Mad-Eye Mordok, the Gnoll Chieftain, was a rare spawn—so rare, in fact, that encountering him on only the second day felt almost absurd. Judging by the state of Muradin’s team, it was clear they hadn’t sought out this fight. They must have stumbled upon the Field Boss by sheer misfortune. Normally, a Gnoll Chieftain wouldn’t appear alone; he would be accompanied by an entire pack of gnolls, ranging from lowly Gnoll Archers to the monstrous Bandersnatch. Among these, there was one variant I was particularly wary of—the Fangbone Sorcerer.


    And from that very monster came the legendary Fangbone Scepter.


    The moment I laid eyes on the battle between Muradin’s party and the Gnoll Chieftain, I had already taken note of the scepter’s presence. It was the key reason I decided to step in and aid them. With the boss’s health now below 10%, our chances of victory were solid.


    Perhaps my decision seemed selfish, but in a world as unforgiving as this, every move had to be calculated. A single reckless mistake could cost far more than I was willing to lose.


    ***


    1793 Mana Stones and 2 Gnoll Tails.


    Compared to the mere 29 Mana Stones I had gathered on my own, this was an incredible haul.


    Then there was the Gnoll Tail—one of the primary reasons I had spent so much time hunting Gnoll Archers. I needed at least one of these monster parts to help me in the labyrinth ahead.


    And finally, the true prize of this battle:


    Fangbone Scepter.


    Unlike ordinary weapons, this staff was classified as a drop from a mini-boss, meaning it came with an active skill. The moment I held it in my hands, I could feel the raw energy pulsing through the bone-like structure, an eerie warmth radiating from the ancient runes etched along its shaft.


    I could barely contain my excitement. Now, it was finally time to test it.


    [Eryndor Leafshade]


    [Soul Level: 1


    Vitality: 3


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Strength: 4 → 11


    Agility: 3 → 5


    Wisdom: 22 → 31


    Mana Regen: 9 → 11


    Willpower: 134]


    [Spells: Rejuvenation, Windstride, Wind Cutter]


    ***


    After offering a final moment of respect for Muradin’s fallen comrades, we finally took the time to properly introduce ourselves.


    “This is my first time meeting a druid,” Darwyn, the elf, remarked, his emerald eyes gleaming with curiosity. “And I truly owe you my life, Erynd.” His voice was warm, sincere.


    “Well, at least we paid him handsomely for his troubles,” Muradin quipped with a playful smirk.


    I responded with nothing more than a small smile.


    “We’re heading to the portal that leads to the second floor. Why don’t we go together?” Muradin suggested, throwing an arm over my shoulder in a friendly manner. Despite his imposing stature and rugged appearance, he was surprisingly easygoing.


    I nodded. “As long as I get a fair share of the spoils,” I said directly. “Besides, my destination is in the same direction as yours.”


    With our combined strength, I no longer had to take the long and winding paths to my destination. Instead, we could cut straight through enemy-infested zones while hunting along the way.


    Murlocs, Bandersnatches, Hoblins—every monster that crossed our path fell before us. With Muradin and Darwyn’s impressive combat prowess, fights were more efficient than ever. Our team composition was nearly perfect for Redridge Range: a durable frontline melee warrior, a ranged damage dealer, and a versatile support.


    But the most important part?


    [Wind Cutter casted.]


    [Wind Cutter casted, effect successfully stacked – extra damage dealt.]


    [Wind Cutter casted, effect successfully stacked – extra damage dealt.]


    I was finally able to contribute meaningful damage in battle.


    Unlike most weapons with active skills, Wind Cutter was classified as a spell, requiring Mana to activate. With its low Mana cost and short cooldown, I could effectively replace my basic attacks with this spell. Though the individual damage output was small, the real strength of Wind Cutter lay in its stacking mechanic. Consecutive strikes would increase its damage exponentially, punishing any enemy that let me chain my attacks uninterrupted.


    Splaash!


    The Red Murloc in front of me let out a shrill gurgle before its body was torn apart by a relentless barrage of Wind Cutter, its form breaking down into particles of fading light.


    Everything had been going smoothly—almost too smoothly. Yet, for some reason, my heart pounded in my chest, a nagging sense of unease creeping up my spine.


    Given my notoriously terrible luck, this could only mean one thing—something bad was waiting just around the corner.