Materials for a spear is now available. Would you like to craft one? Yes or no.

Lucy accepted yes without speaking it out loud. The spear then appeared on the ground below her feet.

She picked up the spear with both her hands and studied her new weapon.

Spear Attack type: Physical Attack Power: 5 Defense Power: 1 Speed: 5 Effects: None

Lucy swung it, discovering it was light and quick. Indeed, the spear was perfect for hunting.

While holding the spear, Lucy picked up her hatchet and placed it behind her back. Her hatchet appeared under her equipment. She also noticed a number appeared next to her strength attribute.

Strength: 1 (6)

After staring back at her spear, she placed it down, and then the number six disappeared. She picked the spear back up, and the number six appeared. “Interesting.”

The fifteen number could represent the spear’s attack power near her strength, increased by one. So that could mean her attack power was six while she equipped her spear. But it didn’t change her actual strength number. She could still only carry one item in her inventory. However, her attack power grew stronger with her strength.

Lucy grinned. “Time to test out this puppy.”

Both both hands, she carried the spear through the forest. Since there were no hills and giant rocks, a creature couldn’t hide from her.

After running around the island, Lucy spotted nothing and sighed. Perhaps the small island was inhabitable unless the creature burrowed underground. Charles said he found a lump of dung on the beach. No lizard-bird could leave sought large dung on the island. Most of them were small and sometimes larger than the flock. But none of them had ever dropped a cannonball sized crap on the ground. She knew that because her father kept bossing her to clean the bird crap off the tavern rooftop. At least she didn’t need to worry about that anymore.

Lucy sat on all fours and sniffed the ground. She heard dog hunters used their noses to track their prey. Since she was a dog too, her smelling senses should work.

Skill gained: Scent This ability will allow you to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell up to one mile.

As Lucy sniffed, she spotted a yellow line moving to the west from her position.

Lizard-boar detected!

Lucy grinned and followed the trail on both feet with her spear. To gain a new skill, Lucy guessed she has to perform a certain task to get it. Just like learning a basic technique without realizing it. After the hunt, she definitely needed to learn more tricks.

Behind a bush, Lucy peeked over it and spotted a lizard-boar eating grass below a tree. It looked like a fat green quadruped pig with two horns on its head. Kind of disgusting to look at, but very delicious to eat.

Lizard-boar Level: 2 Race: Land creature HP: 20 Mob

Lucy couldn’t see how strong the creature’s attack was. Perhaps the only way to find out, she had to get hit by it. But Lucy whether not find that out.

Her health points were only at ten, which was the lowest total a character could ever have. If her health reaches zero, she would never come back to life. Maybe a computer player could respawn after he or she gets killed, but finding that out too was suicidal. Lucy won’t let that creature hurt her, nor give it a chance to do that.

She ducked and crawled toward her prey. She needed to move close toward it so she could strike it before it could notice her. If she threw her spear and missed, the lizard-boar won’t hesitate to detect her.

Skill gained: Stealth Enemies will not detect you while you are crouching, but you will still be vulnerable to sight and smell.

Lucy approached behind the creature and raised her spear. When it turned toward her, widening its small red eyes, Lucy tossed her spear into its head.

Critical hit!

The lizard-boar squealed and fell to the ground, dissipating into nothingness.

Instant kill!

You received 200 EXP!

You received two horns!

You received three boar meat!

You received five hides!

You leveled up!

One proficiency pointed received!

Health restored!

Equipment full. Only one item allowed!

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Lucy quickly selected her strength and added her proficiency point into the attribute. Her strength changed to 2.

Equipment full. Only two items allowed!

“Seriously!?” Lucy could only carry one hide with her hatchet in her inventory. Perhaps that should do and she could carry the rest.

She selected one hide and the other materials from the lizard-boar appeared on the ground. She picked them all up and carried them back to the beach.

Charles was lying on the platform while snorting. When Lucy dropped the items near him, the wolf jumped on to his feet.

“Huh?” He glanced at Lucy and sighed. “Oh….. It’s you.”

Lucy glared at him. “You should be helping me instead of laying on your ass like a lazy pork belly.”

Charles leaped off the raft. “Let me remind you, I was watching this raft from floating away.”

“Sleeping on the raft isn’t watching!”

“But the raft is still here.” Charles stared at the materials on the ground. “So what did you get?”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Horns, meat, and hides.”

“Did you get wood?”

“No.”

“Then go get some.”

Lucy facepalmed. “Oh, for the water god’s sake!”

“What water god?”

Lucy stared at him in shock. “You never heard of the Great Zeknas of the Sea?”

Charles placed his hands on his hips. “I am from the Imperial Empire. We worshipped the god of battles, Vudur. He helped us conquer to expand our kingdom.”

Typical imperials. Worshipping violence, thinking that would strengthen them. The Zeknas religion was all about freedom and strength for those living around the ocean. Her father had always made sure she respected the water god, or else the god would throw her into the void of despair. Lucy never questioned why he grew that kind of suspension.

“Now I need not learn about your religious viewpoints,” Charles stated, “be a good girl and find some wood.”

Lucy would like to grab some wood and stick it straight up the wolf’s rear end. That would make her life happy on the island.

Without traveling too far, Lucy approached a palm tree and chopped it down. She carried the wood to the hides and crafted the sail. Then she crafted two long paddles, which could also be used as weapons.

Paddle Attack type: Physical Attack Power: 5 Defense Power: 1 Speed: 5 Effects: None

“Would you like to look for something on this island before we go?” Charles asked.

Lucy glanced at the forest. She still has seen nothing else on the island, except one lizard-boar. If there were more, she could kill them to level up. Creatures could also respawn so the players could farm them for experience points. With the attributes she has, Lucy won’t get far if the foes would be stronger than her.

She turned back to Charles. “I think we should stay here a little longer.”

Charles frowned. “Really?”

Lucy pointed her finger at the meat. “When I killed that boar, I received two hundred experience points. That helped me level up.”

“Okay, but how long do you plan on staying here?”

“Until I reach level five or one hundred?”

Charles rubbed his eyebrows. “That will take too long. Just grind up to level five. You will survive at that current state.”

“Ooooh-okay, but you are coming with me.”

The wolf pointed his hands at the platform. “But the raft!”

“I’m not risking you abandoning me on this island! If I encounter something stronger here, I will need your support.”

Charles shrugged. “Fine, but if we lose the raft, you will build another one.”

Lucy nodded. “Fair enough.”

*****

After slaying the last lizard-boar, Lucy sat down under a palm tree, breathing hard. She didn’t remember how many creatures she hunted, but she killed enough to reach level 10. Running, dodging, and fighting with a spear absolutely exhausted her. She only lost five health points from three attacking aggressive boars. Their attacks weren’t strong, but if they all charged her, she wouldn’t be standing. Now her bare feet were tired.

“Are you done?” Charles asked, standing over her with his arms crossed.

Lucy glared up at him. “You didn’t help me at all!”

“If I did, we would be here longer on this blasted island. I told you I needed to watch the raft.”

Lucy crossed her legs. “Why do you want to get off this island so badly?”

Charles pointed his thumb toward the beach. “Let’s just say I am looking for something, and it got taken away from me.”

“So, you can leave me behind and go after him yourself.”

“And if I did, you would be stuck here alone.”

Lucy shook her head. “Not if I build myself a raft.”

Charles pointed two fingers at her. “Good point.”

The wolf turned around and walked toward the raft. “Remember what I told you: how to craft a raft. It should be easy for you now.”

Lucy widened her eyes at him. She couldn’t believe he already left her alone. Did he decide to leave because she told him to?

That wolf must be messing with her head, but she didn’t want to sail the ocean alone too. And he was the only other NPC she knew.

“Wait!” Lucy rose and charged after Charles. “I’ll come with you!”

Charles already pushed the raft into the water, but he paused and glanced at her. A playful grin curled across his muzzle. “I knew you couldn’t resist me.”

Lucy stomped through the water and helped him push the raft further toward the sea. “Don’t think you can get under my tail. My charisma is very low.”

Charles shrugged and continue pushing.

The sea was calm, only sending tiny waves toward the shore, which made it easy for Charles and Lucy to guide the raft across the shallow waters. They soon boarded the platform and used the paddle to push the raft to the open sea.

Already the sun was setting as the sky slowly turned to yellow. Lucy never realized how long they were on the island. Slaying the lizard-boars probably took her an entire day to reach level 10.

“I think the wind can guide us now.” Charles placed the paddle down and sat beneath the sail. “It might take days to reach another island from here, but if luck is on our side, our travel shouldn’t take long.”

Lucy sat down in front of him. “Who are you after, and why?”

Charles stretched his arms out. “He is a player who goes by the name, Captain Flipper. I was looking for a map at your father’s tavern until the pigs showed up. That blasted penguin attacked your town and took the map before I could escape. I don’t know how far he is, but nothing will stop me from getting the map.”

Lucy widened her eyes. “That is why you were at the tavern? To steal my father’s possession?”

Charles held out his hands and grinned. “You got me.”

“You despicable wolf.”

“I’m a pirate. That is what we do, lass.”

Lucy felt the urge to push him into the water so the sharks could eat him. However, the Imperial guards already punished him for his attempted theft. “So the legends are true about Ghost Island? It is real?”

Charles glared at her as if he thought she was insane. “Of course it is real. If it wasn’t, there wouldn’t be a map for its’ whereabouts.”

Lucy stared at the platform. “I never knew my father had that map. But why?”

Charles smiled and pointed his finger at her. “Your father was Daddy Jone’s, right-hand man. Both of them sailed the seas together, raiding and plundering whoever they could rob. But everything changed after your father escaped from Ghost Island. While keeping the map to himself, he got married and had you. Apparently, he didn't want to live the pirate's life no more.”

Lucy never knew her father was a pirate all along. No wonder he didn't want her to go on an adventure. He probably feared she would become like him if she left his tavern. Typical that most fathers believed they knew better for their children. "What will you do when you find Ghost Island?"

"My business, my choice." Charles yawned. "Now be a good lass and watch the sea while I rest. Let me know if we approach land."

The wolf laid down, snorting.

"Ugh!" Lucy turned her back on him and glared at the sea. There were more questions she wanted to ask him. But she would have to wait until the damn wolf wakes up.