56 Chapter 56: Living Mountain
[Snowfield has received two skill points.]
[The bonus damage and range of Snowfield have increased from level 5 (5%) (12.5 meters) to level 7 (7%) (17.5 meters).]
***
The bright sunlight from above shone through the dense forest. Bird songs and the howling of nearby monsters could be heard throughout the area. The terrain's elevation varied with distance; it was a section of the forest filled with stone hills and massive trees. Many of the passing monsters were drinking from a nearby spring.
However, none of those monsters stayed long because this was a powerful monster's territory. Although this monster was not aggressive enough to attack anything in its path, no monster in this forest would want to meet it when it was hungry. This monster had withstood the test of time and had won countless battles to the death. It was now part of the highest monster hierarchy in this area of the Kegali forest.
A ten-meter-tall monster that resembled a boar, with a dark brown, round muscular body and spiky fur as sharp as blades on its back. It grunted while feeding on the leaves of trees and dwarf plants. With tusks that could sever the toughest monsters in this forest. It had powerful feet that could crush the bones of anyone unlucky enough to be stepped on. Standing there, it appeared to be a walking hill between the tall trees that surrounded it. This monster was thought to be one of the largest land-dwelling monsters in Kegali.
***
Race: Varraco Grande [Level: 56/60].
***
HP: 1010/1010
MP: 560/560
Top Speed: 112 km/h
Defense: 5
***
Stats:
Strength: 101
Agility: 56
Intelligence: 56
***
Damaging Active Skills:
Tusk Strike [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Unstoppable Charge [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Giant's Crunch [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Giant's Fury [MP Cost: 18] [Level: 18/20].
**
Non-damaging Active Skills:
Heavy Hitter [MP Cost: 1]
Vanguard [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Territorial [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
**
Passive Skills:
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
[Lesser] Mana Absorb.
[Lesser] Life Absorb.
[Lesser] Desperation.
***
It was part of their species to be oblivious to their surroundings as long as they were not attacked, and they would only become aggressive when hungry and craving meat. They were not, however, benign; once they decided to hunt, they could be extremely vicious and dangerous.
To compensate for its slow reaction time, the Varraco Grande kept its Vanguard skill active at all times. It was thus safe from any surprise attack by any monster foolish enough to attack it and try to exploit its reaction time. The Varraco Grande was a complete powerhouse, with exceptional defensive and offensive abilities that few monsters in this part of the forest possessed.
However... One of the few monsters capable of fighting it had decided to pay it a visit.
The Varraco Grande's munching came to a halt when it became aware of a sudden change in its surroundings. Along with the sudden change in temperature, a gentle touch of snow fell on its massive body. Despite being directly in the sun, the environment became colder as a result of the chilling wind blowing from a specific direction—a few meters away from the Varraco Grande. The sounds of something crystalized walking toward the Varraco Grande drew its attention.
When the Varraco Grande looked behind it, it discovered a Lesser Bildabear in Ice Armor staring at it with glowing blue eyes. It didn't act aggressively; it just stood there. Attacking it with stealth was pointless because the Varraco Grande's Vanguard had been activated.
Furthermore...
Eon wanted to put his current strength to the test against a formidable foe, as opposed to the others, who would crumble the moment he touched them. This monster was the ideal subject for his experiment.
***
[Ice Armor has 2310 HP.]
[Vanguard has granted you 385 damage reduction.]
While the Varraco Grande turned toward Eon, Eon raised both arms and growled. Cold smoke emitted from his mouth, and he revealed his sharp claws to address his intent—to kill. Then he spread his wings, revealing a majestic image of a ferocious fighter with wings and armor.
The Varraco Grande bellowed. Its roar was so loud that it echoed throughout the area, scaring all nearby monsters. Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of the rage of one of the forest's most powerful monsters. The spikes on its back and both of its tusks then turned red, indicating that it had activated its skill, Heavy Hitter, which added 100% of the Varraco Grande's top speed to its damage.
The Varraco Grande stomped its front feet to the ground, releasing a powerful force to signal that its Territorial skill had been activated. It was a skill that increased the user's attack damage by 20%. It was similar to Eon's Snowfield's effect, but without the snow and ice damage reduction nullification. Furthermore, these two abilities could not be combined. Only the skill with the greater effect would take effect if used together.
The Varraco Grande had just become a destructive giant capable of wreaking havoc with the combination of Heavy Hitter and Territorial. Many people feared this monster... Kegali's Heavy Hitting Giant.
Furthermore, the Vanguard of the Varraco Grande had 505 damage reduction.
The Varraco Grande was designed to be a formidable boss monster... Eon, on the other hand, was designed to be a boss killer.
[Lethal Augmentation has been activated.]
[Icy Touch has been activated.]
[Barbaric Rush has been activated.]
Eon dashed toward the behemoth in front of him, and the Varraco Grande activated its skill, Unstoppable Charge, and rushed toward him. Eon slammed his fist into the nose of the Varraco Grande, which passed through him like a raging train of destruction. Eon flew out and crashed into one of the giant trees as a result of the Varraco Grande's Unstoppable Charge.
[Unstoppable Charge has dealt 882.6 damage to your Ice Armor.]
[Barbaric Rush has dealt 223.68 damage.]
[Lethal Augmentation has dealt 68.9 damage.]
[Icy Touch has dealt 151.29 damage.]
Eon collapsed to the ground and immediately stood up, raising his arms to block the Varraco Grande's incoming fangs.
[Lethal Augmentation has been activated.]
[Icy Touch has been activated.]
While growling, the Varraco Grande's mouth gripped both of Eon's hands. Then it tossed him with such force that he was thrown around. To recover from the attack, Eon waved his wings.
[Giant's Crunch has dealt 1003.8 damage to your Ice Armor.]
Eon spun in the air and landed on the ground, his right hand on the ground.
[Lethal Augmentation has dealt 68.9 damage.]
[Icy Touch has dealt 151.29 damage.]
[Ice Armor has been activated.]
[Ice Armor has 2310 HP.]
However, the Varraco Grande's rage was not yet over. The ground shook as the Varraco Grande roared and activated its skill, Giant's Fury. The Varraco Grande stomped to the ground, summoning stone spikes that stabbed everything within the skill's range. A powerful skill that resembled a disaster, causing destruction in a large area around the Varraco Grande and altering the terrain. However, the majority of the spikes were directed at its primary target, Eon.
[Giant's Fury has dealt 979.86 damage to your Ice Armor.]
Eon waved his wings and rose unscathed from the stone spikes, his armor not even completely worn out. He just stared at the supposed extremely powerful enemy in front of him as he landed on the ground. He was so calculated and aware of his own armor's capabilities that he didn't even try to avoid his opponent's powerful attack.
The Varraco Grande could only stare at Eon while chasing its own breath. Parts of its nose were already frozen, but the determination in its eyes was unmistakable. It would not flee, it would not surrender, and it would fight until the bitter end.
The Varraco Grande snorted and stomped one of its hind legs to the ground as it prepared for its final attack on Eon.
***
Race: Varraco Grande [Level: 56/60].
***
HP: 345.94/1010
***
Eon, on the other hand, stood and faced the approaching giant. Eon's experiment had come to an end... He got the answer he needed: no one, not even the most powerful monster in the forest, could defeat him anymore.
[Lethal Augmentation has been activated.]
[Icy Touch has been activated.]
[Barbaric Rush has been activated.]
Eon dashed up to the Varraco Grande. The Varraco Grande used its skill, Unstoppable Charge, to respond to Eon's attack and charged toward him. It only took a fraction of a second for them to collide. The other was thrown away due to his giant foe's undeniable power, while the other stood bravely as it transformed into a massive ice statue.
[Unstoppable Charge has dealt 882.6 damage to your Ice Armor.]
[Barbaric Rush has dealt 223.68 damage.]
[Lethal Augmentation has dealt 68.9 damage.]
[Icy Touch has dealt 151.29 damage.]
[Deceitful Shapeshifter: a new form has been acquired. The Varraco Grande form is now available for use.]
[You have received 30 experience points.]
[You have gained a level.]
[You have increased your Strength stat by one.]
[You have increased your Agility stat by one.]
[You have increased your Intelligence stat by one.]
[You have been awarded two skill points.]
[Your HP and MP have been replenished.]
The fight was over.
Eon stood in front of the Varraco Grande's glorious image. Even after death, its majestic image shone through the sun.
After a few seconds, Eon turned his back on the massive statue and growled, emitting cold smoke. Then he spread his wings and flew away.
The living mountain was vanquished.
And what about the remaining powerful monsters... Winter was coming for them.
***
Race: Arcryonide Snow Barbarian [Level: 42/50] [Exp. Points: 12.6/25].
***
HP: 780/780
MP: 420/420
Top Speed: 84 km/h
Defense: 4
***
Stats:
Strength: 78
Agility: 42
Intelligence: 42
***
Damaging Active Skills:
Lethal Augmentation [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Icy Touch [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Barbaric Rush [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
**
Non-damaging Active Skills:
Deceitful Shapeshifter [MP Cost: 1].
Ice Armor [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Snowfield [MP Cost: 7] [Level: 7/20].
[Imitation] Vanguard [MP Cost: 40] [Level: 20/20].
**
Passive Skills:
World Conqueror's Perception.
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
[Lesser] Mana Absorb.
[Lesser] Life Absorb.
**
Skill Points Available: 2
***
This is a big and important announcement, so take your time reading this. Now that I've finished Volume 1 and found my style (it took me god knows how many chapters before I did), I'm revamping my story and planning to publish it as a new book. Because editing my story, which has been published on numerous platforms, will be a nightmare and will take more time.
I'm going to take a break because I can't write while editing. But don't worry, I've already planned the process so that it will only take 2 to 3 days—I won't be gone long. Most importantly, rest assured that the plot of the story will remain unchanged; the only thing that will change is the style. My story still follows the same plot line.
If you still want to follow my story and see what the future holds for Eon, simply go to the revised version. That's all I had to say; I'll see you in a few days.
