[Arc 3] Chapter 3: The Mountains and Lucky Boulder
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Up, up, up the mountain trail we go.

Some days after we roped in Marc, we finally reached the road up the Yanxiong mountain range. This road was build after the capital inside the mountains was built, so there's no way to get lost. On the other hand, it means that the bunch of smaller mountains before the capital turns to true dens of evil, with [evil = monsters].

"Not that we're after those monsters. We're after the crafters in the capital." I said to myself while steering the carriage. 

"You said something?" - Mira

"Nothing. Just thinking out loud." - Garami

Must be the view from up here. The road is showing the majesty of the mountains and cliffs while being wide enough to fit two carriages, or a carriage and a dragon, plus walkways. I heard that the Yanxiong capital had some of the greatest crafters on Noterra, and if it were them that build this road, then those rumors are underrated big time.

"Hey, Marky! You have to see this!" - Lily

"Urk, no way. Too high." - Marc

Poor Marc has been in bad shape since we started going upwards the mountain. I first thought that he had a fear of heights, but it turned out that he was simply too much of a city child. His body ain't used to traveling as much as he has done these last few days. And then there's the other problem...

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Marcus Pollen

Race: [Human]   | Level: 3

Karma Value: 8

Skills: 19

Titles: 2

Skill Points: 1.2

Condition: Exhausted

 

Main Class: Craftsman LV8

Sub Class: none

 

 

HP: 40/40   | MP: 16/50   | SP: 16/16 (32)

STR: 25   | VIT: 24   | MAG: 44

RES: 38   | SPD: 20  | DEX: 58

INT: 122   | LUC: 110

=====================================================================

=====================================================================

SKILL LIST

Ability Skills: [MP Reduced Consumption LV3] NEW  [DEX Enhancement LV2] NEW

Magic Skills: [Fire Magic LV5] UP4  [Earth Magic LV5] UP4  [Enfeebling Magic LV4] NEW

Crafting Skills: [Potion Maker LV11] NEW  [Cooking LV8] NEW

Active Skills: [Great Guard LV1] 

Passive Skills: [Magic Talent LV2] NEW  [Crafting Enhancement LV10] NEW  [Gutting LV4] NEW  [Golden Rule LV1] NEW  [Language Adaption] NEW

Resistance Skills: [Heretic Immunity] NEW

Perception Skills: [Appraisal LV1]  [Detect Presence LV1] NEW

Racial Skills: [Demonic Vault LV1] NEW

Unique Skills: [Dimension Merchant LV2] UP1

Elements: [Darkness Element LV1] NEW

=====================================================================

This is all he has progressed after three days? The future is looking bleak...

Well, what should I expect? The two levels came from him leaching the EXP of the few monsters that tried to challenge Levi on her hunts. Then there's the horned rabbit that Levi brought back alive yesterday, so Marc could finish it off. He took the [Cooking] skill after that, not as a reward for beating his first monster, but cause he wanted to make the most out of the poor rabbit's life.

And for those who wonder why [Cooking] is his best skill when it's also the newest one, it's cause skills that one is more familiar with gets proficiency easier than skills that you're not familiar with. Let's say that a boy trained with a sword during his childhood, then he would find it easier to level up [Swordsmanship] than [Spearsmanship]. Lucky for Migrants, since they just need to take skills related to what they were good at on Earth, or wherever they came from, to get easily high-leveled skills.

"Take a nap then. We're soon reaching a place with an inn, so just save your energy." I said to Marc, who nodded to my words and tried to catch some z's. After he went to sleep, Mira climbed to the driver's seat and whispered to me.

(You sure he's gonna be alright?) - Mira

(In what way? His lack of stamina, or his skills?) - Garami

(Both. It doesn't matter if he's not gonna be out in the field or not, if he can't survive even traveling between cities, then-) - Mira

"It's more likely his body couldn't handle the sudden change in his environment." - Garami

(Oi! Your voice-!) - Mira

I cut her off by pointing behind me, towards Marc who was in a deep sleep. By the way, Lily had jumped out of the carriage so he could sleep in peace, and was now walking with Levi in front of the  carriage.

"...[Magic Sense], was it? Talk about a sneaky skill." - Mira

"It takes some training to get used to it. Your skills are easier to use, so I'm kinda jealous." - Garami

"I used most of my childhood to learn those skills, so don't call 'em 'easy'." - Mira

Ouch, I made her mad. Not that she's in the wrong though. 'People's abilities ain't due to their skills. It's the skills that are the manifestation of people's talent and effort', was something Bermuda once told me. Wise words. It explains why his Gambler class' stuck on LV1. But still...

=====================================================================

Mira Aureola

Race: [Water Sprite]   | Level: 34 

Karma Value: -102

Skills: 42

Titles: 8

Skill points: 29.6

 

Main Class: Swordsman LV49

Sub Class: Spy LV17

Sub Class: War Mage LV13

Sub Class: Dancer LV61Needed 10 skill points.

Sub Class: none

 

HP: 152/152   | MP: 317/317 +20   | SP: 127/127

STR: 293 +100   | VIT: 192 +50   | MAG: 134

RES: 127   | SPD: 168 +50 | DEX: 153

INT: 130   | LUC: 95

=====================================================================

=====================================================================

SKILL LIST

Ability Skills: [MP Reduced Consumption LV13] UP5  [MP Auto-Recovery LV7] UP3  [STR Enhancement LV11] UP2  [VIT Enhancement (Small) LV22] UP9  [MAG Enhancement (Small) LV10] UP5

Attack Skills:  [Sword Arts LV49] UP3  [Magic Sword Arts LV14] UP4  [Mana Burst (Water) LV14] UP6

Magic Skills: [Water Magic LV17] UP2  [Glacier Magic LV6] UP4

Active Skills: [Magic Weapon LV3] NEW  [Super Acceleration LV2]   [Espionage LV5] UP2  [Silence LV14] UP4  [Aerial Movement LV5] UP1  [Dried Earth LV2] 

Passive Skills: [Sword Mastery LV7] UP3  [One-Handed Swordsmanship LV25] UP13  [Warrior's Knowledge LV8] UP5  [Swordsman's Knowledge LV11] UP5  [Riding LV9] NEW  [Magic Talent LV17] UP4  [Battle Continuation LV7] UP3  [Dodging LV38] UP5  [Dancer's Knowledge LV8] NEW  [Sand Walk LV5] UP3  [Hiding LV26] UP6  [Swimming LV16]   [Fishing LV11]  [Charming Movements LV5] NEW  [Golden Ratio] 

Resistance Skills: [Water Resistance LV27] UP4  [Poison Resistance LV15] UP3  [Charm Resistance LV16] UP8  [Heretic Immunity] 

Perception Skills: [Appraisal Blocking LV9] UP1  [Night Vision LV15] UP7

Racial Skills: [Mana Conversion LV26] UP1  [Demonic Vault LV2]   [Lewd Demon LV18] UP6

Elements: [Water Element LV32] UP1  [Heretic Attribute LV1] 

=====================================================================

=====================================================================

[Title Page]

[Haunt Conqueror]  [Monster Slayer]  [Sea Slayer]  [Kin of Garami]  [Undead Slayer]   [Skeleton Slayer]   [Reptile Slayer] NEW2Mira has hunted many reptile-type monsters in her childhood, as her birthplace was infested with them. The turtles that attacked Velantas was the final push she needed for this title.  [Dungeon Conquer] NEW

=====================================================================

...She's... gradually turning into a bigger pervert. I can't say it to her, as I'm one of the reasons for that. But there's one thing I can't stay quiet about! My journalist-soul is screaming to tell the world the truth!

"Why the heck did you pick Dancer?" - Garami

"Don't appraise people just like that! And I picked it cause I heard about a class called 'Sword Dancer', or 'Sabre Dancer', or-" - Mira

And the excuses came pilling on after that, but it was enjoyable to see her flustered like that, so I let her keep it up.

"And if we're talking about strange skills, look at Lily 'n Levi!" - Mira

"Don't group people as a set like that. And putting aside the chimera for now, how's Levi any weird?" - Garami

"A dragon that takes up [Pottery] and the Hunter class can't be anything BUT weird!" - Mira

How's that so weird? You can't blame Levi for wanting to do the same as us. That she picked [Pottery] was something I didn't expect.

"But I can't disagree that Lily's turning weird," I said while looking at the chimera girl further up the road.

"...Just how weird?" - Mira

"To the point where she's gotten [Bite], [Flee], [Poison Enhancement], [Sand Walk], [Sense Heat], [Digging], [Running], and some more according to her. She's yet to pick another class. Saying something that she wants to save the points to when she fulfills the requirements to a really rare one, whatever that may be." - Garami

"What would that be? 'Chimera Warrior'?" - Mira

"Don't say that to her, or she'll start looking for something like that. We have one already that needs to get a rare class already, so don't add another one already." - Garami

"If you say so. But 'Item Meister', who the heck thought of that one?" - Mira

Whoever it is, I'll help Marc giving a tribute to them as a thank you gift for making a class he can use. 

"GYAAAAHH!!" - Lily

Lily came screaming back to us, followed by Levi and... a rolling boulder!? Why did the workers overlook something that big of a danger to the traffic? 

I jumped out of the driver seat and ran towards the boulder. The thing's big enough to cover the whole road, but there's a small gap to each side. I passed Lily and Levi, jumped to the left open side of the boulder, the one that faced the mountain wall, and released a Hydra from that position.

The all-familiar Poison Dragon crashed into the boulder, sending it flying off the road. Just cause it's poison doesn't mean it doesn't pack a punch.

=====================================================================

SYSTEM MESSAGE

Proficiency has reached the required amount:

Skill [Hydra, Dragon of Poison LV4] has become [Hydra, Dragon of Poison LV5]

[Hydra Blessing] has been unlocked for the skill [Hydra, Dragon of Poison LV5]

[High Detoxification] has been unlocked for the skill [Hydra, Dragon of Poison LV5]

 

Proficiency has reached the required amount:

Skill [Poison Element LV19] has become [Poison Element LV20]

0.5 skill points obtained

=====================================================================

Double up! Not only did Hydra finally level up, but so did [Poison Element]! I knew that it had increased when I was helping Marc leveling up his new crafting skills, but who would have believed it would happen at this timing?

My luck-bringing boulder fell down the cliff. I'll never forget-*CRUNCH*-...This is a new one.

A part of the boulder had parted from the rest of it, for then extending to grasp the edge of the mountain road. Who are you? The next pirate king?

The boulder(?) lifted itself back to the road again. Then other parts of its body started to spread out, revealing the true identity of the boulder.

=====================================================================

Nameless  | WANTED

Race: [Boulder Bear]   | Level: 41

Karma Value: -172

Skills: 22

Title: 4

Condition: Poison (weak)

 

HP: 171/421   | MP: 47/110   | SP: 335/411

STR: 418   | VIT: 428   | MAG: 32

RES: 367   | SPD: 218 | DEX: 56

INT: 89   | LUC: 90

=====================================================================

I knew that this region was popular with bears, but this much? It looks like a bear wearing an armor made of rocks on top of its dark-grey fur. It looked a little like an armadillo, so maybe they're distant relatives? And ain't the pelt good enough defense for you?

Its skills are kinda like a combo of the usual bear moves, like [Heavy Strike], [Pelt Armor], and [Disease Resistance], but it also had skills similar to the Glavras turtle, like [Camouflage] and [Withdraw]. True to its previous actions, it has the [Rolling] skill and [Fall Resistance], along with the so far unknown [Rock Armor] and [Rock Limbs] skill. It was the former one, along with [Rock Synthesis], that had created the extending limb phenomena. It had made a fake arm on top of its own, and it was this who had dragged it up on safe grounds.

But the worst news about him is his titles. The first three are [Ruthless Killer], [Humanoid Slayer], and [Wanted Monster]. You can figure out the first two, but the [Wanted Monster] title is similar to the criminal titles.

If someone from the authorities wants a monster dead, they send a sample from the beast to the gods, and they again put this title on the monster. It's so that adventurers and soldiers can see that this thing is on the wanted-list, and so that everyone else knows this one is too dangerous for regular folks. Even people without [Appraisal] can see the wanted-status above the monster's head if they focus their attention to it, making the title less of a power-up, and more as a warning for others.

But the real problem is the last title. [Lord of the Mountain].

It's a title given to the area boss of an area on a mountain. Not only does the owner of the title get an additional 10% boost to all its stats except life-stats, INT, and LUC, it also removes their status limits. This isn't visible on the status screen, but it has practically over 460 STR. That's half a T-Rex in strength! And the bear haves better stats in the other categories as well. 

To think there would be a day when the T-Rex loses to a simple bear...

It withstood the Hydra due to its high [Disease Resistance] and RES stat, but it still got more than half of its HP shaved off. I started the second round by bombarding the beast with Dark Bullets so it couldn't start rolling again. But the bear simply tanked the blows, and without even rolling up, it came charging at me. It was too big to hit me, but when the bear's paw hit the mountain wall, the wall exploded into many big blocks.

*Thunk!*

The force of the attack had me caught off guard, so one of the blocks hit me right in the head. I shook my head to remove the stars floating around my head, and thanks to [Parallel Minds] taking over the body while I was star-struck.

=====================================================================

Proficiency has reached the required amount:

Skill [Faint Resistance LV9] has become [ Faint Resistance LV10]

0.5 skill points obtained

=====================================================================

Ah, I had almost forgotten about that one. After getting my mind out of the daze thanks to the skill leveling up, I jumped back to dodge the Claw Arts from the bear.

I kept on retreating up the road, and the bear kept on spamming Claw Arts, including Claw Shot, the long-range Art that Levi used against me on the bridge when I first met her, Crush Claw, which gives the claw an additional blunt-attribute (crush-attribute sounds more logic), and the Broad Claw Art. It increases the area of the strike, while also increasing the power of it. It was this move that busted the mountain wall.

The bear was getting visually annoyed at me who kept on dodging the attacks all the time, and even more so when I counter-attacked with Dark Bullet and [Ultima Thread]. Not that getting angry will help you here.

"Sure it's a good idea to keep on chasing me?" - Garami

The bear stopped when it heard my taunting, but before it could react, it was attacked by Mira's Water Cutter and Levi's quadruple breath of fire, lightning, poison, and corrosion.

=====================================================================

Nameless  | WANTED

Race: [Boulder Bear]   | Level: 41

Karma Value: -172

Skills: 22

Title: 4

Condition: Poison, Burn (Weak), Stun (Weak)

 

HP: 108/421   | MP: 47/110   | SP: 262/411

STR: 418   | VIT: 428   | MAG: 32

RES: 367   | SPD: 218 | DEX: 56

INT: 89   | LUC: 90

=====================================================================

That shaved even more HP, but not enough. The bear turned around to face Levi with a Crush Claw, but I attacked the back of its knees with a Bloody Ambush3A Dagger Arts that requires one to attack a target's weak points 100 times to obtain. Inflicts the Bleeding condition on them. More damage if the opponent is not suspecting the attack, similar to how [Hidden Strike] and [Surprise Attack] works. If it hits the target's weak spot, then they're VIT stat will get a debuff., which made the bear fell on its butt. 

Mira and Lily joined up with Levi, and they assaulted the bear off with a combo the Collapse Fall, Echo Fist, and Crush Claw. Mira had stored a Water Cutter into her blade with [Magic Weapon], and after that, she used a move from [Magic Sword Art], namely Ocean Divider. An Art unlockable if you have [Water Element] at LV30 or higher. 

The Boulder Bear's face was cleaved by the raging water that came from the sword, probably reaching its brains even. After finishing her Art, Mira jumped back from the bear, as it fell to the ground.

=====================================================================

EXP has reached the required amount.

Garami has reached LV14

Life attributes have been recovered.

All basic attributes have increased.

0.5 skill point(s) acquired.

 

EXP has reached the required amount.

Garami has reached LV15

Life attributes have been recovered.

All basic attributes have increased.

0.5 skill point(s) acquired.

 

Conditions satisfied.

Acquired title [Lord Slayer]

By acquiring [Lord Slayer], 3 skill points are given as a reward.

 

Proficiency has reached the required amount:

Skill [Cooperation  LV9] has become [Cooperation LV10]

0.5 skill points obtained

=====================================================================

Just like that?! We needed to clear a Haunt three times for the same amount of points, but now we needed only to take care of one guy? 

"Hey! What's going... Seriously! What's going on here!" - Marc

So sorry, mister sleeping beauty. But you would be useless against this rock monster. Hmm... wonder if he knows any good recipes for bear meat?

Kigal-Note/Class/Artisan Class: Item Meister

Class: Item Meister

Unlock requirements:

  • Craftsman LV50
  • Having created 200 or more items with skills.
  • Having used the following consumable items in battle:
    • Attack-type items 100 times
    • Defense-type items 50 times
    • Recovery-type items 200 times

Effect:

  • Unlock skills related to the use of consumable items.
  • Increases the effects of consumable items

The Item Meister is the ultimate amongst the medium-ranked classes in how to use consumable items. They create loads of items with the purpose of using them as disposable weapons. They are also referred to as Item Jugglers.

Item Meisters are capable of drawing out 120% of an item's potential, which is usually only so that they can blast the enemy to kingdom come. A strange type of artisan-class, that is capable of fighting on their own, while dedicating themselves to crafting.

The special skills of the Item Meister class are [Enhcant Item], which increases the effect of the item by using MP, [Magic Workshop] that allows them to use crafting tools usually limited to a workshop while out in the field, and the class-unique skill, [Items Return]. By using MP, the Item Meister can make a used consumable item return to how it was before it was used. This has a probability to fail, and it increases if the item has a high rank. 

One can obtain the following items with the Item Meister class:

  1. [Enchant Items LV1]
  2. [Bomb Creation LV1]
  3. [Throw LV1]
  4. [Improved Aim LV1]
  5. [MP Enhancement LV1]
  6. [Item Storage LV1]
  7. [Magic Workshop LV1]
  8. [Items Return LV1]

Each entry on the list is available when reaching a class level of a tenfold. The first two items are received the moment one obtains the class. In the case of Item Meister being selected as the Main class, one will get the three first items instead. The final item is therefore only obtainable for those with Item Meister as the Main class.

Lily's comment: ...When Garami's looking for skills and classes, she ain't fooling around.

Which abilities do you think Lily's gonna get from the bear?
  • [HP Enhancement LV1] Votes: 7 3.5%
  • [STR Enhancement LV1] Votes: 13 6.5%
  • [VIT Enhancement LV1] Votes: 14 7.0%
  • [Claw Arts] Votes: 53 26.6%
  • [Heavy Strike] Votes: 19 9.5%
  • [Rock Synthesis] Votes: 34 17.1%
  • [Rolling] Votes: 74 37.2%
  • [Disease Resistance] Votes: 15 7.5%
  • [Fall Resistance] Votes: 14 7.0%
  • [Pelt Armor] Votes: 21 10.6%
  • [Rock Armor] Votes: 42 21.1%
  • [Rock Limbs] Votes: 27 13.6%
Total voters: 199 · This poll was closed on Apr 30, 2020 10:13 PM.
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