TAHR Ch 7

Forced to swap weapons, I equipped a wand instead of my staff. My damage output decreased, but the faster casting speed made attacking much smoother.

I kept various DoTs1) active, maintaining distance while dealing damage, until the wolf’s health was halved. And at the exact moment its HP dropped to 50%, the wolf bared its fangs and howled loudly.

Phase 2 had begun.

In truth, everything up to this point was just a warm-up. Most tamable monsters have phases or enrage modes. While the specifics vary from monster to monster, they all become stronger than before.

As the wolf howled, Jaein watched its body grow larger and swapped back to his staff. It was obvious that its attack speed and damage would increase. The howling offered the only window of opportunity to inflict significant damage.

As soon as the weapon swap was complete, he cast Fire Burst. A skill one tier higher than Fireball, it dealt damage on impact and created a burning field on the ground.

<Fire Burst: Launches a powerful fireball. On impact, creates a fiery field within a 15m radius, inflicting damage per tick2) for 15 seconds. Casting time: 2 seconds>

The moment the casting finished and the fireball launched, the wolf charged.

KWAANG!

A huge explosion rocked the ground as flames erupted. Jaein quickly swapped back to his wand and used his evasion skill.

Narrowly avoiding the wolf’s attack, he jumped to the left, but the wolf swung its claws with even greater speed than before.

“Look at that speed!”

It reacted faster than he anticipated. Forced to use his Blink, the distance between them widened, and the wolf leaped into the air.

Jaein hurriedly cast Mana Shield.

<Mana Shield: Consumes mana to absorb damage, consuming up to 30% of mana per damage absorbed. Duration: 1 minute>

But the wolf crashed down regardless. The attack was powerful enough to drain the shield’s gauge almost instantly. With a follow-up attack, the shield shattered.

A look of disbelief crossed Jaein’s face.

“Wow, seriously?”

It had been a while since his shield broke this quickly against a field monster, not a dungeon boss. The aerial strike was clearly very powerful.

“So, I’m not supposed to let it get too far away, huh?”

Despite his grumbling, Jaein’s lips curved into a smile. A stronger monster meant a higher chance of obtaining a high-grade Conimon.

Blaze, unlike most MMORPGs, was a game where the highest-level information was still largely unknown. No player had explored the entire world yet, and even top-ranked players often encountered new monsters. This vastness was the game’s greatest strength.

There was a comical reason behind this: Blaze was notoriously stingy with equipment enhancements. This was also why they restricted the flow of gold. It was a measure to prevent rapid power growth.

In short, they were wary of players consuming content too quickly.

As a result, most players roaming high-level fields were level 22 or higher, equipped with top-tier gear. Among them, the ranked players were monsters with items upgraded to +25.

Like the monster—no, like the ranked player he was—Jaein calmly faced the enraged wolf. While its high damage and the need to stay close made it tricky, it wasn’t an insurmountable challenge.

It took some time, but by kiting3) and chipping away at its health, the wolf’s HP finally fell to 20%.

“Got it.”

Jaein finally relaxed his tense body.

As soon as it was weakened, the wolf’s rage subsided, and its size returned to normal. As if its spirit was broken, it nuzzled the ground and looked around cautiously. It was now ready for taming.

With a flicker of anticipation, Jaein began the taming process.

As the casting bar filled, the cowering wolf, its eyes blinking, floated into the air. A giant magic circle inscribed with runes began to form behind it.

The formation of the circle was a spectacular and mystical sight. Each line shimmered with light as it was drawn, and the completed runes and symbols spun, scattering shimmering dust. Had it been real, it would have been a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

The moment the last rune appeared, the magic circle flashed brightly, and the large wolf shrunk to the size of a small dog.

Landing on the ground, the wolf howled once and then four stars appeared above its head, signifying a 4-star rating.

[Conqueror of the Snowfields: Genesis Wolf]

Rank: ★★★★

Attack: 13,651

Attack Speed: 20.4%

Critical Hit: 187.6%

Physical Defense: 5034

Magic Defense: 6011

Basic Skills: Claw, Bite, Wedge Charge, Aerial Strike / Level 1

Special Ability: Increases summoner’s skill damage by 18% (Passive)

“Yes!”

Jaein pumped his fist with a triumphant cry. A 4-star Conimon, while only worth 1 point, still contributed to his ranking score, making it a success.

Finding a monster right away in an unfamiliar field and taming a 4-star on his first attempt was incredibly satisfying. Was today his lucky day? He once had a day where he tamed three 4-star Conimons. Hope flickered in his chest.

The tamed white wolf, now docile, ran over and wagged its tail.

Taming canine monsters was always satisfying.

“Cute.”

Leaving the taming zone, Jaein examined the Genesis Wolf’s abilities.

“Skill damage… increased by 18%? What? That’s amazing!”

4-star Conimons typically had a special ability that increased skill damage. It ranged from 5% to 20%, randomly assigned, but since Blaze rarely gave out the highest values, 18% was considered top-tier.

He had only ever gotten 18% once before, limiting his options when customizing his setup. Now he had a choice.

Jaein swapped his 4-star Wooden Doll for the Genesis Wolf and summoned it. A small wolf appeared beside his character, sitting adorably.

He studied it for a moment, tilting his head.

“It’s cute, but it doesn’t really look like a wolf.”

The wolf’s characteristic charisma was completely gone, making it look like an ordinary puppy.

“I should make it bigger.”

Jaein adjusted the size, making the wolf reach up to his waist. Now, the wolf’s sleek and sharp features were prominent. He could have made it even bigger, to its original size, but that would take up too much screen space, so this was perfect.

Satisfied with his successful start, he set off to find his next target, riding the wave of his good fortune.

After running through the snowy fields for a while, scanning his surroundings, he spotted a faint figure in the distance. Jaein focused his gaze, trying to get a better look.

It appeared white, like the snow, leading him to think it was another wolf. As he drew closer, however, he realized it wasn’t a monster, but another player.

“A Valkyrie.”

The player was unmistakably a Valkyrie, clad in the class-specific legendary avatar.

The stark white suit, contrasted by a black shirt and gold-trimmed accessories, had been lauded when it was first revealed. However, it wasn’t easily obtained. It required completing a hidden class-specific quest, making it a rare sight.

As he stared, captivated by the unusual sight, a snow-white cape caught his eye. It looked familiar yet unfamiliar. It was undoubtedly the “Radiantly Shining Pure Cloak,” considered the ultimate BiS4) for certain classes.

He knew it was incredibly expensive due to its abysmal drop rate. In his previous server, only three players owned one, highlighting its rarity.

A Valkyrie in the legendary avatar and the Pure Cloak…

Even from afar, the player’s aura was impressive, drawing a gasp from Jaein.

“Wow, definitely impressive.”

It was always interesting to see the equipment of other players in high-level fields. No matter how much information was hidden, players always found a way to show off their prized possessions.

Of course, these encounters weren’t always pleasant.