Villain Ch 27. Peaceful Hill
On another game map, Mac was also hunting with the healer who helped him before. Her name was Yora. He decided to hunt with her after he found she healed character to full health when he had to go AFK (away from keyboard) for a few minutes.
Since he needed a healer and this game potion's price was expensive, he decided to ask her to join him.
Mac led the way as he approached a monster. His sword glinted in the digital sunlight as he made his way through the grassy terrain. His body was covered in minor wounds.
The creature was a grasshopper, but it stood an impressive two meters tall, towering over Mac's own avatar. Despite its imposing height, the monster's appearance was almost comical. It held a ukulele in its claws, giving it the air of a whimsical character from a children's fairy tale about the grasshopper and ant. Mac couldn't help but grin at the sight of it.
Lazy Grasshopper < Level 9>
It was indeed out of place since the game itself was a bloody one, but Mac guessed the developers wanted a touch of comedy in the middle of this bloody battle game. After all, the map he was on was called Peaceful Hill.
The hill was green and lush, covered in trees and bushes. It was like a breath of fresh air in the midst of chaos. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the leaves rustled softly. The air was fresh and clean.
Mac gripped his sword tightly, steeling himself for the battle ahead. He charged towards the grasshopper monster; its ukulele still clutched in its claws. As he closed in, he swung his sword with all his might.
The blade connected with the creature's midsection, slicing cleanly through its body. The grasshopper let out a pained screech and collapsed to the ground, its legs flailing as it writhed in agony. The ukulele that had once been clutched in its claws had fallen to the ground, the strings now silent.
[You received Grasshopper's Tibia 1 ea and 3 Coins.]
Mac gasped for air, his heart racing in his chest. He didn't know how many monsters he had killed that day. A dozen? Hundreds? Yet he felt he leveled up so slowly.
"Heal!" Yora used her skill on Mac and healed his wound. Yora's healing skills were impressive, there was no denying that. Mac watched as she waved her hands over his virtual body, the green glow of her magic washing over him and mending his wounds. But despite the healer's best efforts, Mac's face remained displeased.
It wasn't Yora's fault, of course. She had saved his life on more than one occasion during their two hours of hunting. But the fact remained that they had only managed to reach level 15 in that time. It wasn't nearly enough progress for Mac, who had been hoping to level up quickly and gain access to the more challenging areas of the game.
Apart from that, there was something on Mac's mind.
Mac looked around and saw that they weren't the only ones hunting on this map. In fact, there were some other groups scattered throughout the area, each one focused on taking down the peaceful monsters that roamed the land.
He could understand why so many players were drawn to this place. The Lazy Grasshopper, the monster they had just defeated, was a peaceful creature that wouldn't attack unless provoked. It made for an easy and relatively safe target, especially for players who were just starting out.
The map was also located close to the first city they had landed in and Ilude. This made it a popular destination for players who wanted to level up quickly without venturing too far from civilization.
They quickly found themselves surrounded by other players who were also taking advantage of the Lazy Grasshoppers' peaceful nature. At first, it was a welcome sight. The more players there were, the easier it would be to take down the monsters and level up quickly.
But as more and more players arrived, the situation began to deteriorate. Arguments broke out over who had hit the monster first, with players accusing each other of stealing their kills. The tension was palpable, and it didn't take long for things to turn violent.
Mac watched as two players came to blows over a particularly large Lazy Grasshopper. It was a ridiculous sight, the two avatars dueling, punching and kicking each other in the middle of a virtual forest. Although they were low level players, it didn't mean they couldn't kill each other. As long as both of the players agreed, they could duel in a hunting map like this.
And then there were the long-range players, the mages, and archers who were content to sit back and take potshots at the monsters from other melee fighters. It was a sneaky tactic and one that went against the spirit of the game. But some players were willing to risk it, knowing that the Game Master would only intervene if they were caught.
Mac couldn't help but feel frustrated by the situation. This was supposed to be a nice and peaceful map, but it had turned into another battlefield. He had always prided himself on being a fair player, and the idea of cheating or stealing from others was abhorrent to him.
'I have to change my hunting grounds,' thought Mac.
He turned to Yora, hoping to find some solace in her company. She looked just as annoyed as he did, her eyes scanning the crowded battlefield for any signs of trouble.
"It's getting worse," Mac muttered, his voice barely audible over the din of battle.
Yora nodded, her expression grim. "We should move on. Find a quieter spot."
Mac agreed, and they began to make their way through the forest, trying to avoid any more confrontations. They could still hear the sounds of battle in the distance, but it was growing fainter by the second. But when they were near the exit portal, a scream sounded.
"Help me!"
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