'According to Ron and Syl, I was captured at eleven in the morning. So roughly three hours later, I'll complete the side quest.'
Ainen thought as he flew out of the town and descended before walking towards the forest.
This time, he went a bit deeper and encountered his first monster—an unexpected challenge paired with an opportunity.
It was a level 20 Monster, powerful and aggressive.
—> Death Pierce: The two tusk fangs have high penetration power (A).
—> Vitality: 28 [ 137 / 280 ]
—> Mana: 30 [ 124 / 300 ]
—> Wood Manipulation (A)
—> Blood Boil Charge (B)
—> Stomping Squack (C)
Indeed. It was a strong monster, but it was injured. This Warhog had just finished killing nine wolves, of which one was level 16.
Although all nine wolves died, they had managed to significantly injure this Warhog, leaving it with less than half of its vitality.
The mana pool of the beast was also less than half.
Ainen was hidden. He could hear the battle, so he approached cautiously, using Flight to hide in a lush tree.
The Warhog was roughly forty meters away from him.
Ainen took out his new weapon—Silverend Twilight Bow.
He had added the five stat points he gained into Strength, but the requirement to pull the bow's string was 25.
He had tried to pull the string, but he could barely pull it past halfway.
He needed 25 Strength to pull the bow to its maximum power.
Putting it away, Ainen decided to make a big move from afar and injure it further.
Getting close to it was dangerous, even though its vitality was half.
He could see injuries all over its body.
But that monster hasn't lost its spirit.
It had higher stats, more speed, and more strength.
'If I get hit even once, I could get into serious trouble. Even if I don't die, I'll be close to death.'
Ainen narrowed his eyes and focused, his right palm pointing forward.
Slowly but smoothly, he conjured a spear.
'Heat plus movement…I don't need to actively spin it, I just need to set up the mechanism of its spin that goes faster the more I heat it up.'
The spear, merely two meters long, began spinning.
It spun faster and faster, creating a phenomenon of a condensed whirling flame, packing massive heat that doesn't leak.
'It's making noise. This is it.'
He didn't want the Warhog to notice this, or it could probably dodge.
'Go. Firestorm Spear.'
Ainen had tried his best to give it a 'strong push' with his manipulation.
This was the fastest projectile he had shot ever, though it didn't break the sound barrier.
But it made enough sound that the Warhog was alerted. It looked in the direction of the spear, but the distance was merely forty meters, with Ainen hidden atop a tree.
The spear squarely penetrated its eye, though Ainen had aimed for the head.
But it made no difference.
The already injured Warhog got hit by a flaming spear that dispersed with a sharp whistle, and wrapped the warhog in flames like a small storm.
'It worked!' Ainen was overjoyed.
He had practiced applications of fire manipulation in small proportions while moving, practicing to explore more uses.
And this was the first one he came up with today—Firestorm Spear. A method of condensing flame around the spear, packing more heat per volume, and shaping it to expand it into a storm.
The heat invaded the Warhog with the storm of fire enveloping it, burning it, and cooking it all around.
With its vitality already half, it was hard for the Warhog to take on this Firestorm Spear, conjured with 70 Mana.
[You have killed a level 20 Warhog Tusk King.]
[Due to killing a monster ten levels higher, you have gained bonus experience.]
[You have reached level 16. You have acquired 30 stat points.]
[You have acquired level 15 Mystery Box.]
Ainen grinned. 'Great.'
Now he would be able to wield the bow!
Jumping off the tree, Ainen walked towards the corpses of the monsters while distributing stat points.
—> Vitality: 16 -> 20
—> Strength: 21 -> 25
—> Cognition: 13 -> 15
30 stat points distributed!
But he was going to get more!
Looking at the Warhog Tusk King's ingredient panel, he was eager to cook it.
'This guy has an A rating, but that level 16 wolf's rating is D?'
'The rating isn't dependent on level.' Ainen's eyes glinted. 'It must be based on a deeper, comprehensive quality.'
Ainen stored all nine wolves and the Warhog in the Inventory and continued moving in the forest.
This time, he equipped the bow!
But before continuing his adventure, it was time to open the level 15 mystery box!
'What will I get this time?'
Ainen rubbed his palms a few times before pressing the button on the box. Chapters first released on novel[f]ire.net