Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 77: Consume Title’s Durability



The tree monster's leaves emitted a faint green glow, giving it a sacred and wondrous appearance, like a divine tree misplaced in this realm of darkness. Despite devouring numerous lives, the creature's presence was paradoxically serene. The life it consumed was reduced to blood mist, dissipating into the air, with each drop of blood seeping into the ground to nourish its roots.

Above the ground, the scene was tranquil and peaceful, but beneath the surface lay a twisted, grotesque network of roots. These roots extended in all directions, covering the underground area and ready to burst forth at any moment. The ground was scarred with numerous cracks, evidence of the roots' previous eruptions. The tree monster's territorial instincts seemed to have vanished.

Countless giant bees swarmed above it, yet the roots below remained still, lying dormant as if it were an ordinary sapling. The black giant bee queen initiated the attack, her wings creating a wind vortex that spiraled towards her opponent like a tornado. Not to be outdone, the yellow giant bee queen's wings hardened into blades, emitting a cold gleam as she sliced through the wind vortex with massive gusts.

The clash between the queens signaled the start of the battle. Yellow and black giant bees engaged in a chaotic melee, employing their wings to disrupt, their stingers to shoot, and their bodies to collide. The sky was filled with a frenzy of primitive and brutal combat. They fought with such ferocity that they ignored the chaos around them, driven by a blinding rage.

As countless bee corpses plummeted to the ground, the roots below eagerly extended, ensnaring the fallen bees. The roots tightened, crushing the bees into a slurry of blood that was quickly absorbed. The energy and nutrients from the dead bees were channeled back into the tree trunk, fueling the sapling's rapid growth. The tree's leaves grew greener and more vibrant, and its height soared to one meter, then two meters. Though its growth slowed, a green flower bud suddenly appeared on one of its branches.

The bud remained tightly closed but emitted a warm, enchanting light that bathed the tree monster in a comforting glow.

Meanwhile, Athena sat cross-legged in a cave, her mood significantly calmer. The creature, Mikmik, was no longer frightened or agitated. Instead, it bounced around her excitedly, tugging at her clothes and gesturing towards the battlefield of the giant bees with its tiny paws, its eyes gleaming with excitement.

"There is something round and important where the bees are fighting," Athena murmured as she cradled Mikmik in her hands, trying to understand its message.

Mikmik meowed joyfully in response.

Despite Mikmik's ability to observe the battle stealthily, Athena was hesitant to send it. Mikmik might manage against the ordinary bees, but encountering the queen-level leaders was too risky. If discovered amidst the dense attacks, Mikmik could be exposed and vulnerable.

Unable to monitor Mikmik's status in real-time and with no way to intervene immediately, Athena decided against the risky venture. She pondered for a while, gently stroking Mikmik's twitching ears.

"Is that item really as important as you say? It might be useful to the giant bees, but will it be of any use to us?"

"Should we give it a try?"

Seeing Mikmik sitting upright, nodding earnestly, Athena couldn't help but smile.

[ Hunter ]

Durability: 5050

Rarity: Rare!

Acquisition: Dropped by the first kill of the Long-tailed Bear!

Title Attributes: Strength +10, Defense +5 when battling prey

(Adjust your mindset; they are just struggling prey!)

To date, Athena had acquired two titles: "Warrior," for active combatants, and "Hunter." Both titles came with durability, but unlike weapons, this durability was consumable.

Weapon durability decreased with use and wear, but the durability of her titles could be expended for benefits. The "Hunter" title provided significant and useful attribute boosts, so she had been reluctant to use it. However, her current attributes were at a bottleneck, rendering the "Hunter" title ineffective and in a cooldown state.

If this venture proved successful, it could significantly enhance her strength, potentially enabling her to break through her current limits and take on new challenges. Despite the title's value, the immediate opportunity was even more crucial.

Consume Durability?

"Yes"

Durability depleted. Hunter title now usable only once!
Title attributes changing...

[ Hunting Grounds ]

Level: ???

Acquisition: Title transformation from "Hunter"

Title Attributes:

A superior hunter possesses agility, speed, and excellent physical fitness. Temporary enhancement of personal attributes by 20%. (This attribute is currently sealed due to the player's bottleneck state.)

You are a master trapper. Any prey caught in your traps is at your mercy. Trap Master!

Enhanced tracking. Once you lock onto a target, you can track its location within an hour. Omnipresent and inescapable. The ultimate effect allows a single teleportation to the prey's location. Upon a successful capture, you can return to your original position.

[ Detected that player Athena's attributes are at a bottleneck. The first attribute is automatically sealed. ]

Even without the first attribute, and with the title now a one-time use, if the plan succeeded, the investment would be well worth it.

Donning the "Hunting Grounds" title, Athena picked up Mikmik again, marking him with her tracking seal. A red light flashed briefly. Mikmik showed no visible changes, but Athena's map now displayed his location and a single teleportation opportunity.

"Go. When you're in extreme danger, the marker will flash, and I'll come to you."

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