Erik took a seat by the train window to watch the view outside. The journey reminded him of his own path forward.
He noticed how the green farms and busy city looked different from each other, and the bustling cityscape never failed to amaze him, visible with absolute clarity even at a distance.
After getting off at the northern station, Erik walked to Mister Fox's farm, passing by the vast wheat fields. Workers were busy with their tasks, not noticing him walk by.
Walking on the dusty road, Erik thought about the changes in his life—he had to go to military school even though he didn't want to. He had to work during summer break before starting school and deal with other challenges coming up.
Still, he was sure the system would help make things better.
Near the end of the dirt path, Erik heard something strange on his right. He stopped and looked around, but couldn't tell where the sound came from.
"Is anybody here?"
There was no reply.
"Hello?"
[WARNING. HOSTILE DETECTED.]
A thaid came out of the field.
"Fuck!" Erik shouted once he saw the creature; he knew what it was since they had talked about it in school. It was a thaid named Bush Hedgehog.
—NEW QUEST—
Title: Field Survival (Emergency Quest)
Objective: Kill the Thaid.
Rewards:
50 DNA Points, 150 Experience Points
Bonus Objectives:
Defeat the Thaid: Additional 100 Experience Points
Avoid getting hit by spikes: 100 Experience Points
Use the environment creatively: 100 Experience Points
Special Reward: If all objectives are completed, gain +1 point in all stats.
"NOT AGAIN!"
The beast approached him, and Erik's heart pounded inside his chest like a sledgehammer. However, he was stronger than he had been in the past. Maybe he could make it.
"Analysis."
Then the usual window appeared before his eyes.
—[Analysis]—
Species: Bush hedgehog.
Brain crystal power: Venomous mana spikes.
-Dimension: Approximately 70 centimeters long and 80 centimeters tall.
-Description: The beast has a feline face and the body of a hedgehog. The host is advised not to be hit by the creature's spikes.
-Power Level: 43
Approximate Strength: 13
Approximate Intelligence: 3
Approximate Dexterity: 11
Approximate Energy: 127
—[End]—
Erik carefully analyzed the beast's status. The creature wasn't significantly stronger than him. The only difference between them playing in Erik's favor was its intelligence. Erik was smarter than it, and maybe he could take advantage of that.
However, the creature's energy levels were a hundred times higher than his. Its brain crystal power was dangerous already, as it was, but with all that mana, there was no way for Erik to not die if he got hit by the quills.
According to what he knew about thaids this was a bush hedgehog. How the hell that thing was here, though, was a mystery.
Erik had to devise a solution to escape or to kill the creature.
The problem was that he didn't have seeds to use, as he did last time.
However, he had one power at his disposal—the sharpening one.
Erik took off, sprinting as fast as his legs could go.
However, the creature matched his strength and speed, making escape hard.
< Fuck… Fuck… Fuck… Fuck… Fuck… Fuck…>
Erik had no experience fighting, and he had been lucky when he killed the Densoph.
So he did.
"HELP ME!"
Silence.
"HELP!"
But there was no one in sight.
Erik's mind raced, seeking a solution as the beast closed in on him.
He entered the wheat field.
Then a daring idea sparked in his mind.
"It's do or die..."
Summoning every ounce of his mana, Erik channeled mana from his brain crystal, directing it to his hands.
He pushed it all into a single wheat stalk, leaving him feeling drained and almost devoid of energy.
He then commanded it to turn razor sharp. The mana thinned, and he turned to face the oncoming beast.
[Sub goal completed. 100 Experience Points awarded.]
Erik and the monster ran at each other, getting closer and closer until they were face to face.
Erik swung the sharpened wheat stalk at the beast's neck. The plant was about a meter and a half long, which kept him safe from the creature's spikes.
The attack worked. The creature was too stupid to try to defend itself or avoid the strike. It cut through the creature's spikes and made a deep cut in its neck.
But the wheat stalk was too flexible. It couldn't cut all the way through to take off the beast's head.
Erik's mana wasn't enough to get the stalk sharp enough to deliver a lethal blow in those conditions.
Had he wielded a proper weapon, the outcome would have been different.
The beast shrieked in agony and jumped back, almost hitting Erik with its spike.
With its spiky points aimed forward, the Bush Hedgehog channeled mana into the spikes. Venom started dripping.
The wounded creature kept fighting despite heavy blood loss.
It charged forward, but Erik swung the sharpened wheat stalk and cut the quills off.
With no combat training, Erik could only rely on his survival instincts.
He kept swinging the stalk to hold off the beast, knowing its injury would soon wear it down because of the blood loss.
The thaid turned its back toward Erik before retreating into the wheat field it came from.
[Sub goal completed. 100 Experience Points awarded.]
Erik now had to choose: he could either let the thaid escape and complete the quest or chase it. He would get much more experience if he killed the creature.
He kept thinking about it. In the end, he made his decision.
He would chase and kill the injured creature. He was tired of being seen as weak by the others and wanted to prove he could defend himself. Not only that, but all that experience would really make him stronger.
So, he chose to do something he deemed impossible two weeks prior. He ran after the beast through the wheat field, ready to face his challenge. With each step, he felt himself growing stronger and more confident.