A timer appeared in the corner of my vision counting down from 1 hour. I allowed myself a few seconds of panic and reread the notification. Checking the guide didn’t reveal any new information. There was no need to worry about 10% of the population dying as I was the only person in the Old Mining Camp. I had to survive for 10 beast waves including a lead beast with each wave. I would get rewards at the end of every wave which would improve my ability to survive. I didn’t know if the wave would be scaled to population or if it was the same size for every town. I pulled myself out of bed and set my priorities. I needed to eat, I needed to check on my falcon, I needed to figure out a game plan to survive the next 10 hours.
Heading to the mess hall I ate a double portion of bushbear, which was delicious, after weeks of bland mystery meat, with vegetables and ethel bread. I took a few extra chunks of bread to stash near the entrance to the mine for easy access later, I also took some extra water and filled all my containers. Next I checked over my bandoleer and filled it with 3 smokers and 7 simple bombs. I was out of trippers still but they were strung out around the perimeter of the clearing leading to the mine entrance. I regretted not gathering more grayson root and ferrica to make a mountain of simple bombs but it was far too late now. I didn’t know any other crafting recipes so I had to work with what I had. I had a total of 22 simple bombs, if the beast waves scaled in difficulty I likely would need 1 per group of beast at the lower levels, possibly 2 for the lead beast.
I went out to the clearing to find my ever present falcon hovering over the entrance to the mine a hundred feet above. It chirped loudly and landed on my shoulder with a small affectionate peck at my head. I didn’t know if it had a way to know what was about to happen but I doubted it. It didn’t seem stressed at all, I took that as a vote of confidence in my ability to survive through the day. I checked the timer for the beginning of the first wave.
00:42:16
I walked the perimeter of the clearing checking to see if the trippers were still set, thankfully they were. I decided to rig every other one to a simple bomb and hid the bombs down low to the ground. I wouldn’t take any chances with the early waves, I would need powerful rewards if I was going to make it to the last wave.
I wouldn’t be able to stay in the mine if I wanted to see what was coming for me, the clearing in front of the mine would be a liability allowing the beasts to close in uncontested. I really wished I still had my bow. I had a last minute idea to sharpen stakes and try to dig them in leading to the mine. The perimeter of the base camps of the third army had used these surrounding the temporary walls to stall enemy charges.
Heading deeper in the surrounding forest to find appropriate branches and I had a little luck finding around 10. I desperately tried to sharpen them using my throwing knife but it was poorly suited to the task. By the time the countdown was down to 10 I had only managed to make one vaguely sharp spear. I scratched the idea and just kept the spear as my close range weapon. I had trained with a spear back at the academy as my preferred short range weapon, I was far from an expert but I knew how to stab things with the pointy end.
I took a seat against the mine wall and tried to calm my nerves. I looked up to find the falcon circling above again, it looked like it was hunting. I tried to whistle it down for a last nuzzle before the chaos began. After my third or fourth attempt at a loud whistle the falcon took notice and dove down dramatically fast, pulling up at the last second. It liked to do this in a playful way and scare me.
“I don’t know if I can make it through this today” I told the level 6 dusk falcon. “If I don’t I want you to fly away and be safe, don’t try to be a hero.” I teared up as I tried to tell the falcon goodbye. It was my only friend in this lonely cruel world. The only one I hadn’t murdered at least.
My mood grew dark and morbid, thinking back to my old squad. One fateful explosion had changed my entire path in this new world, from a member of a well functioning team to a lone stryker lost in the forest. The falcon settled in on my shoulder as I watched the countdown hit 0.
Survival Event! Beast wave 1! Defeat the lead beast to end the first wave! Survive!
The falcon on my shoulder gave a defiant shriek and jumped off my shoulder, quickly gaining and resuming its vigil in the air. I wasn’t sure how fast the wave would reach me or which direction it would come from. I was grateful to only have to watch one direction, the mine protected from the backside by the cave structure.
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The falcon above me gave a shrill chirp and angled its body out towards the forest like it was pointing it out to me. It didn’t take long after that to hear movement, it sounded like the entire forest was running towards me. I waited until I could see the outline of one of the beast and triggered Identify.
Eter Bushbear - Event Beast Wave 1 - Level 5 - Health 40/40
It was much stronger than the bushbear the falcon had hunted for me. I could see dozens of them converging on my location. I waited until the lead group was directly over one of the simple bombs and detonated it, shielding my eyes. The explosion ripped up the ground, hurtling the remnants of the beasts high in the air. Blood was splattered everywhere, small body parts of the former bushbears raining down from the sky. It was a gruesome scene but I tore my eyes away to the other side of the clearing where more were approaching. I triggered another detonation, catching another group of the rodents. It was disgusting work but it was easy for now. I had used both of the simple bombs guarding the direct entrance to the clearing, I grabbed my spear and readied myself.
It took a few minutes for any other beasts to appear, two more waves coming at me from two different directions. I would have to lob simple bombs at them and hope my agility assisted aim was true. I waited for them to be about 100 feet away before throwing a simple bomb at both groups in succession. I detonated them both as they hit the ground and was treated to another gruesome scene of blood and viscera spilling out around the clearing. I choked down my revulsion and kept my vigilance. My friendly falcon shrieked in the air and I followed the direction its body was pointing, finding a large bushbear moving quickly down the path. I triggered Identify
Eter Bushbear - Event Beast Wave 1 Leader - Level 10 - Health 60/60
I wasted no time and immediately lobbed a simple bomb directly at it. To my dismay it stopped and pivoted, using a nearby tree to shield itself from the explosion I detonated. The beast wave leaders were intelligent beasts it seemed. It stared at me from the treeline and slowly started to advance again. I lobbed another simple bomb, this time instead of arcing it, I threw it directly at the advancing bushbear. It darted to the side and avoided the explosion again but this time the outer edge of the blast caught it. I triggered Identify while it rounded another tree and readied itself to come from another angle.
Eter bushbear - Event Beast Wave 1 Leader - Level 10 - Health 49/60
Only 11 points of damage from the fringe of the blast, that didn’t bode well if I couldn't hit it directly. The bushbear charged again and I threw two simple bombs at it this time while preparing to open the door and dash inside the mine. Just before the bombs reached the bushbear and it tried to change directions again I triggered the detonation and dove to the side to shield myself from the blow. I quickly got up and turned to see it on its back, partially torn apart by the explosion. I triggered Identify again.
Eter bushbear - Event Beast Wave 1 Leader - Level 10 - Health 3/60
My explosions should have been doing more damage than this, I would need to digest the combat log to see what was happening. I walked over to the bushbear and drove my makeshift spear down through its chest. It stopped squirming and I triggered Identify one last time to make sure it was dead.
I checked the timer in my vision and noticed it started over at an hour and began counting down as soon as the wave leader was dead. So I had one hour from killing the wave leader before the next wave would hit. I went over the events of the first wave in my mind before checking my notifications. I needed a better plan for the next wave. The regular wave beasts were simple and easy enough but the wave leader had been too smart. If it was any faster I wouldn’t have been able to hit it. I had 14 simple bombs left before rewards. I decided to go over my notifications before trying to come up with a plan.
Congratulations! You have slain the Beast Wave Leader!
Congratulations! You have survived Beast Wave Level 1!
Congratulations! You have reached level 15!
Congratulations! You have earned Bronze Item Box x5! You have earned Silver Item Box x1!
My first action was to dump both skill points in remote detonation. Giving me the ability to trigger up to three detonations remotely at a distance of 360 feet. I opened all 5 item boxes and got 20 simple bombs and the ingredients to make one standard bomb. I checked the timer and still had 52 minutes to get ready for the next wave. The falcon stayed up overhead like it was keeping watch, it clearly knew something was happening. The falcon was much smarter than I had initially given it credit for. I rushed back inside to my crafting hall and crafted a standard bomb using the ingredients from the silver item box. It took me 30 minutes to get the powders crushed and the ratios correct. I got a few notifications but ignored them for now.
Back out in the clearing I placed 10 simple bombs at spots ranging in front of the mine to my maximum detonation range in the forest behind the treeline. I saved my standard bomb, it would be used on the wave leader if I lasted that long. A glance at the timer gave me 6 minutes until the second beast wave began. I took the opportunity to eat a few pieces of bread and drink some water. I tried to get the falcon to come down and sit with me but it was all business in the sky. I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths, trying to calm myself. I had survived the first wave, I would survive the second wave, I would survive.