Chapter 8: Stupid Monkey

Nate and Will were standing in front of a mutated level 10 baboon the size of a building. Nate was trying to figure out how he was going to take this thing down.

“Why is he a higher level than what West told us?” asked Will.

“I don’t know, maybe it leveled up,” replied Nate.

“Is that even possible?” asked Will.

“Maybe.. I have no clue if I’m being honest,” replied Nate.

Nate got himself and his sword ready for action. The baboon was looking right at Nate like he was studying him. The baboon finally made a move and started standing up.

“Will, go for his legs, I got his head,” said Nate.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Nate and Will moved in unison. Will went for its leg, clawing at it while Nate went for his face. The baboon swung at him, forcing Nate to dodge and reposition. Nate began looking the baboon up and down, trying to find a weak point and then it hit him.

Will was still going for the legs, stopping for a moment to jump up behind the baboon’s neck, which he couldn’t reach due to his mutations. Will landed on the ground, and Nate watched as the baboon’s hand headed straight for Will.

Nate jumped, hitting Will out of the way, then getting hit by the car size hand. Nate went flying, blood coming out of his mouth. Nate was on the ground when he remembered the moment with the spider, and the moment in the store with the men he killed.

“YOU STUPID MONKEY, YOU CAN’T KILL ME!” yelled Nate.

Nate picked himself up and grabbed his sword off the ground. Nate prepared himself, then took off towards the baboon. It swung at him, which Nate dodged by jumping and landing on the baboon’s hand. Nate ran up the arm, grabbing a hair and swinging to the neck. Nate took a quick look then stabbed into the neck of the baboon. At the same time, Will hit the heel and the baboon came down with a crash. Nate dropped to his knees, taking deep breaths.

System Message

Level 10 king baboon defeated

850 xp rewarded

1,500 gold rewarded

60 low level baboons defeated

1,000 xp rewarded

900 gold rewarded

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

System Message

Level up

You are now level 9

+10 to all stats

+50 to armor armor level up

+50 to sword sword level up

+50 to cloak cloak level up

Nate took a moment to think about what just occurred.

“Did West give bad info or did that thing level up?” Nate wondered, making his way over to Will.

“Ok, so that was a battle but hey! I leveled up,” said Will with a tired smile.

“Same here, I’m going to be level 10 soon. Or at least I think..” said Nate.

“Nate, why is it that we can see how much xp we have?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because we weren’t supposed to level up, that’s what me and West think.”

“You’re telling me he doesn’t even know?” asked Will

“West doesn’t know everything. He was supposed to be a trainer. They’re an entity that teaches people in the training phase but death took West for itself, so now West is here. The problem with the events that happened is now he is learning with us,” replied Nate.

“That makes sense.”

“Speaking of, we need to get back to headquarters. West should have the fighters selected, so let’s get going, Will.”

Some time has passed, and Nate and Will have arrived on his land. The farming was starting to look good, and his once home is now starting to look like a little village. The main house wasn’t able to fit everyone. Nate’s little kingdom was starting with a population of 63 people, ranging from children to elderly. Nate would die for all of them.

Nate finally arrived to his house, finding the 15 new recruits including the girl he rescued in the store. West had everyone lined up in rows of 5.

“I am Westcut. I have been instructed that I need to start putting together an army for my Lord Ward and his soon to be kingdom. Lord Ward is offering you food and a place to live, and all you have to do is be ready to defend him and your home.”

Nate watched, looking at the first of his army and for the first time in his life he is feeling powerful and confident that he can take on this world.

“I will transform you into warriors worthy enough to serve under Lord Ward. Your training starts today.”

Nate went inside his home to lie down and drifted off to sleep. Nate found himself in his house cooking dinner, with Ash in the room talking about the new nurses at work.

“God Nate, you don’t understand. It’s like they don’t even know the first thing about medical care. How did they even pass their classes?” said Ash.

“Maybe they did a little favor for the teacher,” Nate teased.

“Wow Mr. Ward, what would you know about favors?”

“Well Mrs. Ward, if you get over here I could show you a thing or two.”

Ash walked over to Nate and embraced him in a hug, and Nate gave her a lasting kiss.

“Nate.. I think I’m ready for kids.”

“You mean you want to have a baby? A real human baby?”

“Yes babe. We aren’t getting younger here so why not?”

“I mean we are doing pretty good.. we have the money…”

“Sooo.. is that a yes?”

“Yeah.. I guess I am ready to be a dad!”

“Yay! Oh my god, I am so excited!”

Nate turned back to the food he was making.

“If we have a son we can name him after your dad! He would love that, right Ash?”

“Ash?”

Nate called for Ash some more but she wouldn’t answer. He turned around to look at her and she was just standing there, her back to him. Nate walked up and tapped her shoulder. She slowly turned around, revealing it wasn’t Ash anymore. Instead it was a disgusting decayed zombie, its putrid skin hanging off of its bones. It lunged at him, and Nate awoke in full armor in his bed.

“Fuck! What was that?!” Nate exclaimed in terror.