The Monster leaped to confront the oncoming assault. Its claws flew toward the first person, swiftly separating its head from its body.
The other three joined forces, relentlessly striking the Mutant Wolf with their weapons.
The Mutant Wolf dodged, and another person, wielding an iron rod, smashed it squarely on the back of its head.
The Mutant Wolf jumped back, snarling with saliva dripping from its maw.
[Mutant Wolf Lvl. 5]
[HP: 980/1000]
A single blow seemed to deplete the Mutant Wolf's HP slightly, spurring the others to rush toward it from different directions, taking turns punching.
The Mutant Wolf soared two meters high, above the throng of attackers, then leaped back towards those positioned further away. It unleashed its claws, instantly sending the target to the ground, followed by a savage bite that seized upon any part of the body in reach.
Ethan hastened his pace, still keeping his distance, clutching his hammer firmly, seeking a chance to join the fray.
Seven of them perished rapidly, leaving only four people who were apparently the chosen ones, based on how they acted and fought with a proficiency surpassing that of an average person.
“JOHN!!!!!!”
Mutant Wolf, perched atop Jon's body, lunged towards his head and clamped down on his right hand, releasing it from his grasp.
Jon's eyes had already gone sightless. The others regained their composure and moved more deliberately - running and leaping away when the Mutant Wolf drew near and striking it with their fists if they had the opportunity.
Ethan trudged ahead, still carrying the sizable hammer, appearing to simply amble away, keeping his distance.
"Focus!!! Evade it and strike where you can!!!"
Leo moved swiftly and agilely with the golf club in his hand, striking the Mutant Wolf enough times to make it collapse onto the ground.
[Mutant Wolf Lvl. 5]
[HP: 780/1000]
Ethan attempted to attack with his hammer, but the Mutant Wolf suddenly got up and jumped at him, red eyes glaring at him. He was forced to forget his plan.
Leo grabbed his right hand, but it was too late.
The Mutant Wolf's claw slammed into his left hand, creating a deep wound that bled profusely, immobilizing his hand.
[-130 HP]
[HP: 70/200]
"Arghh!" Ethan screamed in pain.
Leo pushed the Mutant Wolf back, shielding Ethan from any further danger.
"Stay alert, Ethan! Don't slip up!"
If it weren't for Leo, Ethan could have been killed. He gritted his teeth and lifted the Hammer in his right hand, despite the pain in his left. He had to fight or risk losing his life.
-
Ethan rushed off in search of more opportunities, and after Leo had launched another assault, he threw the Hammer of Judgment at the weakened Mutant Wolf.
"HAMMER THROW!!!"
He put all his strength into the throw, and the Hammer circled towards its target, striking the Monster's right jaw with a mighty impact and causing it to bleed profusely.
[Mutant Wolf Lvl. 5]
[HP: 540/1000]
"Good Ethan! Let's do it again!"
The other three then joined in, pushing the Mutant Wolf back into a corner and delivering a barrage of blows.
"Un-equip Mjolnir!"
Ethan attempted to reclaim his Hammer of Judgment, which had been thrown far into the Inventory and succeeded.
Then, he hastened away to gain some distance and search for his next opportunity.
“Equip Mjolnir.” he declared, and in no time, the Hammer of Judgment was once more in his hand.
He was pleased with its effectiveness and the way he brandished his new weapon. The Hammer obliged his command to return to the Inventory and got back to him with remarkable speed in about 2-3 seconds.
Since the three individuals were standing close to the Mutant Wolf, Ethan found it difficult to make close-range attacks due to the lack of space.
A short while later, two other combatants were fatally wounded and passed away, leaving only Leo and him.
“HAMMER THROW!!!”
Ethan was stunned by the events unfolding before him, yet he had no time to let his guard down, or else he may have met the same fate.
He hurled the Hammer and struck the Mutant Wolf, causing it to recoil and collapse.
[Mutant Wolf Lvl. 5]
[HP: 130/1000]
Ethan sprinted and seized the Hammer that was scattered on the ground.
Leo shoved Ethan and told him to keep his distance.
“Stay back, Ethan!”
Leo dashed forward, unleashing a flurry of strikes. Mutant Wolf rose again and hastened away. It seemed his movements were becoming increasingly clumsy and sluggish.
[HP: 83/200]
[Energy: 7/20]
[Willpower: 54/100]
From the status shown, it was evident that Ethan had only one more Hammer Throw attempt.
With this, he attempted to make it a successful strike.
He hurriedly backed away when Leo collapsed, and the Mutant Wolf leaped at him and perched on top of him with its jaws aiming to snap at his head, but he was restrained by his golf club.
“Do it now, Ethan. Your attack won’t affect me.”
Ethan ran to try to hit the Mutant Wolf, but he didn't have enough strength.
'My attacks won't have any effect? What does Leo mean? Is it exactly like in the game where fellow players' attacks will not affect each other and will only hurt the Monster?'
This was the perfect timing. Ethan could easily make the final attack. Although it was highly likely that this attack would injure Leo, Ethan hoped that what Leo said was true.
Ethan tightly gripped the Hammer of Judgment and shouted loudly to ensure this attack finished off the Mutant Wolf in front of him.
Ethan sprinted in an attempt to strike the Mutant Wolf, yet he lacked the necessary power.
'What did Leo mean when he said my attacks won't have any effect? Is it the same as in the game where players' assaults won't harm each other but only damage the Monster?'
This was an ideal moment, and he could effectively deliver the final blow. Though it was highly likely that this attack would wound Leo, he was hopeful that what Leo said was accurate.
He clutched the Hammer firmly and shouted energetically to ensure his attack would finally defeat the Mutant Wolf in front of him.
“HAMMER THROW!!!!!”
Ethan was roughly 10 meters away from Mutant Wolf and Leo, yet the Hammer flew and struck the Monster in the blink of an eye. This was when Ethan noticed the apprehension on Leo's face suddenly dissolve into a smile directed at him.
He then realized that what Leo had said was false. The Hammer directly hit the Mutant Wolf's head and then Leo's head underneath his grasp.
[You have Killed Lvl. 5 Mutant Wolf]
[You have killed a Player]
[You have slain Lvl. 5 Mutant Wolf] [You have killed a Player] [You have obtained Purple Grade Mutant Wolf Crystal] [You have obtained Purple Grade Heavy Hide Boots of Silent Hunter] [Level Up] [You have killed another player and will gain a portion of its ability] [Ability compatibility is too low, you will gain 1 status point instead] [Level Up] Ethan sprinted towards Leo, delivered a powerful kick to the Mutant Wolf's corpse, and gazed at Leo's motionless face, which had been partially crushed by the force of his weapon. 'Leo!' He was filled with rage. His heart felt as though it were being torn apart. He could have done something to save Leo, but there wasn't enough time either. No matter what He did, Leo’s death was inevitable. He was too far from the beast to execute any short-range assaults; the only way to retaliate was through distant strikes. “No, no, no, no!” The price of his victory was Leo's death, a weight Ethan was not prepared to bear. He had slain his fir
[Mutant Wolf Lvl. 3] [HP: 230/600][Mutant Wolf Lvl. 2] [HP: 100/400][Mutant Wolf Lvl. 3] [HP: 320/600][Mutant Wolf Lvl. 1] [HP: 190/200][Mutant Wolf Lvl 2] [HP: 320/400]"Could it get any worse?"With his higher stats, Ethan eyed the five Mutant Wolves with reduced average levels, noting they were not in the best shape. Another fight could prove detrimental to their condition. As such, he tried convincing himself that he could take all five on, so long as he could dodge any lethal strikes. He had previously stored the Hammer in his Inventory for easier mobility, aiming to take out the weakest Monster first. He would approach one of them, slowly walking forward while keeping an eye on the other four."I'll be able to handle this one."Without hesitation, he sprinted toward one of them, with the other Monsters hot on his trail.Ethan was unaccustomed to his new running speed, causing him to lose his balance and stumble right in front of one of the Mutant Wolves. By chance, the Ha
[You've Killed Lvl. 2 Mutant Wolf][Level Up][HP: 83/90 (Weakened) (Original: 300)][Energy: 0/30][Willpower: 18/150][You've unlocked 2 new Inventory Slots][You've earned a new Mjolnir Skill!][Hammer Blink Level 1: Instantly teleport to the location of the Mjolnir. Grants a 5-point Dexterity boost for one second upon successful use.]Ethan progresses to the next level and earns an extra Stats Point. Furthermore, the new skill of his Mjolnir was unlocked. Judging from the description, this Skill enabled him to move to the location of the Hammer. His new Skill had a strong connection to the prior Skill, which would boost his movement too.However, he couldn't help but feel like there was more to this Skill. He wondered if he could do more.Ethan devised a plan he could use; leaving his hammer in a spot, then fleeing to lure the Monster towards him, and activating the Skill to return to his hammer's location. By doing this, he had the added advantage of the ability to flee from the
Chapter 12 - Stupid and Useless[Mutant Wolf (Elite) Lvl. 15][HP: 5000/5000]Arh-WooooooooThe Elite Mutant Wolf let out a loud howl and was followed by other Mutant Wolves, who jumped up and began walking in his direction. In unison, the Mutant Wolves howled at varying levels from 3 to 15.Ethan had no idea what was happening. He was just staring at the door, trying to process the situation.He was in a very bad position. He was cornered and trapped, unable to move. The door was his only option, but he was afraid that it wouldn't be enough to escape. Time seemed to stand still as he frantically searched for a way to escape the impending danger. Breaking through the back wall didn't seem like the right choice.He got an idea and quickly opened the door. A large Mutant Wolf was waiting for him on the other side with its red eyes fixated on him, leaving him feeling scared."W-what the hell?"The large and threatening wolf stepped forward, and Ethan's legs trembled as he ran for his lif
"Are you Mjolnir?" Ethan asked questioningly."Of course! Who else?" The voice replied confidently."Why did you only start talking now? Why didn't you say something earlier?" Ethan asked. "I don't like seeing weak people like you," the voice answered."What kind of weakness are you referring to? What do you anticipate us humans to do? Do you assume we are accustomed to battling creatures like them?" he protested."Kill them!" The voice shouted."What do you think I'm doing?" he replied. "Playing hide and seek with them? No, I'm trying to kill these cute dogs.""Kill them!" the voice repeated. "You should consider yourself lucky that I'm here," the voice added. "Lucky?" Ethan asked, puzzled.Ethan was frustrated. "How could I kill them when I can't even lift my own weapon?" Ethan asked. “What kind of luck only allows me to use my skills sparingly? Mass Killing? How could I possibly cause mass killing by just throwing you around a few times only?" He continued. “That’s because you’
Ethan wakes up, not knowing how long he has been asleep. His eyes slowly open, and he begins to feel the energy in his body returning, though pain lingers in certain parts of his body."Ugh..." Ethan moaned, opening his eyes.Transparent green writings filled his sight.[You've Killed Lvl. 5 Mutant Wolves][You've Killed Lvl. 15 Elite Mutant Wolf][ … ][You've received a Purple Grade Mutant Wolf Crystal][You've received an Indigo Grade Mutant Wolf Crystal][ ... ][You've received a Purple Grade Heavy Hide Leg of Silent Hunter][You've received an Indigo Grade Heavy Hide Helmet of Silent Hunter][You've received a Blue Grade Mutant Wolf Soul Ring][Level Up][Level Up][ … ][You achieved an excellent result][Monsters Killed: 73][Player Killed: 1][Calculating the Reward][You've received 10 Stats Points][You've received 1 Random Ability Scroll][Random the Ability][You have received new Power: Dominator]He opened his eyes wide, dazzled by the light; he quickly closed them, til
[Mjolnir (Growth Type) Level 13] [Strength: +18] [Stamina: +5] [Physical Attack: +720] [Weight: 1620] [Skills] [Equip: Instantly Equip Mjolnir from Inventory Casting Time: 1s] [Un-equip: Instantly Un-equip Mjolnir into Inventory Casting Time: 1s] [Hammer Throw Lvl. 1: Throw Mjolnir into a specific direction and Apply 120% Physical Attack Damage] [Hammer Blink Level 1: Instantly teleport to the location of the Mjolnir. Grants a 5-point Dexterity boost for one second upon successful use.] [Hammer Break Lvl 1: Increase Damage Dealt by 40%] The Mjolnir had changed in size and decoration and now provided more useful effects in close combat. It had a level 1 with 40% additional damage, plus Strength and Stamina, whose value was quite high. Ethan was disappointed when he couldn't use it properly before, but now he wanted to do better. He then shifted his focus to examine other objects. [Purple Grade Heavy Hide Leg of Silent Hunter] [Stamina: +5] [Durability: 40/40] [Weight:
Ethan was embarrassed by how he had acted and was overwhelmed by the rewards he had received. He quickly put on the t-shirt and shorts Olivia had prepared as his clothes had disappeared. The clothes were a bit too big for him, but he had no other choice since all the items he had stored in his Inventory had disappeared. It was likely that his items had been pushed out when he had acquired rewards from killing monsters. After Ethan had changed, the girl left the room and asked Ethan to follow her. Ethan stepped out of the room and made his way to the stairs leading to a large room that could fit dozens of people. He noticed the couch and the girl he had met previously on one side. He walked over and sat on the same couch after the girl nodded in approval. "Hi, my name is Olivia," she said, standing up and offering her hand for a handshake. Ethan stood up and shook her hand. "My name's Ethan," he said briefly, then smiled. They returned to their seats. Olivia had a cheerful expr
It was almost dark when Ethan and Olivia arrived at the doorstep of Olivia's large house.After getting off Fang's back, Ethan held out his hand. Olivia immediately took it with a big smile."Oppa should be more careful," said Olivia suddenly.Ethan looked at the girl and raised an eyebrow. "Careful for what?"Olivia chuckled and then punched Ethan lightly in the upper arm."Don't carelessly treat a girl like this; they might misunderstand and make my rivals multiply."Ethan realized that his hands were still clasped with Olivia's and felt his face start to heat up.Olivia's right. He didn't realize he was doing this. Even though Olivia herself has often fought alongside Fang, the matter of getting off the wolf's back was not a difficult one for him.Ethan was about to let go of their grip, but Olivia moved faster, wrapping her arms around Ethan's arm. He smiled broadly as he rested his head on her shoulder."Phew, dealing with annoying people is quite tiring, huh," grumbled Olivia. "
Hendrick raised his voice, ensuring everyone could clearly hear what he was saying.The Beastmaster Guild members behind him responded well to his words, cheering and occasionally cursing at Ethan."Ha ha ha, I can't wait to see Hendrick finish off that kid!” “Hendrick! Hendrick! Hendrick!”Olivia was getting more and more irritated. A black glove instantly appeared on both of his hands. Small and sharp claws sticking out were visible from the tips of his fingers.Ethan, who realized this, immediately held Olivia's arm. Looking at her, he shook his head slightly.She snorted. He tried to hold back his emotions.Olivia was getting more and more irritated. A black glove instantly appeared on both of his hands, and from the tips of his fingers were visible small, sharp claws sticking out. Ethan, who realized this, immediately held Olivia's arm and, looking at her, shook his head slightly. She snorted, and he tried to hold back his emotions.Ethan looked at Hendrick, who was smiling co
Elora urgently called out to Ethan, "Ethan, there's an emergency! You need to watch the news right away!"Ethan furrowed his brows as he hastily retrieved his cell phone from his trouser pocket, per Elora's instructions. As he opened a news portal, his eyes widened in shock at the trending topics.When Ethan stumbled upon a photo that had been uploaded to the internet, he was astonished to see a group of people with animal-like features. Everyone in the image had been transformed into a variety of creatures, from tigers and lions to snakes and reptiles. But what truly surprised Ethan was the background of the picture, a luxurious and grandiose house with which he would soon become very familiar.Olivia's house."Beastmasters!" Ethan exclaimed, clenching his fist. "They really know no boundaries," he added.Ethan then clicked on one of the top videos in the search results. He saw a male reporter, surrounded by a large group of Beastmaster Guild members, standing in front of the camera.
After learning that the person looking for Ethan was Teddy, Olivia decided to wait outside while Ethan followed where the military man took him. On the highest floor, two wooden doors opened when Ethan was right in front of them. The military man accompanying him invited Ethan to enter. Inside, there was a room with a sofa and a glass table in the middle, as well as a few tables with chairs and a computer set on the other side. "Hello, Ethan. Please, come and sit down." Ethan walked over and sat across from Teddy. In this late stage, he was still wearing his usual military uniform. "Does everyone from the military work 24 hours?" he asked. "Or is it just because of the emergency they're in right now?" "You don't normally go out and come to a place like this. Hey, where is Olivia?" Teddy started the conversation when Ethan was actually sitting across from him. "I have something to take care of." "Is it related to Emily?" "Emily?" The red-haired girl was named Emi, just as oth
"I can control the speed at which the vines grow," he said, trying to explain what kind of power he had. Ethan nodded his head in response to the boy's answer. As he had expected, Dony was the same person who had attacked him before. "If it's the same person, is he just pretending he doesn't remember what happened?" Ethan tried to hide his curiosity. He would try other ways to get information out of the boy. One of the five, a silver-haired girl about Dony's age, seemed to have telepathic abilities and was acutely aware of what was happening. If he managed to find the girl, Ethan could find out who his opponent was. "That's quite an interesting power, Dony," said the person. "Can you use it to immobilize your opponents?" Dony nodded in response. "Sorry, Ethan. I have something I need to do. Meet me at the checkpoint if there's anything you need." The military man, still standing with them, lowered his head and departed. "Okay," Olivia gave a thumbs up in response to the man. E
As Ethan and Olivia drew nearer to the entrance gate, they noticed a man in military attire waving his hand to greet them. The place they were heading to was a large domed building with multiple floors and rooms, and a great hall at its center. It had become a refuge for victims of monster attacks, with several members of the military stationed to guard the area.The military man greeted Ethan, saying, "Hi, Ethan. I was in the final raid with you a few days ago."Lowering his head, Ethan replied, "I got permission from Teddy to come inside."Turning to Olivia, who was standing by Ethan's side, and still holding his hand, the man said cheerfully, "Hey, Olivia. Goddess Olivia."However, Olivia did not respond and clicked her tongue. "Don't do something foolish in my presence," she warned.“Sorry, hehe.” The military man smiled and turned to Nathan. "Sure, sure," he said. "We've received orders. Come on, let me guide you. And don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything you need."O
The following days after the altercation with the Beastmaster went by relatively peacefully. No episodes of violence occurred, neither during the day nor at night. Despite this, Ethan and Olivia stayed vigilant, particularly in the evenings, with the assistance of Fang, who kept an eye on Olivia's abode continually.A circular portal manifested in the sky once more, but this time, instead of just one, there were dozens. Consequently, the military and a few major Guilds distributed their forces evenly to prepare for any eventuality. Ethan slumped onto the large sofa in Olivia's living room, determined to carry out the same watch schedule he had been doing the past few nights. Initially, it was difficult to adjust to sleeping during the day, but eventually, he adjusted to his new routine.Olivia strolled up, wearing her pajamas and carrying a sundae in her hand. She plopped down and rested her head on Ethan's shoulder.“Olivia,” Ethan uttered.“Huum?” she replied in a relaxed tone as s
Ethan reclined on a large rock, which was partially submerged on the edge of the lake. The cacophony of insects chirping, buzzing, and screaming at each other filled the air. The wind that blew from the surface of the lake brought with it the sweet fragrance of freshness, quickly filling him with a sense of peacefulness and tranquility.The sound of water splashing against the lake's surface echoed through the night air. After a few moments, Olivia took the plunge and submerged herself in the tranquil waters of the lake, which were illuminated by the shimmering moonlight. Meanwhile, Ethan remained vigilant, calling on Fang to keep a watchful eye by surveying the surrounding area."Ethan Oppa…"A few drops of icy water splashed against Ethan's cheeks, quickly evaporating in the chilly wind. Suddenly, Ethan was jolted from his thoughts by the sound of Olivia's voice, much softer than usual."Oppa..." she repeated, her tone less cheerful than usual. "Are you alright?" he said.Maybe thi
The Beastmaster members were resolute in their determination; they refused to give up until their goal was reached. Despite the fact that their target was only two people, they had assembled a large crowd. Olivia had reached her limit. Another fight he fought would completely put his life in danger. Meanwhile, Ethan was sure that they would not back down in the slightest after learning that two of their comrades had also lost their lives at Olivia's hands. "Olivia, can you go save yourself?" Ethan attempted to whisper to Olivia, who was kneeling behind him, having just engaged in a fierce battle with three opponents. He was proud of the fact that she had managed to survive thus far on her own; however, despite his trust in Olivia, he recognized the limits of what one person could accomplish, especially considering Olivia had exhausted much of her strength while taking down two adversaries at once. Olivia drew newfound power from her most recent conflict. Ethan believed that was amp