Arthur looked at the status screen and the improvement in the stats.
~DING~
——
Name: Arzhur
Level: 14
Class: Dragomancer
Title: 1. Dedicated Kestrel Village Adventurer
2. One who uncovered a secret
***
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
Stamina: 100%
Hunger: 100%
Experience: 6%
Free Stat points available: 30
***
<Physical Stats>
Strength: 15 -> 18
Toughness: 15 -> 16
Agility: 20- > 22
Dexterity: 17 -> 18
Vitality: 13 -> 14
<Non-Physical Stats>
Wisdom: 14 (+3) -> 15 (+3)
Intelligence: 10 -> 11
Will: 18 (+4) -> 19 (+4)
<Hidden Stats>
Synchronization: 75%
——
Arthur also used up someone of his free stat points to add to his Strength and Agility. He did this as it was the combination of these two that was allowing him to kill most of the foes.
Brambles was able to defend Arthur and could also provide distraction which would allow him to strike at a vulnerable foe. As such, what Arthur needed was more power and speed that could outmaneuver the enemy.
Brambles also got stronger, having reached level 11 and had a greater defense.
'If his toughness continues to increase like this, by the time he reaches level 50, even level 100 enemies might have a hard time breaking through his defenses.' Arthur thought to himself as he looked at the status screen for Brambles.
>Pet Status<
——
Name: Dragon Horn Beetle
Level: 11
Type: Insect/Draconid
***
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
Stamina: 100%
Experience: 16%
***
<Physical Stats>
Strength: 14 -> 16
Toughness: 24 -> 28
Agility: 6 -> 7
Dexterity: 6 -> 8
Vitality: 17 -> 19
<Non-Physical Stats>
Wisdom: 4 -> 5
Intelligence: 6 -> 7
Will: 10 -> 12
——
"This should make the travel a bit faster too." Arthur hoped.
So far he had to pause every so often as he encounters the Milen Grind Back Beasts.
'Though we should still be three fourths of the way there.' Arthur estimated. "Let's speed up Brambles!" he said since their stamina had been replenished.
The level up had also raised the Agility of Brambles by a bit, allowing it to be just a tad bit faster. While it would be faster for Arthur to travel while having Bramble's unsummoned, it would be dangerous for him to do so.
After all, there could be mobs that could still ambush him and he might not be able to defend or dodge against a multiple of them.
Not to mention, there was still the Ember Bellow Lizard.
While it was said to be in the Ballard Cliffs, there was no saying if it would come out to hunt. The closer Arthur got to the cliffs, the greater the chance for the Ember Bellow Lizard to attack him.
'Depending on what it is doing, I might have better luck in hunting it.' Arthur thought of a few scenarios before encountering another Milen Grind Back Beast.
This time, the battle was a lot more swift, with Arthur preemptively attacking the foul beast.
He didn't know if it was due to the recent level up, but he could 'observe' the Milen Grind Back beast a lot better than before. Arthur could already guess how the beast was going to attack and predicted its position before attacking.
"SKEWER!" Arthur used the skill, directly piercing through the head of the Milen Grind Back beast!
The feeling of using Skewer was different too, as Arthur could feel Dietrich following his mind. The spear moved just as he wished for it to and accurately struck the beast's skull.
[-100% HP]
[CRITICAL HIT!]
[Fatal hit!]
>Player Arzhur has killed the Milen Grind Back Beast!<
>Player Arzhur has obtained 8% Experience<
Since Brambles didn't really get to participate in the fight, he didn't obtain any experience.
"That was definitely stronger than before." Arthur could feel the improvement in his strength.
It was strange for him to describe it, which made him think about the Spear Arts.
'Guess this is the passive effect… some times it's more intense than usual.' Arthur thought.
But he also knew that moments like these were good, as they were clues to the progress of the Skill.
"Krrrrr~" Brambles seemed to miss out on the combat and felt left out, letting out an willing cry.
"Don't worry, we'll have a foe better than any of them soon." Arthur could understand the beast properly, the blessing showing its effects.
The duo of master and beast continued onwards, facing a handful of Milen Grind Back beasts before finally, they reached their destination.
The Ballard Cliffs were said to have been created due to an earthquake a long time ago. Before the Earthquake, there used to be a river that flowed here. But due to the Earthquake, a fissure was created.
This fissure wasn't that deep and wasn't as wide either. But the quake had also changed the path of the river, causing it to flow into the fissure. This turned the fissure into a channel of sorts, causing the river to start eroding the rocky layer under it.
This steadily kept on happening, until finally, the river hit a soft layer of earth that was below the rocks. That greatly sped up the process of erosion, and the cliffs became wider and deeper.
Over the years, they kept on getting bigger, until finally they reached the state they were in right now.
'It's certainly deep.' Arthur thought as he peeked over the edge of the cliffs.
The distance between the two sides of the cliffs was about fifty meters, and it couldn't really be crossed easily.
"If I recall correctly… it should be around here." Arthur walked along the edge of the cliff, looking for a certain place.
Five minutes was all it took for Arthur to finally find what he had been looking for.
Hidden in some overgrown dead shrubs, there were two wooden posts. One of the posts had been greatly weathered and had deep cracks in it while the other one was directly broken in half.
The posts also had remnants of a thick rope tied to its base. Though the rope hadn't fared well and was basically in tatters. A mere touch would be enough to scatter it into lint.
The two weathered posts were easy to miss, as they easily mixed into the background. But they actually served as an important clue for the players.
"There used to be a bridge here in the past…" Arthur muttered.
This was the clue that the players needed to understand to learn about the shortcut. The shortcut led to none other than Samson City!
Of course, since the bridge was long gone, the players would have to take the longer route to get there, which was from Ocher Plains. But of course, there was another path hidden here in the Ballard Cliffs.
"The path to getting down there should be somewhere here too." Arthur muttered as he looked for a broken section of the cliffs that tapered into the ledge.
"KREEE~!" but while he was doing that, Brambles let out a warning cry.
"Mm?" Arthur immediately became alert, hearing the Dragon Horn beetle's warning.
Arthur looked on the other side of the cliff, finding a reddish orange glow in the darkness.
The glow was getting closer, and a figure could be vaguely made out. Arthur narrowed his eyes as he recognized exactly what it was.
"There it is…" Arthur observed the beast that was climbing the vertical cliff with ease.
The Ember Bellow Lizard had a sleek and muscular body covered in shimmering scales that glistened with hues of deep crimson and molten orange.
Its scales served as both armor and a reflection of its affinity with the searing heat that surrounds its habitat. Each scale was ridged, adding an additional layer of protection against the scorching elements.
Though it was clear that the current habitat didn't really match the beast, showing that it was a wanderer in this place.
The Ember Bellow Lizard also possessed a powerful tail that was as long as its body, which served as a versatile weapon for striking down foes as well as defending.
Its legs had three sharp claws each, that allowed it to walk on tough terrain as well as climb hills and even cliffs. Though perhaps the most striking feature of it was its cheeks.
The Ember Bellow Lizard's cheeks were lined with three layers of flabby skin that was currently contracted. This flabby skin was yellow in color, different from the rest of its body.
But from time to time, one could see the pouches inflating slightly from time to time, an orange glow appearing within them.
These were none other than the bellows of the lizard which it used to spew fiery embers.
Seeing the beast coming up, Arthur didn't act right away. Instead he waited to see just what the beast was doing.
'Is it out to hunt?' Arthur wondered.
So far, the Ember Bellow Lizard hadn't seen him, thus he was safe.
"Let's get back, Brambles." Arthur retreated slightly, as the Ember Bellow Lizard got closer to the surface.
About a minute later, the lizard had finally climbed up to the top before it rapidly sprinted away.
"What the…"
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