'the glaring white sunlight blasting through my tent cover wasn't the best thing to wake up too. but I guess It could be worse' I thought to myself feeling the several gazes of animosity landing on me.
'sometimes these bonus stats don't feel all that great. I can physically feel how much hate some of these people have for me. why is that?'
I found myself lost in thought as I approached the gates out of our encampment. 10's if not nearly a hundred people were swarming this tiny camp we set up here. turning it into a small fortress of scrap, anything we could put together we had.
"aah Ali welcome to our humble abodes main gates. where are you heading today? and where's your group?" a older guy, maybe around 50 was standing around at the gates. journal in hand. 'guess he's recording all entries and leaves?'
"hello sir.. I'm heading out to scout further east, I don't need a squad" indeed even with the increasing levels. most people are hitting level 4-5 now still level 6 seems more unreachable for the common population. I can be considered in a realm of my own.
"alright your free to go. make sure to come back soon, and safely" he called out as I passed him. heading deeper into the unknown forest.
…
I travelled for 2 hours. trekking my way through the overgrowth of the forests glory. step-by step marching my way into the unknown. the only signs of life that marred this path was the forest around me itself.
just as my thought headed that way I saw movement ahead. crouching into a nearby bush I peered through to get eyes on the creature.
'strong' was the first thing I thought upon seeing it. a bull-like creature covered in muscles from head to toe. its fur a mixture of brown with green stripes. "to mirror the ground? but that would only mirror the ground from above?"
'squawkkk'
as the thought crossed my mind I looked up to hear the call of a bird, but the dense foliage covered my view.
"something big lives in the sky around me. to make even a creature like the bull afraid".
with my eyes kept to the sky I waited. and waited more. until almost half a hour passed and I heard the same creatures call in the distance.
"I didn't hear it. nor did I see it. if it wasn't for its cry and the bull's colouring I wouldn't have known something was even up there." I didn't realise it at first but a cold sweat had covered my neck and face.
'facing a creature I can't see is scary phew' just to be safe I waited in the grass for a few more minutes regaining my composure. before looking back towards the bull.
"I'm guessing its a tank-type creature judging from its appearance, though probably around my level if its muscles are anything to go by."
half-camouflaged within the bushes I press my hands together and prepared to start this fight.
[arcane shot]
'even without any changes the deep blue arrow's patterns have become more and more ornate and visible almost resembling a arrow of royalty. the arrow of a royal archer' I thought while watching it soar through the air at unbelievable speeds.
[-36]
The spells grand impact shattered the bulls back leg, breaking the fragile tank's limb in multiple ways. but still it stood. its gaze quickly landing on my location. and with three legs it started charging.
the ground trembled with every step it took. every limb that hit the floor felt like a magnitude 3 earthquake.
the beast was quick, slightly faster than I was. but I aggroed it from a distance and that's my greatest advantage.
[arcane shot]
A second one broke the bulls left horn, an amalgamation of a ram's horn and some form of antler snapped right off its face. careening the creature into a nearby tree.
[-36]
the tree's exterior was too strong. not nearly weak enough for the bull to damage. much less get stuck in.
the bull re-oriented itself before charging me again. as the distance quickly closed. 100+ meters in nearly 4 seconds.
but that's enough time "this one should finish it"
[arcane shot]
the third arcane shot hit its underbelly, ripping open a terrifying wound on the bull.. but its still not dead. the momentum of the charge carried it forward its attack mission succeeding.
[-36]
..
[-46 critical wound]
[hp: 9/55]
Ali and the bull crashed onto the floor a small 10 meters away from each other, Ali's left arm and chest a mangled mess and the bull covered in terrifying wounds.
"f-fuck" ali cried out. spitting out a mouthful of blood into the grass, which quickly absorbed it and was tainted in a faint red makeup.
he pushed up to his feet. slowly before limping over to the bull laying on the grass. a circle of blood surrounding his corpse from the wound.
"I miss-calculated. you almost killed me big guy." ali started to laugh slightly. before lifting his working hand up and casting.
[arcane shot]
the arrow exploded on contact with the bull's skull blowing the front half of its head into a Gorey mess. the creatures eyes filled with malice seeping into Ali's mind as he inflicted the killing blow.
[-36]
[killed grass-born bull level 8 creature: gained +1280 exp + skill-book "ram"]
a white covered book appeared in Ali's working hand. glowing slightly to the touch.
[skill: ram level 1: charge forward at the enemy, building up speed as you run dealing 100% strength damage scaling with momentum up to 200% - cost 1mp]
"hah, I could do what 12 damage with this thing? what's the point". Ali stared at it as he took a seat on the bull's corpse "wait. I should move" looking down at the bloody mess behind him reminded Ali of the thing he was more afraid of. the bird.
quickly getting up he pushed his body to its limit to walk away from the nearly deadly battle he fought with the grass-born bull looking for a place to recuperate.