-chapter seventy-one-
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SOLACE

TUMALON AKO pataas sa chest ng Forest Bull at isinaksak sa kaniya ang dagger. I spinned mid-air just in time to land a kick on the attacking Forest Bull, pulling my dagger from the other's chest and strucking it into his head.

"Okay!" pinalakpak ko ang kamay nang mawala ang dalawang bulls at mapalitan ng items.

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You have completed the [Daily Quest: Kill Five Forest Bulls]. Rewards are sent to your bag.

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Tiningnan ko ang bag, the rewards for it were just five purifying potions, two full-health regeneration potion, an A-ranked fighter boots and 60 gold. Ngumiwi ako. Sixty gold for five forest bulls that has 20000 HP? This is scam!

Bumuntong-hinga ako. The gold is getting scarce as we level up. Paano pa kapag Level 100 na kami? Baka isang gold na lang ang ibibigay nilang reward.

"Open profile."

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Name: Solace

Level: 51

Class: Fighter

Job: Warrior

Strength: 1022

Endurance: 870

Perception: 600

Dexterity: 692

Intelligence: 887

Charisma: 1135

Luck: 1020

HP: 12000

MP: 11550

[SKILLS]:

Circled Slash Lvl. 6 (20 mana points)
- The fighter is able to deliver a blow to enemies encircling him. It creates a 'wind effect' and makes the enemy takes a step back. Damage dealt +8% from Slayer Title. Cooldown of 20.0 seconds.

Frenzy Lvl. 6 (25 mana points)
  - Greatly increases attack speed, accuracy and damage by 20.0 seconds. The fighter lands forceful strikes continuously while advancing towards the enemy. Absorbs damage dealt below 35. Cooldown of 1.5 minutes.

Thunder Lvl. 5 (22 mana points)
  - The fighter jumps up and lands with its weapon hitting the ground, knocking the players within his round range. Inflicts stun for 3.0 seconds. Cooldown of 30.0 seconds.

Whip Slash Lvl. 5 (35 mana points)
  - Delivers a vertical sword strike at a wide range using the player's maximun damage amount. Cooldown of 30.0 seconds.

Rain of Judgment Lvl.5 (50 mana points)
  - Skill gained from weapon. Player struck will be frozen and rained with swords for 10.0 seconds. Bleed will activate if damage acquired is more than 73%. Cooldown of 1.0 minute.

[TITLES]:

Slayer
  - The player with this title has the most boss monster kills. Effect: Damage to monsters increased by 59%

King of Cobras
  - The player with this title has killed King Cobra alone. Effect: Immunity to poisons.

Panther of the Forest
  - The player with this title has killed the Raven Panther of the Sierra Mountains. Effect: Can make monsters flock to you by using the Panther's teeth.

Governor of Takara
  - The player with this title has owned Takara City as Guild Territory. Effect: Rights for passage inside the city, Guild Hall, Access to Fees made by players who will enter the city.

Governor of Lunaria
  - The player with this title has owned Lunaria City as Guild Territory. Effect: Rights for passage inside the city, Guild Hall, Access to Fees made by players who enter the city, additional 1000HP.

Tower Conqueror
  - Increases attack speed and power to monsters once inside a tower.

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I still haven't tried this new skill of mine, Rain of Judgment. Nagulat ako nang malaman na mula ito sa sword since all of the skills in my sword, stays in the item description at hindi nags-show sa profile ko. Feyre told me to try it on Priamos but the little guy's fear-stricken face was enough for me to decline.

"SOL! TULUNGAN MO AKO!"

Natigilan ang pagmumuni-muni ko nang marinig ang isang pamilyar na sigaw. Nakakunot ang noo kong lumingon at malapit ko nang maibuga ang iniinom na mana potion nang makita ang maiyak-iyak na itsura ni Feyre, at lalong-lalo na ang napakalaking Minotaur sa likuran niya na mukhang galit na galit!

Kaya naman mabilis din akong tumakbo bago pa niya ako maabutan!

"SOL! SANDALI! HUWAG KANG TUMAKBO!" naiiyak niyang hiling.

Nanlalaki ang mata kong tumingin sa likod. Tamang-tama at nakita ko ang pagbuga ng Minotaur ng apoy kaya nakaiwas kaming dalawa. Feyre immediately clutched to me, clinging for her dear life. At pilit kong inilalayo ang sarili sa kaniya dahil sa ayaw kong masundan ng Minotaur.

"SOL! HELP ME!" sigaw niya sa mismong mukha ko.

"AYOKO! BAKIT KA BA NIYA HINAHABOL- ah."

Biglang nawala ang balanse ko nang matamaan ng likod ng paa ko ang isang bato.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

Napasigaw kaming dalawa nang mahulog kami sa isang pababang parte ng gubat. Mahigpit na nakayakap sa akin si Feyre kaya naman magkayakap din kaming nagpagulong-gulong.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Mas napasigaw kami nang makita ang Minotaur na mas bumilis ang takbo papunta sa'min. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa nakita niyang in distress kami o dahil pababa ang lupa kaya mas madali sa kaniya ang paghabol.

"SOL! LABANAN MO ANG MINOTAUR, HINDI BA SLAYER KA?!" sigaw ni Feyre sa'kin.

Nagkatinginan kami. May hope sa mga mata niya. Dumadagundong sa gilid namin ang steps ng Minotaur.

"If you think I'm going to say 'Oh right, I'm the slayer. Killing him is a piece of cake.' Nagkakamali ka!"

"DAMN IT!"

The Minotaur is listed as one of the boss monsters you should avoid with it's HP going 100,000 and he can regenerate every time his HP drops 20% plus he has damage absorption if his HP drops to 50%. Noong wala pa ang bagong D&R update, being killed by the Minotaur is worth nothing. Some items will be lost maybe but that's all. Ngayon your item, gold and even level will be lost if you die! Kaya hindi na ito recommended!

Kaya naman hindi ko alam kung bakit si Feyre ang hinahabol nito gayong siya naman ang nagsabi sa'kin na huwag itry si Minotaur!

"Come on, Sol! Help me! Akala ko kaya ko siyang patayin gamit ang cheap tricks-"

"Wait, what?! Akala ko ba ayaw mong ihunt natin ang Minotaur?!"

Sasagot na sana siya nang bigla na lang ulit kaming sumigaw. Tumama ang katawan namin sa napakalaking bato at itinapon kami nito sa ere. The Minotaur landed in front of our flying bodies, eyes red in rage and nostrils flared.

Nang ihampas niya ang isang front leg (kamay na lang tawag ko dito) niya ay agad kong kinuha ang espada at ni-slash dito. The Minotaur cried in pain and stepped back just for me to twirl mid-air and land on the ground without any problems.

Si Feyre naman ay ginamit ang chaindaggers niya at itinusok sa magkabilang balikat ng Minotaur para makapunta sa likod nito. The creature didn't notice her and is focusing on me instead. It stomp its foot on the ground that knocked me up and decided to use its claws after that. Natamaan ako doon at naitapon ako palayo pero bago ang lahat ay ginamit ko ang isang skill sa espada: Air Strike.

Natapon ako papunta sa pinakamalayong puno, the one standing at the edge of the mountain cliff. Mabilis kong ipinulupot ang kamay sa branch nito para hindi ako mahulog. I can hear the Minotaur's loud cry, maybe from my attack. I can also hear its furious chase after me.

The Minotaur arrived just in time for me to climb down the tree. From his neck, I can make out Feyre's face and she is smirking evilly as she held her daggers in her hand. The Minotaur tried to take another step towards me but failed. Lumipad papalibot sa kaniya si Feyre na walang-patawad na isinasaksak ang dagger niya sa katawan ng Minotaur. She landed in front of the creature just to jump again and spin before hitting her poisoned dagger on his neck and throwing the other one to the eye, making the Minotaur cry loud in pain.

Pumunta ako papunta sa kanila at inactivate ang skill kong Whip Slash, the golden-colored slash hitting the Manticore's legs and the trees nearby, cutting it without problems. The Manticore's health is already down to 60%, my skill decreasing 12% from his health. Tamang-tama din na pumasa-ere si Feyre at inactivate ang dagger skill niya na nagpaulan ng hiwa sa buong katawan ng Minotaur, making his HP drop to 52%.

Feyre landed beside me, licking the blood in her lips. "Damage absorptions comes after next hit. May five-second stun ang skill ko."

"Okay."

Then we parted ways. I went right, my sword creating pale golden flames. Feyre went to the back, creating distance between her and the Minotaur. Nang matapos ang limang segundo at magsimulang gumalaw ang Minotaur ay tumalon ako nang mataas, at inactivate ang ultimate slash skill ng sword, my body creating a turn after striking it. Isang linya na nagbabagang ginto ang lumabas at papunta ito sa Minotaur. It roared so loud when the attack hit and it stumbled a bit. May linyang nagawa ang sarili kong skill sa lupa at may maliliit na golden flames ang nandirito.

"Weird," komento ni Feyre. "He's acquired even more damage, Sol. 6% of damage ang hindi niya naabsorb."

Napakunot din ang noo ko. The Minotaur only has an HP of 44% now which means it took 8% of my attack. Malakas man ang ultimate ko, para sa isang may damage absorption na monster, the damage acquired shouldn't even exceed 3%.

Bago pa namin maisip nang mabuti ang nangyari, the Minotaur rushed towards us, head held down and eyes red. Hindi kami agad nakaiwas nang bigla na lang itong huminto at nagstomp sa lupa, the impact flew us off towards the mountain cliff. Mabuti na lang at naagapan agad ni Feyre ang sitwasyon, ipinalibot niya ang chain dagger sa branch ng puno at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Sol! May plano ako!"

Pinigilan ko ang umirap. "Ano?"

The Minotaur is standing in front of us unmoving. Hinihintay niya ata kaming pumunta sa kaniya.

"Make the Minotaur come here and I'll land us to the ground while he falls on the cliff!"

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Ha?"

"Make the Minotaur come here and I'll-"

"Narinig ko! Pero paano 'yan naging magandang plano huh? How can we make sure na mangyayari 'yan?!"

At may gana pa siyang pag-ikotan ako ng mata! "Duh, Solace. Of course, it will succeed. Kailan lang ba hindi nagtagumpay ang plano ko? At isa pa ang gagawin mo lang ang kunin ang atensiyon niya at ako na ang gagawa ng susunod-"

"At paano ko makukuha ang atensiyon niya?" tinaasan ko si Feyre ng kilay.

"Aba, malay ko. Ikaw nga gagawa, 'di ba? Kung alam ko lang naman, e'di sana ako na gagawa?"

I sighed heavily. Why must Feyre always have the witty comebacks at every serious and desperate situations?

Tiningnan ko ang Minotaur na nasa harap namin at nakatayo lang. Ang HP niya ay nasa 44% pa rin at hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi siya gumagalaw. Does he know there's a cliff here and that's why he's not attacking?

Pero paano ko makukuha ang atensiyon niya?

"Yohoo! Minotaur! Yohooo! Come here!"

Nope.

"Ha! Papatayin ka namin! You will die in our hands so come and attack now!"

Feyre started chuckling at me. Sinamaan ko siya nang tingin. Kung hindi niya lang ako hinahawakan para hindi mahulog.

The sword moved in my hand making me look at it. The golden flames glowed brightly than before, but not at its full extremity. Nakasimangot ko itong iwinasiwas pataas at mukhang nakuha nga no'n ang atensiyon ng Minotaur dahil gumalaw siya. I swished it in a circle and the Minotaur started running towards us.

Napasigaw ako nang biglang bitawan ni Feyre ang sangay ng puno. But the fall didn't happen. Ang sunod kong nalaman ay itinapon na ako ni Feyre pataas. Padapa akong nahulog sa lupa habang tatawa-tawa siyang umupo sa tabi ko. Umirap ako at umayos ng upo bago tiningnan ang cliff kung saan doon nahulog ang Minotaur.

"Will it die from the fall?" kuryoso kong tanong.

"I don't know but I hope so. That Minotaur is really a pain in the-"

Natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang humampas sa amin ang napakarahas na hangin. Napa-atras kami dala ng pwersa nito, Feyre holding my arm and I'm holding on to the sword I struck on the ground for my dear life. Laglag ang panga kaming nakatitig sa harapan.

"Is that thing fucking flying?!" singhal ni Feyre.

"Yes, Feyre. That thing is fucking flying." sagot ko.

I have no words as I stared at the large Minotaur that grew monstrous wings. Its HP didn't decrease, but rather he looks so much more dangerous now. Nagkatinginan kami ni Feyre bago mabilis na tumayo at hinanda ang mga weapons. The Minotaur flapped it's wings and it made us stagger back. Hell! His wings is enough to deflect us!

My sword burned in an even higher golden flame. Nagpadala ako ng iilang air strikes at whipslash, gano'n din si Feyre na nagpapaulan ng ibang mga dagger niya sa Minotaur. It did take some damage but not enough.

"He's getting damage," naningkit ang mata ni Feyre. "He's getting damage about half of our skills. Which means-"

Napatingin ako sa injured na mata ng Minotaur. It's the eye that Feyre struck with her poison dagger.

"Hex told me before that Minotaurs take importance of their eyes. Baka nga isa ito sa weakness nila?" tanong niya.

"Then if its damage absorption went from 80-100% to 40-50%. Its healing powers must have decreased to half as well?" tugon ko.

Napatingin kami sa Minotaur na may HP ng 22%. Two more whipslash and we'll enter the most dangerous part. My HP is already running to 57% and Feyre's HP is already 40%. Binawi ni Feyre ang dagger niya na nakatusok sa may dibdib ng Minotaur nang biglang bumaba sa 19% ang HP niya.

"Wait- what?!" pasigaw kong tanong.

Nabahala din si Feyre. "Fuck! I forgot that I activated my skill that sucks off the damage they dealt to me!"

"Ha?! Ha?! Sandali- We have to strike now!"

Iwinasiwas ko ang sword at tumakbo papunta sa Minotaur na siguro'y nagsisimula na sa kaniyang regeneration techniques. Napakataas na at napakalakas nang golden flames na nakapalibot sa espada ko. Tumingin ako kay Feyre na nakatitig din sa'kin.

"Feyre! Let's do that now!"

She smirked. "Sure, Sol!"

Idinapa ko ang espada at tumalon siya pataas dito. Her daggers touched the blade of my sword, and it was engulfed in flames too. But different ones. Ang talim na nasa pinakahuli ng chaindagger ay nagbabaga sa napakalaki at napakalakas na berdeng apoy. Feyre twirled both of the chaindaggers in her hands and jumped at the front of the Minotaur, then she striked the blades on the Minotaur's wings and cutting it clean in half. A bright green light appeared at where the attack happened.

Bago pa makaregenerate ulit ang Minotaur ay ginamit ko lahat ng lakas ko at inatake papunta sa Minotaur. I dropped down the sword that I held high, the massive power and strength that entered my body disappeared along the attack. Isang napakalaking kulay-ginto na sword slash ang dumapo sa gitna ng katawan ng Minotaur at nagkaroon nang malaking pagsabog, ending all it's attempts at regeneration and fully killing it.

Nang mawala ang usok ay nakita ko na ang katawan nang Minotaur na unti-unting nawawala. Behind him, the after-effects of my attack appeared. Nasira ang medyo malaking parte ng gubat na nasa kabilang side ng cliff. May mga nahuhulog pang mga bato na nahuhulog sa bangin at mga puno na nalungkat sa lupa. It was a complete example of chaos happening or destruction. Napakamot ako sa ulo dahil sa nagawa.

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Congratulations, player! You have killed the Minotaur, guardian of the South Forest. Rewards are sent to your bag.

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You have gained a new pet! The Minotaur Egg will hatch in:

36:59:59

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May mga items ding nasa lupa, katabi ni Feyre na nakahiga at hinahabol ang hininga. I was about to clap, saying 'wow, for the first time, hindi ka excited sa drops' if not for her hands moving quickly to take any items near her.

Sa pagkakataong iyon nagmaterialize sina Hex, Priamos at Voldmir. Nakatayo sila sa harap namin at nakatitig lang sa akin na haggard at obvious na galing sa laban, sa likod ko kung saan sira ang gubat, sa lupa na maraming drops, sa puno sa likod ko na unti-unting nahuhulog at kay Feyre na patuloy pa rin sa pagkuha ng mga items. She's rolling in the ground aside from standing up and moving.

Hindi man lang sila kumurap nang tumalikod sa'min at nagsimulang maglakad palayo.

"Wait! Wait!" angal ko. "Hex! Can't you see we're wounded?! Heal us!"

"Sandali, soro! Walang'ya! Saan kayo pupunta?! Para saan pa at naging priest ka kung hindi mo man lang kami tutulungan?! At ano, manghihingi ka mula sa drops na-"

"Shut up, Feyre! Don't annoy them or they won't help us!"

"Why won't they help us?! We're a team! A team will always be together forever no matter the consequences. We will go through hell and back just to save each..." nagpatuloy siya sa drama niya.

"We killed the Minotaur."

Natigilan ang tatlo sa paglalakad. At ang akala kong babalik sila sa'min ay hindi nangyari. They just continued walking away leaving us.

Nakanguso akong umupo sa lupa. Feyre tapped my shoulders and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, Sol. I'll always be here since day one."

My lips formed a grim line. First of all, this is her fault because she went fighting the Minotaur.

You see, we have this rule in our guild. Hunting boss monsters must always be done as a team.

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-chapter end-