The sun is setting. It drops at a steady pace behind the village. The shadows grow longer as time passes. Nox stands in front of a Goblin horde. The earlier attack has him bleeding from his ears and nose. He struggles to maintain his posture.
Images of his family he hasn't seen for a while flash before him.
They haven't been that close at the time he was alive in his previous world, but he still can't help it. He misses them.
Living alone in a hostile world, facing against Goblins for the first time, has him reminiscing. Things he could have said or actions he could've taken to smooth things over.
When he was ten, his biological parents died in a car accident when a drunk driver crashed into them. As the sole survivor, the investigator of the crash pitied him and took him in. Days became weeks, turned into months, and then years. The young man stayed with them.
They raised and protected him. Provided a roof over his head, food, and clothes. They helped him study and took an active role in nurturing him. He also has a little sister. She was one or two years old back then.
The petty fights and arguments they had over the years don't even cross his mind. He only remembers the unconditional love he's been receiving instead. Not even once did they make him feel unwanted.
The weight pressing on his chest intensifies.
His breathing fastens.
His eyes are about to water when the growling surrounding him knocks him back to his current reality.
Yellow eyes and razor-sharp teeth about to tear him to pieces is the sight in front of him.
The creatures in front of him threaten his chance of returning home. That's the only thought that energizes him and keeps him on his feet. He's unwilling to admit defeat before grasping the chance. Even if there are times like this, that it seems unattainable.
The resolution builds up in his gut, swelling in his body. The purple eyes have a dim light in them, getting brighter by the minute. He clenches his fist and with a swift motion; waves his hand, flicking the blood to the ground, painting it red.
Determination imbues with his voice.
"STOOop"
In an instant, the familiar female voice echoes in his head.
{Loading…}
[Negative Karma activated]
The Goblins halt their advancement at that exact moment.
Nox stands still, unable to believe his eyes and his luck.
The green-skinned creatures stand still, staring at the young man.
Nox utters in a soft voice, almost whispering. "What's happening?"
['Your determination to survive activated the effects of Negative Karma']
"Negative Karma has such power?"
['It's not something you can sustain at your level, so give your commands while there's still time']
The young man nods and commands. "Leave this place and don't come back until I call you"
Obeying him, the Goblins indeed turn around and march in the opposite direction.
{Loading…}
[/Emergency Quest\]
Protect the Village from the approaching horde?!
Status: Completed
Gained 100 EXP
Gained 100 Gold Coins
[/Emergency Quest\]
{Loading…}
[Exp distributed]
[Level 3 reached]
[Stats upgraded]
[Beastiary Unlocked]
{Loading…}
[Goblins available]
A puzzling expression shadows his normal temperament. He calls out loud. "Beastiary?"
Unknowingly he summons the book, which emerges through a cloud of purple-black smoke and floats in front of him. It's a thick book with a leather cover and a thread of the same material binding it. The title looks like it's burned to the leathery cover, leaving behind a rough texture.
"A book?"
['The Beastiary is a book containing all the beasts. When you come into contact with one, it will register and unlock said creature']
With both hands on the floating book, Nox opens it and goes through the blurry pages of grey coloring, until he finds the one for Goblins, which in contrast to the rest, is in color.
An image of a Goblin catches the young man's eyes to the top left of the page. Next to it is the title of the page. There's an introduction and general knowledge of the creature.
His curiosity skyrockets when he sees a plus (+) button-like sign at the bottom of the page. He points at it. "What's this?"
['When your communication and bond with the creatures becomes stronger, you gain points you can later use and level up that race']
On the page there is information Nox can interact with like; Call, appointing a leader, patrolling, guarding, and even using them as a workforce.
After reading the page, he closes the book, which later vanishes in the same smoke.
{Loading…}
[Knowledge gained]
[5 Exp distributed]
It's already dusk when Nox returns to the village. As soon as he finds a porch, fatigue takes over, making him fall on the spot and sleep.
The humidity rises during the night, drenching his face and clothes. His open wounds accept the salty sweat causing him an intense burning sensation, which wakes him up moments later.
Grunting, he gets up uses his shirt as an instant refreshing tool. He grabs it by the buttons and with rapid motions fans his chest and belly.
He realizes fast enough that this method is not a solution.
Nox lets out a sigh and lies on his back with his shirt unbuttoned and his arms wide open, far from the rest of his body.
He squirms around a lot, trying to find a suitable posture without succeeding.
Unable to get a good night's sleep, he gets up and walks in the prairie's direction, where there's fresh running water.
A few hours pass when Nox reaches the prairie.
He ties the shirt around his waist and limping he reaches the streams.
The silver moonlight envelops the ever-expanding land before him.
The moment he lays eyes on the running water, he jumps in and submerges himself.
With cautious motions, he cleans his wounds and the dry blood.
The refreshing cool water fuses with sudden gusts, blowing in the young man's direction, lowering his temperature further.
After soothing his thirst and treating his fatigued body, he recuperates from an exhausting day. Nox sits by the calming, murmuring water.
Without him noticing, gravity takes over, landing him on his back. His eyelids flatter while he attempts to stay awake. He dozes off as soon as his muscles relax.
A week passes and Nox goes about his daily life at the prairie where there's food and water.
Even when the sun gets too hot, he jumps in the running water to cool himself.
Every once in a while he returns to the Abandoned Village and explores a house that shows a black spot on the map.
According to Grimmy, his MP will regenerate after some time passes, so in case he may need it, he sporadically visits the buildings. He doesn't mind the exercise going back and forth as long as he gets the exploration bonus chest at the end.
He considers himself lucky for not getting another Emergency Quest during this time. It's too much work and too dangerous at the moment.
From an earlier conversation with Grimmy, he knows that the glistening black stones in the prairie are weakening during the night since their source of energy is light.
Before accepting the next quest, he explores every nook and cranny of the dry valley, leaving nothing behind. He familiarizes himself with it.
It's almost noon, and Nox takes a break. "Status"
==Status==
● Profile | Grimoire | ! Inventory |
Name: Nox | Race: Demi-human | SYSTEM: GRIMMY
Level 3
Experience required for the next level: 45/100
VITALITY (?)
STAMINA: 92/100 (!) | HUNGER: 85/100 | THIRST: 97/100 |
HP: 580/600
MP:18/20
ATK: 3
DEF: 3
SPD: 3
INT: 60
KARMA: 0/0/0 (?)
Unused Passive Points: 6/6
Unused Beastiary Points: 1/1
Daily Life
Fishing: Lvl 5
Digging: Lvl 3
Building Fire: Lvl 4
==Status==
Nox is brimming with joy after checking the transparent status screen.
He's been waiting for a week now, and nothing is happening. He makes sure no one will interrupt him this time around or attack him.
Feeling more confident than ever, he waits until nightfall to make his move.
With the light of the land fading out, the young man walks towards the next quest mark.
The blue translucent screen pops up in front of him.
[/Quest\]
Duration: 30 minutes
Activate the magic formation to end the drought?!
Hint: They selflessly share a borrowed light
Rewards: 50 EXP
Rewards: Tattered Cloak (0/3)
Do you accept?
Yes| |No|
[/Quest\]
Nox without a second thought, taps |Yes|. The screen changes colors to green confirming his choice.
(29:59)
The young man walks around, confirming the positions of the black stones with the smooth surface.
The sudden riddle surprises him and ponders over it for a while, but then the realization of the situation hits him. He knows nothing about magic or what a formation is.
His confidence from earlier diminishes every passing second.
Twenty minutes later, and anxiousness causes him to sweat. He replays the words of the hint in his mind over and over.
He steps back and takes a deep breath to calm his nerves and clear his head. He looks up, engraving in his heart the beauty of the sparkling stars that look like silver speckles on a canvas.
(08:26)
"That's it!"