Blood And Bones

[Safe house generated.

Note: Shout Help for more details ]

"WHO!!"

I woke up with a gasp, feeling my hands shake, as my shout echoed through my room. I hurriedly grabbed my weapon, something I kept close to my bed , checking the corners as my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. I found nothing, I felt my forehead tickle as sweat began to ooze from it. My back was sticky, and each time I moved, my heart beat accelerated. Not even 30 seconds had passed, but it felt like an eternity. I shouted "WHO IS THERE?"

The first few days in this new land were sleepless for me. I was afraid, frightened, and quite alarmed; those days were merely spent in reflex mode; where I just followed what the late Herald wanted to be done. I was in complete denial, only when I saw that man die in the duel that I woke up!!

I need to fight! Like I did in my past life, I need to fight for more. If I have more, then I'll fight for even more than that. What's wrong with being greedy? Is it morally unjust that I fight to live in luxury?

Like what happened! I died, but I'm not going to let that stop me. No one walks over me, not even Death. So I'll fight anyone who comes to do me harm.

[Welcome To Blood and Bones ]

[Tutorial Session : Survive .

Note: Although "death" will not cause actual death in the physical world, it may result in psychological consequences such as grief, anxiety, and depression.

Good Luck Player ]

I trembled in shock, a chill ran up my spine, and dizziness hit me as the adrenaline rushed through my blood vessels. For a split second, I wondered if I was just hallucinating the blue game-like panel that had words in gold. I wish I was. I gripped my sword tightly and readied myself. I didn't know who was coming or why, but I didn't care. I would kill it.

"Blood and Bones ? Player ? " My mind was racing with a million questions, but I managed to calm myself by focusing on the keywords that were somehow less daunting: "physical world." "Actual death"

*Grawlllll*

With a spine-chilling cackle that sounded like it came from the depths of hell, the fiend-like cry came from outside. Yet, unlike those horror movies, I didn't go to look. A sinister thought ran through my mind: "Wouldn't my warriors hear it? Leave it to them!" I heard nothing! I waited for a few moments, heart racing, debating whether or not to go see what made that noise. I didn't want to be the one to find out.

So I let my newly and carefully rehearsed mantra be heard just loud enough for me to hear it alone. With a stern yet trembling gaze, I mumbled "You can't scare me!! You can't scare me ! I'm a warrior ! My father's name is Bjorn the Fearless !!"

Merely a facade, life is always about acting. I was scared to my bones. My knees were heavy. I'm a simple, "Here's Johnny!" away from falling to my bottom and hiding under the new bed frame that was installed.

"I'm fearless," I whispered to myself while looking at the door of my new house, which was closed and barricaded with a large wooden beam. The beam was fixed horizontally across the door; it looked like a simple block of wood. but my hand itched to just peek through the door, since I didn't hear any fighting noise coming from the other side.

"I'm fearless!" I mumbled as I put my sword gently against the wall. 

"I'm not afraid!" I mumbled again as I slowly and tentatively removed the slightly heavy beam that was barricading my door.

"I'm not going to die !" I whispered frantically as I slowly opened the door to take a peek outside. While cursing under my breath, I regretted not installing windows in my house so I could see what was making that god-awful noise.

A small gap was made when I slowly opened the door, trying not to make the same mistake as those horror movie characters who scream; I was ready for anything this nightmare could throw at me. Yet just when I opened my eyes, my pupils dilated so much that I was close to going blind. The light was so bright that it felt like needles were being stabbed into my eyes. I had to blink a few times before my eyes could adjust to the light.

[You have opened the door and did not step outside; the rules were clear.

You are now outside the safehouse , and your objective is to survive.]

"F*ck" I cursed under my breath as I rubbed my itching eyes.

"So I should have listened to my gut and stayed inside," I thought, quickly, grabbing my sword that somehow appeared beside me. Looking at the environment, I quickly concluded that I was still in my village. It was still the same weather - cloudless and without wind. Looking up, I saw the full moon that was shown with its eerie white light.

Looking around the dark and dreary space, I noticed that it was empty until I saw a humanoid figure in the distance. Even from afar, I could tell that it was familiar. I hurriedly ran towards him, yelling his name. The figure turned around, and I was shocked to see that he looked completely different.

"Bo ?" I shouted.

The figure was dozens of meters in front of me, dressed in his tattered, blood-stained clothes and weathered leather armor. The weird thing is his bald head, making me do a double-take on the figure. I'm pretty sure it's him. Yet, I noticed he didn't have his famous double-handed ax with him. My running slowed down to a slow march as I squinted my eyes at the dark figure.

I couldn't help but wonder. "He didn't even bring his weapons out when he heard that growl? Why does he have blood on his clothes ? And why is he bald ?"

"Maybe he killed the beast who made that , blood-curdling cry , losing his ax and turning him bald in the process? I thought to myself in silence.

Suddenly, when I came 20 or so meters from Bo, I saw something that made me stop dead in my tracks and my blood ran cold as I shivered uncontrollably.

[Lvl 1 Zombie ]

(Sealed)

Indeed, on the top of his head, like those overhyped games that only had the online feature, Zombie, it said in blood red. I quickly took my position, holding my one-handed sword with two hands. I didn't understand what was happening and I didn't have time to.

As if I had insulted his mother, who was very dear to him, zombie Bo growled angrily while running towards me, making the earth shake and dust fly.

*Growwwwl*

When I saw the scene in front of me happening, time seems to freeze as the late Herald's reflex switched on. I noted several developments that would lead to my doom if I didn't do something about it.

Momentum! His height ! His weight ! 

But also ones that are in my favor.

No weapons, slow, heavy maybe poor sight.

Taking in a deep breath, I sprang into action, seeing that this Bo had no human wisdom by the way he carried himself. I ran towards him; since I was shorter than him, I would attack his sides.

When I came within 2 meters of him, I quickly sidestepped to his right, dodging his incoming grab. This created an opportunity for me to strike. I slashed my sword into his ribs, but I didn't stop there. Since this Bo was slow, I used the momentum from my turn to put more power into my next swing. I aimed for his unprotected head, but I missed. My sword found his neck instead.

I was disappointed that I hadn't struck my target in the head, but I knew I could still kill him. Ignoring the common belief that zombies need to be struck in the head to die, I simply backed away as Bo tried to grab me with his left hand. He couldn't find me because I was already gone.

"What the hell is happening?" I cursed under my breath as I ran away from the creature, looking for a shelter.