2.9

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This time, my injuries were greater than before, I was in an even worse state than when I got hit by that lightning bolt. So the three additional potions did not completely heal me.

However, it did close all my wounds, and drastically alleviate the pain from these injuries. By the time I drank the last potion, I was already back in fighting shape, and although I wasn't as fresh as the beginning of the mission, I had felt my skill with the sword progress rapidly.

Moreover, I had already dealt with the hard part. If things went according to the game, all that was left now were a bunch of giant, venomous man-eating spiders, and a bear. Nothing too crazy.

Ralof patted me on the shoulder, the one that wasn't injured, and asked, "Are you alright brother? That was a mighty fight!"

I smiled and said, "I'm fine, nothing a few potions couldn't heal."

Ralof nodded, and asked, "Should we go then? We should almost be out."

I nodded, but as we passed by the dead archers, I picked up a bow as well as quill semi-full. I had seen Ralof do the same, and I knew it could be useful.

Crossing the bridge, we had officially left Helgen's dungeon, and arrived in the cave that connected to the outside world.

Flowing down the cave was the very same stream that was in the last room, as evidenced by the blood-colored water.

Following the water, we found an impasse, with a skeleton sprawled against the rocks, a pouch of septims next to him. I ignored it, because I had no use for money, and Ralof did the same, as we took a turn, and were immediately assaulted by a stench.

Going a little further, we found ourselves in front of another large cave, covered in spider-webs. Upon seeing it, Ralof's face visibly paled as he muttered, "Frostbite spiders!"

In response, I took out my bow, and whispered, "Use your bow. If any of them approaches, I'll take them."

Ralof still looked afraid, but in the end he was a brave soldier of the Stormcloak rebellion, how could he cower before spiders.

So he made sure to be as far as possible and nocked an arrow.

I personally had never used a bow, but I figured it couldn't be so hard.

Copying Ralof's stance, I stood with a straight back, nocked an arrow, and shot at one of the spiders.

I didn't do too bad as the arrow actually left the bow. Unfortunately, my aim wasn't very good as I completely missed the spider. Ralof didn't, and killed a spider.

Despite missing, I simply took another arrow, as even though I wanted Points, I didn't want to get poisoned by these spiders.

Maybe my Immunization was good enough to tank their poison, but maybe it wasn't. So I would rather not take any risks, and learn to use the bow instead.

Firing another arrow, I once again missed, but I think I'm getting the hang of it.

And indeed, on my third arrow, I managed to hit a spider square in the face, right between its eight eyes.

[Frostbite Spider killed. Rewarded 50 Points.]

Granted, it had been charging at us and was only a meter away, but I still hit it!

Was it luck or skill, I do not know. All I know is that this ended up being the only spider I hit.

"First time with a bow?"

Now that all the spiders were dead, Ralof looked better. I smiled awkwardly and nodded, "First time with any weapons really."

Ralof's eyes grew comically large as he exclaimed, "What?! But you are such a great warrior!"

I smiled, feeling some pride, and I replied, "Well, I'm always forced into fights. I mean look at this, all I wanted was to give a man a worthy death, instead of an arrow to the back, and the Imperials got jumpy."

Ralof snorted, "Well, I, for one, am glad you did this. If not for that, they might have cut all our heads before the dragon arrived!"

I smiled, although I knew that wasn't the case. This, however, reminded me of the only poor Stormcloak who died in the game's plot. What happened to him?

Well, he probably died, considering I did not get a side quest reward from saving him. Shame.

The spiders dead, we now had to face the last enemy before our freedom, and it was… anticlimactic.

Bears in Skyrim were fearsome enemies, especially for low-level players. The one in Helgen had always been a joke compared to the others. In game, it simply was because it was forced to Level 1, so I'm curious to see whether this one will be weak or not.

I did not bother with a bow either, despite Ralof's suggestion, and instead approached the bear, not hiding my steps.

It sensed me, and when I got in range tried to swipe its claw at me. All I had to do was swing my sword once, and its paw was severed. A bear, even a wounded one, was much stronger than a man, but so was I.

Then, a strong stab to the brain, and it fell down.

[Wounded Bear killed. Rewarded 200 Points.]

Again, anticlimactic.

[You have saved Ralof's life! Rewarded a Rank B Reward and 4000 Points.]

So the bear really was the last enemy. It was interesting, too, to see that saving Ralof's life had almost the same value as killing the American Mysterious Stone.

If I had to compare the two, although I had much more trouble saving Ralof, it was also incomparably easier. The only reason I managed to kill the stone was because the grass people were all killed by Hunter, the skeletons were occupied by him, and he had already broken the rock's outer armor.

In comparison, saving Ralof was much easier. So this made me wonder whether mission rewards were arbitrary or not.

Maybe that if Hunter had saved Ralof, he would have gotten less rewards. Or maybe that if this world had been a 20-players mission but been the exact same, saving Ralof would have given me considerably less rewards.

Well, thoughts for the future.

For now though, I felt satisfied. Although there had been a hiccup or two, I had explored this mission to my heart's content, and believed that I had completed all the Side Quests I could reasonably finish.

Because slaying Alduin is simply bullshit, I'm no Dragonborn.

I had saved Lokir and Ralof, killed a ton of Imperials, considerably improved my fighting skills and picked up enchanted robes and a spell book. Of course, I had also made a shit-ton of Points and Ranked Rewards.

This, I felt, was the true way to play God's Game.

For sure, this was a dangerous world, but if you simply follow the Dragonborn, this mission would turn out even easier than the game, considering the fort was full of Imperials. You could literally go through the whole mission without fighting even once, which very well might be exactly what my teammates had done.

And while they would probably survive this mission, what about the next, when the mission's difficulty gets cramped up? Someday, they won't be able to go along the flow, and will be forced to fight.

But if all they have been doing is complete the main mission every mission, earning only 1000 Points per mission…

Taking a breath, I quelled my inner thoughts. I knew this was the Dark Side of the Force influencing me.

Because I had just dabbled, it wasn't too intense, but I had noticed I tended to disdain others more easily. Besides, if I was fair, I was the one who told them to follow Hadvar, so blaming them would be hypocritical.

For now, it was fine. This was only their first mission, I can't expect too much from them, they are still ordinary humans. But for the next mission, I fully intend for them to get better.

"Hey, I see the exit!"

While I was deep in thoughts, wiping the blood off my sword, Ralof, who had walked ahead, cried out to me.

Getting up, I rested the Greatsword on my shoulders, and followed Ralof.

[You have escaped Helgen! Rewarded 1000 Points!]

[This mission will end in ten minutes, or when all your teammates leave Helgen.]