Chapter 12: Surprise, Blood Orchid Fruit!
Rare Skill: Fire Control
Effect: Create a fireball with your hands, charge for two seconds, and attack creatures within a 20-meter range. Each use consumes two energy points, dealing 150% of the "Spirit" attribute's magic output as damage. Alternatively, spend five energy points to enchant a weapon with fire, granting an additional 100 "Spirit" magic damage per attack for 30 seconds.
Jack examined the new skill and immediately tested it. After a few attempts, he came to a conclusion.
"Fireballs are useful for ranged attacks, but their speed isn't great. The farther the target, the harder it is to hit. It won't be very reliable in fast combat."
However, the flame enchantment was another story. Adding fire damage to his weapon significantly boosted his attack power.
"Since this C-tier talent has become a rare-quality skill, I should try upgrading it."
Jack activated his talent to enhance the skill.
System Notification: Enhancing this skill requires 10,000 experience points. Insufficient experience points; enhancement failed.
Jack sighed. "That's expensive... It really is a rare skill."
Since he'd recently spent a lot of experience points on agility and equipment upgrades, he had less than 500 left. Enhancing this skill would have to wait until he gained more experience.
He then turned his attention to the loot dropped by the defeated scumbag quartet.
The first item was a simple cloth shirt:
Equipment: Simple Cloth
Quality: Lv1 Normal
Type: Cloth Armor
Durability: 15/15
Requirements: Lv1 or above
Attributes: +20 HP, +1 physical defense, +5% Spirit boost
The second item was an old cross:
Equipment: Dilapidated Cross
Quality: Lv1 Normal
Type: Heavy weapon
Durability: 15/15
Requirements: Lv1 or above
Attributes: +1 Spirit, +1 physical/magic defense
Effect: Reduces attack speed by 10%, increases healing skill effectiveness by 5%
Jack put on the cloth armor. It wasn't great, but it was better than nothing. As for the cross, he had no use for it and decided to store it in his backpack. Maybe he could trade it later.
With the items sorted, he turned to the high-level blind box he had earned from slaying the poisonous cat demon.
System Notification: You have opened a High-Level Blind Box. Congratulations! You have obtained the equipment: "Gale Necklace."
Equipment: Gale Necklace
Quality: Lv2 High
Type: Jewelry
Requirements: Lv1 or above
Attributes: +3 Agility, +5 Energy
Jack grinned. "A necklace! My equipment set is coming together nicely."
The +3 Agility was particularly valuable. Speed was his greatest asset, and every point counted.
As he reviewed his inventory, Jack thought about the four players he had just defeated. They were all Level 2 and had dared to hunt cat demons here, meaning they were among the stronger players in G233 Novice Village.
And yet, despite their level, all they had was low-tier gear.
Compared to them, Jack's equipment was leagues ahead.
Still, he reminded himself not to get complacent. "No time to be proud. Gotta keep grinding."
A Change in Strategy
Jack decided to explore further into the forest.
The encounter with the scumbag quartet had been a wake-up call—stronger players were coming here to farm cat demons. If he stayed in the same area, he'd run into more trouble.
While he wasn't afraid of anyone, he didn't want to attract unnecessary attention. If word got out about his performance, he'd become a target for larger groups looking to take him down.
It was time to push deeper into unknown territory.
Jack continued hunting cat demons as he moved, making sure not to waste time. With his improved agility and strength, he could now kill a cat demon in just three strikes. If he landed a critical hit on a weak spot, he could take one down in a single blow.
This meant faster kills and more experience points.
A New Discovery
After nearly an hour of fighting and traveling, Jack reached the edge of the cat demon's territory.
Ahead of him, the dark forest opened into a vast, sunlit plain.
The bright light allowed him to see far into the distance, where he spotted reptilian creatures resembling Komodo dragons scattered across the field. They were spaced about ten meters apart, making them easy targets for solo fights.
Jack prepared to approach one stealthily, intending to use Insight to scan its stats before engaging.
But then, something caught his attention.
A strange, sweet fragrance drifted through the air.
"Huh? What's that smell?"
Curious, Jack followed the scent deeper into the forest.
After a short search, he found the source—a bright red flower growing at the base of a large tree. Nestled within its petals was a thumb-sized, dark red fruit.
As soon as Jack focused on it, a virtual panel displayed the information:
Item: Blood Orchid Fruit
Type: Rare Plant
Requirements: 15 Stamina or higher
Effect: Consuming this fruit permanently increases Stamina by 5 points.
Note: This is a gift from nature! However, picking it will provoke the wrath of the Violent Cat Demon!
Jack's eyes lit up.
"A gift from nature... This must be one of the hidden opportunities mentioned in the system announcement!"
Without hesitation, he plucked the fruit.
His Stamina was currently at 11, meaning he needed four more points to meet the requirement.
No problem—he could just level up his Stamina right now.
System Notification: You have consumed 600, 700, 800, and 900 experience points to strengthen the "Stamina" attribute four times. Stamina +4!
Now he met the requirement.
System Notification: You have consumed the Blood Orchid Fruit. Stamina +5!
Jack immediately felt the benefits. His HP and defense had increased significantly, making him even more durable.
He had barely finished processing his new stats when—
"Wooooo—!"
A chilling, bloodcurdling howl echoed through the trees.
Jack instinctively looked up.
From the thick branches above, a blur of white fur streaked toward him.
A Violent Cat Demon was attacking!
Jack reacted instantly, sidestepping the incoming attack. The creature landed where he had just been, snarling. Unlike the previous poisonous cat demon, this one was much larger and had sleek, snow-white fur. Its eyes gleamed with feral rage.
Jack activated Insight.
Species: Violent Cat Demon (Lv3 Elite Creature)
HP: 1500
Strength: 20
Agility: 22
Spirit: 12
Endurance: 18
Stamina: 20
Weak Spot: 48 cm below the ribcage.
Jack frowned. "This one's even stronger than the last."
But he was stronger, too.
The Violent Cat Demon circled him, its sharp claws gleaming in the sunlight. Jack tightened his grip on his Tang sword.
A high-level fight was about to begin.
To be continued…
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