Realm of Myths and Legends Chapter 4 Willowed Fores

The instant the system alert sounded, Mick, Ryder, and Tina exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. A smug, condescending smile crept onto each of their faces. Now that they were outside the safety of the initial zone, this Combat Master noob was left with a stark choice: comply or perish.

They were acutely aware of their predicament; initiating trouble near the forest's edge offered a sliver of hope for his escape. More crucially, it risked attracting unwanted attention. Should larger guilds take notice of this novice possessing a rare weapon, the situation could escalate dramatically, leaving them with no leverage whatsoever.

While not the most potent, rare weapons bestow a significant advantage upon elite players early in the game. Such an item would allow for accelerated monster clearing and faster leveling, securing first clears on dungeons and bosses! The potential offered by a rare weapon at this stage was practically akin to cheating! It was crucial to remember that even uncommon weapons were exceedingly difficult to acquire during these early phases.

In this game, weapons and armor are categorized into seven tiers: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Unique, and Divine. The revelation of a beginner wielding such a valuable treasure would undoubtedly drive people to madness!

Indeed, that very beginner could potentially offer it to the major guilds, amassing a fortune while simultaneously enacting revenge upon those who dared target him! This possibility sent a faint tremor down Mick's spine, yet he maintained his composure. The strategy was straightforward: lure him deep into the forest, then strike when his vigilance inevitably waned!

Izroth inwardly shook his head; these individuals were amateurs at best. Their intentions were so poorly concealed, and they presumed him to be just another easily fooled novice. Though Izroth had never played a video game before, he possessed the soul of a veteran gamer, augmented by a thousand years of actual combat experience! If he were to declare himself the second-strongest fighter in this realm, devoid as it was of spiritual essence, no one would dare challenge his claim to the first!

Not long after venturing into the woods, the bushes approximately five meters ahead rustled. Mick's expression immediately turned serious, his senses on high alert. He slowly drew his sword and shield, assuming the vanguard position as the group's tank.

A guttural squealing emanated from the undergrowth, and an entity burst forth with startling speed, hurtling towards their formation!

"Squeeeeeeal! Grrr...!"

"It's a boar! Not just any beast, though – it's a demonic boar!" Mick expressed a degree of shock at encountering such a ferocious monster so early. Nevertheless, he clenched his jaw and stood his ground, bracing against the demonic boar's sudden onslaught!

Izroth observed the approaching boar with silent detachment. He appeared unfazed and remarkably composed as he watched the trio in front scramble into defensive stances. They made no effort to communicate with him, likely deeming him both useless and a hindrance. After all, he was merely a Combat Master, presumably without any practical skills.

Name: Demonic Boar

Level: 5

HP: 500

ATK: 100

DEF: 15

AGI: 30

Skills:

Charge (Active) - Executes a high-speed charge towards the target, inflicting damage equivalent to 200% of ATK. A successful hit stuns the target for 2 seconds.

Mick failed to raise his shield in time; the charge was simply too swift! He was abruptly sent reeling backward, rendered immobile as a significant portion of his health was depleted!

-188 HP!

262/450 HP Remaining! (Mick)

"Quick, use Cure!" Mick exclaimed, his voice laced with panic. That single surprise attack had cost him dearly in HP! The boar's Attack Power was formidable for its level, and he hadn't even had a chance to block!

Tina nodded swiftly, "Cure!" A soft, verdant luminescence enveloped Mick's body, a wave of comforting warmth washing over him.

Skill Name: Cure

Skill Level: 1/3

Skill Rank: E

Effect: Restores the target's HP by 50% of the user's Healing Factor.

The Healing Factor was a unique attribute exclusive to healers, its value determined by their MAG stat.

+50 HP!

312/450 HP Remaining! (Mick)

Mick remained stunned for another second. However, just as he was about to break free from the stun's effect, the demonic boar viciously gored him with its tusk!

-88 HP!

224/450 HP Remaining! (Mick)

Mick felt an urge to weep. A mere demonic boar was proving to be such a formidable adversary, all because his eagerness for new, rare equipment had made him careless!

The stun finally wore off, and in a surge of anger, Mick swung his sword at the boar, striking its flank!

-30 HP!

470/500 HP Remaining! (Demonic Boar)

Ryder seized the opportunity, waiting for the opportune moment to strike the boar. He attacked from behind, his dagger flashing as he employed the rogue's signature Backstab ability. *Ding!*

Skill Name: Backstab

Skill Level: 2/5

Skill Rank: D

Skill Damage: Inflicts 120% of the user's Attack Power as damage. Possesses a high probability of a Critical Hit if the opponent is unaware. The ability requires positioning behind the target for execution.

Description: A lethal technique that strikes with pinpoint accuracy from an unseen position behind the enemy, its deadly edge has claimed many lives.

Critical Hit! Backstab successful!

-70 HP!

400/500 HP Remaining! (Demonic Boar)

The very instant his strike landed, Ryder swiftly withdrew to the side, refraining from launching any further assaults. After all, Mick had not yet secured complete aggro control over the demonic boar. This implied that if Ryder were to inflict excessive damage, the boar might shift its focus directly onto him. While he harbored a degree of confidence in his evasive capabilities, that particular demonic boar possessed the terrifying potential to incapacitate him in a single blow with its Charge ability!

Izroth remained in the rear, observing the unfolding battle with his arms folded. He was just contemplating unsheathing his weapon to intervene when Tina, retreating to establish a safe healing distance, unexpectedly collided with him.

She shot Izroth a chilling glare before momentarily losing her composure, exclaiming, "If you're not going to be helpful, at least don't impede us, noob!" Her fury stemmed from their encounter with one of the more formidable demonic monsters in the vicinity, and finding an outlet for her anger, she unleashed her frustration.

Izroth registered a flicker of surprise. He had been poised to offer assistance, yet even before drawing his weapon, he was being chided for obstructing the path! Izroth offered a slight nod before stepping aside, resuming his calm observation of the combat!

...

Ding! Congratulations, you have vanquished the Demonic Boar!

Ding! You have earned 150 Experience Points!

You have ascended to Level 3!

You have been awarded +3 stat points for leveling up!

Loot Drop:

-80 bronze coins

-4 demonic boar hides

After several minutes, the demonic boar was finally defeated, a feat accomplished without Izroth needing to lift a single finger. This outcome ignited a surge of fury within the other three! Mick had teetered on the brink of death multiple times and was compelled to expend a valuable HP potion merely to survive! The cost of that single potion was a full silver – a lamentable expenditure! Nevertheless, the spoils obtained from the drops would at least mitigate their losses and potentially yield a small profit.

Mick clenched his jaw, directing his question towards Izroth, "You, why did you not lend a hand?!" A grim expression settled upon Mick's face as he advanced towards Izroth.

Ryder and Tina's gazes also fixed upon him, mirroring Mick's somber expression.

Izroth blinked several times, bewildered. Hadn't the Cleric just moments ago instructed him not to interfere, deeming him a noob and unhelpful? And now, they questioned his lack of involvement? A chill permeated Izroth's heart as he regarded the trio. Their prior looks of disdain and contempt had been ignorable, but now they were actively attempting to exert pressure and instill guilt within him?

Who was he? He was Izroth! The most formidable cultivator across the seven realms! While inherently humble, he would not permit himself to be perpetually belittled!

"Wasn't it the Cleric who advised me not to interfere, stating I was unhelpful? Why should I have assisted when you believed I would merely be a hindrance?" Izroth retorted, his voice cold as he fixed his gaze upon Tina.

"Y-You...!" Tina appeared utterly incensed that this newcomer dared to point an accusing finger at her! She was on the verge of lashing out at Izroth when a voice interjected beside her.

"Enough!" It was Mick who spoke, and Tina immediately ceased her tirade. Despite her simmering rage, she recognized the gravity of their current objective and managed to regain her composure.

"It was merely a misunderstanding. We were all simply a bit on edge due to the intensity of the battle. Agreed?" Tina and Ryder exchanged glances before offering subtle nods. Mick presented a facade of a friendly smile, yet his eyes conveyed an unsettling coldness and ruthlessness. His words seemed devoid of any genuine sincerity.

"Come, let us venture deeper into the forest. Who knows? We might uncover some valuable treasures there." Mick then proceeded to divide the spoils into three equal portions, allocating them amongst himself, Tina, and Ryder. Although the demonic boar wasn't a boss-level entity, it ranked among the more robust monsters in this region, consequently yielding rather decent loot.

"Hold on a moment. We need to divide everything equally; that was our prior agreement, after all," a voice suddenly cut through the air from behind Mick. It was Izroth who had spoken.

Mick, Ryder, and Tina's faces darkened considerably as they struggled to restrain their mounting frustration. First, he refused to lend any assistance, and now he had the audacity to demand a share of the rewards for merely standing idly by?! Damn him! Damn his entire lineage! An onslaught of vicious thoughts coursed through their minds at that precise instant, making self-control an almost insurmountable challenge.

With gritted teeth, Mick barely suppressed his fury as he questioned, "Friend, do you truly believe it's equitable to share the spoils with someone who offered no contribution?" His words were an attempt to intimidate Izroth.

Izroth simply shook his head. "We had an agreement when I joined; you promised an equal split of the loot. Your word is your bond, and it must be honored." Izroth remained unwavering, not showing any sign of intimidation.

"You...! Do you think that-!" As Tina prepared to lash out, Mick raised a hand, and she immediately fell silent. She could sense Mick's absolute rage. Ryder, too, glared coldly at Izroth, his killing intent palpable. He longed to attack immediately but understood that acting without Mick's command would jeopardize their entire plan.

"He is correct; I shall honor my word. Down to the very last detail." Mick's demeanor suddenly turned calm, but it was a deceptive calm, concealing a bottomless well of anger. In his mind, even if he managed to seize Izroth's weapon without a struggle, he was determined to make Izroth suffer the humiliation of this encounter.

Mick then proceeded to divide the loot into four equal portions. Despite Ryder and Tina's visible displeasure, a smile graced Izroth's lips as he nodded his thanks to Mick. This sight nearly made the other two cough up blood from sheer frustration!

Ding! You have obtained 20 bronze coins!

Ding! You have obtained x1 demonic boar hide! It has been added to your inventory.

"Come, let us venture deeper into the forest and seek greater treasures and experiences." Mick, Ryder, and Tina began moving further into the woods, with Izroth trailing behind them.

A hint of amusement flickered across Izroth's face. "You believe you can bully me without facing repercussions? Hmph, just wait and witness your eventual downfall." A cold glint entered Izroth's eyes. He held no compassion for those who sought to oppress him; these individuals would inevitably fall beneath his blade.

...

"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWL!" A deafening howl reverberated through the middle region of the forest!

"T-This boss is incredibly powerful! What is it doing in this forest?!" exclaimed one of the panicked party members. They had stumbled upon this boss by chance, seeing it as a prime opportunity for loot. Realizing they couldn't handle it alone, they had teamed up with another nearby party. Despite their combined strength of ten individuals, they were utterly incapable of defeating this monster!

"Gah!!!" A male warrior was flung backward by the claw of a colossal demonic wolf, dying instantly. The beast was the size of a school bus on Earth, its fur a sleek black, its ferocious eyes gleaming with killing intent, its teeth and claws like razors, and its movements nearly a blur.

Four people had already perished under the ferocious assaults of the demonic wolf. They hadn't even possessed the slightest opportunity to react or respond!

"Regroup! As long as we stay together, we can-!"

ZOOOOM! CRRRRRNCH!

The speaker stared dumbfoundedly as their entire body felt as though it was airborne. They were dead. The remaining party members couldn't help but be consumed by a profound sense of dread. All of them would likely meet their end at the hands of this monstrous boss.

...

Izroth and his companions suddenly heard a loud howl that startled them—the cry of a powerful demonic monster! Judging by the commotion, it sounded as though a battle was underway!

Mick glanced at Ryder and Tina and nodded. "Let's go investigate. Even if we can't acquire anything substantial, observing such battles is valuable. Who knows? We might even gain some advantages and secure a portion of the spoils." Mick wasn't overly optimistic, but the source of the noise was not far from their current position, and a look wouldn't hurt.

Izroth's brow furrowed slightly as he remained at the rear of the group. His hearing, enhanced by the Heavenly Golden Body technique and the game's integration of real-world advantages, was exceptionally keen – this was one such benefit! He could discern from the sounds that at least six... no, now five other individuals were engaged with something massive, and their panicked state was evident.

"Proceeding there could prove fatal if I'm not cautious. I've only recently attained level 3. I have no idea how powerful this colossal monster truly is, but it is undoubtedly formidable. Well, should the situation become too dire, I can always employ 'Flickering Steps' to effect my escape," Izroth mused internally as he followed the trio toward the source of the combat sounds.

Upon arrival, they concealed themselves meticulously among the trees, ensuring they remained unseen. However, the spectacle that unfolded before them filled them with profound shock!

"T-this... This is an absolute massacre...!" Mick whispered in disbelief.

Izroth's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. As his gaze swept across the chaotic tableau, something suddenly captured his attention.