Drake, left the forgotten watchtower ruins behind, the enigmatic [Broken Twin Blade Hilt] secured safely in his inventory. The mystery was compelling, but the immediate priority was clear: reach Level 10. The final guardian of the Verdant Threshold awaited, and Drake intended to face it fully prepared, both in level and execution. He returned to the Gnarled Briar Patch, currently the most challenging and rewarding grinding spot available to him.
"Level 8 to 9 requires 6,400 EXP, Level 9 to 10 requires 8,100 EXP. Total needed: 14,500 EXP. These Level 8 Elder Thorn Boars and Hulking Briar Roots give decent EXP, around 150-200 each with my efficiency. It's going to take a while, but it's steady progress."
He settled into the rhythm of the grind once more. His movements were now far removed from the clumsy fumbling of his first hours in Legacy of Alvari. His 90% SCR [Basic Slash] struck with reliable force (<< Damage Dealt: 35! >>), amplified by his stats and the [Well-Used Longsword]. His shield arm rose with practiced precision, the 90% SCR [Defend] turning aside heavy blows from the Elder Boars with solid thuds (<< Damage Blocked: 70! >> << Damage Taken: 18! >>). He cleared packs methodically, efficiently, minimizing downtime and maximizing engagement.
Hours bled away in the virtual world. Drake moved through the Briar Patch, tracking respawns, pulling mobs carefully, executing his limited skill set with near-robotic consistency. It was monotonous, yet there was a certain satisfaction in the tangible progress, watching the EXP bar slowly but surely crawl upwards, knowing each percentage point gained was hard-earned through focused repetition. He occasionally tried pushing his SCRs even higher, aiming for that elusive 91%+, but achieving breakthroughs beyond the major 90% threshold felt exponentially harder, requiring absolute perfect timing he couldn't consistently replicate yet. For now, reliable 90% execution was his effective peak and more than sufficient for these mobs.
Finally, after what felt like hundreds of slain boars and creepers, the familiar chime echoed. Ding! LEVEL UP! You are now Level 9! << Base Attributes Increased! HP/MP/Stamina Increased! +2 Attribute Points Available! >>
"Level 9. Good. One more to go." He quickly allocated the points, continuing to bolster his Warrior core stats (STR/END), feeling the immediate small increase in his health pool and damage output. The next level required 8,100 EXP. He pressed on without pause, the grind continuing.
He pushed into the deepest, most overgrown section of the Briar Patch, an area where Level 9 Venomous Thorn Weavers – larger, more dangerous variants of the Thorn Spiders – were rumored to spawn. He found them, their chitinous bodies glistening with toxic slime. Their ranged venom attacks forced constant movement and well-timed blocks, while their melee bites hit hard. The fights were more demanding than the Level 8 mobs, requiring careful management of positioning and his defensive cooldowns.
As he was battling a particularly large Thorn Weaver near the base of an ancient, unusually large tree covered in glowing moss, his attention was drawn to movement deeper within the shadows beneath the tree's canopy. It wasn't another spider. Something larger, radiating a significantly stronger presence, shifted amongst the roots. Drake finished off the spider quickly and cautiously approached.
Standing in a small clearing, bathed in dappled light filtering through the massive leaves above, was a creature unlike the other corrupted flora and fauna. It resembled a Treant, but far older and larger than the Level 7 Elite he'd fought for the hidden quest artifact. This one stood easily twice his height, its bark thick as ancient stone, covered not in purple corruption, but in vibrant, glowing green moss and intricate, naturally formed wooden patterns. It seemed less a monster and more a force of nature, ancient and powerful. The system identified it clearly.
<< Elder Grove Sentinel (Level 10) [ELITE] >>
"Level 10 Elite... A zone mini-boss? Didn't see any mention of this on the forums for the tutorial. Must be rare, or hidden deep." Its health bar was significantly larger than any mob he'd faced yet. This would be a true test of his skills and gear before the actual final boss. "Perfect challenge. And the EXP should be massive."
Drake took a deep breath, raised his shield, and charged. The Sentinel reacted slowly but with immense power. Its massive wooden fist slammed down where Drake had been moments before, shaking the ground. [Defend] met the blow squarely. << Skill Success! SCR 90%! Damage Blocked: 90! >> << Damage Taken: 35! HP: Reduced >>. "Hits like a mountain! Even 90% Defend takes a chunk."
He countered with [Basic Slash] << Skill Success! SCR 90%! Damage Dealt: 38! >> The damage barely seemed to register on the Elite's massive health pool. The Sentinel retaliated with a sweep of its other arm, forcing Drake to backpedal quickly. It then stomped, and thick roots erupted from the ground around Drake, attempting to ensnare him. He quickly hacked at the roots with his sword ([Basic Slash]), freeing himself before they could fully immobilize him.
The fight became a careful dance. Drake used his superior speed to circle the slow Sentinel, landing slashes whenever he saw an opening, primarily targeting its legs to try and slow it further. He relied heavily on his [Defend] to mitigate the devastating slams and sweeps, timing his blocks perfectly. Thanks to [Eidetic Execution], he never fumbled a block due to poor execution – if he failed, it was due to being out of position or the skill being on cooldown, not a lapse in timing. This consistency was crucial against an opponent whose individual hits were so punishing.
Slowly, steadily, Drake chipped away at the Elder Grove Sentinel's health. It was a long fight, testing his focus and stamina management. He used his [Guard's Whetstone] buff early on for extra damage. After nearly ten minutes of intense, focused combat, dodging roots, blocking slams, and landing countless precise slashes, the ancient guardian finally groaned, its mossy glow fading, and collapsed into a huge pile of inert wood and stone.
<< Defeated Elder Grove Sentinel! +8500 EXP! >>
The massive influx of experience instantly filled his bar and pushed him over the final threshold. Ding! LEVEL UP! You are now Level 10! << Base Attributes Increased! HP/MP/Stamina Increased! +2 Attribute Points Available! >>
"Level 10! Finally! That Sentinel gave almost the entire level's worth of EXP!" He assigned his last two tutorial attribute points, likely reinforcing Strength and Endurance.
As the Sentinel's body faded, it left behind not just standard crafting materials, but a single item radiating a blue, Rare glow. Drake eagerly picked it up.
<< Item Acquired: [Rare Guardian's Buckler]! >>
He immediately inspected it.
[Rare Guardian's Buckler]
Quality: Rare
Type: Shield (Buckler)
Armor: 25 Block Strength: +15%
Durability: 90/90
Requirements: Level 10, Warrior
Stats: +4 Endurance +2 Strength +1 HP Regeneration per second
"Whoa! A Rare shield! Huge armor boost over the basic one, massive Endurance bonus, some Strength, and HP Regen! This is exactly what I needed!"
He immediately equipped the [Rare Guardian's Buckler], feeling its solid weight settle onto his arm. The increase in his displayed Armor and HP stats was significant. He felt far more prepared, far more resilient.
Level 10. Core skills at 90% SCR. A full set of Normal leather, a Rare bracer, and now a crucial Rare shield upgrade. He had met the level requirement and honed his abilities through relentless grinding and challenging encounters. He felt ready. It was time to face the Tutorial Boss. He turned and began heading towards the instance gate marker on his map.