hotmtlnovel Chapter 5 - 5: Loot and Luck
Chapter 5 - 5: Loot and Luck
The factory grounds were swarming with low-level monsters, their glowing yellow names marking them as Level 1. None of them met the requirements for Ethan's current quest.
Guided by his memories of the past, he headed straight to the entrance of the underground facility. Blocking the way was a massive rat, its bloated body wedged in the corridor like an oversized trash can.
[Giant Rat]
Type: Rare (Unique)
Level: 3
Physical Attack: 25
Physical Defense: 10
Magic Defense: 5
Health: 300
Skills:
1. Gnaw – Bites the target, dealing 200% physical damage three times.
2. Charge – Dashes forward, dealing 100% physical damage to all enemies in its path and stunning them for 3 seconds.
Description: This rare gatekeeper monster blocks access to the underground plant. It won't attack unless provoked. Its forelimbs are weak and nearly useless, but its sheer body mass and powerful jaws make it a formidable opponent.
Ethan grimaced as he sized up the rodent, its bulk reminiscent of a compact car. In his previous life, this creature had already been defeated by the time he arrived. He'd heard stories of players being obliterated by its relentless gnawing attacks.
After scouting the surroundings, Ethan found a collapsed section of the building nearby. Among the debris, two slabs of reinforced concrete formed a narrow triangular gap, just wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Crawling inside, he noted the passage grew tighter as it went.
"Perfect. I can escape through this in my panther form," he muttered, crawling out the other sid
With his plan in place, Ethan circled behind the enormous rat. Staring at its shiny fur and twitching tail, he couldn't help but feel small in comparison.
"Alright, big guy. Let's dance."
Ethan lunged forward, slashing at the rat with his claws.
Shred.
-8 HP!
The beast squealed in pain, its massive head snapping around to locate its attacker.
Wasting no time, Ethan bolted.
His passive skill, Panther's Agility, increased his movement speed by 30%, giving him just enough of an edge to dodge the rats relentless charges. Each time it prepared to charge, its back legs dug furiously at the ground, which was a clear warning Ethan had learned to recognize.
Other classes would've been crushed into paste by now. But for Ethan, evasion was second nature to him
After leading the beast through a series of twists and turns, Ethan finally maneuvered it toward the gap he had scouted earlier. The rat's hind legs scraped against the ground, signaling another incoming charge.
This time, Ethan didn't dodge. Instead, he dove headfirst into the narrow crevice.
The rat followed, its bulk slamming into the debris. The ground trembled, and the concrete slabs above groaned ominously.
Finally, the rat's charge came to an abrupt halt. Its enormous front teeth hovered mere inches from Ethan's face, but it was well and truly stuck.
Exhaling a shaky breath, Ethan locked eyes with the rat's bloodshot gaze. It hissed and snapped its jaws, but its stubby forelimbs were useless in this position.
Backing out of the crevice, Ethan circled around to the trapped rat's exposed rear.
"Time for payback."
He launched a flurry of attacks: Shred, Swipe, Shred, Swipe.
-8 HP, -1 HP, Miss, -1 HP…
The damage numbers floated above the beast's head. They were pitifully small, but consistent. Occasionally, the rat's health would tick upward as it regenerated, but the overall trend was in Ethan's favor.
Despite the repetitive nature of his strikes, Ethan's mind began to wander. He pondered his next steps. Should he go after Zachary alone, or build a team to back him up? Revenge was tempting, but for now, leveling up took priority.
At Level 15, he could access the main city map and join other players from other regions. Until then, he'd have to make do with solo grinding.
But grinding in the usual spots? No, that would be a waste of his second chance. His memories were filled with forgotten glitches and terrain exploits. He could outsmart bosses and rare monsters that others would struggle to defeat.
And… there was Lyla. She'd make an excellent partner, especially with her ranged abilities.
A grin spread across Ethan's face as he opened his friend list and
Holding the warhammer in his hands, Ethan felt like a new man. His base attack had skyrocketed from 2–6 to 20–31.
Druids, known for their adaptability, automatically adjusted their attack stats depending on their current weapon and form. While long spears were the preferred choice for their accuracy bonuses, this warhammer would do nicely for now.
Ethan grinned, gripping the weapon tightly. "Alright, let's see if any monster can stand up to this."
If one strike didn't finish them off, two certainly would.
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