Broken and Freya forged ahead through the thick, tangled forest, each step taken with determination and resolve. Polly led the way with her powerful paws, unflinchingly pummeling the ground with every stride.
Utilizing Broken’s newly acquired Hawk’s Eye skill was instrumental in helping them avoid large hordes of monsters that would have otherwise posed significant threats. This invaluable gift allowed them to selectively engage smaller, more manageable groups, although it came at the cost of draining Broken’s stamina significantly.
Suddenly, without warning, Polly came to an abrupt halt. The once vibrant forest was swallowed by a suffocating stillness. Then, breaking the silence, a deep, ominous growl resonated from within the dense thicket.
Freya gasped, her eyes widening as a formidable beast emerged from the shadows. Its thick, striped orange fur was matted with dirt and twigs, enhancing its menacing appearance. The creature’s yellow eyes glowed like lanterns in the darkness, and its white, razor-sharp teeth gleamed ominously in the silver light of the moon.
[Elite – Feral Panther Lv. 150]
“It’s an Elite Feral Panther!” Freya cried out, panic creeping into her voice. “We have to turn back now we can’t confront something of this magnitude up close!”
Polly, sensing the urgency, bolted with unmatched speed, attempting to outrun the relentless predator. The panther, undeterred, chased after them with eerie precision, its eyes locked onto its prey. Their arrows shot and whizzed through the air, only to be easily dodged by the agile panther.
The beast then pounced, its claws swiping viciously, but Polly’s swift reflexes allowed them to evade the attack narrowly.
“Freya! Take the high ground!” Broken shouted as Freya nimbly leaped off Polly’s back and took to the trees. “We need to coordinate our attacks from two sides!”
The duo launched a series of relentless attacks, each more aggressive and calculated than the last.
Finally, they managed to strike their target, sending the panther crashing into a nearby tree. Utilizing the momentary disorientation, Broken leaped from Polly’s back, his sword gleaming as he charged toward the monstrous foe.
[Charged Attack (Active Skill) Lv. 1]
In a strategic maneuver, Polly split into five identical copies, encircling the beast from all directions.
[Quick Strike (Active Skill) Lv. 1]
With a battle cry that echoed through the forest, the trio launched their coordinated assault. Freya’s arrows rained down from her vantage point while Broken swung his sword in perfect harmony with Polly’s deadly strikes.
Despite their synchronized efforts, the panther’s agility allowed it to deliver a brutal counterattack to Broken, striking him square in the chest. A distinct sound effect
reverberated, signaling the passive activation of his Shadow Fangs skill, which mitigated the impact of the damage.
Thrown to the ground, Broken fought to regain his senses just as the monster charged, its eyes filled with predatory malice.
“Broken!” Freya’s voice was laced with alarm as she called out from the treetops.
At that moment, the five Pollys pounced on the panther from various angles, buying Broken precious seconds to recover. Gritting his teeth, he stood up, poised for battle.
[Severing Strike (Active Skill)]
Broken delivered a decisive blow, striking after the coordinated efforts of Polly and Freya had sufficiently weakened the beast. The battle was long and grueling, stretching what felt like an eternity as they fought tooth and nail against the formidable foe.
After a harrowing struggle, the Elite Feral Panther finally succumbed to their relentless assault, collapsing in a defeated heap.
[You have successfully slain the Elite – Feral Panther Lv. 150]
“Damn, this monster was truly a challenge.”
“That was an Elite at level 150, so it’s to be expected,” Freya replied, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction.
They gasped for breath, their lungs burning and hearts pounding in synchrony with the echoes of their recent clash.
Freya, her face etched with worry. “Are you alright?”
Responding with a strained nod, Broken touched his wound, summoning his inner energy. [Healing Touch (Active Skill) Lv. 1]
A gentle warmth surged through his arm, radiating from the point of contact in a ripple of luminous healing light. As the light spread outward, the wound began to close, the torn flesh knitting together seamlessly.
“What an efficient skill,” she remarked. freёweɓnovel.com
Without warning, the carcass of the Feral Panther began to glow, its form dissolving into a radiant beam of colored pixels. As the pixels dissipated, several items materialized on the ground around them, their brilliance catching the pair’s attention. Each item glowed brilliantly for a moment before being absorbed into Broken’s body, enriching his inventory with newfound wealth.
[You have obtained 1 piece of medium-quality Feral Panther’s sharp fangs]
[You have obtained 1 piece of low-quality Feral Panther’s bone]
[You have obtained 1 piece of high-quality Feral Panther’s skin]
[You have obtained 1 Elite – Feral Panther Monster Soul Stone Lv. 150]
“Monster Soul Stone!” Freya exclaimed loudly, her eyes widening in surprise. “You get an item this rare like it’s nothing. Such a treasure has immense value, and I’m sure it will also
enhance your strength significantly.”
“I’ll share the loot with you,” he offered.
Freya chuckled. “I might feel greedy seeing all this, but I believe it will be more useful to you. All I ask in return is that you help me repair my weapon when necessary or perhaps offer me a discount if I need help crafting a new one.”
Broken glanced at her, then patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Leave everything to me,” he
said with a calm demeanor.
“That’s so weird. You’re much cooler when you don’t say anything.”
“I was just trying to be nice to you,” he replied.
“Thanks, I really appreciate it,” she said. “That was really nice and cool!”
Afterward, another notification materialized before Broken’s eyes, its message pulsing with bright, triumphant light.
[You have proven yourself to be a powerful warrior by killing an Elite Monster with a level 100 higher than yours!]
[Your courage and strength have earned you the new title of ‘The Undefeated Elite Monster
Slayer’.]
[Congratulations! May you continue to slay more monsters and make us all proud!]
[For this achievement, you receive 50 stat points!]
Broken’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he read the message. “Damn, I’ve received yet another achievement, and this one rewards me with 50 stat points.”
Freya’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Really? Your low level truly grants you exceptional benefits; it’s like gaining ten levels in a single day.”
“Now, I believe it’s time to spend my stat points wisely.”
“Yes, go ahead. It will boost your performance significantly,” Freya encouraged, a giggle escaping her lips. “Especially since it seems we’ll be spending quite a bit more time in this
forest.”
Broken was taken aback as he realized he had accumulated a total of 120 stat points. This windfall was the result of several level-ups over the past few days, plus the two significant achievements he had earned that day alone. Knowing he had to make the best of this bounty, he pondered carefully on how to allocate his points.
“Strength is tempting,” he mused. Yet, the demands of his equipment and skills, massively increasing his mana expenditure, weighed heavily on his decision. He recognized the necessity of balance-improving not just his physical prowess but also his agility, intelligence, constitution, and stamina to survive and excel in his battles.
With a determined expression, he began to distribute his points.
[Spend 40 Stat Points into Strength]
[Spend 20 Stat Points into Agility]
[Spend 20 Stat Points into Intelligence]
[Spend 20 Stat Points into Constitution]
[Spend 20 Stat Points into Stamina]
[Name: Broken
Level: 48
Classes: Super Novice | Royal Blacksmith
Health: 1,980 Mana: 1,668
Strength: 340 Agility: 139 Intelligence: 144 Constitution: 148 Stamina: 150
Charisma: 50 Luck: 25 Dexterity: 40
Available Stat Points: 0
Weight: 1,830/2,040]
Broken smiled with satisfaction as he reviewed his overall status. “I feel like I’m gradually
getting stronger, and I’m starting to enjoy it.”
“And what about logging out for now? It’s Saturday night, you know.”
“Already?” “Yup, I think hanging out at the cafe sounds more appealing than wandering around a dark
forest here. What do you think?”
“Just the two of us?”
“No, silly,” she replied with another giggle. “We’ll invite Lily as well unless you were secretly
trying to ask me out on a date.”
“Good idea. Let’s meet outside.”
In a heartbeat, they vanished from the forest.