Author’s corner: HELLO HELLO! A fight chapter! And a strong opponent this time!

ALSO, I have quite a rough week ahead of me, so please don’t hate me If I fail to update for a few days, ok? (T.T)

Have a good read!

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“Shishou? How come you know so much about Japanese? Did you not say that you do not speak it?”

“What is that so suddenly?”

We were walking towards the forest, almost at it’s border. If I were to look behind me, I would see the back of the temple. On our way here, I was explaining about quests to Yuu, but after the talk ended, she made that question.

“Well… Back when Shishou and I met, you said for me to stop with ‘Gravelheart-dono’ because it was too formal… How did you know that?”

Oh, so that is what she meant!

“I see, my apprentice… That is an interesting and deep question to make, but I fear that the answer you seek may be a bit too complicated for you at this moment… Do you still with to hear it?” I saw her eyes shine with excitement while she nodded vigorously. “Then hear me well… The reason for me being able to understand that…” Pause for dramatic effect. “Is because I read a lot of manga and light novel!”

For a moment, her eyes were shining with admiration and surprise, but after some time, she finally understood what I meant and a slight frown appeared on her face.

“Shishou… Were you fooling with me?”

“Perhaps… ”

Her incredulous face was a sight to see. After a few moments she finally sighed and mumbled something around the lines of idiot Shishou, which only served to increase even more my smile.

I think I may be a bad teacher…

Anyway, as we advanced in this humorous silence, a question came to my head this time.

“Say, Yuu… Isn’t it like seven o’ clock in the morning there in japan? Didn’t you start this game a bit too early?”

She blinked in surprise for a moment, then nodded to me.

“It is not a problem for me, Shishou, since I am used to waking up early for my daily training at the dojo.” Wait, did she just say that she goes to a dojo? A cool beauty, sheltered princess and now swordswoman? I just met someone incredible! “In fact, my grandfather excused me from the training today so I could start playing with my friend. Also, since the… server? ...Opened in the middle of the night for us, we decided to start this morning… But then she had to help her mother with something and could not enter for now, but I was too anxious to see how is a game...” I see… So that explains why she was logged in at such a time. “At least, I managed to meet Shishou! So everything ended up well!”

Oh my god, those shining eyes! That expectation! She pours so much trust in me! Sorry for having brainwashed you with this shishou story! Sorry!

“I… I see… Did she say when she would be able to login?”

“She had said that she should be able to get here around nine o’ clock... So I still have around two more hours to learn from you, Shishou!”

“Then… That means we have six more hours to hunt… Should be enough for the quest…” I turned back to her and saw her confused face. “You see… the time inside the game passes three times faster!”

She widened her eyes in surprise, then started to mutter something along the lines that games are incredible.

I could only smile at how baffled she was, then, noticing we were bordering the forest, I made a signal for her to stop, then proceeded to change my beginner’s sword for the beginner’s shield, which seemed to get her by surprise.

“So, Shishou can use sword and shield too?” Why is she so shocked? Shouldn’t sword and shield be easier than dual wielding?

“Listen here, my apprentice… If you so wish to master many weapons, then do as you please, but remember, whenever you are about to face a new enemy, make sure to make use a weapon of preference.” Lesson I learned the hard way on monster hunter, still have trauma to brachydios… “So face the unknown with the known!” A cryptic message just to sound cool.

This seemed to impress her, so I would say that it’s a job well done.

“Shishou, how are we going to fight these enemies?”

“Simple, I’ll tank them for a moment…” I looked at her, and saw her slightly tilting her head in confusion. Oh, right… I still didn’t explain the composition of a party for her… “You see, disciple, a good party is usually consisted of three main components.” Raised finger for dramatic effect. “The DPS, also known as damage dealer, is the one responsible for attacking the enemies and defeat them, for now, this seems to be your case.” She nodded energetically. “Second, the tank! Tanks are the one responsible for distracting the enemies and take their attacks for the team. This is my case…”

“Ehh? Shishou is going to take the enemies attack?” She looked utterly surprised, then she frowned before shaking her head. “I cannot let that happen! Shishou does not deserve that! Instead, I will take their atta… Ouch!” I used the sheath of my sword to hit her before she could end her speech.

-5 (115/120)

She looked at me with upturned eyes while crouching with her head in her hands, which, coupled with her drooped ears made an extremely destructive scene that almost shaved my health off, but I managed to hold myself back.

“You silly apprentice! What do you have to protect yourself from the enemies? I have been preparing myself for tanking ever since I began this game! You, with your poor defense and small health pool wouldn’t be able to take on the attacks of these beasts!” She still seemed to want to complain, but held herself back seeing the reasoning behind my words. She still pouted a little, though… “Anyway, lastly, we would have a healer, responsible for casting recovery spells on the party. However, we lack one of these, so we will have to take extra care while hunting, do you hear me?” She nodded slowly while lifting her self up.

I couldn’t help myself and petted her lightly for a moment. After all, she was worried about me…

…

I advanced alone through the forest, taking care not to make any sudden movement while I looked for the lynxes. But there were already a couple of minutes since I entered the forest, but I still didn’t see any of them, and this was starting to worry me. I was ready to give up on this hunt when suddenly a small bush shook slightly in front of me.

I was half expecting for something to jump out of the bush, but no matter how much I waited, nothing came, so I slowly advanced towards it, with my shield in front of me.

When I got close enough, I could see a black figure crouched within it, hiding itself from the sights of the others. In fact, had I not seen the bush move slightly, I might even have missed this, so well hidden it was. However, even at this distance, I couldn’t see it’s status plate.

From it’s shape and color alone, I was sure that this was the Red-claw Lynx, since it had a feline figure and completely black fur, however, it didn’t seem aggressive. Maybe it’s stealth is what is hiding the plates? If so, how many of them did I miss up to now? I thought slightly annoyed at myself.

Anyway, I started the fight with the lynx in the same way I had been doing with the dogs before meeting Yuu.

Slash, kick, slash, stab, bash, slice ‘n dice.

-17 -4 -18 -20 -5 -7 (6x)

Combo! (x1.3)

-138 (289/430)

Yeah, it’s a pretty strong combo. But it’s main damage come from the three seconds of slice and dice, so I can’t really use it all the time, and if the animal somehow dodges the bash, I’m in for a world of pain as I have to stand still for 3 seconds to deplete my energy.

But, 430 health points? It’s a bit more than what I was expecting to say the truth... Rather, thinking about it, isn’t it a bit too low? After all, I have the almost worst equipment right now, and dealt a third of its life in one combo!

As I was bathed in doubts about this enemy, I took my distance now that slice ‘n dice had ended, and put my shield in front of me, readying myself. I already had done a good amount of damage to it, so now I would change to a more defensive battle, since I had no idea of the enemies moves.

The overgrown cat looked at me in the eyes with some anger as it arced with its fur bristled. For a moment I felt that he would end up there and take his time, but he suddenly charged forward.

Fast!

The wild dog doesn’t even compare to this!

I barely managed to block its claws with my shield and push him back. He falls in his feet, before hissing at me and charging again. This time I was ready, so I waited for him patiently, but right before it reached my shield he jumped to the sides, towards a tree, before jumping again right at me.

Since he was in the opposite side of my shield, I had no hope to block him, so I used my sword, somehow managing to pummel him in the head.

-4 (285/430)

But it still wasn’t enough, even when I managed to send it flying, his claws still managed to reach and slash me.

-22 (178/200)

Damn! The little bastard is strong!

I take a step back and watch him with caution while he lifts himself. For a moment we stare at each other. A strange light pass on his eyes, almost as if he is mocking me, then he simply vanishes in thin air!

Come on! I call hax!

Suddenly, the whole area around me suddenly appears a lot more threatening than before. I crouch myself waiting for an attack and look around… But for some moment nothing comes, only working to make me even more nervous.

Calm down… I am almost losing my mind here. If he gets me with my guard down he will tear away at my health like a hot knife on butter.

I look back at where he was, looking for some traces of him…

And I actually find something! Can you believe that?

There were four patches of grass that were slightly pressed down.

A wicked grin appear on my face, before I charge forward towards the patch. I could see the grass tremble slightly when the lynx shook in surprise.

An upward slash and the cat comes out of the bag! I mean, the cat comes out of the stealth!

-19 (266/430)

The stealth is actually just a trick to lead newbies to worry. Although he does go invisible, he can’t move too fast or he will probably undo the skill. This actually makes sense, since he is too low level for him to have a powerful skill like stealth without any handicaps.

Not wanting to press on any further, I quickly step back and hide myself behind the shield once again.

The cat hisses at me once again, before charging. I hide behind my shield, but he once again does that side jump to a tree right before hitting me. I barely manage to follow him with my eyes, but this time he made a grave mistake!

He jumped to my shield-arm this time, so I use my shield to stop him, then slam him in a tree, locking him in place with my shield.

I smile wickedly at this familiar scene, before picking my sword and stabbing at him. The first one was via skill, the others normal stabs.

-19 -13-14

But much faster than what I expected, he recovers himself and use his back legs to scratch at my shield arm from behind, making me cringe with pain, stopping my combo and letting him escape.

Combo(x1.1)

-52(214/430)

-21 (157/200)

The little bastard!

I jump backwards and slowly back away, two attacks and a fourth of my health is gone down the drain… This guy is strong.

I was backing away from him, going back the way I came here while always keeping my shield between us. But something was bothering me… Why is it called a red-claw lynx? It’s claws are black just like it’s fur, so it didn’t make much sense to me…

Also, he had gone eerily quiet for some time now… What could this mean? We were crossing our gazes for a moment, until he slowly started to show his fang to me, before making what was something between a roar and a meow.

He surprised me and sent an emergency signal down my brain, as my mind suddenly became more focused, a reflex-like reaction related to monster hunter, where, whenever the monster roars, it can only mean one thing.

He’s enraged!

For a moment, nothing happened. But the cat looked at me and hissed lowly.

And disappeared.

For a moment, I though he had gone invisible again, but I realized that I was wrong. When he used stealth earlier, his body disappeared like a mist, but this time he seemed to simply vanish out of my vision…

Rather, this isn’t stealth! This is…

-30 (127/200)

I felt the sharp pain coming from my back, throwing me down forward.

The bastard! He hadn’t used stealth, he had moved so fast that I couldn’t see!

He was standing on my back, and I could feel him lifting his claw so he could maim me. But I reached my shield-hand to my back and picked him up before throwing him forward. He quickly got back up to his feet, undamaged, but I was a bit quicker and was already taking my distance, putting a good ten meters between us.

The lynx looked at me for a moment, as if waiting for something, then it hissed lowly once again. But this time he didn’t disappear, rather, he started walking in my direction. But I noticed something worrisome, it was faint, but I could see some red light gathering in his claws.

The more he advanced, the more light his claws gathered, and the redder they became and the faster he came.

At the end, he was already running full speed, but right before reaching me, he lifted his left claw.

All alarms on my head rang all at once, and I hid myself behind my shield.

He started clawing with a never seen before ferocity. Even my slice and dice looked like nothing compared to his. I could feel my shield being slowly pushed back, but all of sudden, his attack ceased. I dared to spy behind the shield for a brief moment, only to see him raising his right claw.

Then he brought it down.

And right behind it, a large, dark gash appeared in the air, as if his claw was slashing the very space.

The attack connected with my shield, dealing a huge, never seen before impact to it. I felt my arm scream in pain as I gritted my teeth so I wouldn’t shout. I had to even use my sword arm to support the shield so it wouldn’t give in to the attack. My whole body was knocked back, leaving a trail in the ground as I barely managed to stand on my feet the whole time.

I had slid back a whole meter from that attack, and it wasn’t all.

-11 (116/200)

He even managed to overpower my shield’s defense! What kind of attack was that?

I looked at the lynx in shock, barely believing in what had just happened. The lynx looked back at me, almost as if taunting me for having come inside his territory unprepared. Almost as if saying that I wasn’t strong enough to challenge this place.

I smiled.

The lynx frowned.

“DO IT!” I shouted. The lynx widened his eyes in surprise on what I had just done.

And before he could even react, five large icicles pierced his body.

-16 -15 -16 -16 -15

Combo(x1.1)

-86 (128/430)

Before he could even understand what was happening, I rushed forward and slammed my shield in his face, then flung it upward, lifting him slightly from the ground. I sliced him upwards so I could lift him even a bit more, then I grabbed his throat with my shield hand and slammed him in the tree, activating stab with my sword in this time. I let him go before he could claw me in counter, and jumped back.

-6 -20 -4 -24

Combo (x1.2)

-65 (63/430)

The cat fell down to the ground, still wobbling in a daze for a moment due to the huge damage in such a short time, but it soon shook his head and stared at me with anger in it’s eyes. I grinned in defiance, while giving him a mocking gaze.

He hissed lowly, and his body disappeared.

But not this time, I spun around and bashed the air with my shield.

but the sad cat materialized just in time to receive a large serving of iron to the face. Since he was in the middle of a skill, he received the bash effect, and staggered for a moment, so I took my chance and slashed him, sending him flying backwards.

-6 (bash) -20 (37/430)

He quickly got up, and looked at me menacingly for a moment, then dashed forward. Right at the last moment, he jumped to my sword side and landed on a tree before jumping at me.

I guess black cats really have bad luck…

A flying icicle hit him right in the head the moment he left the tree, sending him flying towards a tree.

-32 (critical!) -5(0/430)

His body slowly slid downwards, lifelessly hitting the ground.

I finally noticed I was breathing heavily. But I also had a huge smile in my face.

Now I understood how the hell a cat with so little health could be level 10. Not only his health, but also his defense is on the low side. Actually, my attacks were dealing a bit more damage to him than to the dogs. But that insane speed of his after he enraged isn’t something to take lightly. And that red claw attack! That was monstrous!

I kept staring at him for a long moment, until I heard the bushes besides me rustling as Yuu approached, her eyes wide while looking at the cat.

If it wasn’t for her, I dare say I wouldn’t have survived this fight for much longer. I had her stay hidden at the start so there wouldn’t be a chance of the cat turning to attack her, and I was glad I did it.

“I never knew cats could be so strong…” She said with wonder in her voice.

“I think that it’s actually us who are weak…” I said with my voice surprisingly tired. Then I put my hand on her head and petted her, making her tails sway with happiness. “You did a really nice save back there.” I stopped then looked with serious eyes at her. “But how much mana did you spend in that five ice lances attack?” I was kind of expecting her to cringe in worry when I said that, but she smiled proudly.

“Only thirty mana, Shishou!” I stared at her in awe, and she smiled proudly. “I started preparing the ice right when you started your battle, Shishou! And I noticed that if I take my time, it doesn’t take as much mana as doing it all at once! I had only half of the sixth done before you said for me to launch it, so it took a little longer for me to use it!” She looked at me with expectant eyes, and I could only smile wryly before starting to pet her once again.

She really likes it, huh?

I took back my hand and went to the lynx, dragging him towards a clearer area. Then I picked my skinning knife and started my work.

I had already warned Yuu that I would be doing this, so she simply stared in curiosity to see my work. I would skin half of the lynxes, and she would reclaim the other half. Whatever item that dropped was hers alone.

She had tried to deny it and tell me to keep all the lynxes for myself, but I denied it with a sheath to the head.

Hmm… I wonder if one day I will be able to do that whole 1 hp left that the old man does…

“Oh, yeah! Yuu, have you leveled up?” I asked while looking at the body in my hands. She blinked in surprise, then opened some windows before answering.

“Yes, Shishou! It says here that I have reached the level three. And have 70% for the next level.”

Wow, three already? I wasn’t expecting him to give this much experience...

Wait! When I sheathed her head earlier, she had 120 total health! So she had leveled on her second dog, and came all this way before allocating her points? I kind of feel silly now…

“Where should I put my points, Shishou?” Came the inevitable question.

“That depends on how you want to play.” She looked at me with her serious lesson face. “If you want to play as a tank, like me, then you should invest on defense, like vitality, toughness or mind, depending on what kind of tanking style you want. If you want to keep dealing magical damage as you are now, then you should focus on intellect. If you want a fast paced battle stile with high bursts of damage, go for agility, since it increases both critical and probably movement speed too. If you want steady but normal physical damage, go for strength. Or make a mix-match to one you find interesting. The way this game is… I wouldn’t be surprised If you could even reset your status points!”

She nodded after my explanation.

In the end, she put two points in intellect and two in agility. I’m not sure why, but I won’t complain.

“So, did you do what I told you to during the fight?”

“Yes! Shishou!”

“Good, then tell me something about his habits.”

“Yes! He will hiss lowly right before using the shadow-step or that strong claw attack!” She said with pride. I nodded at her. “And he will always choose the nearest tree behind his target when jumping!” Is that so? I hadn’t noticed that one…

“And…?” I asked, just to be sure, but she looked surprised for a moment, then her ears dropped flat against her head while she looked down. I gave a wry smile once again before stretching my hand to pat her again. “It’s good enough for now. You are just beginning after all.” She sheepishly looked at me before nodding.

“When he used his claw attack, his left claw is for the flurry, and the right for the rip. Either that, or he has two charges to choose from.” I did not have enough time to observe it to be sure of that one.

By now I had finished the skinning. It was fairly simple and similar to the dogs, so I did it quickly, but…

Red-claw lynx pelt (poor)Piece of leather acquired after manually skinning a red-claw lynx, made by an amateur. There are some areas with considerable damage.

(crafting material)

…

It seems that I still had to get used to this new animal. I sighed loudly.

Finally I focused on the small flashing symbol on the corner of my vision, opening my new messages. However, they were a bit more than what I was expecting.

Congratulations! You have reached level 5! Every five levels you earn a bonus of one status point to all your status, besides the usual two distributed.

Also, you have the right to derivate one skill.

I looked shocked at the window, then opened the second window.

Derivating skills: at level 5, 10 and every ten levels after, you earn the right to derivate one skill. Derivating a skill can either create a new skill related to the first, or modify an existing one.

…

Ooh boy!

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(dead) Author's corner: I just noticed, but it took a whole chapter just for me to describe the battle agains a simple level 10 enemy... How long will it take for me to write one against a boss? O.o

Sidestory (Yuu's side)