Carelessness

Hoping that I could close the gap before it would reach me, I did not stop even when the mutated rat had galloped in my direction. Adrenaline rushed over my every vein, as I raced against time.

I was only two barriers away from completing the wall when I realized I miscalculated. Immediately, I summoned a weapon. A bow and an arrow came into my hands because I thought of it. I should have gone with the pistol, but confusion took over.

The bow string was stretched and then I released. It was the head I aimed for, but the rat suddenly jumped, throwing itself at me. The arrow flew and hit it in the chest. I saw the pained expression, but it was not enough to kill it.

Out of instinct, I shielded myself with my hands and foolishly closed my eyes. A moment later, stinging pain coming from the back of the palms, surge towards the shoulder and towards my head. When I opened my eyes, the rat had taken hold of my right hand.

I only had leather on that part of my body, and it was not enough to shield me from the fangs of the beast.

"Caesar!" I shouted in great anguish.

Gunshots were fired, and I saw the bullets hit and kill the rat. But its mouth remained clasped shut, and now lifeless, the body's weight pulled me to the ground.

"Pry it open!" I rarely cry, but it was too painful that I was on the verge of crying.

The bot hastily came to my aid, and with its superhuman strength, forced the mouth open. The aftermath of the bite was gruesome to look at. My hands were bleeding, and some bones were broken.

{Several Hostile Mobs Nearby}

Five mutated rats, perhaps from the same pack, were alerted by the gunshots. Ignoring the searing pain, I stood up and hastily erected the remaining barriers to complete the wall.

I summoned the pistol, and with grudge and spite, shot down the five attacking mutated rats. Fearing that more mobs would come because of the gunshots, I called on Titus and made my way towards the shelter.

<That was foolish> it was the first time the bot directly criticized my actions.

And he was correct, and it was embarrassing. I have never been injured in my scavenging runs, but was wounded far from the piles and the mounds. Complacency and overconfidence did me in.

I should have retreated when Thyra had dipped on the horizon, but I didn't. I should have shot it, before continuing, but I didn't. If I wasn't already in great pain, I would have punched myself in the face.

[Health -2]

[Health -3]

[You are bleeding.]

[You have been poisoned.]

As we made our climb, I noticed popped ups informing me of my health status. I was bleeding profusely and pain had spread to half of my body. I started sweating cold sweat, and started feeling cold, along with a mild headache.

As soon as I entered the shelter and seated myself by the fire, I immediately scanned for bandages. The first thing to do was to prevent myself from bleeding to death.

Luckily, bandages can be made out of rat fur. Four bandages wrapped around my arm and the blood stopped from pouring out.

[Bleeding have been stopped]

[Health -3]

However, the poison was not cured, and kept on incurring damage greater than the bleeding. None of the symptoms have also been alleviated. I needed an antidote, but the term would not yield results.

It was only when I headed to the list of Advanced Tutorial Tasks was I given an answer.

[Advanced Tutorial Tasks (Medicine 1)

*Collect Dead Waste bugs x10

*Collect Waste scorpion Stingers x10

*Concoct 2 Health Tonic

*Concoct 2 Anti-poison Tonic

Rewards: Random Blueprint]

Going into the wastelands at night, even into the level one area would be courting death, especially with my condition.

"Do you any tonic stashed away?" I asked the bot. Surely, he has something in case of emergencies.

<I have none. I would suggest you eat to continually restore health as you await for the morning>

It made sense, in RPG games, health can be restored with food.

[Health +12]

[Health -3]

Melons can restore about 20 health and leeks 35. But it could only restore what was lost, and I had to keep eating. The pain helped me keep awake all throughout the night, and it was a long, very long night. The poison's torture was relentless, and I could do nothing about it.

The next morning found me weakened, exhausted, deprived of sleep and in great pain. And despite my condition, going down was a must.

I could not go full speed because every time my body quakes, the pain doubles. So on Titus' back, exposed to the elements, I endured descending the plateau and a long and torturous journey towards the level one area. The cold intensified the pain and the dust made my labored breathing even more difficult

Upon arrival, I tried to dismount but fell off the horse. My non-injured arm took the fall, but the impact still affected my injury.

[Health -20]

The first tears fall. It was too much. Yet, I could only eat my suffering away. Unwilling to let the torture continue, I mustered every strength to stand and begin what I must do.

Fortunately, the clearing of the metal piles worked on my favor, as small and scurrying things were readily exposed. Using my boots, I thumped on every bug I could find, indiscriminately. I continued the blind effort for thirty minutes, until I obtained the necessary materials.

The tonics were crafted as soon as I could. And drank them as soon as I could. Another second of pain and I might go insane.

[The poison had been cured]

[The wound had been healed]

Relief washed over me, like how cold water extinguishes thirst. The symptoms had completely disappeared, and I was good as new.

"Never again." I muttered most solemnly, "Never again."

[Advanced Tutorial Tasks (Medicine 1) Completed]

[Oil Pump Blueprint x1 Obtained]

[You have leveled up]

[You have reached Level 11]

[Level 3 Items, Equipments, and Structures Made Available]

[Level 3 Territories Are Now Accessible]