Ideas of wood cutting stats came from reading Stevenoth’s fan fiction.
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*whack* *whack*
Zero cut through the truck speedily, letting his body strike dead center naturally with every cut. Soon the sound of snapping could be heard.
He cupped his hands around the mouth, took a deep breath and bellowed.
“TIMBE-----------R!” shouting out to warn any creatures in the vicinity as the tree fell in the opposite direction , smashing hard with a bang follow by a quick rustle of the leaves.
---Ok, now it’s to dig around the stump, pull it out of the ground and finishing it with the magical seed of the elves. Hoisting the shovel into the air, Zero aim at the spot to start on and forcefully push hard as deep as he could, before tilting the shovel to haul out the soil.
“Hah-h, Hah-h, why do I have to do the woodcutting like this? This method is so troublesome to carry out. Not to mention that I still have this much to go before completion”, flicking the sweat to the ground, Zero muttered “View Quest!”
After having seen you cutting the logs for a month, he is now comfortable with letting you follow him into Grey Wood to cut the trees.
Gustav requires to cut down the trees for building houses which is currently in short supply. Payment will be increased to 20 silver per tree.
Difficulty level: D
Quest requirements
Assist in fulfilling firewood order for Gustav.
Show tenacity and resolution.
Rewards: Gustav will give you his old woodcutter axe.
Number of trees to cut: 11
“Still 11 more to go…! I have been working for almost 2 months now!” shouted Zero in frustration.
He has been in a bad mood ever since Gustav placed a shovel and a packet of seeds on his hands before telling him to dig out the stump and plant the seed after. Digging monotonously, Zero recounts the scene in his mind on that very day.
“W-What…! Why do I have to do that way!” shouted Zero in disbelief.
“We woodcutters need to protect our forest so this method will ensure the trees will be replenished” answer Gustav looking sternly. “These seeds will grow in just a few weeks.”
That’s the reason why nobody wants to work with you, Zero grumpily complains in his mind.
After managing to uproot the stumps and plant the seedlings, Zero sat down on a grassy part of the ground, feeling tired out. A soft breeze blew past him, causing his hair to flutter.
“Alright then! Time for lunch!” said Zero as he begun laying food on the grass patch. When he opened the basket, the smell of sandwiches waffle out to envelop Zero’s nose, causing him to swiftly reach for one of the sandwiches and draw it towards his mouth.
Biting the sandwich, Zero spied a grey bear watching him from a distance.Giving a look of understanding,he beckoned it to come over while patting the spot next to him.
“Come, Today's food is sandwiches stuffed with salmon, there’s extra!”
Walking warily towards him, the bear took the spot next to Zero and lay down with a thud. The bear then sniffed at the opening of the basket and finding to its liking, start to bite on a piece of sandwich. Letting out a cute growl and while looking at the basket hungrily, bit out another.
Lying down on the ground lazily after finishing his portion, Zero looked towards the bear. Hmm, nobody would believe me if I tell them that previously I have to run away from them, letting out a relax smile. It took a quick peek at Zero before turning back to feast. Looking up at the clear blue sky, he began thinking about their fateful encounter.
In the beginning, he was so furious he wanted to kill the bear that did him in but stopped after Gustav explanation that their levels are around 25 – 30. He was level 2 then,there’s no other way but to endure until he have gotten stronger. As Zero continue woodcutting, he set up traps that will warn him if any of them approaches and placed them around the area to ensure such an incident don't reoccur.
But after a few harrowing experience where they almost caught him, Zero began his next tactic to trap small animals such rabbits and hares to be used as lure to divert their attention while he made his escape.
As he made one such escape, he saw a wounded bear lying flat out on the ground. Under the circumstances, he would ignore it and continue running but somehow his conscience pricked at him, preventing him from leaving. After struggling on whether to run or not, his conscience won and he decided to save the bear and cautiously move towards it.
The bear, after noticing someone approaching him, bare its sharp teeth and stare at him threatening. Zero, feeling the overpowering pressure emanating from the bear, stopped moving closer and raised his hands, showing the bandages he was holding. Either understanding Zero or fatigue from the bleeding, it stopped baring its teeth and while still looking warily, allowed him to bandage it.
Finished with the bandage, Zero decided to continue escaping when he spotted a few bears approaching. Finding no way out, he hurriedly hid in some bushes. crouching down and close his eyes tightly, waiting for the inevitable. Is this the end….? , thought Zero as growling sounds of bears communicating reverted in his ears.
After waiting what seemed like ages, he slowly opened his eyes and poke his head out to check if there are any still around. Searching the surroundings and finding none in the vicinity, he stepped out of the bushes and walk towards the bandaged bear.
“You are the one who saved me”, feeling grateful for its help. The bear, upon hearing Zero’s voice, opened its eye and gave a low growl before closing its eyes to once again recuperate. In the end, Zero managed to successfully escape his pursuers.
Soon afterwards, the rest of the bears stopped trying to attack Zero and left him well alone, with the exception of one which he helped to heal.
Snapping out the thoughts, Zero stood up and gave a quick stretch of his arms and legs. “What’s my current skill level? Skill window!”
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* Axe mastery (Intermediate Lv.1 3%): Increase Attack Power with an axe(+110%). Increase Attack Speed with an axe (+33%).
* Identification (Lv.1 0%) Enables you to learn the true value of unidentified items. Mana consumption: 30Mp.
* Bandaging (Lv. 1 5%): Enables you to stop bleeding. Increase life of wounded when tended.
* Cooking (Lv.3 39%): Enhance the taste of meals. Increase speed of recovery of stamina when served. Increase life when served (+7%)
* Digging (Intermediate Lv. 1 78%): Increase speed of digging by 25%. Decrease stamina loss of digging by 25%. Earth-based magic resistance increased by +20%. Your Affinity with Earth has increase by 50.
* Foraging (Lv.1 54%): Allows identification and harvesting of wild edible plants, fruits and herbs.
* Woodcutting ( Lv. 9 89%): Increase speed of woodcutting by 23%. Decrease stamina loss of woodcutting by 23%.
* Trap-making (Lv.4 67%): Improve trap concealment. Increase chances of animal caught by 11%.
---Hmm, the skills taught by Gustav haven’t really been used much. It will prove useful to me in the near future.
Satisfied with the progress made on the woodcutting and digging skills, Zero collect the utensils left on the ground and kept it in the basket which had the honor of being picked clean by the bear.
“Off to work then”, indicating to the bear. <”See you tomorrow”>, the bear answered as it walk away.
Just can’t get used to a talking bear, thought Zero as he picked up the axe from the ground. Walking to the next tree, he tried to remember when he was able to start conversing with animals. A shard of the memory soon entered his mind.
It was around 2 weeks since healing the bear. He was just swinging the axe away at a tree when the bear approaches him. Not feeling threatened by its approach, Zero waited. As the bear reached Zero, it tries to convey something. While Zero was wondering what it is all about, when all of sudden a sound appeared.
*ting*
New skill learnt: Beast Conversation
Able to converse with animals, non-humanoid monsters and spirit of beasts.
Will not be able to communicate with those that you have hunted.
W-Wow!, thought Zero while feeling surprised by it. So now I am able to understand animal speech.
The bear spoke up loudly which startled Zero as he was in the midst of figuring out the criteria of the skill. <” I am to here to thank you for helping me back there. It took me a while to recover fully before I can meet you.”>
“No, I should be the one to thank you for letting your brethren know that I am not a threat to them” answered Zero politely. “You are welcome to my afternoon breaks.”
<”I will then”>, replied the bear as he left the premises.
Returning his thoughts to the present, he soon arrives at the tree and prepared his woodcutting stance.
“Judging from the pace, this quest will be over by tomorrow”, Zero smiled happily while swinging away at the tree.
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A figure rushes into the chamber and hurriedly prostrates, facing the throne.
“Your Majesty, I have something to report.”
“You may speak”
A dry voice, like a withered tree, came from the throne above. It was the voice of the King of Brent, Belius. He had formerly led the war against Rosenheim kingdom.
The King was 62 this year. His gray hair and beard were carefully maintained, his skin was darkening, and his blue eyes were lacking in vitality. Though he sat with his spine upright, the hands extending from his clothing, which were nothing but skin and bones, were relaxed.
“I have received news that in Greywood, there is cave with mining potential. I would like your highness to allow me to gather the troops to make the area safe.”
King Belius closed his eyes and pressed against them with his fingers, thinking hard about the issue. Finally he looks to the person kneeling.
“Send a scout to figure out the amount of animals that will pose as a threat before I will decide on the troops to send”
“Yes, Your Majesty”
The unknown person made a stiff bow before making a swift exit.
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It was when Zero was about to cut down the last tree for the day, when suddenly a person shouted in his direction.
“Hey! You there!”
Interrupted from his woodcutting, Zero looked at the person in dissatisfaction.
“What do you want? Can’t you see I am working here?” Zero spoke in a thorny tone.
The person made a face like he was about to retort but stopped himself.
“I would like to ask if you know how many grey bears in the forest.”
Zero wondered why the person asks of this but noting nothing of concern, decided to answer.
“Roughly 200. Why do you ask?”
“I was not supposed to speak of this but since you have actually answered mine, I shall answer to yours.”
“The king has decided to send his troops to subjugate the animals in this forest, to make safe passage for the collection of ores to be found in the cave of the Grey bears. “
The person added in an advice by warning him to keep far away from here tomorrow before making back in haste.
Zero, upon hearing the news, spread his mouth into a wide grin as he hurriedly rush to the lair in order to gather up the ores to turn it in as profits.
NEXT CHAPTER>>>