Chapter 19: Adding a Friend
After accepting the quest, Ethan checked his attributes. He then allocated the 15 free attribute points from the past three levels entirely to Agility. To defeat the Silver Wolf King, he needed to be faster than it; otherwise, he didn't stand a chance. His entire strategy relied on kiting, so speed was essential.g, so speed was essential.
After adding 15 points to Agility, his stat increased to 60, boosting his Movement Speed to 67 and his Attack Speed to 32%.
Ethan calculated his chances. "Alright, my speed is now 67. The Silver Wolf King only has 40. Even with a 50% boost from its skill, it'll only reach 60. I can outrun it. But that second skill—a 10-meter AoE dealing 130% defense-piercing damage—is impossible to dodge. That alone will shave off 715 health, leaving me in critical condition. As long as I don't get hit by a follow-up attack before I can heal, I'll be fine. The real problem is if it combos a regular attack with [Ferocious Howl]. If I can't survive that, there's no point in trying."
He sighed, feeling frustrated. "I'm stuck in this novice village with no other way to power up. This is so annoying."
Looking at the equally troubled village chief beside him, Ethan had a sudden idea. "Chief, the Silver Wolf King is way too strong. What should I do if I can't beat it?"
To his surprise, the village chief actually pondered for a moment before replying, "Hmm, given the current strength of adventurers, it's indeed too difficult for you to handle. Here, take this letter to the apothecary. Ask the owner to bring out some of his hidden stock. It might help improve your chances of survival. But remember, whether or not you can defeat the Silver Wolf King still depends on your own abilities." With that, the chief handed Ethan a sealed letter.
Taking the letter from the chief, Ethan blinked a few times, surprised by this unexpected turn of events. "Wait, this works?" Without wasting any time, he grabbed the letter and dashed toward the apothecary.
Upon arriving, he handed the letter to the apothecary. "Hello, the chief sent me to buy some life-saving potions. Can you show me what you've got?"
The apothecary read the letter, sighed, and muttered, "That old man is still eyeing my stash, huh?" He disappeared into the back room and returned moments later with a small chest. Opening it, he revealed several rare potions. "Pick what you want, but I'll warn you—these potions aren't cheap. Even with the chief's letter, if you don't have the money, you're out of luck."