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Chapter 6: The Great Dog-Slaying Adventure
We returned to Kampnavia City and sold the spoils from our previous battles. During the transactions, Millionfold was delighted to discover that being an apothecary was a common profession among the tauren, who valued strength and were close to nature, but quite rare among humans living in cities. In all of Kampnavia, there wasn’t a single potion trainer apart from Apothecary Eld’s shop, where no other place sold the potions people needed.
Thus, he set up a temporary stall outside the pharmacy, selling his potions at two-thirds the shop's price. Though he could only make the least effective small health potions, their affordable prices were irresistibly attractive to cash-strapped beginners eager for adventure. Soon, over thirty potions were sold out, and his purse was considerably heavier than that of most adventurers at his level.
Besides potions, we brought items like chicken feathers, cat skins, and dog bones, which we sold cheaply to general stores as raw materials. These items held little value beyond a few copper coins. Even for these small deals, Millionfold sought to maximize profits. He persuaded Elegant Strings to hand over everything, letting me sell them to the storekeeper, hoping my human "mercantile" racial trait would yield an extra twenty percent profit.
Honestly, I couldn't understand why the creator only bestowed this "mercantile" nature upon humans. Seeing Millionfold’s eyes gleam with golden light when he got the money, the term "mercantile" seemed more fitting for him. His shrewdness and acumen in commercial transactions starkly contrasted with his rugged appearance and common perceptions of tauren. Traditionally, tauren should be...
Forget it, who cares about tradition these days? Just in this short span of time, I'd seen too many things defy convention: sudden darkness, shifting identities, fierce hens, nearsighted elf rangers... Whether it was my luck today encountering these incredible events or if the world itself was inherently unpredictable, I couldn’t fathom.
Before leaving the city, we didn’t forget to visit the weapon and armor shop. After some selection, Elegant Strings purchased enough arrows for the next hunt and upgraded his weapon to a stronger bow. The solid wood and more elastic sinew bowstring extended its range and increased attack power by ten points compared to his old longbow. But to me, for this blind-as-a-bat elf—who saw double images beyond five steps—having even the legendary elven magical longbow "Wind's Melody" wouldn’t change his effective range. Given his severe inaccuracy, I doubted the increased weapon damage was a good thing.
Millionfold chose a sturdy leather armor set. In previous battles, the poorly defended long-horned warrior had suffered greatly wearing just leather pants. Now, finally free from embarrassment, he looked thrilled. Moreover, the shiny armor accentuated his already robust muscles on his tall frame, enhancing his majestic demeanor. This change made him rather proud. However, judging by his stumbling three or four times after leaving the shop, adapting to this armor would take time for someone lacking balance.
As for me, I kept most of my gear but sold my iron helmet, adding some money to buy a lightweight metal round shield. I found wearing such a hard, narrow thing on my head torturous; it only added minimal defense, whereas this shield could do much more.
When we exited the city gates again, we were quite different. New weapons and equipment boosted our confidence. We passed through the bustling gate area and headed deeper into the forest along our previous path. Along the way, a few lynxes and wild dogs attacked us, allowing us to test our new gear. After several minor skirmishes, we were satisfied with the performance of our new equipment. Millionfold and I also gathered enough wild dog pelts for our quest. With our full protection, Elegant Strings could get closer to targets, significantly improving his accuracy. His potent damage also sped up our hunting and leveling. Soon, Elegant Strings reached level seven, Millionfold level five. I was just 50 soul points away from level five, with 240 Health, 120 stamina, and attack and defense stats over 20. Typically, beasts at levels five or six posed no threat to me.
Much later did I realize how terrifying killing truly is. Its horror isn’t in the violence and bloodshed that repulse and terrify—it’s in the illusion it instills in every participant, making them believe they’re powerful enough to conquer and dominate other lives, granting them complete rights over weaker beings. As each seemingly ferocious opponent fell by your hand, a sense of euphoria filled you, a surge of satisfaction driving you to seek the next foe. It’s an addictive pleasure, blinding you to the gore and brutality, intoxicating you with repeated proof of your strength.
Initially, I merely wanted to collect enough wild dog pelts to complete my task and earn my reward.
But gradually, things spiraled out of control. I found myself uncontrollably loving this slaughter, trading the souls of savage beasts for my own advancement. I used my shield to fend off their claws and teeth, slicing their bodies with my sword, finding joy in their blood and cries.
"They are beasts that attack humans!"
"I’m doing this to protect the townsfolk!" I repeatedly told myself, excusing my brutality.
It was self-deception. I just wanted to kill them, grow stronger, and perhaps kill more. That’s all!
Just as we indulged in this killing spree, a silvery shadow suddenly slipped into view from deep in the forest, slowly prowling behind a dense thicket.
This was a massive wild dog, unlike any beast I’d ever seen. Its body was both stout and elongated, comparable to a robust calf. If it stood on its hind legs, its front paws could easily reach my shoulders. Unlike ordinary beasts, this one had extraordinary silver-white fur. The fur was smooth like satin, faintly shimmering with a subtle glow.
Clearly, this big guy wasn’t in a good mood. It paced slowly, emitting cruel growls from its throat, occasionally opening its mouth wide and shaking its head, revealing two rows of strong, sharp teeth. Its paws were also large, nearly twice the size of a regular wild dog’s, with sharp claws hidden in the pads, yet exuding dangerous, bloodthirsty vibes. Sticky saliva dripping from its teeth indicated this fierce beast was hungry. It surveyed the surrounding bushes with greedy eyes, searching for a fresh, tasty dinner.
Matching its unusual massive form, this vicious beast had a distinct name: "Rabid Hound Kaplan." Using Soul Mirror, I checked its level—it was an eight-level beast. Unlike others, beside its level, two small words were noted in silver: "Leader." Had I understood the implications of those words fully, I would have guaranteed not making that bold, dangerous decision.
"We..." Millionfold spotted the beast immediately, instinctively licking his lips, dry from tension, his voice wavering with visible hesitation. "Let’s not provoke it. Hunting regular wild dogs seems safer."
On my other side, Elf Ranger Elegant Strings displayed an entirely opposite warlike enthusiasm:
"One level higher and a leader, it should be stronger than regular eight-level monsters, but..." He paused, then stated confidently, "...with three of us, if we coordinate well, we still have a chance."
Both had valid points, making it hard for me to decide. Seeing me hesitating, Millionfold panicked. He glanced anxiously at Elegant Strings and then at me:
"You aren’t serious, are you? It’s an eight-level leader monster; it looks tough. Honestly, my instincts feel bad."
Elegant Strings clearly dismissed Tauren Warrior’s cautiousness—often called "cowardice"—mockingly retorting:
"Your instincts have never been good! I don’t see what’s so impressive about it—it’s just a bit bigger. Besides..." He sneered at the tall horned warrior beside him, "Fact proves being big doesn’t mean being strong."
Insulted, Millionfold’s face turned red—an odd reaction given the thick bull skin. He immediately retorted:
"You ‘see’? Can you even see? To you, it’s just a slightly larger shadow. Without the name display, you’d think it’s a big white mushroom."
"You… I…" Having his weakness exposed, Elegant Strings was speechless, unable to counter. After stammering for a while, he helplessly argued:
"Anyway... I strongly suggest fighting this leader monster. If we can’t beat it, we’ll run. And..." He paused, then temptingly whispered, "Leader monsters might drop good loot..."
With three of us, and their debate unresolved, they simultaneously looked at me, awaiting my final decision.
I must admit, though Elegant Strings lost the verbal sparring, his last statement carried undeniable persuasion, hard to resist.
I knew this rabid hound would be a tough opponent, and this fight would be perilous. Yet, greed for valuable loot drove me to make a risky decision.
Moreover, easy prey killings had inflated my confidence, and prolonged suspense-free battles made me crave stronger opponents for greater thrills. Perhaps this impulse stemmed from the thrill of slaughter—once started, it’s hard to stop. Feeling oneself grow stronger is an indescribable addiction; overwhelming massacres and victories only temporarily quell your thirst, stirring deeper desires within. This desire compels you to face stronger foes, using their blood to validate your growth.
Now, my body was controlled by this intense desire, compelling me to unleash my strength. I glared at the rabid hound, drew my sword, and nodded to my companions:
"Let’s go!"
Moments later, Elf Ranger Elegant Strings stealthily approached the rabid hound from behind. The elves’ natural agility helped; even amidst fallen leaves, his footsteps were quiet, the rustle almost masked by the gentle breeze. Soon, Elegant Strings reached about five steps from Rabid Hound Kaplan, drawing his bow.
Even at such close range, facing such a huge target, this physiologically variant elf's incredible archery shocked us—he missed, twice in a row. I couldn’t understand how he managed it. At point-blank range, where you could almost thrust a sword into the hound’s rear, aiming at its large backside occupying two-thirds of your vision, an elf ranger somehow shot arrows thirty steps away onto a tree trunk. Even I would find that difficult. Describing his archery as "poor" was insufficient—it was a miracle!
While considering another plan, Elegant Strings finally caught Rabid Hound Kaplan’s attention—not by hitting it, but because the beast stretched lazily and turned around.
Seeing silent dog buttocks suddenly sprout two rows of fangs and emit threatening growls, Elegant Strings' erratic gaze froze. Realizing what happened, he let out a piercing scream and ran. The elves’ agility helped again; despite the hound’s chase, it only managed to leave two wounds on his back.
Though not as planned, we achieved our first goal of luring Rabid Hound Kaplan closer. The enraged giant dog pursued relentlessly, intent on making the skinny, long-eared guy its appetizer. As it neared its target, the expected "appetizer" suddenly veered, circled a thick tree, and vanished.
Rabid Hound Kaplan followed swiftly. As it rushed past the tree, a massive wooden stake flew out from behind, carrying a strong whirlwind, smashing heavily into the hound’s waist with a loud "bang."
Millionfold’s ambush exceeded expectations. The silvery beast was airborne, losing over one-seventh of its life force. Not only that, it staggered upon landing, seemingly suffering a severe injury to its spine. However, this didn’t deter Rabid Hound Kaplan; instead, our ambush unleashed the last vestiges of savagery in this giant dog. It crouched low, alert and furious, glaring at the two suddenly appearing figures, its facial muscles contorted grotesquely by bared fangs. Threatening growls emanated from its throat, rage and vengeance burning in its blood-red eyes.
Seeing Rabid Hound Kaplan’s ferocity, the mighty Tauren Warrior displayed an unusual "bravery" from his bloodline—
He immediately retreated behind me, timidly pushing me forward. His massive frame curled tightly, trying vainly to hide behind me. But it was futile; his two large horns stuck out pitifully from my sides, like shameful banners displaying his embarrassing "remarkable" courage.
Despite pushing me to the front, Millionfold forgot his oversized weapon—the huge wooden stake impossible for me to conceal.
Spotting the stake, the injured rabid hound recognized it as the culprit of its earlier misfortune. It roared and darted out like an arrow, straight at Millionfold. Though limping from its waist injury, its speed was astonishing. In an instant, the silvery beast charged at the Tauren Warrior.
I have no doubt that extreme fear can drive one’s limbs to great potential. Millionfold was a case in point. As the rabid hound approached, he screamed, raised his heavy stake high, and swung wildly at the approaching foe, eyes shut tight, head turned right, yelling:
"Don’t come near... Help... Somebody help me..."
When I was guarding the city gates, I vaguely heard passing Planewalkers mention a condition called "mad cow disease," reportedly a deadly ailment. I guessed they meant something like this now. A frenzied tauren, even one scared mad by cowardice, was terrifying—his attacks indiscriminate, enveloping both me and the approaching wild dog in a vast shadow. This desperate strike came fast and fierce, far exceeding his usual level, leaving me unable to react, let alone "help him."
I rolled clumsily, barely escaping his indiscriminate powerful assault, leaving the silvery beast within Millionfold’s attack range. As I steadied, a gust of wind whizzed past my head, scaring cold sweat out of me.
Yet, this dangerously swift strike was equally hard to defend against for the approaching beast. We watched the massive stake inch toward the silver dog leader’s forehead, thinking it couldn’t evade this heavy blow.
But just as the stake was about to strike Rabid Hound Kaplan again, the cunning beast suddenly turned its head left, lunged at a nearby tree trunk, pushed off with its hind legs, and rebounded toward Millionfold’s back. In the blink of an eye, a piercing, ear-splitting sound came from Millionfold’s back, and we saw three tears in his new leather armor, blood spurting from the breaches.
"Aoow..." Caught off guard, Millionfold screamed in pain, his huge bull-like eyes seemingly tearing up.
"...They said the pain control system is absolutely safe for humans? Bullshit! Let those irresponsible programmers try it themselves—it hurts worse than being bitten by a real wild dog..."
Millionfold continued his pathetic wailing, while the silvery beast, without stopping, turned and charged straight at me. Originally, I planned to block this attack with my sword and counterattack. But as I prepared to do so, the sight of the bloody wounds on Millionfold’s back made me falter. At the last moment, I abandoned the counterattack idea, bracing my left arm’s shield against my head and chest, right arm supporting the left, and pushed forward forcefully...
A gust of rank wind hit my face, almost suffocating. I felt a tremendous force crash against the shield, numbing my left arm and tightening my chest, making breathing nearly impossible.
Rabid Hound Kaplan was also pushed back, rolling and resuming its menacing glare at us.
It proved wise to retreat at the last moment. Three claw marks appeared on my new shield, the worn metal clearly visible.
I chose this shield for its sturdiness; even sharp, heavy blades and axes struggled to damage it noticeably.
Now, this ferocious beast before us effortlessly left marks on my shield. Could its claws really be sharper than swords and stronger than axes?
I wondered, if I had stubbornly faced this attack head-on, what would I look like now?
I didn’t want to know the answer to that question at all...
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