Exploring Baltor (1)
The endless expanse of rocky mountains stretched out before her—Zone 2, Baltor. Ian, having left Lundel and begun her full-scale exploration of the region, spoke in a dry tone.
“It really is barren as hell.”
There wasn’t a single common tree or weed in sight. The only thing visible was jagged rock after jagged rock.
Ian turned to Hakon, who was following behind her.
“How do people even live in a place like this?”
“Once you get used to it, you can manage somehow. We hunt the flying beasts for meat, and there’s a small valley to the west where we can get water and grow crops.”
“A valley?”
“Would you like to see it?”
After a brief moment of thought, Ian nodded.
A valley in a place that was nothing but rock. She wanted to see that scenery with her own eyes.
But.
“This… is the valley?”
Upon arriving at the valley following Hakon, Ian couldn’t help but doubt her own eyes.
A thin stream of water trickling along like a creek. Trees and weeds barely clinging to life in the cracks between rocks. Pathetic crops growing from a shallow layer of dirt.
It was hardly a landscape that an entire village could rely on.
Yet Hakon’s voice rang with absolute confidence.
“Not bad, is it?”
“This? You think this is good?”
“The water flow has weakened a bit, but this is actually more than we usually get in a normal year.”
Ian glanced at Hakon’s face. There was no sign that he was lying. She couldn’t bring herself to criticize someone who genuinely believed what he was saying. She let out a small sigh.
“Didn’t you ever think about contacting the people living at the foot of the mountain?”
“I heard they tried a few times in the past, but they were always blocked. After I became the Grand Warrior, we didn’t even attempt it.”
Well, that makes sense. The village only had about fifty people total, so the number of those who could actually fight must be even smaller.
When Ian had taken down the boss of Zone 1, a total of forty people had been deployed. Considering they were NPCs, even the strongest warriors would have found it impossible to defeat the master of the forest with such a small force. That was what Ian believed.
But that’s not what matters right now.
Ian shook her head, pushing all thoughts about life in Lundel out of her mind.
What mattered to her now was breaking through Zone 2. And learning how to use the skills of two different weapon types at the same time.
“Anyway, let’s talk about what happened earlier. How the hell did you use that gauntlet skill at the very end?”
“It’s not that difficult… but I should probably show you the weapons I use first.”
“You use a spear and gauntlets, right?”
“There’s a slight difference. Look here.”
Hakon showed Ian his spear and what she had assumed was a simple gauntlet.
At first glance, they looked like ordinary items. But as Ian examined the weapons closely, she discovered something astonishing.
“Two gloves?”
“Yes. It’s a combined form of the glove used for holding the spear and the gauntlet for punching.”
He gripped the spear and swung it. A red trail danced through the air.
“When I’m using the spear normally, I use the lower glove.”
And when he dropped the spear or needed to switch to close-quarters combat—
“I slide my hand into the upper gauntlet like this.”
This time, a purple light wrapped around Hakon’s gauntlet. His fists moved rapidly, like shadowboxing.
“So when you punched me back then…”
“Exactly. The moment you threw your sword, I rested the spear on my shoulder and switched to the gauntlet. As long as I’m not holding another weapon in my hand, the skill activates.”
Ian was dumbfounded.
“What kind of cheap trick is that?”
She had expected some amazing technique, but according to Hakon, he had simply switched which hand he was using.
Watching her reaction, Hakon smiled.
“Wasn’t the person who fell for that cheap trick none other than you, Savior?”
“Well… that’s true, but…”
“In actual combat, it’s surprisingly useful. No matter how well you prepare, the battlefield is a place where anything can happen.”
Ian still vividly remembered the fist that had slammed into her stomach at the very last moment. She had dismissed it as a dirty trick, but it was also true that she hadn’t even considered the possibility of a second weapon. She couldn’t find any words to refute Hakon.
“Once you try it yourself, you’ll change your mind. Do you have any weapon other than your sword?”
“I do have one other weapon…”
Ian recalled the staff she had received as a reward for highest contribution.
It was a completely mismatched combination with her sword, but she pulled the staff out of her inventory.
“You can use magic as well?”
“I just happened to pick it up.”
Even though she said it casually, Ian could indeed use magic.
In Arcadia Online, magic became usable simply by equipping a staff. The only reason she hadn’t used it before was due to proficiency and stat requirements.
The magic I can use right now is fire and wind, right?
The magic a beginner could use with a staff was the 1st Circle fire spell, Fireball.
In addition, thanks to the staff’s unique effect, Ian could also use the 1st Circle wind spell, Wind Cutter.
Should I give it a try?
Ian pointed the staff into the air.
Basic magic skill—1st Circle Wind Magic. Wind Projection.
Wind Cutter
Her mana drained away in an instant. The mana gathered at the tip of the staff transformed into a blade of wind and shot forward at high speed.
Not bad at all.
Most of the beasts inhabiting Zone 2, Baltor, were flying types. For Ian, who had been in need of a long-range checking tool, wind magic was a surprisingly decent skill.
And it looks easy to use.
She didn’t even need to do anything as cumbersome as what Hakon did with his gauntlets. If she just attached something like a holster next to her sword sheath, she could switch between them without any trouble.
The moment she tucked the staff into the strap of her waist guard, Hakon’s gaze shot upward.
“Savior, they’re coming.”
“I know.”
The flying creature soon revealed itself and dove straight toward the two of them.
Level 11 Baltor Bat
A bat of enormous size. Ian and Hakon each gripped their weapons.
“I’ll take the lead.”
Hakon charged ahead of Ian toward the bat. The creature’s claws clashed against his spear.
“Savior!”
“I know!”
With Hakon currently blocking the bat’s movements, this was the perfect opportunity to land an attack.
Ian was already running with her sword lowered.
Sword Rush
Her sword was aimed at the wing.
-Swoosh!
A blue trail sliced through one of the bat’s wings.
Drive
Hakon immediately repositioned himself and thrust forward with a red stab that pierced the opposite wing.
-Kiiiieek!
A clean combo that flowed as if they had practiced it for years. The bat crashed to the ground, spraying blood everywhere, and breathed its last.
But Hakon’s eyes were still gleaming fiercely.
“Be careful, Savior. More are coming.”
Just as he said, three more bats appeared and swooped toward Ian and Hakon.
Ian dodged the bats’ attacks and glanced at Hakon.
“Are they always like this?”
“Yes. They travel in packs, so you need to stay sharp.”
The two stood back-to-back.
Looking at the swarm of bats surrounding them, Hakon said,
“I’ll take two. Please handle the remaining one, Savior.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if I took two?”
“It makes more sense for the stronger one to handle two.”
“This guy really holds a grudge.”
But when she thought about it rationally, Hakon’s judgment was correct. Unlike Ian, who was only here for the second time, he was the Grand Warrior who had hunted countless bats while living in these mountains.
Besides, with far more skills than her, he would be better at handling unexpected situations. Ian nodded.
“Fine. I’ll finish mine quickly and come help you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll finish first and come to you.”
“Ah… sure…”
The two immediately charged toward the bats they had claimed.
The bat that noticed Ian’s approach flew up into the sky, far beyond her reach no matter how much she stretched out her hand.
If this had been her from yesterday, she would have been forced to stand there helplessly.
But now—
“Get down here, you little shit.”
-Thud!
Ian stabbed her sword into the ground, pulled out the staff she had tucked at her waist, and aimed it at the bat.
Wind Cutter
A blade of wind shot toward the bat. Unable to dodge in time, it took the spell head-on.
Thanks to her low Magic stat, the damage wasn’t very high, but the bat that had been hit began to plummet.
She tucked the staff back at her waist, drew her sword again, and leaped toward the falling bat.
Her sword came crashing down from above. A blue trail descended toward the bat’s head.
Slash
The bat’s body convulsed violently as its head was sliced deeply.
Not missing the opening, Ian immediately cut through both its body and wings completely.
This method… is actually pretty good?
Ian had always harbored a desire for reliable long-range support. Having witnessed proof that this could solve that problem right before her eyes, a smile formed on her lips.
I should seriously consider focusing on magic.
Ian turned around to check on Hakon’s situation.
Unlike her, who had already finished her bat, he was still engaged in battle. Still, he didn’t seem to be in any real danger. If left alone, he would probably finish it without issue.
But she couldn’t pass up the chance to gain proficiency and experience. Ian aimed her staff at the bats once again.
Wind Cutter
Her mana vanished in an instant, becoming a blade that struck the bat. Hakon didn’t miss the opening and drove his spear straight through its heart.
Ian smiled at him.
“Told you I’d finish quickly and help.”
“I already had it under control.”
“For someone who had it under control, it took you quite a while.”
“This is just how I hunt.”
“Ah, right. Of course it is.”
Ian let out a dry chuckle. In the meantime, with her support, they finished off the last bat as well. The two turned their gaze toward the horizon.
“Wow… more of them?”
“They always travel in flocks, so this is normal.”
This time, four bats in total. They were flying toward the pair with ferocious momentum.
“How do you want to do this?”
“I’ll take three.”
“…Let’s each take two.”
“Sounds good.”
Not a trace of tension lingered between the two of them.