[Wooden Support Beam] = 2 Wood (Hard, 1-2m) + Wood (Hard+1, 1-1.5m)
----------------------------------------
Another insurmountable fight.
Jay huffed for air, the blood spilling from his Wounds. A light snow fell from the sky, drifting between the pine trees before landing on the rocky beach where he stood. This prolonged chill was doing him no favors, though there wasn’t much to be done.
Not unless he abandoned this E-Rank island completely.
The crab monsters zipped back and forth, moving sideways as they waited for an opening. Barnacles clung to crimson shells. Spindly legs tore through the gravel. And two narrow, black eyes stared out from the creatures’ centers, their free claw snapping to kill.
To fight crabs the size of people would be one type of challenge. To fight a group of six all at once brought it up a level. One wouldn’t be surprised to find them congregating on the shore of an E-Rank island.
And yet…
These monsters were operating at a different level entirely. Each had seaweed wrapped around their shell’s top like a miniature bandana, and only one claw snapped about at any given time. The other gripped a weapon fashioned from coral and seashells. Bats, crowbars, pipes, knives. He’d even seen one with sharpened barnacles fashioned around a claw, like brass knuckles.
Jay continued to inch back, remembering the entry for these beasts.
Bandit Crab (level 31-40) – A crab found on the shore of many E-Rank islands. This monster will work with allies to protect its territory.
Contains a monster core.
Research is available.
He cried out as a shank took his side, one of the bandit crabs exploiting his blind spot. But the moment he spun around in counter, the crab scurried for cover, its allies forming the wall.
To think that when Jay first found evidence of these creatures, he hadn’t expected them to be an actual gang. Destroying them individually would be child’s play with his current weapon set. But as a group like this? He’d need a gang of his own, something in short supply these days.
Time to bring this up a level… He gripped his pig iron scimitar with both hands and bowed his head in concentration.
Magenta light swirled around his body, his weapon growing in strength as his soul synchronized with his gear. He flexed his wrists, ready to put forth the most devastation he could unleash.
The bandit crabs continued to scurry about, not realizing that their opponent had just activated his weapon art, [Violent Storm]. They didn’t even react when he bent low and angled his sword behind his back, readying his next attack.
[Rend].
F-Rank islands were the easiest an Expatriate could face, short of the tutorial. The monsters were weak, the mats were plentiful, and environmental Conditions could be handled with the most primitive of gear. But for all this easy access, those islands also lacked the most crucial detail for progressing as an Expat: material quality.
Not so with E-Rank islands. Copper, silver, and pig iron could be found in veins along the beach, with some being upscaled by default. The cotton grass that served as this biome’s twine source made for a superior version of hemp. And though the pine trees were weak by default, the ebony wood further inland was necessary for Iron Age tech, massively increasing his dinky scimitar’s capability once used for the pommel.
All of this was to say that when Jay combined [Violent Storm] with [Rend] to unleash a wide-sweeping attack against a group of crabs holding weapons made of coral, the +8 Affinity boost combined with his weapon art and attack to devastating effect, carving into his opponents under a brilliant, purple fury. Meanwhile, the +6 Reinforced and Hardened modifiers could support the durability loss without breaking a sweat.
Two of the six crabs dropped with the first round, but it wasn’t until he dropped a second [Rend] and some extra [Power Attacks] that he finished off the rest.
He gasped from the exertion but still grinned wide, savoring a moment of victory.
But then the boss crab came. Waves suddenly erupted nearby where it rose to the surface, more than thrice the size of its underlings. Seawater spilled along its barnacle-coated form, revealing the clump of seaweed shaped like a pirate’s cap. The curly mustache rose and fell with the tide, but it was the giant coral polearm with a seashell blade and conch as a counterweight that stood out the most. That fucking thing could blow up a three-story home in a single hit.
And Jay knew exactly what this guy could do.
Bandit Crabtain (level 63) – A large crab found on the shore of many E-Rank islands. This monster will defend its weaker cousins if they are harmed.
Contains a monster core.
Research is available.
Dammit. He’d hoped luring the crabs further into the shore would be enough, but the combination attack of [Violent Storm] and [Power Attack] made for a messy, loud display, which had no doubt gotten this one’s attention. Though Jay still couldn’t get over the ridiculous naming convention…
The crabtain twisted and rushed sideways for him, spinning its polearm in hand. Another half-dozen bandit crabs moved in its wake, slower than their commander.
Jay squinted, considering the opening. Yes, if there ever was a time to rid himself of this area boss, it would be now.
Before the opportunity could be lost, he holstered his sword, threw open his backpack, and brought out his latest trump card, taking aim.
A barrel like a miniature cannon zeroed onto the crabtain, its hardwood stock fitting snuggly in Jay’s shoulder. Yet, it was the gear-shaped magazine on top that made this rifle so distinctive.
It had been Viktor’s, after all.
He unleashed against this monster, a flurry of superheated rounds clattering across the open beach. Sand exploded up and steam rose from the water where he missed, but most of his torrent landed directly into his enemy.
But to Jay’s dismay, the crabtain didn’t fall over, nor did it slow down by more than a few seconds. Its shell merely cracked, steam rising where ichor leaked out.
And then it was upon him, twirling its polearm in hand. Jay [Leaped] just as it struck the spot he’d been standing. Thunder rolled out and a crater formed.
He tried to inch closer, but the polearm’s reach was devastating in this monster’s claw. There’d be no way to bridge this gap.
This was still fine. Jay narrowed into the sight and fired again, aiming directly for the crabtain’s eyes as best as possible.
To no avail. Jay had never crafted this strange rifle, and therefore did not have the proficiency boost. Only through practice would he get better at long range, and he severely lacked opportunities like these.
The gear suddenly billowed smoke, its magazine at its end. Jay cursed the result, his enemy still standing. Copper wasn’t strong enough. Maybe silver next?
Again, the crabtain twisted its polearm, now flicking side to side in quick, precise snaps. Craters formed where it struck the ground, an impenetrable wall that could not be breached.
I’ll have to make one of those at some point, Jay considered. But for now, he had no options left.
He twisted on his heels and sprinted away, using [Leap] to give himself as much distance as possible.
The crabtain still chased him beyond the rocky shore’s boundary, but once Jay entered the thicker pine forest, there was no way for it to keep up. He continued on his path, through the brambles, over the creeks and crags, and into the tighter cliffs.
His throat still struggled against the chilled air, and it stung knowing how many cores he’d just left behind, but at least he would live to see tomorrow.
That much still mattered, more than anything else.
* * *
The late afternoon sun tore through a thicket of tall, narrow trees, its long rays trapped by dust in the air, forming a thick, yellow haze. Frost-covered moss covered the mountainous floor, interposed by clusters of pine needles in various states of decay. The clouds roamed lazily above, thick and white like the snow-capped peaks they drifted through.
And Jay Reis rubbed his fingers together, trying to keep warm as he prepared for tonight.
2.1kg of loose copper scrap, upscaled to +4, he noted, along with, 1.6kg of pig iron scrap, upscaled to +3.
That was it? Jay had slaved away by mining into these basalt hills, doing whatever he could to extract the ores with the time available. But even that grind had not been enough, for the rocks were tougher than the granite he was used to carving into, and his copper pickaxe could only go so far against them.
He gripped the geargun tight, knowing it would not be enough. This might have been Viktor’s killer weapon, but Jay had since learned that its intricacies offered boons and busts, depending on how it was approached.
[Iron Geargun+4] (Heavy+6), (Quick+2), (Thermal+4), (Expanded+1) – An iron-chambered machine gun with a gear-shaped magazine, designed to shoot [Metal Bars] repeatedly. Can hold up to 5kg of raw metals by default.
This [Geargun] has been modified for additional projectile strength, heat damage, magazine size, and attack speed.
This [Geargun] contains 2.1kg [Copper Bar+4] (21 pellets) and 1.6kg [Pig Iron Bar+3] (16 pellets).
It was a strange contraption. All Jay needed to do was put chunks of refined metals into the gear-shaped magazine on the top, and it would expend them as bullets, each superheated to inflict devastating damage. There was a delay if the bars were too big or small, causing the geargun to vibrate, so Jay had learned to smash them down to an appropriate size before inserting them, similar to the ball bearings he sometimes used to slow enemies down. The type of metal and the degree to which it could be upscaled seemed to influence how powerful the bullets became.
How did this amazing weapon work? Jay didn’t have the slightest idea, and he suspected that its former owner wouldn’t either. This was by far the most significant tool he gained from defeating Viktor, who never crafting anything himself, instead acquiring his arsenal by murdering others. Jay only knew that he’d be able to repair it once he gained access to an Iron Age workbench, and even then, he dared not do anything that might compromise this design.
He’d be screwed if he ever lost this thing.
At least I’ll have the knife for a while, he considered, admiring the sleek design of his steel combat knife.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Jay had gained this knife during his first cairn run, but being so new to Annwyn, he had never appreciated how effective it would be. Gear scaled in power by the Age they came from. The higher, the better. Just as his flint spear was no match for a copper variant, so too would his copper swords never be comparable to a pure iron version.
Everyone began in Primal Age, then researched into Copper Age. Iron Age came after that, and Jay had since learned Bronze Age came after that. Naomi’s group had been researching this next step before Viktor arrived, their own ability to grow stronger halted by his intrusion.
However, this combat knife came from Steel Age… A D-Rank weapon directly after Bronze Age tech. It could cut through just about everything without breaking a sweat, its durability never seemed to drop against these lower-Rank enemies, and since Jay had expanded his crafting into all weapon trees, his Daggers proficiency let him use it in combat, no longer a clumsy amateur.
To think he’d gained this coveted tool so early, only to have lost it within moments by Naomi. She’d then lost it to Viktor when he showed up before it finally returned to Jay.
Maybe karma wasn’t completely dead out here.
He had a few other weapons left, but no more that he could use. The flintlock pistol that Viktor owned required black powder rounds, and his 9mm pistol required modern bullets. He could craft neither, nor had he found more elsewhere.
That made them less than useless.
The geargun, the knife, and my sword. Not the worst combination to have, he supposed.
His Stats, on the other hand…
Name: Jay Reis (Copper Age)
Vitality – 99/99
Hunger – 66/72
Thirst – 19/24
Fatigue – 5/24 (Poorly Rested+2, Stimmed+1)
Sanity – 87/110
Despite all his efforts, Natura always rose. It did not recede. And every night, its army was back to full strength.
Reaching this point again had been a combination of things. He’d tanked many Rule 5 violations in order to coordinate the poison attack on Viktor. He had then followed it by piloting the skiff that brought everyone to safety. And when push came to shove, he had simply underestimated how difficult it would be to find another F-Rank island. This one was the most they’d seen, and after having a fight he would never forget against Natura at sea, he knew it would not be viable to keep going blindly.
And so now, despite all the hard work Jay had put in to reach this point, he was once again inches away from death. Like sprinting on a treadmill, the faster he went, the harder it became. They had now been on this island for a week, but he hadn’t been able to get his head above water.
He stared into the dwindling daylight, along with his paltry sum of tools. No, this wouldn’t cut it.
But it wasn’t over yet. Not when he no longer had to be alone.
Jay pulled out his radio. With any luck, tonight would be another wash.
“Ben, you still got your radio on?”
It took a moment for a response. “Yeah, Jay. What’s going on?”
“I just want to know if you’re still mining in the same spot, heading north toward me.”
“Why do you want to know that?”
“It’s better if you don’t know,” he pointed out. “Rule 5, remember?”
He grumbled. “I swear, Jay. If you do another stupid thing in my mine…”
“It won’t be half as messy, I promise!”
“It better not be.” Ben sighed, exhausted. “I can’t keep bailing you out forever. My nights are getting bad too again.”
“I know. I’m sorry, but thank you.”
The rays of light dimmed ever further, night closing relentlessly in. Jay left his current campsite and went south, his paltry weapons on hand.
It isn’t over yet, he reminded himself. Even if the struggles grew harder, he’d only become smarter and more experienced with time. Between his weapons and his friends, he’d find the way through.
Because life was worth living, even in a world like Annwyn. It didn’t matter if gods sought to see them killed, nor that others merely brought them here as pawns, all under the guise of some “Grand Bargain.” Jay had been given this second chance, and he was going to live it to its fullest.
No matter who got in his way.
The sun dipped below the horizon, replaced by Annwyn’s dreamlike twilight. A myriad of stars glowed brilliantly, and auroras spread in place of clouds. The giant planet burned with a crimson fury.
The forest adjusted as well. Shadows blended and blurred within dark crevices before spreading out. The pine trees poked out like spikes, the frost glistening under the night sky. The basalt hills become black walls, dark as the abyss.
And it was within here where the nightly cries echoed out again. Green lights flickered into existence, Natura pulling together these clumps of grass, wood, and stone to manufacture monsters with the sole purpose of killing any humans nearby. Their verdant hatred slowly focused on him.
His body quaked without command, sensing the power level of this night’s horde. Nothing remained of those petty vined coyotes and clay gorillas he had first faced. Hell, the weakest manifestation was the mossmoose, now a mere foot soldier compared to other, stranger creatures. Wolves the size of cars, with tusks built to match. Tigers made from wood, ready to pounce. Even some trees came to life, forming tiny entlings that could throw boulders.
He swallowed his lifeberry potion, but that did nothing to remove his unease. His enemies had formed a phalanx tonight, clumping together as one as they came in a slow, but steady march, a few stone hawks drifting behind for their chance to pounce.
So what was Jay to do against this unstoppable force?
The same as always.
He turned on his heels and sprinted the other way, aiming for the mountains behind.
Immediately, Natura’s monsters launched into a chase. Even if they could not know his exact plan, Jay never made these moves frequently, and his opponent had come to learn this truth. The monsters intercepted at maximum speed, hoping to cut him off first.
Not that they could. Jay had balanced his position with his destination, determining roughly how long it would take for his enemies to form, along with how fast he could reach the hills.
This chase was over before it began.
He reached a cliff wall, where a small tunnel had been built. It was a tight fit, barely wide enough for one man to squeeze through the wooden support beams that kept this place from collapsing. He’d spent days drawing from this tunnel to support his material needs. And with night owl in his veins, he could move through without crashing into every obstacle between.
He reached the end, where a small palisade wall had been placed, creating his miniature underground fortress.
And it was here where Jay made his stand. He turned to face the mine’s entrance, well over a hundred yards away. His enemy’s howls grew louder, ready to meet him here too.
Jay took out his geargun, and emptied the magazine, shooting at every support beam he could see.
The result was immediate. The tunnel collapsed in a pile of stone and dust. His vision blurred as he coughed it back.
Then, there was silence. No howls. No screeches. No sense of growing despair.
Jay was alone. He was free. There’d be no way to dig through that much earth before the sun rose, and that was the sole entrance he’d blown up.
With a rub of his eyes, Jay went into his current base, lit his campfire for warmth, and entered the bedroll beside. His eyelids grew heavy and the world drifted away.
Not every fight needed to be won…
* * *
He awoke with a grunt, a piece of stone striking his head. He wheezed at once, the air thin. It took a second to realize that his base was vibrating, a sudden earthquake. He blinked through the disorientation, the thought coming together.
This, too, was all part of the plan.
Ben’s constructs reached his base within the hour, right where he knew they would logically go next. He filtered through the hole left behind, embracing the fresher cavern air.
Ben surveyed this pocket of protection at the base of a mountain and scratched his head. “What would you have done if I hadn’t mined here today?”
“I don’t know. Tried to dig my way out?”
“Nah, man. You would’ve died before you got halfway there.”
Jay shrugged. “Then I guess it’s a good thing that I assumed you’d be here. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He started to march off.
It was time to get on the treadmill again.
Name: Jay Reis (Copper Age)
Vitality – 99/99
Hunger – 70/72
Thirst – 23/24
Fatigue – 37/40 (Poorly Rested)
Sanity – 93/110
Main Crafts: Alchemy 2, Armor Crafting 2, Base Building 3, Cooking 2, Jewelry 2, Medicine 2, Tailoring 2, Tool Crafting 3, Tinkering 1, Vehicles 1, Weapon Crafting 2.
Weapon Crafts: Axes 5, Bows 9, Clubs 5, Daggers 5, Spears 5, Swords 11.
Armor Crafts: Heavy Armor 5, Light Armor 5, Medium Armor 8, Shields 6.
Sub-Crafts: Curved Swords 5.
Character Skills:
[Forbidden Knowledge]
Armor Skills:
Heavy Armor: [Push], [Stampede]
Medium Armor: [Recover], [Leap], [Waterform], [Quickstep]
Light Armor: [Dash], [Feather Fall]
Shield: [Brace], [Track], [Break]
Weapon Skills:
Axes: [Chop], [Whirlwind]
Bows: [Sharpshooter], [Longshot], [Scattershot Arrow]
Clubs: [Bash], [Paralyze]
Daggers: [Slice], [Flourish]
Spears: [Thrust], [Sweep]
Swords: [Power Attack], [Slash], [Rend], [Shirk], [Violent Storm]
Cursed Items:
[Vitaberry Bush]
Armor:
[Copperplated Hat+3] (Nightmarish+4), (Buttressed+3), (Hardened+2), (Reinforced+2)
[Copperplated Coat+3] (Buttressed+5), (Buttressed+3), (Hardened+2), (Reinforced+3)
[Copperplated Leggings+3] (Nightmarish+3), (Buttressed+3), (Hardened+2), (Reinforced+3)
[Copperplated Shoes+2] (Nightmarish+3), (Buttressed+3), (Hardened+1), (Reinforced+2)
[Copperplated Gloves+2] (Nightmarish+2), (Buttressed+2), (Hardened+1), (Reinforced+2)
[Silver Amulet]: Socketed with [Chipped Tourmaline] (Tempus)
[Silver Ring]: Socketed with [Chipped Beryl] (Frigus)
[Silver Ring]: Socketed with [Chipped Beryl] (Frigus)
Weapons:
[Pig Iron Scimitar+5] (Affinity+8), (Hardened+6), (Reinforced+6), (Stable+2)
[Treated Bow+2] (Hardened+2): Socketed with [Chipped Beryl] (Frigus)
[Basic Leather Quiver]: Contains 17 [Silver-tipped Arrows] (Elemental+3), and 3 [Scattershot Arrows] (Elemental+3)
[9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol] (Accurate+2), (Quick)
[Iron Flintlock Pistol]
[Steel Combat Knife] (Sharpened), (Reinforced+4)
[Iron Geargun+4] (Heavy+6), (Quick+2), (Thermal+4), (Expanded+1)
Tools:
[Copper Knife+3]
[Copper Axe+3]
[Copper Hammer+3]
[Copper Pickaxe+3]
[Copper Shovel+3]
[Basic Grappling Hook]
Boons:
[Minor (Speed)] (x3), [Minor (Sanity)]