A few minutes later she reached a line of rocky hills where several NPCs had gathered. From her HUD she could see their stats. All the potential targets were easy kills. It didn’t appear that any of them were carrying weapons, so at a meager reward of only 5 XP each she’d have to kill at least four of them to satisfy the PvP Penalty and another six to Level Up. She cringed at the thought, knowing her total arsenal contained only 16 rounds of ammo.
I need my broadsword back!
She toggled her screen, confirming that her martial arts skillset was still intact.
At least I’ve got a fallback. I’m not wasting my bullets on these losers.
Brittany crept forward, careful not to make her presence known. It was common knowledge that lower-level NPCs like these would often scatter like rabbits upon seeing or hearing an approaching player.
A spray of bullets filled the air, sending Brittany diving for cover. She peeked over the edge of a rock. All the NPCs were now dead. A lone man carrying an AK-47 walked smugly into the clearing toward the bodies.
Sweet! A worthy opponent.
The man was no match for her prowess. She pulled the 1911 from its holster and aimed. Despite the distance, she took him down with a single shot to the forehead.
HeadShot: Difficult
Instant Kill
+15 XP
[-15 XP Penalty Tax]
Skill Unlocked: HeadShot
Delivers an Instant Kill when in close range. Chances of longer range accuracy are 25%. Greater chances for Instant Kill increase with higher levels. Requirements: Level > 1, Agility > 1, Intelligence > 1
Brittany quickly read the new skill facts and logged it away. Despite successfully killing her opponent, she didn’t venture out into the clearing yet. She hovered there for several minutes, and as she anticipated, another player entered the clearing.
Scavenger.
She aimed and fired. He crashed to the ground, a bullet through the back of his head.
HeadShot: Medium
Instant Kill
+10 XP
A medium-level opponent. Figures.
[-5 XP Penalty Tax]
Well, at least I’m out of the penalty box.
Brittany waited several more minutes to ensure there weren’t any more stragglers, then cautiously entered the clearing. She stooped over the bodies, admiring her new loot.
New Weapon Acquired: AK-47
Ammunition: 22 rounds expended, 8 rounds remaining in the loaded magazine, 30 rounds per magazine, 6 spare magazines. Delivers 30% damage to opponents in automatic mode. Delivers 75% damage or Instant Kills in manual mode. An Instant Kill requires the use of either a Headshot or a CardioBlast skill. Chances of longer range accuracy are 25%. Greater chances for Instant Kill increase with higher levels. Requirements: Level > 1, Agility > 1, Stamina > 1, Intelligence > 1
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Her first fallen opponent wore a utility jacket with six extra magazines in the pockets. The magazine clipped to the gun was fully expended, so she chucked it aside and loaded a new one. The man had no other weapons on his body, but she found a wallet in his pocket – which seemed out-of-place.
Is this RL?
She shook the absurd thought away and rummaged through her other opponent’s pockets. She found a small folding hunting knife.
New Weapon Acquired: Hunting Knife
This weapon features a serrated blade. Delivers 30% damage to opponents when thrown with a 25% accuracy rate. Delivers 60% damage or Instant Kills in close combat. An Instant Kill requires the use of either a HeadStab or a CardioTwist skill. Greater chances for instant kill increase with higher levels. Requirements: Level > 1, Agility > 1, Stamina > 1, Willpower > 1
As she pocketed the knife, she found a wallet on this man as well.
What’s going on here?
A sneaking suspicion entered her mind. Somehow the NPCs she saw earlier might have been actual people, and the thought made her stomach sour.
It can’t be…
Her thoughts were interrupted with the flash of a giant shadow. Squinting in the sunlight from the two blazing solar giants, her status bar recognized the massive flying creature as a Level 12 medieval-styled dragon with 1200/1200 HP.
“It’s just a game!” she scolded herself.
With a deep sigh of relief, she grabbed her loot and took off at a dead run. The last thing she needed was to battle a creature well above her skill level. Then again, she’d likely get some serious kill points off of the beast…
What’s the worst thing that could happen?
Brittany weighed the options in her mind. Really, her only risk would be that she’d lose the meager 5 kill points she’d recently gained and would respawn back at the tower by the beach.
“Why not?” she shrugged as she crouched behind a boulder.
The ground shook as the massive beast landed. It quickly went to work shredding the fallen bodies of the NPCs with its razor-sharp teeth. She knew the Saiga would be her best weapon at taking the beast down, but it’d have to be at close range. Worse yet, she’d have to be aiming at its chest.
Brittany took a deep breath and entered the clearing again. The beast’s back was to her as it ravenously feasted on the fallen victims. She crept ever closer, the shotgun shouldered. She’d likely have to expel all 8 of the slugs in rapid succession, but the kill would be totally worth it.
She was almost in position when the beast suddenly stopped eating and raised its head. It sniffed twice, then turned its menacing head toward her.
Their eyes locked. Fresh blood dripped from its scaly chin, its teeth stained red. Its massive jaws opened wide, letting loose a deafening roar.
Brittany reacted quickly, diving to the left as the whip of its tail barely missed her. She regained her stance and fired off the first two rounds. Both slugs penetrated, but only served to anger the beast.
[-100 HP]
[-100 HP]
It roared again, slashing an arm toward her with its mighty talons extended. Ducking for cover again, she rolled out of the way and repositioned herself. She got off three more rounds, and the dragon staggered backward.
[-100 HP]
[-100 HP]
[-100 HP]
Keeping a close eye on her prey’s lifebar, she did a mental calculation and realized that the 8 slugs would be insufficient to take down the beast. She spent the last three rounds and swung the expelled shotgun over her shoulder.
[-100 HP]
[-100 HP]
[-100 HP]
CRITICAL HIT!
Lifebar: < 33% >
Brittany unholstered the 1911 and charged at the beast. It reared forward. As its gaping jaws descended on her, the dragon’s left eye exploded while 3 hollow points ricocheted through the beast’s skull. She jumped out of the way just in time as the massive body crashed to the ground.
Ricochet: Easy
Instant Kill
+150 XP
“That was an easy kill?!”
Skill Unlocked: Ricochet
Delivers an Instant Kill when a hollow point bullet is embedded inside the eye of an opponent. Chances of longer range accuracy are 25%. Greater chances for Instant Kill increase with higher levels. Requirements: Level > 1, Strength > 1, Agility > 1, Stamina > 1, Intelligence > 1, Willpower > 1
Brittany beamed. Had the opponent been a Level 1 creature, the maximum kill points she could gain would have only been +15 XP.
LEVEL UP!
+1 Willpower
A wisp of darkness swirled at her feet and a chime sounded from the sky.
LEVEL UP!
+1 Agility
Another chime sounded as her character ascended to Level 3.
Congratulations!
You have subdued a Level 12 opponent. In addition to your gained XP, for your bravery and prowess you will be rewarded with the following:
+5 Strength
+1 Stamina
+1 Intelligence
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