The three of us make our way outside of the walls before finally breaking our silence and brainstorming ideas.
"I think we should stay together. Wakes quick so he can burn the beasts down while I can tank them. Noortain can fill in wherever and act as our gopher since he doesn't really have any experience. And no I don't count that freaky thing you did to that giant undead when we got here that was terrifying." Bubbles says as he looks at me from the corner of his eye and Wake nods along in agreement.
"I'm gonna say no to that. You guys do your own thing but I'm not going to carry around everyone's stuff. That doesn't help me get any stronger or better so good luck on your hunts guys." I say as i walk away in the opposite direction of them while looking at the quest that popped up.
{Prove your worth! Quest-Hunt an opponent of equal or higher level to yourself solo to prove that your not useless! Reward-Choice of Character Class.}
As I continue to make my way through the forest I hear a rustling from behind me before feeling a nudge on my back. As I turn around I see the angry eyes of Pearl, her body wound tight as she nods once before we begin moving further into the forest and start searching for tracks or beasts. I pay attention to what Pearl's doing and after I see her sniff the ground a few times I walk over and find a print the size of a football pressed inches into the ground. After gulping at the print in shock I ask if Pearl can track whatever made it and after a few minutes she begins leading me in a different direction while stopping every once in awhile to check the trail. As we make another turn around a boulder Pearl stops all of a sudden and pushes me backwards before laying her body on the ground and going prone. Soon afterwards I can hear a thumping noise nearby and the snuffling of an animal from the other side of the boulder as I inch forward to look around it. As I finally get my head around the boulder I see a clearing littered with broken tree's and massed together branches, I can spot a few different sized bones scattered around the mass. As i continue looking into the clearing I finally see a large stone begin moving before I realize that its note a stone but some kind of strange bear, its outer body as grey as a rock and covered in an almost rock like shell while two short tusks breach its mouth. I smile after using inspect realizing that this creature matches exactly what my quest needs and pull out my cane and use its buff.
(Stone hide Bearsk Level 13)
Bearsk are formidable woodland predators who live solitary life styles. Although omnivorous they prefer to hunt for fruits or scavenge leftover meats due to extreme laziness. Although they do not usually initiate combat this does not mean they will not attack and are extremly durable. This Bearsk has evolved its body to be more durable than most in exchange for losing much of its speed.
After casting the buff from my cane I start thinking about how I'm going to be able to take down the large monster before settling on trying to set up a trap. Since the description said it isn't very fast that might mean its not very mobile either and since its a beast if I can manage to piss it off maybe I can lead it into a place it can't get out of. After that I just have to chip away at it like I used to do to bosses when I was a solo player in games back in my old life. As I think back to those times I remember a game I played where you had to capture monsters for a zoo type setting. There was a giant hippo monster that kept beating me until I unlocked a skill that let me create a pitfall trap which finally let me beat it.. After considering the option I tap on Pearls back and motion for her to follow me as we make our way backwards from the Bearsk's nest and begin getting everything ready.
Several hours later and the stars are shining brightly overhead as two moons slowly float through the sky. I wipe the sweat and dirt off my forehead as I climb out of the hole that we've spent the last few hours digging, needing to grab onto Pearl's tail and have her pull me out since it's so deep. Once I'm out I sigh in exhaustion before making my way to a large tree nearby, a hollow hole in the base of it big enough for both Pearl and myself to squeeze in. After we get inside and make ourselves comfortable I smile before imagining the plan going off smoothly tomorrow.
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I wake up to pain racing through my back as I grimace in annoyance and start moving my body in an attempt to loosen my muscles. After a few minutes of struggling I finally manage to crawl out of the tree and look at the hole in the ground before laughing hysterically at what's inside.
(Blade Bunny Level 1(Infant))
A baby Blade Bunny. Able to be captured.
A damn Blade Bunny baby! I remember back when I first woke up in this world afraid to death and the first thing that happened is a damn rabbit trying to murder me. After finally calming down I summon Dawn and wait as she materializes in front of me.
"You called Master Noortain?" Dawn asks in her childlike voice, curiosity tinging her words.
"Yea can you send a message to Slab and see if he can come meet me here? I need his advice...also tell him to bring a cage for that little one down there please." I say as I point towards the baby bunny that's struggling to climb up the wall and falling repeatedly. After Dawn says that Slab is on his way and will be here in a couple hours I walk around the area and gather up a bunch of berries and random grasses before dropping them into the hole and watching the baby bunny approach them with caution before squealing happily and digging in.
'Kind of adorable to be honest. Can't believe one of these almost killed me before.' I think before smiling as the bunny walks around in a circle before curling up and falling asleep. After Waiting around and exploring the area a little bit more I hear movement nearby and take out my cane as Pearl readies herself for a fight. After a couple minutes Slab walks out of the bushes with his hands held up with Jawbone following slowly behind him with a battered metal cage strapped to his back.
"Easy there Boss no need to batter me." Slab cackles lightly as I relax and Pearl goes over and starts playing with Jawbone. After we chat for a few minutes I lead him over to the hole and point to the still sleeping blade bunny and watch as a smile shows on his face.
"Cute little fella but not a lot of meat on his bones Boss. I don't think he'll make more than a meal and that's for the wyrmling if we're lucky." Slab says before I cough and he looks at me in confusion.
"I don't plan to eat it. When I first got here I almost died to a Blade Bunny and was terrified. A few days later I met Wug and from there it's been nothing but adventure and battle but seeing this little guy brings back memories of how much I've changed in such a little bit of time. So I figured we could bring him back and maybe train him in something or turn him into a pet since I remembered that was an option for you. Also I need advice from our hunt master and was hoping you'd bring back Wug and Jeff in a couple days." I say as Slab's look of surprise turns to understanding before he jumps into the hole and lifts the sleeping bunny gently before leaping from the hole and pulling himself up from the edge. After he walks to Jawbone and puts the bunny in the cage along with some grass and fruits I had nearby he walks back over and looks back at the hole.
"So boss...pretty big hole you've dug here...I'm guessing this is what you need advice on huh?" He says with a smile in his voice as he crouches down and feels some of the soil between his fingers.
"Yup Jeff gave us a job for combat training and each of us have to bring back a beast to feed the people in camp and break down the bodies for materials. A few hundred meters back there's a Bearsk nest and its an evolved one so it has massive defense but no speed. Any advice on how to kill it once I trap it in the pit?" I explain as I notice at the mention of the word bearsk the smile on Slab's face drops and he wears a serious expression.
"Bearsk are dangerous and if this ones evolved that makes it even more so. Only time I ever saw one was when my old tribe found a plains bearsk and it took five of our best to kill it and three of those five were injured heavily. But the Pit is a good idea definitely and you should cover it with something to hide it. Once it's down there it'll be stuck until it digs its way out since Bearsk don't climb well and if its evolved to be defensive then this one will definitely be more scavenger than hunter. In the area you can find these nasty looking brown berries that look rotted, throw a bunch in there with other fruits and it'll poison it also since Bearsk aren't exactly intelligent, just violent and quick tempered. Other than that don't take to many chances and watch out in case it has a mate just in case." Slab explains as I nod along with his advice.
After finishing Slab's advice me to make sure to keep my distance but I should be good if I do everything like he said. Once he nods once more and wishes me luck he heads out with the baby bunny, promising to return with Jeff and Wug in a couple days to check on my progress and help bring back the beast one way or another. And with his leaving I begin getting to work with a glint in my eye of my upcoming victory.