The hunter in the decaying forest
***
{You have killed a level 4 Stone Ogre!}
{You gained XP!}
***
Clinton managed to kill his first level 4 monster and soon enough, he learned one of the major differences between high-leveled monsters and lower-leveled ones in the decaying forest.
Unlike the level 3 monsters and lower-leveled monsters that would respawn into this forest after mere hours of being killed, it took a full day, 24 hours for a level 4 monster to be respawned.
Apart from the Gate Guardian of this level of the dungeon, after his exploration, Clinton was able to establish the number of high-leveled monsters.
In the decaying forest, apart from the Gate Guardian, there were five level 5 monsters. A single level 5 Green Goblin, another level 5 Undead Tree, but three different level 5 Stone Ogres.
Only in the highest level of this part of the dungeon did the Stone Ogres have the numbers superiority.
This was likely because of their bloodline superiority.
Compared to the other monster species, the Stone Ogres had a tendency to survive more in the lower levels. This created the foundation into stepping into the higher levels in this part of the dungeon.
As for lower-leveled monsters in the decaying forest, the Green Goblins had the greatest numbers.
Across the decaying forest, there were less than fifteen level 4 monsters and more than half of them were Green Goblins.
Not everyone of them led packs though.
There were eight level 4 Green Goblins, and incredulously, five of them moved and hunted in the pack of the sole level 5 Green Goblin of this forest.
They were the Generals of the level 5 Goblin’s Goblin army.
Its pack was the biggest of all monsters in the decaying forest.
As for the remaining three level 4 Green Goblins, Clinton just killed the only one that was the sole leader of its pack.
The remaining two level 4 Green Goblins led a pack as a couple.
When he first noticed it, Clinton’s reaction?
‘F*ck! Even monsters engage in love goals?’
‘What a messed-up world man’.
Despite the fact that he managed to kill a level 4 Green Goblin, Clinton was not arrogant yet to think he could take on two level 4 Green Goblins at the same time, most especially when they led a pack together.
After testing his newfound strength against the level 4 Green Goblin, Clinton concluded that in terms of raw power, his strength attribute was already higher than same-leveled Green Goblins.
Even his defense seemed on par with them now.
The only deficiency he had against the Green Goblins was speed. They were the fastest monsters in the decaying forest, and they showed it in battle.
After that test, Clinton decided that in the grand scheme of things, he was now at the upper spectrum of the food chain of the decaying forest.
No longer was he last in the food chain.
Despite his upgrade, he was not yet ready to take on two level 4 Green Goblins and was why he decided to spend that time crafting more weapons.
Also, he intended to train his combat skills even more.
He was still not 100% used to living as a skeleton.
As someone who once aspired to enter the UFC, he knew the importance of body coordination. This was why he decided to train using the lower-leveled monsters as his training partners.
At the same time, he wanted to see if he could improve his Spear Master class. Even if he could not, he wanted to get a thorough grasp over it.
And so, Clinton started a game.
A game of the hunter and the hunted.
Of course, has not the hunted.
This time, he became the hunter of the decaying forest.
***
{You have killed a level 3 Undead Tree!}
{You gained 0 XP!}
…
{You have killed a level 3 Green Goblin!}
{You gained 0 XP!}
…
{You have killed a level 3 Green Goblin!}
{You gained 0 XP!}
…
{You have killed a level 3 Stone Ogre!}
{You gained 0 XP!}
…
{You have crafted a low-tier weapon…}
{You have crafted a low-tier weapon…}
{You have crafted a low-tier weapon…}
{You have crafted a low-tier weapon…}
{You have crafted a mid-tier weapon: Wooden Dagger!}
{Mid-tier weapon, Wooden Dagger has been imbued with an active skill: Assassination Strike!}
>Assassination Strike: This wooden dagger was created with immaculate craftsmanship and has gained the properties of an assassin. When activated, +80% damage when dealing a stabbing strike and a guaranteed critical hit chance<
{NOTE: Using assassination strike heavily drains stamina!}
…
{You have crafted a mid-tier weapon: Wooden Spear!]
{Mid-tier weapon, Wooden Spear has been imbued with an active skill: Vibration!}
>Vibration: This Wooden Spear was crafted from the dead remains of a once tall and sturdy majestic Iroko tree. It has incredible hardness and toughness which is reflected when attacking through vibration<
>When activated, +40% chance of stunning enemy<
{NOTE: Low-tier stun state lasts for only 2 seconds!}
***
For the next few hours, all Clinton did was hunt the lower-leveled monsters, training with them even as he continued crafting weapons.
And this was his result.
Through his clash against the lower-leveled monsters, Clinton was able to hone his skills with a wooden dagger and a wooden spear to a whole new level.
It no longer felt weird seeing him fight, it was now more natural.
At the same time, by crafting so much, he finally hit the jackpot again as he crafted his second mid-tier Wooden Dagger. Riding the momentum of his first success, he was able to successfully ride it to create a 3rd straight mid-tier weapon.
He crafted his first mid-tier Wooden Spear during this same time.
This was when he finally confirmed the spawn duration of level 4 monsters. This was when the Green Goblin that he killed finally respawned, after 24 hours.
And immediately, picking up his weapons, Clinton went on the hunt again.
This time, it was even easier to kill the level 4 Green Goblin after invalidating its pack of lower-leveled Green Goblins.
Clinton was getting stronger.
After that battle, he was unwilling to wait another 24 hours for the level 4 Green Goblin to respawn though, this was why he set his sights on another target.
This time, Clinton set his sights on a pack of Undead Trees led by two powerful level 4 Undead Trees.
As for why he went for two level 4 Undead Trees and not two level 4 Green Goblins despite the Goblins being weaker?
It was simple, Clinton knew the weakness of the Undead Trees.
And again, he would use it against them on a large scale.
He took his time for hours to thoroughly prepare the battlefield.