“Alright, Daryl,” Sam said, standing and rolling his shoulders. “Before we go anywhere, we’re setting traps. If those things decide to follow us, or like get smarter, which im pretty sure thats going to happen.. we’ll need somthing to stop them, even if its just for a moment.”
“Traps?” Daryl asked, raising an eyebrow. “With what? I dont have any clue how to make traps.”
“Ya.. Neither do I, but I have a sneaky suspicion that it’s going to be needed,” Sam replied, the faint glow of his HUD catching his eye as new prompts appeared.
Tutorial Update: Trap Crafting Unlocked.
Tip: Combine simple materials to create defensive structures or deployable traps.
The first trap idea came from a few jagged planks and the rusted nails they’d salvaged. Sam set them on the crafting station and concentrated, channeling mana to see if the System could help.
The materials shimmered, and the HUD displayed an option.
Spike Barricade Crafted.
Effect: Slows or injures advancing enemies. Durable against small to medium threats.
When the glow faded, a crude but effective barricade stood in its place. Sharpened wooden stakes jutted out from the base, reinforced by a crossbar of salvaged planks.
“Not bad,” Sam muttered, setting it up near the edge of the barrier.
Daryl nodded, cautiously tapping one of the spikes. “But what if they go around it?”
“That’s why we’re not done,” Sam replied, turning back to the crafting station.
Sam picked up the coil of wire they’d found earlier, along with some vines and sturdy sticks. He placed them on the station, and once again, the System provided a solution.
Snare Line Crafted.
Effect: Entangles enemies, slowing their movement and leaving them vulnerable.
The result was a tangle of tripwires strung between flexible poles. Sam stretched the line across a narrow choke point near the barrier, testing the tension.
“When they hit this,” he explained, “they’ll get caught up and slowed down. That’s when we hit them.”
Daryl’s face remained skeptical. “If we even have time to react.”
“Right… good point” as Sam combined the cracked lantern, some resin-coated bark, and a shard of glass. The HUD chimed as the materials shimmered, producing a crude but potent tool.
Fire Flare Crafted.
Effect: Creates a blinding flash and a small area of fire damage. Ideal for dispersing clustered enemies.
“Not exactly what I was expecting.. But uh it'll work!” Sam said, holding up the flare, “I think this is some type of flash grenade or somthing.”
Daryl leaned closer, his expression a mix of awe and wariness. “You come up with this stuff on the fly?”
Sam shrugged, stashing the flare in his belt. “Call it a talent.”
Daryl leaned against his spear, watching as Sam adjusted the Snare Line with practiced precision. His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he seemed to be mulling something over. Finally, he broke the silence. “You know,” Daryl said, his voice laced with suspicion, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Sam glanced over, raising an eyebrow. “What’s on your mind?”
“You’ve got a knack for pulling stuff out of thin air,” Daryl said, gesturing at the traps. “Spike barricades, tripwires, fire bombs. And don’t get me started on that staff or whatever you’re carrying around.” Sam smirked. “I’ve always been good at thinking on my feet.”
Daryl’s expression didn’t change. “Don’t give me that. I’ve been running for my life for days, and no one I’ve run into has ‘thought on their feet’ like this.”
Sam hesitated “What are you getting at?”
“I’m getting at the fact that every time we hit a problem, you come up with something way too specific,” Daryl said, stepping closer. “Like you’ve got a cheat sheet or something.”
Sam sighed, looking away. He’d known this conversation was coming sooner or later, but he’d hoped to avoid it a little longer. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me,” Daryl said, his tone sharp. “Because if I’m trusting my life to you, I’d like to know how the hell you keep pulling these miracle solutions out of nowhere.”
Sam took a deep breath, weighing his options. “Alright. You ever play video games?”
Daryl blinked. “Video games? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Just answer the question,” Sam said.
“Yeah, sure. Back before all this, I played a few,” Daryl said. “What about it?”
“Well,” Sam began, scratching the back of his neck, “imagine you’re stuck in one of those games. Only instead of playing it, you’re in it. And the game keeps throwing pop-ups at you…like a tutorial, giving you tips and telling you what to do.”
Daryl stared at him, his mouth slightly open. “You’re kidding.”
“I am not,” Sam said, his tone serious. “That’s what’s been happening to me. Ever since everything went to hell, I’ve been seeing these… prompts. They tell me what’s coming, how to craft stuff, and what I need to do to survive.”
“And you didn’t think to mention this before?” Daryl asked, his voice rising.
“Would you have believed me?” Sam shot back. “It’s not exactly the kind of thing you bring up in casual conversation.”
Daryl rubbed his face with one hand, groaning. “Alright, fine, let’s say I believe you. Why you? I’ve talked to a lot of people since this started, people way smarter than me, way more capable and none of them have said anything about magic tutorials popping up in their heads.”
Sam shook his head. “I don’t know man. I’ve been asking myself the same question. Maybe it’s random. Maybe it’s some sick joke. I wish I had an answer.”
Daryl was quiet for a moment, staring at the ground. Then he looked up at Sam, his expression unreadable. “Alright. Let’s say this ‘System’ thing is real, and it’s giving you all this stuff. Does it tell you anything about what’s really going on? Why the world’s gone to hell? Why these things keep evolving?”
Sam hesitated again, then shook his head. “No. It’s just as cryptic about that as it is about everything else. All I know is that if I do what it tells me to do, I stay alive and get experience.”
Daryl nodded slowly, his grip tightening on the spear. “Alright. That sounds like I need it.. How the hell do I get access to it?”
“No idea… It just was there for me,” Sam said “As long as it keeps feeding me tips, I’ll make sure we stay alive.”
“You’d better,” Daryl said, turning away. “Because I’ve already seen what happens when the odds aren’t on your side. And I’m not going back to that.”
Over the next hour, they worked together to position the traps strategically around the barrier. The Spike Barricade covered the most direct route, the Snare Line was hidden along a side path, and the Fire Flare sat ready near the crafting station as a last resort.
By the time they were done, Daryl stepped back, surveying their handiwork. “Alright, I’ll admit it. This actually looks… useful.”
“It’s not perfect,” Sam said, wiping his brow. “But it gives us a fighting chance. Now, let’s see what’s waiting for us out there.”
The weight of the traps gave Sam a glimmer of confidence as they headed toward to edge of the battier, the glow from his Sunder Torch casting long shadows against the shimmering wall.
Daryl paced a few feet away, his spear resting against his shoulder. His hands fidgeted nervously as his eyes darted between Sam and the forest. “They’re planning something, aren’t they?”
Sam nodded, keeping his gaze fixed on the treeline. His pulse quickened as the now-familiar glow of text flashed in his peripheral vision.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Objective Updated: Investigate the Forest.
Tip: Discovering the source of the rugglemite pack’s aggression may reveal valuable resources or weaken the threat.
Sam tensed as he read the update, irritation flickering across his face. “Man.. Is this thing trying to kill us?” he said aloud, masking his unease. “We need to go out there.. Past the barrier.”
Daryl stared at him. “You want to go out there? The barrier’s the only thing keeping us alive!”
“For now,” Sam said carefully. He gripped the Impaler Staff tighter, deliberately keeping his focus on the forest. “But the way these things evolve? They’re not just going to sit around forever. I’d rather deal with the problem now than wait for it to get worse.”
Daryl hesitated, his brow furrowing as he glanced between Sam and the dark woods. “I don’t like it,” he muttered. “But you’re probably right. Just… just don’t expect me to charge into anything.”
Sam smirked faintly. “Noted.”
The pair stepped through the barrier, the shimmering wall parting briefly to let them pass. Sam felt the weight of it vanish behind him as the cold night air swallowed them. His torch flickered, its glow revealing faint trails in the dirt evidence of the rugglemites’ passage.
“Stay close,” Sam said. “And keep quiet.”
Daryl nodded, his spear clutched tightly as they moved deeper into the forest. The trees loomed above them, their shapes twisting unnaturally. Bark cracked with glowing veins of blue light, and strange plants pulsed faintly with mana.
“This place is wrong,” Daryl whispered, his eyes darting to the glowing plants. “It’s like the forest is... alive.”
“More than you think,” Sam muttered. He kept moving, though the faint hum of mana prickled at the back of his neck. The System hadn’t told him what this was yet, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
They followed the trail until it opened into a clearing. The ground was littered with bones of small animals, birds, and warped shapes Sam couldn’t identify. In the center of the clearing, a massive tree loomed, its trunk blackened and twisted. At its base, a glowing fissure pulsed with red light.
“What is that?” Daryl asked, his voice tight with fear.
Sam didn’t answer immediately, his eyes narrowing as another text prompt appeared in his vision.
New Sub-Objective: Disrupt the Corrupted Node.
Warning: The node is guarded by elite creatures. Prepare for combat.
Sam grimaced. “It’s not good,” he said finally, keeping the explanation vague. “Whatever it is, it’s drawing those things here. If we don’t deal with it, we’ll have bigger problems.”
“You’re saying they’re coming out of that thing?” Daryl asked, gesturing toward the fissure.
“Maybe,” Sam said. “Or it’s making them worse. Either way, we’ve got to take it out.”
Daryl stared at him, his face pale. “You’re crazy. We don’t even know what that thing is!”
“I don’t need to know what it is,” Sam said, gripping his weapon tighter. “I just need to destroy it.”
The shadows at the edge of the clearing began to move. Three hulking rugglemites emerged, their bone plating gleaming faintly in the red light. Each carried a crude but deadly weapon; a jagged axe, a spiked club, and what looked like a chain embedded with shards of glass.
Sam raised the Impaler Staff, his muscles tensing as another prompt appeared.
Elite Rugglemite Pack Detected.
Tip: Use environmental advantages and target weak points to overcome superior enemies.
“Great,” Sam muttered under his breath. He shot a quick glance at Daryl. “Stay close. If they rush, aim for their legs and don’t let them surround us.”
Daryl nodded, though his knuckles were white against the spear. “I’ll try. But what the hell are those things?”
“Trouble,” Sam said simply, focusing on the approaching creatures. The largest rugglemite let out a guttural roar, raising its axe high. With terrifying speed, it charged straight at them, the other two close behind. Sam braced himself, gripping the Impaler Staff tightly as the ground seemed to shake beneath its heavy steps, its jagged axe raised high, ready to strike. Behind it, the other two creatures spread out, clearly trying to flank him and Daryl.
“The one with the chain is yours!” Sam barked. “Use your spear to keep it at a distance and don’t let it wrap you up.”
Daryl gave a shaky nod, gripping his spear and circling left. Sam didn’t have time to make sure Daryl was handling himself, as his focus was on the charging beast in front of him.
The axe came down with a whistling arc, aiming to cleave Sam in two. He sidestepped just in time, the blade slamming into the ground with enough force to kick up a spray of dirt and rocks. Taking the opening, Sam thrust the Impaler Staff forward, driving its reinforced tines into the creature’s exposed side. The rugglemite roared, staggering back but not falling.
Sam’s HUD pulsed in his vision as a thought clicked into place.
Skill Reminder: Basic Mana Anchor.
Tip: Use the anchor skill to fix objects or enemies in place, disrupting their movement.
“Right, let’s see how you like this,” Sam muttered. He stepped back, focusing on the Impaler Staff still lodged in the creature’s side. Channeling his mana into the weapon, he felt the familiar hum as the connection solidified, a thread of energy linking him to the staff.
The rugglemite jerked, trying to pull away, but the staff didn’t budge. Instead, it glowed faintly, anchoring itself in place. The creature’s movements slowed as it struggled against the invisible tether.
Sam used the opportunity to dart in, drawing the Sunder Torch from his belt. With a quick burst of mana, the lantern flared to life, its light blazing brightly. He swung the torch in a heavy arc, smashing it into the rugglemite’s exposed leg. The bone plating cracked, and the creature dropped to one knee, howling in fury.
“I think it’s working!” Daryl called from the side, his voice tight with effort.
Sam spared a glance and saw Daryl jabbing at the chain-wielding rugglemite, keeping it at bay with quick, precise strikes. The creature swung its chain wildly, but Daryl was holding his ground.
“Keep it up!” Sam shouted before turning his attention back to the axe-wielding brute. The anchor was still holding, but the strain was starting to build. His mana reserves ticked downward in his HUD, the tether flickering faintly.
The third rugglemite, the one with the spiked club, circled wide, clearly waiting for an opening. Sam grimaced. “Can’t handle two of you at once.”
With a sharp tug, he released the anchor on the Impaler Staff, freeing the weapon and staggering the axe-wielder in the process. Sam spun, hurling the staff at the advancing club-wielder. The weapon struck true, the tines embedding themselves in the creature’s shoulder. It reeled, buying Sam just enough time to focus back on the larger threat.
The axe-wielder roared again, surging forward despite its injured leg. Sam raised the Sunder Torch, channeling the last dregs of his mana into the weapon. The lantern’s glow intensified, crackling with energy as he swung it upward.
The impact landed squarely under the creature’s chin, sending a shockwave of light and force rippling through its body. The rugglemite froze, its glowing eyes dimming, before collapsing to the ground in a heap. Its body began to dissolve into faint mist, leaving only the faint outline of its shattered axe behind.
Elite Rugglemite Defeated.
Experience Gained: 150.
Sam didn’t have time to celebrate. The spiked club-wielder had torn the Impaler Staff from its shoulder and was barreling toward him now, enraged. Daryl shouted something, but Sam couldn’t make it out. His attention was locked on the incoming attack.
“Alright, one more trick,” Sam muttered, reaching into his belt for the Fire Flare. He sparked it to life, the resin-coated bark igniting with a flash of light and heat. With a quick motion, he hurled it at the charging rugglemite.
The flare exploded in midair, engulfing the creature in a burst of fire. It screeched, flailing as flames licked at its body. Sam lunged forward, grabbing the Impaler Staff from the ground and driving it into the creature’s exposed chest. With a final, guttural cry, it collapsed, its form dissolving into mist.
Elite Rugglemite Defeated.
Experience Gained: 120.
Sam staggered back, panting as his HUD displayed a warning about low mana reserves. Daryl was still locked in a standoff with the chain-wielder, his spear keeping the creature at a distance.
“Duck!” Sam shouted, grabbing the Sunder Torch and running toward him.
Without hesitation, Daryl dropped to the ground. Sam swung the torch with all his strength, the glowing lantern smashing into the chain-wielder’s head. The creature stumbled, and Daryl took the opening to lunge upward, driving his spear into its throat.
The rugglemite let out a wet gurgle before collapsing, its weapon clattering to the ground. Daryl scrambled to his feet, breathing heavily as the last of the mist faded into the night.
“You alright?” Sam asked, his chest heaving.
Daryl nodded shakily. “Holy fucking shit… that was intense… im good though.. You good?”
Sam spat a little bit clearing his throat, leaning on the Impaler Staff for support. “Ya ya, im good.. We did it...”
“Barely,” Daryl muttered, glancing at the glowing fissure ahead. “So... what now?”
Sam stared at the corrupted node, his grip tightening on his weapon. “No idea.”
The faint hum of mana in the air grew stronger as they stepped toward the pulsing fissure, the night around them eerily silent once more.