37. Farming Experience.
Lance and Vixen were patrolling the forest for a couple of hours. When Lance entered he received a quest the moment he set foot in the forest.
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New Quest!
Complete Your Mission.
Description: Complete your patrol of the forest and report back to the headquarters with your findings.
Reward:
Experience: 7500
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He noticed when it appeared that he didn't get money for completing it. But he only really needed experience at the moment anyway.
During their patrol, they ran into a couple of packs of saber wolves that Lance took care of. There were no Alphas or Betas, but he got just over 12,000 experience from hunting them. He also gained three quests to kill all the wolves netting him 15,000 more experience. "I'm glad we choose this mission. We got so much experience."
Even though they completed the mission, Lance still wanted to hunt more monsters. Not only will he get more experience, but more merit once he returned. "What do you say? We still have a few hours before nightfall."
Vixen didn't need to even think about it, "Hell yeah!" She let out a laugh. She was excited, her goal was to see Lance become more powerful.
"Yeeooooowwww!"
Lance looks in the direction of the sound. At first, he doesn't see anything, but then something jumps through the branches of one tree, to the neighboring tree. It moved so fast, it looked like a black shadow.
"Yyeeeoooww!"
The creature started hopping from tree to tree. Circling Lance. Lance was able to keep track of the movements, but he couldn't see what the monster was.
Thump!
"Hisssssss!"
Lance quickly turned around and saw the creature hissing at him.
The monster had a black, feline body. It stood just over a meter tall on all four legs. Its most distinct feature was its two tails with purple flames on the tips. It walked around Lance, growling. Lance inadvertently entered its territory.
"What is that?" This was his first time encountering this creature. He decided to scan it.
Trling
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Creature: Trickster Cat (Nekomata)
Level: 17
Health Points: 378/378
Energy Points: 489/489
Stamina Points: 454/454
Attack: 72 - 89
Armour Rating: 36
Skills:
- Razor Claw
- With razor-sharp claws, attack your prey with 130% attack.
- Pounce
- Jump on your prey, knocking them down. Strength check.
- Firebolt
- Launches a fireball at your target. Damaged based on highest Attack. True Damage skill. May burn target.
- Shock
- Sends a shock to your target. 65% of attack damage. True damage skill. May paralyze your opponent. Dexterity check.
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"This creature has magic skills!" This is the first monster he found with magic abilities. Even though the monster is relatively weak compared to Lance, he shouldn't take it lightly.
The Trickster Cat refused to attack Lance. It just circled him, sizing him up. "Yeeow, hsssss!"
"Hmm, maybe I should try that effect out now." Lance was talking about the summon spectral wolf effect. He activated it and soon after, from his shadow, a wolf appeared. The wolf matched the size of the Trickster Cat. It was pure jet black with a wispy smoke emanating from its body. It was partly transparent but looked solid. The one feature Lance noticed was, It didn't have the saber fangs. It looked like a regular wolf from his world.
"Hsssssss!" As soon as the wolf came out, the cat stopped and hissed at it. Its fur stood on end, its tails went straight into the air, and the flames on their tip grew in size and intensity.
The spectral wolf stood there staring at the feline, waiting patiently for orders. Its tail waved slowly from side to side. Lance thought for a second, then bent down to touch the wolf. To his surprise, he was able to touch it. Lance decided to see if he could scan it.
Trling
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Summon: Spectral Wolf
Level: 16
Health Points: 540/540
Energy Points: 320/320
Stamina Points: 450/450
Attack: 54 - 69
Armour Rating: 55
Skills:
- Shadow Attack
- Disappear into the shadows and reappear behind your prey. Sneak attack. True damage.
- Howl
- immobilize your prey with a fierce howl.
- Shadow Claw
- Send spectral claws out to attack your prey. 80% attack power. Range Attack.
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As if it waited enough, the Trickster Cat lunged at Lance. The Spectral wolf instinctively protected him, It jumped and intercepted the cat, sank its fangs into the nape of its neck, and threw it to the ground.
"Looks like it'll protect me no matter what." Lance liked that. Vixen was great, she could warn him of all incoming dangers, but there was a limit to what she could do. This new companion can fight with Lance.
"YEEOOWW!"
"WOOOOF!"
His wolf companion and the cat fought for a while, exchanging bites and claws. Lance stood back and watched, he wanted to know the limit of this new 'pet'.
The spectral wolf was doing a good job, it pushed back the cat and nearly killed it. Just as the wolf was about to finish the cat off, it let out a loud meow that echoed through the forest.
Trling
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New Objective!
Eliminate the Nekomatas.
Description: A clowder of cats appeared. Eliminate them to protect the city and its people.
Reward:
Experience: 8000
UAC: 4500
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Just then, the spectral wolf snapped the neck of the Trickster Cat.
Trling
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Nekomata Defeated!
Gained 600 experience.
Higher Level monster defeated!
Bonus Experience: 200
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"800 experience for one monster, Not bad." Lance unsheathed his swords and waited for the clowder to appear. Overhead, shadows started jumping from tree to tree. "They're here!" Lance focused.
More Trickster Cats descended to the ground, surrounding the group. They were all ready to fight. Lance quickly scanned them all, they were between level 16 and 17.
'I counted 18, this isn't gonna be an easy fight.' Vixen kept an eye on all the cats, waiting for the fight to begin.
Seeing the spectral wolf was still in good condition, Lance decided to order it to attack.
The wolf let out a howl and a dozen cats were frozen on the spot. Countless ghostly claws spread out among the cats, small explosions resounded when they came into contact with a feline.
Lance didn't sit back and watch this time, he too sprung into action. He couldn't take them down with one hit, but one hurricane could take out a couple of them. Paws, heads, and even tails were flying through the battlefield. Red blood started to soak the ground and dye it.
The wolf was able to keep up with Lance's speed. They were taking out the cats quickly, and before they knew it, there was one lonely cat left. The wolf lunged and pinned it to the ground, Lance rushed over and stabbed it in its heart.
Trling
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Objective Complete!
Eliminate the Nekomatas.
Reward:
Experience: 8000
UAC: 4500
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With the quest complete and the new monster defeated, Lance took a much-needed break, he sat down next to a tree and let out a deep sigh. "That was easier than I thought. Those cats didn't like the wolf at all." he chuckled a little at the thought of cats and dogs fighting.
*Nekomata in games are depicted as a trickster cat, hence why I called it such.
** For those that don't know, a Clowder is the proper name for a group of cats.