Tailpin heard the call from behind but only turned long enough to spot the source of the noise. While he'd been involved in the fight and did his best to help he really wasn't a part of any group yet. He had made his contribution to that fight but he wasn't sure it was enough to make him a desirable party member. He kept scanning the open field on either side of the road, spotting numerous monsters wandering about aimlessly. They were probably level two, maybe a few level three. There was nothing like those war-bears and dire foxes. They could hunt this field easily enough.
Mai'lo had stopped walking but Tailpin continued past him. There were no threats on the road or close enough to it to be a threat so there really wasn't a reason for worry but he was frustrated and tense. He spotted a monster that had strayed close enough. He stopped, took his bow in hand, drew an arrow and pulled it back. He took careful aim and yielded the arrow to its flight. It flew true and struck the small wild dog. Its hit points fell deep into the yellow and it turned, beginning to run in an effort to close the distance. His second shot struck before the dog had covered half of that gap and it dissolved into glittering shards. True to form as a level two monster, it didn't even try to dodge and charged in a straight line. That was an easy target. The rewards popped up and were also true to form, a little money and experience with a small scrap of 'Torn Dog Hide'. It looked like a very low end crafting ingredient. But, one thing stood out about those rewards. There was a little more money than he expected for a level two.
He pulled up his inventory and looked closely. He had little money, even after those two high level kills he still didn't have enough to get a better set of gear. His bow would probably be good for the next several levels but he was using level one arrows. He would need about half again the money that he had. He had enough for the arrow upgrade but not for any better armor afterwards. He had to get more money, better gear and more experience. He couldn't stay behind like this. But, the sun was going down. It would be dark soon.
He called out to the others. "Almost there, everybody. It looks like the hunting will be profitable around here too. These dogs have more cash than other level twos." His voice wasn't so harsh anymore. He had recovered his composure. The look on his face and in his eyes hadn't changed though. Then he managed a feral smirk and shouted. "Last one to the first inn covers the tab!"
He started running for the town gate. They had to get into town before the sun set. Monster behaviors could change after dark and he wouldn't be able to cover them as well at night. Hopefully, this little trick would get them all moving. As for him, he had no chance out here after dark. He didn't stop until he hit the safe zone boundary.
He was planning on getting better gear and going back to that hollow once he hit level three. The others knew how to handle the war bears now and he could focus on the foxes. But, he'd need a partner to cover him in case they tried to ambush him. Actually, he needed someone as close as possible to his level. The first person to come to mind was Iris. They hadn't been introduced yet but she would probably be the best candidate. That hollow could be the best training spot for quite some distance. In fact, since they were still on the first level of Aincrad it was amazing that there were level five monsters here at all. It was an expensive discovery, but one that they couldn't afford to leave alone. They needed the boost in power that training there could give them.
There wouldn't be much time before the shops would close. He ran past stall after stall, looking for one specific thing. He paid no attention to whether there were other players or not. In fact he passed a couple girls, one that would have been familiar, but didn't notice. There it was. He ran up to the NPC vender and quickly priced the quivers and arrows in stock. The quiver he had now had unlimited 'training arrows'. The better quivers had limited numbers of arrows that could be regenerated if he leveled up the relevant crafting skill. The best in the store was only a level three quiver but it required level three to use it so it was unavailable until later. He settled quickly on a level two with the largest available capacity and purchased it. He'd have thirty arrows with this quiver and the arrows could be purchased cheaply enough.
But, most importantly, the damage bonus would help bring down anything above those level two dogs and keep things safer. It wouldn't be enough to kill with one regular shot but he needed to learn another skill as soon as possible anyway. Impact Sidewinder would only be useful sometimes. He needed either a damage skill or an immobilizer, if there was one. But, he had looked at the skill list. The skills for bows were all concealed. They had to be discovered and unlocked and they didn't show what conditions had to be fulfilled.
Mai'lo had stopped walking but Tailpin continued past him. There were no threats on the road or close enough to it to be a threat so there really wasn't a reason for worry but he was frustrated and tense. He spotted a monster that had strayed close enough. He stopped, took his bow in hand, drew an arrow and pulled it back. He took careful aim and yielded the arrow to its flight. It flew true and struck the small wild dog. Its hit points fell deep into the yellow and it turned, beginning to run in an effort to close the distance. His second shot struck before the dog had covered half of that gap and it dissolved into glittering shards. True to form as a level two monster, it didn't even try to dodge and charged in a straight line. That was an easy target. The rewards popped up and were also true to form, a little money and experience with a small scrap of 'Torn Dog Hide'. It looked like a very low end crafting ingredient. But, one thing stood out about those rewards. There was a little more money than he expected for a level two.
He pulled up his inventory and looked closely. He had little money, even after those two high level kills he still didn't have enough to get a better set of gear. His bow would probably be good for the next several levels but he was using level one arrows. He would need about half again the money that he had. He had enough for the arrow upgrade but not for any better armor afterwards. He had to get more money, better gear and more experience. He couldn't stay behind like this. But, the sun was going down. It would be dark soon.
He called out to the others. "Almost there, everybody. It looks like the hunting will be profitable around here too. These dogs have more cash than other level twos." His voice wasn't so harsh anymore. He had recovered his composure. The look on his face and in his eyes hadn't changed though. Then he managed a feral smirk and shouted. "Last one to the first inn covers the tab!"
He started running for the town gate. They had to get into town before the sun set. Monster behaviors could change after dark and he wouldn't be able to cover them as well at night. Hopefully, this little trick would get them all moving. As for him, he had no chance out here after dark. He didn't stop until he hit the safe zone boundary.
He was planning on getting better gear and going back to that hollow once he hit level three. The others knew how to handle the war bears now and he could focus on the foxes. But, he'd need a partner to cover him in case they tried to ambush him. Actually, he needed someone as close as possible to his level. The first person to come to mind was Iris. They hadn't been introduced yet but she would probably be the best candidate. That hollow could be the best training spot for quite some distance. In fact, since they were still on the first level of Aincrad it was amazing that there were level five monsters here at all. It was an expensive discovery, but one that they couldn't afford to leave alone. They needed the boost in power that training there could give them.
There wouldn't be much time before the shops would close. He ran past stall after stall, looking for one specific thing. He paid no attention to whether there were other players or not. In fact he passed a couple girls, one that would have been familiar, but didn't notice. There it was. He ran up to the NPC vender and quickly priced the quivers and arrows in stock. The quiver he had now had unlimited 'training arrows'. The better quivers had limited numbers of arrows that could be regenerated if he leveled up the relevant crafting skill. The best in the store was only a level three quiver but it required level three to use it so it was unavailable until later. He settled quickly on a level two with the largest available capacity and purchased it. He'd have thirty arrows with this quiver and the arrows could be purchased cheaply enough.
But, most importantly, the damage bonus would help bring down anything above those level two dogs and keep things safer. It wouldn't be enough to kill with one regular shot but he needed to learn another skill as soon as possible anyway. Impact Sidewinder would only be useful sometimes. He needed either a damage skill or an immobilizer, if there was one. But, he had looked at the skill list. The skills for bows were all concealed. They had to be discovered and unlocked and they didn't show what conditions had to be fulfilled.
