Allan smirked and pressed on the ‘Loot Body’ icon hovering in his NR enhanced vision. A screen displayed showing the content of the fallen player's inventory. First he selected the armor. To his surprise and sheer delight, the icon lit up in green.
Yes!
New Gear Acquired: Battle Armor
The wearer of this armor is granted 2,000 increased Hit Points (HP). Flexibility and dexterity increase with higher levels. Requirements: Level > 11, Strength > 14 Agility > 8, Stamina > 12
The avatar then floated in mid-air, but as the armor released, the body collapsed in a heap. Allan cringed at the gruesome sight accompanied by the horrifying sound of bones crunching and snapping. It gave him the heebie-jeebies, and he again had to remind himself that this was just a game. None of this was real.
Seconds later the armor moved forward and hovered in front in front of him. He stepped into place between the hovering chestplate and backplate, and like a magnet they immediately snapped into place followed by the shin guards, boots, red cape, et cetera. The gear fit perfectly as if it were crafted to fit his body. Then again, the game probably adjusted the armor to fit his character's physique.
Premium Member Alert
You have acquired [Battle Armor]. As a Premium Member you are granted the ability to lock a limited number of items to your Avatar. Do you wish to lock this item?
Yes | No
Well that’s a no-brainer.
Allan selected “Yes”. Returning to the inventory screen, he was disappointed to learn that the fallen warrior somehow didn't have any weapons.
No wonder he got slaughtered!
Still, it didn't make much sense.
Unless…
Even from afar on the rooftop earlier, Allan had noticed that Brad appeared to be sporting a new sword.
The sly fellow! Not that I can judge him anyway. I am stealing this player's armor, after all.
There were a few healing potions available in the inventory that he snagged, but otherwise the inventory was empty. With his level of confidence now soaring, he moved forward, spear dancing at his fingertips. He yelled a warrior's cry as he ran to help his friend. One of the Voidspawn leaped into his path and a sense of déjà vu overwhelmed him.
Here we go again. I won't let you defeat me this time!
Threat Detected: Level 6 Voidspawn
HP| 600/600
Strengths: Long black tentacles allow for speed and easy subduing of prey. Head is covered with gnashing mouths full of razor-sharp teeth to allow for rapid devouring of trapped prey. Head is also covered with eyes to allow for 360-degree sight with intense focus. Will not remain killed.
Weaknesses: Can be subdued into a temporary liquefied state, but has a five minute delay before it is able to regenerate.
James was outnumbered one to three, yet he carried on valiantly with minimal damage. Allan barreled spear-first into the Voidspawn.
[-60 HP]
A screech erupted from the creature and its hundred gnashing mouths snarled at him. Yet he stood rooted to the ground defiantly, demonstrating that he wasn’t afraid of it anymore. His pulse quickened and his blood still rushed to his head, but this time he did not give in. He wanted to fight and if that meant respawning far away, so be it.
He slashed his spear at one the approaching tentacles.
[-10 HP]
He jumped when the tentacles lashed out under his feet. He slashed and jabbed, stabbed and thwacked.
[-10 HP]
[-20 HP]
[-10 HP]
[-10 HP]
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Again, his attacks didn't make much of a dent in the monster. It continued to retreat but then came flying back at him with even greater speed and stamina.
To his side, his friend was losing ground, with sweat dripping off his brow. Their eyes met for a moment and they reverted to their fighting. Yet in that brief moment a lot was said. Confidence.
Returning to the fight, he jumped onto a barrel and then onto a nearby ledge, balancing himself. The barrel below had already splintered into pieces, broken by a powerful lash by one of the three Voidspawn’s tentacles. He ran along the ledge, evading the attacks by the monsters. Reaching the other free side, he found a lot of upturned barrels, which he kicked at the creatures. Whatever items he could find, he picked them up and threw it at them. One of the barrels smashed through the gnashing teeth of the leftmost creature and the Voidspawn reared and gave a loud screech before getting pierced in its head by his friend’s sword. The Voidspawn dissolved into a puddle of black goo and vanished from the scene.
HeadStab: Medium
Assisted Kill
[+150 XP]
One down, two more to go.
He then turned to the other two, who seeing their fellow defeated, rushed at him angrily, their teeth making a clattering sound as they clicked against each other. Their tentacles came at him and some of them scraped his armor even as he staggered to evade them.
[-50 Damage]
[-25 Damage]
The force of their arrival pushed him backward and he stumbled over a medium-sized rock that felt quite out-of-place with the decor of the city.
The two Voidspawn loomed tall above him, their mouths dripping wet saliva drawing ever near. He closed his eyes and turned his face away, his nose wrinkled at their foul breath. He thought that he was going to meet his death here and now, but one of them gave a screech. Through a small gap, he could see James stabbing one of its tentacles repeatedly. Thankful for the distraction, he started to jab at the other Voidspawn’s mouth.
[-30 HP]
[-40 HP]
[-60 HP]
[-30 HP]
He kept pushing his spear forward until he finally started to smash the monster’s teeth. They fell down like a hail of tusks and when all was done, he slashed across its black gums.
[-30 HP]
[-20 HP]
[-100 HP]
The Voidspawn shrieked in pain and stumbled behind. He walked forward, suddenly encouraged. He ran, he leaped, and then he drove his spear through the mouth and twisted the shaft, almost diving into the creature’s throat. Before the monster could close its mouth, however, it dissolved into a puddle as well, leaving his armor soaked in its trademark black.
StabTwist: Medium
Instant Kill
[+150 XP]
A familiar chime sounded from the sky.
LEVEL UP!
+1 Willpower
As James fought off the last remaining Voidspawn, he said, “You’re one crazy fighter!”
Allan smiled. There couldn’t have been a better compliment.
Giving another wicked smile, he threw his spear at the remaining Voidspawn’s abdomen. The latter reared and screamed and then moved forward to attack his friend only to meet the sword. His friend had lunged and stabbed it right in between its eyes. A series of squalling later, the Voidspawn reduced itself to a mass of black goo.
HeadStab: Difficult
Assisted Kill
[+190 XP]
Congratulations!
You have successfully altered the foreseen outcome of this scenario. For your wisdom, you will be rewarded:
+1 Intelligence
+1 Agility
James approached him with a big smile, “Look at you! That armor looks great!”
“Thanks!” Allan smirked, “That battle was intense. I feel invigorated! Oh, how I wish there were more of these Voidspawn here to fight!”
James laughed. “Oh, there will be! And soon! They respawn, remember?”
Allan nodded. “We must go then.”
“Yes, to the gates. And I hope our new friends Brad and Vickie have reached the gates without much trouble.”
“Who?”
“They said they met you? Their handles are @DeathSlinger and @BlondeWarrior.”
“Oh, them.” James rolled his eyes, “I met them only briefly during battle. There was another player too, but he suffered an in-game death and that @DeathSlinger bloke took advantage of the situation and stole his sword.”
“Yeah… I kinda did too.” Allan pointed to his armor and laughed.
“Dude…” James’ eyes went wide and shook his head in disapproval, “Be careful. Some players take looting personally, and might hunt you down to get their gear back. That’s why I suggested purchasing your armor from a blacksmith like I did.”
“I guess I’ll just have to take my chances.” Allan shrugged, “By the way, I was going to ask you. What do you think about forming a guild together like Brad and Vickie?”
James shook his head, “If we did that, we’d have to plan when we log in to even take advantage of any guild benefits, and our schedules simply don’t mesh well with my swing shifts.”
“Right.” Allan shrugged, “I hadn’t considered that.”
“Besides, to be completely honest I prefer to level up on my own.” he shrugged, “I’m somewhat of an introvert.”
Allan considered telling his friend about the Seer Stone, but thought better of it. He decided to wait.
“Well, I don’t know about you.” James looked around warily, “But I’m getting out of here before that player respawns.”
“Yeah…” Allan agreed, “Good idea.”
James suddenly pulled a Spawn Stone from his inventory.
“Hey!” Allan sputtered, “Where are you…”
James waved goodbye with a wry grin, and the stone activated with a flash of light and he was gone.
Well that’s just great.
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