[Author Notes]: It seems I got the website to work, but don't be optimistic that I will be able to access it all the time. Uploads will most likely go to Wattpad.
I sat down, my breath coming in ragged gasps, hands trembling as all the emotions hit me at once. I needed a break! But time is of the essence. My chest was hemorrhaging blood like a waterfall, and the pain was pulling me closer and closer to shock.
"I'm going to die," I whispered, reminding myself of the grim fate that awaited if I didn't act quickly.
My mind was shattered, my body broken, yet I struggled with every fiber of my will to push forward. Ignoring the overwhelming pain, I quickly accessed the shop and purchased a healing potion. The crimson liquid, brimming with vitality, spread its miraculous effects the moment I drank it.
Warmth radiated from my core as the potion coursed through my veins, healing from within. My heart steadied, the bleeding in my chest stopped, and my burning lungs eased. Muscles and ligaments knitted back together, strength returning as the potion mended torn fibers and fractured bones.
Finally, the gaping wound on my chest closed, the skin seamlessly pulling together as if stitched by an invisible hand. The pain faded, replaced by a profound sense of relief and renewal. The sensation was almost addictive, I wanted more. Still, urges cannot destroy my rationale. Drinking the potion without a wound would be wasteful, and there's a cooldown just like in the game.
I rush into my room, packing up all the necessities needed for my escape from the city. Cops are most likely on their way; I highly doubt that the neighbors didn't call them after hearing all those screams of agony.
With enough clothes, food, water, and some survival tools hastily packed, I made my way down the stairs, sprinting towards the door. Just before I step on the last step of the stairs a quest pops up.
[Quest: Shrouded Origin]
Description:
In shadows deep, where secrets dwell,
The blades are drawn, yet they do not fell.
A hidden truth they seek to find,
A power unknown, within you confined.
Not death they crave, but what you hold,
To bend your will, to shape and mold.
A friend turned foe in silence waits,
His motives dark, entwined with fate.
The Hand moves swift, in darkness veiled,
Witnessing truths that Richard's revealed.
The game of shadows now unfolds,
With secrets deep and stories untold.
Reward: 5 Gold Coins.
I didn't even have time to read the message before a wire tightened around my neck. Its razor-sharp edge cut into my throat, and I felt blood and air quickly escaping my brain. Death was imminent if I didn't act fast. Like lightning, my mind opened the merchant shop, and I bought a bunch of shuriken. Without missing a beat, I used them to sever the wire constricting my neck. Blood trickled from the wound, flowing down like a waterfall. My strength was fading, and I could barely stand. I needed a healing potion—fast.
Despite this, I made sure to throw two shurikens at the ninja above, leaving a gaping hole in his eye and a deep slice on his neck. The kill was surprisingly easy; he never expected me to be so unhesitant in my throw, especially after sustaining such a severe injury.
I quickly bought the potion after confirming my kill and summoned it to drink. However, before I could take a sip, an assassin from the corner sliced at my arm, forcing me to dodge. Time was running out, and I was edging closer to death, but I didn't panic for a single moment. I remained calm, dodging their attacks while methodically buying materials to craft a station and arming myself with a weapon.
Everything was happening in the span of a second, yet it felt like an eternity. My head burned from the strain of multitasking, but finally, I managed to summon the platinum broadsword. Just when I thought I was in the clear, two more ninjas appeared, wielding their ninjatō.
I swung my blade with precision and ferocity, fending off all three assassins. But no matter how skilled I was, fighting three enemies at once is nearly impossible when your strength is fading with every passing moment.
As death loomed closer, I made a desperate move—I drank the healing potion, even if it might cost me my life. But then something strange happened: I managed to do it without dying. It struck me as odd, even as I felt life returning to my body. Their attacks, I realized, were never meant to kill me. They were putting on a show, making me feel like death was imminent, but stopping just short. They wanted me to drink the healing potion, fully aware of its effects.
This realization raised even more questions. If they knew about the potion's power, it must mean they were either present when Adam died or were somehow involved in his death.
I was gravely wounded, with barely any strength left—a perfect opportunity to end me once and for all. Yet they didn't. Instead, they waited for me to drink the healing potion before continuing with their assault. As if they were confirming something, assessing my value.
Their goal was the healing potion. They wanted it for themselves and needed to confirm if I had more. After all, no matter how miraculous the potion is, it's useless if there's only one. They were trying to determine if I possessed a supply.
The sudden appearance of another ninja from the shadows behind the three enemies in front of me, wielding a blowpipe and ready to shoot a tranquilizer dart in my direction, was further proof that they had the intention of capturing me from the beginning.
Firing projectiles toward your target while your allies are in the line of fire might seem foolish. But these assassins were different. Unlike common kidnappers, they moved with perfect coordination.
As soon as the blowpipe ninja made a whistle-like sound, the three in front of me shifted positions, creating a clear path for the dart. This tactic might have worked if I hadn't been cautious of his movements. Even with three killers aiming for my life, my attention was on the back line the whole time, allowing me to react faster than the ninjas themselves.
I quickly anticipated the dart's trajectory and moved my blade to deflect it. However, this maneuver left me exposed, and a ninja on my right took advantage, slashing my arm and leaving a deep gash. Wounded and losing strength in my dominant arm, I knew I couldn't afford to take this lightly. The ninja exploited my momentary vulnerability, but in doing so, he also exposed himself. With a swift thrust, my platinum broadsword pierced through his chest, ending his life instantly.
The death of their comrade didn't elicit any response. Cold and indifferent, they seized the opportunity before them, slashing at me with the intent to cripple my limbs and limit my movement.
Unbeknownst to them, I hadn't just crafted a sword during the fight—I had also made a full set of tungsten armor, since I didn't have the funds for a platinum set.
Just as the blade was about to sever both of my arms, the armor materialized, stopping their blades in their tracks and throwing them off balance from the recoil.
Having anticipated this, I immediately slashed at the nearest ninja, cleanly severing his head from his body. Blood sprayed out like a fountain, blinding both the remaining ninja and myself. Yet this didn't deter us. Without hesitation, we swung our swords, clashing against each other with a sharp, resounding clang that echoed across the room, igniting sparks in the dim light.
Realizing his darts couldn't penetrate the armor shielding my body, the blowpipe ninja entered the fray, hoping to assist his ally. I delayed his advance with a shuriken from my left hand. As his companion moved to block my strike, I headbutted him. The force of the tungsten helmet split his skin, leaving a gaping wound. I didn't hesitate—when the ninja reeled from the impact, I swiftly finished him off. His head was flying, spraying a trail of blood.
With three down, the last ninja finally reached me. By then, his fate was sealed. I shoved his friend's corpse toward him, causing his blade to drive deep, defiling it. Then, I drove my fist forward with all my strength, crushing his skull. Blood burst from his ears and eyes. The trauma left him disoriented, giving me the perfect opening to deliver a final, decisive decapitation.
The battle left me out of breath, but I pressed on, grabbing the bags filled with necessities. As I made my way out, I also crafted a platinum bow and some arrows, expanding my arsenal.
Having faced an attempted kidnapping, I was now on high alert for any further attacks. I didn't stop checking my surroundings for a moment as I made my way to the street, calling a cab in the dead of night. Fortunately, one arrived quickly.
Even after getting into the car, I remained vigilant, watching every vehicle on the street. The cab driver himself wasn't exempt from my scrutiny.
After reading the mission quest, I understood the powerful organization I was up against. The idea of an assassin disguised as a cab driver wasn't far-fetched. If the cab driver was indeed an assassin, I planned to force his hand by requesting that he drive me out of the city using the remaining money I had. Once we were outside the city, a regular driver wouldn't do anything suspicious, but an assassin would be forced to act, especially when are heading outside his organization's territory. Regardless of the outcome, I was prepared to either kill or incapacitate the driver, take his vehicle, and head toward a forest where I could hide and establish my base of operations.
I knew knocking out and robbing an innocent man would be cruel, but my survival comes first. I'm no hero of virtue—I am a hero built from necessity, willing to kill the greater evil and make sacrifices, whether they involve allies or enemies. The world isn't a kind place, and I can't afford to be kind in return. Every choice I make is a step towards staying alive, no matter how dark the path may seem.
The moment of truth arrives. We are distant away from New York City. Everywhere you look are trees, expanding to the horizon. It was calming, and refreshing, a different scenery from the bustling city. My new home for a while.
That being said, the brief moment of tranquility couldn't overshadow the looming aggression ahead. It is either the cab driver moving first or me. So far under my scrutinizing gaze nothing suspicious has occurred. However, I will not discount yet the possibility of him being a ninja.
Looking out the window and pretending to be in desperate need of a bathroom break, I said, "Hey, can you pull over? Nature's call."
The driver looks at the rearview mirror, responding, "Okay."
I step outside the cab feeling the wind brush my skin. It was shivering, but soothing. Clearing my mind of all distractions, and the action to come.
Naturally I walked a little bit into the forest making sure the path leading to me had some obstacle. I pretended to take a leak, while remaining alert to all sounds including ones hard to notice.
During the time fighting the ninjas, I realized one fatal flaw: while their movements were nearly silent, they relied heavily on their specialized shoes and precise steps to achieve this. Their footwear cushioned their steps, and they placed their feet down with careful control, rolling from the outside edge to the inside to muffle any sound. But that kind of movement required absolute precision and balance. Once you disrupted their rhythm or forced them to move quickly, they couldn't maintain that perfect silence.
It would be hard for a ninja to maintain that level of quietness when there are hazards like trees, rocks, and branches that could betray his presence. How could he possibly remain completely silent when the forest floor itself is an obstacle? As soon as I hear anything out of place, I will strike.
My concentration peaked; senses heightened to their maximum. Then, there was a noise, but not the one I expected—the sound of the driver opening his door. If he were an assassin, this would be a foolish move, or perhaps a calculated trick to exploit my wary state of mind. Either way, both possibilities would end with the assassin facing death.
Yet, I couldn't discount the chance that he was just an ordinary driver. This was further suggested by the fact that he shouted, "What's taking so long?" It could be a diversion, a ploy to lower my guard. Still, I would not act rashly. I decided to stay idle, waiting for him to come closer. Once he ventured toward me, whether he was an assassin or just a normal man, I would incapacitate him either way.
"What are you doing out there? We don't have all day!" the driver shouted, irritation lacing his voice.
I didn't respond, remaining hidden behind a bush. A normal person's patience would wear thin eventually, and he would either drive away or come into the forest to get what he was owed. Most likely, he would choose the latter, venturing into the woods for the money I hadn't paid, perhaps holding a gun for self-protection.
It seems he chose to get his money. I heard him rustling through the leaves, making a lot of noise. At that moment, I realized he was just an ordinary man trying to make a living. A pang of guilt began to build within me, but it quickly faded as I reminded myself that my survival comes first. No matter how much wrong I commit, I must live.
Nevertheless, I didn't let my guard down for even a second. I am only human, and mistakes can be made, conclusions could be wrong. As soon as he got close enough to be knocked out instantly, I made my move, like a lurking tiger pouncing on its prey. I lunged at the man, my fist connecting with his jaw. Everything happened so fast that the untrained driver didn't even have a moment to process what had happened.
I caught his body before it hit the ground, quickly snatching the car keys from his pocket. Once I had what I needed, I carefully laid him down near the road, where someone with a good heart might find him and help. I also called 911, just in case. I understood that this might give them leads in my direction, but it didn't matter. With or without that call, an organization like The Hand would still find me. It's only a matter of time for them.
I made sure to remove all the technology within the car that could track me down. First, I disconnected the GPS navigation system, carefully pulling out the wires and dismantling the device to ensure it couldn't transmit my location. I moved on to the telematics system, unplugging it from the car's OBD-II port to cut off any external monitoring. Next, I disabled the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi features by disconnecting the battery terminals and removing any modules connected to the car's network. I then found a dashcam mounted on the windshield and yanked it off, making sure it couldn't record or transmit footage. Finally, I checked for any RFID tags or toll transponders, tossing them out the window to avoid being tracked at toll stations. Satisfied that I had removed every possible means of surveillance, I took a deep breath and continued with my plan.
Starting the car engine, I accelerated quickly, pushing well beyond the speed limit. It seems the Terrarian Mind grants me more than just mastery over weaponry. My ability to identify most of the car's tracking components is proof of this. It's interesting that the Terrarian possesses such knowledge, but considering his adventures involve technology far beyond Earth's, it makes sense.
On that topic, I've been speculating for a while now that all of the Terrarian's skills—whether crafting, engineering, building, or even mastery over every vehicle—have been transferred to me. I don't consciously remember any of them, but when the situation calls for it, I just know what to do.
This sets a whole new task ahead: discovering all that the Terrarian knows. With a base project coming up, I guess architecture will be the next skill I put to the test.
The base won't be grand—currently, I have about 12 gold coins, an insignificant amount for building the base of my dreams. Still, the funding is enough for a decent setup. My vision is to have a cozy cabin on the surface, with a secret base hidden below. Most of the money will go into funding the secret base, while the cabin will require less investment since I can use the trees around me, chopping them down for building materials.
The location I chose for my base was a random forest. Randomness is key to obscurity—too much planning could create a trail leading straight to me. So, I drove wherever the roads took me until I was satisfied with the distance and there were no people on the road anymore.
Driving through the night until morning was exhausting, and every moment, I felt the pull of sleep. But determination pushed me to keep going, driving far beyond my limits. When I finally reached my destination, I carefully searched for a path wide enough for the car to pass through. It was a slow and cautious process, but I eventually found one and navigated through the maze of trees, going deep enough that no one on the road would be able to spot it. Once I parked the car, I continued my journey deeper into the forest.
Thankfully, it was morning. Traveling through the forest at night would have been disorienting, especially without a compass, which I hadn't been able to bring due to the circumstances. To ensure I knew where I was going, I stayed near the car for a while, carving several stones to point toward its direction. Additionally, I decided to move in a single direction to avoid confusing myself and getting lost.
Surprisingly, the trek through the forest was easier than I expected. The perk continues to surprise every time, without knowing it I become experienced in traversing rough terrain. I moved through the dense underbrush and uneven ground with the ease of someone who had done this a thousand times before. It made sense—after all, in the game, the Terrarian could walk and survive in some of the harshest environments imaginable: tundra, jungle, underworld, cavern, desert, and ocean.
I walked for hours at a steady pace of about 6 kilometers per hour until I reached a river. Relieved, I stopped to rest, hoping for a well-deserved break. But just as I settled down, my stomach began to growl. I ate a small snack from my food supply before turning my attention to the river, assessing whether it could become my food source.
Fortunately, there were fish in the river. I took out my platinum bow and aimed at one of the big ones. I had never shot a bow and arrow before, but as I gripped the bow and draw the arrow, everything felt natural. My eyes stared at the water with intense concentration. The movement of the fish became predictable; whichever direction they moved, my arm adjusted accordingly, anticipating their path. I accounted for the travel time of the arrow, ensuring my aim was not dead-on but slightly ahead, allowing for the fish's movement. I also considered the wind direction; it was currently blowing softly southward, so my adjustment would slightly angle to the left to compensate for the wind's push on the arrow's flight.
As I held my breath to steady my aim, I remembered another crucial factor—refraction. The water bends light, making the fish appear slightly higher than its actual position. I adjusted my aim slightly below the fish's visible form, aligning the arrow to pierce the true location beneath the surface. My fingers released the string with a smooth, practiced motion, the arrow slicing through the air. It hit the water with a faint splash and, a moment later, struck the fish. The force and accuracy of the shot drove the arrow cleanly through, and I watched as the fish thrashed briefly before falling still, the arrow pinning it just beneath the surface.
My heart pounded with the thrill of the perfect shot, the combination of instinct and the Terrarian Mind perk guiding me. I had successfully hunted my first meal, and with a sense of satisfaction.
I was about to wade into the river, but a sense of curiosity struck me. I wanted to test the true limits of my skill—could I move and shoot at the same time with pinpoint accuracy? The answer was both yes and no. As I dashed around, shooting at the fish, my pupils dilated, enhancing my focus even further.
I realized that adjusting for both my movement and the fish's, along with every other factor, was too much for my normal level of concentration. The perk granted me the ability to force adrenaline, achieving a heightened focus, but this required a lot of energy. The first few shots were accurate, but after that, the symptoms began to appear: disorientation, loss of focus, and a massive headache. It seems that achieving great mobility while firing with pinpoint accuracy takes too much of a toll on my body.
This experiment also enlightened me to the fact that I haven't yet used the combat aspect of the perk to its fullest potential. In all the close-quarters fights I've been in, I haven't pushed its limits beyond the obvious. The bow and arrow only triggered an adrenaline surge when I began moving and shooting with pinpoint accuracy. This suggests that if I think beyond the typical boundaries of close-quarters combat, I might tap into a mastery that surpasses what I've demonstrated so far.
But for now, future progression aside, I need to focus on a more immediate need—enjoying some delicious cooked fish using the cooking pot I just made. It cost me around 30 silver coins, something I could have done for free by starting a simple fire. However, I'm curious whether eating food cooked by the system grants any buffs.
In Terraria, eating a cooked fish grants the "Well Fed" buff, providing a minor improvement to all stats. I don't remember the exact benefits since, during my time playing Terraria, I rarely relied on food buffs, preferring potions and stations instead.
This thought struck me, not just because of the fish but also my drive to find quick ways to gain more power. Right now, the best I can do is aim to make a full set of platinum armor and create more weapons. Unlike in Terraria, where opportunities to grow are plentiful, the system here offers fewer chances for power-ups. That's why a buff might be exactly what I need. In the game, buffs might have seemed minor, but in real life, any enhancement to my abilities could make a massive difference.
I ate the cooked fish, and to my excitement, it did grant a buff. The icon for "Well Fed" appeared before me, hovering in the air. With a touch of my finger, a panel opened, displaying the details of the buff.
[Buff]: Well Fed
Description: Minor improvement to all stats.
Details:
+2 defense
+2% critical hit chance
+5% melee and mining speed
+5% damage
+0.5 minion knockback
+20% movement speed
Durations: 8 minutes
Looking at the details, I begin assessing the points one by one to gauge the difference the buff made. To test my increased defense, I decided to use the good old-fashioned method—punching. My test dummy is the sturdy tree right in front of me. There won't be precise measurements of the increase since there isn't a control for comparison, but that's not what I need. I'm not looking for exact numbers; I'm looking to understand my new limit. With each punch, I feel less impact traveling through my knuckles and up my arm, a clear sign that my defense has improved. I push harder, feeling the bark give way slightly under my blows. My hands remain steady, barely bruised. It's clear I can take more punishment now than I could before.
After defense I test the melee speed, and sure enough my arms feel lighter. Unlike defense where it was hard to feel. I understand quite well my own punch speed, due to the unnatural body control given by the perk.
As for damage, looking at the damage done by my barrage of punches to the tree. I can tell quite well my punches have more impact.
Now all that's left is the movement speed, and to test that I just run. God knows how far I went; all I know it feels amazing. I felt so much lighter, as if out of nowhere the weight dragging behind me just suddenly disappeared. Free like a bird, I dash along the river stream. Enjoying the fresh wind brushing my body, and the sounds of flowing water. It was calming, enough that for a single moment I forgot my anxiety. For once I understood the beauty of nature.
My joyful run leads me to a meadow where flowers and grass span vast distances. I took the time to enjoy the beauty it offered, sitting amongst the flowers. The sweet fragrance emanated from them was soothing. A perfect place for thinking.