Chapter 4: Either Mad, Dumb, or Courageous

Baron set off into the market planning to act on his will to grow stronger. If he wanted to increase his strength he would need a weapon. After spending so much time loitering around the various shops, it became easy to find the best equipment. Since he constantly eavesdropped in the market the majority of information he obtained was on items and trading. Had his people skills been better he would have made a decent merchant with the knowledge that accumulated.

Baron already knew where to go. A merchant that set up shop on the south side had a particular sword he wanted. Because of its unique restrictions the player hadn’t been able to sell it and the price kept dropping. It started at 15 silvers but dropped to a fraction of that.

When he arrived the merchant sat at the same stall he always had. Slightly shorter than average and with nothing that particularly stood out, people tended to glance over him. Had it not been for the stall, most would assume the stout man was a beggar. In front of him a display case held his wares: various low value jewelry, a couple daggers and some swords. The one Baron wanted wouldn’t fit in the case, instead it hung on the side wall by thick, rusted hooks.

The blade’s iron glinted as the sun hit. The awe-striking blade had several people gawking. Most of them were players with knight’s builds and sour faces after seeing the sword’s restrictions.

Walking up, Baron hovered his hand above it and waited for a ding—a trick he learned watching players over the past month. The swords information window popped up. He went through and made sure he met the requirements before purchasing it.

The Iron Bastard (Enchanted)Damage:12~18Durability:62 / 62Restrictions:50 Strength, 75 DexterityA novice, dwarven smith made this bastard sword. Though the materials used and the craftsmanship are poor, the smith considers this to be a masterpiece because of its perfect balance despite the enormous size. Determined not to let those unworthy use his finest blade, he had the sword enchanted to increase the restrictions. Only those skilled enough are deemed worthy to wield this bastard weapon.

Swords with perfect balance allow for more fluid movement and help the wielder fall into rhythm. A good rhythm allows a swordsman to eliminate excess movement and increase attack speed. Swords with good balance are often used as training swords because of their ability to help nurture a young swordsman.

-20% Movement Speed (Nulled by Racial Characteristics)

-10% Evasion Rate (Nulled by Racial Characteristics)

+5% Attack Speed

1.05x Experience in Sword Related Skills

Baron took the sword off the wall and let the tip stick in the ground. The hilt alone mirrored the size of a man's forearm. Looking from the ground up, it nearly reached his chin. The pommel sat above the heads of every other player present. The blade was nearly as long as twice that of a short sword. From edge to edge fit a handspan and from flat to flat fit a knuckle and a half. The absent guard made it appear suitable for a butcher. It was a bastard of bastard swords that didn’t need a sharp edge; its’ weight alone would be enough to cleave limbs.

Just holding it gave Baron an impression of the perfect balance. The way it rolled with his wrist and swung along his shoulder felt natural. Although his insanely high dexterity likely played a role in it, none could deny the balance. He didn’t meet the swords strength requirement, but barbarian’s have the trait to bypass any restriction or detriment due to weight. It didn’t just apply to weapons; all armor would have strength restrictions changed to null as well.

The people watching him swing the blade stood stricken. He imposed a figure they couldn’t help but shiver at once or twice. The two perfectly complemented each other in a terrifying manner.

When Baron brought the sword with him to pay the merchant seemed reluctant to part with it. The sword was like a tourist attraction. He made more off the people coming to see the rumors first hand then he would selling it. However the sword was for sale; he had no choice but to sell if he wished to retain his dignity as a merchant. However, that didn’t stop him from jacking up the price.

“5 silvers.” The merchant spoke in a weak voice. His customer looked like an oaf and he hoped the barbarian wouldn’t notice the sudden price change. Baron went into his inventory and took out 2 silvers and 50 coppers. He placed them on the counter as the seller’s eyes grew and his jaw sat ajar. He avoided eye contact as he stammered, “T-that’s only half what I’m asking.”

“No, it’s half a silver less than the marked price. Either take the money and I’ll leave or—”

“Fine, its a deal!” hissed the merchant.

He didn’t have time to finish talking before the man caved. His will shattered at the thought of Baron’s threat, yet the barbarian had no such plans. If a deal couldn’t be struck he would’ve simply left. However, the merchant rushed to conclusions resulting in a stroke of luck for Baron and a bad deal on his part.

As the barbarian turned to leave the hilt of a new sword stuck up above his left shoulder. The small crowd parted. Players that came wishing to purchase the bastard blade cursed their luck for not coming sooner—though none met the requirements anyway.

With a weapon in his arsenal and vengeance on his mind, Baron headed to the fields outside the city walls. He got several stares as people took notice of the titanic man with the massive sword. He felt quite out of place with the limelight. Baron had never been good with attention.

As he walked out the city gates, a sea of people appeared. Pandemonium struck with players lashing out at any small creature they could find. Singing birds, adorable bunnies, puffy-cheeked squirrels, and the occasional, fluffy fox were slaughtered by the thousands in the name of human desire. The scene depicted a bloodbath with more players losing their lives than monsters. That is if you can call them that.

Baron kept walking until the crowds began to thin. The small groups and solo players were no more. Only parties with an excess of ten could be seen, yet he still kept roaming farther from the city to a place he could hunt undisturbed. Finally coming to an acceptable point, Baron ignorantly set aim on his first opponent.

Sleeping at the top of hill outside the forest’s edge, a boar put the other denizens of the plains to shame. Its size rivaled that of a hundred bunnies and looked as mean as they did cute. Stumpy legs barely supported its massive, barrel-shaped body. Two tusks as sharp as daggers jutted out from either side of its snout.

Sensing Baron’s approach, it stood up and began grunting as it stomped the ground. This was its hill, its territory, and the beast would be damned if it let it go without a fight.

Baron drew the Iron Bastard and did a few test swings. The balance still amazed him; to think such a large chunk of metal could move that fast. Once he felt confident in his strokes and began to enter the fight, a message popped up.

Mid Boss of the Wullenshire plains, Lvl. 10 Adolescent Boar

The Boar has been terrorizing the plains outside the city of Wullenshire, the capital of Wheldrake, for the past month. All those who have tried to cull the beast have failed. Though the boar is not enough of a threat to mobilize the city guard, a reward of 17 Silvers has been put on the boar’s head by Sir Hollis.

A small smirk appeared on Baron’s face. Not only would he get to test out his new sword, but also earn more money than he spent purchasing it. He thanked his luck no players found the boar before him. The reality was, that none had been strong enough to kill it. Even in groups of 5 or more they all gave up after a thrashing from the boss monster’s tusks.

The boar began to charge as soon as he set foot on the hill. It ran with reckless abandon, thrashing the ground along the way. The grunts and squeals faded as Baron calmed himself. His stance spread apart; each knee bent. He grasped the Iron Bastard with two hands, allowing for perfect distance between them. He fell into the best batting stance he could while hoping his years of casual baseball wouldn’t fail him.

As the Boar got closer he realized his huge miscalculation. The boar charged at him, not like a baseball that shot past his side. With no time to change his stance all he could do was swing and hope for the best. The sound of air being cut followed intense squealing and pain in his left leg.

The end of his swing, that had the least power, tasted flesh as it bit into the Boar’s ear. The force of the swing sent Baron off balance, falling at just the right time to evade the beast’s tackle. Though he didn’t remain unscathed; one of the tusks grazed past his leg. The gash parted flesh to reveal muscle, tendon and bone all sheared. Barons health dropped to critical with only a single nick, and a severe bleeding status arose. At the rate his health fell it was undoubtedly a fatal wound.

Still, the boar wasn’t satisfied. It started pawing the ground again, ready for another taste of battle. Baron to had adrenaline coursing through his veins. He couldn’t even feel his half-severed leg as he readied another stance. The pain was miniscule compared to what he experienced during his torture session with Goliath. Something he swore never to experience again.

This time he abandoned the baseball stance and opted for a more direct approach. As the boar closed the distance he took a knee—his leg barely responding properly—and put the pommel in his gut. He used a weak knee to support his arms that clenched the hilt with a deathly grip.

The boar hadn’t the slightest tinge of fear as it looked upon Baron with undaunted eyes. It saw the tip of the blade as a challenge and rushed to accept; its course didn’t alter a hair. The beast skewered itself on Baron’s sword, driving the blade deeper without a hint of recognition. Even as the Iron mass split its skull, severed the spinal cord and continued piercing vital organs, the boar’s rampage wouldn’t cease. As the Iron Bastard’s tip began to protrude through the other end, the monster finally met its end. Had the sword been an inch shorter or the boar any stronger, it would’ve ended with a different victor. The instant the beast perished messages assaulted Baron’s view.

Your level has risen! x3

30 stat points have been added to the 20 already available for distribution.

The mid level boss, Lvl.10 Adolescent Boar, has been defeated.

+50 Fame

3 Items have dropped: Thick boar leather (Tailoring Material: Grade E), Boar Meat (Food ingredient: Grade E), and Boar tusk (weapon).

Additional reward, Boars Bounty, can be collected by visiting the estate of Sir Hollis.

For defeating a mid boss, health is restored to 50% and the status effect, bleed, is canceled.

New title acquired: Either Mad, Dumb, or Courageous

Rarity: D

Players with this title: 17

Conditions: The first monster killed is either a mid boss, full boss, or 10 times the player’s level

Effects: +100 Fame

House of Wolves

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