The morning sunlight filters through the tree branches, casting a muted glow on the forest floor. My senses tingle as I wake up, still sitting on the branch where I spent the night. I take a moment to stretch and relish the cool morning air.
Looking over, I see Alex stirring beside me on the same branch. He stretches and opens his eyes, blinking blearily in the morning light. He gives me a lazy wave before speaking in a hoarse voice. "Morning."
Alex offers a weak cheer, his voice still gravelly with sleep. He mutters with a hint of sarcasm, "Another night without dying. Yay, us."
I can't help but crack a small smile at his attempt to lighten the mood. Despite his sarcastic tone, I know he's trying to keep spirits up and prevent me from panicking. His efforts aren't lost on me, and it does help ease the tension in my chest.
I turn to Alex, curiosity in my voice, and ask, "So, what are our plans for today?" I wait for his response, eager to hear what our next step in this dangerous forest will be.
Alex looks at me and gives his stomach a light pat before responding. "Well, first things first," he says, "We need to find some food, I’m starving."
My own stomach takes that moment to chime in, growling loudly in agreement. The hunger pangs remind me that we haven't eaten in a while, and I give a sheepish chuckle. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan," I say, rubbing my rumbling stomach.
A thought suddenly dawns on me, and I realize we haven't eaten for two days now. I turn to Alex with a quizzical expression and ask him, "You know, do you think our heightened constitution is impacting our appetite?"
Alex confirms my theory with a nod, adding, "Yeah, I noticed that yesterday. Our heightened constitution seems to have increased our metabolism, so we're burning through energy faster and losing our appetite."
Turning his attention downward, Alex looks down at the tree trunk and mutters, "Anyway, how the hell am I supposed to get down from here?" He glances at the long drop and sighs, clearly dreading the descent.
We venture back through the vast forest, keeping a keen eye out for any branches that could serve as materials for a new trap. The task feels somewhat mundane, but we know the importance of staying prepared. Slowly, we gather a collection of smaller branches as we continue walking through the wilderness.
As I carefully place the smaller branches on the forest floor, setting traps in strategic spots, Alex watches my every movement. He follows closely behind, occasionally offering silent nods of approval at my efforts. It's a mundane activity, yet it holds a hint of thrill as we anticipate the possibility of catching some game.
Alex lets out a hearty laugh as he watches me set the traps. He jokingly remarks, "I always knew your obsession with the outdoors would come in handy one day."
I deadpan at him as I continue setting my traps, maintaining a straight face. "Bear Grylls is my idol.”
Alex jokingly tells me to shush. "Stop yapping and catch some grub for us," he chuckles, clearly enjoying the banter.
We cautiously walk back to our chosen campsite, making sure to check the area thoroughly. We set up a series of booby traps around the clearing, hoping to deter any roaming beasts from getting too close to our resting place.
Sitting down by the water's edge, I take out my hunting knife and begin carving small arrows, carefully shaping them out of the hard wood. The repetitive motion provides a momentary distraction from the dangers around us. The rhythmic shavings of wood create a hypnotic sound as I focus on crafting the arrows.
Alex sits beside me, carving away with his own knife to create a spear. We work in silence for a while, the only sound the sharp rasping of the blades against the wood. His movements are smooth and controlled as he shapes the spear.
He continues carving, he mutters under his breath about how he wishes he knew how to use a bow. The irony isn't lost on me - here I am, crafting arrows, while he wishes for the skills to wield a bow.
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I clutch my trusty bow tightly in my hand, feeling its weight as I stalk through the silent forest. Up until now, it had been useless without any arrows, but now I'm hopeful that it will finally serve a purpose. I move quietly, watching every step, ensuring that I don't disturb the surrounding foliage.
Midday arrives, and sunlight filters through the tall trees, casting a warm glow on the odd red leaves. The forest is bathed in a soft light, creating an ethereal atmosphere as I continue my careful movement through the forest.
Meanwhile, back at the water bed, Alex is diligently preparing our campsite, gathering firewood and setting up a makeshift shelter to keep us protected from the elements. I make a mental note to check on him once I'm done gathering some food.
My heightened senses catch the faint sound of leaves breaking in the distance. Instinctively, I pause, my body tensing in anticipation as I try to pinpoint the source of the noise. It could be nothing, or it could be something more sinister. Either way, I know I need to stay alert.
My heart quickens as a single goblin rides into view, perched atop the back of a large wolf. Fear and adrenaline surge through my veins as I observe the unexpected sight in front of me. I stay completely still, knowing that any movement could potentially give away my location.
As the wolf lifts its head, sniffing the air intently, I realize that my scent has been detected. My heart rate spikes as I know I have precious little time to act. Panic threatens to take hold, but I push it aside, knowing I need to act fast.
My grip tightens around the rough wooden arrow as I draw back the string, aiming it carefully at the goblin and its mount. With a swift, steady motion, I release the arrow, praying it finds its mark.
The arrow zooms through the air and embeds itself into the wolf's thick shoulder. A sharp yelp escapes the beast as it recoils from the impact. The goblin rider struggles to maintain control, cursing in confusion.
The injured wolf spots me and charges forward, its snarls filling the air. The adrenaline pumping through my veins, I quickly notch another arrow and let it fly towards the creature racing towards me.
As the charging wolf reaches me, I make a split-second decision to drop my bow and unsheathe my knife. The beast's massive form is upon me, and I have no choice but to defend myself in close quarters.
Despite its injured state, the wolf is noticeably slowed down by the arrows lodged in its body. It lunges at me with a snarl, but the wound causes its movements to be awkward and sluggish.
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My enhanced dexterity allows me to perceive the scene unfolding in a more sluggish manner as the wolf leaps through the air, the goblin rider on its back, brandishing a crude mace. Its intended strike seems to move in slow motion.
Despite the size and speed of the charging beast, my enhanced reflexes allow me to effortlessly sidestep its charge. The goblin and the wolf pass by harmlessly, their momentum carrying them forward as I seamlessly dodge out of the way.
With the added space between us, I quickly pick my bow up. Nocking another arrow, I release it towards the goblin. The projectile flies through the air and embeds itself in the back of the goblin's head, sending the creature collapsing to the ground.
The wolf, now free from its rider, turns its attention towards me and charges once more with a furious growl. Its massive form barrels towards me, fangs bared as it prepares to pounce.
I discard my bow in favor of my hunting knife once more, as the charging wolf leaps over me, intending to pummel me with its weighty body. But instead of trying to stop it, I slide underneath the creature, avoiding its impact entirely. From my position under the wolf, I plunge my knife up into its abdomen, aiming for a vulnerable spot.
The wolf lets out a howl of pain as blood gushes from the wound. Some of the warm liquid splatters onto my face, clouding my vision for a moment. The beast trembles and collapses to the ground.
Fueled by a mix of rage and adrenaline, I pounce on top of the fallen beast, determined to make sure it won’t get back up. I jab my knife into its flesh repeatedly, as blood sprays out of its wounds, and dyes the ground red.
I turn my attention to the goblin, its body lying motionless on the ground. An arrow is lodged firmly in its head, indicating that it won’t be getting up anytime soon. A sense of relief washes over me as I confirm that the immediate threat is neutralised.
A sudden influx of notifications flashes through my mind, disrupting my thoughts and causing a moment of confusion. The mental alertness indicates something has triggered the system again.
You Have Defeated 1x Level 4 Goblin Warrior
You Have Defeated 1x Level 5 Wolf
Despite the successful battle, I notice a pang of disappointment as the system doesn’t indicate a level-up. It seems that the encounter wasn’t significant enough to trigger an increase in EXP or levels.
Despite the lack of a level up, I can’t help but feel satisfied at the realisation that we now have a source of food. The wolf carcass could provide enough sustenance to keep us going for a few days.
I approach the slain wolf and kneel beside it, preparing myself for the task ahead. With a grim determination, I set to work on gutting the animal, carefully removing its internal organs and taking care to bleed it properly to ensure the meat doesn’t spoil.
After finishing the process of preparing the wolf’s carcass for storage, I turn my attention to retrieving my bow and arrows, which were abandoned during the skirmish.
With the gutted wolf carcass slung over my shoulders, I begin the journey back to the clearing, the weight a constant reminder of the successful hunt. As I walk, I relish the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from having secured a source of food for myself and Alex.
As I enter the clearing with the wolf carcass strapped to my back, Alex immediately notices my arrival and the burden I'm carrying. His expression shifts to one of concern, his eyes widening at the sight of the sizeable carcass. He approaches me, worry etched on his face.
Alex moves closer to me, his concern evident in his voice as he asks, "Are you hurt?" He eyes the wolf carcass slung over my shoulders, his gaze darting between the sizable animal and my condition.
A smirk tugging at my lips, I confidently respond to his concern with a nonchalant tone. "It was surprisingly easy," I assure him, feeling a surge of pride at defeating the wolf without sustaining any injuries myself.
I shift the conversation, feeling satisfied with my accomplishment. "So, I got food for us," I reiterate, shifting the wolf carcass on my shoulders. I then look over at the small fire he seems to have gotten going and add, "Now, it's your turn to work your cooking magic, boss."
In response to my comment, Alex gently ruffles my hair with a lighthearted gesture. With a playful grin, he takes the wolf carcass from me and begins to assess it, preparing to work his culinary skills.
With the task of preparing the wolf carcass now in Alex's hands, I seize the opportunity to relieve some of the grime and sweat from the recent encounter. I head over to the water bed and begin washing myself, cleansing my skin and refreshing my senses from the intense battle.
As I dip my hands into the water, the shock of the icy cold temperature sends a shiver through my body. The refreshing chill of the water helps to alleviate the warmth that has accumulated from the sunlight beating down on me. I splash some water onto my face, relishing the sensation as it soothes my heated skin.
Leaning against the rocky outcropping near the water, I take a moment to reflect on our recent experience. The thought of the past battles and encounters plays through my mind, leaving me feeling a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction. A wry smile tugs at my lips as I murmur to myself, "What a strange world indeed."
The faint smell of cooked meat drifts over to me, and my nostrils pick up the tantalizing aroma. I inhale the delicious scent, my stomach grumbling with hunger. I turn to see Alex tending to the fire, the flickering flames casting a warm glow on his face as he cooks the wolf meat.
I approach the fire where Alex is cooking the wolf meat, the mouthwatering aroma intensifying as I get closer. We settle down beside each other, the flickering flames casting shadows across our faces. In comfortable silence, we savour our first meal together in this new, unfamiliar environment.
As we finish our meal of cooked wolf meat, the satisfying fullness in my stomach reminds me of the successful hunt. I glance up at the large tree, noticing that Alex had taken the initiative while I was gone. He had carved notches into the side of the tree trunk, making it easier to climb.
My tired eyes trace along the branches of the large tree, admiring the crude yet sturdy little hut that Alex had built. It seemed he had taken it upon himself to create a makeshift shelter for our rest. The thought of a safe, secure place to sleep brings a sense of relief and comfort to my weary body.
As the sky gradually darkens and the night creeps in, we make our way up the tree, using the notches carved into the bark to climb higher into the branches. Soon enough, we reach the shelter Alex had built earlier, providing a secure space for us to rest and spend the night.
The third day comes to a close as we find ourselves settling into the makeshift shelter among the tree branches. Exhaustion overwhelms me, and sleep finds me swiftly as I drift off into a well-deserved rest.
I'm abruptly yanked from my fitful sleep by the ominous sound of deep, guttural growls. My eyes fly open as adrenaline surges through my veins, jolting me fully awake in an instant.
I swiftly sit up, following Alex's gaze towards the opening of our makeshift shelter. His expression is pale, betraying a sense of worry and concern. My heart rate quickens as I realise something is amiss.
I peer over the edge of the shelter, my gaze falling on the bulky humanoid figure standing near the remains of our fire. Shock washes over me as I notice the wolf ears protruding from its head and the fur covering its body. I can't help but wonder if I'm hallucinating or if this is reality.
As my eyes dart around, taking in the scene outside, my heart sinks as I realize the full extent of the situation. The bulky man stands in the center, surrounded by a sea of wolves and goblins, their numbers staggering. Fear grips me as I try to comprehend just how outnumbered we are.
My eyes widen in horror as I watch the scene unfold outside. The bulky man grabs one of the larger goblins by the neck and lifts him into the air effortlessly. With a cruel tone, he proclaims, "You have failed to find them; that was your last chance." The sound of bones cracking echoes through the forest as the man crushes the goblin's neck, dropping its lifeless body to the ground.
My breath catches in my throat as the man addresses another large goblin, his tone dripping with menace. "It's your turn now, mutt. Find them immediately," he commands. Then, in a blink of an eye, he vanishes, leaving behind a sense of shock and dread among the goblins and wolves.
A chill runs down my spine as an ominous, disembodied voice echoes throughout the forest, breaking the tense silence that had enveloped the area. "The Master can have no interruptions in his plans," it says, its deep tone carrying an air of authority and threat.
The goblins quickly spring into action, led by the now-appointed leader. He barks out commands in their guttural language, and the goblins all mount their wolves before scattering in different directions, their numbers fanning out through the forest.
The once-quiet forest is now filled with the ominous sounds of beasts echoing from every direction. Reality sinks in as I realize we are now being hunted by the horde of goblins and wolves. The situation has become dire, and the sense of danger envelops us like a suffocating shroud.
In response to the dire situation, I exchange a glance with Alex, who simply utters a single word,
"Fuck."