Stepping out of the portal, Archie’s boot was met with the soft crunch of snow. Looking around Archie took in his new environment; light snow falling from the sky, a couple inches of snow-coated grass, a forest of whitebark trees covered in frost with blue leaves, various snow-covered hills, and large imposing snow-covered mountains overshadowing his vision in all directions.
After taking in the large snowy mountain, a screen suddenly popped into Archie’s vision.
Solo Tutorial
The 72nd cycle has begun; thus, a tutorial is needed to increase the survivability of the newly integrated myriad races. The Hoarfrost Highlands is filled with various creatures from across the universe, each providing Tutorial Points upon their death to their killer. After the Solo Tutorial is completed, all Solo Tutorial Participants will be teleported into random Group Tutorials. Tutorial Points will be used to gain rewards after the full tutorial is completed.
Completion Criteria: Survive for 30 days.
Time Remaining: 29 days & 23:59:30.
Taking in the announcement, Archie started to look around his immediate surroundings trying to find any creatures around him.
Finding nothing, Archie looked at trees and decided to use his new ability, Identify.
Hoarfrost Pine Tree:
A tree imbued by the severe Tundra biome, such trees are perfect home for small creatures and those looking for sap.
“Severe… I should find a cave for shelter. All those short survival videos I’ve watched, mention the importance of finding shelter in the coldest of environments because you need to be safe and warm by night else you freeze to death.” Archie reasoned while rubbing his hands together, already feeling the chill seep into his bones.
And so, Archie headed towards the nearest hill, in hopes of finding a cave for shelter.
----------------------------------------
Approaching the nearest hill Archie did in fact find a small hole within the hill. But, small in this case was relative, as the ‘small hole’ was in fact more than double his own height and the size of three office cubicles deep.
“Perfect place for a starter base. Hopefully all those survival games I’ve played haven’t lied to me with the premise of weaker enemies living around the outskirts of the forest, and tougher enemies deep inside the forest and up the mountains” Archie commented looking around his new base while touching the stone walls of the cave.
Placing his potion satchel on the ground of his new home, he headed outside of the cave intending to find enemies to raise his levels and get some food.
He left the potion satchel behind due to his worry of them breaking when in a fight. Afterall nothing should be harmful to him at the outskirts of the forest…right?
----------------------------------------
Archie’s eyes shined with joy after finally finding his first source of both food and levels; The mighty bunny, ten meters away from where he currently stood.
“Identify,” Archie murmured, intently staring at the white fluff ball.
[Hoarfrost Rabbit Lv 3]
Inching closer towards the rabbit with his dagger drawn and cocked back, Archie launched his dagger towards the rabbit.
Crunch!
The dagger landed two meters away from where the rabbit was nibbling on some fallen leaves. The sudden noise behind it made the rabbit abandon its meal and dash deeper into the forest. Its tiny paws left faint imprints in the snow, but the constant snowfall quickly erased them, leaving Archie with no chance to track it down.
“God damn it…” Archie sighed as he made his way to grab his thrown dagger.
“I still can’t throw for shit...” Archie said dejectedly while marching in a random direction. Another reason why it was good I didn’t choose to be an Archer: I’d probably end up shooting myself in the ass while aiming at something three meters away.
----------------------------------------
Archie crouched behind a tree, five meters from his new target—a brown-coated doe. A couple of hours had passed, and his stomach was growling loudly, urging him to focus. He was fully intent on not messing up again.
Getting an idea, Archie decided to climb the tree and once he got onto a high enough branch, he would jump and land on the doe with his sword. Archie could not rely on attacking from range, due to his abysmal dagger throwing skills.
Silently placing his shield on the ground, and his sword firmly grasped. Archie slowly scaled the large tree, praying that his armor wouldn’t make any noise and scare off the doe.
Archie eventually found a branch sturdy enough to stand atop of, looming over the doe, which was currently eating fallen blue leaves, completely unaware of the possible danger its in.
Identifying the doe Archie further cemented his decision to kill it. If he killed it he would surely level up more than once.
[Hoarfrost Doe Lv 6]
Adrenaline started to pump through Archie’s body in anticipation for his first kill. Archie jumped off the branch, falling atop the doe. His sword piercing through the doe’s back, the sheer force of a man falling from a 3-meter drop onto a small doe instantly killing it and producing a ding.
*[Hoarfrost Doe Lv 6] has been slain – XP has been given. 6 Tutorial Points given*
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
*Your Class has reached Lv 1 – Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
*Your Class has reached Lv 2 – Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
*Your Race has reached Lv 1 – Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
*Your Race has reached Lv 2 – Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
Adrenaline still coursing throughout his body, Archie looked towards the various system messages, then towards the fallen doe; a small blood puddle staining the snow. A smile appeared across his face, as he finally succeeded.
“Status,” Archie said with the smile on his face widening even more at the sight of his increase in stats.
Archie Gracefield
Race: Human F-Grade Lv 2
Class: Warrior Lv 2
Profession: *Empty*
Health: 140/140
Mana: 90/90
Stamina: 105/110
Stats:
Vitality: 14
Strength: 15
Endurance: 11
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 9
Willpower: 10
Perception: 9
Free Points: 4
Skills:
Basic One-Handed Weapon Mastery (Initiate)
Basic Light-Shield Mastery (Initiate)
Identify (Initiate)
Tutorial Points:
6
“Do Tutorial Points scale with level?” Archie asked himself. The doe had been level 6 and gave 6 Tutorial Points. Would a level 50 give 50 points? Archie wondered.
Not getting a response from the system, Archie walked back towards his shield and placed it upon his left arm, fully equipped once more.
Archie walked back towards the doe and noticed the small blood puddle had grown larger, the heat of the deer’s blood melting the snow around the corpse.
“I should let the blood drain out to prevent a blood trail leading to my new home and inviting unwelcome guests.” Archie reasoned to himself, not wanting some pack of wolves to follow him home.
After waiting for the blood to finish draining from the doe, Archie hefted it over his shoulders and began the trek back to his new home. His stomach grumbled loudly, eager to finally eat something after hours of trekking through the forest with a grumbling stomach.
----------------------------------------
Placing the doe onto the stone floor, Archie walked out of his new home and into the forest. I need sticks and use them to make some friction to start a fire. Thank god for the hours I spent watching random survival videos at 2 am. Archie joked while scavenging for fallen dried branches.
----------------------------------------
Tossing the last of the sticks he’d scavenged into the far corner of his cave, Archie surveyed his newly organized space. In one corner, a large pile of sticks; in another, three-quarters of a doe carcass; and in the center, a medium-sized campfire roasting a leg of the doe.
Staring at the roasting doe leg with a clear view of the sun setting, it felt calming. Tomorrow I should try to hunt more creatures and focus on just leveling rather than hunting for food, Archie decided. Best to have a surplus of resources than not have any at all.
Using his dagger, Archie sliced pieces of venison and began eating while listening to the wind whip around the cave and various animal noises within the forest. It reminded him of the days he’d spent camping.
After finishing the doe leg, Archie’s eyes began to droop, and his head felt heavy. Grabbing a couple of sticks, he tossed them onto the campfire, keeping the flame alive.
Archie placed his sword and shield upright next to a wall of the cave, then curled himself next to the campfire and slept.
----------------------------------------
A loud growling sound and a sharp pain jolted Archie awake from his sleep. His vision was bleary, revealing nothing but darkness, yet he could feel pain arcing across his chest.
The small embers from within the campfire providing very little light within the cave, provided Archie with very limited vision.
Archie tried to find his sword and shield, but could not see where it was, feeling despair at the missing feeling of protection his sword and shield provided.
Remembering the dagger attached to the right side of his hip, Archie pulled it out of its sheath, all the while still looking around the cave trying to figure out where the growling sound came from and what caused him pain.
Out of the corner of Archie’s vision, an eye was shown, only due to one of the few embers remaining within the campfire. Archie immediately turned towards the eye that he saw and focused on it. Slowly taking in the shape of a four-legged creature.
It had an outline similar to a large dog’s. He could hear the panting the creature made. He could see himself somewhat reflected off the creature’s eyes.
Archie kept trying to keep the creature in sight, but the creature wouldn’t stay in one place, constantly shuffling around the cave. As though it understood that its sneak attack was compromised and would need to go for the kill, it pounced towards Archie.
Caught unexpectedly, Archie stumbled backward, raising his left arm in the direction of the creature. The force of the lunge caused Archie to fall onto his back.
Pain raced across his left arm as it was in between the jaws of the creature. The sound of claws raking across his plated chain-mail armor, trying to rip out his guts.
Struggling to keep the creature’s maw away from his face, Archie stabbed the side of the creature with the dagger he kept within his right hand.
Feeling the creature shudder, and start to bite down harder on his arm, Archie pulled out the knife and plunged his dagger back into the creature. The creature’s maw released Archie’s arm as it stumbled away from Archie.
BUMP!
Adrenaline surged through Archie's body at an even faster pace. He could feel his heart pounding erratically with every passing millisecond; surprisingly, it did not bring him worry but instead grounded him. His muscles expanded, his focus sharpened, and his mind felt clearer than ever. Emboldened by the rush, he leapt toward the creature, dagger in hand.
Landing atop the creature, Archie felt its limbs struggle to push him away, but he powered through. His shouts and the creature’s growls echoed around them, intertwining with the sounds of their fierce struggle.
He kept stabbing the creature repeatedly until its growls became fainter and fainter, the power in its limbs slowly weakening. Moments after hearing the final growl and feeling its body go limp, a series of dings echoed in his head.
*[Hoarfrost Wolf Lv 9] has been slain – XP has been given. 9 Tutorial Points given*
*Your Class has reached Lv 3 – Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
*Your Class has reached Lv 4 - Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
*Your Race has reached Lv 3 – Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
*Your Race has reached Lv 4 – Points allocated, +1 Free Point*
*Your Bloodline has awoken*
Loud huffing came from Archie as he stared at the faint outline of the creature he stabbed to death. The system messages brought Archie some comfort knowing that the immediate danger had passed. He only looked at the first message before realizing the creature was a wolf. Wolves move in packs, Archie thought, goosebumps prickled across his back.
Stumbling towards the walls of the cave and walking backward towards the sticks he had foraged. I can’t see shit; I need a fire now.
Grabbing some dry branches, Archie created fire once more, lighting up the cave. Now able to see clearly, he stared at the creature that ambushed him at night. It was a grey wolf, standing three to four feet tall, its torso marred with various puncture wounds.
Looking at his arm he noticed the plated chain-mail was slightly dented, taking the brunt of the wolf’s fangs. He grabbed his sword from the wall across the cave and stood at the end of the cave staring into the darkness past the entrance of the cave.
Archie had his shield in one hand covering the lower half of his face and torso and his sword in the other slightly slanted forward, both shaking. The realization that this wasn’t a game hit him hard.