Chapter 9: The Power Of Deception And The Power Of True Might 1
2687 Words
“Huh? What’s this?” Grimm checked the new skill again after the notification message faded.
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Nine Headed Naga Strike [Active: Beginner (0.00%)]
The Ultimate Sword Technique of the Cult of Illusion.
Summon 8 Astral Swords that will stab the target from all 8 directions after successfully executing a Sword Attack.
Each Astral Sword will inflict 70% of the damage your sword had successfully inflicted to the target.
Mana Cost: 500
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‘Could this be?’
Grimm’s eyes widened. When he risked his life and his discipleship admission to fight the Black Cait Sith, he was only thinking about settling the score and at the same time, retrieving the loots it had stolen from him. However, this result was beyond his expectation. He expected that he might gain something after overcoming a seemingly hopeless situation but he never guessed that it will lead to the completion of the sword technique he was longing for.
But that’s not all.
Ding!
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Level UP: Sword Mastery [Passive: Beginner Level 5 (0.90%)]
Sword Attack Damage (+40%)
Sword Attack Speed (+15%)
For reaching Beginner Level 5, an additional effect has been unlocked.
5% chance to inflict [Bash] when executing continuous Sword Attacks.
(+30%) Strength
(+15%) Dexterity
(+15%) Agility
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Skill Alert: Bash
A Sword Attack with an increased Attack Damage of 10% multiplied by the Sword Mastery Level.
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New Skill Acquired
Unbreakable Will [Passive: Beginner Level 1(0.00%)]
Using the pressure you are facing during crisis, your mind removes the physical limitations of your body in order to fulfill your goal.
(+10%) Increase in Attack Damage
Strength will increase by 1 point (+1STR)
All Abilities will increase 25% when Health drops below 15%
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A New Effect has been unlocked after Strength exceeds 150.
(+15%) Attack Damage
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A New Effect has been unlocked after Dexterity exceeds 150.
(+15%) Hit
(+3%) Magic Attack
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Four additional notification windows followed after the unveiling of the Sword Technique, adding more firepower among his arsenals.
Truly, it was a reward worth all the troubles.
However, the compensation is far from through. He hasn’t checked the dropped items yet, especially the ones left behind by the Black Cait Sith.
The Cait Siths are natural burglars, so they are in possession of several items. Some are useful but the rest are just dazzling.
Ding!
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You acquired [Paws of the Cat]
The shoes that enable the Cait Siths to stand in two feet while retaining their original quickness.
Gives the wearer a feeling that they can move as swiftly as a cat.
Type: Footgear
Durability: 17/40
Defense: 5
Restriction: Level 35
Equipped: (+10%) Movement Speed on Unstable Grounds, (+50%) Vertical Jump, (+40%) Falling Resistance
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He beat 20 Cait Siths but only one of them dropped this item.
Grimm was kind of disappointed. Surely, the item will be worth a lot of money if sold. The Paws of the Cat is a rare footgear that has a lot of outstanding effects for a Level 35 item. If he has another pair, he could keep this one for himself and sell the other one.
Sigh!
Ding!
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You acquired [Clear Soulstone]
The stone embedded in the middle of the Cait Sith’s chest.
Serves as the container of their soul.
Type: Crafting Item
Durability: 1/1
Rank: C++
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You acquired [Moonflower of Illusions]
An Ipomoea alba that grows exclusively inside the Forest of Illusion.
A beautiful flower that shines brightly under the Moonlight.
Type: Crafting Item
Durability: 1/1
Rank: C+
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Those two are merely miscellaneous items but Grimm got interested on them because of their vague value. They are dropped by Level 35 monsters but the C Rank suggest that they are materials meant for Intermediate to Advanced Crafting, a level of Mastery that are only achieved by craftsmen that are at least Level 150.
‘I’ll find someone to appraise their value once this quest is over.’
Aside from the three mentioned, the remaining loots varies from common consumables to worthless miscellaneous items. But Grimm kept them all anyhow in case he found something to use them for.
And now for the main course, the items dropped by the Black Cait Sith. However, his expression instantly turned into a disappointed one when he saw the three items that the Black Cait Sith dropped.
For a monster with a Miniboss Status, the items it was carrying weren’t as good as what Grimm hoped. There was only a worn out parchment, an old book, and a black marble.
There are words and equations written on the parchment but they weren’t understandable. Luckily, Grimm has the skill that can help.
“Identify!”
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You failed to identify the item.
You failed to identify the item.
You failed to identify the item.
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Due to the low level of the Eyes of Knowing, the Identify Command failed several time.
Ding!
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You acquired a Skill Scroll
[Mad Cooking]
Durability: 1/1
In the past, there was a period where there was a critical shortage of Alchemy practitioners and in order to compensate, the Alchemists employs aid from common craftspeople especially the chefs.
Equips: Enables to perform the Art of Alchemy through Cookery.
Requirement: Advanced Stage in Cooking Mastery
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Grimm’s mood of disappointment faded in an instance. “A skill scroll?”
With his zeal restored, he immediately checks the remaining items.
Ding!
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You acquired [Book of Monsters]
A monstrous guide to monstrous creatures.
[Number of Pages: 736|Monsters Recorded: 1,544]
Type: Book
Durability: 1/1
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The second item was an encyclopedia containing details of thousands of monsters commonly found in the continent.
Grimm smiled. The book was a good reading material and info source. Keeping it will surely provide valuable aids for his future journeys. However, when he was wiping the dirt from the back cover, he saw an inscription written on it. Grimm could not be certain but the inscription appears to be a signature.
Ting!
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NEW QUEST ALERT: THE STOLEN BOOK OF MONSTERS
Though it had been years since the Black Cait Sith had stolen the Book of Monsters from the Old Hermit, the poor Oldman is still searching for his beloved book.
Difficulty: D
Quest Requirement: Find the Old Hermit residing somewhere in the forest and return the book.
Reward: Gratitude from the Old Hermit.
Do you wish to accept?
[YES] [NO]
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Grimm’s lips parted. For a loot to trigger a quest, it was completely unexpected. But more than that, the turn of events had also imparted a valuable information.
Aside from Bart and them, there’s someone else staying inside the Forest of Illusion. And bearing in mind that he managed to survive the forest’s harsh environment accompanied with the fact that he is a man in possession of an amazing item such as the Book of Monsters, Grimm can easily tell that he’s no ordinary Oldman.
“Anyhow, if I’m going to return this, I better start reading and memorizing its content,” he said, scanning the book.
Ting!
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You Accepted the Quest!
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Grimm was halfway into an indulge reading when he remembered that there was still a third item.
‘The Black Marble!’
Ding!
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You acquired an Unidentified [Black Sphere]
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‘An unidentified item?’ “Identify!”
Like the parchment, it also encounters several failures, forcing Grimm to consume Mana recovery items to restore his Mana and try again.
Ding!
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You acquired [Essence Fragment]
When the Ruler of the Night lost his life a hundred years ago while passing the Forest of Illusion, the Essence his body left shattered into eight fragments. These eight fragments were later found by the Eight Beasts that through the influence of the Essence had eventually gained the might to rule the forest.
Type: Gem
Durability: 10/10
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For identifying a Historical item, your Intelligence had risen by 10 points (+10INT)
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Upon its identification, the Essence Fragment emitted a blue light and flashed opens a new notification.
Ting!
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NEW QUEST ALERT: RECOVER THE ESSENCE OF THE NIGHT KING
After his death, the fragments of the Essence left behind by the Night King were taken by the Eight Beasts that are now ruling the Forest of Illusion.
Using the same power that you utilized to defeat one of The Eight, defeat the remaining seven and recover the rest of the Essence.
Difficulty: D++
Quest Requirement: Defeat the Special Monsters that rules the Forest of Illusion.
Refusal is not permitted.
Progress: [1/8]
Reward: ???
Warning: The quest will result to failure once you die.
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Grimm’s eyes widened as his clenched fists shook in excitement. The items given by the Black Cait Sith weren’t what he was hoping for. But looking at the potential assets it might provide in the future, dissatisfaction is far from Grimm’s mind.
However, just after completing his reassessment on his current Stats, Skills, and Quests, Grimm breathes out a deep sigh of despair.
Earlier, he was overwhelmed by the completion of the secret sword technique that he failed to realize two very important details regarding the skill.
First, it can only be activated when a sword is equipped, a weapon that he doesn’t have.
And second, it consumes 500 Mana but his current maximum Mana is only 480. So even if he levels up for four more times to supply the lacking 20, still, the skill will require him to have his Mana Bar at 100% just to use it once.
Grimm sighed again. ‘I was too naïve.’ It wasn’t called an Ultimate Sword Technique for no reason. He should have at least expected that a skill with such prefix is not something that he can just leisurely have and use.
‘But anyway, enough about that,’ Grimm told himself as he stood up. There’s no point lengthening the grumbling over the matter. Instead of depressing himself over his inability to utilize the skill, he should instead use it as a form of motivation. After all, setting a goal always increases efficiency.
Grimm returned to the training ground and begun cooking new dishes to restock his food supply. Tomorrow, the other disciples will finally return for their agreed hunting schedule and the next day will be the second stage of their training. He only got a maximum of one day and one night of free time and therefore, it must be effectively utilized to achieve an acceptable progress in regards to his new missions.
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Along with Deidre, Gust, and Basche, that are supporting the party while maintaining a distance away from the actual battle, Grimm observed how well the rest of the disciples functions as a team.
“Trevol! Fast approaching at 3-O’clock.” Deidre warned.
“Roger!” Trevol responded and retreated from the current battle against the weakened Level 35 Red Kong to confront the approaching enemy.
“Secondary team, you can stop distracting it now.” Deidre ordered to the Ecks and Gambit. “The target is weakened. Ecks, join Kylo and Louie to finish it off. Gambit, assist Trevol.”
Both the guys nodded and also responded according to Deidre’s orders.
Deidre fired an arrow to the approaching new enemy which turns out to be a Level 30 Kobold. Her arrow hit it in the eye, ceasing it from its advances, and therefore, making it easier for Trevol and Gambit to fight and defeat it.
‘For a newly formed team with no prior experience of working together, they’re actually doing fine.’ Grimm thought as he and Basche approaches Ecks’ group to provide first aid and recovery items after they successfully defeated the Red Kong.
However, that’s all there is.
Though Deidre’s leadership enables them to exploit up to 30% more of their capabilities, they are still far from efficient. The defense of the tankers often gets sloppy, resulting into unnecessary lost in health while the attackers are taking too much time obliterating the target.
In the end, these inadequacies results into either one of these two post battles situations. First, they consume more recovery items for faster health replenishment, or second, they will rest longer until their health reaches the acceptable figure. And since they are being frugal about their recovery items, it’s always the latter, causing them to spend more time patching than hunting.
‘With this kind pace, none of them will make it to Level 40 before the Final Exam.’ Grimm sighed. Just as he predicted, he had ended up contributing instead of profiting from them. And what sucks more is that there’s nothing he can do about it. He must play along if he doesn’t want to get compromised.
‘I’ll just wait until the 2nd training is over. And then, I can work freely again.’
“We need to speed up a little bit.” Deidre said with a discontented expression. “We’re too slow. If we continue like, it will take us forever to reach level 40.”
“You have a point.” Ecks said as he assists Basche in securing the bandage for his left arm. “But how are we supposed to accomplish that? Even if we say that the lowest level monster here is only level 25. That level is just a number, their speed and attack power surpasses their supposed level. Not to mention that they receive different ability bonuses every time the environment of the forest shifts.”
“Ecks is right,” said Gambit. “This forest is unpredictable. No two monsters are the same even if they’re literally the same.”
Trevol nodded. “They’re treacherous and we don’t have any advantage against them, so speeding up the hunt will be next to impossible.”
The way where the conversation is leading, Grimm had already caught the idea of what Deidre is trying to scheme. And for the first, Grimm is actually interested on what the cunning fey is about to say.
Deidre lean her back against a tree and pretend to be thinking deeply.
‘She’s a good actress,’ Grimm complemented.
Her gait and facial expression convinced the rest that she’s just starting to come up with a solution, though Grimm can already tell that the solution was already prepared the moment that she opens up the concern and she’s just finding a good opportunity to deliver it to them.
“How about this,” she finally said. “Instead of increasing the hunting speed, we increase the hunting risk instead.”
“What do you mean?” Gambit frowned.
“She’s suggesting that we should hunt a monster with a Class higher than us,” Grimm explained for Deidre.
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What is a [Class]?
The system of categorizing players, NPCs, monsters, and quests based on their level of strength and difficulty.
Class F – Level 1 to 25
Class E – Level 26 to 50
Class D – Level 51 to 100
Class C – Level 101 to 200
Class B – Level 201 to 300
Class A – Level 301 to 400
Class S – Level 401 to 500
Class SS – Level 501 and above
Legendary – Level 700 and above
Demigod – Level 1,000 and above
Divine – Level 5,000 and above
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Deidre nodded.
“…………..”
A quiet shock swept over the others.
“Hey now, don’t you think that’s quite reckless.” Trevol said. “I mean, we hardly handle the monsters within our Class.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Deidre replied. “I have a plan.”
- Writer
