ugly.

“Sorry, but this is your punishment.” A cold voice called out. They could not figure out whose voice this was nor could they see who it was. They couldn’t move their body, nor could they turn their head all the way around.

Soon they all got the same message after the pack of wolves attacked them.

You have died.

Three white lights floated up and disappeared. The pack of Demonic wolves all dispersed except for the few that still had aggro on Zu and Brent.

Zu and Brent were both equally shocked. One moment they were facing the last of the Demonic Wolves the next moment they charged at those three ‘Jumpers’. After the three ‘Jumpers’ died a figure wearing white robes appeared. He didn’t have any weapon in his hand, nor did he look like anyone special. Instead he had something about him that caused both of them to fear him.

‘That has to be him!’ Zu said to himself while he smacked a Demonic Wolf with his mace. Zu had a good feeling that this person in front of him had to be one of the lost members of the Church. The clothing and the air around him, it was unmistakable. He was definitely one of the two lost Church members.

Zu wasn’t the only one to notice the man. Brent’s eyes turned bright as he looked at the man a few meters away from them. A wolf jumped at him, but Brent made quick work of it.

They finished off all of the last Demonic Wolves and approached the man. He had a white robe on, but his face was covered. He noticed Zu and Brent approach.

“Thanks for helping sir.” Zu said while he put his mace away.

“Yeah man, thanks!” Brent said.

The person in white robes turned his face towards Zu. “You, who are you?” He asked. His voice wasn’t as cold as before.

“Zu.” Zu answered honestly.

The white robed man shook his head. “No, that’s not what I mean. Who are you? Why do you know ‘our’ ways?” He asked.

Zu was confused. He didn’t understand what this man was talking about. Hell, he didn’t even know what ways the man was talking about. “I have no idea.” Zu said while he lightly laughed.

Brent glanced between Zu and the white robed man. It seemed like he was forgotten about, because he was not a part of their conversation.

The white robed man approached Zu and placed his hand on Zu’s head. A golden light shined for a split second, but quickly disappeared.

“Good. Good.” The white robed man said while he removed his hand. “You know ‘our’ ways, and you have the talent necessary to learn what we know. Do you want to learn?” He asked Zu.

“Eh?” Brent said.

“What do you mean?” Zu asked.

“You should already know. You have all the necessarily skills ready, but you still don’t have a certain class. Therefore I shall give you what you want.” He replied.

Zu’s eyes lit up. He still couldn’t decide between being a warrior type of class or a mage type. Now someone told him he could give him what he wanted. Zu’s eyes dimmed down and he frowned. ‘I can’t try this class out…’ he thought to himself. He already heard from the priestess that he couldn’t try out any healing type of class.

“No thanks. I don’t want to be a priest if I don’t know if it suits me.” Zu told the man.

The man laughed. “Don’t compare me to them. I myself am not a priest. Just like you I have the same skills as you, but I am more powerful. When I was younger I couldn’t choose between being a warrior or mage, however I was given an offer. The same one as you. Look at me now. So, do you want to learn?” He asked again.