What Lokan chose as his fourth combination skill was none other than Wheel Wind. Though famous as a representative Barbarian Warrior skill in other games, it wasn't officially in The Road, so Lokan created it.
The skill was a -degree spin that crushed enemies with a weapon loaded with Force. By taking the approximate motion with an action clip and combining Force, Solid Body, Charge, and Twist Attack, the resulting animation was remarkably similar to the iconic spin.
'It's really similar.'
When he changed the skill attribute to 'Persistence', it became exactly like the 'Mixer' skill known for rotating and grinding enemies! Although it was a persistent skill that constantly consumed mana to maintain, the sheer power made it worthwhile. There was no better skill for grinding down numerous, weak monsters.
"Heh heh heh!"
Eager to test it, Lokan immediately rushed into the Cursed Cave of Life. He used Wheel Wind and churned the dungeon's interior until his mana was completely drained.
It was early morning, slowly getting brighter, when Lokan emerged from the Cursed Cave of Life. Thanks to repeated dungeon clearing until the skill felt natural, he could now handle Wheel Wind quite proficiently.
The skill simultaneously increased his defense and attack power. While the repeated rotation didn't cause dizziness due to skill correction, it was still a skill that could be destroyed if an enemy attacked with determination.
"The ability to absorb life and apply critical hits per second is great."
Once he was used to it, he realized the skill was devastating for monsters below a certain level. The new critical hit chance applied per second, and his health was restored in proportion to the damage dealt as one or ten axes shredded enemies. This automatically overcame the limitation of needing to use potions to sustain the rotation. As long as his mana held out, the number of enemies wasn't an issue if they had less than a certain level of attack power.
"If I get a good mana recovery item, infinite hunting will be possible."
The possibility existed for infinite hunting if he could secure an item to solve his mana supply and demand problem.
"First of all, I have to do what I have to do."
Giving his newly acquired combination skill a satisfactory score, Lokan immediately headed to the Crossroads Garrison building. He found Malkin and showed him the neck of the Goblin Shaman Tritika.
"This is…"
Malkin, as the head of the investigative team and commander of the garrison, responded instantly. When told who the neck belonged to, he exploded in anger.
"Damn nobles! All right, I'm off to catch him right now! Gather all the garrison except the village patrol team!"
As Lokan expected, Malkin moved immediately. He assembled the garrison and quickly left the city. Since Truell's villa was not far from the Crossroads, Malkin intended to run there and drive a stake into the Vampire's heart.
"I guess I should go too, use the Rune Book, to Truell's villa."
As soon as he confirmed they had all left, Lokan used his Rune Book. While technically Lokan should arrive first, this was a game. As soon as Lokan teleported, he saw Malkin growing furiously near the villa.
"Break it!"
"Yes!"
Quang!
The door to Truell's villa was immediately destroyed. If Lokan's words were false, it could cause great embarrassment, but Malkin's actions were decisive. He declared he was responsible for all consequences and forced entry. If he couldn't trust Lokan, a member of the garrison and investigative team, who could he trust?
Lokan felt a twinge of guilt but pretended not to notice and slipped inside. While staking Baron Truell was a job for the garrison, Lokan had other work to do.
'Is this this way?'
The rescue of the High Elf!
In the original scenario, Truell's attempt would fail because the High Elf's divinity was too powerful. The Baron's identity would be revealed, a battle would ensue, and the High Elf would be saved. But by that time, she would be greatly weakened. It would take considerable time to purify her blood and restore her original purity, and since the user had inadvertently helped weaken her, they wouldn't receive their due compensation or appreciation.
'I'll be fine now.'
But if he saved her now, it would simply be rescuing the sleeping High Elf from Baron Truell's clutches. He had completed some of the Baron's quests, but he had caused her no direct harm, so he was safe.
Lokan, slipping away from the main garrison force creeping toward the Baron's bedroom, quickly opened another door.
'Found her!'
He quickly found the young High Elf sleeping soundly, unaware of everything.
'How do I wake her up? …'
He shook her lightly, but she remained sound asleep, likely drugged. He needed to wake her up, but should he slap her cheek or just pick her up and leave?
After a moment of thought, Lokan had an idea. He pulled something out from his waist with a few clumsy hand movements.
"Crude Alarm Clock, use."
Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Ding! Ding!
With rapid, quick hands, a Crude Alarm Clock—a mechanical device designed to wake someone up—was completed. At the noise, so loud that even the guards jumped in surprise, the sleeping High Elf abruptly woke up. The noise had overcome the effects of the drug.
"Stop! Please turn it off!"
Elves were more sensitive to sounds than humans. How much more terrified would a higher-ranking species like the High Elf be?
Lokan lightly slammed his fist onto the device as the elf screamed in pain.
Kwajik.
The Crude Alarm Clock was lightly smashed, and the sound stopped. Lokan bowed slightly to the High Elf, apologized, and shouted outwards.
"Chief! I found the kidnapped High Elf!"
This was both to summon Malkin and announce his achievement, and to make the awakened High Elf aware of her situation.
Soon after, Malkin rushed into the room.
"Excellent one, forgive the rudeness. My name is Crossroad Guard Captain Malkin."
The High Elf herself possessed noble status, equivalent to royalty or a great noble among humans, so even Malkin couldn't be careless. As a Half-Elf, it was natural to be polite and formal when dealing with the young High Elf. Lokan knew this, which is why he used the honorific name Irahin.
"It's okay. How did this happen?"
"Baron Truell, no, the Vampire Truell has kidnapped a noble person. Unable to violate your sanctity directly, he attempted to seize power through other means, but was discovered by our garrison member, the human Jean Berserker Lokan, and just arrested. I would like to drive a stake into his heart and dry him in the sun to make powder, but there may be behind-the-scenes complications, so please understand that I am transporting the whole coffin."
"Um, that's right."
The High Elf, listening quietly to Malkin's reply which was dripping with contained anger, glanced up at Lokan. Though there was a difference in their birth status, she was not ignorant enough to ignore the person who saved her.
'If it was a human noble, they would have taken it for granted.'
Humans were probably the only ones with such a brazen attitude.
"You said human Jean Berserker Lokan. My name is Irahin. Thank you for saving me. I will repay this favor someday."
"I just did what I had to do."
As Lokan thought to himself, the High Elf again spoke, praising him. Now, she would return, restore her body and strength, and they would meet again later.
'I'm going to be quite active with this.'
This quest was a watershed moment that determined how much help a player could receive from the High Elves when the time came, so Lokan laughed internally despite the lack of immediate special rewards. If the High Elves took an active role, those who supported them would also receive full backing.
"Come back with me. I will see you."
The Mad Baron quest ended with Malkin disappearing to escort the High Elf Irahin, leaving Lokan with the permanent benefit of the Blood Imprint.
Lokan, having already turned the Crossroads upside down, did not return to the village with the other garrison members. The reward for saving the High Elf would be paid to the Half-Elf after the report, so he chose to complete his pending quest rather than take a meaningless detour.
His next goal was the Mutated Monster quest. Finding the mutated monsters wasn't difficult; he already knew their types and locations.
[Knife Blade Dangsu] [Lv 103]
"Wheel Wind!"
Malkin had asked him to identify three types of mutated monsters, but there were five in total. The issue was that they all haunted deep in their respective habitats or acted as boss monsters, which was not a problem for Lokan. He chose the lower-level ones and forced his way through.
'This is real honey.'
According to the original plan, he intended to simply 'check' and come back to avoid the bother, but Lokan's level was higher than expected, and he had his unexpected fourth combination skill. Instead of shunning the Level 103 attack-type monsters, he simply moved forward, lightly grinding them with Wheel Wind.
"Cancel."
Lokan, who had been rotating for a while, stopped in front of a man whose entire body, not just his hands, was sharp.
"I'm here."
[Knife Mine Carter] [Lv 120]
The first mutated monster he found was a Knife Blade Dangsu that had undergone mutation. Unlike the Trolls, where the whole tribe was affected, only this one mutated into a boss.
Level 120.
With a human-like appearance, its entire body was made of blades, radiating the anticipation that it would tear anything apart. Lokan rushed in without hesitation and swung his Battle Axe first.
"This is also all about Enhancement, you bastard!"
Wow!
His arm and Lokan's Battle Axe collided, creating a loud resonance. Although pushed back in power, Carter's counterattack was formidable. Since his whole body was a weapon, it was very difficult to deal with him, no matter where Lokan blocked or what he wielded.
'Like one shot at a time.'
Because of this, Lokan put his best effort into every single blow. If he didn't push Carter away immediately after an attack, a counterattack would come instantly. It would be difficult to defeat him without damage unless he formed a party with a dedicated defense tank like other users.
'Let's see who wins.'
Knowing this, Lokan instead engaged in a head-to-head match. He knew that already aggressive monsters became even more fiery through mutation.
Wow!
After repeated clashes, a change occurred. Cracks began to form in Carter's body.
Hit it and hit it again.
The result was a Weapon Break. This phenomenon was created purely by Lokan's strength and destructive power, not a separate skill.
Woooooooooooooooomuch!
With the crack, Carter's strength rapidly weakened. His whole body was about to be destroyed if he bumped into Lokan any longer, so he twisted his body to avoid him.
"Leaf Attack!"
But Lokan wouldn't let him go. He persisted and used his last move.
"Blade Storm! Rush of Destruction!"
Self-destruct!
Carter tried to self-destruct by turning himself into a swirling blade. But Lokan jumped at him in reverse. He used the defense maximization of his Dash of Destruction and took the hit with his body. The fragments of shattered blades embedded themselves in him, but he ignored them and attacked. He even smashed the core needed for regeneration, causing a crack.
"Wheeyu!"
Carter collapsed from the internal impact, and Lokan picked up a greenish glow from among the blade fragments it had left behind. The monster's final power was collected.
[Knife Magic Fragment] [Enchant] [Consumed]
A piece of blade imbued with Carter's grudges. Special powers can be given to bladed weapons.
-Gives [Bleeding] effect when used on a weapon with a sword attribute.