5 First Encounter

I lay my body down on the forest floor out of breath, I look towards a flat-surfaced rock, on it was berries and peanuts. In front of the rock is a small stream flowing downward.

I didn't think that I would be climbing up a hill. From afar it looks small but the closer I got to it the bigger it gets. This world is seriously large, larger than anything I would imagine.

I turn my head to look at the orc who was wearing nothing but his underwear. I didn't mention this at first but he is bald. He got a bright future ahead of him. To his left is a simple wooden spear he made by taking off one of the branches from a tree with iron-like qualities.The iron like branches is covered in the color of brown with the hint of silver.

It is hard and rigid but flexible enough for it to bend a bit.

While we were scavenging I got know his name. His name is Grognak, it's a pretty stereotypical name for an orc.

While I was wondering, smoke can be seen coming from the direction of the orc. I stand up and move closer to get a better view of it. The smoke was coming from a small fire in it contain small twig and tinder of other plants. Why are we even making fire right in the afternoon.

"Hey, Grognak what the purpose of the fire?" I ask curiously.

"If we make 3 of these fire, the smoke it emits will act as a call signal for help. Isn't this common knowledge?" The orc said it inquisitively.

"I just forgot about it as I need to not use it."

This was the truth, I remember learning something about how fire can be a signal for help in school but not once did I even think of using it. Who knew that I would get hit by a truck.

Our conversation was interrupted once again but this time it is not our stomach. A noise can be heard from the bush. Out came a purple porcupine. Its eye emits a blood-red glow and its mouth is frothing fill with saliva. The size of these things is similar to a husky. If there is one word to describe this porcupine it would be a deadlier and more realistic version of sonic.

"This porcupine come from a species that can shoot out quills laced with poison, be careful and try to find cover, I will handle this!" Grognak shouted to me.

"I might be a burden in close combat but I can support you by throwing rocks at its face!" I told the orc.

"Do what you want as long as you stay a safe distance away." The orc said to me as he did a hand motion for me to move away.

I move away from the battle and proceed to pick up as many sharp and heavy objects I can find. I wait for an opportunity to throw these objects at the creature to distract or maybe hopefully injured it.

Grognak picks up his crude wooden spear and adopts a stance where he exposes the least amount of area toward his opponent. His front legs outstretched and his spear is pointed at the porcupine ready to strike at an opportune moment.

The porcupine makes the first move and shot a barrage of quilts toward Grognak. Grognak sidesteps and spin his spear and deflect those that are heading in his general direction. Unfortunately, the porcupine choose to attack at this moment. It runs forward and swipe it claws downward.

Grognak try to readjust the spear and block the attack. The claws slide on to the spear making fire sparks. The porcupine sensing that it attacks have been blocked it charges, it head forward and try to bite the arm of the muscular orc. Grognak leg suddenly burst with power and do a quick step backward. But unfortunately, the big porcupine has bit small pieces from Grognak's thighs. It was not a major wound but it was the first injury in a fight. Grognak is caught in a disadvantaged position and any more injuries will make the fight worse. This isn't a game where there is an HP bars.

Knowing this I lift up one of the rock and throw it as hard as possible against the purple menace. Luckily the rock manages to hit the porcupine on of its hind leg. It staggers a bit and this is all the help my orc friend needed. His muscle bulges with power, with a spear in his hand, he put all his effort to make one powerful decisive stab to the head. The purple beast notice this at the last minute and only manage to dodge a bit to the left.

The spear misses the head but instead hits the area below it. Nevertheless, the hit made a large wound onto porcupine. The spear makes it ways all the way through it. Grognak in sheer brutal fashion elbows the porcupine on the head. The porcupine let out a loud howl of anger and bites down on Grognak's arms. Grognak return the howl with his own war cry eclipsing the porcupine effort, a mad fury can be seen on his face.

While this happen I manage to throw another rock at the porcupine but it allows managers to hit the quills of the porcupine which protected it. Grognak lifted his knees and strike the jaws of the porcupine. I can hear a faint crack. He follows it up with a quick kick on the shaft of the spear driving it further into the body. The porcupine screams in agony have it thoughts muddle with pain.

This suddenly gave me an idea.

"Grognak takes the spears out of its body and runway, it will die of blood lose eventually!"

I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Grognak either didn't hear it or didn't listen but instead, he gave a mighty punch toward one of its eye socket. If the porcupine was perfectly healthy it could counter that attack or dodge but it thought is distracted and dazed by the previous attack. The hits connect and it manages to burst the eyeballs of the porcupine spraying blood all over the place. This last attack seem to knock the porcupine down. This exchange of blows lasted only around a minute.

I run over to Grognak, and exhausted my mana on doing one last healing magic. I imagine in my mind his body regenerating using his cell activity. I say a chant to even make it more effective.

"Cells heed my call and get to work, [ Cure light wounds ]"

Strangely enough it work. Magic is a wonderful thing and in just one day I can already chant a made up spell I think in my head. I am deeply worried about the result of the heals but it fortunately manage to close the wound and stop it from bleeding, the wound is still there but there is a large blood clot over it clotting the blood from leaking. Overall the situation isn't dire. I am proud to be able to pull this off.

This world is a dangerous one and combat are deadly, the realization sunk in sooner than I expected, it is not a game or a slice of life anime. Grognak name is mouthful so I just start calling him Grog.

"Thank you, I must have unlock my orcish fury innate ability during the fight which proves to make me more reckless." Grog looked at his hand at he said this.

"I haven't ask you this but how did you get here?" I asked curiously while still tending to his wounds.

"I do not know, I lost my memories of me being here. I need to get back home." He held his fist and looked forward.

I heard a rustling from the bush outcomes a group of people dressed in brown linen clothing.

"We saw your smoke signal and rush here as soon as possible. We help you carry your friend here to our city." One of the people reach out his hand to us.

We were dumbfounded by the people's sudden appearance, we looked at each other for a bit then looked back at them.