20 Demonic Gaze, Thousand Wood Village

Kirou was currently quite a good distance away from the area where he had killed off the members of the Fiend Guild. At the moment, he was looking over the skills he had created during the conflict with his brows furrowed as he continued his journey.

'It wasn't intentional but I seemed to have made something quite dangerous. I wonder why the system recognized it as a skill even though I only used it once?' These were Kirou's thoughts as he looked over his newly created skills, especially .

Skill: Mana Control

Skill Level: 1/3

Rank: A (S)

Cost: N/A

Skill Creator/Generator: Kirou

Description: This skill allows the user to freely control the flow of mana/mp within their body. Said mana/mp can also be infused into weapons, allowing the user to manipulate them at will. At first, the movement of mana/mp within the infused weapon will be sluggish but over time and with constant use, the user will be able to form a connection with the weapon, creating a weapon manipulation skill as a result.

Skill: Chain Manipulation

Skill Level: 1

Rank: A

Cost: 75% MP (One-time infusion)

Skill Creator/Generator: Kirou

Description: This skill allows the user to manipulate chains at will after MP infusion. After the mana/mp infusion, a connection will form between the user and the chain, allowing the user to manipulate the chain at will. Should the infused chain be destroyed, the user will suffer a 20% reduction in stats for 3 days so it is highly recommended that mana infusion be used with caution, preferably on specially created chains.

Skill: Demonic Gaze

Skill Level: 1/5

Rank: S

Cost: N/A

Skill Creator/Generator: Kirou

Description: This skill allows the user to induce extreme terror into a target, dropping their stats by 99% as a result. This skill will only activate on weaker targets or beings under the confusion, berserk or fear status effects. Should the user attempt to use the skill on stronger targets, there's a 90% chance of failure and a 50% chance of the user suffering a backlash from the skill, dropping their stats by 75% for a few minutes so it is highly advised that this skill be used with caution.

Looking over the descriptions set for each skill by the system, Kirou was left feeling helpless. This was the first time Kirou had seen a skill come with a caution warning for their usage. In the end, he could only chalk it up to the very nature of the skills being so strange that even the system had to put a few limiters and warnings in place.

After contemplating the skills and their warnings for a while, Kirou decided to test out his skills on any monsters he happens to come across on his journey.

'I won't go out of my way to look for targets, but should I run into any, they will be made into the perfect test dummies for these skills.' As Kirou thought this, he took out a piece of the chain from earlier and had it wrap around his waist like a belt.

*********************

According to his map, Kirou was currently a few kilometers away from Thousand Wood Village. At the moment, he was currently locked in battle with a few boar monsters.

Monster: Fierce Boar (Male)

Level: 15

HP: 5500

Skills: Wild charge, bite, stomp, tusk blow

Monster: Fierce Boar (Female)

Level: 17

HP: 7500

Skills: Wild charge, bite, stomp, tusk blow

It wasn't intentional but Kirou crossed paths with a few fierce boars while on his journey. The level difference between them made him question if he should spend a few minutes to fight them, even while testing out his new skills but that thought process became mute when the boars attacked him. At the moment he was dodging the attacks of another set he had unluckily run into.

"And to think, I was looking for a few target dummies earlier and now I'm running into a full herd of them. I guess that phrase would prove quite accurate in this situation, 'Be careful what you wish for.' Let's hope these are the last of them until I get to Thousand Wood Village." Kirou said this to himself as he narrowly dodged a wild charge from the female fierce boar, causing it to ram into the big tree directly behind him and being stuck. Following this action, Kirou willed his chain to wrap around the big tree and the female fierce boar's neck to prevent it from escaping before he turned around to aid his clone in taking down the male.

Due to the over two dozen meters of distance, Kirou decided to concentrate his mp towards his feet which resulted in a sharp increase in his speed. Due to constraints, Kirou did his best to limit his speed to double his normal movement speed as his body currently could not support it if he went faster. Even then, that was enough to allow Kirou to close the gap with the male fierce boar which was currently distracted by his clone, allowing him to get off a sneak attack combo using ambush and cutthroat.

[-720]

This sneak attack was then followed by the skills stunning blow, kidney shot and wrapped up with the triple strike skill.

[-230]

[-209]

[-1460]

[-55]

[-55]

[-55]

...

Cycling through those skills caused Kirou's attack to remove a bit more than half of the male boar's health, especially since the bleed effect from triple strike had activated. With the damage done to it by the clone earlier, the boar was now on its last legs, completely unable to defend itself as it was currently under the effects of both fear and stun. Before either status effect could expire, Kirou and his clone already finished off the pitiful male fierce boar and turned their sights back to the female.

Now that he was left with just one target, a completely bound target, Kirou had his clone try and use his recently created skills. The results had Kirou release a breath of helplessness. While the clone was able to use , it was unable to use . The results for the skill was even worse. Not only did the skill fail to trigger on the female fierce boar, but the clone was also unlucky enough to be hit with the backlash from the skill, resulting in its stats dropping by 75%. Not only that, with the clone having to get close to use the skill on the female fierce boar, it saw when the clone was afflicted with the backlash and used all its strength to break free from the tree and impale the clone with its tusk blow skill.

Kirou could only shake his head out of helplessness when he saw the results of the test. It seems the system wasn't joking when it said there was a 90% chance of failure when the skill is used on stronger targets, not under those three status effects.

"I better use that skill with caution in the future. This clone is a dangerous reminder of that." That was what Kirou said to himself before shaking his head free of distracting thoughts. He then willed the chain to remove itself from the fallen tree and completely tie up the now free female fierce boar looking to charge and impale Kirou. After the boar was firmly rooted in place, Kirou then proceeded to test out concentrate his mp into his hands and struck the female fierce boar with a few regular attacks.

[-170]

[-193]

[-187]

'Looks like this skill has quite the versatility, depending on where the mana is concentrated. Since I gain additional strength when it's used in my hands and speed for my legs, it's probably safe to assume it could increase my defense when concentrated on areas about to be hit. That being said, I have no plans on testing that out with this fiery beast at the moment,' was Kirou's thoughts as he looked at the bound female fierce boar giving him a menacing look at the moment. 'It's probably safe to assume this beast would fight me to the death if I gave it the chance.'

Shaking his head free of those thoughts, Kirou proceeded to finish off the chained up fierce boar. When he was done, Kirou willed the chains to release the corpse and wrap around his waist. Satisfied, Kirou then took out some tools and proceeded to harvest the usable materials from both fierce boar corpses.

These tools were made specifically to harvest materials from monster corpses. So far, Kirou had been making do with the knife Bladesmith had given him for a weapon back when he started but he quickly realized that it was a mistake to not have the proper tools on him. While he could still harvest the materials quite well with the knife, his constant use of the knife caused its blade to dull/the weapon to lose durability a whole lot faster than it should. This often resulted in him not using it in combat, except when dealing a finishing blow, following which he would harvest the copses and put it away. Now that he had proper tools to use, he would have a much easier time harvesting materials and doing so in a more efficient manner.

By the time he was done dissecting both corpses, Kirou was greeted with a surprise.

[You have received the following: excellent quality boar fur x8, 5 lbs of excellent quality boar meat x4, excellent quality boar tusks x 4, 10 silver, Boar's Fang (Uncommon).]

This was Kirou's first time receiving an item, a weapon of all things, during his harvesting. It seems like the system hadn't allowed him to receive any earlier due to him only making use of the knife to harvest his kills.

Weapon: Boar's Fang (Knife)

Weapon Level: 15

Weapon Type: Uncommon

Weapon Attack: 15-35

+10 attack

+5% chance of landing an armor-penetrating attack

Description: This is a weapon made from a female fierce boar's tusk. It's said to be extremely sharp for its level.

Looking over the details for the weapon, Kirou raised an eyebrow when he looked at the description. He was positive he harvested both tusks from the female fierce boar but he still found an item made from it.

'I guess this is one of those weird mechanics for the game. If I had to guess, this must be how others get their weapons and armor in-game. At least, early on like now.' Kirou could only shake his head when those thoughts flashed by as he was pitying the other players in the game.

If the rest of the player base were to hear his thoughts, they might just drown him in curses and spittle, considering he was able to make sure strong weapons and still be able to find weapons from monsters when they are struggling to do so on a regular basis.

"I guess I'll have to wait until level 15 to test it out. Worst case scenario, I'll just throw it into the harvesting kit with the other specialized tools." Kirou said this out loud as he got up and continued on his trip to Thousand Wood Village, which was less than a few kilometers away from his current location. If there was another player nearby to hear his parting words, they might have tried to gut him with a rusty knife.

*************************

Twenty minutes later, Kirou was currently standing before a vast group of trees. Looking at his map, he could confirm that he was indeed at the entrance to Thousand Wood Village, but all that he saw was a cluster of trees with no means of entry visible.

He was going to search the surrounding area to see if he could find an elven player when he suddenly received a system message.

[Player Reya is requesting a telepathic call. Accept: Y/N?]

Seeing the message, Kirou was immediately reminded of the female elf he met on the previous day that was good at harvesting plants. He immediately accepted the telepathic call.

[Player Reya: Hello, Mr. Wolf. Are you currently busy? I am currently in need of help and you are the best person for the job that I know.]

"Hello, Ms. Elf. That would depend on the type of job itself and where I would need to go. I'm currently a good distance away from Elderwood Village so I won't be able to help if it's near there." Kirou responded to her while heading over to a nearby tree to sit down.

[Player Reya: Really? Where are you then?]

"I'm currently outside the entrance of Thousand Wood Village, wondering how I should go about getting inside," Kirou responded to her questions in a helpless manner.

[Player Reya: Really? That's great. I'll meet you there in five minutes.] Following those words, Reya, the elf terminated the call. Kirou could only chuckle in response to her hasty actions.

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'Seems like she's excited. I wonder what she needs my help with?' This was Kirou's last thought before releasing a sigh and entering a meditative state underneath the tree, waiting for Reya to show up.

Five minutes later, Kirou heard a sound coming from above him so he opened his eyes and looked up, only to be greeted to the sight of a certain elf heading his way along the tree branches. From his relative angle towards her, should he focus his eyesight, he would be able to see her body in vivid detail so he closed his eyes and waited until she landed in front of him. Though he wasn't a gentleman, he also wasn't a young boy in his adolescence so he wouldn't take advantage of seeing the girl's underwear in this manner. It's one thing if she willingly shows him but it's another to look at it like this.

Around twenty seconds later Reya finally landed in front of him. From the looks of it, she probably ran from the other side of the elven village to get here.

"Sorry I took so long. I was in the apothecary's hut when I called, on the other side of the village," spoke Reya while catching her breath, confirming Kirou's deductions.

"No worries. It wasn't all that long, to begin with. Besides, I planned to ask you to show me the way around the village when you arrived so it wouldn't be polite to complain over such trivialities." Kirou nodded his head in understanding at Reya when he said this.

Finally catching her breath, Reya looked at Kirou with a curious expression before asking, "Anyways, what brings you to Thousand Wood Village?"

"I got a quest from my village head to deliver a package, plus you told me about your method of harvesting plants being unique to this village so I decided to make a milk run," Kirou extended his hands in a gesture as if suggesting for Reya to lead the way.

Picking up on the gesture, Reya turned in the direction she came from and spoke, "Ok then. Follow me. I'll lead you to the true entrance of Thousand Wood Village." Following this, Reya led Kirou to the forest where they found a set of ladders and proceeded to climb up.

After climbing all the way to the top, Kirou was greeted to the sight of an entire village hidden within the high trees of the forest. Even Kirou, with all his experiences from his past life, couldn't stop the exclamation that escaped his mouth.

"Beautiful!"

Seeing his reaction, a smile formed on Reya's lips before she spoke, "Welcome to Thousand Wood Village, Mr. Wolf."