“Guess we will have to finish the Urhzig ourselves,” said Arkie.
“On the bright side, they have slowed it down and helped damage it further,” said Darian, tapping Arkie’s shoulder. Arkie stood with his arms crossed and his eyebrows raised. A look of sheer skepticism in his face.
Florrie stood undeterred, hands aglow with magic, confronting the Urhzig. It charged. With a slick flick of her wrist, she loosed a bolt that struck its chest, staggering the beast. Its roar met with her nimbleness, her wave after wave of magic, wearing down its armor. She erupted her strongest spell, a magical blast with such force the injured behemoth stumbled with every hit until it lost its balance and toppled to the ground. Gasping, it rose, hot wind gusts echoing in each heavy breath.
“Are you fucking kidding me?!” exclaimed Florrie, exasperated and out of breath. The magic had consumed all her mana and left her feeling drained.
“Surely it has got to be really low on health now,” said Roh.
The beast got back up and made another attempt at fleeing.
“It’s trying to get away again!” yelled Florrie. “Everyone attack!” The entire party chased after the Terra Behemoth and surrounded it, watching their positions, being careful not to get trampled. In quick succession, they all attacked. Roh watched as the Urzig suddenly swung its colossal head towards Darian catching him off guard flinging him several yards away. The force knocked the wind out of his body. Darian clutched a fist to his chest as he picked himself up and managed to cough back the air into his lungs.
“Oh Shit!” said Roh. “It’s got its second wind. First, it was just defending its turf, but now? Man, it’s like it’s in survival mode and going all out!”
“Guys, a little help here,” said Darian as he got back up.
“We need to do something before it charges at him and finishes him,” said Roh, keeping some distance away from the gigantic beast who appeared to be ready to lunge at Darian. “I’ll use my combo attack to take aggro,” said Arkie. Moving in at astounding speed, he interrupted the Urhzig’s attack as he targeted its hind leg with his dual blade combo attack.
The Terra Behemoth now focussed on Arkie. “Nice one, my man!” said Darian as he joined up with the group and emoted a high-five. Arkie left him high and dry. “Oh fuck! My blades are going dull!”
“Don’t sweat it,” Florrie began, trying to sound calm. “It’s about to go down. It does this crazy thing where it—” But before she could finish, the sky was filled with gargantuan boulders being flung from its back. One such monolithic missile narrowly evaded Roh. He gasped, eyes wide in disbelief. “Whoa! That was too damn close!”
Gritting his teeth, Arkie quickly retrieved a whetstone from his pouch. With practiced precision, he honed his blades, letting them slide smoothly against the stone until they emitted a high-pitched resonance. “All good,” he declared, flashing the gleaming edges. “Roh, you deliver the final blow. We’ll have your back.”
“On it!” Determination burning in his eyes, Roh readied himself. With a swift motion, he unslung his Astral Axe, gripping its handle tightly.
The bearded axe gleamed with a mystical aura, pulsing with an indigo glow that was studded with luminous particles. The intricate runic markings along the haft seemed to vibrate with a latent power, as if they were eager to be unleashed.
Roh steadied his grip on the Astral Axe as the Urhzig charged towards him, its armored head lowered for the attack. As the creature closed in, Roh took a deep breath and focused his energy, channeling the mana he had been reserving for this very mana heavy ability. With a burst of astral power, he swung the axe with all his might, unleashing an [Ethereal Strike] that reverberated through the air like a thunderclap.
Ethereal Strike
Mana Cost: 50
This ability channels the power of the Astral Axe, enabling the wielder to phase the weapon in and out of reality with tremendous force. As the Astral Axe strikes its target, it leaves behind a trail of shimmering light that seems to cut through the very fabric of reality. The impact is supernatural, slicing through even the most heavily armored opponents with ease.
The blade of the axe seemed to phase in and out of reality, leaving behind a trail of shimmering light that sliced through the air like a phantom. With a cutting force that seemed to transcend the physical realm, the axe struck the Urhzig’s armored skull, cleaving through it as though it were mere air.
The creature let out a final, anguished cry before collapsing to the ground in a heap. The ethereal energy of the Astral Axe pulsed through the air, illuminating the surrounding area with a soft, spectral light.
A sudden tremor shook the earth beneath them, and a massive cloud of dust erupted into the air, obscuring their vision. The sand swirled and churned, making it difficult to see anything clearly. However, as the dust slowly settled, they could make out the hulking form of the Urhzig lying motionless on the ground, its colossal body still and silent.
Destruction characterized the aftermath of the battle. The ground, scarred with enormous craters and deep furrows, marking where the Urhzig had charged and slammed its titanic bulk in a ferocious attack. The air was heavy with the metallic tang of blood.
Yet, the most eerie aspect of the aftermath was the unsettling silence. The Urhzig’s deafening roars were now replaced by an ominous stillness that seemed to echo across the desolate landscape. Even the once-gusty desert wind had died down, as if paying solemn tribute to the fallen behemoth and the devastation it had wrought.
“Woo hoo!” cheered Darian, clearly pumped.
“Great job guys!” said Roh.
“Yeah, go team!” Florrie displayed a thumbs up, her enthusiasm evident.
“About time,” Arkie remarked with a smirk.
Darian, unperturbed by Arkie’s comment, chortled, “That was ace! Time to gather up that loot!”
Roh, however, was captivated by the fallen Urhzig beneath him. Eager to maximize the beast’s remains, he began to cut through its rough hide with his stone knife. The giant skull, particularly, piqued his interest, as an Urhzig nasal bone was vital for crafting a crossbow that discharged rock bolts, handy against behemoths and their ilk.
Before he dug in too deeply, he turned to the group. “Mind if I take the skull area?” When there was no objection, he resumed his task.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
However, penetrating the Urhzig’s formidable skull proved arduous. Its cranium was robust and resilient, demanding immense effort and focus. Beads of sweat trailed down Roh’s temples, yet he persisted until he breached the brain cavity.
Once exposed, Roh meticulously extracted the organs. The feel of them — warm, slick, pulsing with residual life — was familiar yet always evocative. As he placed them into his satchel, he mentally cataloged their potential: nourishing meals from the heart, rejuvenating tonics from the liver, and the brain, when dried and ground, would yield potent ingredients for potions and elixirs.
After he successfully procured all valuable organs, the Urhzig’s carcass vanished, leaving behind only the memories of the hunt.
Triumphant fanfare bellowed. Instinctively, Roh looked up as the pop-up displayed for the victory screen in golden lettering among a fireworks display.
Urhzig Defeated.
Mission Complete – Victory!
Battle Results Rank: B
Points Earned: 10,036
Time Taken: 57 minutes and 13 seconds.
Damage Dealt: 32,000
Damage Taken: 74% (TWICE KNOCKED OUT + ADDITIONAL DAMAGE)
Stylish Points: A - Atomic! Executed varied moves, a combo, good flow and timing.
Bonus Points: +5000 for defeating the behemoth with style and grace.
Bonus Points: +1000 for defeating the behemoth in under 60 minutes.
Bonus Points: +500 for attacking its weakness
Bonus Points: +200 for executing a perfect dodge during the battle.
Bonus Points: +100 for performing a stylish finishing move.
Total Bonus Points: 6,800
Bonus Items: +1
Rewards: 7000 XP & 1500 Gold
Behemoth Trophy: Urhzig Tail Part
Weight:50 lbs
Bonus: +10% Gold when strapped to your mount’s saddle or mounted on a wall in a building owned by either the player, the player’s party or the player’s guild. (Note: The effect of identical trophies cannot be stacked)
Roh took a moment, gathering his thoughts before breaking the silence. “Good game, team,” he began, a gruff edge to his voice betraying his emotions. “You all did incredibly well out there. Just... I’ve got to own up. I fumbled at the start. Without my blunders, we could’ve achieved the highest rank... bagged the top rewards.”
Florrie interjected, her tone rich with warmth. “Lighten up, Roh. Once you found your footing, you changed the game.”
Roh resisted her praise, shaking his head in denial. “No, I merely delivered the final blow. It was you three that provided the opening. Any noob could have done what I did.”
Arkie couldn’t resist a jab."Roh, ever the melodramatic," his voice echoing a grin. Roh felt the words slice through him, but Darian was swift to halt the banter. “Arkie, enough,” he ordered.
Roh sucked in a deep breath, trying to dissolve the hurt of Arkie’s quip. He longed to leave this discussion in the past, to redirect attention away from his insecurities. With feigned enthusiasm, he promptly changed the topic. “Let’s not forget our stunning spoils! The Urhzig Tail Part,” he announced, lifting it high. “Quite the prize, right? I’m already counting the bonus gold we’ll gain by showing off this gem. It’s unfortunate we can’t stack effects from duplicate trophies, but even so, it’s a great boost, isn’t it?”
Florrie’s eyes danced with shared excitement, her head bobbing in enthusiastic agreement, while a grin of approval subtly tugged at the corners of Darian’s mouth. Arkie, in contrast, maintained his stone-faced demeanor, his response unreadable as ever.
Each party member gained an equal portion of the total rewarded XP and gold automatically. Inspecting the loot, Roh noticed that he had received two Urhzig Pelts, three scales, and one eye. Wonderful, like I don’t have seven Urhzig Pelts already. I guess it’s to be expected from a beta test. They need to balance the spawn rate for when they release the game. I just need one more Urhzig nasal bone. We will need to do another run.
Roh checked the time displayed on the HUD at the top right corner of his periphery.
In-game time: 1:27 pm
Real World Time: 3:15 am
“Should we have one more go?” asked Darian. Crestfallen, Roh looked down at the ground. “I want to, but I can’t believe it’s so late. Going to have a big day at work with an early meeting, so I can’t afford to be late. I better go get some sleep considering it’s 3:15 am and I’m going to feel like crap in a few hours.” “That’s alright we can always do it tomorrow night. Same time?” asked Darian. “Yeah, sounds good to me,” said Roh.
Arkie logged out.
“Okay… bye then,” said Roh. “Don’t take it personally. You know what he is like. A man of few words. Unless it’s about gloating, of course, then he can’t shut up,” said Florrie. “I guess.” Roh turned to face Darian. “I had fun. Can’t wait until later so I can get my crossbow and we can move on to the next behemoth. At least it will be the weekend, so I won’t have to worry about work.”
“Same here. See you then,” said Darian.
Darian logged out.
Roh stood alone with Florrie, the silence between them stretching like an expanse he was unsure how to cross. He caught her eye, a faint smile gracing her lips, and his pulse quickened. He had always been drawn to Florrie’s kindness, her bright laughter that made everything seem a bit lighter. But her presence also stirred an anxious energy in him, a nervous flutter in his stomach that made him sweat more than any virtual battle ever did.
“Good luck with your meeting tomorrow!” Florrie said as he prepared to leave, her voice a soothing balm that did little to quell his racing heart.
“Ah... yes, thank you, Florrie,” he managed to reply. The words stumbled out of his mouth, tripping over each other in their haste.
A subtle nod, a soft “goodbye”, and she was gone.
Florrie logged out.
Roh was left standing there, the echo of their brief conversation wrapping around him like a cloak. His palms were clammy, his heart still hammering against his ribs.
Noah pulled the VR headset from his face, the abrupt shift from virtual ecstasy to his cramped studio apartment leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Reality. It hit him harder each time he logged out.
Exhausted, he fell onto his bed, the cold sheets a harsh reminder of his solitude. His mind still hummed with the remnants of the game, with the thrill of the chase, the glory of victory. He closed his eyes, letting the digital echoes lull him to a restless sleep.
The blare of his alarm rudely shattered his slumber. It felt like he had barely closed his eyes. Already? He groaned, his whole body protesting against the early start. With a sigh that seemed to resonate from his core, he forced himself to leave the comfort of his bed.
Shuffling through the familiar motions of getting ready for work, he barely registered the cool water on his skin, the taste of his hastily gulped coffee, or the chill of the morning air as he stepped outside. All he could think about was the drone of the city traffic, the numbing routine awaiting him.
The office was a monochrome blur, his coworkers nothing more than moving shapes against the bleak backdrop. The weekly meeting—more of a sermon, really—drifted over him in a dull haze. His boss’ voice, usually so jarring, seemed distant, echoing hollowly in his mind.
A world away from the vibrant hues and thrills of the VR universe. That world, it beckoned him, whispered promises of adventures he could only dream about in this drab reality. His pulse quickened at the thought of returning. He was there, yet here. Caught between two worlds.
He pulled into his driveway at 7 pm, the tail end of rush hour traffic leaving a sour taste in his mouth. Another long, draining day at a job he could barely stand.
In the quiet corners of his mind, a dream flickered. To be a legend in the game, admired and revered. His heart would quicken at the thought, the allure of the virtual world calling him.
Noah ambled into his apartment, quickly devouring a couple of slices of cold leftover pizza. His gaming setup beckoned him; he was eager to dive back into the virtual reality MMORPG ‘Age of the Behemoths’, picking up where he’d reluctantly logged off in the early hours. Yet, with each blink, his eyelids felt heavier, and there was a persistent soreness in his muscles. The allure of the game, a perfect distraction from his tedious day, was undeniable. He had been dying to play the game all day. But his fatigue was equally compelling. Maybe I’ll just hop on and play for a few minutes to get my fix and then let the squad know I might sit out on the hunt tonight... But as he powered up the system, an update notification popped up. Seriously? He groaned. Of course, there’s an update.
Sighing, he leaned back in his chair, thinking he’d wait for the update to finish. However, in the dim light of the room, lulled by the monotonous progress bar on the screen, Noah’s resistance to sleep crumbled. Within minutes, he was dozing off, head lolling to the side.
***
A stabbing pain in his neck jolted Noah awake. His eyes flew open, the sudden brightness disorienting him for a moment. He blinked rapidly, trying to get his bearings. The realization that he had dozed off without intending to, slowly sank in. His headset was resting sideways on his chest, digging under his chin. Oh crap! I must have dozed off. What time is it?!? Checking his watch that he still had on, he noticed it was 5:55 am Saturday. Damn it! I better try to log in. Don’t want to let the team down.
Please enter your username and password.
Noah entered his username.
Sorry, the username “Roh” does not exist.