The two thugs roared in sync. Intangible red flames raged over their bodies as they bulged, muscles swelling to many times their original size. One drew out a giant axe, while another drew a spear.
The axe-wielder ran at Vivian. He hauled back and unleashed a wide-sweeping blow at Vivian’s waist.
Vivian whirled the clippers and jumped back, simultaneously thumping the butt end of the clippers on the blade as it passed him by. The axe dipped down, then popped up as the berserker overcompensated. The berserker staggered, slightly off-balance due to the overswing.
I’m regretting not making more poison. Should’ve come back to the Garden instead of waiting in the town for Noah. Vivian shook his head at past him. At least I’ve got a Checkpoint up. I can fight a little dangerously.
But not too dangerously. Ten HP is no joke. One hit, and I’m dead.
He threw the clippers at the berserker’s face and called out his hand spade. The berserker flinched back, startled, and Vivian darted in.
Scowling, the berserker struck at Vivian with the backswing.
[Dig!]
The hand spade hurtled at the berserker’s gut and sank home, up to the hilt. Vivian twisted it and yanked it out, taking a chunk of flesh with him.
The berserker glared at him, annoyed. The backswing smashed into him, and he went flying, hurtling head-over-heels into the roses.
HP: 2/10
That’s right. Berserkers have a shit-ton of HP to make up for having no ability to heal while Berserk, Vivian reflected, caught upside-down in the hedges. He summoned an HP potion and dumped it in the general direction of his mouth, catching a swallow as it passed him by.
HP: 10/10
The berserker charged at the hedges, his eyes red with rage. Vivian threw himself forward and landed flat on the ground. The berserker crashed into the hedge above him with enough force to rip the yew half-out of the ground.
Your home Garden has been damaged! -1 HP
Vivian frowned. “Wait, to me, or the Garden? Does the Garden have HP?”
The berserker looked down at Vivian. He raised his axe.
“Questions for later!” Vivian threw himself into a forward roll. The axe cleaved the earth apart where he’d laid seconds before.
Jumping to his feet, Vivian backed away, taking in his opponent. Blood ran down the berserker’s stomach, pouring out of the fist-sized hole Vivian had opened in his gut, but the berserker didn’t seem to notice. Damn, boy’s got HP for days. If he can tank Bleed at that level, a little Poison wouldn’t have done much, Vivian thought. He whirled the spade around his hand and caught it again. In that case, only thing I can do is keep opening holes and up that Bleed!
Throwing his head back, the berserker howled. A green wave burst from his mouth. Vivian threw his arms up. The wave threw him back again, but prepared for it, he landed on his feet this time. He went to move, but his body refused to obey his commands.
[Stunned]
Damn [Berserker’s Roar]. I hate it, Vivian thought, unable to do anything but watch as the berserker approached him. The berserker smiled and raised his axe high. Vivian watched it fall, not even able to tense up. Fucking Stun. Super OP status effect. Trash design. Garbage Tower.
A quiet voice sounded in the back of his head. It’s only the Tower. You aren’t actually unable to move. The Tower just makes you think you are. Push past it, Vivi. Put that feeling to the back of your mind and move!
Vivian gritted his teeth. A second later, his eyes widened. I did it! I moved—
The axe slammed down on him. He crumpled.
HP: 0/10
Lifting his axe, Caleb regarded the bloodstain beneath, then turned. Across the clearing, Todd dueled a slender dark-haired man. Todd’s throat hung open, bleeding openly. Through the blood haze that hung over his vision, Caleb snorted. Can’t roar like that. He lifted his axe and charged, closing in on the pair.
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As he charged, bushes rustled from beside him. Caleb whipped his head around.
Vivian grinned at the berserker and kicked his leg out. “Hey. I’m back!”
Wide-eyed, Caleb stared, then tripped over Vivian’s foot. In the moment he stumbled, Vivian sprinted for the hand trowel and snatched it up. He whirled around, running toward Caleb again.
Caleb turned. He charged at Vivian as well, the two of them chasing toward one another. Vivian clenched his spade tight. Wrist. Go for the wrist. If I can permanently disarm him, I’ll have a massive hand up!
“I—Ice!”
Ice formed around Caleb’s axe, encasing the blade. Startled by the sudden weight, Caleb lost ahold of the axe. It tumbled away behind him. He looked at his empty hands, startled.
“Good going, Noah!” Vivian cheered, speeding his charge. He held the spade in both hands and thrust it into Caleb’s stomach, carving out a second hole.
[Dig]
Caleb grabbed onto Vivian’s shoulders and squeezed hard. His shoulders instantly ached. His collarbone creaked under Caleb’s grip.
Only one way I’m getting out of this. Vivian raised his spade again. [Dig!] [Dig!] [Dig!]
Shallow holes opened up in Caleb’s gut, no longer as deep without the level 8 Dig skill, but still sufficient to draw blood and add additional Bleed to his damage. Vivian grinned despite the pain. I can do this all day! Keep holding on!
Caleb lifted him up and threw him on the ground. Vivian tumbled away, legs and shoulders aching.
HP: 1/10
Vivian chugged another HP potion and tossed it away. I have nine points. What do I need to beat this berserker? A skill? Stats?
Now isn’t the time to gamble with Skills. I can do that after the battle, once I’m not in danger of immediate death.
DEF is pointless. Same with MDEF. I won’t be tanking a berserker’s hits, and berserkers can’t use magic, either. SKL isn’t too useful here. There’s no way I’m going to beat a berserker’s STR, and my MAG is trash. So… time to dump everything into SPD!
[Status]
HP: 10/10
SP: 1/5
STR: 5
MAG: 1
SKL: 7
SPD: 16
MDEF: 5
DEF: 5
Caleb charged at Vivian, his arms wide. Vivian darted to the side. The world whipped by, and his shoulder struck the hedge on the other side of the clearing.
Whoa, okay. That’s gonna take a little getting used-to.
[Tiptoe Through the Tulips] Lvl 1
Hands closing around nothing, the berserker turned toward Vivian with a snarl and charged again.
At least berserkers have simple attack patterns! Vivian darted to the side, snatching his clippers from the center of the room as he passed. He turned and smirked at the berserker, holding his hands out to the side and waving an imaginary red flag. “Ole!”
Screaming in anger, Caleb charged at Vivian again. This time, Vivian sidestepped by an inch and slashed at the berserker as he ran by, opening a shallow wound. Bleed damage is bleed damage.
On the far side of his charge, the berserker threw back his head and took a deep breath. Vivian’s eyes widened. He sprinted in, calling out the spray bottle. As the berserker breathed in, Vivian whipped up the bottle and pulled the trigger.
Coughing, Caleb choked on the mist and staggered back. Vivian sent the spray bottle away and mercilessly stabbed him with the clippers. Blood poured down the berserker.
Come on. How much HP does this HP-bag have?
Behind Vivian, the other berserker struck the ground with an earth-shattering thump. Caleb snarled and stepped forward. Mid-step, he wobbled, then fell sideways. Blood poured from a dozen open wounds. He struggled to stand back up, but fell again when he reached his knees. He reached toward Vivian, his teeth bared in frustration.
Vivian waved. “Bye-bye.”
Beside him, Kyung dusted off his hands. He nodded at Vivian. “Done over here?”
“Yeah. And you?” Vivian asked, glancing over.
Kyung nodded behind him. The other berserker laid on the floor, crumbled over.
“Excellent. Wanna help me carry the bodies? I’ve got a hungry vine that needs compost,” Vivian said.
“Before that, we should see to the Mage,” Kyung pointed out.
“Right, right. Noah! How’s it going?” Vivian asked, turning.
The Mage sat against the wall of topiaries, one arm slung around a branch, barely holding himself upright. He gave a bleary thumbs-up.
Vivian kneeled beside him and helped him drink an HP potion.
Noah sat up, the bruises fading from his body. He rubbed his forehead. “Ow, ow…”
“What happened?” Vivian asked.
“I snuck through that path you told me about to get to the Garden, but they were waiting for me when I got here. I dodged them and ran for the clearing, but they knew the path. And then I got caught,” Noah said, shaking his head. He glanced at Vivian. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Yeah, the Mage’s Highway can take longer, since it’s a bit out-of-the-way to get to, and Noah probably doesn’t have the town-side entry point memorized. Really should’ve seen it coming. Vivian nodded. “So, time for—”
“That invitation?” Kyung guessed.
“Dragging the bodies over to compost them! Kyung, do you need help?” Vivian asked.
Kyung gave him a dead look. “Why am I helping you drag these bodies around?”
“Because it’s easier than Composting them here and carrying the compost over?” Vivian said.
“No, why am I—” Kyung closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” He knelt and scooped one of the berserkers into a fireman’s carry.
“Alright. Noah, you get the feet, and I’ll get the shoulders,” Vivian said.
“Eh?” Noah asked, startled.
“You could use some more strength. And stamina. Just because you’re a Mage, doesn’t mean you can neglect physical fitness! Especially if you want to Solo Climb,” Vivian said, shaking his head.
Noah’s eyes widened. He nodded and knelt to pick up the berserker’s feet.
Vivian grinned. Excellent. I don’t have to carry the berserker alone! “One second. Let me loot my body and I’ll be right there.”
“Why aren’t we bringing your body? It’s lighter,” Noah pointed out.
“Less SP,” Vivian returned. The vine needs SP to survive. I only have 10 SP. 10 SP isn’t worth the effort of dragging my body across the Garden. These berserkers, on the other hand, have at least 20 SP. Twice the SP for the same amount of effort!
Noah nodded. Behind him, Kyung rolled his eyes. “Hurry it up.”