Chapter 19 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.