Joshua had wrote into his journal entry.
The good and bad
I am alive
I am alone
I am healthier, my heart doesn't cause me to lose trouble. I am surrounded by monsters. I can travel freely and do what I want. I have to be cautious and sleeping feels dangerous at times. I can fight. I couldn't save people. I am able to do things at my own pace. I don't understand how time works. I have two clues. No idea how the clues help. I'm no longer afraid. I'm too reckless.
What else?
This was something that Joshua had written down. Just the thoughts that had been circling his mind throughout this entire situation. Conjecture? No it was more of Joshua wondering what else can he do in such a situation. These thoughts were in his head. The good ones came to him when he was calm, doing things that helped him ease into things such as gaming or model making. The bad were when his thoughts when everything went batshit insane.Joshua continued on his journey, this time walking to the floral park. It seems like most of the creatures in this area were cautious of Joshua's pressence. Actively avoiding his path when they can help it.
There were a few more creatures he had just seen, minotaurs. Now that was something interesting, they were immediately hostile when they saw Joshua. Running straight at him to attack.
Minotaur
Level 75 HP 15,000 MP 7500
Skills
Charge Dash attack, crashes into targets with full force. Afflicting stun. Assault Chop 3 swings with weapon, causes bleed damage.
The problem with Minotaurs are they're close range combatants. Joshua swapped to the shotgun, firing at close range was one thing. He went for the joints, throwing them off their balance. His left hand was constantly reloading the shells as Joshua kept on firing. Pulling the trigger as soon as the shell flew out.He was driving the shotgun to its limits but this was the best way to fight.
Shooting their legs caused them to tumble on each other. Joshua emptied the entire tube of shells, just to buy himself more time. Executing a quad load as he held four shells in his left hand. Tilting the shotgun to the side, bringing it close to his face and shoving the four shells in. Another cycle, and all of that was done in 2.91 seconds. Joshua got back to his aim and kept on firing to their heads. Until their heads blew apart. Joshua fell on his butt as a result of the encounter. The Bipedal Golem was worse in terms of what it could do but the minotaur's size is what made it tough. They were fast too, if he was shooting at them center mass from the start it would have led him to dying.
The spread of Cass's Regret made it easier to work with. He didn't need precision just the spread of the 12 gauge shells were a blessing in this situation. Joshua was thinking about strategies in his head. If he was in a tight enclosed space, the Priest's Blessings would be a good option. If somewhere long distance, Bruce's Courage for shooting the limbs would be perfect. Joshua kept on moving as strategies kept popping to his head as he arrived at the floral park.
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"Gather the item and find me." Joshua thought as he went inside the park, there were dryads that made their home in this building with their treants and a few elves. Their names were white and Joshua was fine with it, what he was looking for was a red rose. Then he positioned himself carefully, even crouching to the flower.
"So the Garden of Thorns has chosen you. It seems that your trials within this area is done. Take the rose with you." Joshua picked up the rose, then watching it explode into red petals that covered his body.
'Item Received'
Coat of Crimson
A coat that is worn by those who are chosen by the Garden of Thorns.
DEF 90 Special Bonuses
Attack Negation.
One hit is negated within every minute. Occurs randomly
Flexible.
Coat does not rip even at the most vexing of movements.
Combat Prowess
Increases damage of weapons by 50%.
FOV Indication
Hostile enemies will have a Field Of View indicator.
Pressence Distortion
Can confuse enemies when not in combat.
Special Storage
Stores up to 5000 items. Items such as ammo and such stacks up to 100. Voice Activated.
That was interesting, Joshua put it on. It had a more burgundy colour and white embroidery by the lapels and the breast pockets. It wasn't a rose it was rather, crown of thorns that was made. This thing had high defense and when Joshua compared it to whatever item he had. It was far superior in every way possible. With this, he would not need even need his backpack.
"Special Storage." Joshua said as he watched the menu open itself. Seeing all the accumulated items that he has gotten. Now he just needed to figure out something else, one of the dryads hovered close to him. Holding Joshua's cheeks. Then giggling as she poked Joshua's nose.
"Boop!" The dryad yelped, Joshua was confused but the dyrads all chuckled. Their names turned green, and as Joshua understood that had meant that they were friendly. Though Joshua's INT is too low to understand monsters as a whole, one of them offered a pot with liquid inside. Joshua could not use identify and when he took a sip. It was sweet nectar but a sip was all he could muster.
'You have been poisoned : Aphrosidiac' Joshua watched as the names of the dryads turned red. Joshau drew Priest Alex's Blessings, firing a shot into the dryads. Watching one of them had their heads explode but they regenerated quickly. Seems like gunfire may not be useful, Joshua readied Natalie's Prayers and wielded it. Going for stabs and slashes instead, trying to make an opening through the dryad's skin to find its heart.
The Aphrosidiac was causing Joshua to see them as highly attractive women but he can't let himself fall for it. Dying from a Dryad might leave him stuck as their food source for a long time. His mother's kitchen knife was used to cut vegetables... Throughout the fight, an odd thought popped up.
Are dryads considered to be vegetables? They are plants but they bleed and scream like a living thing so? Those thoughts kept moving about in Joshua's mind as he cut through the dryads. What was weird was that the dryads didn't have a status window or even any lootable items. However he did find another clue. The third clue.
'Third Hint'
> For when the dryads fall, that is when you have freed the flowers of their doom.
>
> The dryads had forsaken their duties to keep these flowers healthy.
>
> Oh Seedling. You have acquired the first of five key items. First of three clothing.
>
> The Coat of Crimson belongs to those who bear the Garden of Thorns.
>
> The Coat of Crimson was white.
>
> But it had changed as a result of the many Thorns that had worn it.
>
> You are the last of the Thorns. The one chosen by the Garden itself.
>
> Cursed you are, to use the weapons that bear the names of those you love.
>
> Such is the price to be paid, when a weakling descends into the realm of madness.
>
> Head to the forest and look for the next item.
>
> The Cherry Blossoms.
Joshua was trying to understand what all this meant, the people that he knew can be weapons? The Aphrosidiac was not wearing off, Joshua could feel himself losing his composure to it. This was very strong, Joshua felt the lust taking over. He could only shake it off for moments as he continued his way back. Seeing the '<3' icon over the names of his surroundings. He needed to avoid them at all times, because when he saw an elf woman walking before him.
Joshua was driven by the urge to attack her. This wass disgusting even for him, keeping his eyes closed as he ran ahead. Navigating through everything through mere outlines. Joshua arrived at the hobby shop, checking to make sure everything was clear. Then he lowered the shutters and took a belt to wrap around his hands. Using his teeth to tighten it.
The aphrosidiac was strong, strong enough to make Joshua hear voices outside. Voices of women calling him, complimenting him. He kept his thoughts in check. The shutters are down and these voices may just be the creatures roaming around. He took a deep breath and was going to starve himself of food for a bit. Joshua placed his head to a corner, having his back to the wall.
"God damn it." Joshua cursed.