"View Profile!"
*pops*
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[Lulu Berg]
Race: Human
Health: 15
STR: 0.3 (2)
AGI: 0.2 (3)
INT: 0.5 (4)
Mana: 0.4
Skill: None
------
I called out to Lulu, but for some reason, Lulu just kept on staring at the air. Maybe the stats did actually appear.
"Heyyy, Earth to Lulu, you there? why are you just staring at the air? did it really work?"
"Oh! yeah, it actually appeared."
Somehow, Her reaction seemed too passive, even though this was something amazing.
"Woah, alright, let me try it out! View Profile!"
*pops*
------
[Sim Kliff]
Race: Human
Health: 15
STR: 0.2 (3)
AGI: 0.4 (4)
INT: 0.2 (2)
Mana: 0.3
Skill: None
------
As if a glitter got in my eye, it shined in front of me. A transparent panel.This was the thing I've always yearned for! I thought to myself, having read some novels.
"Holy shit! that is so cool!" I shouted in excitement, not being able to contain it. I could also see Lulu's excitement with her smile being so big.
"But I don't really understand what those stats mean. Why are there numbers in parenthesis?" I questioned.
"I have no idea either... I haven't seen anything like this in games I've played before," Lulu replied, confused, but she kept herself up. "My stats seem to lean towards Intelligence. Does this mean I'm a magician type? Maybe I'd have to say "Transform" and then turn into a magical girl," She said in amusement.
"Uhh… Your imagination is running wild today. But hey, who knows, maybe that is really the case. That'd be really funny, though."
Looks like Lulu is finally letting herself beyond her norms, seeing how fantasy-like our current situation was.
"Anyway, it seems like mine leans more on Agility. I've always loved assassin type characters. Maybe I'd become one!"
"Assassin? don't they just kill people for a living?"
"Well, that's back in the old world! now I can just assassinate some animals or some other creatures."
"That'd be certainly useful when hunting, especially against fast ones."
"Hah, yeah! we can easily get food now."
We continued to discuss things for a few minutes, letting our thoughts run wild.
...
"Anyway, it's time we look for stuff to use for sleeping."
"Ughh, fine," I replied, thinking of how much more we had to search.
***
As the night continued, we as well continued our search. We have not found anything to use for sleeping. Maybe bushes or trees would suffice at this point.
"So, we've been at this for a long time. Can't we just go up a tree and sleep there?" I was too tired at this point. there was no way we would be able to continue searching.
"Yeah, I agree. We also haven't seen anyone else here either. Maybe we walked too far…" Lulu agreed, looking tired as well.
But at that moment, from the corner of my eye, I saw a strange looking figure, it looked big, yet small, as if a person that is crouching. The moment I looked at it, it stood up. The figure was of a tall person, humanoid as well, but not of earth, just maybe I thought to myself.
"Hey, Lulu, look over there! a person! Heeey, you there!" The figure looked at us but stayed quiet.
"Hey, quiet down! we don't know if there are wild animals here that might get attracted." The concerned Lulu shouted as if what her doing is any different from what I had just done.
"I'm sorry… but this is finally our chance of finding something."
"I understand, but let's be quiet and approach them slowly."
"Alright." We walked slowly towards the strange figure. For some reason, it kept staring at us, its eyes glowed red, as if a predator looked at their prey.
"I don't think we should go near it," Lulu was starting to get scared. It felt strange. Normally, I would be the one to say those words. The strange figure started walking towards, speeding up by the milliseconds.
'That looks like danger?' I question myself, confused, not knowing what to do.
"RUN! it's running towards us!" Lulu shouted, making me return to reality.
We both started to run, thinking our lives depended on it because, in fact, at the moment, it looked like it did. It was starting to get near us, as we were not ready for it. I looked back at it as the two of us ran.
"Oh my god! what the hell is that?!" It was purple and looked like a rotting corpse. There were some pus growing everywhere around it. I caught a scent of it, and its smell was so putrid that I almost vomited, but I had to hold it in. As I ran, I realized that I was a bit faster than lulu. It was probably because of my agi stat.
"LULU! HURRY!" I shouted as if that was going to help her be faster.
"Sim, just keep running!"
I watched in horror as the living corpse was catching up to us, to Lulu. Has it been a minute? ten? I lost count of time. We ran as fast as we could, going in areas that looked easier to run to, hoping to not trip on roots. As I ran, I kept looking back to Lulu, and then I saw her stop and take something out from inside her uniform.
'Lulu, what are you doing?!' I thought to myself, but I realized that she might have a plan. I squinted my eyes to find out that it was a gun, to be exact. It was a revolver.
"Lulu! you have a gun?!" I asked in surprise.
"Of course I have a gun. Who do you think I am."
Thinking back, she'd always be interested in guns. Maybe it was the influence of her close relative that was in the military, or it was just genuine interest. Either way, it was good for us right now.
"Just stand back, I'll try to get this thing off us," She said, feeling resolute.
Lulu took aim and started firing.
*bang*
The bullet hit the neck of the corpse, making a hole. But that was not enough to stop it from moving. In fact, it looked like it was healing, so she fired multiple times.
*bang* *bang* *bang*
Three bullets hit the corpse, from the face to both sides of the chest. Each time it was hit, it made a nasty noise, yet it did not stop moving. Soon, Lulu panicked, sweat trickled down her face, a visible expression of fear could be seen.
*bang* *bang*
She shot towards its legs, hoping to at least hinder it from its tracks, yet it was hopeless. She had missed one leg due to her panicking. Though it staggered for a second, it really was only for a second. soon, it started running again.
"Lulu, run! come on," I shouted in a panic, seeing her attacks didn't work.
Lulu stepped back slowly, not knowing what to do, and turned around in a hurry to start running. As both Lulu and I ran, I saw her panting more heavily than the last. Lulu started slowing down.
Finally, the corpse, using its nasty hands, took Lulu by the shoulder and fell to the ground with her.
"AHH! LULU!!" I shouted as I watched and stopped on my tracks as Lulu got grabbed by it.
"What are you doing! Run while I keep it busy!"
I heard Lulu say something, but it was too late, I had to save her. No way I was going to lose the only person I trust and know in this world.
"Hold on!" I said, as I grabbed a thick branch that lay on the ground. I ran as fast as I could to Lulu and attacked the living corpse on its head. But the corpse did not stagger. It did not stop attacking Lulu. I kicked and punched, but nothing worked on it. I was not strong enough.
"Why is it not working?! Please," I teared up and begged as I watched Lulu struggle.
"Just run, Sim, It's okay!" She said that while struggling to keep herself safe, but there was no way I was going to give her up. I kept attacking its arms and body, hoping to at least slow down the attack on Lulu.
*swish*
"An arrow?" I saw an arrow pierce through the living corpse's head.
"Keep attacking its head!" I heard from an unfamiliar voice.
*thud* *swish*
I kept attacking it with the branch on my hand, also seeing arrows hitting it. It hurt. The branch hurt. I had blisters in my hands. But it did not matter. This was something small compared to the life of my friend.
*groans*
"It's working!" I attacked it as much and as hard as I could.
"Hyaa!!" I swung, targeting its nape with all of my strength.
*thud*
The head fell to the ground. "Finally! I killed it! take that!" I said as I continued to crush the head.
"Stop it already, Sim. You're looking like a real psychopath right now," Lulu said as she gasped for air.
"O-oh? Ah! Lulu! I'm so happy you're alive. But who is saying who looks like a psychopath? Look at the blood all over your face," I laughed.
"Whose fault do you think this is?!" She said, looking a bit mad.
I had only realized that I was entirely at fault because I kept attacking the head and the nape of the now just unmoving corpse.
"Haha, I'm sorry, Lulu. I couldn't help it."
"It's fine. Rather, I should be thanking you, Sim. Thank you for saving me."
"You're welcome," I made a peace sign and smiled in order to lighten the mood.
"Come to think of it, while i was struggling, I saw arrows struck the corpse."
"Yeah, I saw it too. The direction it came from was the left," It was definitely weird, considering we're in the forest. I assume the people that went in after us wouldn't have known how to use a bow, and I don't think they even had one.
*rustle*
There was a move in the bushes, which was the direction of where the arrows came from. I immediately readied myself for another fight, with the thick branch in both of my hands, because I was afraid another of those living corpses might attack us again.
"Who's there?! Answer if you can understand my words!"
'Um… Hello?"
"Get over where I can see you properly."
"Please calm down. I'm not a 'fallen'."
"Fallen? what's that?"
As the 'person' moved closer, I asked them a question. But as soon as I saw them get closer, I became more jittery. It's figure looked just like the living corpse, I couldn't tell their height earlier on because the area they were standing on was behind a bush and the ground they were standing on high ground and the trees covered basically everywhere.
"Fallens are creatures that had been turned into mindless crazy creatures. Deprived from sanity, they do not discriminate on who to attack, animals or not. They first turn reddish and gradually become purple…"
But as soon as the figure touched the gaze of the moonlight, I couldn't believe my very own eyes. It was a person with long ears, jaw so defined, face without any freckles nor pimples, eyes as blue as the blue moon above us, their appearance could only be described as perfect, it was as if God drew them carefully with his right hand, assuming he was right handed, and yellowish hair, their hair was not long but anyone would be able to tell how silky it was. Their gentle voice echoed in my ear.
"Um… Are you listening?"
I hadn't realized my mind went to a different place. It took me a bit to conclude that the person in front of me was obviously an elf!
"Y- yeah, sorry about that," I replied nervously.
"Anyway, that girl over there is injured. We need to get her healed quick," the elf said, looking concerned.
I looked over to Lulu and saw too many bruises and scratches on her. I felt guilty. She stayed quiet, laying down probably because she was too exhausted and in pain. She might just pass out any minute now.
"Don't worry, this much can easily be healed."
They probably felt bad because of the look on my face and highly likely because of Lulu . But I had to be cautious. Who knows if this elf was just another entity that might attack us.
"Stay back!" I shouted. The elf was taken aback by my words, but it seemed like they understood why I said them.
"It's okay, calm down," They said in a gentle manner whilst putting down their bow and dagger. They raised their hands up, which made me lower my guard towards them.
"I won't harm you, I just want to help," said the elf with feelings of kindness.
"...Okay," I said, because I thought that the elf could have easily killed me a long time ago, and I also want Lulu to be healed.
I walked back a bit, getting to Lulu's side. The elf started walking closer to Lulu and once they were next to her, they took out a small metal flask and lifted it toward Lulu's mouth, they gestured me to lift her head, making her drink whatever was inside.
*glows*
Lulu started glowing a little, my eyes widened, and made me suspicious of the elf. But I realized after a closer look that the only parts glowing were the places she had scratches and bruises on. Any place she had a wound on would eventually close up, seeming like there never was a wound there. It was a very magical process, something that I'd only seen in games. It was akin to a miracle.
...