As Alex strolled through the dense, shadowy forest, the sun filtering through the canopy, he kept his sword resting casually on his shoulder. His keen eyes scanned the underbrush, searching for a water source to quench his thirst after hours of wandering. Suddenly, the quiet of the woods was shattered by the snap of a twig underfoot.
Before he could react, a massive stone fist came crashing toward him from the side, propelling him off his feet and sending him sprawling onto the forest floor. Dazed, he quickly regained his senses and summoned his slimes, activating their fire magic in a desperate attempt to fend off his assailant. A fiery pebble shot from the slimes and struck the rocky figure, causing it to sway momentarily.
But the golem, undeterred and relentless, surged forward again, its heavy footfalls echoing through the trees. Alex scrambled to his feet, adrenaline surging as he prepared to defend himself against the advancing creature. The weight of his sword felt more significant than ever in his grasp.
"MOTHER FUCKER"
I yell, then run and jump, stabbing my sword to what looks like the head four times before passing out after hearing the notification
[you have killed and lvl20 earth golem ]
**LEVEL UP REPORT**
You have successfully leveled up!
You have successfully leveled up!
You have successfully leveled up!
**Character: Alexander**
**Title:** None
**Level:** 5 (60% towards Level 6)
**Health Status:** Serious Injury
**Mana:** 140/140
**Mana Recovery Rate:** 1.4 mana points per minute
**Attributes:**
- **Strength:** 14
- **Dexterity:** 14
- **Constitution:** 14
- **Wisdom:** 14
- **Intelligence:** 14
**Available Stat Points:** 20
**Skills:**
- **Summon Slime:** Level 1 (4% proficiency)
**Inventory:**
- **Crimson Blade**
As I approach the flickering flames, the warmth radiates against my skin, and I see two girls sitting cross-legged around the fire, their faces illuminated by the soft glow.
"What happened?" I ask, still feeling the haze of confusion linger.
The girl with silver hair turns her gaze toward me, her eyes reflecting the firelight. "You were out for a few hours. Take this slab of meat and recover; it'll help you heal," she replies, extending her hand towards me.
I grasp the meat, bringing it to my lips, and with the first bite, flavors explode in my mouth like an unsung symphony. It's as if I've been starved for ages, and I begin devouring it eagerly, like a man possessed.
"Do you have any more?" I ask, my voice muffled between bites.
The two girls exchange bewildered glances, clearly taken aback by my ravenous hunger. Yet, with a hint of amusement, they offer me more, and I continue to feast on the generous slabs of meat, savoring every morsel.
"So, what are your names?" I manage to ask between mouthfuls, my curiosity piqued.
The silver-haired girl looks at me expectantly. "I'm Nina, and this is Brooke," she says, gesturing to the other girl. "What's your name?"
"Alex," I reply, feeling a sense of camaraderie begin to form.
As I take a moment to breathe, I glance around the cave. The walls, smooth yet rugged, rise high around us, and a sturdy wooden barrier blocks the entrance, creating a sense of safety in this hidden sanctuary. The flicker of the fire dances against the stone, casting playful shadows that move like spirits around us.
"What's the plan?" I ask, attempting to initiate a conversation with them. Almost immediately, I shake my head, realizing how clumsy that sounded. It was a silly way to break the ice, but I suppose it was practical in its own way.
Nina smiled at me, her eyes shining with determination. "Once your wound heals, we'll head out to scout the area. Oh, and here—take this." She handed me a metal helmet, her gesture surprisingly gentle. It was thoughtful of her to offer it instead of keeping the loot for herself.
I was caught off guard as she placed the helmet in my hands. My grip was awkward, fumbling as I steadied it. "Thanks for picking it up," I managed to say, still surprised by how considerate she was.
As I examined the helmet, I was taken aback by its stats displayed before me. It was far more impressive than I had anticipated, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at what this piece of gear might mean for our next adventure.
**Earth Golem Helmet**
*Grade: Very Rare*
*Intelligence: +10 points*
**Skills:**
- **Earth Spike**
*Cost: 10 Mana*
Summons a formidable earth spike from the ground, piercing through foes with lethal precision.
- **Earth Shake**
*Cost: 50 Mana*
Causes the ground surrounding the user to tremble violently, disorienting enemies and throwing them off balance.
- **Golem Endurance (Passive)**
When the wearer engages in combat, their skin hardens, mimicking the strength and resilience of stone.
With these powerful skills at my disposal, I feel confident that I can confront the golem without the need to target its weak spot. As I secure the helmet onto my head, I glance over at the two striking women beside me and ask, "Can we go hunting for some monsters? By the way, what are your starter skills?"
The girls share a brief glance before Nina speaks up, her voice filled with determination. "My starter skill is Fireball," she announces, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "And Brooke has Low Hydrokinetic Recovery."
A moment of realization dawns upon me. "Doesn't that mean she can heal me?" I ask, intrigued.
Nina shakes her head, a hint of regret in her expression. "Not really. It barely heals light wounds at best. It will make you feel slightly better, but don't expect anything miraculous."
Curiosity gets the better of me. "Why hasn't Brooke spoken at all?" I inquire, noticing her silence since I regained consciousness.
Nina's gaze softens. "She was born mute. After that, she was teleported here. Luckily, I found her and took her under my wing."
Just then, Alex rises from his seated position, preparing to embark on our quest for monsters. As he attempts to stand, his body begins to wobble precariously. Reacting quickly, Nina reaches out and catches him just before he could topple over.
"Why don't you take some time to recover a bit more before we go after the monsters?" she suggested, her voice tinged with concern.
"We can't afford to wait any longer. The more time that passes, the more dangerous it will become. There are already level 20 monsters roaming the area, and I need to level up quickly," he replied, urgency evident in his tone. The longer they hesitated, the more perilous their journey would become with the escalating level of monsters.
He pushed himself up from the cave floor, using his sword as a makeshift crutch. The girls followed closely behind, their confident strides revealing their noble upbringing—an indication of wealth and grace as they navigated the rugged terrain with keen awareness. He realized that he needed to learn how to conserve his energy, just like they did.
As they made their way through the dense forest, a large group of monsters came into view. These creatures resembled wolves but were much larger, their coats a riot of colors that made them both mesmerizing and intimidating. The group stealthily approached, preparing for battle. He commanded his slimes to launch their mana pebbles at the heads of the unsuspecting beasts, hoping to incapacitate a few before engaging in direct combat. Nina, with her fierce determination, was ready to unleash a fireball, while Brook seemed poised to take down her own target.
"Get ready to attack!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the stillness.
With that command, five projectiles soared through the air, striking their targets with a satisfying thud. The trio rushed in, weapons drawn. With swift and precise movements, he wielded his sword to dispatch three wolves in quick succession. Just as he felled the last one, the remaining wolf rallied and lunged at him. Amid the chaos, his slimes unleashed their final attack, distracting the creature long enough for Brook to take it down.
"You have slain four level 5 wolves!" a notification chimed in his mind. **Level Up! 2!**
As the battle simmered down, he began searching the bodies for loot, but his efforts proved fruitless, prompting a sigh of disappointment. The girls approached him, their expressions curious.
"Did you find any loot on the bodies?" one of them asked, her voice hopeful.
Shaking his head, he replied, "No, but I leveled up a couple of times. How about you?" He noticed that their hands were empty, too, mirroring his own dismay.
Just as they were preparing to move the bodies back to the cave, a chilling howl echoed through the forest, sending shivers down their spines. They turned to face the sound, ready for another confrontation. Suddenly, an enormous wolf charged toward them, its eyes blazing with ferocity. He quickly summoned four more slimes, their forms shimmering with energy, instructing them to attack the beast's head. Weak explosions erupted as the slimes struck, but he knew this would be a significant test. He readied his sword, bracing himself for the impending showdown.
the wolf jumps up, trying to slash with its paws on his chest while alex charges going in for a stab. The claws tear through my skin while his sword goes through the wolf's chest with a sizzling sound both me and the wolf collapse before i pass out i see 4 fireballs hit the wolf it went black
As he lay unconscious, Nina took swift action, finishing off the menacing level 15 wolf that had attacked them. Meanwhile, Brooke rushed to his side, channeling all her mana into healing him. Just before the darkness pulled him under completely, she managed to stabilize him, halting the relentless flow of his blood.
Hours later, he finally regained consciousness, still in the same clearing where the battle had taken place. This time, however, he was cocooned in a warm pelt blanket that offered a semblance of comfort. As his senses began to sharpen, he caught sight of Nina and Brooke busily cooking over a small fire, the enticing aroma of food wafting towards him.
With a groan, he muttered, "I really need to stop doing that."
Nina glanced over her shoulder at him, her expression serious. "Yeah, relying on an eye for an eye isn't a good long-term strategy," she replied, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
Brooke, who had been focused on the cooking, stood up and made her way toward him. Her determination shone through as she placed her hands over him once more, beginning to heal him again. "This time, we're staying here until you're fully healed," she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Nina shot him a look laden with meaning, but he couldn't decipher it, so he chose to remain silent. Instead, he turned his attention to his status screen, eager to assess the state of his own abilities:
**Alexander**
- **Title:** None
- **Level:** 8 (40%)
- **Health:** fatal Injury
- **Mana:** 270/270
- **Mana Recovery:** 1.7 every minute
- **Strength:** 17
- **Dexterity:** 17
- **Constitution:** 17
- **Wisdom:** 17
- **Intelligence:** 17+10
- **Stat Points:** 35
**Skills:**
- Summon Slime, Level 1 (12%)
**Inventory:**
- Crimson Blade
golem helmet
The reality of his precarious situation settled in as he assessed his stats, a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in this unpredictable world.