My arm had grown much faster than normal with this attack, I estimated it was at least 25% faster than my normal movement.
[Daquan. Str: 1.25(1.00), Agi: 1.5(1.20), Vit 1.20(1.10), performing Snake Bite]
I didn't have time to check out my stats that popped up as I unleashed the powerful attack! I aimed right for its neck hoping to make a decisive blow. My aim was true, but he managed to dodge it at the last second making the blow non-fatal. Nevertheless, I managed to stab him decisively in the side, before he scratched my arm and rolled away.
[Polar Mongoose: Rank 1 Magical Beast]
[Str: (1.1)1.5 Agi: (.9)1.2 Vit: (.9)1.6, suffering from stab wound]
[Danger Level: Low]
I didn't have time to check my stats as the Polar Mongoose was trying to escape. I quickly threw my knife into my other hand and prepared to use my second Snake Bite to finish him off!
I dived right after him, closing the gap between us quickly.
"Snake Bite"
This blow landed right on the top of his head, he was unable to escape from his grisly death.
[Killed Rank 1 Magical Beast: Polar Mongoose.]
[For killing a worthy opponent you are awarded +3 Dragon Points.]
[Dragon Points: 5]
[Snake Bite is on cooldown for 15 minutes.]
I breathed a sigh of relief after killing the Polar Mongoose, that battle had taken a lot out of me and I didn't escape without injury. My right arm was bleeding from the scratch wounds he inflicted. Thankfully I had managed to stab him first lessening the harm he could do to me with a scratch.
I tore off a piece of my shirt and wrapped it around my arm to stop the bleeding. An attack skill like Snake Bite was a godsend to combat in this world. This creature was much more powerful than the Hercules Badger, and as fast as me. Without something to give me an edge, there was no way I could have won that battle.
[Daquan. Str: .9(1.00), Agi: 1.20, Vit 1.00(1.10), minor scratch wound]
I would be more cautious when picking my battles with Magical Beasts from now on. There's no telling if some of them have their own combat skills to give them an edge. I was glad I had preserved my snake movement after that battle though. Even though I was a bit injured I still could continue my journey in the forest without a threat to my life.
The rest of my foraging journey was uneventful. Which was great for a knowledgeable forager like me. A quiet night is a bountiful night!
I managed to find three batches of White Coffea plants, that meant three attempts to try to create the Potion of Minor Endurance. I gathered a few other herbs with a value of around 50 gold, but none of them had any usage for my potion-making.
I was now heading back to the caravan with high spirits, nothing could go wrong.
I felt a strange foreboding feeling as I looked around. The kind of feeling you get when you know you are being watched.
Was a magical beast stalking me?
I didn't even risk a second thought, even though it was only a feeling.
"Snake Movement!"
[Daquan. Str: .9(1.00), Agi: 1.7(1.20), Vit 1.00(1.10), minor scratch wound, using serpent movement]
I quickened my pace through the forest, in fear, even activating my snake movement to enter a full sprint.
*grumble*
I felt the ground break behind me break apart, just a few feet from where I was standing. I didn't have the heart to stop running. I took a casual glance over my shoulder as I ran as fast as possible.
[Strike Viper: Rank 1 Magical Beast]
[Str: 1.8(1.4) Agi: 1.6(1.2) Vit: 1.6, used Viper Strike]
[Danger Level: Very High]
I was lucky to escape with my life after being assaulted by such a fast creature. If it was a bit faster, or I hadn't immediately used serpent movement to start running I would have died.
Magical beasts in this world did have special abilities!
They could kill me if I was caught unprepared. If that had happened to be a Rank 2 Magical Beast I would have died, that thought sent chills down my spine.
I wiped the sweat from my brow as I came back near the caravan after running the entire way. Traveling alone into that forest was seeking death. Thank the heavens I have luck on my side or I would not have lived to tell the tale.
If only I had Youtube then, I could have learned more about the Viper Strike skill the snake performed. That seemed to be a stronger technique than my Snake Bite.
[Time Limited Quest Issued: Add +165 Gold to Dragon Hoard.]
[Reward: Viper Strike Experience]
This greedy system knows no shame! It really would ask me for all of my gold after surviving the attack of a Strike Viper just to learn the snake's attack. I grumbled and accepted my fate as the system's bottom bitch as I placed all my hard scammed gold into the heartless system.
[Vault: 0 Gold, Hoard: 380 Gold]
[You should put more effort into putting gold into your Vault.]
This damn dragon system! It even has the nerve to tell me I should put more effort into filling my Vault after taking all my gold. I guess pimping ain't easy.
I had enough resources to sell off to pay my daily quest for two days, and hoped to be successful with at least one of my potion craftings. So I could afford to splurge this once to make myself a bit stronger. The stronger I was the further I would make it in this magical world.
That was just the cold hard fact of living in a magical world where strength reigned supreme.
I got back into my carriage and sat on my bed as I began to immerse myself into the Viper Strike Experience.