As we passed through the entrance, I could already feel the familiarity of the sights around us: the large trees towering over us, the leaves enveloping the blue sky, and the ominous growls and moans of creatures hiding behind the bushes and rocks, signs that this was different the plains outside <Initio>. We had already traversed into the wilds once before, but we had barely reached the deeper parts of it before we got ambushed and almost killed that time. I had always figured that, after that traumatizing encounter, I would never go back there again. But Kazu quickly convinced me to try again after we had gotten new stronger equipment to combat the stronger monsters with, which made sense to me. We had been using beginner weapons at that time, so their stats were too weak to go up against the monsters in the <Tested Wilds>. I just hoped these new gear and weapons would be enough to avoid a repeat of the previous disaster.
After a few minutes, we managed to walk a few meters away from the entrance, and we clutched our weapons while looking around for any signs of monsters in the area. While I felt it was strange that there were no signs of life around us, we still couldn't let our guard down considering where we were at the time. But just in case, I activated my [Eagle Eye] ability to double-check our current surroundings.
"Find anything, Wind?" Kazu said in a quiet tone.
"None so far. But this is good news for us. The last time we were here, we got ambushed so quickly, and no sooner than after we stepped through the entrance." I muttered as I looked around the area. "But still, it's too quiet here. As much as I want to gather some of the items growing around the area, I don't want to stop and let my guard down."
I hear Kazu hummed and said, "Now that you've mentioned it, I don't hear any monster growls around here. Think they're hibernating?"
"It would be possible in this current season, but I highly doubt that." Sure, the world seemed a bit realistic despite its fantasy aesthetics, but I doubt those monsters would act like bears and sleep for so long. "In any case, I have a bad feeling about this."
While I was usually 50% wrong most of the time, I knew that this sudden silence and the lack of life were too suspicious to ignore. With that, I switched my [Eagle Eye] with [Investigate] to scan for any signs of hidden enemies. Of course, I had to look around more slowly in case I missed anything from my first viewpoint. But to my surprise, after a few minutes, there was still nothing, as no signs of life came into view.
"Something's not right. I can't find anything with my [Investigate] as well."
"Of course you can't. That skill is only for scanning stats and limited details on monsters," Kazu explained. "It's not a skill for detecting monsters like your E-"
Before he could finish, I suddenly felt some kind of a shocking sensation in my body. I wondered if someone had attacked me, but when I checked my [HP], I saw that it hadn't changed. I wondered where that sensation had come from until a window suddenly pops in front of me.
[NOTICE]
[The [Hunting] skill, [Minor Danger Sense] has activated for the first time. You will be experiencing a minor shocking sensation whenever it is active.]
[Minor Danger Sense]? Of course! The ability that those with the [Hunting] skill would obtain when said skill level was at Level 10.
Wait a second... Learning that I had such an ability sent up a few red flags.
As I turned around, a black blur suddenly jumped out of the bushed and charged towards Kazu's direction. Knowing what would happen next, I quickly turned off my ability and tackled my brother to the ground as the blur zipped by, barely missing us."Wind, what th- What was that all about?!" Kazu shouted, at which I pointed to where the blur had landed.
"That."
As we turned around to where I pointed, we saw that the blur wa a black jackal-like creature panting as it turned towards us and glared at us with red eyes. If I hadn't intervened and tackled Kazu in time, he might've gotten mauled by that monster. And from its expression, it seemed to be angry that it missed its prey as it walks closer to us. Even though my [Investigate] ability was turned off, I already knew what we were up against.
"A [Mad Jackal]... Never thought we have to face it again."
It was actually one of the first monsters we encountered in the <Tested Wilds> and one that had almost killed us in our first outing. Of all of the monsters in this forest, it had to be that crazy jackal that was first to greet us in our second outing.
"Looks like it. At least there's some good news with this. I do want revenge for what it did to my arm last time." I knew this is just my tough facade talking, but just seeing that jackal just gave me me goosebumps. Then again, I was also a bit angry at it for giving me such a traumatizing experience. I even had to try and forget that incident because that lingering pain that translated too well in my head when I went offline.
"I guess now's a good time to test out my new staff. So prepare yourself, [Mad Jackal]!" Kazu then pointed his staff towards the monster with a grin. "You're about to be in a world of hurt for what you did to us weeks ago!"
Before I could do anything, Kazu had already started on gathering magical energy from his staff as he began his incantation. "Spirit of Slyph, hear my call. Spin the wind that is all around. Push my foes with the gale of sound!"
As he chanted this, the wind began to grow bigger, at which I instinctively backed away to prevent myself from accidentally getting caught in the crossfire. At the same time, the jackal then pounced on my brother and tried to bite him. But...
"Take this! [Gale Force]!"
Taking out my sword, I plunged it into the ground, clutching the handle of it as Kazu's staff released a strong gust of wind enough to push the [Mad Jackal] away from him and it crashed into a tree behind it. Just seeing it with my own eyes makes me realize how dangerous this power was, yet I couldn't help but grin the sight. I had also learned that skill at Level 6, and I had used it once during our few fights with some monsters in the plains. And unlike Kaz, mine was a bit too wild. I guess his skill set helped him control it better than I did with my own [Gale Force].
"Hah! How do you like that? You're looking at the new and improved Kazu of the [Insignis]!"
My eyes widened at this, and not just because of his bragging. Did he just call himself "Kazu of the [Insignis]"? Just hearing that from him made me cringe a little. It reminded me a lot of of Zac's lame pickup lines from whenever he tried to flirt with a girl. Could Kaz have picked that up from him?
But before I could comment on it, I felt another shocking sensation in my head, a sign that my [Minor Danger Sense] detected another attack. Unfortunately, I noticed it too late this time, as another [Mad Jackal] pounced on my brother from another bush.
"Hey! Get off me, you lame excuse of a mutt!"
First that stupid quip, and now this? I seriously needed to question both my luck and my brother in the near future. For now, I quickly drew my bow and arrow and shot the latter jackal in the right temple area of its head.
[CRITICAL HIT!]
Good! Seeing that notice and the monster stop its attempt to maul my brother gave me enough time to pull my sword from the ground and swing it towards the beast's neck, decapitating its head completely. Thankfully, the corpse quickly disappeared before Kazu noticed what happened, saving me from the worries of him being traumatized. Guess the options I set in during our character customization really helped us a lot on preventing any R-rated events in this game.
"Kaz, are you okay?" I asked as I approached him to aid him.
"Y-Yeah. I lost a few [HP], but I'm good."
As long he was still alive, I was okay with that. I grabbed his arm and helped him back up to his feet. "Glad to hear that. But for my sake, don't ever introduce yourself like that in public again."
"Huh, why? I thought it would be easier to intimidate enemies if I declared who and what I really am."
"U-Uh..." I wished I can explain why, but I was too embarrassed to even tell him that it was too cringy. "Just... please... Don't declare yourself like that ever again."
Of course, the remaining [Mad Jackal] and another wolf-like monster tried to use our small break as a way to ambush us. This time, I didn't let them get the chance. I quickly jumped in between Kazu and the monsters just as the jackal swung its clawed paw. I quickly grit my teeth as I feel the pain from its attack, which nonetheless was not enough to stop me as I raised my sword towards the jackal.
"[Cross Slash]!"
Shouting an ability name in my head, I swung my sword in a cross pattern, which cut down both monsters in the process. Unlike what happened with the first monster, it wasn't a [Critical Hit] and it only inflicted a few points of damage to each of their respective [HP]. That ability might've had low power when it came to damage, but it was enough to push enemies away and nullify any ambushes against us.
Although, I had made the minor mistake of taking a hit as I dropped to my knees and tried to endure the scar I had gotten from the jackal's scratch on my back, which as I expected, was still very painful.
"Wind! Are you okay?!" Kaz then ran up to me and checked on my injury. "You've always said I had to avoid taking any unnecessary risks and yet, you just ignored your own advice just to save me! I don't know whether I should be angry or happy about it."
He did have a point. I did make the risky decision of turning myself into a human shield to protect Kaz from the jackal's attack.
"Yeah, sorry about that. But I'm fine. In fact, the pain seems to be more bearable than before."
I wasn't exaggerating. The scar wasn't so painful as the ones from our first excursion, and I was able to get back on my feet without even struggling from it. It was more surprising when I saw my own HP from my HUD. Rather than taking about 60-70 damage, I just only took 43 [HP] damage from that jackal. I was relieved that I'm still okay, but I was surprised at how it suddenly the damage had decreased compared to the last time. As much as I want to wonder about that part, there were still more monsters for us to worry about.
"More importantly, I thought I already took care of the first jackal. What's the deal with this wolf monster?"
I quickly used my [Investigate] ability once more to check on the new monster.
[Wild Wolf]
[A feral wolf that has lived in the dark forest for many years. Most of the Wild Wolves' casualties are inexperienced adventurers who are unaware of the dangers around them.]
[HP: 390/390]
It was another one of the wilds' inhabitants. And they seemed to have the same materials that Star had added in most of my equipment, which made things a bit more complicated. Then again, we weren't like our inexperienced selves in the past, so this might could have a different outcome than before.
"[Wild Wolves]. They seemed to be on the same level as those jackals. Think you're up to take on two monsters at once?"
"Yeah." Kazu then nodded as I noticed him tighten his grip on his staff. "This'll make our skill testing a whole lot easier."
"Then let's do it."
With that said, Kazu and I quickly split up as we started our counterattack against the monsters. As I charged in towards the jackal, I raised my sword and swung it sideways at its body. And very quickly, I switched my grip to a back handle grip and swung it diagonally. Of course, this caused the [Mad Jackal] to howl in pain and it tries to bite my left arm.
"Oh no, you don't!" I quickly took a few steps back and thrust my sword towards its body. "If you're planning to rip out my arm, then you're sadly mistaken! [Counter Slash]!"
As I shouted out my new skill, I used most of my strength to push the blade through its body until it completely cut the jackal in half. While I want to sigh in relief, just seeing the jackal's halved body bleeding. I just hope Kazu didn't see this. Speaking of my brother, I turned around to check on him. But to my shock, I see him facing off with not one [Wild Wolf], but two! Where did that second one come from?! I want to rush to his aid, but I quickly stop to see him aiming his staff and begin another incantation.
"Energy of the elements around me. Gather and blast force my enemies! [Mana Blast]!"
With a strong swing of his staff, he fired a large mana ball towards one of the wolves. The explodes once it made contact to the wolf's face. I would say that was the end of it, but the wolf only took a few points of damage, which was not enough to kill it. However, he didn't stop there.
"Spirit of Slyph, Bring the gale to my growing aura and let me to manipulate the air around me! [Wind Sickle]!"
He quickly swung his staff again, releasing several blades of wind towards the monsters. While the attack didn't cut them in half like my sword, it did cut the jackal's right ear and the wolves' front legs, which disgusted me a little bit.
"Wind, what are you waiting for? I still need a few more seconds of cool down! Use your arrows to weaken them further!"
Kazu's right. Time to switch gears and finish these off. Taking out my bow and arrows once more, I aimed it in the air as I pulled the bowstring as tight as I could.
"[Arrow Shower]!"
I quickly released the string as I screamed the ability's name. Just like its namesake, the arrows that were shot in the air suddenly exploded in a bright white light in the sky and turned into fifty arrows, which rained down on the monsters. Huh, for a Level 9 ability, it seemed to be very strong considering it only cost 2 arrows and some of my [MP] to use this ability. Heck, it gave them a lot of damage as I noticed their [HP] were deducted into a moderate yellow gauge.
"Well, that didn't make their health go critical. No matter, go for it, Kaz!"
"Right!" Kazu quickly stepped forward and aimed his staff towards the monsters once more. "Spirit of Slyph, hear my call. Spin the wind that is all around. Push my foes with the gale of sound!"
Just like before, his staff gathered the wind into a mini-tornado as I cleared away from the monsters as fast as I can.
"[Gale Force]!"
As he shouted, another strong gust of wind released from his staff and pushed the [Mad Jackal] and [Wild Wolves] away from Kazu. As I tried not to get blown away from his attack, I noticed that their [HP] had started to go down slowly. That was a seriously dangerous spell, but I had to admit that it was an awesome way to gain a long-range advantage against my enemies.
In any case, I better step in and try to finish this...
"Wait, Wind! Don't jump in just yet!"
Huh? I quickly stopped my tracks as soon Kazu shouted this. I was confused and questioned why he stopped me. That is, until I felt a strong breeze behind me. Turns out that in my desire to finish this battle quickly, I had accidentally stepped into the path of the powerful wind Kazu created. And let's just say it took about a few seconds for me to get blown away like a paper bag.
"Oh no, Wind!"
Man, I had always tried to get away whenever Kazu use that spell. But this time, it seems that my recklessness may have cost me this battle. I screamed as I found myself being thrown around by the strong wind behind me, which I tried to escape with no success. Yet as I looked in front of me, I realized that I was about to collide with those monsters who had been caught by the [Gale Force]. Now that I thought about it, they are already in critical condition and my sword was still in my sheath. If Kazu can get reckless when it comes to crafting, I figured, maybe I should do the same with fighting.
"Wind, hang on! It's supposed to be a few seconds before it wears off, but I'm casting another spell to dispel it right now!"
"No, wait!" I shouted. "Stand down, Kaz. I'm getting my revenge once and for all!"
Without any second thoughts, I drew my sword as I glared at the defenseless beasts that were formerly known as the [Mad Jackal] and [Wild Wolves].
"Checkmate."
With just two swings from [Cross Slash] and another few to the rest, the monsters were cut to pieces as I passed by them. While my landing was a bit rough, I noticed that the wind had began to weaken and dissipate a sign that the [Gale Force] had done its job. As I try to get back on my feet, I turned around to see that the monsters' [HP] has gone down to zero.
"Guess that's that," I muttered as I watched the monsters' sliced corpses disappear in a white bright light, leaving several materials and some [Lapi] for us to salvage. "At least I won't have to worry about the phantom pain in real life this time."
Unfortunately, I spoke too as I suddenly felt a sharp pain on my back, which caused me me to drop to the ground again.
"Wind!" Kazu ran up to me, dropping his staff as he started to check on me again. "Are you okay? I'm sorry, it was my spell. You shouldn't have gotten caught up like that. I should've considered my surroundings before I used it."
Indeed. [Gale Force] wasn't exactly an accurate hit spell, and it had the risk of damaging allies as well. If any inexperienced magician had attempted to do this, they might've hurt people rather than help them. Regardless, I just gave him a small smile and pat his head. "Don't blame yourself about it. I was the one who wasn't careful back there. But still, it did give me a chance to finish off those beasts. Maybe I can come up a way to repeat it without the risk of hurting myself in the process."
I tried to stand up after that, but then I realized something from what I had said.
"Hold on, "beast"?"
Now that I think about it, some of my equipment did mention of a resistance effect from a "beast" monster. And when it came to fantasy RPGs, beast-type monsters were associated with wolves, tigers, and other carnivore-based monsters.
"Hey Wind... You're scratching your right temple again. What are you thinking?"
Oh, did he notice my scratching my temple? It was a habit of mine for when I was thinking, but him noticing it really didn't bother me in the least.
"It's about how my damage was somehow decreased from that [Mad Jackal] attack before." I said as I opened up my status window in order to confirm what I'd suspected.
[Wind]
[ATK: 59 (+15)]
[DEF: 20 (+30)]
[MATK: 25]
[MDEF: 19]
[SPD: 71]
[Bonuses: +20% Beast-type Resistance]
[Beast-type Resistance]
[Resists damage from Beast-type monsters such as [Wild Wolves], [Polar Tigers], and [Mad Jackals].]
So that explained it. I even checked my equipment and saw that most of my armor had several [Beast-type Resistance] effects stacked with each other.
"I thought that those monsters just had lower levels than the ones we originally encountered before. But it seems my new equipment possesses effects that managed to decrease some of [Mad Jackal's] damage to me," I explained as I closed most of the windows from my HUD. "I guess Star really knew what she was doing when she made our new gear."
"I know, right?" Kazu grinned. "And now we know how strong our new equipment is. Which means we can go deeper into the [Tested Wilds] now! I'm so excited just thinking about it!"
Yeah. I could say for sure that this was definitely not like our first excursion. And to be honest, I was actually very curious at what lay beyond the wilds.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get going then."
Kazu nodded as we headed deeper into the woods.
----
Wind's Masteries
[Archery] Level 12
[Woodcrafting] Level 7
[Swordsmanship] Level 11
[Cooking] Level 7
[Wind] Level 9
[Physical Enhancement] Level 3
[Hunting] Level 10
----
Kazu's Masteries
[Arcana] Level 11
[Thunder] Level 11
[Wind] Level 8
[Alchemy] Level 12
[Magecrafting] Level 10
[Magical Affinity] Level 11
[Scribe] Level 4