The scorched fields of the Ashenwild Expanse stretched out before Dawnfyr, a vast expanse of blackened grass and jagged stones glistening faintly with molten cracks. The faint haze of heat shimmered in the air as Marcus took in the landscape, his crimson skin glowing faintly in the harsh sunlight. The hulking figure of his Forest Ogre form made a striking contrast to the charred landscape.
"It's ugly," Marcus muttered to himself as he pulled up his map, "but it's got XP written all over it." He adjusted Crimson Fang on his back, the greatsword glinting in the light as he strode confidently into the expanse.
The faint growls and hisses of Charred Gnarlfiends in the distance signaled his first targets. But before he could take another step, a familiar chime rang through the air, and a glowing banner appeared at the top of his screen.
System Announcement: Player Zephyrion has received the title Flamebeast Slayer for being the first to slay 100 Flamebeasts on Alfheim Server. Congratulations!
Marcus stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he processed the notification. "Flamebeast Slayer?" he muttered. "So, if someone hunts enough of one species, they get a slayer title?"
He opened the chat menu out of curiosity, watching as the world chat exploded with reactions.
[DarkBlade13]: Damn, Zephyrion's been grinding hardcore for that.
[CrystalPetals]: Slayer title? Does it give any buffs?
[ForestFay]: Sounds like it's time to hunt Flamebeasts. Guess the rest of us missed out on the first-title bonus though.
Marcus leaned back slightly, resting his chin on his hand. The gears in his mind were already turning. If slaying a specific number of creatures from the same species rewarded a unique title, then maybe he could apply the same principle. After all, grinding mobs was something he was already doing—why not make it more strategic?
"That's it," he said aloud, his grin spreading. "I'll pick a species, wipe them out, and claim the title before anyone else thinks to do the same."
Marcus opened the bestiary in his system menu, scrolling through the list of available mob types in the Ashenwild Expanse. The Gnarlfiends were already a common choice for grinding XP, but their numbers were competitive, meaning other players would likely slow down his kill count. He needed something more obscure, yet still abundant enough to farm efficiently.
After several minutes of deliberation, he found the perfect candidate: Cinderstalk Spiders.
According to the bestiary, the spiders were mid-tier mobs that lurked in the volcanic caverns scattered throughout the region. Their fire-resistant exoskeletons and venom attacks made them slightly more challenging than Gnarlfiends, but Marcus was confident in his abilities. Better yet, they were less contested by other players due to their remote spawn locations.
"Cinderstalk Slayer," Marcus said, testing the name out loud. "Yeah, that's got a nice ring to it."
Dawnfyr made his way toward one of the marked caverns on his map, a jagged opening in the side of a hill surrounded by smoldering rock. As he approached, the faint clicking of the spiders' legs echoed from within, accompanied by the occasional hissing sound of venom being sprayed.
He stepped into the cavern, the glowing runes on his green-marked skin casting faint light against the walls. The first spider descended from the ceiling, its fiery orange body glinting menacingly.
"Let's do this," Marcus said, unsheathing Crimson Fang.
The spider lunged, its venom-coated fangs aimed directly at Dawnfyr. He sidestepped the attack, activating Quick Slash to deliver a flurry of strikes to its side.
Damage Dealt: 70 Physical ATK per strike.
Damage Taken: None (dodged attack).
The spider reeled, hissing in pain as it scurried backward. Marcus activated Sylvan Strike, summoning a spectral blade that enhanced his next attack.
Damage Dealt: 85 Physical ATK + 40 Magic ATK.
The spider collapsed, its body dissipating into glowing embers. A notification popped up:
Experience Gained: 300 XP.
Over the next several hours, Marcus worked his way through the caverns, clearing room after room of Cinderstalk Spiders. The battles were challenging, each spider's venom attacks requiring him to stay alert and nimble. Occasionally, he'd take a hit and have to use a Healing Elixir, but his upgraded abilities and equipment kept him in control.
Damage Taken:
- 20-35 Physical ATK per bite.
- 15 Damage over Time from venom (duration: 10 seconds).
"Thirty spiders down," Marcus said, checking his kill count. "Seventy more to go."
By the time Marcus reached fifty kills, his rhythm was unstoppable. He alternated between physical attacks and spells, using Verdant Cataclysm to clear clusters of spiders when they became too overwhelming. The Tier III magic's AoE effect was devastating, the massive wave of roots and thorns tearing through multiple targets at once.
Damage Dealt with Verdant Cataclysm: 120 Magic ATK per target.
MP Cost: 100 MP (replenished with Mana Crystals).
Every time he activated the spell, a faint green glow enveloped Dawnfyr, healing him slightly due to the forest environment effect.
"Not bad," Marcus muttered, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. "This subclass is really paying off."
As Marcus approached the 100th Cinderstalk Spider, a sense of anticipation built within him. He could almost see the system announcement in his head: Dawnfyr: First Cinderstalk Slayer. With the final spider hissing before him, he activated Blossom Shield to reduce incoming damage, then charged forward, swinging Crimson Fang with all his might.
Damage Dealt: 90 Physical ATK.
Damage Taken: None (damage blocked by Blossom Shield).
The spider collapsed, and the screen lit up with the announcement he'd been waiting for:
System Announcement: Player Dawnfyr has received the title Cinderstalk Slayer for slaying 100 Cinderstalk Spiders. Congratulations!
Marcus let out a triumphant laugh, leaning back in his seat. "First try, too. Not bad for a morning grind."
Updated Title: Cinderstalk Slayer
Effect: Increases damage dealt to insect-type mobs by 10%.
Bonus: Grants immunity to basic venom effects.
With his new title in hand and a sense of accomplishment fueling him, Marcus began strategizing his next steps. The spiders had been a great challenge, but there were countless other species out there—and plenty of slayer titles to claim.
"This might be the most fun I've had in weeks," he said, smiling. "Let's see how far I can push this."
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