I sold the core and then spent all the money. I bought a good machete and a first aid kit, including an emergency healing potion. That was the most expensive item. I bought a bigger and more rugged backpack. I was going to buy some leather armour, but it didn’t feel right when I put it on. I also wanted to level my fur skill, as I am sure it is close to level two. What I did buy was a helmet. My head is the most vulnerable part, especially my eyes. If I had gotten a thorn in my eye, I would have been done as an adventurer, as there would be no way I could afford that healing cost. Then I bought a spare machete and hand axe. Then I bought some rope as I heard it was often handy. The good thing was these were all classed as farming tools, not weapons, so they were cheap.

The week seemed to drag on forever.

On my day off, I left two hours before dawn. I had more things in my backpack, so I would be slower. I bought food, water, and items I could use to start a fire if I needed to. I didn’t want to burn the forest down, though, so that was a last resort. I also bought some weedkiller from an alchemist. I didn’t have a lot as it was expensive, but I wanted to keep my options open.

Dawn was here when I got to the part where I left the road. I stopped for a rest and a bite to eat to let the sunrise a bit more so I could see threats more easily. I didn’t want to be caught by surprise again. This was a bronze-ranked area, and there was always the danger of running into a bronze-rank monster. If I couldn’t outrun it, I was dead. I knew that. Stealth and awareness were the keys, and that was true where I grew up, and it is true now.

I moved into the forest quietly. I realised how reckless I was last time, and I had gotten caught up in the joy of freedom. I was lucky it was a monster I could handle.

I neared the area and spied the first vine. They seem to have spread out a bit. That was good for me. I found a hidden spot, set down the backpack and prepared to move out. I made sure the first aid kit was easy to grab. I put on the helmet and had my machete and the axe.

Step one is to scout them and see how many there are and how clumped together they are. It would not be good to take more than one at a time.

I moved through the forest quietly. My darker and mottled fur has always been good at blending in. I found and cut some sticks as I went. I had half a dozen.

I counted seven thorny vines. Three were clustered together, but the other four were spread out, and I was pretty sure I could take them out one at a time. That was where I would start, and then we would consider the other three.

When I was ready, I cautiously approached the first vine. I ducked the first swipe and met the second with the edge of the machete and the stick. I almost lost hold of the machete from the unexpected force. The three vines struck from different angles. One was stopped by the stick, which I jammed into the ground to act like a thin post. The end of the vine kept coming and landed across my back. The second I swung the machete at, and it went through enough to leave it broken. The other vine wrapped itself around my left leg, and I felt the tug. I let myself fall to the ground as I hacked at the vine around my leg using my claws as well, now that the hand was not holding the stick.

I soon freed myself and was hacking at the next incoming vine. I was away from the stick now, so I left it, grabbed the hand axe, and started chopping with both hands. Duel machetes might be better than this. I kept chopping until I reached the core, and the plant died.

The stick was too gouged, so I left it and went back to the backpack for a drink and a rest. I had one core. This exercise has now broken even financially. I tucked the core into the pack. It is time to make a profit.

I checked my injuries, but the thorn holes don’t bleed much. Wait, I think there is a thorn broken off in my leg. I grabbed a pair of tweezers from my first aid kit and dug into the hole for a bit, eventually pulling out a centimetre piece of thorn. This could be a problem. I could not check my back. I will have to get checked over when I get back. Maybe we are not quite at break even yet.

I grabbed the second machete and two sticks. It was time to try something different. This time, I went in further than before, and the first thing I did was to ram the two sticks into the ground, one on either side of me. Then, I grabbed the two machetes and started chopping the vine that came at me. The first stick fell, so I backed out and took a breather. Three of the significant vines were cut, and a fourth was broken. I stepped forward quickly to chop the vine that was twisted around the last stake. Good. I had taken no major hits, and I was halfway there.

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I stepped up by the last remaining stake again and finished the broken vine, but then I missed one. I think it was because of my restricted vision in the helmet, but a vine hit my helmet and upper shoulder. I sliced it with the machete, and then it tried pulling me forward. I had to fend off other vines, so I stumbled forward. I then realised I was close to the centre, so I stepped forward and started chopping vines at the base. I took some hits this way, but I was soon holding the core in my hands, and it was two down and five to go.

I returned to the backpack and sat down for food and a proper rest. I spent some time meditating, and I am sure I felt my fur skill level. That is good. If I had an attack skill, that would be levelling, too. Should I go and buy an awakening stone with this and then come back? No, the essence is next.

What could I do better? Getting to the centre faster is good, as it is easier to chop vines at the base. Otherwise, I am sometimes cutting the same vine in two or three places. How to do that?

Most of the hits are to my legs or back, and I guess my shoulders as well. Should I make some sort of back armour and just take the hits? I looked at the sticks. I could tie them together and strap them to my back. They would stop the vines from getting through, but would also allow the vines to grap hold, and I could be jerked off balance. No, that is not a good idea. Smooth armour would be best, but I don’t have any.

Right. I have advanced my Speed Attribute to Iron, so I need to use it. I need to learn to move so I don’t get hit. Dodging and ducking so I don’t get hit is the plan. I grab the gear and another two stakes. I roll my shoulders and flex and bend. Don’t get hit.

I walk up to the next vine and study it. I move a bit to the left. Two stakes and dodging. Don’t get hit. Let’s do this.

Fifteen minutes later, I limp toward my makeshift camp. Don’t get hit, he says. Don’t bloody get hit. What idiot came up with that plan? That was my worst one yet. Bloody … Idiot. The really depressing thing is that I am sure any full adventurer would consider this a walk in the park. I can’t even bloody not get hit.

I drop the core by the pack and then collapse myself. After a few minutes, I grab the first aid kit and go over my many wounds. The ones I can reach anyway. I broke open the ointment for small wounds and applied it as best I could. Once I get an essence bonded with my recovery attribute, that will help with the minor wounds. I have to get the essence first. That is why I am here.

Should I call it quits for today and come back next week? I should really get the last one out on its own anyway, and then I can head home. I will just rest for a bit.

I woke, and it was early afternoon. I must have slept for a couple of hours. Do you think that last thorny vine had some sort of toxin on it? They are not supposed to have that unless they are bronze-level. I am sure it is just me being exhausted.

I get up and have a long drink. One more. Slow and careful this time. Slow and careful. I can back out of reach at any time. Remember that.

I move forward and plant my stakes. I dodge and cut. I step back and then back into range, slow and careful. I take one vine to the shoulder, but otherwise, it was about as smooth as it could have been. Lesson learned.

I went back to the pack. If I left now, I would return to the city before dark. I went to pack the cores in the backpack and saw the weed killer. I paid good coin for this. What else am I going to use it for? Kill someone’s garden? I glance over at the three vines clumped together. Let’s at least poison them and see what happens.

I prep myself again and grab the weed killer. It had a spray nozzle. I could see basic runes there, so there was some magic to it.

I ducked in and out of range, spraying the vines and moving around all three of them. I ran out on the last one, but I sat back and waited to see what would happen.

The vines did not like that. They started twitching and moving on their own, and some leaves were going brown. I waited until I thought the poison was in full effect and then moved in on the worst one. It still tried to kill me, but I could tell it’s heart wasn’t really in it.

The trouble was that the central core bramble was within range of the other vines, so once I had removed most of the long vines, I moved to the next one. Then that left the mostly healthy one.

Slow and careful was the way. I was tired as well. It had been a long day. I took a few hits but nothing serious and then I took one core after another. I was just about to head back to the backpack when something shiny caught my eye. Is that an awakening stone?

I dug through the thorns excitedly looking. No, it was not an awakening stone. It looked like Plant Quintessence. I carefully searched the whole area and found thirteen for my trouble. That might be enough to put me over the edge. I am not sure. Depends on what I can get for them. Selling them directly to the herbalist might get a better price than to the merchant. I will have to see.

It was dark now as I wearily trudged back to the road. I was careful and quiet. Night brings out a lot of predators.

There was no jogging home, but I did keep up a brisk walk. I chewed on travel rations as I walked, and when I got home about midnight, I collapsed into bed.