Kenny stared at the open path that led into the forest after climbing out of the pit. He wasn’t sure when it had appeared or if it was already there and he just didn’t see it before falling into the dirt pit. Either way he had a path forward. He was now entering the second half of this area. He looked up at the sun before stepping in.
From what he was able to tell by the positioning of it, it must have been late morning, early afternoon. While he slept inside the pit he was shielded by the light thanks to the walls and how deep it was. However, once when it reached a certain height he woke up. The heat and brightness pelting his eyes and sleep roll made it too hot to sleep any longer.
Deciding it was probably a good idea to start his trek again, Kenny got up, placed his equipment on, and cleaned everything up. It had taken him some time to get his new Hand Wraps on correctly, since he had to place everything right or face having the thorns being over wrapped. After he was finally successful though, they looked pretty cool to him. Now he just needed to figure out how to apply poison to the thorns.
As he sat there wrapping the hand wraps over and over, he had some time to think about what they had stated in the description. Specifically the part where it said can apply or channel poison to the thorns if the wearer has knowledge on applying poison or has someone who does. While he had no abilities that helped him apply or have knowledge on poisons and didn’t know anyone who did, he still thought about the potential that part of the description had.
Being able to poison his opponents while punching or defending himself would be an excellent way to increase his damage. He had learned about poisons while in school and how they could either be a deadly curse to a person or a boon to them in battle. There were many different types of poisons in the Tower.
He didn’t know them all since it required someone to specialize in them due to their class or someone who had a vast amount of knowledge due to their crafting profession. Even healer type classes were suggested to gain a certain amount of knowledge in poisons since they had to be ready to expunge, heal, or contain them.
So instead of getting a full-blown class learning about them, he and all the other students were just given the basic knowledge. Poisons came in various types. They were either Venom, Toxins, or non-lethal. All had different methods of application, but still fell under the same banner, Poison. They were a type of ailment or debuff that affected either physical traits or status traits depending on the grade and type.
The main objective to poisons was damage over time, or D.O.T., but also had a secondary effect. Some would paralyze, slowly rot the area where applied, create confusion or disorientation, make you sick, or even make you blind. There were so many different types of secondary effects out there it was hard to know them all unless you took the time to study them.
If he were able to get his hands on the Paralytic Poison the Vine Whip Ram had then it would make his fights that much easier and faster, especially against the Agility Stat Talented creatures he seemed to always come across.
Alas, he was no poisoner. He did have that ability to store poisons and then expunge them from his body, but he didn’t think that would work in applying poison to the thorns. He would have to wait until he passed the Trial Grounds and found someone who could help him in this regard.
After eating a light breakfast, Kenny had decided to leave the pit. He was glad to see the vined staircase had remained there and walked up it. He was even more surprised to see a pile of broken thorned vines awaiting him on the ground. He had reached out to grab them so he could collect some tinder for his fire, but when he accidentally touched one of the thorns he was met with a welcomed surprise. They were poisoned. And not with just any type of poison, but with the same poison on the Mid-Area boss he had just fought.
He collected the broken vines and placed them in his pack, hoping he could find someone outside to help him collect the poison and use them to apply to his thorns. This surprise made his day. So much so that even when he came across the annoying and vexing Ariel Gyrfalcons inside the forested path of the second half of this area he was still in a good mood.
This second half was like a forested version of the maze he was in during the first area. There was a wide dirt path surrounded by trees, bushes, and overgrown grass. The only difference with this area compared to the first area was the monster hid within the trees and bushes and would jump out at him depending on how close they needed him to get. Something he didn’t like so much.
As he pressed forward following the path he had chosen, he came across only two types of creatures. One was the vexing Ariel Gyrfalcons that had an easier to land guerilla tactic attacks, and the more appreciable Bush Wolves.
He liked facing the Bush Wolves a lot more because not only was their Stat Talent in Strength, but they were the type of creatures to fight him head on instead of running away after having a couple of their kin killed.
These wolf plant creatures did have some form of intelligence since they were able to coordinate amongst each other, but their level of intelligence wasn’t much to speak of. This became apparent when Kenny used the bodies of their kin as shields when he positioned himself in place where when he dodged an attack from one they would land on their kin.
The bodies of these Bush Wolves were a mixture of flesh and plant. The color of the leaves were a brownish green and their eyes were a light blue. What would be their fur was actually leaves, but under that laid flesh and bone.
Something he was glad his new Hand Wraps were able to find for him as he grazed his punches and ripped off some of the leaves and created lines of cuts from the thorns. What he didn’t like was when the leaves stuck to the thorns and he had to take his time tearing off so they wouldn’t get in the way when he struck the creatures again.
These Bush wolves traveled in packs of four. Their levels ranged between five and six making them tough to deal with at times. Even though their Stat Talent was in Strength their attacks weren’t that strong, the application of that strength seemed to be more focused on their teeth though. Something Kenny learned after the creatures would land a bite on their kin or were led to attack a close by tree, ripping the bark off of it like it was nothing.
Kenny, thanking his foresight in investing in Agility, was able to dodge all of their bite attacks. He wasn’t so lucky when it came to their claw swipes, but like he had found out the damage done with their claws wasn’t anything near what the power in their sharp canine jaws.
As Kenny ventured in this forested area he started to notice something different than the first area and the first half of this area. There were a lot more creatures to fight here. It seemed that either this forested area had populated more monsters to give parties more experience points as they made their way through the paths or they were here to slow down the parties. Which of the two it was he didn’t know nor had the time to figure out since he needed to press on.
As Kenny kept going on, he was starting to both feel and understand the disadvantages of going solo. At the beginning the signs weren’t readily apparent. Not when he started getting strong as he leveled up. The amount of creatures he had to fight at a time were tough at the start, but he was able to handle them as time went on. That was only because they were weaker. Now things were starting to change.
Not only were these creatures getting stronger, but their numbers were increasing and they were getting more diversity than a couple of rats and a single cat. The strength they had, their endurance, the higher health all made his fights last longer than when he fought the Grey Haired Rats.
Even their application of utilizing the elements that fit their nature through magic, although not extraordinarily strong, was starting to slow his momentum down. He understood as he entered new areas even that will start to increase, especially when he finally came across an Intelligence Stat Talented opponent.
Having to fight the monsters, scout his surroundings, and tank any hit was slowly starting to take a toll on him. Not just physically, but mentally as well. He had been alone after coming here not having anyone to talk to. It could wear a person out, especially when they needed to be alert.
It also didn’t help that he was on a timer. He had already spent a day and a half, more or less, making it this far. He wasn’t sure exactly how much time had passed since there weren’t any signs or clocks in the first area. His mind had started to play the doubting game the more time he used on these fights. And since he had no one to talk to, to help ease his mind, his body felt like it had to keep pressing on.
He had to take more breaks in between fights, making him drink his water flask more than he really wanted to. He was lucky when he found a small little rest area with a clean river flowing through it.
He was able to figure out that it was a safe rest area thanks to the signs of people making camp there. There were a couple burnt pieces of firewood with rocks circling around it to prevent a fire from spreading out, which was smart since no one wanted to rush the area because a fire had broken out and caught the whole forest up in it.
The only advantages that helped him not break down and think it was all hopeless were the facts that as a solo fighter he was able to gain more experience and level quicker than he believed he would. Or at least that’s what he had made himself believe since he wasn’t entirely sure, and that he was getting better at creating a personalized fighting style as he kept fighting more and more monsters.
While he had the basics for a melee fighting style already laid out for him back on the planet, it wasn’t a style meant for fighting monsters. It was meant for fighting other humans. However, as he continued fighting each different creature, he was able to see similarities in his already existing discipline.
He just needed to make the proper adjustments as he continued. He was, though, a bit wary of wanting to keep doing that because he didn’t know what his Power and Support Skill Trees were. If they were something that didn’t fit what he was starting to build right now then all this work would be for naught, and he would need to start from scratch again.
In the end he found he didn’t have time to be thinking about anything that plagued his progression. There were monsters to fight and his new power to understand. If he made it to the end then that would be fantastic. If he didn’t then…he didn’t want to think about it. He had to focus on what was in front of him, physical or mental exhaustion be damned. Especially since after the few dozen fights finally brought him to the Area Boss of the second area.
He waited to catch his breath and drank a stamina potion to replenish both his stamina and health thanks to his Bone Vitality Bracelet of the Alpha Rat. The area he would have to fight whatever boss lurked within was a clearing slightly bigger than the pit he fought the ram in and slightly smaller than the room he fought the Guardian Stone Hound in. After finishing his preparations he stepped in.
The monster that had appeared was a level seven Barked Skin Alpha Wolf with a Stat Talent in Vitality. It wasn’t alone either making it the toughest fight so far. Accompanying the Barked Skin Alpha Wolf were two Bush Wolves at level five. Both had a Stat Talent in Strength.
Kenny had learned during this fight that the Barked Skin Alpha Wolf’s name wasn’t just for show. It had a dark brown color to it and had a tough as bark exterior. Every time Kenny when to punch it he felt like he was trying to strike a sturdy tree. He had also learned that the tough skin and high health wasn’t the only thing this monster had. It was smart too.
The Barked Skin Alpha Wolf was able to move and coordinate attacks with the Bush Wolves like it was some general. He had made a couple of mistakes allowing the Bush wolves to finally show him how powerful those jaws of theirs really were.
One of the wolves had bitten his calf sending a much more powerful wave of pain than he had ever felt since coming here. The other went to bite down on his right hand. He was thankful for that since he was able to rake the thorns along the soft top part of the inside of the monster’s mouth causing it to yelp and release its hold on him.
He had to grip the other wolf by the leaves and punch as hard as he could over and over until it finally released, but not without causing a deep enough wound to make him bleed. It had taken him a while, and mistakes getting bit, but he was able to figure out a way to use the Barked Skin Alpha Wolf’s strategic placements against it.
He had created the illusion that he was solely focusing on the boss monster, allowing the other two to get behind him. As he got as close as he could to the boss creature, he focused his hearing on the steps of the two weaker ones behind him and would use his Spring Step to get out of the way in time for the two Bush Wolves to jump and lock their jaws onto their own alpha.
He then swiftly reached and grabbed one of the closer Bush wolves and yanked as hard as he could while its jaws were still embedded into their alpha’s bark-like skin, tearing off a chunk of the bark exposing the flesh underneath it.
Kenny then swung and slammed the wolf he had used as an opening tool on the boss into the Barked Skin Alpha Wolf’s side making it collide and fall on top of the other Bush Wolf. He then threw the Bush Wolf in his hands away and leaped on the downed alpha.
He gripped the broken edges of the bark skin and pulled. This broke off more of the bark-like skin exposing more flesh, something he happily took advantage of by punching his thorned covered hands over and over.
He had to use this strategy a few times until finally the Barked Skin Wolf finally died. The remaining two wolves weren’t hard to handle after that since they were already battered and beaten being used as a blunt force object. Something Kenny had no issues with since they had used him as a chew toy several times during the fight.
Kenny stared at his wounded body. The bite marks were deeper than the ones the Guardian Stone Hound had made as well as the Grey Haired Rats and Feral Felines. If he thought the hound’s bite was bad, it was nothing compared to these Bush Wolves. He was simply happy that the Barked Skin Alpha Wolf didn’t have as terrible of a bite like its two weaker kin.
As Kenny thought about the fight and how bad his wounds were he remembered he heard something about how Health Potions could help heal wounds. They weren’t anything like the lotion Vessie had used on his bruises, but they would at least seal the open wounds and stop the bleeding that was going on.
It also stimulated the regeneration in his healing to make the wounds heal a bit faster over a small amount of time so he didn’t have to worry about the scabs ripping over and causing fresh wounds. The only downside of this was it would slowly drain his stamina to help speed it along. Something he could replenish as he rested.
As he drank half of a Basic Health Potion and started pouring the rest evenly over his wounds, several screens appeared before him.
[Congratulations! You have defeated the 2nd Area Boss of the Trial Grounds, Barked Skin Alpha Wolf. Exp earned. Tower Credits earned.]
[Calculating results.]
[Fighting the Area Boss solo has been taken into account.]
[Calculations completed. Appropriate loot suitable for performance and involvement has been determined.]
[You have been awarded +5 Free Stat Points for defeating an Area Boss!]
[Congratulations! You have been awarded an extra 5 Free Stat Points for fighting and defeating an Area Boss solo!]
[Congratulations! You have received the Title: Solo All Bark and no Bite!]
[Title: Solo All Bark and No Bite. Solo fight and kill the Barked Skin Alpha Wolf by tearing its bark-like skin and attacking its vulnerable flesh. Title: Solo All Bark and No Bite awards +5% to Stat Vitality.]
Kenny wasn’t sure about this title. From reading it, it must only refer to the Barked Skin Alpha Wolf because the impressive holes he had sported after the fight told a different story about the ‘No Bite’ portion. He wasn’t going to complain though, he was rather glad he was able to get an extra five percent in his Vitality, bringing the percentage bonus to ten percent. Shortly after those screens disappeared, he received another screen that made him happy.
[Congratulations! You have leveled up! You have reached level 7! 5 Free Stat Points are available. 6 free Skill Points are available!]
It looked like after accumulating all those experience points from fighting the monsters before this fight had finally paid off with a level up. Something he was happy to receive. Especially now that he had confirmation on him getting both the bonus Free Stat Points for defeating the Area Boss as well as defeating it Solo , bringing him to a total of fifteen Free Stat Points once again after leveling up.
Like the last time he received fifteen Free Stat Points, he placed the same number in the four stats he was investing in. The results were impressive…at least to him it was.
Stats
Health Points – 125/330
Mana Points – 140/140
Stamina Points – 41/560
Strength – Base – 25 + Equipment Bonus (6) + Percentage Bonus (15%). Total – 36.
Agility – Base – 29 + Equipment Bonus (+1) + Percentage Bonus (5%). Total – 32.
Endurance – Base – 46 + Equipment Bonus (+7) + Percentage Bonus (5%). Total – 56.
Vitality – Base – 27 + Equipment Bonus (+3) + Percentage Bonus (10%). Total – 33.
Intelligence – 15
Wisdom – 14
Perception – 14
Willpower – 36
Free Stat Points Available: 0
Free Skill Points Available - 52
While most of his stats were falling behind and some, mainly Endurance, were far ahead, he believed this was necessary. At least for now. After he found a group to team up with he figured he’d work more on his Willpower and Agility. The fifteen percent bonus in his Strength Stat would end up paying for itself as time went on so he needed to invest more that either had no percentage bonuses or had a five percent bonus. As for his Intelligence, Wisdom, and Perception he would keep going as he was with them for now until something changed and demanded his need to increase the stats.
He was taken out of his thoughts as another happy little thing happened. The loot chest appeared. He made his way over and opened it, excited to see what he had received. Inside was something he wasn’t expecting. A pair of pants. A pair of dark brownish green pants that looked an awfully a lot like bark. He picked them up and waited for the screen to appear to see what they were.
[Barked Skin Pants of the Alpha Wolf (Common) Tier 1.]
[Barked Skin Pants of the Alpha Wolf. Made from the materials of a Barked Skin Alpha Wolf. Due to the bark skin it increases the Endurance of the wear slightly more than other pants. Although they have a tough bark-like feel and look, these pants are a lot more flexible to the one wearing them. +4 to Endurance, +2 Vitality.]
After the screen appeared he looked at the three portals that had suddenly appeared while he was looking at the loot. He wasn’t ready to move to the next area due to how tired his mind and body felt. He decided he would take a short nap and eat something while his sweaty equipment aired out.
However, the reason he was staring at the portal was because he had felt something. Something similar to what he had felt when he stared at the Vine Whip Ram earlier. His heart had quickened in pace as he understood what it was he was feeling. It was a trigger. A trigger that would lead him to awakening one of his two unawakened Skill Trees.
Subconsciously, Kenny took a step towards the portal he was getting the feeling from. Even though it was faint, the feeling was still stronger than what he had gotten from the Vine Whip Ram. What stopped him from heading straight for the portal was when his knee buckled.
He looked down at his legs and remembered how tired he was. It was that or the hope that suddenly grew within him knowing he finally had a clue on where to go had probably released whatever tension that had built up throughout the day. Either way, he needed to rest up so he could to the next area. Something he was more than happy to do as he felt the aches and soreness in his muscles start to protest.
Vesely sat there with a smile on her face as she watched Kenny start to rest up. This fight he had just done was his toughest yet, but only through the facts that this boss had actual minions it could lead and maneuver about through the fight. For him to be able to use those minions against the Alpha Wolf showed he was paying attention to his surroundings and was able to adapt his strategy.
If she had any concerns so far it had to do with his lack of effort in trying to learn how to channel his mana so he could utilize the special effect of his vest. She knew he didn’t get the proper training on using mana like the others had received before making their way into the Trial Grounds and understood he was pressed for time, but he had completely stopped trying during his breaks. Almost like he believed he wasn’t going to have any use for it.
Sure there were items and equipment that replaced the use of mana for stamina or even health, but those items weren’t in high demand since select classes used them. Those were more special made items or rare drops, something Kenny wouldn’t come across in the Trial Grounds at all.
Speaking of Stamina, she was actually quite surprised he had gotten it so high. He had one of the highest, if not the highest number in Endurance and Stamina Pool. Something he showed he desperately needed after taking so many hard hits and moving around so much. If his Endurance weren’t as high as it was those bites the Bush Wolves locked on his skin would have been much worse.
As a melee fighter going at this solo this was the smartest thing he could have invested in. Having the foresight to increase his Agility, Strength, and Vitality to where they were too was smart on his part so he wouldn’t be slow to attack, didn’t have to worry about his health getting too low too quickly, and still being able to do damage. These choices were sound and agreeable amongst the people in the room. Even Mimi and Estrella, who seemed to vehemently look down on him, agreed he had some brains inside his head for that.
However, him placing points in his Willpower stumped everyone. No one could figure out what his game was there. Like his reasoning for not investing in Intelligence, Wisdom, and Perception, all stats she wished he would start investing in incase it became too late, had sound logic why he didn’t place anything in them. He just didn’t have any need for the stats for the moment.
The other concern she was having was the way he was fighting. It had completely changed from the finesse of a martial artist type style into a mixture of pugilist and brawler or street fighter where if his punches and kicks weren’t working then he would use an improvised weapon.
She wasn’t saying that type of fighting didn’t exist or was heavily looked down upon, but rather that style of fighting was more for those who had an elemental manipulation and molding abilities so they could make the best weapon for the situation. He did not have that. And since he didn’t have those type of abilities he would eventually end up hurting himself when the time came for an improvised weapon and there weren’t any.
Besides those concerns she was filled with excitement when she saw the look that had appeared on his face after locking his gaze on a certain portal. She, and like the others that were actually paying attention, knew what that look meant. He had felt the calling of a trigger to one of his Skill Trees.
What made her even more excited was after looking at where that portal lead, were the type of terrain and creatures that it held. She knew she could be getting ahead of herself with her own hopes, but at the same time she couldn’t help it.
That excitement also brought back more worries though. If he did get what she believed he would get in one of the two remaining Skill Trees then he was going to be furious with himself. Especially if he got it in the Power Skill Tree. For if he did get what she was hoping for him, then he was going to need to increase his Intelligence Stat as soon as possible.
Sounds echoed throughout the swampy landscape. The sounds of buzzing, croaking, and even gurgled air escaping pockets that exploded from the sludgy water filled the air. The area was full of water with random grassy lands scattered throughout.
Tall trees were either bunched up together or were spaced out unevenly creating illusions that all areas in the water were the same ankle to less than ankle deep. Hidden spots had deeper pits that could and did catch the inattentive wannabe ascender off guard sucking them within the deep waters.
While the monster residing in here thrived thanks to their environment, the Trial Grounds Participants did not. One particular person was having a bad time trudging through the swamp, feeling annoyed by the humidity and by the type of monsters that decided she looked like a yummy snack.
The long legged teenaged girl ran through the swampy water trying to escape a couple of large toad monsters that leaped forward trying to reach her. Each time they came down, their weight would cause ripples in the water and sent the waves running up the back of her legs making her cringe each time.
“Slow!” the teenaged girl yelled as she threw her hand back behind her and pointed at one of the slimy amphibious creature. She clicked her tongue as she noticed the spell failed. Since that was the case she used her other hand to launch a bolt of magic at it to try and make it pause for a brief moment. That, too, failed as her aim was off due to her panicking.
She could feel the burning in her legs as she pushed herself to the limits of what she was capable of. Regret in not increasing her Endurance more so she could have a bigger Stamina Pool filled her. However, that regret was nowhere as much as the one she held in her heart after what had happened a couple of days ago.
Due to that incident she made the stupid choice to pick the portal that led to this swamp land. Something she only decided to do because of the pull she had felt when staring at the portal.
Unlike the others who she had teamed up with recently, she was the only one who didn’t awaken a second Skill Tree. Something she so desperately needed since the only thing she had was the ability to slow her targets.
A loud croak and a splash caused her to come back to the present and out of her mind. Just in time too since her right leg suddenly collapsed under her causing her to fall face first into the muddy and sludge-like water. She breathed heavily as she spat out all that had slipped into her mouth, parted her long pitch black hair away from her piercing violet colored eyes, and scrambled to get back on her feet.
As she scrambled she heard the two creatures that had been tailing her getting closer. She turned her head to see how close they had gotten and started to panic even more. Out of desperation she tried throwing her spell once more. This time it was a success, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
It had landed right as the toad was getting ready to jump. The effectiveness of her spell wasn’t a lot, but it was still enough to see some effect had been place. Especially since the slight delay in its leap caused it to collide right into the other toad that tried to jump over it. This caused the two to crash and fall on their backs. When they recovered to their feet the two creatures decided the other was more of a problem than she was and focused on each other.
The teenage girl let out a victorious laugh as she felt she was able to finally get away from her pursuers. After continuing a little longer, she finally slowed to a stop. Both of her hand were placed on her knees as she gasped for air. She could feel her heart thumping against her chest as she tried to slow it down.
After taking a minute or two to calm her breathing and her pacing heart beat she straightened her back and looked around. She recognized the area as a place that was close to the where she had entered, but not too close. There was a piece of land with a tree opened around it making it a safe place close by, making it the perfect place to rest for a bit.
As she started for that area, she had missed the signs of the traps that were placed all around this watery hell hole. The vines swimming through the water from the tree close by decided that it wanted to change her current plan into one better suited for themselves.
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