The world where mysteries reside in every nook, and bizarre creatures often appear in day-to-day life. In a world where murdering another person is a daily occurrence and common thing, I, The Noah Stone became part of it.
There were plenty of deadly things that existed here and I wanna know them, Everything related to this world I want to explore them but this damn old man refused to tell me about it. According to him, I was not quite ready to hear everything about the world. This world was merciless and it will affect my mind negatively. Is he serious? Why do I have to wait until I become an adult to hear it or explore the world?
I silently followed in his footsteps. He was leading me somewhere in the one-foot thick snow, it was getting harder and harder to take out my leg from the snow but I kept up with him, I had to do it.
***
The old man walked forth as a young boy followed him without knowing where the destination was.
Jariudu was a gatherer, finding food and herbs was his daily job. Sometimes if he got lucky then he could be able to find spoils of battles, battles that occurred between beasts, between humans, or other academic students.
He was worried about the kid behind him. He was weaker than any other fourteen-year-old kid. His physical abilities were simply too lacking, he shortly gets exhausted and can't even undergo ordinary environmental alterations. Does he have some kind of illness? Or is he not used to this?
It doesn't matter, he made a mental remark next time when he goes to the village, he will take him to a physician or healer.
"Oye! Old man, let me take... take a breath" Noah huffed putting his hands on his knees.
"Fine," the Old man scanned the parameters trying to remember the correct way. A few tall trees stood proudly on the Snowy slope that they were currently soaring. "Do you want water?"
"Nah! Just..." The old man shook his head with a smile. This strange young man had no capacity for long walks but still wanted to accompany him, It was quite fascinating for the old man.
He reminded him of his late grandson, that was the main reason for him to adopt this unknown fella. The grandson who used to follow him here and there, a grandson who loved to massage an old man's leg every day. The same grandson whose smile was enough to dissolve his tiredness from work. Recalling the memories, the Old man's expressions become stiff.
He wasn't able to protect his son, his family, and his lively grandson from the cave bear. He was lost and only breathing to survive but since this young face appeared out of nowhere a sense of obligation rose from his heart. This was his chance for redemption, this was his last opportunity to ask forgiveness from his family and his grandson.
"Let's go, Now" They resumed their path, and soon enough they reached plain grounds filled with plants and small animals.
"Is this where you wanted to bring me?" Noah asked in astonishment. It was a crowded forest of small plants in the snowland. Different types of berries and fruits along with indigo rabbits and green squirrels.
Noah was about to step out, however, the Old man put his hand on his soldier. "Don't move hastily young man... Those rabbits are dangerous"
The old man forced Noah to crouch and summoned three throwing knives. "Just watch..." Taking the time to select the smaller rabbit, the old man took down one indigo rabbit with three shots. "Today we will eat soft meat..."
***
I peered at the scene, this old man had slain a strange-looking rabbit who seemed to be about one foot tall and had a thick forehead resembling bison.
"That was a lucky shot!" He smiled back at me before forwarding himself to the dead prey. I matched his footprints.
Lucky? he had swiftly taken out that rabbit with two precise shots.
One landed on the neck and another one on the eye, of course, one went over his head yet it was and win.
Blood oozed down from that rabbit's body as his thick indigo fure smeared with its blood. He yanked the knives and instructed me to find the remaining one which happened to be on the other side of the strange plant.
"This is just an offspring, that's why it's easy prey" He patted the two times on rabbit's carcass and a strange faint blue-colored light devoured the rabbit leaving a blood pool on the ground.
I grabbed the knife in my hand and hoped the dashboard would pop up in front of my vision, Heck! I also want that amazing assassin skill but nothing happened... was this knife not acceptable? Even after waiting for a few moments, nothing appeared.
This is not fair, This system of mine is cheating...
"Watch out..." The old man showed me aside and settled his hand in the crossed shape in front of his chest. My butt landed on the cold surface and my eyes followed him.
What the heck is he doing?
The big-ass forehead rabbit boomed the old man sending him a few meters away from the previous spot. He was twice as much as the previous one with huge red eyes.
-priikkkk...
I stared at him with my mouth agape. Who is this? Is his father or what?
His eyes slowly turned to me as well as his entire body. After sending the old man his way he turned his attention to me. He kneaded his frontal legs on the snow surface preparing to lunge at me like a bull.
Hey, fella, I wasn't the one who killed your son or whatever just calm down will ya? The next thing I knew I tossed away three times until landed back on the snow. My left hand and the chest area burned as I proceeded to stand up again.
"How dare you motherfu**r" Short sword materialized in my right hand, just as it materialized it touched the ground. Man, it's so heavy for one hand. No worries it will be enough for this puny thing...
Again that indigo rabbit dashed at me and I swung my sword. One upright swing completely failed to even touch his hair or the fur, it left me helpless. I flung into the air before doing a kickass front flip and dropped on the snow like a plaything.
Pain struck my knees thoroughly to the thighs. Surely it hit different when we get smacking in the cold weather. Numbness ceased the pain for a while but I knew it was going to hurt later...
[ Indigo Rabit ( Level- 3)
Specialty - none
Weakness - strength, magic]
I almost puked blood after reading about his weakness, are you kidding me? He is hammering me like a nail and the system is saying his weakness is his strength???
Well, no time to sulk on the matter, or this rabit will shove me to death.
I searched for my sword only to find it was away from my current position and that bull rabbit was preparing for another attack. I swiftly rolled to the sword and grabbed it with my two shivering hands...
- Swish...
The bull rabbit began proceedings to my way, giving me the fright of a life. I Never imagined one day I would be freaked to death by a rabbit. His arrow-like manner was stifled by a small knife. All hail the old man!
The rabbit stunned for a while before a soft groan. That sob was cute but I wasn't a fan of it. I scrambled forward-pointing my sword at him like a spear. The sword punctured his chest and stuck inside it as blood began spilling out from his mouth and wound.
"Yes!" I staggered back with a victory smile leaving the sword intact with his body. I did it, I Killed first thing... Thankfully I was inside a video game and killing others is a normal thing.
"Are you ok? Young man... that was a nice kill " He said. I offered a weak smile. If this guy wasn't around, I would have died and that was the last thing I wanted. Dying was scary, I know I have the power of respawning... regardless of it I don't want to lose the progress that I have made.
"We have to find healing herbs for you" Old man signs. "you know healing plants?"
I shook my head. Even after reading his Alchemist book, I had no idea what those plans looked like, he should learn drawing first.
"Haha no troubles young man, Your grandpa is here to teach you" He turned back and began searching for something on the ground.
" Found it!" He brought me a strange small plant.
"Eat it... It's a green spot, it's not as effective as a potion but we have no choice "
That plant had four small leaves and a green color as usual.
[ ----]
The system showed no changes even after I held that plant in my hand. Why was that? Is Alchemy not part of the system?
"I hope it tastes better than medicines" With a sign, I put that inside my mouth.
[ Ding! New Plant discovered...]
[ Plant name- green sprout
Effect- healing ( 10 %) ]
"It's Sprout..." After swallowing it the widow popped in front of the vision. I felt like a faint surge of vitality ran through my body and instantly vanished.
"Ah! Yes yes, whatever you say... Now get up we have to gather a lot of valuable things" his smile widened, ear to eat as if he found his treasure.
We searched the area, the area was full of blueberries, green apples, and different types of fruit. Indeed it was a treasure for us. We even found eight green sprouts and a yellow flower that had the same healing effect.
I figured out one thing, If I wanted to know the specific plant's name and its uses, then I needed to eat it first. Isn't it a trap... what if without knowing I swallowed something poisonous? Isn't that going to lead me to death?
I shook my head before strolling around. I have to taste more plants, so in the future, it will benefit me. My walking feet halted and goosebumps appeared after listening to the soft humming music. What was this music? Did I end up in the boss area?
" Fuck..."