Chapter 11: Activate Berserker Form
Nathan heard footsteps in the distance.
Many footsteps.
And those footsteps sounded like they were running much faster than before.
Nathan stopped in his tracks.
Gripping his sword tightly with both hands, Nathan prepared himself for the battle that was about to come. "It's not just one monster, Luna," he said.
Luna, who was flying around him, nodded. "That's right, Master Nathan. Three monsters are coming."
"With three enemies, I think the risk and reward ratio would make it worthwhile for me to try out my Berserker Form skill that I've been putting off," Nathan continued. "What do you think, Luna?"
"The Berserker Form will increase your fighting ability effectively," Luna replied. "If you are convinced, maybe this is a good time to use it. Plus, this is only a tier 1 skill, so the effect of the mental change won't be too strong to harm you."
The figures of three rat monsters could be seen approaching. Their three pairs of red eyes moved swiftly toward him.
Nathan did not hesitate anymore.
"Activate Berserker Form!" Nathan whispered.
Instantly, a burst of energy was felt in his heart. The energy flow instantly extended throughout his body.
"Argh!!!!" Nathan groaned, feeling pain all over his body.
Nathan gritted his teeth. There was a weird change in his body.
Nathan closed his eyes as the muscles in his arms instantly enlarged. His white hair also grew several inches.
[Healing process 34%]
"How dare these stupid monsters attack me at the same time!!!!"
Nathan shouted, then slashed his sword aside.
"Argh!!!!" Nathan shouted like a wild man and then gritted his teeth. "I will finish them all at once!!!" Saliva dripped from his mouth.
[Healing process 74%]
"Kill…!!!!"
He shot forward with explosive power and welcomed the rats that were now right in front of him.
One monster dashed at him, throwing a slash with its sharp claws.
[Healing process 89%]
Nathan jumped to the side, dodging the monster's attack. At the same time, he slashed at the rat and created a deep gash on its body.
At that moment, he slowly regained his senses.
[Healing process complete]
He lowered his head as another monster jumped at him. Nathan raised his body and threw the rat away with his shoulder.
Nathan jumped back when a third rat also jumped at him.
He dodged nimbly and then twisted his body quickly.
He delivered a slash with his sword, which instantly left a deep wound on the rat.
Apparently, it was also a fatal one.
[You've killed Swarm Rat Lv. 6]
[You received 27 experience]
[Exp: 27/60]
Nathan turned his body to face the other two rats that were jumping at him.
They were too close, and Nathan could not escape.
Wham!
The rats crashed onto his body and caused him to fall down. But he had enough time to point the tip of his sword at the rat that fell on him.
The sword's blade instantly stabbed and pierced through that hairy and rotten rat.
[You've killed Swarm Rat Lv. 5]
[You received 23 experience]
[Exp: 50/60]
Nathan kicked the dead rat away and rolled through the puddles.
His body was drenched in a disgusting mixture of mud and nauseating rat blood.
Nathan ignored the smell and stood up nimbly. He prepared for another attack. But the last rat had other plans. Upon seeing his two friends die so miserably, it decided to give up the attack and run away!
Nathan didn't delay in the slightest. He burst forward with all of his strength and managed to catch the rat before it ran away. With a flourish, he brandished his sword and finished the rat with a sword slash that severed its neck cleanly.
[You've killed Swarm Rat Lv. 5]
[You received 23 experience]
[Level Up]
[Exp: 13/72]
[You received 6 stat points]
[You received 100 skill points]
Although it was a short fight, it was brutally intense. Nathan ended up gasping for breath after the final rat died. Sweat and blood could no longer be distinguished from his forehead.
"Deactivate Berserker Form."
Nathan dropped himself into a puddle of water. He leaned against the damp and wet cave wall.
"Are you all right, Master?" Luna said with a worried face.
Nathan lifted his face, smiled, and said, "Ahahaha." He laughed loudly.
His laugh went on for several long seconds before he lowered his laughter, ending in a chuckle. He looked at Luna with a relieved-looking face.
Nathan nodded. "I think I got a slight wound." He showed his left arm, which showed a scratch there.
Nathan checked the 3 bars on the bracelet, the Hunter Device.
[Blue Bar (Mana): 70%]
[Green Bar (Energy): 30%]
[Yellow Bar (Will Power): 60%]
"The green and yellow bars fell really quickly when I used the Berserker Form earlier. It seems that the stamina used for these two skills isn't small." Nathan said to himself, still trying to normalize his breathing.
Energy and Will Power were attributes that come from Stamina. Hunters were used to calling these two attributes Stamina to make it easier for them.
"Your stamina fell really fast because your stats are still too low. The skills you have are excellent. You will be fine when your level gets higher."
Nathan smiled and nodded. "I know. Thanks, Luna."
Nathan stood up and cleaved the chest of the three rat monsters. Alas, he only found 1 Monster Core.
"One out of three. I hope the rest of the monsters aren't as stingy as these three blockheads."
He then walked on and tried to find a place that was not flooded by water and which was dry enough for him to use as a place to rest.
After a few minutes, Nathan actually found a place that was wider and not flooded. He walked to the corner and plopped himself down. He leaned back and controlled his breathing.
"I need time to recover my Energy and Will Power."
Nathan took something from his backpack.
"A bottle of water."
He opened the bottle's cap and splashed the water on his face. The fresh feeling instantly washed away the nausea that came from the mud and blood marks on his face.
"I've never tasted water this fresh before." He drank the water. Then smiled at Luna.
"You are quite enjoying the expedition, aren't you?"
Nathan was silent. He grabbed the plastic wrapper filled with jerky and chewed on it. The rotten smell in the cave did not in the least prevent him from enjoying the food.
He checked the time again and then realized that he had been there for three hours.
"Three hours? To think that time flies so fast."
Nathan finished his snack time.
"Route Quests!" Nathan muttered under his breath.
[Skill Creation Route Quests]
[Barbarian Champion 2/10]
[Barbarians have insurmountable bravery and an almost inhuman set of abilities derived from rites of passage and special training. Fight fearlessly, face anyone who stands in your way, and make those who see your presence run in fear.]
[Kill 2 Elite Grade Monsters]
[Rewards:]
[-> 70,000 Skill Points]
[-> 1 New Skill Slot]
[Requirements: Beginner Rank]
[-]
[Treasure Hunter 1/10]
[-]
Information about the next quest of the Barbarian Route Quest appeared.
"So, I have to reach beginner rank first to do the second quest? Okay."
Beginner rank will automatically be assigned to a hunter at level 51. The rank continued to Bronze at level 101, Silver at level 151, Gold at level 201, Platinum at level 251, Diamond at level 301, and Transcendent at level 401.
"That's right, Master Nathan. While waiting to reach level 50, you can do other quest routes or even unlock a new quest route."
"But isn't killing 2 elite monsters for a quest as low as this too much?"
After finishing his meal, Nathan relaxed and took a brief respite.
"I'm having a hard time because my Stamina stat is too low. Please put all the stat points I have in Stamina, Luna."
"Okay, Master."
[12 Stat Points -> Stamina]
"Good. Now show me my Status Page."
[Status]
[Name: Nathan Gardner]
[Race: Half Human]
[Level: Unranked Lv. 3]
[Exp: 13/72]
[-]
[Strength: 20]
[Dexterity: 17]
[Agility: 18]
[Magic: 21]
[Constitution: 12]
[Stamina: 39]
[Stat Points: 0]
[Skill Points: 448,654]
[-]
[Skill Creation System][+]
[Classes][+]
[Titles][+]
Nathan then checked the status bar on his bracelet.
[Blue Bar (Mana): 70%]
[Green Bar (Energy): 50%]
[Yellow Bar (Will Power): 70%]
"I feel like my stamina is starting to come back," Nathan remarked, tapping the device in his hand thoughtfully. "And I'm thinking of making a new skill that might help me make it through this dungeon faster. What do you think, Luna?"
He glanced up at her, awaiting a response.
"I think that's a great idea, Master," Luna replied, nodding her head.
A digital window, a skill creation window, appeared in front of him.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone