35 Slashing in Style

[Congratulations, you created a skill combination!

Please name the skill combination]

Hearing these two messages in his head, Shesmu thought for a bit before he responded, Cross-slash.

[The name is approved. Skill combination: Cross-Slash has been created.]

[Cross-Slash(Combination Skill)

Rarity: Rare

A skill that combines Empowered Slash, Empowered Thrust, and Demon's Slash.

Base Damage: 600 +230% attack damage (grows as the base skills' level grows).

This skill can only be activated when the Cambione Blade is equipped.

Cost: 190 Energy

Cooldown: 60 seconds.]

Shesmu smiled as he looked through the skill's description. He was already gassed out in terms of energy. Looking around him, Shesmu couldn't help but marvel at the power of his skill. The black and green crescent slashed through the king of wolves and pierced through the ceiling of the cave.

Debris and rocks fell, leaving space for the moonlight to shine.

"Thanks for the help, Shesmu."

Shesmu turned to look at Ryan before answering, "No problem dude. Just that, we should probably check on Leo, he is worrying me."

"Ah, don't worry about me."

Hearing the familiar voice, both Shesmu and Ryan turned to the direction of Leo. The latter was standing with difficulty.

"But really, what the hell happened. Once I got hit by the boss I dced. They gave me a message that I was disconnected due to some shock or whatever."

"I guess your heart was pumping out too hard. The game automatically disconnects you if that happens."

Shesmu has seen countless cases where newbies would randomly disconnect because some monster appeared out of nowhere. Experiencing an event that would be the equivalent of a death sentence in the real world would shock anyone. When Leo disclosed that he had been disconnected, Shesmu was not surprised.

"Well, it's all good if you're back. But when you go back IRL, please do a quick diagnosis of your body. No one would want a mishap to happen to you because of something so stupid."

"Yeah, hard agree with Shesmu. Once we finish the tutorial we go do a body check up to you."

"Sure, I'll do that. But now, did you loot the boss? What did it drop?"

"Wait, let me check."

Ryan opened his inventory interface before blurting out, "Huh? Another Gold weapon?!!"

Shesmu's expression turned serious. This is weird. Gold weapons shouldn't be this easy to get.

"Ehh, are gold weapons supposed to be this easy to get?" Leo scratched his head, trying to think of a possible explanation.

"Beat me," Ryan replied. "All I know is that this booty is mine!"

Golden light shone in Ryan's hand before materializing into a dagger. Its hilt was made of silver, shining with the moonlight. The sharp end of its blade glowed with a deep blue, while it's dull end was ornamented with a wolf engraving.

"Woah," Leo couldn't help but exclaim. "That looks pretty damn cool, dude!"

Shesmu felt the same. The beautiful look of the dagger, its elegant form, and its aura of lethality. All of that merged to create the perfect weapon.

[Silver Fang Dagger

Rarity: Gold

Required Level: 15

Weapon Level: 1

Attack: 300

Skills:

Moonlight Dash: Instantly teleport in a radius of 10 meters, leaving behind you a moonlight clone. Resets after each successful kill.

Cooldown: 10 seconds

Assassination: Deal 200% damage once target is below 10% Hp.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Set Effect:

2/5: +25 Agility

4/5: +40 Agility, +15 Strength

5/5: +60 Agility, +30 Strength, +5 Concentration]

Shesmu inspected the dagger and smiled. "That's a powerful weapon. The fact that you get a second dash, plus the passive ability makes you that much more lethal."

"Yeah, plus that set effect!" Leo added. "I don't know what concentration is in this context, but just the agility and strength boost is bonkers!"

"Hehe," Ryan scratched his head. "Well, I still need to wait until level 15 to equip it."

Shesmu thought for a second before asking, "Is that all that dropped?"

"Ehh, no, let me check," Ryan opened his inventory once again. "Hmm, there are the usual ether stones, a hundred of them. Some pelt and a coat."

"Oh, show us show us, I wonder what kind of stats they have," said Leo.

The same usual light shone within Ryan's hand before a multitude of objects appeared. Surprised at the number, Ryan couldn't contain them all and they dropped.

"Hahaha, damn Ryan, you're being clumsy," teased Leo.

"Oh shut up, will ya. I was surprised that's it."

While Leo laughed at Ryan's misery, Shesmu inspected the loot one by one.

[Silver Wolf King's Pelt

Rarity: Silver

Description: Main material to various agility-related equipment. Most notably, the silver fang set other than the weapon.]

[Silver Fang Coat

Rarity: Silver+

Required Level: 15

Defense: 100

Set Effect:

2/5: +25 Agility

4/5: +40 Agility, +15 Strength

5/5: +60 Agility, +30 Strength, +5 Concentration]

"Hey, Ryan. Your luck, can I have some of it please?" Shesmu asked.

"Huh?"

"Inspect those items and see what I mean."

Both Leo and Ryan's focus went back to the pelt and the coats. After inspecting it, Leo couldn't help but to exclaim, "Damn son! You already got yourself two parts of the set!"

Ryan grinned and laughed maniacally, "Hahaha, muwahahaha! Shes, once we get to level 15, I'll challenge you to a duel again! This time it will be my win!"

Shesmu shook his head at Ryan's antics before replying, "Sure. We can do that. But if you think just because you got yourself some nice, new shiny items you'll be able to defeat me, then you can go back to neverland."

Leo scratched his head and laughed wryly. "Hmm, guys. You wanna go out of the dungeon first before bickering? I think we still have a race to finish."

Shesmu just shrugged while Ryan clicked his tongue. The party was ready to exit the dungeon and continue their journey towards the tower. The moonlight was still enlightening the room, embracing the trio. That same moon that shone in the sky was witness to a bloody scene.

* * *

A plain that was once green with grass and trees was now red with the blood of its victims. Goblins and foxes, which were just a moment ago enemies, lied on top of each other like lovers on bed. However, instead of the fiery passion, the coldness of death engulfed their eyes.

The battlefield was split. One part was burned to a cinder. Flames set ablaze turned both corpses and trees to ashes. On the other part, a freezing hell resided. Corpses of both races were brutally murdered. Even their wounds were frozen.

And, on top of a small valley stood a beast. A small fox that was colored both fiery orange and cold blue. It stood under the moonlight on all four looking at the carnage before it. In its eyes myriads of emotions merged, only to culminate in a single tear.