The Wolf Boss Again

When Ray logged online, he wasted no time and quickly started his training with Elric. He was improving at a rapid rate, which even surprised Elric. Ray's monstrous growth was something Elric had never seen before, making it feel like he was creating an unstoppable force.

Ray was gradually getting accustomed to each weapon. After each intense training session, he would head outside to survey the terrain. His primary focus was on the hideout of the wolves. Ray was formulating strategies and plans in his head, determined to leave no stone unturned to become truly unstoppable in the game.

By this time, most players who had logged in around the same time as Ray had already moved on to the main server and left the tutorial. Most players left the tutorial on their first day, but Ray had spent several days here, meticulously preparing.

After thoroughly scouting the wolves' hideout, Ray knew what he needed to do. He returned to the cabin to speak with Elric, who was seated on a chair, sipping coffee.

"I feel like they programmed him to do that every time a player walks into the cabin," Ray thought to himself. Without wasting any time, he proceeded to talk to Elric.

"Elric, I read in the game guide that there are guns and even a gunner class. Is that correct?"

"Yes, so what?" questioned Elric.

"I would like to get a gun."

Elric was visibly surprised. He had never had a player ask for a gun in the tutorial because usually, players would purchase guns from the main server.

Elric led Ray to the market, taking him deep inside until they reached a stand with an NPC behind it. Rows of guns lined the back of the stand.

"Hello, my name is Mark. What can I do for you?" the NPC greeted.

"Hello, Mark. My name is the Abyssal Lord, and I would like to purchase a gun from you," Ray said.

"Sure, what kind of gun do you want?"

"The cheapest one you have, please."

Mark brought out a silver pistol. When Ray saw the price, his eyes widened. He didn't have enough money to buy it.

"It seems I'm not only poor in the real world but also in the virtual world too," Ray thought, quietly lamenting his situation.

Fortunately, Elric stepped in and bought the gun for him. Holding his new gun in hand, Ray walked back with Elric to the cabin.

"Elric, can I take my gun and practice with it?"

"Sure, no problem. But before that, let me teach you the basics of using a gun. First, unlike in other games, your bullets aren't endless. You'll have to reload manually once you've shot all the bullets in the gun. Also, aiming a gun is difficult because it's like aiming in real life, which is why many people prefer using arrows instead."

"Do you understand?" Elric asked, to which Ray nodded.

Elric took Ray to their usual dueling spot, which now had targets lined up from top to bottom. Ray took aim at the target but spectacularly missed, his shot so terrible that even Elric burst out laughing.

"You can't just have a relaxed stance like that and expect to hit the target," Elric said, still chuckling.

For the next month, Ray dedicated himself to mastering his weapons and his new gun. Each day started with weapon training. He practiced with daggers, swords, spears, and even an oversized sword, familiarizing himself with their weight and balance. Elric guided him through complex maneuvers, correcting his form and teaching him how to maximize each weapon's potential.

In the afternoons, Ray would focus on gun training. Elric showed him how to properly grip the pistol, how to stand, and how to aim. Ray learned to focus on his breathing, to steady his hand, and to anticipate the recoil. His first attempts were dismal. He missed the targets by wide margins, and his arms would ache from holding the gun steady for long periods.

"You're not just firing a weapon; you're extending your will through it," Elric explained. "Every shot must be deliberate, every aim precise. Don't rush it."

Ray took this advice to heart. He practiced loading and unloading the gun, becoming faster and more efficient with each session. He set up different scenarios, like moving targets and shooting from cover, to simulate real combat conditions.

The first week was the hardest. His accuracy was poor, and he often became frustrated. But he pushed through, driven by his desire to excel. By the end of the second week, he was hitting the targets more consistently. He started to understand the subtle differences in handling the gun compared to other weapons.

In the third week, Ray began integrating his gun practice with his other weapon training. He would switch between the pistol and melee weapons, learning to transition smoothly between ranged and close combat. Elric introduced him to scenarios where he had to fight off enemies with his sword and then quickly draw his gun to take down distant foes.

"You're getting better," Elric noted one day. "But remember, in real combat, you'll need to think on your feet. Adapt to the situation. Use your environment."

Ray practiced in various terrains, from open fields to dense forests, learning to use cover and high ground to his advantage. He studied the behavior of different enemy types, identifying their weaknesses and figuring out the best weapons to use against them.

As the month progressed, Ray's skills improved significantly. He was hitting targets with his gun more accurately and was more confident in his ability to handle multiple weapons. His endurance increased, allowing him to train for longer periods without tiring as quickly.

By the end of the month, Elric was impressed. "You've come a long way, Ray. You're ready for the next challenge."

Ray knew what that meant. He had scouted the wolves' hideout and devised a plan. Now, with his improved skills and new gun, he was ready to take them on.

But before he left he went back to the market and purchased some ingredients from her. When he came back he made something from which he learnt from Martha at his own time.

The day of the attack, Ray felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He approached the wolves' hideout with caution, his pistol loaded and ready. He positioned himself on a ridge overlooking the hideout, taking a moment to observe the wolves' movements.

When he was ready, Ray descended from his vantage point, moving silently through the trees. He encountered a lone wolf on patrol and took it down with a precise shot to the head. The sound of the gunshot alerted the other wolves, and they began to converge on his position.

Ray switched to his sword, slashing through the first wave of wolves that came at him. His movements were fluid, each strike precise and deadly. When a group of wolves attacked from a distance, he drew his pistol and fired, taking them out before they could get close.

Ray's screen flashed with notifications as he dispatched several wolves with precision and skill.

<You have killed a wolf>

<+20 exp>

This notification greeted him repeatedly, and with each kill, his experience bar filled up. Ray leveled up twice, reaching level 3.

Wasting no time, he made his way to the wolf boss, which had emerged from its hiding spot to confront him. The beast was as monstrous as ever. Without hesitation, Ray fired a shot, but the bullet barely pierced its skin, drawing only a small trickle of blood. As his gun cooled down, Ray switched to his spear, keeping his distance while delivering swift, controlled strikes to the beast, ensuring it couldn't get close.

Finally, the wolf boss had enough. It used its special skill, launching a series of massive claw slashes toward Ray. Instead of dodging, Ray summoned a large shield that looked like a door, covering his body from head to toe. The slashes hit the shield, pushing him back. Though protected, the shield showed signs of breaking after another strike. With his other hand free, Ray morphed his spear into a gun and fired another shot. This time, the bullet made the wolf wince slightly, its movements visibly slowing.

Seizing the moment, Ray matched the wolf's reduced speed and used his shield to bash into it, forcing the beast back. The wolf's speed had drastically reduced, making it seem like an ordinary NPC rather than a boss. Even its AOE attacks were ineffective against Ray.

The wolf's movements grew slower, and a purple hue spread across its skin.

"If only you had more intelligence, this fight would have been more interesting," Ray thought. "If you were smarter, you'd realize you're being poisoned."

Ray had coated his bullets and weapons with a slow-acting poison. Studying the wolf's fighting style over time gave him the insight he needed. Knowing the wolf boss's weak spot from the guide, Ray transformed his gun into a dagger. He discarded his cumbersome shield, throwing his only defense aside. Sprinting towards the wolf, he aimed for its eyes. Normally, the wolf would have been too fast and deadly, but its reduced speed allowed Ray to pierce its left eye with his dagger. The wolf howled in pain, the poison in the dagger intensifying its agony.

With the dagger still in the wolf's eye, Ray transformed it into a sword, driving it deep into the wolf's brain, delivering the final blow. The beast collapsed, defeated.

<You have killed the wolf boss>

<+200 exp>

<Level up>

Ray reached level 4. The wolf boss that had brutally beaten him before was now defeated with ease.

[Player: Abyssal Lord]

[Ability: God Of War]

[Class: None]

[Race: Human]

[Level: 4]

[10/1000 exp]

[Stats]

[Strength: 4]

[Dexterity: 4]

[Stamina: 4]

[Vitality: 4]

[Endurance: 4]

[Perception: 4]

[Intelligence: 4]

[HP: 25/25]

[Energy: 25/25]

[Mana: 25/25]

Ray felt a swell of pride looking at his stats. He had finally conquered the wolf boss, the once insurmountable foe, with only skill and strategy.