Chapter 8

by lion

“Hmm…”

It was a strange feeling. Perhaps because he’d seen a Rare card, these common cards didn’t quite resonate with him. And a mere two consecutive attacks, without an attack power boost option like Bite?

As the man savored the moment, another level-up message arrived. This was the third already. He pressed ‘Y’ again, and another new card appeared.

Card Info

Name: Crimson Wolf
Level: 1Lv
Experience: 0
Grade: Common
Category: Summon
Growth: Premature (Mid)
Attribute: None
Effect: Summons one Red Wolf.
Cost: 20
Seed: 1 Slot

“So, it’s that wolf from before.” He thought it was unlikely a tutorial wolf would be very strong, but the name was quite impressive. Even so, it still just meant “red wolf.”

He figured it would end soon, but then another level-up message arrived. This was the fourth. The man checked the number of cards he had obtained so far: one Bite, three Blood Soaked, one Blood Soaked (R), one Twin Strike, and one Red Wolf. Including this one, he had leveled up a total of seven times, making his current level 8.

“It’s a bit inconvenient that the character info isn’t showing.” He also noticed that experience was expressed as “a little,” “some,” or “quite a lot,” rather than exact figures, making him wonder if the system was deliberately trying to hide the precise numbers.

With that thought, the man claimed his next reward. Fortunately, it wasn’t Blood Soaked; instead, it was the Bite card he had received at the very beginning.

“Tsk…” The man clicked his tongue in disappointment, but no further level-up messages arrived. However, claiming rewards wasn’t over yet. He still had three reward boxes left from completing the hidden quest. Since they were reward boxes and not random cards, this time he might get an item.

The man opened the first reward box.

Congratulations!

You have acquired ‘Healing Potion‘ from the additional reward box.

Healing Potions are excellent for healing external wounds.
[Click here for detailed card information.]

Although it was a Healing Potion, it was still in card form. The Healing Potion card could be used a total of 10 times before it disappeared. He opened the next box, curious to see what would come out this time, but… the moment he saw the result, the man despaired. It was, of course, the Blood Soaked card.

“I wondered why it hadn’t shown up yet…” With a look of resignation, the man opened the last Rare box.

Congratulations!

You have acquired ‘Frenzy‘ from the additional reward box (R).

Skill cards can be equipped in card slots to use their abilities.
-Would you like to equip the skill card in a card slot? (Y/n) _
[Click here for detailed card information.]

“Frenzy, huh?” The man checked the detailed information first.

Card Info

Name: Frenzy
Level: 1Lv
Experience: 0
Grade: Uncommon
Category: Skill
Growth: Normal (Mid)
Attribute: None
Effect: Activates Frenzy state.
Cost: 10
Seed: 2 Slots

The man then checked the detailed information about the Frenzy state.

Frenzy: Awakens the blind destructive instinct flowing in your blood.

Base Duration: 1 minute
Attack Power Increase: 50%
Armor Effect Decrease: 50%

“Hmm…” For 1 minute, his attack power would greatly increase, but his defense would decrease. He confirmed that Uncommon grade was higher than Common but lower than Rare.

While it was a decent card that could turn the tide if used in a critical situation, its grade was ambiguous, and he had hoped for an item, so the man couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

“Tsk… a waste, but I can’t help it.” Having claimed all the rewards, he was about to put his phone away when a new message suddenly appeared. The man quickly checked it, wondering what it was.

Congratulations!

You can now combine Combo Cards.

Currently available Combo Cards:
1. Haria’s Mad Dog [View Details]
2. Jant Hunsen’s Berserker [View Details]
-If you wish to combine a Combo Card, press the corresponding number. If not, press ‘n’. (1/2/n) _

“Combo Card?” The man tilted his head and checked the detailed information.

Haria’s Mad Dog

-This card combination is modeled after the abilities of a certain mad dog, famous for its undefeated legend in Haria, known for its fighting dogs. It specializes in Bite attacks.
[Combination Details]
- Bite, Twin Strike, Frenzy, Blood Soaked, Blood Soaked
Effect:
1. Attack Speed Increase: 100% during ‘Bite’.
2. Attack Power Increase: 50% during ‘Bite’.
3. Fear Incitement Chance Increase: 20% during ‘Bite’.

“…” The man was momentarily speechless. It was certainly… good, but it was a card combination he couldn’t imagine using if anyone else was watching.

“…” The man silently gazed at the sky for a moment, then checked the details of the next combination.

Jant Hunsen’s Berserker

-The berserkers of the North flaunt their existence through blind attacks that defy death. To them, blood and death are merely seasonings for steak.
[Combination Details]
- Frenzy, Blood Soaked, Blood Soaked, Blood Soaked
Effect:
1. Attack Power Increase: 100%. Fear Incitement Chance Increase: 30%.
2. All equipped armor is removed.
3. Cooldown Reduction: 50% for all physical attack skills.

“Hmm…” Doubling his attack power and halving the cooldown of physical attack skills was certainly amazing, but having all equipped armor removed was a bit problematic. However, the man wasn’t currently wearing any armor, so it seemed like there wouldn’t be any major issues using it.

“For now, Berserker is better.” The Mad Dog‘s effects weren’t bad, but the psychological aversion was significant, so the man chose Berserker.

As he selected ‘Jant Hunsen’s Berserker,’ he suddenly felt a surge of power.

“Ooooh!” The man was intoxicated by the surging power, jumping up and down for a while before finally calming down after some time.

“Ahem…” Regaining his composure, the man re-examined his card slots. He had ten usable card slots in total. Five of them were for registering skill cards, and the other five could be used to register and use cards other than skill cards.

The man registered Crimson Wolf and Healing Potion into the empty slots. He could register up to five skill cards; currently, four were occupied by the Berserker card combination, leaving one empty. The man inserted the Twin Strike card into that empty slot.

Normally, the cooldown for Twin Strike was 3 seconds. With the added effect of the Berserker combo, the skill cooldown would be reduced to 1.5 seconds. In contrast, the Fear Incitement effect of the Blood Soaked card lasted for 1 second, so if he was lucky, he could achieve an almost infinite chain of attacks while completely blocking the enemy’s counterattacks.

“This… might be useful.” Although three Blood Soaked cards were included, only the highest grade card’s effect would apply, so the actual total Fear Incitement effect was currently 60%. If he could further increase the Fear Incitement effect and the skill cooldown reduction, it could truly become an overpowered combo.

Just as the man was about to ponder if there was a way to do that, another message was delivered to his phone.

Congratulations!

You have successfully combined ‘Jant Hunsen’s Berserker‘ for the first time!

-To commemorate your feat, you have been granted the title ‘First Berserker‘.
[Click here for detailed title information.]

“Oooh!” The man quickly checked the detailed information of the title.

[First Berserker]

Title granted to the first person to successfully combine ‘Jant Hunsen’s Berserker‘.
Effect: Additional Fear Incitement Chance +5%.
-Title effects are automatically applied upon acquisition.

The man’s mind suddenly sharpened. If a title was granted for being the first to successfully combine the Berserker combination, then it was only natural there would be a title for the Mad Dog combination.

The man quickly filled his card slots with the Mad Dog combination. And sure enough, a message immediately arrived, stating that he had successfully combined it for the first time. The man immediately checked the detailed information of the title.

[First Mad Dog]

Title granted to the first person to successfully combine ‘Haria’s Mad Dog‘.
Effect: Additional Fear Incitement Chance +10%.
-Title effects are automatically applied upon acquisition.

“Ooooh!” He was a bit puzzled why the Mad Dog‘s Fear Incitement Chance was higher than the Berserker‘s, but with this, the man achieved a 75% Fear Incitement effect. Of course, this was when using the Berserker combination… if he used the Mad Dog combination, he would get a 65% Fear Incitement effect.

The man re-filled his card slots with the Berserker combination and then discovered a way to set his desired card combination using voice commands.

“First is Berserker, second is Mad Dog.” After setting the voice commands, the man turned his attention to the exit that had appeared before him.

“Well… shall I go?” The man took a deep breath and stepped towards the brightly shining exit.

“…” Beyond the passage was a dark stone chamber. Fortunately, torches lit the walls, making it easy to see his surroundings. As the man quietly looked around, another message appeared on his phone.

Starting Tutorial.

6. Defeat the Boss.

-This is the final hurdle. You must break through the dungeon of trials based on the abilities you have gained so far. The boss guarding the last exit is very powerful, so you must prepare thoroughly.

“Finally, the boss.” The man gripped his wooden spear. Although the weapon wasn’t very good, he felt confident thanks to the generous rewards he had received from previous quests.

The man approached the stone door on one side of the chamber and slowly pushed it. With a rough creaking sound of the hinges, the door opened. He thought the boss would appear immediately, but it seemed he had to go through this passage to reach the boss.

The man returned to the stone chamber and took a torch from the wall. He had made a torch himself, but since it was made by roughly weaving bushes and adding pine resin, there was a significant difference in firepower. It would be troublesome if his light went out in a dark place, so he needed to be prepared. The man began to walk into the passage.