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Chapter Four: Gnoll Hogg

Advanced Paladin fighting skills expanded significantly compared to their entry-level counterparts, incorporating unarmed combat and the use of mainstream weapons like swords. Forseti estimated it might take two or three years to master it all.

The herb collection team safely returned to the third camp without incident, carrying their precious haul of herbs.

One early morning, a month later...

Forseti entered Graf Swifttooth's training space, the scene shifting to a familiar setting resembling Elwynn Forest from World of Warcraft.

Previously, Graf Swifttooth had been his daily training partner. However, with the advanced Paladin skills, Graf Swifttooth posed less of a challenge. Today, Forseti decided to defeat him decisively.

"Ahhhh... fresh meat!" Gnoll Graf Sharptooth charged with a battle axe, bellowing.

"Charge!"

Forseti blocked with his hammer, countered with a backhand swing, flames from Verrigan's Fist swirling. In quick succession, he clashed with Graf's axe, gaining a clear advantage.

"Charge!"

Weapons clashed again, but Graf Swifttooth struggled, barely holding Verrigan's Fist above his head, arms trembling.

Graf Swifttooth's face twisted in pain, a cold gleam in his eyes.

Anticipating another howl attack, Forseti swiftly repositioned his hammer, turning the handle to strike the gnoll's jaw.

"Ouch—"

Graf Sharptooth cried out, blood streaming from his mouth, halting his howl abruptly.

Forseti followed with a strong punch, flattening his face slightly, then raised Verrigan's Fist for a finishing blow.

Unable to defend, Graf Swifttooth rolled away and fled, abandoning his weapon, sprinting astonishingly fast into the distance.

In this experience space, escaping held meaning. Once a monster ran far enough, the Sanctuary deemed the challenge failed.

Once, Graf Swifttooth had vanished, prompting Forseti to continue pursuit, only to be ejected from the experience space upon the perceived failure.

Thus, he chased after him with urgency.

Despite Graf Swifttooth being weaker in combat, his escape speed amazed.

Fearing another escape and reluctant to use judgment spell fragments, Forseti hurled Verrigan's Fist.

With luck, the flaming gauntlet arced beautifully, striking Graf Sharptooth to the ground, incapacitating him momentarily.

Forseti closed the gap in a few strides, delivering a flurry of blows, and Graf Swifttooth exploded, dropping an item.

Obtained: **[Piety +39.83], [Alchemy Formula: Swiftness Potion], [Book of Experience: Hogg].**

"Hogg!"

Forseti's eyes widened at the name.

**[Hogg (BOSS)]**

**[Experience Level: Level 4]**

**[Introduction: Hogg, the great leader of the gnolls, loved by his kind and reviled by humans in Erwin...]**

Intrigued, Forseti decided to challenge this infamous boss in the experience space.

Entering Hogg's space, he found himself on Hogg's Hill in Elwynn Forest.

The environment was ordinary, but the formidable monsters surprised Forseti.

Before he could contemplate, five nearly identical gnolls charged him.

"What's going on? I'm here for Hogg!" Forseti exclaimed.

The gnolls attacked without pause, chanting, "Fresh flesh and blood!"

Forseti parried swiftly with Verrigan's Fist, taking down one gnoll.

Seemed like a regular one.

Relieved, Forseti faced the remaining four, strategically countering their attacks.

Another gnoll closed in, and Forseti dispatched him effortlessly.

Three left.

Forseti remained composed, assessing the gnolls.

Suddenly, a gnoll charged with an axe, mirroring earlier encounters.

Unfazed, Forseti swung his hammer.

Unexpectedly, the gnoll dodged, accelerating and closing the gap in an instant.

Forseti's heart raced as he punched.

The gnoll smirked, catching Forseti's fist and striking with the axe.

In a flash, Forseti was beheaded.

"It's Hogg!"

Exiting the experience space, Forseti realized too late.

Back in reality, he trembled, realizing Hogg's cunning.

"Damn, Hogg's disguise among his kin and ambush... I underestimated him," Forseti muttered, recalling the battle.

Despite his ambush, Hogg's strength proved formidable, far surpassing Forseti's expectations. He decided to postpone challenging Hogg for now.

Regaining composure, Forseti examined Graf Swifttooth's other drop.

**[Alchemy Formula: Swiftness Potion]**

**[Type: Potion]**

**[Standard item level: Level 2]**

**[Main materials: Swiftlet, Heather]**

**[Description: Run faster than anyone else - drink the Swiftness Potion to significantly increase running speed for five minutes.]**

"...So that's why Graf Swifttooth was so fast," Forseti mused.

Practical indeed. A timely Swiftness Potion could save one's life.

Set on experiencing the thrill of unparalleled speed, Forseti resolved to craft one soon.

Thus, he spent most of the day researching the formula.

At dinner, camp erupted in commotion as soldiers returned led by Heimdall, bearing wounded and fallen.

Most were smeared with a foul green liquid—the blood of Skrins.

Forseti wasn't surprised.

Skrins attacking the Asgardian camp meant Asgardians retaliated.

"Ander, fetch me a healing stone," Forseti said to Ander, noticing his injured arm and somber expression.

"What happened?" Forseti inquired as Ander sat down, handing over the healing stone.