Chapter 4

I held my sword tight. I didn't have the extra offence by using a dagger nor did I have the extra defence using a shield.

Not that a dagger would make a difference to how much I could damage this wolf. The most I could do is use a Sword Art to delay any of its movements for just a second for Sniper to get in a powerful hit- but one wrong move could end up with me being killed.

Sword Arts are powerful, way more power swings that results with ending lags that make it incredibly difficult to move. That's why I've been trying to combo Sword Arts, to delay that lag. However, it's incredibly complicated for me to pull off.

I looked over to Sniper- who had an arrow ready to shoot that was glowing in a divine yellow.

Sniper:

"Do you have any offensive Sacred Arts?"

Keshin:

"Only two. Fire and Freeze."

Sniper:

"Burn him up."

Doing as I was told, I raised my arm quickly towards the wolf before saying the words to activate my magic with my off hand.

"Sacred Art, Fire!"

It was tedious saying this over and over again- in fact I already thought of some ways to avoid saying it over and over- but I can't risk anything right now.

Three dots of red lights circled around my off-hand, coalescing into a sudden burst of flames. Reeling it back- I threw it towards the wolf- to whcih it erupted into a fire ball. The flames were large, but due to my level- the wolf wasn't affected at all. Walking through the flames- its fur caught on fire but it's clear it didn't affect it. Rather, it now looked more terrifying. It was like a flaming ghost wolf.

Sniper:

"Ah... a stroke of luck..!"

She muttured, before launching her arrows in a sudden 3 part sequence of three arrows at a time. Though I could have sworn she only used one arrow. That must mean that was a skill- a high levelled one at that. The 3 sets of 3 arrows all rained down on the wolf- that clearly affecting it way more.

Keshin:

"This is the difference between a level one and twenty... it really shows."

I muttured under my breath. I could already see the wolf getting ready to attack- that malicious look of its glaring red eyes and red fur made me almost crap my pants.

Suddenly from the dust clouds- a shadow leaped at me- but I was lucky enough to react in time. Before it could take a clean bite on me- I guarded with my sword.

But level one gear durability couldn't take attacks from a level 24. At first- it seemed I was able to take it on, but not before my sword began to crack- before my sword completely shattered.

Falling on my behind, the wolf then howled at me, the snarl grew more fierce as it got ready to bite me. It did just that.

Sniper:

"Get out of there!"

Before I heard those words, an arrow came in just in time which would save my life. Shooting at the wolf's eye, its blood began to pour out as it whaled in pain. But it still managed to hit the bite on me.

I could feel the severe despair of pain surging through my right shoulder. It was painful, more painful than anything I had ever experienced. My health had seen better days, but it wasn't a vital part of my body which would have instant killed me. The pain felt like it grew- but that's just what insane damage does to a player. It hurt so much I couldn't keep my composure. I let out grunts, silent yells as I desperately grasped my shoulder. It wasn't a deep wound, but it felt like it cut deeper thsn any wound that I had recieved up to date.

I was on the ground, but it seemed that the wolf was now focusing on Sniper. Will she be able to do it on her own..? Or maybe she could this entire time, but I was just holding her back...

"Sacred Art... Cure."

I whispered, still holding onto my right shoulder. I had to limit the amount I was healing- if the wolf saw my entire body glowing, I'd be in trouble.

Sniper:

"Sword Art, Single Shot!"

I heard as I shifted my body very slightly so I could at least see the fight. The wolf lunged towards her- but she shot an arrow that was fierce and as large as a sword through its mouth. As the arrow went through the body, not only did blood splatter everywhere- but golden waves of light uncontrollably flew about. I think that's a critical hit.

When using a Sword Art, the amount of light indicates how much damage is done. Dim light means it is the lowest roll of damage, bright light means it is the highest roll of damage and bursts of light means it is a critical hit.

Sacred Arts are a little different due to the variety of magic. But most cases, low rolls mean weaker bursts when they hit the target, high rolls mean the opposite with a bit of a stronger launch, and critical hits are visible through the shockwaves created at launch and hit.

She must have landed a critical hit, but that's a more common occurance compared to users who use a sword. That's one perk of a bow user.

It was clear she was very experienced when it came to fighting. Instead of waiting to see if the wolf was finished off, she launched more arrows* at it before charging another Sword Art.

(*Arrows are a limited supply, but Arcane Arrows can be forged using the user's mana at a low cost.)

The wolf recovering from that massive hit, it certainly took incredible damage. It's mouth must have been the weak spot of it's body. Before it could move though, another set of arrows were launched. That must have been a higher levelled Sword Art.

She was relentless, a capable fighter and unlike any other beginning fighter I had ever seen. It was admirable, yet I feel so useless having to let her fight this monster.

Sniper:

"It's really low now..! Just one last shot!"

She quickly reached for another arrow- her last one of the bunch. Aiming it towards the wolf, she shot that last shot.

Sniper:

"Wh-what?!"

It flew past it. Not everything will go smoothly. That's the unfortunate and sad truth of fighting alone. Even if EXP gains are much more massive compared to parties, the perks of having other party members is the fact that the other party members can cover up for mistakes that are made in the battlefield. That was repeatedly banged into my head back in the academy.

Sniper:

"Ah.."

She stumbled, watching as the wolf's eyes turned to her. It was very weak, a slither of HP was all it had. Just a slither. And so.

"Sacred Art, Fire!"

I yelled, throwing a fireball at the weakened wolf. Was it enough? No. Even if it did have a slither of HP, I'm still only level 1. But that wasn't my aim. Now that it was turning towards me, I raised my sword once more. It crept to me, ever so slowly. But that would prove to be its undoing.

Suddenly, it collapsed- to which I gained a colossal amount of experience. What happened? Well, Sacred Arts are unique, very unique compared to Sword Arts. Sacred Arts have chances of inflicting status conditions, and by removing a lot of the power involved, I could easily increase the chances of it inflicting a certain status condition.

In this case, this wolf died from recieving recurring damage of burn.

I sheathed my sword, having gotten enough rest to recover my stamina and health, but my main priority was to check on Sniper. She did most of the fighting, so she must be exhausted.

Keshin:

"Sniper! Are you alright?"

Sniper:

"I should be asking you that."

Okay, she's completely fine.

Sniper:

"You... aren't feeling bad in anyway right?"

Keshin:

"That bite was tough, but I healed it."

Sniper:

"You've... got a lot of resolve."

Keshin:

"Putting that aside, we should head back."

Sniper:

"You're very stubborn too. Alright, let's make our trip back quick."

She then began to walk back. At the instant, I felt my detection skill going off. Not because enemies were around, but because she began to use her hiding skill. I did the same, it should lower our chances of being seen. I mean- if she couldn't detect me then monsters won't either. Then again, I feel like she'd be busy raising her accuracy over detection levels.

That experience, it frightened me. But I've experience hardship throughout my life. Me having resolve- I mean, if I don't have it, then everything I went through would have been for nothing.

Sniper:

"We're here... I'll take you word Keshin."

Keshin:

"My word?"

Sniper:

"You took the correct action in defeating that wolf. Had you not done that, I would've sustained another injury. I realised that I shouldn't have created this cognitive view that I'm the only one who can save others."

Keshin:

"Well, then let's go out as a party next time. Though I don't know when that would be seeing as we're all much lower levelled than you."

I then remembered that I gained a mass load of EXP from that boss. I wonder just how much I levelled up by?

Keshin:

"I'm already catching up though. I hit level 7, and recieved some cool items."

Sniper:

"Level 7 after just one boss, it just shows how much EXP you gain when you hit my level. Though just because we earn a lot of EXP doesn't mean we can level up quicker."

Keshin:

"I heard that the required EXP becomes impossible to reach at a certain point."

Sniper:

"It's not impossible, the highest levelled player is level 100. It's just that levels only makes work easier, and it allows you to take on high levelled quests. No one has a reason to aim to be higher than level 100 though."

Keshin:

"No reason...? I guess that makes sense. Afterall, this is considered a job."

Sniper:

"Yeah. It's a risky one though so better safe than sorry."

Keshin:

"Yeah. I didn't want to live my life as apart of the Military or the Royal Guards. Living as an Adventurer allows for so much freedom."

I looked out towards the night sky. The moon was still ascending- which means that it's getting close to midnight.

Keshin:

"Well, let's go back to the inn. Did Hyou ever tell us what rooms we were in?"

Sniper:

"... Not that I recall."

Keshin:

"Let's hope he's inside waiting for us then."