Chapter 12: Ironback Bear (2/2)

System Notice: Congratulations, you have completed the quest [Cyan Skeleton]. You have gained 2200 EXP and 21 Reputation. You have obtained the quest reward: ”Bony Cyan Fan”!

My eyes lit up. An equipment! I hurriedly checked my bag and saw a fan with a cyan glow lying quietly at a corner. After I picked it up, its stats appeared before my eyes—

Bony Cyan Fan (Iron-grade)

Attack: 15~24

Stamina: +1

Tactics: +1

Level Requirement: 15

I wasn’t sure what to say as I stared at the fan. Fans were a Tactician’s weapon, but this particular fan had ridiculous attack power, even higher than my Forest Green Blade! What a waste!

That being said, the fan added 1 point to both Stamina and Tactics. Now this was useful!

I had studied Heavenblessed’s official data a long time ago and learned that a party leader could activate “stratagems” such as Encourage (increases all party members’ Attack by 5%, Tactics Requirement: 20). Stratagems were also known as General Skills. When players reached a certain level, stratagems would become a major factor on the battlefield. It would be basically mandatory for any powerful party to have a leader with a powerful General Skill.

In Heavenblessed, Tacticians were born to stratagems like fish to water, because they gained a Tactics point every level. This alone made other classes unable to compare. A Level 20 Tactician would naturally have 20 Tactics, meaning that they could execute Stratagems such as Encourage or Iron Wall (increases party member’s Defense by 5%) even without any equipment.

I suppose only a Tactician can bring out the true potential of this Bony Cyan Fan!

I tossed the fan back into my bag and made up my mind to make a trip to Floating Ice City when I was free. I planned to sell this Bony Cyan Fan and buy some potions for that money.

……

With that done, I looked to Sentinel Leader Fark. It was clear that he had something to say, again. His expression grew even more stern, his voice turned even deeper. He slapped me on the shoulder and began. “Little skeleton, I need to tell you some bad news. Half a day ago, Frost Mound’s best scout, Shaq, passed away on the Frozen Path. I haven’t seen his body myself, but I heard that he had been killed by the Ironback Bear. I want you to head there, kill that damned bear and bring back its head.”

Ding~!

System Notice: You’ve accepted the quest [Ironback Bear]! (Quest Rank: F+)

Description: Head to the Frozen Path and kill the Ironback Bear. Bring its head back to Sentinel Leader Fark.

Another bounty quest? I happily accepted it.

I opened the map and searched for the Frozen Path, and it just so happened to be the path leading to Floating Ice City. It was a dangerous road because both the Light faction and the Dark faction were fighting for it. I could already foresee the dangers I would have to brave.

I spent 1 silver and repaired my equipment. Damn, it sure is expensive to repair three pieces of Iron-grade equipment at once!

I sold all my magic stones, arranged the contents of my bag for a bit and left Frost Mound through a small path.

A terrible smell entered my nose about ten minutes later. What the hell, a headless skeletal soldier lay on the ground not far ahead!

I walked up and discovered that it was a half-rotten undead soldier, and his name was Scout Shaq. As I thought, he was the unfortunate soul mentioned in the quest. His sternum was completely shattered, and his head was chewed up pretty badly. He also smelled like decay and death. I couldn’t believe that the Ironback Bear would eat someone like him. It was either starving real bad, or it had one hell of a taste.

I stood up and looked around for a bit. I didn’t forget to absorb Scout Shaq’s undead spark. It was weak and tiny, but it was still replenishment for my own undead flame.

“It’s over there!”

My eyes narrowed, and I rushed into the forest beside the road. There was a huge, black bear standing beneath a big tree. It wasn’t a boss, but its level was incredibly high—Thorny Ironback Bear, Level 20!

My heart clenched up as I swore at a certain Frost Mound Sentinel Leader. “Fuck you, Fark!”

I checked my own level and calculated the odds. It would be quite difficult to challenge a monster five levels above me, not to mention that my equipment was well below Level 10. My hard-earned early game advantage was completely irrelevant here.

Still, I had no choice but to fight it. God, please kindly bless this bear with a quick death!

“Hah!”

I rushed toward the bear and appeared behind it in an instant. Then, I swung my sword downward with all I got!

Crack!

To my surprise, sparks appeared where the Forest Green Blade had struck. My weapon had completely failed to reach the soft flesh.

21!

I felt like I was being taunted by the pitiful damage number I dealt. The Ironback Bear immediately turned around, roared and pounced toward me.

For a moment, I was filled with regret.

What am I doing? Of course the back of the Ironback Bear is as tough as iron! What a fool am I to let my habits pull me by the nose!

I still took a hit despite beating a hasty retreat. It took 107 points off my health bar.

I waited for an opening before thrusting the Forest Green Blade forward like a snake. This time, I aimed at the Ironback Bear’s eyes!

Puchi!

Blood scattered everywhere. Now I definitely broke through its defense!

189!

Tsk tsk, attacking a weak point will never be boring.

I slid smoothly to its right and slashed at the bear’s gaping mouth. Again, my attack drew blood and scored 157 points of damage!

The Ironback Bear’s total HP was only about 1000 or so. Things are definitely looking good for me!