Decked out in my new equipment, shining bright like a beacon, I walked forward. I wasn't filled with admiration or any false idea of owning the world, I was simply scared of everywhere I went, every step felt like a step towards darkness, despite the fact it was morning.
The trees swaying scared me, the leaves falling of their branches alarmed me, the sight of my own shadow almost made me jump, I was terrified of this savage world that I now lived in.
I never had to see its imperfections on a simple monitor, but being here now, living and breathing it, the ideal that someone just a single level higher than you can take over you boggled my mind. I need to get strong, fast. I need to be able to defend myself before I can worry about others.
My sight set on precious experience, I lumbered around the forest looking for more deer. How much experience where they worth? I couldn't tell, nor could I even check my current status anymore. I tried thinking status, screaming status, and even moving my hand in front of me in a swiping motion.
Nothing worked no matter how hard I tried, letting out a dejected sigh I gave up. Maybe once I kill enough to level up something will happen. So that's exactly what I did, I went around the forest searching for deer and other simple things to kill.
Target number one. Another deer like creature stomping about the clearing in front of me. From my first encounter a single jab in the right spot killed em last time, I guess I can only hope for the same. It charged at me, faster than the last one, there was no time to sidestep.
Raising my shield in front of me with all my strength I prepared for impact. BAM. The deer's antlers scraped against my new shield, stopping the body of the beast as it bucked from the impact, without wasting the chance I push my shield forward and slam it into its face.
With the staggered deers assault pushed back I swung my sword in a clean circle where the beast now stands, gutting it right in front of me. Uncertain of the future, or my own appetite, I figured I should try to skin the beast and harvest its meat.
I was kneeling in front of the beast's body gently setting my sword along its fur, and peeling away as best I could. Not knowing the exact intricacies of skinning, I winged the hell out of it, and it came out all blotchy in numerous pieces.
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Hell, I decided to leave most of it behind. The same with the meat I did actually manage to harvest. Something interesting did manage to pop up though, while cutting away at the beast's fur a familiar blue screen popped up.
For attempting to skin and harvest the animal before you, you gain +1 Skinning, +1 Animal Harvesting
This was the sign I needed to see. I desperately craved to find this familiar blue screen, a small sweat of relief came over me. I can get stronger.. I can get faster.. I can improve. I had no sign of stopping there, it was still morning.
Target number two approached my vision from the corner of my eye. Its stature was small like a childs, its arms thin and dangling, its equipment pathetic and revealing.
It was as far as I could tell without the systems help, a goblin scout. I suppose our stats must be of similar quality, because as soon as I noticed him, he too was looking back at me about to draw his bow string. Rushing forward with my shield held high I planned my assault.
As soon as I heard the ting sound of his arrow hit my shield, I was already in front of him, SMACK, I slammed my shield with my left hand right across the tiny ugly green beings face, its yellow rotten teeth flew out as it hit the floor fumbling backward. It breath escaping him, as a stench straight from my worst nightmares filled my nostrils.
In the next moment I felt a hot burning sensation on my right side, examining myself I could see an arrow sticking straight out, right through my fucking iron armor, so much for its protection.
There must be another one somewhere, I don't have time to see though, kill the one in front of me before he regains balance, turning towards my prey to finish him off, disappointment was the only foe where the goblin once was. He was gone. Scanning the forest around me I circled the clearing not letting down my guard or posture.
While walking around in a defensive posture, I snapped part of the arrow out sticking inside me, a burning pain came over me as I dared not to let my eyes close.
Another fucked up situation I found myself in, tiny green eyes revealed themselves behind and on top the trees all around, there must be at least 6 goblins that surrounded the area before me. A sad feeling of losing hope welled up inside me.
A deep sinking feeling of desperation filled me, I already knew that I couldn’t survive.
“Elzare! Please..” I screamed out dejected, scared of the goblins that slowly approach me.
Only the silence of the wind, as the leaves fell with an S shaped grace to the floor, was the response that replied.