Chapter 35: Monkey King (1)
Jake and Odin had been leveling up on monkeys for a week.
Though it may seem like a lot of time has passed while Jake has been training and gaining experience, he started college and fixed his schedule to match his lessons, meaning he can no longer spend as much time on the game as before.
That said, he grew up significantly as an archer.
His pet also became a dangerous hunter.
This week, Odin was the happiest existence on the tutorial island as he fought monkeys every hour and used his newest skill to his heart's content!
Odin became so proficient at this that he could aim his howl like a sniper and accurately hit the monkeys' tails to take them off the branches.
Odin also participated in Jake's battles against the armies for some time.
Their march through the monkey zone was slow yet filled with so many experiences and boons that the duo never thought of clearing up the map and instead just wanted as many monkeys as possible to practice.
Richard often said that Jake contracted Odin with his unnatural tendency to squeeze his opponent's worth to the last drop.
Odin didn't really understand what it meant, but he was ecstatic to know that he had become more like his master.
Yesterday, Jake and Odin found the monkey boss' nest. Odin really wanted to fight against this creature so much that Jake had to catch him in his embrace and stifle his howls before his pet rushed into the nest to fight him.
[The Monkey Boss, Puffy The Monkey King Lv. 10 HP: 1250/1250 MP: 490/490]
In comparison, Jake and Odin's stats looked as such…
[Archer Lv. 9 HP: 450/450 MP: 320/320]
[Odin Lv. 6 HP: 1250/1250 MP: 400/400]
Dealing with the armies of monkeys had compelled Jake to spend a few of his stat points on his vitality. That said, he still focused much more on his strength and dexterity. He believed that his health and mana points would increase when he put on better equipment and accessories in the game's later stages.
Jake just couldn't see himself adding stats to increase his intelligence. His only skill also refilled his mana on a successful kill, so Jake didn't have many troubles with mana.
It was also worth remembering that Jake didn't have a class yet. With a proper class, his stats, including mana, should increase even tenfold. Archers had skills that harnessed this otherworldly energy, after all.
On the other hand, Odin was a freak of nature. He was a legendary existence, so his stats made sense, but Jake often felt like it was so unfair to have him! When Odin heard Jake talking about his stats, he'd approach him and lick his hand.
It was so cute that Jake ended up wanting to have Odin more than anything else.
"We might get a new buddy soon," Jake said while checking his equipment. Although he didn't plan to bring it with him to deal with the monkey boss, he liked to have things checked.
Richard nodded, "You believe the boss has a legendary trace?"
Jake nodded, "Yeah. I have yet to find any trace on normal monsters, and I got Odin from the boss… so I suspect that those traces are in the bosses. It gives me more reasons to hunt them all."
His legendary quest demanded Jake to tame all legendary traces. He wouldn't leave the tutorial island before completing it, so Jake even mentally prepared himself to cut more trees than on his path to the Unconquerable Mountain.
He already scoured whenever he could except for the bear and monkey zones and the said mountain.
There was a chance he'd have to cut more trees to find other hidden rooms…
Richard hadn't given him any clue about that.
He said with a hopeless smile, "You would hunt them all anyway… and bully them, too."
"Haha!" Jake grinned.
He stood up and stretched his muscles before throwing himself into the tutorial forest.
Going through the wolves' zone was more than a piece of cake. Jake knew where the least wolves respawned and went through that area to get to the monkey zone without wasting too much energy and arrows.
But whenever he thought of the monkey zone, his heart cried.
It was because he hadn't done any tanning solutions in that place to preserve their carcasses.
Of course, Jake could have done that, but he wanted Odin to have as much fun as possible, so he didn't bother with his usual hunting and leveling up and played in that zone like most players—he killed monkeys, and he killed a lot of them.
"I will return to my normal schedule after we defeat the monkey boss. Odin seems happier than before," Jake said, hoping Richard would approve.
The newbie helper agreed with him. "Yes. Odin's confidence returned and even grew as he learned a skill and a few tricks. He leveled up, so he naturally feels stronger. You've done an excellent job bonding with him, too. I never saw such a happy wolf before."
"Oh? Coming from you, that sounds like great praise! Thanks!" Jake broadly smiled.
Richard awkwardly shook his hands, "I'm not that great."
Jake just meaningfully smiled at his friend before opening his minimap. He marked his path to the monkey zone and prepared to have lots of fun here.
He'd use his bone arrows against the monkey zone and Joker Form!
The latter felt like spreading wings after lots of limitations.
Though Jake treasured his forms all the same, Joker Form was the closest to his heart as it allowed him to fight in close combat with enemies, something he instinctively desired.
Jake put his leather quiver on his hip and looked ahead, "I'm going."
"Return with trophies," Richard smiled.
Jake chuckled, "I'll return with the monkey boss' carcass. I want to craft more stuff!"
"Sure thing," Richard nodded, ready to teach Jake more crafting tricks.
And with that, Jake disappeared in the tutorial forest.