Chapter 2: Old Man Tiki

Location: Riders Pad

Time: 9:43 A.M

After a good work out at the hotels gym, I took a cold bath to freshen myself. Sitting on the couch, the screens images constantly changed as I skimmed through the channels. I stopped when I saw news about [Fate]. They were airing a player killing mobs. She moved like an expert as she took on several mobs at the same time.

The player had a big sword, it looked like a bastard sword to me. Though the mobs she was killing were wolves, they were like wolves that used steroids, one after another the wolves turned grey and vanished. Her face seemed to be blurred. If im not mistaken, the player who filmed the fight didnt have permission to show the female's face. Which is why the female players face was blurred for privacy reasons. Still it showed how skillful the female player is.

I stood up and headed to the kitchen to get something to eat. I made some sandwiches and ate it fast. After a good rest i headed to my room, I picked up the gear and logged in to the game.

'I should try hunting monsters.'

A thought I never knew that would change how I played the game.

•○•○•○•

I opened my eyes and noticed that it was already night time in game. Heading out to the fields I saw yesterday, I walked as I enjoyed the moon, the bright stars and solemn atmosphere that the game offered.

'The world today has so much lighting in the evening that you cant enjoy the stars. Only in secluded parts of the world are places where you can enjoy the beauty of the evening sky.'

I didnt want to go to the forest during night time. Anyone with a brain would know that predators comes out at night, with my level I will easily die for sure. Several players and npcs were gathered around a bon fire at the center of the village. I wonder if Balmong and his mother are there.

I quietly walked out the village minding my own business. I remembered the lady with the bastard sword, she fought like a true martial artist with her moves. Choosing an opening just below a hill, I spotted something that was moving. Walking slowly,  I held the weapon tightly in my hand. Ready for anything that may come.

The shadow didnt seem to have noticed me, I slowly moved towards it. Suddenly the figure charged at me. I hastily dodged as the incoming enemy attacked. Thanks to my knowledge in self defense I barely managed to escape the attack. Being a known person in real life makes you a target of bad people. The training in different types of self defense my father made me attend during my younger years were showing its effects. My teachers always said that I had good reflexes, which made them want to take me in as an apprentice,  but due to my schedule, my father always declined.

The shadow charged again at me, with the weapon, I slashed at the enemy. I noticed a number showing up, it seems to be the damage I dealt. It was a measly 7 damage, what do I expect from my low level and equipment.

The enemy seemed to be a rat, it moved  fast. The attacks the rat gave me were at 10 -15 damage. If this continues I will die for sure. Its movement was really astonishing, 'is a rat supposed to be that fast?'

I kept my cool as I held my weapon, with the rats speed I can only damage it one way. To use its speed to counter attack. I waited for it to charge again, I dodged again but this time I attacked as I moved.

It lost its balance and I saw that it staggered a bit. I saw an opportunity to attack, a continuous attack of slashes finally made the opponent die.

I looked at the enemy as it layed on the ground, 'That was a really close call.'

I noticed the notifications that came earlier.

You dealt 14 damage.

You dealt 7 damage.

You dealt 8 damage.

You dealt 6 damage.

You dealt 11 damage.

You dealt 9 damage.

You dealt 8 damage.

You killed an enemy.

You received 5 experience points. Experience points is doubled due to killing an enemy at night time.

Looking at my hp, I only had 3 hp left. I moved towards the road and sat for a while. Thinking about the fight earlier, I noticed some odd things.

First was the strength of the enemy mob, if I'm not wrong, a mouse would be around level 1 at most would be level 2. Yet the speed it showed really surprised me.

Two, the experience points I gained  was multiplied by 2 when I defeated the rat.

'So its double experience when fighting at night. Also, do enemies gain an upper hand during this time?'

Waiting for my health to regenerate, I realized that I lacked an important thing - information. I should research about the game later.

A couple of minutes later, I looked for another enemy. Now, I had deviced a strategy against the rat mob. To use its speed against itself. Countering an attack may seem easy, but heck it isnt. Its only thanks to my past experiences that I can successfully do it. Enemy after enemy, I hacked each one to death. Looking for more, I continued to move forward, only stopping to rest.

I spotted another rat, with my strategy I steadily damaged it without taking too much damage myself. Upon its death, I spotted something laying on the ground.

[Rat Tail - Common]

"An item drop."

It was the first item I ever got in game, I took it and instantly it went to my item bag. Looking at the enemy's corpse I noticed that every mob I killed didnt dissappear instantly.

'I wonder why?'

A minute later the corpse turned to grey and vanished. I smiled as I looked at my hp bar, it was still above 80%. Knowing that I was getting accustomed to fighting, I continued to search for opponents. I noticed a familiar creature just ahead of me. It was a bunny, but what made it different was the extra set of ears on its head. It noticed me instantly, not moving as it looked at my direction.

'Is it waiting for my reaction?'

I moved a step forwards causing it to escape, 'So not all mobs are hostile.'

Moving ahead, I saw another rat. But now, it looked more rabid than the other rats I killed. I took my stance and waited for it to attack. I expected it to move forward but I was wrong. It suddenly circled me. Keeping my sight on it, I waited for its attack. Suddenly it moved counter clockwise then pounced at me. My eyes didnt fail me, but my body didnt move according to my will. The rat will surely hit me, but I managed to guess where its bite will be aimed. I moved my sword to intercept its attack, luckily I was right as the blow was blocked.

A sound ringed as if something is breaking. Looking to where it occurred, my eyes went to my weapon. The sword really was a low grade item. It broke with the rats attack. My predicament seems to have worsen.

I looked at the rat as it readies its attack. Left with no choice, I did what any other man would do. It pounced at me expecting me to run, but I held my ground as I blocked the attack.

Critical hit! 22 damage received.

My arm was slightly numb due to the impact. It circled again but this time it didn't expect me to retaliate. I managed to dodge its attack as it growed confident that I will die there. In a split second, my fist came flying to its head. I used my natural weapon, my body. During my training days, I always trained without weapons. Though an occasional knife is used sometimes, my teacher once said that, you cant always bring weapons around in real life. And true to his words, you cant hold a sword or a gun and walk in a city like its normal.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I threw punches and kicks one after another, though my damage was around 4-6, I continued to hit it as fast as I could. Exchanging blows with the enemy, I noticed my hp was down to a critical level.

My hp bar started to blink, 10%left, another hit and it fell to 7%. If I die now, my stats will go down a single point. I was still a level one player. Leveling in this game is really a new experience. But hey, its what makes you strive harder.

Last strike from the enemy and im dead, "I will definitely defeat you." Feeling like the world stopped for a second, my body was becoming one with my mind. I smiled as I faced the enemy. Its been so long since I ever felt this much excitement.

'This world is really great.'

The enemy in front of me charged for a final attack, closing the distance, I also charged forward.

"Die!!" I yelled as I hit the enemy with a kick.

It was like a scene from the movies, or anime's.  Though my enemy is a rat, not another person. I stood there waiting to die, the rat had hit me. And I dont know if I even got the rats hp to a critical level. Closing my eyes, I waited for the system to log me out.

"Stop standing there like a fool, acting like a hero or something? Youre making me laugh kid." A burst of laughter came from the forest.

'Huh? I didnt die?'

Looking at my hp bar, it was 89% full.  My experience bar was in 92%. I was dumbfounded as I stared at where the laughter came from. Noticing the dead rat as I turned around, a figure came out of the shadows.

"I healed you kid, its been a long time since I've seen an idiot like you. That was a good laugh, good laugh indeed." The old voice's owner came into the light. Being bathed by the moon's light, he finally can be seen. If im not mistaken, his age would be around late 60's. But his build was that of a 50 year old man. His body is well maintained.  He stood taller than me by an inch or two, and im at 5'9".

"Hello kid, I'm called Tiki. Judging from your actions earlier, I am sure that your one of the travelers."

'Damn, I really thought I was gonna die earlier. I stood there like a scene taken out of a movie, waiting for the enemy or myself to fall and die. What an idiotic move. Well I was lost in the moment.'

"Hello old man."

"Glad to see you talking, if it was me, I would be ashamed of my actions earlier." The old man let out a laugh again.

"Thank you for helping me."

"No need, you showed me an interesting sight earlier. It's been a while since ive seen a kid who had a backbone. You made me remember someone with the way you fight."

I looked at him as he said the words.

"You see, ive been watching you fight from the beginning. You started like an amateur but with every fight you learned something. Though your actions with a sword had errors, you still fought well. Yet when you fought with no weapons, your body moved like a river, steady and flowing. No errors."

The old man seemed to have noticed my lack of expertise in the sword. He was puzzled for some reason.

"Anyways,  that was a good fight, without the last part." He burst into laughter again.

'Did I really look stupid when I did that stance?'

He stopped laughing and looked at me, "Do you know why your damage was halfed when you fought without the weapon?"

"No."

"Its because you lack the skills that helps you utilize your way of fighting."

'I see, so thats why.'

Looking at the notifications, [Sword Mastery] was learned. Opening my skill list.

[Sword Mastery - Lvl 0(11%)] 5% increase in damage.

'So thats why I dealt more damage using the sword.'

"So you finally noticed. You have a good mind which helps when facing enemies. Want me to train you?" Old man Tiki had a creepy smile plastered on his face.

"Train?"

"I'll teach you the basics. Some skills for survival, and dont look like I'm gonna take advantage of you. I prefer someone with a bust, an ass and a sexy body." The old man snickered.

"I accept old man." I let out.

"Good, follow me to my shack. I have something for you there."

Walking alongside Tiki, we headed to his house. Passing by the village entrance, we were greeted by some players.

"Hello there." A person that looked like a bear greeted us.

Looking at him, I slightly nodded.

"Did you hunt alone? Wow, monsters have double stats when its evening, causing players to hunt in a party." A bunny eared girl uttered.

'I was correct then.'

"Bah!!! Only kids fight with a party to kill a single enemy. You call yourself a man, when you kill a bunny with 5 people?"

The party of players didnt expect the old coot to scowl at them. Continuing to walk, I let out an apology, "Sorry."

"Move faster kid!" Old man Tiki shouted.

Arriving at his home, he ordered me to wait outside. After a few minutes he came out.

"Eat this and go kill monsters."

[Unknown Dish]

A dish made from unknown ingredients.

Effects: Health points halved causing your satiety level to not decrease beyond 20%.

Duration: 1 week, can only be used once.

'What the heck is this?'

"Kid, if I were you I would use this chance to train. It may look like a rip off but trust me. You will thank me later."

I looked at him and saw a serious face.

I hesitated for a bit, but my curiosity won.

'1 week duration. Meaning I have to use this chance to the fullest.'

I had one predicament, I have no weapon. Looking at the old man, I was about to ask for a weapon but he cut me off.

"Use your body to kill. You move better without a sword. Dont get killed, use this to recover your hp."

[Herb] x 50

A basic herb that can recover hp.

Effects: 5 hp points per 2 second.

Duration: 10 seconds

'Atleast he gave me a recovery item. Though I need to stay online for a duration of a week, I can easily do this. Being a workaholic in real life made me able to stay awake for 3 straight days, with the help of coffee of course.'

Opening my stats I saw a raise in a couple of them: +2 in agility, +1 in strength, +3 in dexterity and +2 in vitality.

Bidding the old man goodbye, I headed to the fields once more.

•○•○•○•○•

Author here,

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Anyway, thank you for wasting your time reading this fanfic.

Author out.

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