CHAPTER 4 – I’m Gonna Be...
Dragging the sled behind me with a rope tied to my waist gave me plenty of time to notice that I hadn’t seen a car drive by since leaving the shit catastrophe that was my house.
"That’s weird right bud?" Arthur looked up at me and I continued, "I mean it’s not a busy road at all but surely we should have seen someone drive by at some point, right?"
Arthur looked cocked his head to the side, and quietly voiced a single "Wuhh."
"My names not Shirley. Hopefully we are just in the worst of it," I say this like I understand what he’s woofing about, but honestly, I have no clue. It just felt like the right thing to say.
The forest changed while we were preoccupied. Trees towered over us, their buds already opening into leaves. Most of the snow had melted away, revealing alien flowers in bloom beneath. Large black mushrooms speckled with purple clustered around the base of trees. What really caught my eye though, was a gooey purple and green fungus coating the bark of a nearby oak making the tree look sick.
My attention was gathered by the dirt road turned to muck, which made dragging the sled a real pain in the ass.
“Fuck dragging this thing!” I complained to the sled, as I dragged it along. We needed the extra supplies for emergency.
Up the road, Mrs. Rowen’s private drive. Her personalized street sign that read, “Lily Circle Pvt”, poked out behind some new vibrant brush, with an actual dead end sign placed behind it.
"We're about 10 minutes away from Bell's house now.”
Arthur started to get excited, then froze in his tracks.
All of his hair stood from head to tail. He growled and backed away.
I removed the rope from my waist, removing my spear from the sled, "What is it?"
He picked his paw up, pointing in the direction of the street sign.
"Sit, Stay Bug."
That was pretty cute. I didn’t know my dog could point...
I walked up to the sign seeing nothing, but the hairs on my neck stood to attention as my spidey senses went off. I ducked, shoving the spear out with all of my might.
All I could see was the giant claw of whatever going back into the brush, four sharp claws, each the size of a hunting knife just missed the top of my skull. The blow likely would have killed me if I didn't duck.
I must have hit a soft spot because the creature made a loud hissing sound. It sounded like one of those old western steam trains releasing the air after braking. The brush surrounding the creature blew wild with the powerful breath.
I rolled backwards and struck again into the brush multiple times in quick succession, hitting... Nothing.
I walked around the bush, poking in and out with my spear until I noticed a blood trail leading into the woods toward Bell’s house.
"Shit, I would hate to see what that was up close. That was lucky as hell." I told myself as I returned to Arthur who was just sitting there in the middle of the road, tail wagging away on my approach.
"Did you smell it, whatever it was? How did you know it was there?" He barked and sniffed the air.
"Dang, Good Bo-ah," I fished out the treats I managed to salvage from the house and tossed a few into the air. He snagged them before any had a chance to hit the ground.
We continued down Bell’s driveway only minutes from our destination.
Again, Arthur stopped.
I removed the rope and stepped out, "What is it buddy?"
Using his paw, he pointed behind me, "Same Scent?" I asked.
He shook his head.
Left, Right.
As I looked back up, they came slumbering out of the woods.
“What the fuck... Apparently it’s not just the animals. Hey you alright?! Looking a little sick there Grootie.”
Once they were fully into view a health bar popped above each head.
[Twisted Spriggan—Fungal]
[System Generated]
Shit, fungal. Really?
"You better hang back on this one buddy. Please, wait here. If I need you I'll call. Luckily, they look slow as shit," I told Arthur, still unaware of how much he really understands. I mean, he was just a regular ole dog not even 24 hours ago.
I removed my spear from the sled, and grabbed my little makeshift hammer-axe as well, shoving the wood branch through my belt loop.
The “Twisted Spriggan” was literally a man or a woman maybe. Made completely out of branches from head to toe. Just tons of weaved branches that I guessed were magically held in place.
The branches were covered in that same sick purple and green fungus that I saw spotting the trees.
"Okay, there's only 2 of them and they look pretty slow, but how do you hurt a creature made out of wood and fungus?" I thought as I approached.
I tossed my spear at the head of one but connecting with the chest, not a bad throw even though I missed my mark, “Guess I need practice.”
Even though my spear was now through its chest, the Spriggan kept walking forward as if unscathed.
I grabbed the back end of my spear and kicked my foot into it's stomach to dislodge the spear.
I took two steps then thrust, this time hitting my target but still doing no real damage as its health bar barely moved.
I slowed the creature down and held it at bay but this gave the second Spriggan time to catch up.
One step back, Kick and Pull.
Only this time when I kicked, the Spriggan latched onto my leg.
I watched as a dim purple light lit up its stomach and traveled to its hand.
That is when I felt it.
I shouted from the pain jumping to kick my other leg out in an attempt to free myself of its grasp.
“Oomph” I hit the ground with a loud thud, knocking the wind out of myself.
"Fuck! Magic is really real. Okay! And this fuck! Is using it to try to kill me!" Realization dawned as I rose to my feet and backed up a few paces.
I looked down to my shin. Where it touched the skin was now covered in a black and purple goop.
I watched in pained horror as veins in my leg turned black and the skin above rotted away leaving the imprint of the monsters stick fingers. The black poison beneath my skin was running down to my foot and up toward my thigh.
What’ll happen if it reaches my heart? Dammit...
Panic started to set in, "DO NOT join in for any reason Arthur! If I die, go to Mrs. Rowen, she’ll take care of you! They’re poisonous so do not let them touch you!"
As the panic grew, I slashed my spear wildly at the two Spriggans who were side by side now. I was trying to slow them down and split them up but had no luck.
"I need to slow down. Calm! Breathe deep." I thought, trying to get my adrenaline under control.
I kept my distance from the encroaching monsters until I calmed.
Suddenly everything slowed down around me, like the world decided to give me some time.
I was brought back to a memory from when I was a child.
"Hey dippy, what are you doing?" My father spoke from behind, walking into the garage to watch as I attempted to change the spark plugs on my ‘new to me’ yet old, dirt bike.
"Umm, I'm checking the spark plugs because it’s having trouble starting. If that’s not it, then the battery, then... Umm, the carburetor?" My 10 year old self replied, more question than statement.
"Yup. Then the fuel filter, you sure you didn’t just leave the gas on and flood it?" He asked me in his own 'don’t let me down' sort of way.
"Yes Dad, I'm sure I didn't flood it. I'm just not sure what’s causing it so I'm running down the list" I said with a little more sass than I originally remembered.
"Alright," he said with a grin, "Well, why don’t you get out the socket for the spark plugs and use that?"
"What do you mean? I’m using a wrench," I reply, getting annoyed.
"Haha, Yes you are, but we have a socket for this. The deep sockets over there, right side on the bench, grab 5/8’s. Put that adjustable back" he coached, " And make sure you grab a new attitude out of the tool box when you grab the ratchet."
"Okay, sorry." I replied as I fished out the socket and ratchet.
"It'll be aight. Make sure you use the right tool for the right job. Makes life easier, Littledink." My father said using my least favorite nickname, as something grabbed my arm pulling me back to reality.
"Fahh Shit!" I yelled in pain snapping out of the daze and attempting to yank my arm free.
I thrust the spear into the head of the Spriggan who grabbed me.
I backed away pulling the makeshift hammer-axe from my belt loop.
I had them spaced a bit more so I dove back in.
I circled left to make more space from the other as I swung the Hammer-axe in a horizontal arc.
I connected with the sharpened end under the Spriggan’s shoulder, its health bar went down a hair.
I brought my weapon above my head.
Axe side down, I swung with all of my force as the Spriggan turned to me reaching out the same arm that I just managed to swipe.
A clean hit took the arm off.
I could see a thick dark fluid drip from a small spot in the center where the arm branches connected to the shoulder.
I circled more to get on its bad side and threw a mean side kick that knocked the Spriggan into a small ditch where it struggled to regain its feet.
While this was happening the other Spriggan, the one with my spear stuck in its face, crept up on me to grasp my left wrist.
These creatures were unusually strong for being a gang of twigs.
I had trouble getting my arm free. As I reached my other arm above my head to strike, I felt the sharpened twig-like fingers pierce my skin and burrow their way through soft flesh until reaching the bone inside my forearm.
"GRUAAH!" I screamed the loudest warcry I could muster, using the pain, panic, and anger inside to empower my strike.
I swung hammer side down on its head, over and over.
Bits and pieces of wood splintered and shattered off with every strike. A thick sappy fluid seeped from the wood. A few more swings had the sap splashing over me with every blow.
I swung rapidly with all of my strength, still screaming and still swinging.
Yet, the Spirggan wouldn't let go.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
My next swing came down just as hard as the first, only since there was no head I decided to aim at the wrist, finally separating its hold on me.
With the chopped off twig hand still firmly entrenched in my left arm, it leaked the purple sappy shit out, rotting any skin it came in contact with.
I grabbed the spear from the ground as the other Spriggan was crawling out of the ditch, about to grab my leg.
My health bar was dipping below 40%.
I stepped back and jabbed the spear directly into the stomach of the Spriggan.
This was the first time I heard pain from these creatures, or anything for that matter.
Its mouth stretched open further than I thought possible and what followed was haunting.
Inside of its mouth, thick condensed purple sap coated all of the tiny little pieces of wood that were moving and grinding like a thousand little gears and pistons firing off.
The sound was somehow super disturbing but also hard to describe, almost like the sound of a wood chipper hard at work but with no engine, just the sound of wet wood gnashing against itself.
I couldn’t help it, I kicked the fucker in the mouth as I pulled to release my spear.
Turn left.
Steeerike.
I hit the second no head Spriggan in the chest, missing my mark but it was enough to knock him back and give myself a second to breathe.
I grabbed onto the hammer-axe with both hands, brought it above my head, then drove it into the screaming Spriggan lying halfway in the road.
As soon as my axe hit its mark it crashed through the stomach into the ground beneath.
I felt something.
It was dead, but that wasn’t it.
I felt refreshed.
Not 100% but something changed.
Almost like a second burst of adrenaline.
With no time to focus and enjoy the feeling I turned to the last Spriggan.
I grabbed the end of the spear and ran it through, when I got close enough I threw all of my body weight into the headless Spriggan, and we both tumbled to the ground.
As I was bringing my Axe above my head for the kill it reached out and latched onto my hip, piercing skin immediately.
I felt the growing branches move through the soft parts of my body with ease as I brought the Axe down into its stomach and ended the monster.
I fell back in pain, "Ugh fuck! Arthur, come here buddy, can you bring the sled?"
Arthur grabbed the rope and ran to me, he was about 100 yards away for safety.
"Good boy! I'm sorry that got a little uglier than intended, they looked like scrubs but their reflexes were crazy fast. Thank you for staying back like I asked."
I grabbed a new flannel shirt and removed the one I was wearing, "Shit, this looks bad. Ha, damn. It’s like wherever it touched insta-killed that part of my body. Necrosis? Shit, that’s a nasty fungus. Don’t go near it alright?" I told Arthur as I pulled branches coated in purple sap out of my hip.
"Ah damn. I think I got them all out. Doesn't help that my skin is still turning black." I looked at the first injury I received. It was almost healed up.
I tied the ruined shirt I was wearing around my hip to stop the bleeding. The dark rot stopped spreading on my arm as well, I finished digging the branches out of my wrist and tossed them off the road.
"Well bud, I need to rest for a minute, my health bar isn’t rising but at least it isn’t going down anymore. I don't suppose you hid away any of those healing potions?"
After putting my hoodie on I noticed Arthur’s head hanging in shame, "Hey buddy! Don't worry about it! You saved my life and you did the right thing!"
I struggled getting to my feet now that all of the adrenaline had worn out.
I tossed everything into the sled then we set into the woods a short distance until Arthur found a dry spot to hide out.
I finished our hideaway by leaning some broken limbs with greenery on the surrounding trees to better camouflage us, then crashed out beside the tree. I laid back as Arthur stayed beside me keeping watch.
I couldn’t stop staring at my health bar. It went up after the last fight on its own, but now it wasn’t moving up or down. It was stuck at about 35%. I assumed due to the necrotic damage from the Spriggans.
As I sat there waiting to heal, I thought of what I could have done better in the fight. Then reminisced on the mid fight dream sequence and similar memories.
I knew I was stupid for going about the fight how I did.
I should have noticed the weak spot much sooner and I was beating myself up for that.
I took way more damage than I should have, but, I was alive.
"I need to check on Mom and Dad. Hopefully Bell is alright and has an intact phone. I really hope this isn’t everywhere but it seems like it is, the military should be doing something to protect people though right?" I went over these thoughts as I spaced out.
I saw the smallest little box in the upper left hand corner of my vision, almost like it was hiding behind the health bar.
I focused my intent to move this tiny little box to the upper right hand side of my HUD. Once I opened my eyes and finished my meditation I examined it closer, "Huh, It’s an exclamation mark. Damn it Rick, Video game logic!" I scolded myself.
I spoke out loud, "Notifications," And a new translucent box popped up in the center of my vision.
[You have killed Mutated Neighborhood Mutt (System Generated)]
[Title Unlocked! - True Slayer]
[Title Unlocked! - Bring it]
[Title Unlocked! – For Family]
[You have killed Mutated Neighborhood Mutt (System Generated)]
[You have killed Mutated Chipmunk—Rapid (Unbound Native)]
[Status Effect: Necrotic Poison in effect]
[You have killed Twisted Spriggan—Fungal (System Generated)]
[Level Up! - You have reached level 2]
[You have killed Twisted Spriggan—Fungal (System Generated)]
[Title Unlocked! - Improviser]
"Clear and close notifications." I said following it up with, "Status."
Name: Rick Weston
Race: Human
Level: 2
Class: LOCKED—Available Classes generated upon reaching level 10.
Titles:
Bring It: +15% Strength +15% Vitality Increase at Critical—While facing death, instead of succumbing to fate, you instead rebel. You won't go down easy
For the Family: Aura Triggers below 30% Life Energy, User and All Party Members Within 30 Yards Gain +5 to all stats, +15 Health Regeneration Per Second, +15 Mana Regeneration Per Second - You put the lives of your loved ones before your own well being without a thought
True Slayer: Passive Effect, +3 Stat Points Per Level Up—First inducted to slay monstrosity
Improviser: +10% Damage while using non-standard or self made weapons—You make use out of anything you get your hands on, even the trash can be deadly
Base Stats:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 7
Endurance: 8
Vitality: 10
Will: 8
Intelligence: 7
Unallocated Stat Points: 8
"Huh, Improviser? Well that’s neat I guess, although, I hope I don’t always have to use shitty weapons and garbage to fight man eating monsters," I said to no one, " Okay then, let’s allocate some skill points."
I can't lie, I was pretty excited.
I wonder what it would be like to be twice as strong, or twice as fast. Choices, choices...
“Slow down and think this through... I wish I knew what type of classes there were to choose from. Shit, I would love being a magic user but I don’t think a mage is really my style. It rarely had been in games but using magic in real life has mass appeal. Who knows when I'll even get magic or if I will be able to use it. Shit, I don’t know... I should just do what feels right.” I thought aloud to myself, acting like I was talking it over with my dog I continued, “I've always been, I don’t know... Adaptable? Able to work on all types of issues. But usually people specialize, it’s always stronger. But if I had a way to adapt to all the different monsters that would be best. If I’m in a fight with a magic creature and go in as a normal Warrior I’ll likely be blown up before I can reach them. Safest bet would be to snipe them off the field... Meh, I'll just figure it out as I go.”
"Allocate stat points," I spoke aloud and a window popped up, this time it wasn’t as big as the status screen and had my stat points with plus numbers next to each.
I looked them over, I had 8 stat points to use up, there are 6 stats to choose from.
After milling on over different builds in my head for what must have been an hour, I gave up and finally said, "I want my strength and speed to be equal for now. Plus, I feel strong enough at the moment, but that chipmunk took me to the woodshed. I know I won't be that fast but even a bit more speed should help."
Once finishing my Stat sheet read.
Base Stats:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Endurance: 9
Vitality: 12
Will: 9
Intelligence: 8
Unallocated Stat Points: 0
"Oh shit! Arthur!" I said enthusiastically, “We forgot to loot ‘em!”
“Woof!” Was his response as his tail repetitively slapped my side.
“I know right. Well, I don’t really know what you said but... Yeah!” I said, excited at the prospect of new gear.
After a bit more relaxation I noticed the exclamation mark in a little square pop up on the top right of my vision as intended, “Notifications”
[Necrotic Poison Cleansed by Natural Resistances]
“Clear, and close notifications,” I said, standing up and nudging Arthur with my shitty pair of slippers.
We made it back to the road, Arthur following beside me now.
I was excited to see what kind of loot we would get.
A new weapon would be great. Hell, even some basic armor would be welcomed, but I know better than to get excited over potential loot. I’ve played my fair share of ARPG’s and I know what it’s like to kill the same boss 100’s of times in search of loot, just to be left with the same garbage every other kill.
We walked up on the corpse of the Two Spriggans, Arthur gave them a good sniff. I could tell he was on edge around them, so to put him at ease, “It’s okay, they’re dead Puck. You don’t have to worry about them jumping up or hurting you. I made sure of it, plus it said so in my notifications.”
He responded with a whimper as to say, okay but I’m keeping an eye on them anyways.
One of the Spriggans had a faint glow which I’m assuming is part of this system and anyone else without it would just see a pile of sticks chillin’ in the road..
This time I tried to command the loot without saying anything, I focused on what I wanted to happen and thought, “Loot” and a box with a four by eight grid popped up in my vision.
Beneath the grid there was a prompt that read,
[Loot All]
It looked like I could touch it and the items would, I don’t know, fall on the ground? For the hell of it I thought, “Loot All” and the 3 items disappeared. I looked around and they were gone.
“That only means one thing!” I yelled the next word using my best announcer voice, “Inventory!”
A box popped up in my vision, “Five by Ten, decent size, I should be able to carry quite a bit with this depending how it distributes the bigger loot on the grid.” Arthur was watching me talk to myself and my excitement must have rubbed off because his tail was wagging as he bobbed and jumped in the air. On his last jump I threw my hand out there and we had an awkward but epic pup to person hi-five.
I laughed saying, “That was corny as fuck but still super cool that we landed it,” he seemed to agree.
I checked the items in my Inventory from the top, left to right, Two Healing Potions took up one slot, One Fungal Spriggan Core took up another, and a Twisted Spriggan Arm took up the last. It seems like one item regardless of size, fills one slot, which gave me an even bigger inventory than I first thought.
I can carry quite a bit now.
I reached out and I could feel the items materialize from nowhere. I grabbed the Twisted Spriggan Arm and pulled it from my Inventory. The ‘crafting item’ was an undamaged arm of sturdy branches, from the shoulder down to the fingers.
I started thinking about what I could possibly make with it.
With my head clear and intentions focused, I attempted to put it back into the slot at the bottom right of the inventory, I moved my hand into the grid and felt it disappear from my grip as it was now in the desired spot.
I thought to myself how I wanted everything sorted and a second later the arm returned to the third spot over from the top left.
“Awesome.” I said under my breath as I grabbed the sled with our belongings and put it into the grid.
The only thing I was carrying now was my makeshift spear, and the Axe on my hip.
I called to Arthur, “Come on pup!” I followed it up with a weak whistle.
He was in his own little world, lying on the side of the road chewing on a stick he found at our rest stop.
He ran to catch up to me, large stick in mouth as we continued to Bell.