Sudden Blow
Standing up, he surveyed the lake. Massive amount of small fishes were hopping across the water, with three pursuing sharks at their backs.
[Thorny Cat-Fish] (Bronze)
[250/250 HP]
[Thorny Cat-Fish] (Silver)
[1200/1200 HP]
[Dirt Small-Fin Shark] (Golden)
[145 000/145 000 HP]
Looking at the golden level sharks, Drake's eyes sparkled momentarily before it returned to its normal sheen. His hands flashed in multiple brilliant colors and suddenly, four elemental magic streaked towards the lake, blasting it.
(604) (1210) (683) (353) (632) (821) (...)
{1444} {732} {2906} {1601} {...}
Waves rampantly roiled as if a meteor had struck. The water was strewn with countless dead broken fishes, exposing bones and innards. The blue water was filled with sizzling electricity and rapidly began to be tinted by blood.
*You've killed a Bronze Level Thorny Cat-Fish
*You've gained 81 experience points.
*You've killed a Silver Level Thorny Cat-Fish
*You've gained 379 experience points.
*...
Right palm on his chin, Drake pondered. 'Electricity dealt about two times in water-type creatures and fire dealt about half.'
His "continuous burst" technique kept activated, reducing the shark's HP. Due to curse element, the sharks were rooted on their spots. As being bombarded by the magic, their skin cracked and shattered, burnt and charred. Their flesh was shredded swiftly as if assaulted by a grinder, they were being boiled by the broiling temperature of water.
"I have water boiled the sharks, but there are no sediments. I could have a shark soup." Drake sadly thought. As he used his technique, simultaneously, he was looking at his skills' arsenal.
Short Weapon Mastery (10) - granted mastery to control short melee weapons
- plus 10 mastery
Dash (10) - ability to move certain distance instantly
- 25 meters
- 3 seconds
Shadow Cloak (10) - utilize the darkness and blend within to reduce presence
- permanent (active/cancel)
Stealth (6) - Grants invisibility and cloaked presence
- lasted for 30 seconds
- cool down in 1 minute and 30 seconds
- automatically cancelled when hit
Healing Mantra (10) - Healing 5% Maximum HP for every 2 seconds, lasting for 10 seconds.
- cool down in 60 seconds
Fire Ball (10) - Damage enemy with electrical elemental property for additional 120 magic damage
- cool down in 1 second
Shadow Curse (10) - Damage enemy with curse elemental property for additional 120 magic damage
- cool down in 1 second
Lightning Bolt (10) - Damage enemy with electrical elemental property for additional 120 magic damage
- cool down in 1 second
Ion Light (10) - Damage enemy with light elemental property for additional 120 magic damage
- cool down in 1 second
Magic Amplify (10) - increase magic damage by 10%
He finally acquired "Stealth" that required ten full levels of "Shadow Cloak". He smiled cheerily.
*You've killed a Golden Level Creature Dirt Small-Fin Shark.
*You've acquired a Dirt Sword.
*You've level up! Level 12
*You've gained 6480 experience points.
*You've killed a Golden Level Creature Dirt Small-Fin Shark.
*You've gained 6407 experience points.
*You've killed a Golden Level Creature Dirt Small-Fin Shark.
*You've gained 6395 experience points.
"A Dirt Sword?" Drake became excited. 'Damn, for the first time, for one in a hundred chance, I've acquired a beast item. A golden level weapon to boon!'
At his inventory, he "equipped" the Dirt Weapon. Holding it in his hand, he swung it in the air. There was no friction that deterred the sword's slash, entailing its sharpness. The handle was smooth and easy to grasp, its design, was a mess of dirt. The sword blade's edges refracted the sunlight, showing how keen it was. In a word, it is a good blade.
He "received it" and put back into his inventory. He eyed the shark's carcasses which was still intact despite the blistering assault it experienced. He wanted to store it in his inventory.
In a beat, he suddenly vanished from his spot and appeared 25 meters away. He used the skill "Dash". When picking items, within 10 meter radius, he could "receive" it and store it in his inventory. Naturally, he couldn't store mountains and alike.
"Splash"
He was submerged in the lake. He swam towards the sharks, a speed unfathomable for the olympic swimmers. Once again, after 3 seconds, the skill "Dash" cooldown was reset, and he activated it anew.
Appearing 25 meters away, the sharks were now in his 10 meters radius. He "receive" it and stored them, as well as some Thorny Cat-Fishes who were slightly intact. He circled around the lake, consistently harvesting his gains.
Back in the surface, he opened his inventory tab, speaking his gains.
"15 Bronze Level Thorny Cat-Fishes, 24 Silver Level Thorny Cat-Fishes, and 3 Golden Level Dirt Small-Fin Shark. Despite the higher number of bronze level fishes, silver level ones had greater constitution. That's why I gained lots of silver level fishes." Drake nodded inwardly. 'Apply all of my attribute points to INT'
"Acknowledged." The system replied.
'Character Menu' Drake mentally said.
[Level 12]
[Strength: 70]
[Agility: 70]
[Intelligence: 173]
[Endurance: 67]
[Attribute points: 0]
'Battle Menu'
[Attack Damage: 210 - 245]
[Magic Damage: 489 - 570.50]
[Defense: 134]
[HP Recovery: 16.75 (167.5)]
[MP Recovery: 43.25 (432.5)]
[Critical Attack Damage: 105]
[Critical Magic Damage: 244.5]
[Attack Speed: 0.26s]
[Reaction Speed: 0.098s]
[Movement Speed: 10m/1s]
'Skill Menu'
The ten skill points were allocated for Stealth, and the remaining for "Retreat" from the same assassin class. Retreat was branched down from the skill Dash. And it required the skill Dash to get 10 full ten levels before Retreat may acquired.
Stealth (10) - Grants invisibility and cloaked presence
- permanent (active/cancel)
- automatically cancelled when hit
Retreat (6) - ability to move certain distance instantly
- 60 meters
- cool down in 30 seconds
"Dash is to move forward while retreat moves backward." Drake spoke wisely.
In his vision, he observed the three bars, HP, MP, EXP.
[670/670 HP]
[1211/1211 MP]
[ 15,602/230,400 EXP ]
"My magic skills didn't even use one MP." Drake thought out loud. "But the higher level magic skills will need it."
As he surveyed his surroundings and found nothing, he started his journey again towards the towering mountain as his guide pole.
Traversing the lake, he entered again the vast forest. The morning casted a yellow curtain, covering the world. However, in this forest, large tree tops blocked the sunlight, only letting some light to slip through and made yellow spots on the ground packed of dried leaves.
This forest was named the Ink Forest. It was because during nighttime, it was pitch black all around as if everything was covered in ink. The landscape was blotted by ancient trees and pines. Thistles and thorns were equally commonplace and vines and weeds conquered the area.
The Clear Lake that Drake recently stayed was addressed as the outer boundary. Once a person passed through it, he/she had entered the outer area of the Dark Forest. It was rumored that the forest was more darker in the inside.
In front of Drake, there were all sorts of tall grasses with a length of half the adult's height. This was called the "Grass Blockade". When one finally slipped inside, the forest would begin to haunt. It was the true dwellings of the silver level creatures.
Many Progressors would hesitate to enter. But a particular person didn't halt and sauntered towards it like his own playground.
There were many Progressors flocking here, indicating they stayed during nighttime. If they survived during "Nightmare", they were particularly capable and with ability. They were around the "Third until Fifth" Stages of Mortal Realm. Most evolved from using "Iron and Bronze" level points while some evolved with Iron, Bronze, and Silver points!
They numbered in fifty and a particular brawny and stout person, with a full leather armor and a helmet, stood fiercely at the "Grass Blockade". Hidden in his helmet, an insidious pair of eyes, showing his experience of killing people.
Seeing Drake nonchalantly walking, he and his group stared at him, not hiding their killing intent. Pike two times larger than his size, he pointed it at Drake. His overwhelming presence could cower any weak willed person.
But Drake didn't have low will, he was instead brimming with it. Full of confidence; upon witnessing a group of people with an HP lower than the Queen Itchy Bug, brandishing their weapons against him, he was astounded.
[1600/1600 HP] (Mix "color" of Iron and Bronze)
[2750/2750 HP] (Iron and Bronze Mix)
[4000/4000 HP] (Iron and Bronze Mix)
[6900/6900 HP] (Iron, Bronze, and Silver Mix)
'Is this PK?' Drake halted as he thought.
"Yes, PK stands for Player Kill. It will be a PK if they are engaged to kill you." The system replied however Drake had adapted to not mind it.
'The difference for their HP is their different stages. Most are at 3rd stage, some at 4th, while others are 5th.' He speculated.
He asked, "Are you all the rumored Money Grabber Group?"
In Earth, information was easily browsed in internet. That's why he knew, inside the Shelter, there were no administrators or personnel guarding. The info about Clear Lake and the Dark Forest also originated from the internet. Likewise, this group here was infamous for collecting fee to whom wanted to enter deep inside the Dark Forest.
There was no rule, they made it. They lived their life collecting fees than braved danger in the outer area of the forest.
"Huh?"
"What did you speak kid?"
"You sure got a tone huh?!"
Ruffian's tones were clearly heard in their voices. Angered by Drake's accusation, their gazes intensified.
"I-- I am sorry." Drake anxiously waved his hand, not wanting to offend. "I've seen it couple many times in the internet about your reputation. I somehow blurted it out. I'm very sorry."
Looking at the kid bowing; the brawny man, the leader, had his penetrating gaze softened. He nodded, "Okay. But next time, you shouldn't slip your tongue or someone will remove it for your sake."
Lifting himself back, Drake seen the leader's eyes gleamed when he finished his words.
[Cawn Bulkwart]
[10,550/10,550 HP]
Afterwards, the leader shouted, "Pay your fee. 1 WC!"
Looking at the leader's HP, 10 550 HP, in compare to himself, at meager 670 HP; Drake had the urge to satirically laugh at himself.
Spotting his laughing expression, Cawn Bulkwart was enraged. Without hesitation, he swung his pike, producing a powerful bellow of wind, as if a dragon's roar. Drake couldn' react one bit as he was actually sent flying and thrown off to the large tree.
"Slam" The sickening bone crunching sounds, echoed in the area. Drake's bloody body slid on the tree's trunk and dropped on the ground. The peculiar vines attached to the tree, absorbed his gushing blood. His body was disfigured, bending in an unsightly sight.
"Hmmp, is he dead? That young face, I guess he was a celebrity just like James Freeze. Whooo, what a great feeling!"
"Just a kid and got so much ego, leader just blasted him out in one go."
"Aren't you afraid of his background? He is a peerless talent. He must have some deep connections."
"What afraid? If they come, let they come. I had lost fear of death!" Hearing that gutless words of who lastly spoke, Cawn stared at that person, his eyes shone ferociously. Immediately, the person subconsciously moved backwards in fear.
Afterwards, Cawn casted one look at Drake, before taking it away in disdain.
"Haha, yes, afraid of such rich people? I rather spit on them."
"I'll fear those beasts than those filthy people."
"Its better if they just locked themselves on their houses and fill their bellies."
"I'll dispose the body myself. I hope the news will cover it as him being overconfident and killed by the beasts." The fearful person earlier, volunteered.
On the other hand, Drake felt tremendous pain all over his body, as if he was hammered in his head, his body, his leg, each a hundred times. His head was cracked open, secreting blood. At his right elbow, his bone protruded out.
[14/670 HP/HP] (Bloodred)
[1211/1211 MP]
[?]
The question mark implied for bleeding. Every second, he would lose 2 HP.
(2)
[12/670 HP]
(2)
[10/670 HP]
Drake's head was blank. His mind was filled with pitch-black darkness. Within it, he could see a spark of light.
'Heavens?' As if he forgotten himself, he anticipated at the brightening of the light.
[8/670 HP]
[6/670 HP]
The light became blinding as if he was drawn near. He felt his soul as if being salvated, free and unrestrained. A warm feeling rose in his heart.
[4/670 HP]
[2/670 HP]
Light clarified, he saw his surroundings. It was in his house, with his mother cooking in the kitchen, wearing a housedress. She was humming cheerfully.
Drake, as a 8 year old child, was helping her mother wash the dishes and accompanied her humming. Eventually her mother asked a question, he listened to her, a question he couldn't hear and remember.
Finished speaking, her cherry lips closed and Drake seemed to agree, nodding cheerfully. With a smile surfacing at his face, he looked at a distant mirror table.
A man sat beside, writing a note. Sensing his son's passionate gaze, he turned to face him. Those eyes with a sheen of ruby red, glittered like a jewel yet like a raging fire; wanted to seep through little Drake's eyes. Appearing always in his dream, the cherished memory he both wanted to remember and forget.
The lasting memory of Kellen King.
"Father!" Drake shouted and suddenly, like a shattered mirror, everything collapsed. He remembered now, he remembered anything.
Before he die, he must avenge his father.
In a sudden thought, he mentally said, 'Healing Mantra!'
A warm stream flowed across his body, revitalizing his enervated body.
(+37 HP)
[39/670 HP]
At the exact timing, the bleeding took damage.
(-2 HP)
[37/670 HP]
Barely escaping from death, his eyes immediately opened, scaring the person who wanted to dispose his corpse. The fearful person let out a momentarily scream and fell down the ground.
Hearing it, Cawn and his group looked at the origin. And they saw, the ruby red sheen eyes of Drake, glittering like a jewel yet like a raging fire. But within it lied a golden color, and saw a glimpse of a magnificent dragon soaring in the white heavens.
Their hearts trembled, their strength suppressed. Helpless, they looked at Drake slowly standing. His hand stretched, oppressively glowed in multiple colors. They had goosebumps as all of their hairs stood up.
The feeling of both suppression and oppression, had death loomed over them.
Feeling the urge of hatred, Drake wanted to activate his skills, but at the last moment, he stopped. His eyes landed on Cawn Bulkwart, softly saying,
"I am not you."
'I am not you?' Four words pierced his heart as Cawn trembled at his core. To be spared at the last moment, when death was definite; to hear a phrase that seemed to peer his true being, Cawn had finally regained his fear of death and his urge to live.