The next few days were highly rewarding, instructive and utterly exhausting. The group set about gathering supplies and honing their skills as fighters. They were by no means perfect. Hell, it’s only been a few days, but the improvements certainly did come. As well as a few levels. They were all teetering on the edge of level 4, and the stat boosts they’d received from their previous levels went a long way towards their success. It’s amazing what a few points in speed and toughness can do.
They had a few strokes of luck as well. The first being, that they found more of those water bears. Nearby the pond where they’d encountered the first two, Seth helped them follow their tracks back to what appeared to be a colony of the big bastards. They obviously weren’t dumb enough to just charge right in, there were dozens of them. They did however use them as their training ground of sorts.
For a few days, they follow the same routine. Wake up, eat some delicious, dried water bear breakfast, do some yoga down by the lake…alright, that didn’t happen. Then they would set out and wait for a group of water bears to break off and go searching for food of their own.
They hadn’t chosen to keep fighting the water bears because they were particularly safe. In fact…the ones they’d fought first actually were some of the weaker ones they’d fought so far. No, they’d chosen to hone their skills on the water bears because they were familiar with them now. They knew roughly what to expect from the fight and were able to hone their capabilities as a team. They practiced what could loosely be called formations, and especially practiced covering each other when shit went wrong.
Shit always went wrong. They were beginning to learn this was the law of combat. They couldn’t just expect their foes to lie down and take a beating. These creatures were also fighting for their lives.
The other benefit to their fights was the meat. Water bear meat was damn good. That was probably at least 50% due to the fact that water bear meat was the only real meat they’d scored so far.
The hides were going to be useful as well. They’d left a huge pile of these back at camp drying on racks over the fire. These would become beds, blankets, cloaks, hell they might even make a little water bear teddy for Marshall.
The fifth dawn greeted the group with a newer energy than the previous days. They awoke feeling relatively rested and ready for the insane challenges of this tutorial.
They held a small meeting over breakfast to decide on their next course of action. It was fun taking down water bears, but they had less than two months and they needed to get their asses in gear.
“I say we scout out in a different direction and further away from the camp. We’re starting to get diminished results from the water bears and those damn things don’t drop any loot.” Marshall suggested. “These shitty javelins are fine and all, but I for one am ready for an upgrade.”
The group nodded in agreement at that. They’d made do with things they’d found in their surroundings. Some chipped stones served as cutting implements and they’d begun to make some more extremely poor-quality javelins for Marshall, Seth, and Ian. They’d also fashioned some slings for the group, however only Marshall showed really any promise with them. They weren’t really a long-term, viable solution.
“Something that’s been gnawing at me…. where’s everyone else?” Calvin added. “There were more people in that cave with us…and that ship was huge. Where do you think they sent the others?”
The question sat in the air as the group pondered the possibilities.
“They’re probably out here somewhere, right? Maybe we should make that a priority, finding others.” Amy suggested.
The suggestion had merit for sure. This place was a shitshow and expanding their numbers could only benefit the group in their minds.
So, they had a plan. A loose plan for sure, but one, nonetheless. They would scout out in the direction opposite of Water Beartopia, gather supplies, hopefully some better loot, hone their skills and ideally find other survivors to band together with. All in all, it seemed like a solid plan. So on the fifth day, the group set about their task.
The forest, a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues and bioluminescent whispers, held a deceptive beauty. If they forgot about all of the terrifying nightmare fuel out here trying to turn them into lunch, this place really was beautiful.
The jungle was lush and teeming with life. Even life that didn’t want to eat them. The air was warm, the breeze gentle and every turn and twist held new vistas they’d never even imagined. Just remove the murder bears and alien bugs and this would be a top-selling vacation destination back at home.
Still, every rustle of leaves, every chirp from unseen creatures, sent shivers down their spines. Hours crept by, marked only by the crunch of unfamiliar leaves underfoot and the occasional muttered curse. While the group was gaining confidence in their abilities and plans, they wouldn’t forget, this place would swallow them whole in an instant.
Freya, stopping suddenly let out a low growl towards a group of trees causing the group to tense.
“What’s ther….” Calvin began to ask
Suddenly, like a nightmare sprung from the undergrowth, the forest erupted. From behind a cluster of glowing fungi, three reptilian predators emerged, their scales shimmering with iridescent menace. Razor-sharp claws glinting in the mottled light slashed at the air, amber eyes flashing with predatory hunger.
ENCOUNTER WITH MULTIPLE CREATURES:
GLINTSCALE RAPTOR LEVEL 7
GLINTSCALE RAPTOR LEVEL 6
GLINTSCALE RAPTOR LEVEL 6
"They... they look pissed," Ian stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
A guttural hiss ripped through the air. The largest creature, its crest pulsing with a sinister glow, eyed the newcomers with hunger and wariness. These raptors were at least 3 feet tall, bipedal, and looking like they’d just come from a water bear buffet. Blood stained their snouts and claws and death stained their gaze.
Calvin, fear clawing at his throat shouted “Group up!” With practiced skill, the group began moving into their typical formation. Calvin acted as the tip of their spear….fitting right? Drawing the attention of their foes as the others flanked off towards the sides.
A small air of confidence permeated their movements, however a gigantic cloud of unease shadowed their actions. These were not water bears. They’d learned how to fight those fuzzy bastards. Calvin and Marshall even had a chance to reflect on their encounter with the Spinecharge beetle and had discussed at great length how they would apply their group tactics to defeating one of those should they encounter it again.
These, however, were goddamn dinosaurs. At least, an approximation of a dinosaur.
Their bodies were lithe and built for hunting. They weren’t huge Calvin noted, which might be a point in their favor, but they looked fast. He’d read probably every dinosaur book on the planet as a kid, and earth raptors, were practiced and efficient pack hunters.
“Keep your eyes on the surroundings. There could be more of these around here waiting to ambush us.” Calvin ordered.
The group glanced anxiously at their surroundings but did not falter from their goal. Which, all bravado aside, was simply to not become raptor chow.
Calvin forced the first move. He stepped forward, jabbing his spear at the lead raptor’s snout. It sidestepped with an ease that immediately set Calvin’s alarm bells buzzing. The remaining raptors used the opportunity to begin carefully but quickly moving into a formation of their own. Three javelins rained down into the pack with one finding its mark in one of the smaller raptor’s ribs. It screeched in pain as it stumbled over. All hell broke loose.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
As if the tension was previously wound up tight like piano wire, it snapped. Amy and Freya immediately charged towards the wounded raptor. This was their role. They would seize any opportunity to remove a wounded foe from the fight before it had a chance to recover. At the same moment, the lead raptor pounced towards Calvin, and the third sprinted towards the edge of the forest, looking to take Marshall’s group from a different angle.
Calvin met the raptor’s pounce with the tip of his spear, stabbing it deep into the side of its neck. A swipe from the raptor’s front claw raked down his arm drawing a deep gash, before its hind legs came up in a swift kick to Calvin’s chest. Calvin was sent tumbling back, spear still in hand. The sudden extraction of Calvin’s spear from the lizard’s neck tore a huge gash, leaving a deep bleeding wound that clearly interrupted the raptor’s intent to follow up this kick with a nice side dish of teeth.
Calvin scooped up a handful of dirt and leaves, flinging them into the dinosaur’s eyes as he scrambled up and planted his feet again, circling the raptor and positioning himself to meet up with Marshall. The creature slashed, and bit at him, attempting to knock the spear from Calvin’s hands and find an opening within the weapon’s envelope. He held on tightly though, jabbing the spear and scoring shallow wounds whenever he could. As much as he’d love to kill this thing in one blow, that was neither realistic nor his job at the moment. He would keep the leader occupied while the remainder of the group overwhelmed their opponents with numbers.
Amy and Freya were working their zone with extreme expertise (luck). The wounded raptor was still in the fight, but clearly unable to maneuver as the others were. It snarled at Amy and weaved a deadly slash towards her throat. She stopped her charge in a stumble, avoiding the attack, and changed direction quickly, moving towards the left side of the raptor. Its reptilian eyes tracked her as she repositioned for another strike.
On the right, towards the raptor’s rear, Freya burst forth like a viper. Her jaws sank deeply into the raptor’s leg, tearing out a large chunk of flesh before jumping over its tail to avoid the incoming swipe. With its head turned away from Amy, she lashed out, slamming one spike into its neck. It whipped its head around in fury, taking the other spike to the eye.
Ian was right, these things did look pissed…., especially this one. In a lightning-quick movement, it spun around striking Amy hard with its powerful tail, sending her sprawling to the ground, her spikes flying into the undergrowth. Fortunately, she had two more tucked into her belt as the creature pounced towards her.
Freya was a blur of fur and fury taking another bite out of the creature’s other leg and scoring a raking wound down its side with her claws. The raptor was unable to keep up with the onslaught. It wanted to kill the puny girl on the ground, but this damn furry creature was all over its rear. Interrupting whatever reptilian thoughts were racing through its stupid lizard brain, Amy slashed at the belly of the creature above her spilling guts all over herself and the forest floor. She rolled out from underneath the thrashing raptor. While it was certainly dying, it was still a dangerous beast, stomping around, gnashing and clawing wildly at the environment around it. They had no time to finish it off. The others needed their backup. Leaving the raptor to succumb to its wounds Amy and Freya moved on to the next target.
Calvin, his arms screaming in protest, fought with the desperation of a cornered animal. The spear held firm, but his movements were becoming uncoordinated, his blows lacking the grace and power of a trained fighter. His stamina was steadily draining and he could feel that weakness seeping into every crevice of his being. Every parry, every lunge, felt like a gamble against his own mortality. But he couldn't falter.
He’d joined with Marshall’s squad now, forming a tight circle against the remaining two raptors. Their spears and Javelins created a dangerous barrier that the lizards were certainly wary of. Their group was entirely on the defensive against the agile creatures, but they were slowly chipping away at the lizards’ health and resolve. The leader, whom Calvin was originally fighting was riddled with scratches and punctures. Calvin’s arm was a steady stream of dripping blood, surely adding to the drain on his stamina and coordination. He needed to find an opening and put this lizard down.
As if deeply attuned to his thoughts, Freya entered the fray. Employing the same tactic she had in the battle with Amy. She darted behind the lead raptor, nipping large pieces of flesh from the dinosaur’s legs. This time, she wasn’t lucky enough to escape unscathed, taking a powerful swipe from the monster’s tail, Freya was smashed into the dirt and temporarily removed from the fight. Calvin seized the momentary distraction and pressed his spear deep into the raptor’s ribs, not stopping the momentum for a moment. He shoved with all of his might to bring the creature tumbling down. Amy was there in a flash, spikes ending the creature’s furious roars as she tore open the lizard’s throat.
With that, it was six on one. A relatively battered and exhausted six, but still one, nonetheless. They encircled the predator now turned prey and brought it down with brutal and overwhelming force.
The creature stumbled over and collapsed with a gurgling sigh, joining its fallen brethren in the gory embrace of death. Its bioluminescent crest sputtering and dying. Signifying the end of the line for this lizard. The air, thick with the smell of blood and sweat, hung heavy with silence.
Exhaustion crashed over the group. They stood panting, limbs trembling, a tapestry of bruises and cuts painting their skin. But their eyes, though weary, held a newfound gleam – the glint of survivors, tempered by the crucible of their first true battle. Sure, they’d fought battles before, but this was on an entirely different level.
Another notification flashed across their vision, confirming their hard-won victory.
EXPERIENCE REWARDED BASED ON CONTRIBUTION
Loot Acquired:
Reptilian Scales (x10) - Material for crafting armor and weapons.
Poison Glands (x3) - Can be used for crafting potions or poisons.
Razor Claws (x6) - Used for crafting weapons and tools.
A quiet sense of accomplishment settled over them. They had not just survived, they had thrived. They had faced their fear, fought as a team, and emerged victorious.
Calvin looked at his companions, each face etched with the marks of struggle and triumph. "Alright, team," he rasped, a smile tugging at his lips. "That sucked ass. Let's patch up these wounds, rest here a while, and keep pushing forward."
Staring at the fallen reptilians, a question pricked at the edge of their consciousness. "Do you think..." Amy began, her voice hesitant, "Do you think we can eat them?"
Heads swiveled towards her, surprise replacing the grim satisfaction of victory. Marshall scratched his chin, his usual playful expression replaced by a thoughtful frown. "I dunno, Ames. They look kinda... chewy."
Seth bent down to examine the creatures and nodded with determination. “At the very least, their leather should be useful. We should harvest what we can from them before moving on.”
Calvin sank onto a gnarled root, willing the system to display his gains from the previous fight. He scrolled through his stats, a sense of bewildered satisfaction washing over him.
CALVIN HAWKINS
Level: 4
Race: Human
Class: None
Grade: F
ATTRIBUTES:
Health Points (HP): 344/576
Mana Points (MP): 224/224
Stamina: 110/496
STATS:
Power: 36
Toughness: 32
Speed: 52
Control: 28
"Level 4," he muttered, reading the system prompt. "I can definitely feel the gains from these stats. During that last fight I felt much stronger and faster than with that damned bug. Honestly, I’m itching for a rematch with that thing"
A chorus of murmurs echoed his sentiment. Marshall, nursing a bruised arm, grinned despite the wince. "Super Calvin, already raring for some more injuries. I’m not a miracle worker you know." While he was ribbing Calvin a bit, he too understood the sentiment. They were stronger now, and those raptors they’d just taken down would have made that cursed bug into a snack within seconds.
Calvin looked back at his stats screen
Can you explain the class system to me? Calvin asked the system
A CLASS CAN BE SELECTED UPON ATTAINING LEVEL 5. YOUR CLASS SELECTIONS WILL BE BASED UPON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS UP UNTIL THAT POINT. YOUR CLASS WILL BE THE START OF YOUR PATH, DETERMINING YOUR PROFICIENCIES, SKILLS AND PERSISTENT STAT GAINS.
Calvin relayed this information to the group.
"Level 5, huh?" Marshall whistled, leaning back against a moss-covered tree trunk. "That’s just around the corner."
Ian, his glasses perched precariously on the bridge of his nose, adjusted them with a nervous tremor. "What if we pick the wrong class? Are we stuck with it forever?"
Amy, her lips set in a determined line, knelt beside Freya, who panted contentedly at the gentle strokes of her hand. "No need to overthink it. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Calvin nodded, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his companions. Their ragtag ensemble had already displayed a diverse range of abilities, forged in their desperate shared struggles. Marshall's knack for rallying morale and unleashing a surprising volley of javelins. Seth's agility and strategic precision. Ian's keen perception and growing confidence. And Amy, her quick reflexes and deadly aim with the Spinecharge spikes. He knew the system had a lot to do with it, both by granting them an initial burst of combat proficiency (however that worked) and through the steady growth of their stats. In just a few days, each of them individually has already become stronger and faster than they ever were in their prime back at home.
He turned back to the group, a grin splitting his grimy face. "Amy's right. Classes are just another layer of this absurd system. But let's be honest, wouldn't it be cool to be known as Calvin 'The Impaler,' Slayer of Neon Raptors? I bet it will be popular with the tutorial ladies" He said, smirking over at Amy who just rolled her eyes.
A wave of laughter rippled through the clearing, the tension easing under the weight of their shared humor. The prospect of choosing classes, and specializing in their skills, held both promise and uncertainty. Satisfied with the spoils of the day, the group made their way back to camp for a well-deserved meal and some much-needed rest.