1.08
Standing over the body of the collapsed monstrosity Eric barked a nervous laugh. It had been one hell of a fight. Hopefully earning him a level maybe two. Smug and a little pleased he decided to search the last apartment and make sure the rats are gone. Pity. They were good experience…
Entering the apartment Eric made note of the knocked down door and wall. The rat had obviously struggled to squeeze out of his lair. Which begs the question of how he got there in the first place… The other apartment smelled and the remains of dead animals and people almost made Eric a now hardened apocalypse survivor throw up. Resolved to complete his mission, he held his nose and searched through carefully. It wasn’t until he eventually searched the lounge. The most revolting area and the site of quite a few meals, that he found something of worth. It seemed that a lot of loot had been left behind after the meals. Quite a few copper coins and even a silver had been gathered conveniently in a pile. There were no treasure chests or more useful weapons however. He gained 17 copper and one silver coins. There was quite a lot of crap that probably used to be clothing or equipment. Nothing of worth though. What he needed was a weapon and he had no idea how to get one.
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Eric finally relaxed once he started eating a chicken soup based pasta dish that he had quickly made upon returning. While waiting for it to cook he had been almost frantic as his stomach grumbled and gave him sharp hunger pangs. He was also completely exhausted, the nightmare during the nap had sapped its restorative properties. He was ready for bed but first:
Ding!
Victory!
You have slain: (x5) Overgrown Rat level 2
Experience Received: (x5) 30
Loot Received:
(x5) Overgrown Rat Corpse
Ding!
Victory!
You have slain: (x4) Overgrown Rat level 3
Experience Received: (x4) 40
Loot Received:
(x4)Overgrown Rat Corpse
Ding!
Victory!
You have slain: Monstrous Overgrown Rat level 7
Experience Received: 120
Loot Received:
Monstrous Overgrown Rat Corpse, Monster Core (Rank H)
Ding!
Victory!
You have slain: (x3) Large Overgrown Rat level 3
Experience Received: (x3) 50
Loot Received:
(x3) Large Overgrown Rat Corpse
Ding!
Victory!
You have slain: (x2) Large Overgrown Rat level 4
Experience Received: (x2) 60
Loot Received:
(x2) Large Overgrown Rat Corpse
Ding!
Eric smiled, he had obviously expected the level up but he also noticed ‘Monster Core’ amongst the messages. He would have to go find that straight after dinner. He wouldn’t want his loot to be eaten. First he would distribute his points. Then he would go get the core. Then he would sleep. Eric was pleased with his uncomplicated plan.
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In clean clothes Eric grumbled to himself as he admired the monster core. The core itself was a bronze color with a tiny red crystal in the center. It was like the slime cores a thin cylinder shape. Though smaller. While pleased with receiving some kind of loot after his dangerous endeavor he really had no idea what to do with it. Especially since he had to dig the core out of the monster’s skull which was equally as grisly and exhausting as the battle itself. He was kind of hoping that it had a use or some value that in the future he would be able to benefit from. Setting down the core on the coffee table Eric stood up and went to bed.
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Eric was once again standing on his apartments roof. It was a rather unpleasant day. Windy and drizzling. Eric stood shivering slightly in the face of the elements. Although unpleasant Eric took the moment to breathe in some fresh air. The apartment block had started to exude a nasty stench which Eric was willing to get soaked to the bone to avoid. He stood in silence looking up and down the street waiting for something of interest to happen.
A figure turned the corner and began to walk down the street. From this distance, it appeared that the figure was dressed in a business suit. Holding an umbrella to avoid the rain the casualness of the man was shocking. So, while Eric was tempted to call out to this humanoid something within him forced him silence. He even crouched down, getting his jeans soaked. Head peaking over, Eric proceeded to watch this anomaly. The man passed the apartment by, he walked about 100m’s further down the street at a slow sedate pace before his stroll was interrupted.
Goblins streamed out of the buildings on either side of the man. Around a hundred of them swarmed out and began surrounding him. The goblins carried a mix of spears and clubs and seemed rather excited. Instead of instantly rushing the man. They seemed to be waiting for something. A larger goblin appeared. Obviously, a leader of some sort this goblin wielded a large iron sword and actually wore some kind of armor not just a loin cloth. This goblin approached the man cockily, enjoying the attention of his subordinates. Against such a wretched horde Eric would have feared for the man if he didn’t seem so damn confident. He still held the umbrella over his head blocking the rain and his posture suggested boredom. Weapons raised for a devastating swing the goblin approached. When the goblin got within 5 meters or so. (It was hard to judge at this distance) The man raised his hand. There was a pulse of red. It flowed over the man, a wave of red… magic? Then the man moved.
The man seemed to teleport. Eric watched as he appeared around 20 meters further down the street than the goblins. Once again walking casually with his umbrella blocking the rain. Eric raised his eyebrows in confusion. Until the small army of goblins started to topple over.
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It had been the first real magic that he had seen since the apocalypse started and it made him feel… inadequate. He had spent the next hour sitting upon the sofa sipping a glass of coke. He mulled over what he had seen. The man wasn’t human, that much was certain. There’s no way that no matter how skilled the man is that they could get so powerful. The word that sprung to mind was… vampire.
When the glass which he had drawn out was finally empty Eric shoved the awed thoughts away. It was time to get back to grinding experience and clearing the apartment building of enemies. Eric finally decided to distribute his status points. Smiling slightly, Eric added 2 points to strength and 3 points to agility:
Name: Eric Scot
Age: 27
Race: Human
Class:
Level: 6
Faction: Unaffiliated
Distributable Status Points: 0
Hitpoints: 100/100
Stamina: 125/125
Health Regeneration: 1/s
Stamina Regeneration: 6.25/s
Vitality: 10
Mana: 100/100
Strength: 15
Mana Regeneration: 0.5/s
Agility: 15
Intelligence:10
Dexterity: 11
Wisdom: 10
Luck: 5
Charm: 5
Satisfied, Eric began getting ready for his next exploration. He was slightly curious about which enemies he would face today. Providing it wasn’t spiders Eric would be happy. He shuddered slightly at the thought. Similarly, to the day before, Eric equipped himself with a Large jacket and jeans. The jacket had 2 deep inner pockets which Eric inserted some knives. 2 in each pocket. Feeling ready for any low-level enemies he might face. Smiling he exited his apartment, a knife in each hand.
The 4th floor was the site of a war zone. As Eric peaked down the staircase about the level he saw tens of bipedal figures rushing down to the third floor. He could distantly hear the shrieks and roars of conflict further down the building. The bipedal figures were most certainly not human. Although they carried crafted weaponary and occasionally armor, their arms were too long compared to their bodies and they were... furry. In truth their faces appeared to be a disturbing mix of bear and goblin. They probably reached Erics shoulder in height but it was difficult to judge from his current angle. Making them several inches taller than goblins. Eric was stumped on how to proceed.
Watching tentatively as his new challenge rushed down the stairs Eric was salivating over the idea of getting his hands on one of the bear goblin weapons. They seemed to be made from low quality iron but the spears and swords in their arsenal was desirable over his knives. Eric preferred to be as far from his enemies as possible. Now how to get his hands on them. Preferably without being stabbed in the process.
After a patient wait, the rush of monsters slowed down to a trickle and then stopped. Since he arrived there must have been 5 groups of 5 heading downstairs with 2 groups of 5 travelling back up. It made for a difficult situation. Not only did he have no idea how many enemies he had to face. Eric also had no idea the capabilities of the monster. Discounting the pathetic thralls, he had yet to fight an armed opponent. All he knew is that they were likely to be more dangerous than said thralls.
After a long wait Eric eventually got his chance to challenge this new foe. A bear goblin stepped out of the fire exit and took a post as a sentry. Eric watched it stand there gazing resolutely down the stairs to the 3rd floor. It seemed far more disciplined than he would expect from goblins. Wait.. Just as he praised the monster it began to snore... Apparently they weren’t reliable sentries. Which Eric counted as a blessing he had been worried that he would have to face disciplined warriors. Now, with an easy target it was decision time. In the end he realized he didn’t have much of a choice. He had to face this foe, there was no way around it. Confident, Eric stealthily approached the sleeping guard. He had planned to throw his knives but since it didn’t seem to react when he entered line of sight Eric got up close and personal. When he was within range he thrust both knives into the monster. (it was easier to think of it as a monster) A knife in the throat and a knife where he hoped the heart would be. The monster collapsed as he withdrew his weaponary. Cringing slightly, Eric snatched a leather pouch from the goblins waist and its spear. Pleased but a tad disgusted with himself, Eric retreated back up the stairs.