Return Of Aegis

ZeLin had just logged back into the game, when the world announcement flashed across the sky. It was dawn, and it was time for him to set off on his journey to collect ingredients to make the evolving bow and returning arrows.

Before heading to meet up with Captain Mir, ZeLin sent a message to ZeRen to congratulate him on the first kill.

ZeLin knew it was ZeLin who killed the area boss, because they had agreed that the guild they would build was to be named Yggdrasil. ZeRen was to be the guild leader while ZeLin helmed as Vice-Leader.

As agreed with Captain Mir, ZeLin headed to the North Gate. Today, he would be going to collect the wind, silver, steel ores and the gems. The best place to get all of the items that were needed, were located at the peak's valley.

At the North gates, Captain Mir was accompanied by 5 other men. Captain Mir wasn't stupid, there was no way he could defend alone. He had promised to protect ZeLin as he mined for the ore and gems he required.

The track up was not eventful, Captain Mir was glad that no beast had decided to attack them. Reaching the valley took approximately 3 hours to climb. At the entrance, ZeLin felt a chill down his spine, as though he was being watched by something. Scanning around he detected nothing.

Captain Mir too didn't notice anything, he was still in a cherry mood. Because he had to do nothing and got upgraded gears.

But the chill didn't leave ZeLin, his years of being the hunter told him he was being targeted. Captain Mir was just too weak to notice.

Unless the hunter revealed itself, ZeLin had no way of countering. Instead of wasting more time, ZeLin entered the valley with Captain Mir and gang in tow. He wasn't sure about item creation success rates, so it would have been rather foolish to only collect 1 set of material. ZeLin was prepared that he needed to collect as many sets as possible.

Less than a dozen steps into the valley, ZeLin noticed a glittery silver vein, starting from the middle of the nearest wall, all the way downwards into the earth. Taking out his [Champion Pickaxe], ZeLin hacked away at the vein. [Ding!] [Ding!] [Ding!] [Ding!] The sound of mining echoed deep into the valley.

There was no quieter way of doing this, the tougher the ore, the louder the [Ding!]. But thanks to having the Champion Pickaxe, each [Ding!] produced 2 silver cored steel ore, directly added to his inventory.

This was one of the nice things about Aegis, when the player mined ores and gems, they did not have to pick it up. The first silver vein yielded good results, in a mere hour, he completely depleted this vein. In total, he collected 400 silver cored steel ore. Although materials incomplete, this vein alone gave him enough to make 8 bows.

Feeling great, they continued inwards. Looking under every brush, peeking behind over rock, looking for new veins.

Although ZeLin could not shake the feeling of something watching them, there was little he could do. In 7 hours, he had collected all the required ore. What's left was to find Sapphire and Emerald gems.

The seven of them had long since passed the outer edges of the valley and had ventured slightly into the middle of the valley.

Suddenly, a dark silhouette flashed past. Soundlessly, one of Captain Mir's men had lost his life, even before he could feel the pain, he was already dead. In just a couple of seconds, they had been reduced by one person.

"We should leave, whatever that was, it was fast!" said Captain Mir fearfully.

ZeLin on the other hand, refused to leave, he had made out a rough guess about what creature had attacked. All he had seen in that flash past was red claws on silver fur. Racking his brains, he was trying to recall what creature it was.

In the past expansion, he had traveled extensively, even coming up here was a norm for him. Whats more, this was just on the way to where he and his brother was supposed to have their "Showdown".

Sensing danger, ZeLin told everyone to form a circle with their backs facing each other. Suddenly, another flash whizzed by, this time accompanied by a fountain of blood. Another guard had fallen.

Difference was, this time, ZeLin was paying his full attention. This time he didn't only see a blur, he saw the creature as it whizzed by.

"This is going to be troublesome, that's a Red Clawed Silver Tiger! But due it's small size, this one is only a baby," thought ZeLin to himself.

This creature had an infamous reputation, it was one of the undisputed tyrants of Mt Kin. Probably the only other creature that could fight this tiger on even grounds would be the Frost Ape.

But the Frost Apes were much much deeper into the valley. Although this area was considered as the middle area for most people, to ZeLin and ZeRen, this was still mostly the outer layer. To get to the real peak, one had to pass through the entire valley.

These tigers were different than their tropical orange and black striped cousins, they had silver fur which grew white as they m.a.t.u.r.ed, but the red claws stayed the same. During infancy phase, their strength was in it's speed, as it grew m.a.t.u.r.e, it's speed would decrease, but it's attack would increase.

"The one attacking was most probably a cub," knowledge of that wasn't exactly very helpful cursed ZeLin in his heart. He still needed to come up with a way to kill the creature.

If it was a young a.d.u.l.t, it would be so much easier to kill. It would be slower although its attacks would be deadlier, they'd at least have a better chance at either escaping or avoiding it.

As time went by, the circle had gotten smaller and smaller, soon only a guard, Captain Mir and ZeLin remained; the rest had perished.

In the last few rounds, Captain Mir had at least tried to hit the creature, he slowly grasped the timing, but was still far from being able to hit the tiger. Captain Mir was getting desperate, cursing his luck in meeting such a creature.