The World of Tactics

Chapter Eighteen III: A Nightly Battle

"Monsters are naturally attune to the elementals within the world. Once a monster had crossed or fulfilled the requirement of evolving through any involvements with the elements. Those are what we called variant monsters as they could naturally exhibits the natural magic gift gain from the evolutionary path. Hence, this is call the variant evolution.

A variant monster are considerably stronger than it's counter part. For example, a goblin that evolved into a normal hobgoblin would be weaker than a goblin that evolved into a fire hobgoblin. There are a difference in potentials, utilities (magic + weapon versus weapon only), and natural advantages regarding their stats. One, the fire hobgoblin would now be able to attack from long ranges with fire magic which a normal hobgoblin could not counterattack during a bout. Eventually, this method of the fire hobgoblin would easy outpace the normal hobgoblin.

A variant monster are one star more dangerous than it's counterpart. Though rare, there are still conclusive evidence that a variant monster does occurs in the wild. For most part, gifted monster tamers are able to evolve a normal monster into a variant monster." Noted down by a monster apprentice.

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Dork opens its mouth as if breathing and giving the fireball a small breeze. The fireball actually made a 'Flu-sh' sound when it launched off. It came flying toward the alpha male direwolf and an amazing firework exploded out once the fireball landed on the alpha male direwolf. It might have been the first time the alpha male direwolf comes face to face with magic. Especially fire magic or flying fireballs that explode. A significant fire burns the alpha male wolf before it stops. By then, the alpha male direwolf was already dead because the fireball from Dork was able to deal a significant magic damage of six which completely empty the health points of the alpha male direwolf.

Just as he thought that enemy's turn would flash into his sight. He saw that something was lighting up from behind and he saw that Dork's small figure was actually shining brightly. On top of Dork's head was a message that said:

[Evolution requirement fulfilled...][Evolving...][Evolution complete.]

After the last light disappeared from the night, Dork's current appearance had some slight changes. Dork's small amount of mane actually turns bright red and even glows within the dark. It was not that apparent when Dork was besides the campfire. He only came back to himself after he saw the glows that read [Enemy's Turn][3]. He quickly grabs hold of his bronze lance tighter and puts his focus back to the battle situation. He was just in time to see the first direwolf attacking Goon.

The direwolf could do nothing to Goon's high defense and Goon counter attack sent the first direwolf into the thereafter (Goon, EXP +100, Level Up). He knows the reason why the first direwolf did not choose to attack the weaker of the two, between Goon and Uzi. It was because there were other wolves taking position behind and blocking the movement of the first direwolf. So, it could only attack Goon. Seeing the result, he gave props to the wooden club that Goon had been using because it finally broke into pieces right after Goon's attack was over. He quickly allocated three more points into Goon's strength stat.

He reasoned that Goon would take two or three more levels before Goon could double attack the wolves. By then, the wolves would have already been defeated one way or the other. With more strength, Goon would be able to deal more damage. This also means that it would only take two bouts to easily subdue a wolf. For a direwolf, it would be three turns. The same goes for the goblins and hobgoblins. The last reason was that Goon's strength stat is about to max with only two more points. This also means that he could allocate other points into other useful stat.

He calmly mused as the last direwolf attacked Goon head-on on a bout. Goon easily dealt eleven damages to the direwolf (Goon, EXP + 70, Level Up). Seeing how fast Goon was growing, he felt quite envious of how much experience Goon was gaining at this point in time. It was just a short three turns and Goon was already able to level up three times. On average, Goon gains one level per turn. He gave himself a wearily smile and allocated two points into Goon's strength stat with the last point into the speed stat. He was still happy though because Goon is getting stronger and stronger. With time, Goon could wipe the whole battlefield.

Once the last direwolf ends it's turn with broken bones. The next wolf immediately turned toward Uzi. The first wolf confronted Uzi with a jaw bite. Uzi suffered only three damages while counterattacking two times. The first counter attack of Uzi was a disappointing hit which dealt ten damages. With a max strength stat along with a powerful innate weapon like the wolf's claws. The damage that Uzi could dish out against the same grade was not low at all. On the second counterattack, Uzi actually misses (Uzi, EXP+0). He was surprised, but had already expected at least that.

The second wolf attacked Uzi, however, this time the result was quite different from before. Uzi lost three health points while Uzi completely massacred the second wolf with no problem at all. Uzi was able to deal ten damage each to the second wolf which causes two macerated b****y wounds (Uzi, EXP+0). The third wolf quickly rushes over and he is disappointed again. The third wolf was able to inflict another four damages to Uzi in exchange for it's life. Just three wolves attacked and Uzi had already lost ten health points and worsened the situation.

He really needed Uzi to miss an attack and it was at this time that he realized that having high speed might be detrimental under certain critical situations. The fourth wolf rushes to attack Uzi and deals three damages to Uzi. Luckily, Uzi manages to miss it's attack at the first counter attack and was able to successfully counter attack on the second counter attack. He did not mind this at all since the first and the fourth wolf are blocking any more attacks from the other remaining wolves.

Since Uzi could not be targeted anymore, there was only Goon left. The fifth wolf immediately targets Goon which was a fruitless attempt. Goon practically tanks the attack of the fifth wolf with no damage and counter attack. He could hear the swirl of the wind within the air and knows just how powerful the swing of Goon's attack was. It was only one attack, but Goon dealt over thirty damages to the fifth wolf that was attacking. Goon strike was exactly thirty-nine damages which completely drains the health points of the wolf. The fifth wolf was instantly dead thereafter Goon's critical strike with Goon's hard fist (Goon, EXP +2). The fifth wolf directly exploded into pieces and even a few small pieces of wolf's flesh came flying over the boundary of the square grid line.

He is afraid that even he would not be able to take on such a strike from goon. At the very least, he felt that he would definitely lose close to half of his health points. It was just that dangerous and he felt much better knowing that 'that dangerous' thing is his summon, specifically Goon. It would soon be time for Goon to be unrivaled within the second grade. Nothing was as impstoppable as Goon now. After this battle, he also considered evolving Uzi to the second grade direwolf as well because Uzi has much more potential than Goon.

It might have been that Goon's strike was too flashy, so the experience points that Goon received were so little. He knows that it was just a thought, but he knows that it was just that the level differences were quite too far apart from the two. Goon was already level twenty-three while the fifth wolf was just level thirteen. The levels difference were already ten levels apart which is why there was such a sharp contrast to getting such an amount of experience compared to the former to the later.

However, such results are quite good since the number of wolves has already fallen so low already. The sixth wolf quickly approached Goon right after. The result was not as spectacular, but nonetheless, it was as close to the same result as the previous one. However, the sixth wolf is still alive and kicking with just two health points. It was not as satisfactory, but this would do it for now. The remaining five wolves could only helplessly target him because he was the only one that was open for attacks now.

The seventh wolf rushed over and attacked him. He was already prepared, even tried to at least block his heavy shield or awkwardly parry with his bronze lance. His attempt failed miserably because of his clumsiness. He could definitely tell where and when the sixth wolf is attacking, but somehow his skill is a bit shaky which is completely different from the skillful alpha male direwolf. Somehow, he felt that it might have been his skill stat that was lacking and it might have been the reason for his unskillfulness in parrying.

There were no consequences for failing to parry because he barely felt any pain from the attack of the seventh wolf. He turns back to the seventh wolf and begins his counter attack. He had just the exact amount of speed stat to double attack the seventh wolf. Nothing could be said about it and it easily causes twelve damages with each attack. This completely drains the health of the seventh wolf and two huge gaping wounds on the seventh wolf (John Smith, EXP+2). He smiled sadly at the amount of experience points he got for defeating a wolf. He just realized that the amount of experience that he got was less than the amount that he would have gotten previously.

The eight wolf quickly rushes over at the newly open gap in front of him. Due to being a higher level wolf, level seventeen, and a stat point higher in the speed stat compare to the former. He could only attack once which caused the eight wolves to suffer eleven damages (John Smith, EXP+1). He barely got anything from the confrontation against the eighth wolf. Likewise, with the eighth wolf closing up the last gap to their formation. The remaining three wolves could only move slightly closer adjacent behind the other wolves.

With the wolves ending their actions, it was now the hobgoblins and goblins' turn to move. The hobgoblins were the first to systematically join the stacks of the wolves while the goblin were more than a one to three squares away from joining the stackings behind the wolves. That concludes the turn of the enemies. He gave himself a long breath to contain the pain as it was [Player's Turn][4]. He did not hurry to instruct Uzi to heal and turned to look over at Dork. Specifically, he was reading and taking in Dork's new status screen.

[Name: Dork][Race: Fire Miniature Donkey (Grade 1)][Level: 10/20][Rank: 1][HP: 11/11 -> 13/13] +2

[STR: 2(6) / [1][2][][][][] ] +0

[MAG: 9(15) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][][][][][][] ] +2

[SKL: 2(8) / [1][2][][][][][][] ] +0

[SPD: 2(8) / [1][2][][][][][][] ] +0

[LCK: 1(20) / [1][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[DEF: 6(9) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][][][] ] +0

[RES: 3(15) / [1][2][3][4][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +2

[Hidden: [CON: 9][MOV: 7][SKILL: [Fire Affinity]][EXP: 0/100][WEA: Fire E]]

[Growth Rate][HP: 44][STR: 16][MAG: 66][SKL: 27][SPD: 22][LCK: 2][DEF: 36][RES: 24]

[Fire Affinity: Might +2 when using fire magic. Less experience needed to upgrade fire mastery rank.]

He carefully looks through Dork's status screen and observes carefully. Dork was really setting out to become a magic user and was even able to use fire magic with a fire magic mastery rank E. With the [Fire Affinity] skill, he could imagine just how powerful Dork could become later down the line as a fire magic using fire miniature donkey. The names of Dork's race said it all and there was no need to deny Dork's growth rates. He believes that as long as Dork's level reaches twenty, Dork should easily be able to cap the magic stat.

He stared helplessly at the unimpressive Dork because he had wanted to learn how to use magic and Dork easily got the ability to use fire magic just from using a magic scroll. He finally reluctantly moves his gaze away from Dork and plans the next step. Just as he was about to instruct Goon to attack the last direwolf. He paused and [Command] Dork to [Attack] because he was to validate something. After the [Attack] option, another list opens to the side while all of the options grayed out. In the other list sit the [Fireball] spell. The [Fireball] spell reads:

[Fireball: Might +2, Hit +75, Crit +0, range 1-2, Cost 1HP]

The might, hit, and crit of Dork's fireball was exactly the same as the ones sealed in a fireball tome. Otherwise, the only difference was that it cost one health point in order for Dork to be able to cast a fireball spell. The cost was steep, but in exchange Dork could dish out a total of thirteen damages to a unit that has zero point in the magic resistance stat. Even so, he knows that Dork is not to be messed with. It was especially important because it was bombarded by Dorks' fireball spell. He is not confident to come out alive against six miniature donkeys like Dork. Magic users are quite effective when up against any other class except magic users themselves.

He [Command] Dork to [Attack] the last direwolf with the [Fireball] spell. This is to conserve the fireball scrolls and the thunderbolt scrolls because those are quite useful. With that set, he made sure that Uzi patches up by [Use]-ing three herb batch within the [Item] option. The three herb batches work like magic and Uzi fully recovered. As for Goon, Goon completely killed off the sixth wolf that had two health points left (Goon, EXP +40). The sixth wolf was a good experience for Goon.

He was the only one left and he decided to get rid of the eighth wolf right before him. The result was already set and the eighth wolf did not last under his sharp bronze lance (John Smith, EXP +6). He breathed better seeing that his experience had increased by six points. It was not a lot, but it was equivalent to a six percent increase on his next level up. Even though it was slow, he felt that this progress is good enough. His current experience was already roughly thirty percent of the way which was an incredible progress. This was equivalent to a trainee's one month and a half of hard training. It was worth it.

The moment he ended his action turn, it was now [Neutral's Turn] and Dork was up for the next task. He saw that Dork's mouth was opened and a smaller flame of fire slowly gathered from the surrounding. After three seconds, the fireball took shape and breathed outward from Dork. The condensed fireball launches off with a small 'flu-sh' from the air before the fireball landed on the last direwolf. This time, the explosion was much bigger than the last one and it was caused by the increase from Dork's evolution stats gain along with Dork's [Fire Affinity] skill.

Thus, a resounding red negative eleven points. It was enough to wipe out the remaining health points of the last direwolf (Dork, EXP +100, Level Up). The reason why the damage was just eleven points was because the last direwolf has two points in magic resistance. Otherwise, the damage would have been thirteen points.

He had another reason why he gave the kill to Dork and it was to level up Dork. He had a different bias regarding Dork because he considered Dork as a companion. When he was the lowest, Goon and Uzi could only give him security, but Dork was the one that gave him the warmth of touch. This is why he was a bit more biased toward Dork. In return, Dork was considered to be able to listen to his command even though there is no certainty. A light radiates from Dork and a few strings of message floats on top of Dork: [Level Up!][MAG +1][SKL +1][DEF +1][RES +1]