There were other storage equipment that were intended for special uses.
The potion holder that Arthur got was one such equipment. Sword Sheaths, and other weapon holders also counted in the same category. And unlike bags, these didn't have the same slot preventing any conflict.
Their function was also different usually intended for faster access to the items. Having a Sword Sheath tied to one's waist or back allowed for a faster drawing and the same applied to the potion holder.
The player could quickly get to it and drink the potion, raising their chances of survival. Even if the time difference was that of a second or less, it could still be the difference between life and death.
In tense battles, this was highly important and one needed to be as fast as possible while conserving the least amount of energy.
>Dragon's Insight has been activated!<
~Ding~
——
Target: Large Leather Potion Holder
Type: Potion Holder
[Capacity: 10] [Durability: 100/100]
Info: Leather Potion holder intended to hold up to 10 large sized potions.
Effects: Reduces Potion use speed by 50%
——
'I can use potions in half the time than usual with it.' Arthur thought to himself.
Having checked it, Arthur left the shop and headed to his next location. He was now intending to do the second bounty. It was the Rock Stomping Wild Stallion that he wished to hunt now.
It would not only net him some experience but also allow him to get more coins as well as materials. Arthur needed to gain levels fast if he wished to carry out his plan for Dozla the bandit chief.
The way to the Ocher plains was through the south gate. It was about six hours from the town and should allow Arthur to return by night time.
"Heading to the Ocher plains?" the guards at the southern gate talked to Arthur this time.
The other guards had ignored him before, but now they weren't.
"Yes," Arthur replied.
"Be careful with the beasts there. A nasty one has recently appeared." They warned him.
"The Rock Stomping Wild Stallion?" Arthur questioned.
"Yeah, you heard?" The guard replied.
"I'm going to hunt it." Arthur replied.
"Huh… Just don't get yourself killed." The guard were surprised but still, let him through.
Arthur left the gate while thinking to himself. 'The reputation increase is more effective than usual.'
He didn't know if it was because there was a lack of player's round, but the NPCs would notice him faster than usual. A rise in the reputation did help with that, but Arthur hadn't reached the point for it to be like this.
It made him wonder if this was what the players who first discovered new settlements would face.
While thinking of this though, Arthur soon reached the path that took one to the Ocher Plains.
Similar to the highway that went to through the Trunel Woods, this was also just a dirt path and went through a forest.
'If I recall correctly, around three hours of the route is just forests.' Arthur thought to himself.
Considering it would take him a total of twelve hours in travel, Arthur would have just six hours to hunt the Rock Stomping Stallion.
'Thankfully searching for it would be a lot easier than the Vine Wrapping Viper.' Arthur thought.
The forest along the way was less dense than Trunel Woods and allowed Arthur to have a better view. He also didn't come across any mobs until nearly an hour which was surprising to him.
And the mob that he did come across was also unexpected.
"Drop your weapons and lie down on the ground, NOW!" what looked to be a rag-tag group of bandits shouted.
"Bandits?" Arthur raised his brows in confusion.
As far as he knew, the path to the Ocher Plains wasn't exactly a good place for bandits to rob as there were basically no travelers going there. The only ones that used this path were soldiers or guards that traveled between different encampments.
This basically made it a bad route for the bandits to take, as any mistake would mean getting killed by the soldiers.
'Though now that I take a look at them… they don't seem to be the best kind of bandits either.' Arthur looked at the ragged men.
>Dragon's Insight has been successfully activated!<
——
Target: Highway Bandit
Race: Human (NPC)
Class: Warrior
Level: 10
Info: An exiled bandit that was kicked out from his bandit group due to being incompetent.
***
HP: 90%
MP: 100%
Stamina: 75%
***
<Physical Stats>
Strength: 8
Toughness:6
Agility: 6
Dexterity: 5
Vitality
<Non-Physical Stats>
Wisdom: 4
Intelligence: 2
Will:1
——
"Huh… Truly incompetent indeed." Arthur couldn't help but chuckle after reading the information window.
Even the Dragon's Insight Skill seems to be mocking them. And now that Arthur looks at their stats, he could tell that these were really weak. Not just the first bandit, Zeke, but the other four were of a similar level.
Not just that, all of them had HP that was not at full. Their stamina was also drained, showing that they had either been running or moving for a long time now.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU BASTARD!" The bandits didn't take Arthur's words lightly though and rushed him.
The weapons they had were lackluster too, carrying either chipped blades or axes.
~CLANG~
For Arthur, blocking it was an ease.
"Are you guys blind perhaps?" Arthur couldn't help but ask.
He held Dietrich against the rusty axe of the bandit and stopped him from coming closer.
"Tch! He's strong." The bandit said.
"Exactly why you should have picked a better opponent!" Arthur said before pushing back.
~THUD~
The sudden increase in the force made the Bandit to stumble back and hit the bandit behind him. This gave Arthur the opportunity to thrust freely, stabbing into both the bandits at once.
"AHH!!!!!"
"ACK!!!"
A sicking sound was heard as Dietrich pierced through the guts of two bandits with ease.
[Critical hit!]
[-50% HP]
>Highway Bandit has been inflicted with heavy bleed<
[Critical hit!]
[-50% HP]
>Highway Bandit has been inflicted with heavy bleed<
The single attack was enough to incapacitate two of the bandits, making the other three vary.
"Come on now, let's get this over with." Arthur said with a smile, and pulled back the spear.
~THUD~ THUD~
The two previously impaled bandits collapsed to the ground in pain as blood continued to flow out of their wounds.
A moment of disturbance was also it took Arthur to lunge toward the three bandits and swing the key Spear.
The sharp spear head slashed across the bodies of the three, cutting the waist of one, chest of another and the arm of the third.
[-20% HP]
[-19% HP]
[-8% HP]
Varying levels of wounds were inflicted on them, but it was enough to show the efficiency of the weapon. The length and reach allowed Arthur to hit multiple foes in one go as long as they were near them.
"RUN!!!" It was safe to say; the bandits had learned by now and turned tail.
>Player Arzhur has intimidated the Highway Bandits!<
>Highway bandits will flee!<
"Oh, no you don't!" Seeing the notification, Arthur burst into a sprint.
~PWESH~
[Critical hit!]
[-70% HP]
>Highway Bandit has been inflicted with heavy bleed<
He held the spear straight, piercing through the nearest bandit, causing his guts to spill out. The shape of the spear head created horrible injuries that were very wide.
~THUD~
Once stabbed, Arthur turned the spear and let the man fall out from his own weight while continuing his sprint.
~PWESH~
[Critical hit!]
[-65% HP]
>Highway Bandit has been inflicted with heavy bleed<
Another bandit was hit in the same way and collapsed to the ground.
As for the last one, he seemed OT have stumbled and fell to the ground. Allowing Arthur to end his life in one hit.
[Fatal Hit!]
[Critical hit!]
[-90% HP]
>Player Arzhur has killed a Highway Bandit!<
>Player Arzhur has obtained 2% Experience!<
"Now to finish them off…" Arthur said as he turned back.
The surviving bandits were crawling on the ground, trying to drag themselves away but were unable to.
>Player Arzhur has killed a Highway Bandit!< x 4
>Player Arzhur has obtained 2% Experience!< x 4
Just like that, Arthur had gained 10% of his experience bar.
"Do they have anything?" Arthur wondered as he went through their corpses.
Unfortunately, they had nothing on them. Their weapons were also a waste and were unless for Arthur to even bother carrying.
But in all this, a question appeared in Arthur's mind.
'Why did these bandits come here?' he wondered.
Normally speaking, all bandits should know not to come to an area like this that would be unfit for them and would get them killed or captured.
"Unless… the exile was in some other way." Arthur muttered to himself.
After all, being incompetent could mean different things in several contexts.
"There's no doubt these are from Dozla's Bandit group too, since they have similar weapons… but why were they running away?"
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