Art’s potions and potions.
This was the name of the herbalists shop in the town square.
Just in case anyone didn’t know where to go, the sign above the shops entrance was that of a human head sized potion.
The residing herbalist, Art, was the shops owner, everyone in the village got their potions from him.
Aaron placed down his shirt sack filled with Bloomflowers on the counter.
“How much can I get for this?” He opened it showing it’s contents, the flowers looked as fresh as they had when he had picked them.
When he had asked Stanislaw about this anomaly he had explained it to him like this.
“Due to the fact that Bloomflowers are filled with vital energy, their state only noticeably deteriorates after around a month.”
“Actually scrap that, can you pay me in potions?” Right at this moment Aaron needed to think about the short term, there wasn’t a way for him to increase his strength with money better than with potions.
The shopkeeper looked at the state that Aaron was in.
No shirt.
Dried blood on his lips.
Undead-esque appearance.
He could clearly see this guy was struggling with life.
“Well young… man, the Bloomflower is the cheapest part of the health potion meaning it isn’t worth much.” He counted up the flowers.
“At most I can give you 5 potions and 7 copper bits.”
He glanced at the Aarons ribs and sighed as he passed him a pouch with the potions and coins.
“My stock seems to be running a bit low. If you can bring me 300 Bloomflowers I will give you 2 gros and teach you how to make potions, 1 of which you’ll then be able to keep.”
Aaron donned a shocked expression.
Does my image look so dismal that everyone just has the urge to help me?
This depressing realisation made him slump his shoulders. Noticing this Art panicked slightly thinking that he had set the reward too low.
“Three! Three, you can have three of the potions we’ll make together…”
Aaron nodded and dragged himself out of the herbalists.
--
As he had been leaving Art had shouted that the plains most abundant in Bloomflowers were situated to the west of the village.
At least the cardinal direction aren’t named something else, that would;d be a pain in the ass to remember and use.
On his way there Aaron was constantly on the lookout for any potential life flowers and ended up harvesting 13 before even getting to the plains.
A rock formation blocked his way forwards.
He had to climb it.
His Overhealth had ran out as he was walking so he decided to dunk one down before confronting the climb.
--
An arm reached over the ledge.
It flailed around for a few seconds trying to grasp an outcrop.
The knuckled hit a rough root, the fingers curled around it and clasped down.
A low groan and a bunch of grunts followed.
Aaron’s body flopped over the ledge.
He lay there for a full ten minutes, trying to catch his breath like a dead fish.
His health had started dropping steadily after he had reached the halfway point of his climb, but the drop would have meant certain death for him with his feeble bones so he couldn’t do anything other than continue climbing.
Well that was fucking stupid wasn’t it Aaron, you struggle with fucking walking and so you try one of the hardest and most demanding sports in the world.
He sat up and leaned on the rock face. Leaning back he dunked down another potion.
-HP: 23/70-
Aaron shivered. That was way too close.
He glanced to his left and his pupils dilated.
Colours filled his vision.
The plains were huge, wherever he looked they did not seem to end. Only a far-away forest of what looked like birch trees seemed to try to contain this sea of life.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Aaron smiled. These fields were abundant and littered all over with patches of red Bloomflowers.
Looks like this isn’t going to be so bad.
Shit.
Slimes.
The green and red terrain’s mosaic colour scheme was splattered with blue specks.
At least the slimes here are blue and not green, otherwise I might not see them coming.
The sack was once again slung over his shoulder as he started to make his way down the outcrop. The harvesting wasn’t going to be so easy now that enemies had appeared.
But this is still a good opportunity, I’ll be able to gain xp and those monster crystals Stanislaw mentioned, I think he called them cil.
With a tired smile he made his way over to a Bloomflower path, and started his harvest.
--
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
This is so boring.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
I need to make myself stronger just so that my life can be more comfortable, scratch trying to be strong enough to slay a dragon.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Aaron was very invested in the accumulation of his life line. He didn’t notice a slime ‘sneaking’ up on him.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yank, repeat.
Grab, pull, yaAAA.
He fell flat onto his face landing him a mouthful of dirt.
What the fu- oh, of course, slime.
He struggled to his feet and got into a rudimentary fighting stance.
You are my first level scaled enemy, get ready to. Feel. The. PAIN.
Aaron's bare foot sailed towards the dumb marshmallow of blue glop.
Hahaha you are now in my mercy meek slimeling.
“FOOT… OF… JUSTICE…!!”Aaron roared hoarsely as his foot completely missed its intended target.
The slime showed an intense show of combat technique, barrelling right into Aaron chest.
It’s jump, perfection.
The arc of its flight, exquisite.
The way it’s gelatinous body connected with Aaron’s torso, impeccable.
OOF
Aaron once again landed in the dirt, though this time it was on his back.
Shiiiiit, I seem to have overestimated myself again.
-HP: 18/70-
WHA-A-A Whoa.
He quickly got back onto his feet, the low number next to his HP scared the absolute shit out of him.
Aaron opened his pack and dunked down a potion.
The slimes third attack came too fast, it once again slammed into Aaron, knocking the sack filled with Bloomflowers out of his hands.
This time he was winded but had been able to tense his muscles to counteract the kinetic force of the slimes lunge.
As the slime landed back down on the ground Aaron grimaced, it had landed on his Bloomflowers, crushing most of them, making them unusable.
Fucking stupid slime.
I’m not about to be bested by a glob of slightly firm goo.
The fire of revenge roared within him as he got back into his stance.
You just made me crush my shit, now I’m Fuc-king ma-ad!
The leg went back, with it came all of the force that Aaron could muster.
His aim was true.
The taste of revenge already sweet on his tongue.
Yet this time he had underestimated the pure skill of his opponent.
It once again executes a jump.
One timed so perfectly that the foot of it’s enemy flew under with just a hairs breadth to spare.
Truly a master of combat.
OOF
Aaron’s back once again met with the ground.
How the fu-… wait a second… isn’t this slime just jumping at me at the same angle every time.
With this newly acquired knowledge Aaron once again got up from the ground.
So the plan is this, wait for it to jump, doge, then belt it with my foot, the ball is in my field now slime, today you’ll meet your end!
This time, as planned, he waited for the slime to jump in his direction.
As it started flying towards him he put weight down on his right foot and pushed off, successfully dodging the attack.
In the act of his left foot landing he once again wound back his right foot.
This is the one.
SPLAT
A red bar shimmered into existence over the slime, finally he had done some damage.
This must be it’s HP.
Although the attack was fruitful, his barefoot kick barely did anything, just around a 20th of the slimes HP.
A crazed look appeared on Aaron’s face as he smiled wildly.
HAHA IT BLEEEEEEDS.
After this silent celebration his facial features returned to that of a frown.
Fuck this weak body of mine, I barely do any damage.
Then an idea sprung to mind.
He dunked down a potion.
Instant invigoration could be felt throughout his body.
He looked down at his bare chest. The bruises that were starting to form on his body rapidly appeared to change colour.
Now I’ve got you where I want you, you deflated football.
Another kick landed on the slime, though this time a tenth of the red bar disappeared instantly.
That’s more like it.
Aaron then proceeded to kick it until the red bar disappeared from above it.
After it’s HP reached 0 it dissolved leaving behind a single cil.
Condition Modifiers:
Stage IV Lung cancer (severe)
Malnourished body (moderate)
Destroyed Body (Drugs)
Eye defect (short-sighted) (lower)
Nicotine addiction (severe)
Alcohol addiction (moderate)
Overhealth had worn off.
PING
-Killed : Blue slime - Lvl 1 Contribution 99.8%-
PING
-Level Up-
-Advanced to Lvl 2-
PING
-Skill learned: Unarmed Strike I (uncommon)-
I am actually so stupid, I completely forgot to use strike to enhance my kicks… well at least I got a skill out of it.
Unarmed Strike I (uncommon)
You enhance an unarmed attack action with your inner energy, strengthening it’s power. Hidden skill earned by killing a monster while unarmed without using strike. Subsequent uses in a short time frame will tire out the users body. Overuse may cause damage to users body.
Looking out into the plains Aaron clasped his hands together in anticipation.
Haha I’ve so got this.
--