"Hey, Val. Speak to me. Why is the Monkey King crown still here?"
Herris's voice reverberated in the void as he addressed the seemingly vacant space. The wolf, adorned with a crown and exuding majesty, maintained a submissive stance, its eyes shimmering with a golden hue.
The absence of Val's response left Herris perplexed. He was uncertain about the unfolding events, how he had ingested the apple, or why the Monkey King's headband lingered.
***
[Divine Items]
[Headband of Slavery]
***
Herris endeavored to engage with the [Headband of Slavery], but his efforts were futile. He persisted, hoping that, akin to a video game where repeated interaction with an NPC triggers varied dialogues, he might eventually elicit a response.
Herris was at a loss on how to ascertain the status of the headband or any other items. He exhausted every conceivable option, but nothing seemed to bear fruit.
He then explored other tabs to check for any alterations and noticed something intriguing in the [Avatar] tab:
***
*[Avatar]*
[Herris]
[Talent: Forging, Entropy Mastery]
[Title: Manipulator of Truth, Heir of Discord and Strife]
[Job: Homeless]
[Level: 0/∞]
[HP: 100/1000]
[MP: 100/1000]
[Exp: 22/100]
[Quest Points:0/∞]
---
*[Attributes]*
[Combat Status]
[Attack: 18]
[Defense: 05]
[Lethality: 06]
[Critical Chance: 5.5%]
[Accuracy: 03%]
[Dexterity: 05]
[Agility: 06]
---
[Miscellaneous Status]
[Crafting: 00]
[Production: 00]
[Learning: 08]
***
"Entropy Mastery? Heir of Discord and Strife? Does that mean eating Eris's apple gave me those things?"
Herris pondered, his gaze affixed on his combat status.
"Just like Val said, my attributes have really been reduced to half."
"Then what are the other things she mentioned? Why can't I remember anything?"
Herris raked his fingers through his hair, attempting to reconstruct the sequence of events that had ensued since he was bitten by the crowned wolf.
After Herris had crowned the wolf with the Monkey King's crown, the adorned beast single-handedly tackled the entire pack, accomplishing Herris's remaining daily mission.
The wolf had initially faltered, but with each onslaught it faced, it grew increasingly ferocious and formidable. A single bite from the crowned wolf proved fatal, instantly slaying the other wolves and establishing its supremacy.
Conversely, Herris had succumbed to the ground due to the venom's effects shortly after delivering his rousing speech.
Subsequently, Herris's memory was a jumble, with only a few words from Val echoing in his mind.
Agitated, Herris kicked the ground and concluded,
"Damn it, the only way I can get answers is from that bit…bicycle Val. It's useless to think about it anymore."
"Val, if you're listening, you've made it to my elimination priority list."
Resolved to persist in his quest for vengeance, Herris embarked on his journey towards the north, tracing the lakeside, aware that any further procrastination would be detrimental.
"Grrr…" A gentle growl resonated behind Herris, serving as a reminder of its presence.
Herris swiveled around to see the crowned wolf still poised on its four legs, patiently awaiting his directive.
"Ah! I nearly forgot about you."
Herris glanced at the wolf and spotted his sword nearby, lodged in the ground.
"Damn it, lately I'm letting my guard down too much. Believing Taro, thinking he might help, and this Val. I need to keep my shit together."
Herris retrieved his sword and mulled over whether to slay the wolf, but he opted for a different approach. He reached out to the crown on the wolf, attempting to dislodge it so the wolf could vanish like the others.
With a grunt, Herris exerted all his might to yank the crown, but it remained steadfast. After several futile attempts, Herris was left with no alternative but to await Val's reappearance to find a resolution.
Herris scrutinized the wolf's colossal form, large enough to serve as a bed for four of his size. Its fur was plush and dense, akin to a cloud of cotton candy. Despite being marred by blood and scars, it seemed undeterred, ready to face another battle.
"You're stuck here because of the gods, aren't you?"
Herris voiced his empathy for the wolf, as if he wasn't the one who had crowned it with the Monkey King's crown, instead shifting the blame onto the gods.
Mounting the wolf's back, Herris directed, "Northward, Wilson 2.0."
Indeed, Herris had christened the wolf Wilson 2.0. Unbeknownst to him, he had a peculiar habit of bestowing the name 'Wilson' on things that held a special place in his heart.
As they ventured north, Herris strategized his next move, comfortably perched on the wolf, striking up a conversation with it.
"Hey Wilson, do you think Goddess Aphrodite is really beautiful or just a rumor?"
"GRRR..." Wilson retorted with a gentle growl. Although Herris couldn't decipher it, he found solace in their unspoken bond.
After a two-day journey along the seemingly infinite lakeside, mirroring an ocean, Herris exited the forest to discover the lake meandering through sand dunes. The water swiftly vanished into the sand, giving the illusion of a pit swallowing the lake's flow.
Herris found himself atop a cliff-like formation where the forest ceased and the sand sprawled beyond sight. The stark contrast between the vibrant forest and the barren desert was striking: the forest was brimming with life, while the desert appeared lifeless, not even death dared to dwell there.
Herris was well aware of the desert's existence. Seated on Wilson, with a few roasted birds strung around its neck, he pondered over the past two days. Each day, he was assigned the same task: to hunt ten wolves. He accomplished his daily tasks effortlessly, with Wilson handling everything.
During his expedition, he encountered birds alien to his planet. Utilizing Wilson, he hunted and feasted on them, satiating his hunger for the past days.
Herris dismounted from Wilson and instructed, "Jump on the sand."
Without a moment's hesitation, Wilson sprang from the cliff, landing a few meters below. The ground cushioned the impact, forming a massive hole but remained firm enough to tread and stand on.
After confirming that the desert was traversable, Herris descended the cliff, remounted Wilson, grabbed two birds from the wolf's neck, and tossed one to Wilson, who gulped it down in a single bite.
Herris resumed their northward journey across the sand.
Another two days elapsed without any respite as they trekked north, encountering no signs of life.
"Stop!" Herris ordered abruptly as he finally spotted what he was searching for.
Herris rose to his feet on Wilson for a better view. He noticed a small village, unremarkable. The buildings, constructed of stone, seemed fragile, likely to collapse under a mild snowstorm.
In the desolate village, Herris spotted dark-skinned elves, leaner and more gaunt than himself, trudging slowly on the sand. The village was eerily silent, with only the wind rustling the sand resonating through the void.
In the village, Herris noticed a peculiar sight: a fallen tree, nearly 10 meters tall, parched and devoid of water, stood out amidst the sand dunes. Its twisted branches and skeletal trunk contributed to the desolate ambiance of the village.
As he observed from a distance, perched atop a mound of mountain sand, he anticipated what was about to unfold.
"Who are you?" A quivering voice echoed behind Herris.
Wilson swiveled around with Herris to face five dark-skinned male elves with brown and golden eyes. They were scantily clad, their private parts concealed with tattered clothes. Given their frail, twig-like bodies, Herris felt no threat; even a minor force would suffice to shatter them.
With Wilson, Herris could obliterate the entire village in a matter of minutes, but that wasn't his intention.
He positioned himself a few meters away from the village to get noticed, setting the stage for his plan.
[End of Chapter]