Arriving at the Citadel and whooped by a Varmint

'Guide, how can I know where the Citadel is?' Hendrix thought as he wondered how he could find it.

[Since this is your main quest, there will always be a way to complete it. Since this Tribulation is supposed to be a tutorial.]

An arrow appeared, and though it was visible only to Hendrix, it would show the way to the citadel.

Hendrix nodded as he followed the arrow and walked to the Citadel. It took him ten hours to reach it.

[You have fulfilled The Explorer and Killer Main Tribulation quest's first requirement.]

'This place is massive.' Hendrix thought as he looked at the Citadel.

It looked like a giant trapezoidal pyramid in shape, though it was impossible to see the top, while its width was vast and made of silver-colored stone. And it had a large door in the front.

'Guide, I hope no one shows up here.' Hendrix thought as he didn't want any help with his quests. He then picked up a large branch and then walked to the door.

The guide stayed silent as Hendrix tried to push on the door. Though it strangely began to open on its own. As this occurred, Hendrix walked through it.

The area Hendrix saw beyond the door was just a long staircase that headed downwards. Strange violet stones lit the way as they hung from the ceiling by chains made of bones.

Hendrix walked down the staircase alert as he carefully continued. After about ten minutes, he arrived in a strange place similar to a swamp, but a burgundy miasma lingered everywhere.

A faint burgundy light shone from the room's ceiling. However, it was impossible to see the walls. Meanwhile, the trees were disturbing and eerie as their jade bark reflected light while their maroon leaves seemed to absorb it.

The grass and other vegetation also looked maroon as strange blue, glowing lights seemed to hover and occasionally land on the flora.

'Guide, where should I find the Varmints I need to fight?' Hendrix asked as he looked at the scenery while frozen in place.

[They're in the water Hendrix]

'Please turn on all notifications for taking damage. But only show the ones from now on.' Hendrix thought as he didn't want to see the absolute insanity of his old notifications.

[Acknowledged]

Hendrix nodded as he walked to the water. Once he arrived, he gazed at his reflection in it. He looked just like he did in his old life, except his hair was black, and his eyes were grey.

His thoughts were interrupted by a giant mouth lunging at him. The varmint had gills outside its body, and one row of sharp teeth lined its mouth.

Hendrix fell back in shock as he avoided most of the attack. Sadly the varmint bit his left ear off.

"Agh!" Hendrix yelled as he stepped back with raised eyebrows while wincing.

[You have taken 1 damage to your vigor bar]

While Hendrix was on the ground, the creature landed behind him. It looked at him with slightly dilated eyes, and Its size was four times that of Hendrix's.

'Guide, isn't that an Axolotl?!' Hendrix asked as he watched it. He quickly grabbed the branch as he got into what he thought was a combat stance.

[Yes, it's an Axolotl Varmint]

The Axolotl Varmint stopped looking at Hendrix and awkwardly ran towards him. It saw Hendrix as a possible new food to try.

Hendrix ran at it as he swung hard at its head while using all his strength. However, his attack was stopped entirely by a water-like shield. He looked and saw his branch stuck in it. Hendrix had no time to react as he felt a powerful bite on his abdomen.

[You have taken 4 damage to your vigor bar]

"Agh!" Hendrix yelled as he felt some of his organs ripped out. He weakly fell over, and as this occurred. Blood flowed out of the hole in his abdomen as he looked at the Axolotl Varmint weakly.

The Varmint chewed on the chunk of his organs with hunger before it swallowed it. Before his vision darkened, Hendrix saw the Varmint walking towards him.

Hendrix woke up and fell again alongside the necromechanical terror. Once he was about to land, he gained ten seconds of invulnerability.

"Ow!" Hendrix yelled as he slammed into the ceiling of the cage-like room again.

Hendrix sighed as he left and once again followed the arrow. Once he arrived at the Citadel, he entered again and reached the strange swamp.

'Guide, do I have to eat a part of the varmint to learn its basic information?' Hendrix thought as he tilted his head and pondered how to deal with it.

[Correct]

Hendrix sighed as he walked to the shore but made sure he was far enough away so he wouldn't get ambushed. Once he did, he picked up another fallen branch nearby and a stone.

He threw the stone into the water, wanting to provoke one. The wait wasn't long as one of the varmints jumped out of the water and gazed at Hendrix angrily.

Hendrix picked up and threw stones at the Varmint, as he wanted to see if its magical ability had a cooldown. Or if using it too much made the Varmint run out of mana.

The water shield appeared again and blocked all of Hendrix's attacks. His barrage continued for a whole minute.

As Hendrix finished, it swiped one of its claws at him. Hendrix picked up his branch and attacked its claw by letting it hit his leg as he slammed the branch on its front limb.

This action resulted in a big cut on the varmint's front limb, though it would almost instantly heal. Once this occurred, it would bite Hendrix's face and give him the face-lift service, ending his life again.

"That's not fair! What kind of tutorial quest is this!" Hendrix yelled as he fell in despair, knowing the Varmint he faced was unreasonably strong. It had a shield it could continuously replace and near-instant healing.

Hendrix sighed as he felt he should try the same strategy but bite off a piece of the varmint and quickly eat it instead of attacking.

Hendrix again traveled to the eerie swamp inside the Citadel. Once he entered, he walked to the swampy water without any weapons. He then threw multiple rocks into it and waited patiently.

The wait was not long as the axolotl varmint leaped out of the water and bit into Hendrix's right arm. However, Hendrix bit into its left front limb and ripped a chunk of flesh at the same time the varmint did.

[You have taken 3 damage to your Vigor bar]

Both started to chew on their contents quickly for different reasons. Hendrix hoped the information he learned would be good news. He then swallowed the flesh as he charged at the varmint.

The varmint would bite Hendrix's skull, crushing his brain, and he died instantly. Once Hendrix revived, he quickly left the necromechanical terror and checked for new notifications.

[Varmint info.

Species: Citadel Axolotl Varmint

Rarity: Crimson

Length: 12 feet

Height: 3 feet

Level: 0

Stage: N/A

Stats are not available.

Skills

Water shield: This corrupted magical skill will block any physical or magical damage that hits it. It can take ten points of damage before its destroyed.

There is no time limit or cooldown.

Axolotl Healing: This corrupted passive, normal skill will heal any injuries. Including amputated limbs, organs, or even parts of the brain. This skill completely restores all health as well.

It will not heal an injury while an object is in the wound.]

Hendrix looked at the information pessimistically as he wondered how to beat the varmint.

[There is another notification available. Do you wish to view it?]

'Yes.' Hendrix thought as he nodded.

[Varmint Description.

Varmints, we're born that way, or we're monsters corrupted by Malador. They draw their power from the same being instead of using mana. Because of this, they can use corrupted magical skills as much as they like. Though there is a price to gain this power without working for it.]

'Why me?' Hendrix thought as he sighed, seeing the odds against him, as he thought of how he could beat the varmint. Hendrix continued to ponder as he spent a few days walking toward his residence.

Once he arrived at his underground residence, he opened the hatch and entered. As he did, he headed down the long ramp. As he navigated his home, he cooked many mushrooms in monster fat.

While they were frying, he pondered again on how he could beat the varmint. And after cooking and eating the fried mushrooms, he had an idea.

He first went to one of his storage rooms and acquired animal skin rope and wooden needles. Afterward, he grabbed some wood.

Hendrix then created a tiny bow. As he looked at this, he felt he should learn a melee style as well, and a particular little old green movie character inspired him. So he spent a few weeks carving plenty of long thin wooden rods.

Once this ended, he loaded the wooden needles and the bow into a leather backpack he had made. In contrast, he tied the wooden rods to its sides. Once he did, he left his home and entered one of the unique vehicles he had made. Hendrix then pedaled to the Citadel.