My day was filled with more murder of monsters. With five further dead salamanders I only needed about 230 more XP to reach level 5. After reaching level 5, I had a lot of killing to do to reach level 10. Or use several of the special methods to get XP: Quests, missions, dungeons, field bosses or hidden missions. Some were more dangerous and rewarding than others. And some were easier to find or acquire through open methods while field bosses or hidden missions were hard to even spot and often even harder to finish.
After reaching level 5, I would start accepting quests regarding extermination of monsters and cash in the rewards, extra XP and money for selling the corpses, profiting thrice. Before level 5, one could only do miscellaneous tasks or hope to kill rabbits which would bring only a meager revenue. The few bronze coins and meager amount of XP weren't worth the effort. One could only accept one quest until reaching level 5.
Before I could accept up to 6 quests simultaneously. But I also had to deal with them in the set time window, or I would face penalties or could even lose one of the quest-slots if I had three unfinished quests after their time window passed.
Shouldering the already cleaned flat side of my sword, I scratched by butt with another one of my hands, while wiping a few bloodstains from my shield. Letting them act simultaneously was a bother at first, but slowly, I could use them 'handier' than ever, - pun intended.
After a small break, I walked further and stopped immediately after spotting a monster: It was a comically thick snake about ten meters in length and had a diameter larger than my neck. At some points of its body, the diameter was as large as my head. Maybe it was digesting its latest victims at this part of their body.
No matter what, this monster was as strong as two salamanders at level 5 even at level 1! And it was even stronger with each added level. Some were even elites showing special traits like poison, acid spitting or even a choking skill. [Some real perverts tried to take them as pets to satisfy their choking kink. If my memory serves me right, one of them ended up as the owner of a renowned snake farm selling constrictors. Even the local nobility loved the snakes although they could only be used on players or if a healer capable of revival was nearby.]
But back to my snake. I had no intention of fighting such a beast. If it could kill salamanders with ease and munch on their scaly body like a jelly, it was time for me to run quietly as fast as I could. My luck must be on overdrive, so that I encountered a monster like this in the salamander territory. If I reported this sighting to the adventurer's guilt, I could earn up to a silver, regarding the snake. If it was a mutant, they maybe would even pay me in gold.
But my current goal was to escape the snake's detection and flee while evading danger.
"Why aren't you attacking it?" Asked someone to my left.
Startled, I swung my sword in the direction of the voice. Although I didn't hit the talker, my sword hit resistance in the form of a tree. And since I grew my strength, the velocity and impact caused a clean cut straight through the wood. With a befuddled expression, I could just watch the tree hit the ground. The resounding, thunderous sound alerted almost any enemy in close distance. Including a certain snake I was sneaking away from.
Stepping over the cut tree trunk, Firion waved at me happily.
Oh gods, no.
Well...what should I say?
Children are a menace? They can kill all fun, including me by throwing me in an early grave they dug? One should avoid them harder than any plague and evade them further than any boss?
Maybe all of it, if I would find some time after slitted reptilian eyes spotted me and I somehow survived. The simple gaze alone gave me negative status effects!
[Vast strangler lvl. 2 looked at you. Your heart rate quickens in fear.
- 10% accuracy due to slight paranoia limiting your vision.]
What a treat. I already wanted to cry and beg the monster to spare my life and take this kid instead.
"Why did you attack this innocent tree? Was it part of your plan?" Firion inquired. My grip around the sword tightened. Whatever, I just kill him now and get at least the satisfaction of brutally killing this twerp.
"What are you fighting against by the way?" The annoying brat asked, maybe after noticing me trembling in anger.
"The urge to make snake food out of you."
"But why though?"
"Because strangling you will leave barely any evidence compared to gutting you."
"Uhm...well, that's a good plan. Can I...uh...help you with something?"
"Shut your trap, or you can test for me how discovering a new kin-...a new hobby will feel." I said, quickly correcting myself. Since he was a child, I could be getting into a lot of trouble if I used foul language towards him. I didn't want to find out which charges one could get by corrupting a kid.
But better safe than sorry.
"Which new hobby?" Firion wanted to know, already seeming a bit excited at the new possibility.
"Snake hugging."
"That sounds dope!"
"Tell me again, after she hugged you to death by either smashing your body or restricting your airways. Enjoy! (Are you a part of the scaly gang or a masochist?)" I made an inviting gesture in the direction of the snake which rose slowly, its fierce gaze never leaving the two of us.
It was time to run!
"Or not." he sheepishly scratched his head."But aren't you going to fight it?"
"Why would I? Because someone couldn't shut the fuck up while running trough a monster-infested hunting ground!"
"What an amateur." he said, having the gall to sound outraged. I stared at him intently. He stared back with a similar intensity.
"Indeed, what a bumbling fool." I paused, baiting and waiting for his response. As no answer followed, I continued: "Players like those will forever use cheap tricks and wouldn't even win against the likes of me, even if I only used my left foot to defeat them."
Instead of reacting to what I said, Firion smiled angelic and pointed to the right.
"Wooow, show me, big brother, by defeating this snake!"
O shit. O shiiiiiiit! I forgot I needed to still run away as my anger about the brat got the best of me!
"Uhm...maybe next time?" I winked, turned and started sprinting in the direction towards the nearest teleportation circle.