Not many enjoyed waking up early in the morning. For that reason, most of them hated the noise of their alarms, some going as far as breaking them in their annoyance. John really wished to do the same with the creature that he kept waking up to. That, however, was obviously something he was incapable of doing.
[Please select your class.]
"Please select your class." John read the text with a mocking voice. "Fuck you too, floating screen!" Cursing it didn't make it disappear or change anything really, but he felt slightly better about himself. Taking a deep breath, he figured he could continue trying out the magic classes as one just might be the one to help him out.
[Wizard has been selected.]
[Arcane Spellcasting(Novice) added to Skill list.]
[Rolling for random spell.]
[Mage Hand added to Spell list.]
[Rolling for random skill.]
[Rolled Insight(Novice). A small amount of experience has been added to the Skill as you already have it.]
'Mage Hand? Really?' He massaged his temples, already having a bad feeling about it, but he still checked it out.
[Mage Hand: Conjure a spectral, floating hand within 30 feet of you. You can control and manipulate the hand to your desire for 1 minute.]
'Ohhhh, freshening up the wolf wasn't enough. I also had to give it a massage! Why didn't I think of that?!' Frustrated was one way to describe John's current state. He'd died four times already, three of them caused by the stupid but very dangerous wolf.
'And Insight again? Really? I guess, I would know how the wolf will kill me just that much better.' John accepted his fate at that point and didn't even consider running from his spot. If there were other creatures like the wolf and bear in this forest, then what chance did he have of actually surviving? None at all. He was doomed, especially with what he had on hand.
"Ah, and here you are." John said, turning around to the sound of growling.
"Prepare yourself, for I will freshen you up and give you a massage!" If he was going to die, he could at least have some fun. Plus, he was already pretty delirious from experiencing his death four times already.
John cast his two spells, instinctively knowing how to use them. A gust of wind ruffled the wolf's grey fur while a spectral hand formed above it, giving a pat on its head. And the outcome of his actions? The ungrateful wolf pounced on him even faster this time, giving him a quick, and almost painless death. The bestial alarm clock woke him up once more, and the familiar screen floated in his vision as if taunting him.
'This is madness!' John was stuck in this forest, in this everlasting loop, with no way out of it. With a tired sigh, he looked over the selection of classes once more. Since he had already tested two magic ones, he figured he could continue with that. Maybe one would actually end up being helpful. Picking Sorcerer next, he let out another sigh.
[Arcane Spellcasting(Novice) added to Skill list.]
[Dancing Lights added to Spell list.]
[Persuasion added to Skill list.]
'That makes sense! Massages and freshening up the wolf wasn't enough. I have to play it a show of dancing lights while also trying to talk it out of attacking me!' John turned South and started running. 'Like that would ever work!'
The wolf was to the East, and the Bear was to the West. John had two more directions to check and hope there weren't any dangerous creatures awaiting him there. Now that he was paying a bit more attention while running, he realized how uncomfortable it was to run barefooted. He had to resist yelping and complaining every time he stepped on a rock or branch.
John didn't know for how long he had run, but he was starting huff and puff just as he saw a clearing in the distance. Knowing what lurked in this forest, he stopped behind a tree and carefully peeked out. His eyes scanned the clearing, from the smallest to the tallest grass, making sure there was nothing dangerous there.
'I guess not every place in this forest is a danger to my life.' John taught as he slowly walked out from behind the tree. He still kept his guard despite not seeing anything in the clearing, not that it would've changed much.
Step by step, John entered the clearing while his head swung left and right, jumping at the smallest of sounds. The swooshing of the wind alerted him, and he managed to lift his head, only to see a claw in front of his eyes. This was the last thing he remember before waking up by a bestial roar.
'So East, South, and West are no go zones. That leaves me with just North.' John dejectedly thought. He hoped that maybe North was safe and the location he was meant to go, but… the way things have been going, he had a feeling that wouldn't be the case. Looking at his class selection, he picked up Bard on a whim, hoping that there was something he could actually do with the Persuasion skill.
[Bardic Spellcasting(Novice) added to Skill list.]
[Vicious Mockery added to Spell list.]
[Intimidation added to Skill list.]
John was sure that the floating screens were mocking him at this point. It couldn't be more obvious, especially with the last spell he was given. How was that even a spell?!? Then again, it was his own fault for choosing Bard, what else did he expect to happen?
[Due to having four different Spellcasting skills, they have been combined to All-Spellcasting(Novice).]
"Huh? Something actually happened?" John asked out loud and checked over what this new skill meant for him.
[All-Spellcasting(Novice): You can learn and cast any non-divine spell up to the second level. +1 WIS, INT, and CHA per class level.]
'That's… actually useful.' A quick check to his status showed that his three stats had already received the bonus. He wasn't sure what those stats did for him, but higher was always better. An increase of his physical stats would've been more preferable, but this was still something.
John took off running towards the North afterward. He'd already spent enough time in his spot, and chances were the wolf was already after him. At least he could scout out the North and see if there was anything dangerous there.
On the way, John kept thinking of a way to get a similar skill for his physical stats. Combining a few Weapon Proficiencies seemed like the obvious answer, but that also meant dying at least a few more times, which was something he wished to avoid if possible. He was already starting to lose his mind, if he hadn't already lost it, and a few more deaths wouldn't do him well.
Soon enough, John heard something running after him. As he suspected, the wolf was already on his tracks. 'I spent too much time in my starting area.' John didn't even notice he was already starting to think of this as a game. He was nothing more than a game character that kept dying and respawning at the beginning area.
Adrenaline pumped inside his body as his legs sped up to their limit. John was aware he had no chance of outrunning the wolf, but he wanted to at least scout out the Northern area. He had to at least figure out if that was the safe location he was meant to go.
The wolf was gaining up on him fast, but just before it reached him, the beast stopped in its tracks. John ran a short distance before pausing as well. Turning back, he saw the wolf slowly backing away.
'It looks frightened as if it's fearful of something here.' John felt his heart stop beating. 'And that certainly isn't me.'
The ground shook as something large landed behind him. A hot gust of air assaulted his back from whatever godforsaken creature had just arrived. Turning around slowly, John was greeted to a razor-sharp maw with fire burning inside it.
"You have to be kidding me!" John yelled just before he was engulfed by a blazing inferno. Being burned alive was by far the worst death he had experienced so far. At least the other ones had been quick. This one lasted for at least a few seconds and was very, very painful.
If he had any doubt whether he was still on Earth or not, now that was completely gone. He was sure that he was definitely not on his home planet. Giant wolves, bears, and birds that were too fast for him to even track could maybe be explained by him never going out in the wilderness before. The floating screens and… magic could be explained by the berries he ate. Or maybe they weren't even berries but something else entirely. Or maybe George had even slipped something in his food without John noticing.
However, after witnessing a live and fire-breathing dragon with blood-red scales it finally dawned on him. He might very well be stuck in this dangerous forest in this everlasting loop, dying over and over again without hope for escape.
What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed escape when there were dangerous creatures that could kill him in a second anywhere he went? He was doomed and utterly fucked.
Despite that… despite the odds being stacked against him, John decided he will escape, one way or another. His newly acquired skill gave him a semblance of hope that maybe there was a chance. Maybe there was something he could do. Gathering a bunch of skills and combining them seemed like his only chance, as little as it was. Hell, he might even figure out a way to increase his level and… do something, he still wasn't sure what.
The moment the bestial roar woke him up again, John instantly focused on the floating screen. Without hesitation even for a second, he picked up Barbarian. Might as well select all the classes at least once, and he was sure he was going to get another try very soon.
[Weapon Proficiency – Sword(Novice)…]
[Perception(Novice)…]
'Why would the Barbarian class give me Perception? You know what? I'm not even gonna question it.' John could wait for his death there, but he decided to explore more. The safest location seemed to be West. Maybe he could give the bear a wide berth and avoid it entirely.
Soon he neared the river and made sure there were no suspicious boulders awaiting him there. After checking his surroundings, he jumped in the river, planning on swimming to the other side before the wolf reached him. Unfortunately for him, the creatures in the water were just as dangerous as those in the forest. Something large bit him on the leg and pulled him down, followed by even more bits, and he was soon surrounded by large fishes that made piranhas look harmless. Being burned alive looked almost painless compared to what he experienced in the river.
'Never mind, the West is just as dangerous. Is the wolf truly the least harmless beast in this forest?' What John believed to be a true demon seemed like the weakest creature in his surroundings. That almost discouraged him, but he shook his head and just selected his last class.
[Martial Arts(Novice)…]
[Stealth(Novice)…]
'A monk… with a Stealth skill? What kind of a monk is that?' The floating screens were definitely mocking him. Right?
John wanted to explore more, hoping that maybe he would find a safe location, but he just couldn't decide which way to go. Before he could even make a decision, he heard the familiar growl from his right. With a tired sigh, he accepted his fate as the wolf pounced him once again.
Waking up for the nth time, John picked fighter as soon as he opened his eyes. He had to be quick if he wanted to explore even more of his surroundings.
[Weapon Proficiency – Spear(Novice)…]
[Animal Handling(Novice)…]
[Due to having five different Weapon Proficiencies, they have been combined to All-Weapon Proficiency(Novice).]
John theory proved to be correct, but his eyes were focused on the other skill he was awarded, Animal Handling.
'Maybe taming the wolf is my way out of this?'