Chapter 13.

But it’s odd. I thought Lena gets her holy power from her position as a god’s apostle. Not through her… Clothing.

That would mean that I am the only one who can see these ‘stats’ and ‘properties’ of a weapon? Yes, that must be true since the system has shown to warp things according to my interpretation of it. Since alchemy to me isn’t really about making pills but to them it is. The word they used would have been different from an alchemist, but I heard that since it’s the closest interpretation.

It sounds like sarcasm when you say it.

Huh, but that would kind of mean that to me items have a different value than they do to them. A tree branch to them could be a useless piece of stick but a legendary weapon for me and the other way around too.

What exactly is this?

Makes sense I suppose. So, the people here use qi from their surroundings to cast their spells and techniques.

I thought of a particular weakness of this method. Also in my world the energy required to cast spells is energy that comes from our own body, not from the surroundings. That’s why there’s a limit to it and I might get mentally tired and even faint by using it too much.

But that aside, Lena seems to be almost done with her fight.

There’s only 2 wolves left, the third one has now joined the fourth one and is lying peacefully on the ground with a cut across it’s neck. I inspect the wolves.

Metallic Beowolf (Unnamed)

Level 28 (Nascent realm)

Race: Demonic wolf variant

No items equipped.

The fur is made of metal fibers but making armor out of it requires a skilled blacksmith. No special properties.

Real creative naming there.

Technically, yes. But realistically only 1 is left. As soon as they lose the other wolf, there’d be only one wolf left and they would lose the numerical advantage, allowing her to just charge in and kill the last one.

As I’m watching the fight from behind the tree. A wolf jumps up and tries to bite Lena’s neck. She thrusts her sabre into its side, diverting its jump and at the same time using its momentum to pierce the sabre deeper. Even though a sabre isn’t particularly good for stabbing type attacks.

The rest proceeds as I predicted. With that wolf also incapacitated, the last wolf tries to run away with Lena quickly catching up to it and cutting its back.

But suddenly, from out of nowhere a similar but bigger in size wolf jumps out and hits Lena on her head, before she is able to even react to it. Knocking her against a tree trunk quite hard and she slumps over, unconscious probably.

I was too slow to react, unable to block the wolf’s attack, or warn Lena about it. But there is no use feeling regret about it now.

Liger ????

Level 30 (Earth realm)

Race: Demonic, metallic Beowulf

No items equipped.

The fur is made of thick metal fibers but making armor out of it requires a very skilled blacksmith. Resistance against melee attacks is increased.

The wolf seems a bit relaxed now, and leisurely approaches the unconscious body of Lena. I quickly take out my crossbow. It’s loaded with a bolt by default.

Equip points (25/25)

Weapons: (2 of 2)

Black Iron Crossbow (cost 5)

Exploding cultivation book (cost 5)

Clothes: (1 of 1)

Nightgown (cost 10)

Skills: (1 of 3)

Leopard’s favor (cost 5)

Cannot equip more.

I forcefully calm my breathing and take aim stealthily. A cool head is one of the most important factors in a fight. The distance is about 10 meters. Not too short, but short enough for me to only get the chance to fire one shot before it is able to jump towards me, reaching me within a few seconds even with the trees in the way.

I could aim for the head but it isn’t a clear view, and this isn’t the time to take such risks. I aim for the next place relatively clear of metallic fur, the belly, and release the trigger. The bolt flies through the air and hits the wolf straight on its belly, piercing almost halfway in. The wolf is startled and jumps immediately, looking towards the direction the bolt came from, towards me.

I see a green bar appear over the wolf’s head, it’s 1/5th depleted. So, 5 such attacks would kill the wolf I suppose. But I don’t have that leisure. I should attack with my all since I won’t be able to defend against the wolf’s strength.

I sprint towards the wolf as it leaps towards me. Its eyes convey surprise but it doesn’t stop.

Taking out the book from within my clothes, I throw it point blank range towards the wolf’s head as it’s just 1 meter away.

Enemy confused for the next 5 seconds.

I jump on the wolf, putting my feet on its back, pushing it into the ground. Another bolt appears in my hand.

Leopard’s Favor used.

Movement and attack speed increased by 500% for 2 seconds.

I load one bolt into the crossbow. It would have taken me 2-3 seconds but this it took me hardly half a second.

I shoot it at the wolf’s back, while walking backwards towards the place Lena is at. Though I’m taking careful steps while walking, it’s almost like running since my movement speed is also increased.

I load another bolt and shoot it towards the wolf. Its health drops to half. I load another bolt and fire. The 2 second limit is almost over. I throw a bolt directly using my hand. Its health decreases a miniscule amount.

I’ve reached beside Lena now. I want to check her condition but I can’t at this time.

I load a bolt but don’t fire it. The wolf gets up now, it’s not dazed anymore. It’ll take about 2 shots more to deplete all its health but I could only shoot once if it pounces towards me.

The wolf turns around and glares at me while growling. I look into its eyes through the sights on the crossbow.

It realizes the stalemate and keeps growling while slowly stepping back. Then it turns around and sprints away.

Victory achieved.

You have acquired 10 metal bolts for the crossbow. These do 20% more damage than normal bolts and have 1% more chance to penetrate.

I let out a sigh of relief. So, it counts as a victory even if I don’t kill the opponent. It’s better this way. Since I’d rather avoid killing it.

Doesn’t matter.

I gently turn Lena’s head. No visible bleeding. It seems to be just a concussion from the hit itself. She should wake up in a few minutes or it could take up to half an hour.

I suppose so.

I sit down against the tree with Lena lying on the ground nearby. It’ll be better I wait here for a few minutes for her to wake up rather than carrying her back, which could be more dangerous if another creature attacks.

But I’ll have to make a decision fast, the smell of blood from the wolves’ bodies would attract some predators.

…What?

How can you even think of doing such a thing right now? Even if you do, there’s no need to tell me.

But that reminds me of something.

I stand up and walk towards her and crouch down, touching her hand.

Shut up.

I feel her wrist for her pulse. It seems calm for the most part. Most likely nothing wrong. I then turn her body so she is lying on her side, with her arms and legs so that she doesn’t fall over and her head tilted upwards, so that the air passageway isn’t blocked.

It’s a basic recovery position. It is so that the breathing of the unconscious person isn’t blocked. It doesn’t necessarily help if the cause is a concussion but it does prevent the head from moving.

I’m in no means an expert of first aid. But I do know about it a little because in my world there used to be a high possibility of me being hurt, so I had to know how to treat myself.

Not at all, I practiced entirely alone. It’s a different thing… I’d rather not remember it.

To distract myself I open up the item storage and pull out the iron bolts I just received and inspect them.

Iron bolts (10) (Consumable)

To be used with a crossbow.

Cause 20% more damage than normal crossbow bolts.

1% increased chance to penetrate.

Its no different than a regular bolt, conjured by the system(?). Instead its just made entirely of metal and has a lot more weight to it than the normal bolts.

So just the intention of firing the crossbow makes the bolts automatically appear in my hand. Good to know.

That reminds me, his health bar didn’t appear until I shot at him. It seems like it only appears when I actually engage in combat. Because the other wolves that Lena was fighting, didn’t have a health bar either.

This, I’ll need to really take care of. I would need to guess the enemy’s strength / HP before actually engaging in combat.

As I’m thinking that, I notice a disturbance in the distance. A black figure that I can’t clearly make out is slowly heading towards this place.

Yeah, time to go.

I quickly take a look around. I take the sabre and put it in my storage. There’s nothing else here that could be of use.

I lift Lena in my arms and carefully start heading east. I could have lifted her on my back too but that way I wouldn’t be able to take care that her head doesn’t move.

After walking enough of a distance away I take a look back. The black silhouette isn’t heading towards the wolf carcasses but instead towards us. It isn’t that fast but it’ll catch up to us at this pace.

I quicken my steps. Half-running through the forest while being careful to not let Lena’s head move.

I take another look back. That black figure has also started moving faster and could catch up any moment.

I lay Lena down near a tree so that she is partly hidden, and turn to face whatever it is that is coming towards me, while slightly moving away from the place Lena is at.

In a moment the figure appears in front of me and stops, the distance is about 10 meters so I’m able to get a clear look.

The figure is humanoid, and almost as tall as me. It is entirely black, as if someone took a person and dipped him in ink. And there’s also a glistening appearance as if it is indeed a person covered in ink, and droplets of ink sliding down too, as if a bit more slime-like than a liquid that ink is.

????

Level 27 (Nascent realm)

Race: Creation????

No items equipped.

Nothing? What even is ‘creation’ as a race?

Yeah, that explains everything.

Why is it even coming after me? It didn’t care for the wolves and isn’t taking notice of Lena either.

Previously there were no features visible on its body, but it opens its mouth which is at the same place it would be for a human but is full of sharp teeth like a shark, and screeches.

It’s a very high-pitch screech almost prompting me to cover my ears but I refrain.

Taking advantage of it being occupied, I quickly take out the cultivation book and throw it towards the creature.

Enemy is immune to the ‘confused’ condition.

What? Ineffective? Could this have something to do with that it’s not exactly alive?

It snaps back and stops its scream. A health bar appears over its head but the damage it suffered was negligible.

I equip the sabre instead of the crossbow and take stance, and as if on cue, the creature rushes towards me.

There’s 2 ways to use a sabre, it could be used like a normal sword, or it could be used in extremely close range. I’m not particularly knowledgeable about the second way but if I did, it might have been more applicable in this forest where there isn’t much space to move around.

The creature’s tactic could be equated to that of a bear. It has sharp claws and is trying to tackle me. I take a step backwards while swinging the sabre. It hits the creature on its wrist. Red colored blood splashes outwards and stains the sabre. Its health bar is 1/10th depleted.

The creature suddenly crouches down and pounces towards me at a much faster speed than previously, as if to catch me off guard. I angle my sabre towards it and support the sabre with my other hand so that it isn’t knocked away.

It digs straight into the creature’s shoulder, knocking its health down to about 80%. But one of its claws hits me too.

HP -150.

30% HP in one strike! It has a huge attack power. However, I don’t feel much pain except the feeling of getting scratched. Did the clothing offset the damage somehow?

But how did it even hit me? I was careful to stay out of its range.

I take multiple steps backwards so I’m clearly out of its range. I look towards it. It seems as if the creature is grinning. It moves its arms around and they shorten to their original length.

What? It could extend its arms? That’s a fraudulent move!

It takes position as if going for another leap. I sprint towards it and it tries to pounce on me.

Just as we were about to clash, I slide downwards and pass out from under it, while slashing it using the sabre. Because of its momentum it is unable to do anything mid-air and crashes into a tree.

Its health is down to 70%.

I get up quickly and take out the crossbow. I load it with an iron bolt, take aim and fire towards the creature’s chest, but because it too was moving, the shot instead hits the leg.

Iron bolt used.

The attack penetrates the enemy, ignoring its defense.

Almost done. It’s down to 50% now. The creature’s leg is badly hurt and it can’t move properly. But it still gets up and charges towards me. I let the crossbow fall and take out the sabre.

Leopard’s Favor used.

Movement and attack speed increased by 500% for 2 seconds.

I’m able to react much quicker and slash towards its other leg, knocking it off balance and making its strike miss, even after it extends its claws. I use that chance to take stance and slash again towards its leg. And again, with much more force.

3 strikes in quick succession against the same part. Its leg is severed off and its health down to about 5%, just a sliver. The part where the leg is cut off shows its muscles and the bone, eerily human-like.

It lies on the ground while still somehow screeching towards me, but is unable to get up and can only crawl very slowly.

I walk towards the place where Lena is and pick her up and once again start heading towards the east.

Victory achieved.

You have acquired 5 x grade 1 spirit stones.

No.

Even if it is, I’d rather avoid killing another living being whenever possible. And it was also very human-like.

I have a feeling that once I cross that line, it’ll only get easier to do it in the future.