“Yeah, I got that, do you know whose initials these are?” I asked, and the man pointed to himself.

“Jeremy Powers, that’s me alright.” I frowned and shrugged.

“Do you know what this place is? I kind of just got brung here, I know it’s to level up n’ all, and that's it.”

“That is about it, there are quite a few of these places, they just send the nulls over here, and there are quite a few.”

“Nulls?” I inquired

“Y’know? People like you, people who got assigned jobs with too high of a level requirement.” He explained.

“Ah, I see. Why can't they just bring us over to an easier job, I can cook well.” I was starving, I hadn’t eaten in a while and I could go for some pizza right now.

“Do you know anything about anything? It takes too long, there is a whole process and submission and people to go through, the bureaucracy of this place is just terrible.”

“Y’see, about the knowing ‘anything about anything I don’t think I’m supposed to be here, I got ran over by a truck and now I’m working in some slave camp, is this even earth, do you know-”

“Hold your horses there buddy, I do not know what the fuck you are talking about, nor do I care, I’m willing to explain what is going on around here if you stop talking crazy, I don’t want that spreading to me, I’ve seen it happen.”

“Alright then..” I said, well, this certainly wasn’t earth then, if any doubts still remained. “Why are you here then?”

“I was assigned to the forges, but I’m only as strong as the next guy so I wasn’t built for that kind of work, my strength score is only 5.”

At least I knew that my strength score was abysmal, I don't know how that would help.

“I’m thinking we stick together.” I suggested, “We don’t know what is around here, goblins are easy to take care of but maybe there are hobgoblins.” I’m assuming they existed, he didn’t look confused when I said that so I was on the right track.

“You’re right, do you know how to start a fire? I’ve just been banging rocks together but nothing’s workin’.”

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I had learned this in my history course, it was actually a joint between anthropology and history. We learned how they did stuff and a part of that was bow drills, which required twine which I did not have the know-how to make, that stuff blew past my head during lectures.

But I could just rub two sticks together til smoke came, it would definitely take a while but we’re not in a rush, as long as I was able to delay my leveling the foreman wouldn’t try and come get me.

“Earth to- I actually don’t know your name.”

“It’s James..” I said, not realising that I had spaced out. “Yeah, we can make a fire, let me show you.” And so I started generating flames, it did take 15 minutes, but if this was a world ruled by the laws of the game, and games have magic, I could cut the time needed to start a fire down to only a second.

That was a consideration for later, I needed to be in the here and now.

“Greh..”

Shit, more goblins. I stood up and gripped my dagger tightly, but Jeremy was already on it, he jogged over and slammed the blade downwards into the goblin’s dome, ending it instantly.

Not a pretty sight, but as I mentioned before, I needed to get used to this, so I just accepted it.

Jeremy collected the small cloth covering the goblin’s nether regions and took one of the blades, he shoved the blade into the fabric like it was a pouch and tied it up nice and tight, strapping it to his shoulder.

Three more appear and Jeremy isn’t prepared, but I was, I had my hand on my dagger and I rushed over, slide-tackling one and slashing one’s shins on the way, which did abysmal damage, it just made a tsk sound as if it was disappointed.

I took great offense to this so I executed the one I had slide tackled, then slashed the neck of the one who was angry at how weak I had attacked them.

The last one was coming for me but Jeremy punted its head and it fell to the ground, all limp n’ lifeless, we were all awarded our XP and it appeared that there were no threats left, that was good.

“Hey James, Never, and I say never, eat goblin, it smells tolerable, but it just tastes like a landfill, I don’t know how else to describe it.” I nodded. “But! There are other animals here, and I used to hunt before I was assigned here. I could get us some food if you are willing to help.”

My stomach groaned, I was definitely starving, there was no way I could say no to this offer.

“I saw some prints due... Over there,” he pointed somewhere a bit further off from our position. “Wasn’t able to identify them but if I get a close look I’ll know what it is.”

“Alright then, lead the way, boss,” I said, walking along with him. We arrived at the prints and I knew for certain what they were, there was no doubt in my mind that those weren't bear tracks.

“That’s a grizzly, it’s risky but we can get levels out of it, we can ambush it and deal some decent damage.” He suggested, “And if we keep collecting daggers we can put up a solid attack, what do you say?”

A bear, old me would’ve said fuck no, current me would agree, there were levels, I needed to level up and complete my goals, no matter what, if it went bad I could dash out of there, and hopefully the bear was too tired to keep following us.

I am gonna kill a bear, it will be awesome.