THE SYSTEM I MADE
Chapter 12
"First clear"
With the plan crystalizing in his mind, Alex swiftly gathered the necessary materials from the surrounding environment. Dry leaves, twigs, and any flammable debris he could find were silently piled at strategic points around the orc encampment. His movements were a whisper against the forest floor, his Assassin's Robe melding him into the shadows.
Night had deepened, casting the woods in eerie silhouettes and making the orange glow of the distant orc fires stand out starkly. Alex's eyes, adapted to the dark, scanned the area for the patrols he had noted earlier. Timing was crucial; his window of opportunity was narrow.
Moving to a safe distance, Alex pulled from his utility belt a small, steel device, a fire striker. With a few practiced swipes, sparks cascaded onto the dry kindling he had arranged. The first wisps of smoke curled into the air, tentative at first, then growing bolder as the flames took hold.
As the fire began to spread, creeping along the paths lined with dry leaves, Alex retreated to higher ground, a vantage point overlooking the camp. From here, he could see the first signs of chaos as the orcs noticed the encroaching flames. Shouts broke the night's stillness, rough and alarmed, as they scrambled to contain the spread.
The fire served a dual purpose; not only did it sow confusion and fear among the orcs, but the light it cast also revealed the camp's layout and the chief orc's location. With the leader in sight, Alex planned his final move.
As the encampment descended into chaos, with flames licking at tents and panic spreading among the orcs, Alex knew this was his moment to act. He couldn't wait any longer; it was time to confront the chief orc directly. With his Assassin's Robe billowing slightly in the heat, he made his descent into the burning village.
Navigating through the chaos was a trial of agility and stealth. Alex dodged fleeing orcs and sidestepped fire hazards, all the while keeping his focus on the larger, heavily armored figure of the chief orc who was rallying his warriors to fight the flames. As he drew closer, an arrow ready in his bow, Alex noticed something peculiar. The chief orc wasn't just shouting orders; he was drawing a sigil in the air, a sign of orcish magic.
Just as Alex loosed his arrow, the chief orc completed his incantation. The ground around him rippled, and a shield of earth rose up, deflecting the arrow with a spark of magic. The chief turned his fierce gaze toward Alex's position, his eyes narrowing.
"Trickery will not save you, human," the chief growled, pulling a massive battle axe from his back.
Alex knew he was outmatched in a direct confrontation. He needed an edge.
"Aida, analyze his magic. Find me an opening!" he whispered urgently to Aida.
"Analyzing... Complete," Aida's voice was crisp in his ear. "The earth shield has a three-second recharge time after activation. I recommend a feint to trigger it, followed by an immediate attack."
Nodding, Alex darted forward, feinting with another arrow. As predicted, the earth shield sprang up to block the nonexistent threat. Without hesitation, Alex sprinted forward, closing the gap as the orc was momentarily defenseless. He swapped his bow for a short blade, slipping through the orc's guard just as the shield dissipated.
The chief orc roared in rage and swung his axe wildly. Alex ducked under the blow, feeling the wind of it pass just above his head, and thrust his blade towards the orc's side. The chief orc managed to partially deflect the blow, but not enough to avoid injury.
Staggered, the orc chief stumbled back, clutching his side. Alex didn't pause, pressing his advantage, circling to stay out of the reach of the orc's axe. Another quick series of jabs and the orc chief was on his knees, blood darkening the dirt around him.
"Who the hell are you? Masked warrior ," the orc muttered through clenched teeth, a mix of respect and defiance in his eyes as he collapsed.
The encampment was still in turmoil, but with their leader defeated, the fight drained from the orcs.
Breathing heavily, Alex watched them go, the heat of the fire baking his face.
"Mission accomplished," he said to himself , turning to make his own escape from the burning village. His steps were heavy with fatigue, but the thrill of victory and the knowledge that he had faced and overcome a powerful foe and fighting a orc clan all by himself.
As the chief orc fell to the ground with a thunderous crash, a series of notifications flickered across Alex's vision, overlaying the smoky battlefield with a burst of digital data. Aida's voice, ever calm and precise, narrated each achievement as they appeared on the screens:
"You have slain a Chief orc. You have earned 50 points."
The words barely had time to fade before more accolades began to pour in:
"You have completed the mission: Slay the Orc Clan. You have earned 150 points, you have earned 100 additional points."
"You have earned the title: Orc Slayer."
"You have been promoted to E rank."
A final prize materialized in a glow of digital light:
"You have obtained an Earth Shield."
Before Alex could reach out to examine his new gear, another announcement caught him off guard:
"Player will be transported to checkpoint."
"oh?" Alex exclaimed, his surprise echoed in the sudden shift in his surroundings. In a blink, the fiery battlefield disappeared, and the familiar walls of his room materialized around him.
(ELDRAINE ESTATE; ALEX'S BEDROOM)
"Wait....I'm my injuries have all been. Healed?"
Alex's surprise deepened as he felt his previously fatigued muscles now brimming with vitality. The injuries and the exhaustion from the battlefield had vanished as if they were mere illusions.
"That is correct," Aida confirmed, AIDA's voice a soothing presence in the quiet of his room.
"Show current stats," Alex commanded, curious to see the extent of his virtual rejuvenation.
The air before him flickered, and a holographic display materialized, showing his refreshed and updated stats:
Agility:20/100
Stamina: 18/100
Intelligence:17/100
Strength: 35/100
Luck:15/100
Dexterity:20/100
Beneath the stat list, his remaining distribution points and health were displayed:
Health: 100/100
Remaining Distribution Points:40
"I'm not satisfied, but at least my stats aren't trash like before," Alex muttered to himself, scanning the numbers on the screen with a critical eye.
"Looks like the system heals and updates stats upon completing significant missions," he mused aloud, his fingers brushing over the text of his new title: Orc Slayer.
"I'll take a nap for a few hours; my body is so tired," Alex murmured, exhaustion weighing down his voice. With a slow, deliberate motion, he placed the mask into the shimmering screens before him, watching as it dissolved into pixels and disappeared from sight.