— ✦ —
— ✦ —
Blood dripped from Hiroshi’s body. Fourteen dire wolves laid lifelessly around him. They were no match for Hiroshi but still managed to tire him out.
Hiroshi checked his status.
LV: 20.
Damn, only a level. I need stronger foes.
The window disappeared, as he leapt forward.
Gobu cooked rabbits that the undead wolves caught near their camp. A piece of the collapsed tree had its bark removed, with fourteen strokes carved into it.
The second night was no easier.
Hiroshi ducked as a huge rock flew over his head and lunged forward, his sharp claws sinking into a figure that had the fur of a wolf but stood on two legs.
It began to fall backwards; Hiroshi’s claws slowly became free. The body hit the floor, its tongue out.
“Lesser Werewolf Defeated.” It announced.
Hiroshi raised his hand and flicked it down to his side, blood flying clean from his claws to the floor.
He looked at the night sky. A million lights littered it.
Gobu snacked heartily on cooked meat, that was finally not rabbit.
The third night, Hiroshi came back with a slight limp, dragging behind a giant lizard, it had mushrooms sprawling out of its head whilst oozing some dark purple pus.
Hiroshi raised its leg before Gobu, who shook his head. Annoyed, he dropped its leg and turned around.
Gobu, turned to the bark, which had forty-nine marks scratched in. Feodra was nibbling on some meat under the shelter of the fallen trees.
Leaping from a tree, Hiroshi landed on a giant skeleton.
Alright, let’s see how you do without your head.
Hiroshi pulled its head upward with all he had, almost letting out a shout, it disconnected from its spine, Hiroshi falling to the ground.
He grinned, tossing its head behind him. He leaped forward. A little while later, the system announced.
“Level Up.”
“Please choose two skills.”
Back at camp, Feodra nibbled and gnawed on bones from Hiroshi’s last hunt. His hand brushed again her fur, noticing she had gotten a little bit bigger.
He smiled warmly, then glanced at the bark. Fifty-eight marks.
Status, Open.
The window appeared without fail.
LV: 28.
Not bad. Still a long way to go. Status close.
The stars began to come out once more, as Hiroshi stood up from the campfire. Gobu waved him goodbye, whilst Feodra barked at him, seemingly joining in.
On the fifth day, there was green ooze all over the floor, bubbling. A massive spider laid curled up.
Hiroshi sat against a tree, holding his arm. A slight smoke escaped from his arm. A small amount of green oozed was scorching his arm.
Damn it… that took longer than I would’ve liked.
He glanced over to the spider.
Maybe Gobu can make something out of it.
Pushing himself off the tree with a grunt, he made his way over to the giant spider’s corpse.
As he walked over, vines suddenly came to life beneath his feet and began to spiral up his legs.
Great… what now?
He looked over, a hulking scorpion lifted itself out of the foliage, snapping its pincers. Its tail curled up, vines twirling all around it, flowers blossoming on its body.
Great… just what I needed.
He returned to camp a while later, green ooze still bubbling on his arm, scorching it, half of his body covered in vines and flowers. His expression was annoyed.
Gobu laughed nervously, nodding and beckoning Hiroshi who towed the two dead animals behind by their ends.
Feodra had her nose down, observing the annoyed Hiroshi.
“Level Up. Please Choose Two Skills.” The system announced.
As the system went quiet, Hiroshi began to shout as he was snatched by a flying creature. It had sharp talons and the body of a woman with gentle feathers, large wings for arms, yet the head of a human.
The dead ogre below him laid flat against the rocks, it’s one eye staring into nothing. It got smaller and smaller.
Damn it, it’s taking me into the air…
He flung his legs forward and back, swinging his body. With the last push everything turned upside down as he blasted its chest with his foot.
He grinned as it let go, letting out a loud screech. Gobu watched from a distance Hiroshi fall with amusement.
As Hiroshi was in freefall, the harpy looked down and closed its wings, dashing downward toward him.
Got you.
A single thought and he was in front of her, his arm extended.
Everything in the Harpy’s vision started flip repeatedly until they hit the floor. Hiroshi crashed into the ground atop the dead body, his HP dropping a little bit.
He couldn’t move his arm afterwards. He got up slowly and looked around, spotting Gobu waving at him.
Hiroshi managed a half-thumbs-up before collapsing on the floor.
Hearing the sounds of the campfire crackling, Hiroshi’s eyes opened. Gobu’s face was in front of him.
He jumped awake.
He looked over at the bark. One hundred and fifteen marks carved into the tree. He looked back at Gobu, who was smiling.
“How long was I out… after that fall?” He asked cautiously.
“One. Hour.” Gobu replied excitedly.
Whew… It was only one hour… If it was a day, I would’ve worried.
A nice aroma gently floated past his nose.
Hiroshi’s nose tingled as he closed his eyes, only imagining what it could be.
“Very. Tasty.” The excitement in Gobu’s voice could barely be contained.
“Mhmm… what is it?”
“…”
He opened his eyes. The harpy’s head and some body parts were through a stake being rotated by Gobu, who’s mouth was watering.
Hiroshi almost barfed.
Oh… on second thought…
He glanced over at Feodra, who’s mouth was also drooling. She looked noticeably bigger than when he started almost a week ago.
They seem to be hungry for some… monster…
Feodra looks much bigger.
I think I’ll have a nap and rest up… I still have tomorrow to hunt.
As he got into his sleeping position, everything went a blur. Darkness closed in as his eyelids closed. Just a split second, he thought he saw lightning crackle near Feodra’s snout.
Huh… I must’ve… seen something… so… tired…
Soon he was snoring as his companions ate fresh Harpy for dinner.
The seventh day was the hardest.
It was dusk when his eyes opened, his undead wolves had been lifeless near the camp to preserve his health pool; only activating them when food needed to be caught.
Getting up, he noticed Gobu and Feodra were fast asleep. He smiled, getting up.
Status, open.
The window appeared before him.
LV: 34
HP: 576/4900
Not bad. Still a bit off from the chimera. Status, close.
He got up and began to take a step forward.
“Heading. Out. Boss?” Gobu’s one eye was open.
“Mhmm. Guard Feodra with your life, Gobu.” He ordered.
He nodded.
“Be. Safe. Come. Back.” His voice had some tiredness in it.
Whatever happens, I’ll always come back, Gobu, Feodra.
He walked off into the dark, sunlight receding back into the horizon in the distance.
Large footprints trailed off deeper into the Valley of Death. It had three fingers, twice the size of Hiroshi’s footprint, almost like a large chicken walked through.
These are large… Maybe it’s worth checking out.
He began to tail the footprints, which led towards the valley. As he emerged from the forest, a long trail led forward.
The terrain slowly shifted, the amount of grass decreased and rocks became more frequent.
The terrain is changing. I’m at the base of the two mountains. This must be the valley Gobu was talking about.
There was no sign of life anywhere, even bushes had a hard time surviving out here. Some bones laid scattered around the ground.
Guess they don’t call it the Valley of Death for nothing huh…
He chuckled to himself, nervously.
The only sound was of air whooshing through rocks. No birds, no small critters. Only wind and rock.
Shivers suddenly washed over his body.
I don’t like this feeling. It’s almost as if something is watching me.
He stared up and glanced around the rocks.
Nothing.
I’m just getting paranoid…
A rock dislodged from the top and began bouncing and crashing down.
Hiroshi’s head snapped to the noise, hopping back two times as it blasted through where he was standing a moment ago.
That didn’t feel… natural…
“Come out and face me.” His stern voice demanded, whoever or whatever was there.
Before him, just to the side, a hulking birdlike creature stood up. Stone partly covered its neck and head.
It had four legs and a sharp, pointed rock at the end of its tail. Massive wings cast a shadow over Hiroshi through the moonlight.
Status… inspect.
Greater Rock Gryphon.
Level: 38
Hp: 4300/4300.
Mp: 150/150
Skills: ???, ???, ???, ???
Damn… it’s strong. Just a level under Feodra’s mother. It was a tough fight, and she was already under half health. Could I have beaten her at full strength?
He shook his head.
Can’t doubt myself now. I’ve become much stronger. I can take it.
Status, open.
The window popped up.
He glanced over at his skills.
With these, I’m much stronger.
HP: 576/4900
MP: 0/100
Level: 36
Age: 40
Class: Vampire
Title: Underdog
Skills: Vampire Claws lv 9, Inspect Status lv 4, Lesser Sneak lv 4, Zero Distance lv 6, Turn lv 3, Raise Skeleton Knight lv 2, Raise Dead lv 2, Instant Death lv 1, Sunlight Resistance lv 2, Joker’s Laughter lv 1, Health Up lv 2, Speed Up lv 2,
Passives: Fortify Armor lv 3, Damage Resist lv 2, Earth Damage Resist lv 1, Fire Damage Resist lv 1, Many more various passives scrolled on.
It’s going to cost me but there’s no helping it. It’s strong.
The beast stared down at Hiroshi who stood still. At the sound of a rock falling in the distance, they burst into movement at the same time.
Health Up! Speed Up!
His body washed over different colors as he went low, going into a slide. The beast jumped over him with ease.
It saw through me huh…
It landed into a hop sideways, turning and facing Hiroshi.
Then how about this.
A thought crossed his mind as he vanished and appeared behind the Greater Stone Gryphon, an illusion of him left behind began to run towards it.
Two large rocks levitated into the air on either side of the gryphon, and shot into Hiroshi’s phantom image, stirring up dust.
He fell for it.
The gryphon let out a screech as it felt something pierce its leg, its body washing over with color. It had frozen.
Alright, the paralysis claws are working.
He leaped atop the gryphon and shanked his claws into its back; it washed over a dark green color.
<< Poisoned >>
Appeared above the gryphon’s head.
They must be working because my level is much higher now.
He pointed a finger ahead of him.
Raise Skeleton Knight!
A dark-boned skeleton covered in rusted armor crawled out of the ground, dragging out its massive great sword. It began to charge towards them.
I’ll end this in a flash.
“I’ve got you n—”
Smaller stones began pelting Hiroshi from all around. His hp drained a little bit.
What the—
The shower came to an end with two large rocks flying into him from both sides. Everything went blurry.
His body collapsed on top of the gryphon’s back, darkness closing and opening as he struggled to stay conscious.
Its body began to twitch, finally coming free of the paralysis.
It’s… wearing off… damn it…
The Greater Stone Gryphon spread its massive wings and blasted downward, sending both high into the sky.
Hiroshi’s vision caught the side of the mountain getting closer. Fast.
He snapped out of it, gripping its fur as tight as he could as the gryphon smashed against the side of the mountain, trying to get him off.
Hiroshi’s HP dropped another small amount as he was dragged across the surface of the mountain.
It’s trying to dismount me…
A dust trail followed the gryphon as it cleared the mountain and turned around. The skeleton knight giving chase to them both.
Hiroshi let out a roar as he dangled on one arm now, pulling himself up with the last of his strength.
It began to retract its wings as it sped up, transitioning into a dive towards the skeleton knight on the ground.
Hiroshi managed to pull himself up, and with a swift cut of his claws, the gryphon’s wing flew off, a blood trail painting in the air from the speed.
With one of the wings gone, the gryphon went into a spin, losing its balance, coming crashing straight down into the skeleton’s raised great sword.
A loud crash pierced the quiet of the valley. The Skeleton knight still holding onto the great sword, which had been pierced deeply inside of its body.
The skeleton knight began to turn into a dark mist, fading away.
Hiroshi stood up on the creature’s back, barely keeping balance from the concussion of the impact.
He slowly stumbled forward, the beast barely croaking out, its wing twitching.
He’s got to be… on death’s door as well.
Summoning all the focus he had left, he drove his claw into the back of its neck. Letting out one final croak, its head dropped and went still.
“Greater Stone Gryphon, defeated.” It announced, unaware of the feat Hiroshi just accomplished.
“Level Up.” It congratulated him coldly five times.
“Please choose…”
The system’s voice faded as he passed out.
His eyes opened to a figure pulling him.
With a few more blinks, Gobu’s form was revealed.
He looked back and without missing a second he announced.
“Boss. You. Need. To see. This.” He had a serious look about him.
Everything went black again.