Chapter 40: Ender (1)

For archers, strength and dexterity stats translated into their prowess.

It was important to assign those stats properly and have a good balance.

Of course, stats could be gained from various sources—leveling up, equipment, titles, skills, and more. It was rare to have a perfect balance from all said sources, as nothing was perfect.

Players often faced those troubles while picking up new skills or equipment.

Swordsmen could end up with more dexterity than they were used to, swinging their blades too fast, losing their balance as a result, and sinking into the ground like fools.

Mages could get surprised by too much intelligence stat and hurt themselves in the process of conjuring their magical skills.

"Too many vibrations on the bowstring, which means I lose my accuracy," Jake said as he released an arrow, missing the fruit dangling from the tree's branch—his target.

That said, his arrow was swift and powerful, lodging itself in the other tree's bark with a loud voice.

Richard nodded, his eyes on Jake, "You have way too much dexterity in this equipment set."

His friend wore black light armor from head to toe. It was leather light equipment that increased Jake's dexterity so much that he had it way more than strength stat, creating an imbalance in his style.

In those clothes, he looked like an assassin, with his head wrapped in a leather black mask resembling a monkey.

That was the only odd part of this set that brought laughter from Richard.

Odin was also shocked to see his friend in this attire and even believed someone possessed him! The puppy howled the herald of the battle and pounced at Jake to free him from the curse, only to see Jake taking off the mask and the entire set...

Odin stood frozen and confused while everyone else laughed.

Richard mused aloud, "Will that help with the vibrations?"

"It should... well, what I made is a stabilizer. Modern bows have that... but mine is primitive and makeshift... I will see how it feels with this one," Jake waved his bow back and forth to see whether his stabilizer properly stuck to the riser.

It was around eighty centimeters long, which wouldn't work well in the Joker Form because Jake often moved around and even knelt in that form, meaning that the stabilizer would get in the way of his acrobatics.

As of now, it would work well in Soldier and Master Forms as those stances didn't require Jake to lower his bow. He could keep it well around his hip or back.

Jake could lower the length of the pole, but that could have the opposite effect of what he desires.

"Let's see," Jake put on his black set and pulled the bowstring. His arrow and stabilizer rigidly pointed ahead while Jake narrowed his eyes at the fruit—his target.

He let the arrow fly.

"Hmmm," Jake mused, "Not bad. I can feel less vibrations. I'll give it more thought and ask my master for her opinion."

Richard smiled, "You've bullied the monkey boss so much that you got an entire set from him. You can also try to modify it with what you've learned. Give it a go... at worst, Puffy will suffer again."

"Yep," Jake nodded.

After that, Jake checked his other equipment. He wasn't fond of the heavy equipment crafted from the wolf boss's hide, but he needed that for the impending battle with Ender that would happen today.

It was a set he needed to defeat the legendary boss who was faster than him!

"I've become better," Jake whispered, "And so have Odin. We even got a new buddy. It's time to meet Ender again."

Richard proudly looked at his friend and wished him the best, "Break a leg."