Monster Hunting 401: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure by Andrew Karevik (best books to read txt) 📕

must haves. I glanced at the third tier of Alchemy to see what was available.

Alchemist Tier Three:

- Strong Stomach: You may ignore 1 side effect per day.

- Extra Sip: You may drink only half a potion and receive its full effects, effectively giving all potions 2 uses.

- Botanical Knowledge: You may now extract Firnin and Estoan from plants. These yield lower results than monsters.

Extra sip was exceptionally valuable out of the three, certainly worth the 1,500 Bloodpoints I’d have to spend. But I think that was going to be the end of my branching out into the alchemical world, at least for now. The enhanced accelerated healing potions and the invisibility potions were well worth the purchase. All in all, not bad for 2,500 points.

My next purchase was one I had been meaning to buy for quite some time. Iron Meets Steel cost a heart-stopping 3,500 points, but that extra strength when dealing with anything giant class or bigger would turn me into a proper force of nature. Like I said before, few things could really beat sheer, raw strength.

That was 6,000 points down the drain. Only 3,000 left…but I was going to hold onto them for now. From my experience, having some extra points on hand to rapidly gain a new ability in the moment was fairly handy. I couldn’t predict all the troubles that would come my way, but I could certainly adapt to them quickly enough. All it took was a bit of focus and some Bloodpoints, then I’d be good to go.

My Hunter’s Profile shifted to reflect my new abilities and I looked it over, all the while pondering who would get the Kaos elixir.

Avery Lorn: Giantslayer

Health: 100%

Mana: 100

Bloodpoints: 3000

Stats:

Strength: 4 (2+2)

Dexterity: 4

Intelligence: 4

Perception: 3

Charisma: 4

Stealth: 2

Archery: 10

Tracking: 5

Navigation: 7

Trapping: 3

Acrobatics: 10

Surprise Attack

Clean Retrieval

Search I

Light Step

Snare Trap

Leap

Archer’s Eye

Recognizable Scent

Fast Movement

Spear Trap

Safe Fall (40ft)

Piercing Shot

Tracker’s Instincts

Home Territory

Advanced Bear Trap

Dodge Reflex

Focus Breaker

On the Trail

Expedition Leader

Perfect Balance

Rapid Shot

Danger Sense

Acrobatic Training

Multi-shot

Strider

Acrobat’s Grip

Swift Hands

Group Captain

Air Combat I

Sniper’s Aim

Springheels

Explosive Shot

Homing Shot

First Aid: 5

Alchemy: 7

Magician: 6

Spellbow: 3

Giantslayer: 6

Skilled Extraction

Mystic Recovery

Spell Saver I

Fell The Mighty Oak

Physiological Examination

Mana Boost

Spell Arrow

Obsession

Enhanced Mixtures

Student

True Arrow

Invigorating Roar

Apprentice

Dabbler

The Harder They Fall

Nourishing

Journeyman

Hindered Regeneration

Extra Sip

Iron Meets Steel

Illusions:

Weapons:

Armor:

Tools:

Bone Charms:

Alchemy:

Dazzle

Bone Bow: Strong Fire Affinity

Swift Medium Scale Leather

Slots: 1

Expanded Bag

Max Level Kinru Charm

Firnin: 500

Phantom Sound

Iron Crossbow x3

Swift Blackoak Greaves

Level 1 Fitzon Charm

Estoan: 1000

Enchantments:

100 Tooth Arrows

Blackoak Vambraces

Slots: 1

Level 2 Fylk Charm

Kaos: 0

Return Arrows

Bone Bow: Strong Sonic affinity

Level 1 L’Gara Charm

Ironskin Potion: 1

Switching Arrow

Bone Bow: Strong Lightning Affinity

Level 3 Fungara Maestro Charm

Enhanced Accelerated Healing Potion: 1

Blessings of Swiftness

Level 1 Ligoran Charm

Potion of Speed: 3

Expand Satchel

Level 1 Great Wyrm Charm

Thunder Arrow

Manipulation:

Level 1 Lurbia Charm

Summon Quiverling

Minor Spellburst

Level 1 Hypnosin Charm

Strong Elemental Affinity

Minor Telekinesis

Level 1 Glurp Charm

Weaponlink

Weigh Down

Bless Boots

Titanic Weapon: Josiah’s Storm

Slayer: 3

Striker: 4

Artillerymaster: 3

Bow-Bond: 2

Munitions Specialist: 2

Damage Rating: 5

Bow Connection

Forceful Hit

Indirect Fire

Gift of Intelligence

Breach Charge Recipe

Weapon Speed: 2

Rage of the Slayer

Unmoving Arrows

Barrage

Partnership

Triggered Charges

Special 1: N/A

Endurance Surge

Agonizing Strike

Range Extension

Special 2: N/A

Snap Shot

All in all, not a bad few additions. Behind me, I heard the bubbling of the cauldron grow louder, more excited. The brew was ready. Time to decide who got the Elixir and time to make a few new potions of my own…

Chapter 12

The infernal sound of the bone cane striking the ground sent chills down my spine. Brimley, up until a few minutes ago, had been kind and chatty. But now, as we rounded the last corner, leading to the outside world, through the secret passage in the mountain, he was dead silent. Silent and grim.

It was daytime. At least, that’s what he had said. But ahead of us was nothing but darkness. Even though there was a clear cave opening, with grass growing on the ground, we could not see anything but shadows dead ahead. I found myself gripping my bow tightly, wondering if Brimley was leading us into some kind of trap. My danger sense had been warning me about him before, but that was probably just about the snare I had been standing in, right? He wouldn’t wait this long to betray us, would he?

Trig sensed the tension as well, and walked as carefully as I, keeping both hands on his daggers. We had discussed the elixir a few times, but in the end, it was Brimley who seemed to be most interested in the item. He paid a great deal of those coins in exchange for the elixir, coins that Trig used to purchase many a blueprint. Coins that I was able to use to buy my new set of armor, flexible, skin-hugging metal armor that was as strong as diamond, but as supple as water.

The armor was so tight that I had to wear my tunic on the outside in order to look presentable, for it outlined my form far too much to wear as is. “It will be your second skin,” the old man had said as I tried it on, away from prying eyes (certainly not believing how poor the man’s eyesight was!). “Eventually you’ll forget you’re even wearing it. Until you take a claw straight to the heart and walk away without a scratch.” At the very least, I’d be able to dive into any monster’s mouth that I pleased without having to strip naked first. That would preserve my dignity somewhat.

The additional benefit of this “Steelskin armor”, as it was called, was that I could wear quite a few layers atop it of regular clothing, perfectly concealing the armor itself. With gloves, slacks, tunic and a scarf, I looked less like a heavily armed warrior and more like a civilian out for a stroll. Perhaps that would help de-escalate tension when meeting new villages. And, it might also lead my intelligent enemies to