He’d only had a Novice Path in Precision for half an hour, but he’d already found it to be quite useful. While it didn’t improve how hard he hit, how deep his hits penetrated, or anything like that, what it did do as he concentrated on using it was provide something like a mix of wire mesh and bullseye overlay over everything. Including the boulder that the jackalope had trapped itself in.
It took quite a bit of work, but he was able to use various rocks and the remains of his pick to break the boulder apart enough to free the body of the jackalope. Chase planned on taking it back to the cabin with him, both to make use of its hide and to see what he could make out of the antlers.
As he carried the jackalope back, Chase felt the weight of the creature balanced against his shoulder, its antlers clicking gently with each step. The forest seemed to watch silently, the trees whispering their ancient secrets as dusk began to settle in. The Path of Precision still active in his mind, layered visions guiding his way through the rocky tunnels and grassy hillside.
All too soon the light began to dim, Chase finally reached the edge of the clearing and the cabin beyond. The cabin itself looked serene and inviting, its wood warmly glowing under the sunset’s last rays. The smell of pine and earth mingled in the cool air, a gentle reminder of the solitude he found here. As Chase approached, he shifted the jackalope’s weight, preparing to begin the task of skinning and preparing it as soon as possible.
The mosquito’s proboscis had proved to be a poor choice of material for a pick, antler would most definitely be a better option. The main issue he currently faced with it was the fact that the jackalope’s antlers had four points apiece and Chase didn’t think he had a saw or file in good enough condition to par down three of the four points.
As the evening shadows lengthened and merged into dusk, Chase set the jackalope's body down near the woodshed and headed inside the cabin to rummage through his tools. He needed something that could handle the stubborn resilience of the antlers. After a while, he came upon the claws and skull of the mountain lion he’d killed the first day. Considering for a moment, Chase shrugged and figured he’d give it a try.
Returning outside, a lantern in one hand casting eerie shadows as Chase positioned it on a stump near his workstation. The jackalope lay still, its fur an unsettling, oily black in the lantern light.
With grim determination, Chase started by skinning the jackalope, carefully peeling its hide away in a manner that would preserve as much of the fur as possible. The fur, slick and dark under the lantern's glow, slid off with surprising ease—a testament to both the sharpness of his improvised mountain lion claw knife and the efficacy of his Path of Precision. Each slice was calculated, deliberate, ensuring minimal damage to the valuable pelt.
Once the skinning was done, he moved to the antlers. Using the jackalope's skull as a rough cutting board, he began the process of trimming the excess antler down. It was a slow, painstaking process, and the darkness that had descended by the time Chase was done had forced him to take even greater care to ensure that his cuts were as precise as possible.
But Chase eventually finished, and the antler was now shaped like a rough pick. As he raised it in the lantern light, he examined the tool closely, admiring the sharpness and strength of the newly crafted weapon. The rough shape of the antler contained a sharp enough curve that removing the outermost point from where it forked resulted in a pick shape, and the point closest to the base was at just the right thickness that he could use it to replace the proboscis in his previously made pick.
Half an hour later, Chase nodded in satisfaction at the results. It would suffice. Now that he was finished with that, it was time to clean up, then deal with the quest reward.
The jackalope’s hide was rolled up and secured with twine before he carefully placed it inside a canvas pack. The skull, still slick with blood, was wrapped in a cloth and stored in another smaller pack. With the supplies safely stowed, Chase made his way back to the cabin.
After he started a fire in the hearth Chase moved to the washroom area to clean up. As he scrubbed at his hands and arms, the water turning a murky brown from the dried blood, Chase couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. This was far and beyond anything he’d been prepared for, but he was surviving—more than surviving, thriving!
Once cleaned up, Chase headed back into the main room and settled down at the small table with a sigh. At this point, he just wanted to sleep for a week, but instead he pulled up the quest screen and accepted the rewards for Scent of Despair. As expected, a text box appeared in front of him.
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Home Base System Unlocked
Analyzing Surroundings For Home Base
Network Interface Generated
On the wall opposite Chase, a stone panel covered in strange sigils appeared at about the height of his sternum. Raising an eyebrow, he got up and walked over to it. The sigils glowed a turquoise green, softly pulsing, but otherwise didn’t do anything. After a moment, Chase reached out and touched it.
Network Interface Activated
Please Name Home Base to Continue
It wanted me to name the Home Base? The more immature part of Chase wanted to cry. Names are hard! Still, after wracking his brain for a moment, Chase said, “Newell Homestead.”
Home Base Named: Newell Homestead
Network Interface Unlocked
Class System Unlocked
Choose a Class
Y/N
Chase blinked in surprise. The fight with the Jackalope and the quests he finished with it pushed him to level twenty? He supposed that it made sense, but the lack of defeat notifications meant it had slipped his mind. Hitting Yes, the panel’s text box, along with the cabin itself seemed to disappear, leaving him floating in a starry void.
Five motes of light flowed out of Chase, forming into text boxes, but with more elaborate framing and with different borders.
Class Unlocked: Warrior [Common - L (Primary: Strength, Secondary: Vitality, Tertiary: Agility]
The Warrior specializes in combat mastery, wielding weapons and armor with unparalleled skill and endurance, making them formidable opponents in battle.
Class Unlocked: Hunter [Common - L (Primary: Agility, Secondary: Cunning, Tertiary: Resilience]
The Hunter excels in tracking and ambushing prey, utilizing keen senses and precision attacks to take down targets from a distance or up close.
Class Unlocked: Leatherworker [Common - L (Primary: Cunning, Secondary: Intellect, Tertiary: Resilience]
The Leatherworker is a master of crafting and enchanting gear from animal hides, creating durable and versatile armor and accessories that provide essential protection and utility.
Class Unlocked: Primal Craftsman [Rare - L (Primary: Resilience, Secondary: Cunning, Tertiary: Intellect]
The Primal Craftsman combines ancient techniques with raw elemental magic to forge powerful artifacts and gear, infusing their creations with the very essence of nature’s wrath.
Class Unlocked: Trophy Hunter [Legendary - L (Primary: Cunning, Secondary: Resilience, Tertiary: Vitality]
The Trophy Hunter excels in martial prowess, mastering the art of harvesting and incorporating the remains of defeated beasts into their own strength, gaining unique abilities that reflect their predatory expertise.
Nothing Chase did gave him any more information, so he took a moment to consider. Leatherworker was right out, as it sounded like a non-combat class, and in his particular situation that would be a form of suicide with extra steps. Primal Craftsman sounded more interesting, but the same issue arose, and that was ignoring his Mystic Malediction curse.
Which left him with Warrior, Hunter, and Trophy Hunter. Much as he’d enjoyed playing barbarian type characters in games before the world went to hell, there really was only one choice, given how everything had gone for him thus far.
Selecting Trophy Hunter, the text box turned back into a mote of light and flew into him, sending a rush of warmpth through him. The void faded, and he realized that he was lying on the floor of the cabin, his quest screen hoving in front of his face.
Quests
Class Quests: None
Primary Quests:
1. Man Versus Nature
2. Scent of Despair – COMPLETED
Minor Quests:
3. The First Step – COMPLETED, REWARDS PENDING
4. Find the Path – COMPLETED
Collection Quests: None
Focusing on The First Step, Chase closed his eyes and savored the warm rush that filled him. Once the warmth settled, he opened his eyes again and saw something under the quest rewards that surprised him.
The First Step - Reach Level 20 and choose a class. Rewards: +5% to chosen Class’s Primary Characteristic, +2% to chosen Class’s Secondary Characteristic, +1% to chosen Class’s Tertiary Characteristic. COMPLETED
ACHIEVEMENTS EARNED: Defier of Odds, Early Lead, Head of the Pack