The Trial Of A Better Weapon

Akiol looked at the new sword, slowly impressed with the price he paid for the weapon.

[Scorpion Sword]

Originally two daggers, this weapon had gone through reforging. Only retaining some of the paralyzing poison.

Attack: 35

Agility Requirement:20

Strength Requirement:15

When attacking, has a rare chance to inflict 'paralyzing' to opponent.

Greater chance at inflicting 'paralyzing' if attack hits vitals.

Akiol was very pleased by the new sword. It had more than double his Steel Sword's damage, plus a paralyzing affect!

'Still worse than me.' Breaker of Stars echoed.

"Listen Stars, this weapon is better than you for one reason. I can use it."

'Tsk. . . what's with the name Stars?'

Akiol once again ignored the weapons grumbling. What mattered most was testing this new weapon. Being unfamiliar with a weapon could cause one's death after all.

Akiol couldn't think of any better test than taking down Titan. So he started his trek towards the coordinates he had memorized.

The trip took him two hours, but he still arrived.

He walked into the bandit camp without caring if he got spotted. He had a plan, even if it failed he had faith he could kill the bandits easily. Simply because they were level 25. He had surpassed that level long ago.

He managed to get a decent distance in the camp before someone spotted him and sounded the alarm. Honestly the bandits were pretty careless.

"Hey! You're not supposed to be here." One of the bandits warned.

Ignoring the familiar line Akiol shouted, "Titan! I am here to challenge you!"

That's right, that was his plan. To challenge Titan head on in a duel.

It wasn't long before he saw the giant walking towards his position. A grumbling voice responded, "Who are you? And on what grounds do you challenge me?"

Akiol stabbed his sword into the ground, placing his hands on the pommel. His position looked like a knight guarding something.

"I challenge you to a duel." Akiol repeated with a bit more information.

"Why?" Titan asked.

"I had defeated the one called Scorpion. Since I have done this I found it to be convenient to take the rest of you three down."

Titan looked surprised at this murmuring, "Scorpion? That slippery brat lost?"

He then straightened himself and said, "Fine then! I'll accept your challenge."

Akiol readied his sword. Meanwhile Titan ordered his crew to make a circle while whispering in one bandit's ear.

It did not take long, after all bandits were very skilled in circling. Titan then readied their shield.

A bandit came between them stating, "A duel to the death, a test of one's strength. May the greater fighter win, begin!"

The bandit hurriedly retreated back, and Titan charged towards Akiol. Intending to smash him with their shield.

Akiol used [Leap] and launched himself above their head.

Titan followed Akiol's movements, spinning themself to continue charging. Planning to hit Akiol before he hit the ground.

Akiol swung his sword downwards hitting Titan's shield.

Clang~!

Akiol used the rebound from his strike and back flipped away. As soon as he landed he charged again.

Titan readied themself with their shield. Placing it in front, ready to accept the attack.

Akiol had no plans on hitting the shield again however. He slid under the opening under the shield.

As Titan was baffled on what was going on Akiol had already stabbed into Titan's back.

<-60hp>

A decent amount of damage. Akiol was pleased with the obvious increase of damage.

Titan howled in pain quickly turning and bashing Akiol with their shield.

Akiol was not expecting the speed Titan displayed. The shield hit him squarely in his chest, hitting his core.

The damage was immense. Akiol only had 50 HP left!

Akiol turned serious, while the death from mobs only took 10% experience as punishment. The chance he had to fight Titan fairly was not one he wanted to lose.

While promising himself he would buy some health potions when he made it back to Red Bush. He activated [Aura Boost: Speed].

Titan saw this and exclaimed, "You truly have killed Scorpion!" and readied themself with more vigor.

Akiol used this small boost in speed and charged towards Titan again. He swung a feint towards Titan's right. While Titan shifted their shield to block the attack, Akiol suddenly stopped the attack and spun to Titan's left.

Titan attempted to shift their shield to block Akiol's path but was not fast enough.

Akiol stabbed at Titan's ribs.

<-60 hp>

Akiol clicked his tongue at this. He barely missed and instead hit a rib. A mistake that could cost him the battle.

Titan roared in pain, they then started glowing green.

Akiol assumed this was an Aura Boost skill. Since Scorpion's speed boost was yellow, Akiol assumed that green meant defense. That would be troublesome.

Charging once more Akiol began to slash at any weak point he saw. Before he was mainly getting used to the new weapon, now he had a general sense of it. It was time to end the battle.

<-36hp>

<-36hp>

<-36hp>

The defense buff was around what Akiol expected. It was still annoying however.

Thus Akiol started attacking points to disable the movements of Titan.

Titan was slowing, even if they didn't realize it. The pain was a nearly unbearable. Titan attempted to smack Akiol several times but failed.

When Akiol dodged another attack from Titan he saw an opening. Sliding under Titan again he sliced their hamstrings. Essentially bringing them to one knee.

Akiol then stabbed Titan's neck. Turning his blade to cleanly decapitate Titan.

The bandits surrounding Akiol were silent. Then one of them shouted, "He killed boss! Kill him!"

He had slightly expected this. No honor among thieves after all. Regardless now that he had taken down the strongest with no interruptions, the rest of the bandits should prove less of a threat.

Akiol still had about twenty seconds left on his speed boost. Thus he weaved through the bandits. Slicing at necks and stabbing through chests. The floor was dyed red from blood.

Akiol didn't get any experience or loot from the bandits. Simply because they were more than ten levels under him.

As the last bandit fell, Akiol took a deep breath. The air had a metallic smell to it, but Akiol was already used to such smells.

While he was clearing his mind he took a look at the items Titan had dropped.

[Charged Shield]

Being forged in a thunderstorm this shield was struck by lightning, maintaining some of the electric properties.

Attack: 20

Damage Reduction: 15%

Strength Requirement: 30

Extra Skill: User can charge the electric properties inside the shield boosting the attack speed by 200% and damage by 150% momentarily.

It was a decent shield, but Akiol wasn't going to use it. Shields was Tilia's thing anyway.

Next was the skill stone.

[Aura Boost: Defense (1/3]

Akiol crushed it and a new skill appeared.

[Aura Boost: Defense]

Boosts the defense of the user by 40%

Cost: 200 MP

Duration: 1 minute

The skill descriptions never do say the cooldown. This was for the players to find out. The developers claimed this was a feature that was heavily discussed with their team. They decided to do it like this to increase the skill needed to play. This did receive some backlash, but the players eventually calmed down.

Akiol had a theory that if got the final skill from the remaining bandit he would finally find out what the (1/3) stood for.

Akiol decided to walk back to Red Bush, he didn't want to keep wasting scrolls after all.